by Hope Ford
Tempting the Soldier
Hope Ford
Tempting The Soldier © 2020 by Hope Ford
Editor: Kasi Alexander
Cover Design: Cormar Covers
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
www.authorhopeford.com
Contents
1. Travis
2. Travis
3. Bethany
4. Travis
5. Bethany
6. Travis
7. Bethany
8. Bethany
9. Bethany
10. Bethany
11. Bethany
Epilogue
American Heroes
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About the Author
1
Travis
If my brothers in arms could see me now. I shake my head, knowing that they would be giving me shit if they got a load of me right now. It’s like I’ve turned into a housewife instead of the military soldier I am. I push the cart to the next aisle and look at the list. Basil. Easy enough. And then I notice it says fresh basil in my aunt’s small cursive stroke. I wad up the paper and put it in my pocket since that’s the last item on the list.
I get to the produce aisle and stand in front of a completely green section. There seems to be a lot of options and when I see the sign that says basil, the bunches of green leaves are so close together, I can’t tell which is which. Looking up and down the aisle, there’s no employee within sight.
I’m about to do eenie meenie miney mo when I hear someone with a cart rolling up behind me. She’s a young, full-figured woman in a baggy top and her hair in a bun. She looks old-fashioned and fainthearted. Her buggy is full and I’m almost sure she can help me just by looking at the many fresh vegetables that are in her cart. “Excuse me, Miss?”
She startles when she hears the deep baritone of my voice in the quiet aisle. She looks skittish and as if she may bolt at any minute. And I’m afraid she just might, until she sees the scars on the side of my face. Instantly, I see her soften and in return my face hardens. I don’t like the pitying look she gives me. The scar doesn’t bother me, not anymore, but the way people react to it does. I would much rather they give me a disgusted look and turn away instead of the looks of sympathy or pity. Gritting my teeth together, I mutter, “I’m sorry to bother you, but my aunt has asked me to pick up basil- I mean fresh basil and I can’t tell which one it is.”
She looks between the green vegetables and herbs over my shoulder and then back to me, almost questioningly. Finally, she pushes her glasses further up her nose and lets out a soft breath. “Sure. What kind of basil does she need?”
I cross my arms over my chest and shrug. “Fresh.”
She tries to hide her smile and covers her mouth as she gives off a fake cough. “Uh, well, there’s sweet basil, cinnamon basil, lemon basil.” She’s pointing at each of the herbs on the shelf, like she recognizes which one is which. It all just looks like green weeds to me.
She looks up at me expectantly and for the first time, I get a clear view of her dark brown eyes. There is a fleck of gold in each one and I bend down to get a closer look, wondering if it’s the shining lights in the building or if there are actually gold flecks.
She takes a step back and starts to fidget again. “Okay, well, let’s see. Do you know what your aunt is cooking?” She turns away from me, staring at the herbs in front of us.
Instead of answering her, I take this time to look at her. To really look at her. I start at her legs, which are covered in a long skirt that covers her ankles, then I glance at the big sweater she’s wearing. Her red hair is tight in a bun, but there are a few pieces that are whisping around her face. Whisping? Fuck, I need to get outta here. I need to go lift some iron or go shoot something, I’m almost waxing poetic and the thought just gets me back on task. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
She still won’t look at me. And that sort of pisses me off a little. I’m not used to timid women and the fact that I scare her, that she can’t look at me, sort of bothers me. “Spaghetti… or something Italian anyway.”
Her face lights up. “Um,” she moans, and as she does, I wonder if she realizes what that sound does to a man. Especially one that can’t remember the last time he had a woman. She points to one of the green bunches. “This is the one you want. It’s sweet basil and is perfect for Italian food. Now, to pick out a good bunch, you look for the ones with vibrant green leaves. And no dark spots too.” She plucks a bunch off the shelf and holds it under her nose, taking a deep breath. When she breathes it in, she moans again.
I make a point not to adjust myself while she’s standing beside me. I have a feeling if I do, she’s going to run screaming. She holds out the bunch to me. “Smell it.”
I almost look around to see if any of my buddies are here and I need to turn in my man card before I do what she asks. I put my hand around hers that’s holding the bunch of herbs and bring it closer to my face. My eyes are on hers the whole time, and while I inhale, I can see the awareness light up in her eyes. With the scent of sweet and savory in my nose, I watch as her face flames and she tries to pull her hand away. I almost hold it, enjoying the way she fidgets around, her eyes wide behind her glasses. But realizing she’s uncomfortable, I reluctantly release her. “It smells good. Thank you… for your help.”
She barely nods her head at me before she’s pushing her cart away. I follow behind her at a slower pace, not taking my eyes off her. She’s shapeless with the long skirt and big shirt, definitely not my type, but I have to admit there’s something intriguing about her. Even though there is another lane open, I get in line behind her.
Bethany
He’s not anywhere near me. His cart is at my back and he’s on the other side, but I can still feel the heat from him as if his hand is still around mine from when I was holding the basil out for him to smell. Awkward and timid, that’s me. I peek at him through my lashes as the cashier rings me up. He’s tall, wide, and confident. There’s an arrogance about him, but I can see why. He’s probably the handsomest man I’ve ever seen in my life. Even with the scar that is on the side of his face, he’s beautiful. When his gaze meets mine, I look away quickly.
“What’s your name?”
I turn and raise my eyes to him, and I can see the smirk on his face, like he knows how good-looking he is and how he affects me. “Bethany.”
He reaches across the length of the cart easily and holds his hand out to me. “I’m Travis. It’s nice to meet you, Bethany.”
I look at his hand before putting mine in it. His hold is firm and it’s like a warmth rolls through my body and tugs down deep in my belly. I release mine, but he keeps holding on to me.
“Thank you for your help back there.”
I shake my shoulders at him. “Sure, no problem,” I mutter.
The cashier gives me the total and I pay him quickly while stuffing everything into my cart. When I look at where Travis was standing, he’s no longer standing there, staring at me. I look at his cart, half wondering where he went, when I feel his presence behind me. He reaches around me, his hard chest to my back, and grabs the bags and puts them into my cart. I completely forget to take a breath. Again, I mutter thanks and start to push the cart away when I hear the cashier tell him, “She’s the librarian.”
And then Travis’ response echoes to me. “Figures.”
I tuck my chin to my chest and h
ustle out of the store. I load up my groceries, rushing to get out of the parking lot before he gets outside. I know he was playing with me. I guess some men think it’s fun to play with frumpy, insecure women.
I push my glasses further up my nose and try to put all thoughts of Travis out of my head.
2
Travis
“My friend is coming to read to me, so be nice.”
I look at my Aunt Madge standing the doorway of her house. She’s been like a mother to me, so she’s the only one that can get away with talking to me like that.
“When am I not nice?” I ask her as if I’m offended. The truth is I’m blunt, and to some that comes off as not nice.
She just looks at me with her knowing smile. I drop the hammer from my hand and walk over to her. “Are your eyes not any better? I thought…”
She waves me off. “My eyes are just fine, thank you very much. I just have trouble reading my stories. My doctor told me the blurriness would go away.”
“Aunt Madge, maybe I should take you in for a recheck while I’m here,” I tell her. But even as the words leave my mouth, I know what her answer is going to be.
She harrumphs. “Hogwash. I’m fine, and you’re only here two weeks. I’m not spending that time at doctors’ appointments.”
I want to argue with her, but I know there’s no point. “Fine. Don’t worry about your friend. I’ll stay out of your all’s way. Besides, I’ve got this long list of repairs I want to get done anyway.”
She starts to tell me “thank you” for the hundredth time when she gets distracted by the car that pulls into the driveway. I turn and look, just as Bethany, the librarian, gets out of the driver’s seat. I can tell the first moment she notices me. She was smiling and carefree at first and one look at me, it’s like a wall slams down between us.
My aunt doesn’t notice as she stands at the top of the porch with her arms held wide open. When they hug, I just stand to the side and wait for the introductions.
“Bethany, honey, this is my nephew, Travis. He’s here visiting me. And Travis, this is my friend I told you about.”
My aunt is standing between us, but I still make a point to touch Bethany, maybe because I just want to see her reaction again, or maybe there’s another reason that I don’t want to even think about. But I take the few steps and hold my hand out. “We actually met yesterday, Aunt Madge. She helped me find the basil.” I look at Bethany and her eyes get wider the closer I get. “It’s good to see you again, Bethany.”
She looks down at my hand, and I can tell she doesn’t want to take it. She looks at Aunt Madge, back to me, and then at my hand. Finally, she puts her hand in mine, answering every question that I had last night when I thought about her. It wasn’t just a one-time thing or a freak of nature. No, the dowdy librarian with the too big clothes, big, lopsided glasses, and hair bun makes my pulse pick up double-time.
In a flash, I release her and mutter something to them that I’m going to get back to work. There’s no doubt about it: she’s off limits. I would ruin her. I’ve lived twenty lives compared to her. She’s probably never left this small town—hell, she’s probably still a virgin.
Fuck! As soon as the thought goes through my head, all the blood goes straight to my dick. They walk inside the house, but I don’t let myself look up at her. No, I’m staying out here and staying clear of the mousy librarian.
Bethany
“Really, Madge. I can come back another time. You should spend time with your nephew while he’s here,” I plead with her. Right now, I’d do anything to get out of here. The way that Travis looked at me on the porch lets me know I don’t stand a chance against the needy desire I saw in his face.
But Madge just shakes her head, pulling me to the couch. “Nonsense. He’s going to be outside working anyway. Please stay.”
I know I can’t tell her no. I felt so bad after her cataract surgery. She had just a few complications and her eyes are still blurry. When I came to see her, she was so upset that she couldn’t read her books, her favorite pastime, that I offered to read to her. However, I didn’t know I’d be doing so with an audience.
I look at the closed front door and sit down on the couch. I open my purse just as she claps her hands together. “Did you bring it?”
I peek at the door again and pull the book from my purse, showing it to her. It had been on loan the last few weeks and I tried to get her to let me get the ebook or even the audiobook for her, but she wasn’t having it. “There’s nothing like the smell of a book in your hands,” she always tells me.
“I got it.” As I hold the book out to her with the explicit cover on the front, she starts to squinch her eyes to see it. I pull the book back. “Don’t strain your eyes, Madge.”
She shakes her head and laughs. “Of course, of course, my heart probably couldn’t take looking at the cover anyway. Do you want something to drink before you get started?”
I tell her no and crack open the book. Madge lies backwards with her head on the back of the chair and closes her eyes. This is exactly what she’s done the last few times I’ve been here and I’ve come to learn that Madge totally immerses herself into the book. A time or two I’ve thought she was sleeping, but when I would stop, she would open her eyes wondering what happened.
So I begin.
The first sentence makes me blush, but I peek at the closed door and continue. We get about thirty minutes into it and the front door opens. I close the book in my hands quickly, holding it in a way so he won’t see the cover.
He looks between his aunt and me, and then apologizes. He grabs something from the hallway closet and is out the door again, barely glancing our way.
I’m looking at the door he just walked out of and Madge reaches over, patting my hand. “It’s okay, dear. He’s not paying any attention to us. I knew he would be bored sitting around all the time, so I’ve given him a list of things that need done around here.”
I take a deep breath and start to read again.
3
Bethany
He brushes her hair to the side and grips her neck, forcing her to look up at him.
I take a deep breath and then keep reading. I knew what kind of books Madge liked to read by her many visits to the library. And really, truth be told, I like to read the same books. I figure if I’m never going to be able to have that life, I can live it vicariously through the books I read. But I never imagined that I would be reading them aloud anywhere, especially knowing there is a hot, military man right outside that could come in any minute. But after one glance at Madge, I know I have to continue. She’s looked forward to this book for so long, there’s no way I can disappoint her.
I slip my shoes off and pull my feet up and tuck them underneath me. I can hear the steady beat of the hammer outside, so I allow myself to get engrossed in the story.
He’s loved her for so long and she drives him crazy. He has no control when it comes to her with her long blond hair wrapped around his fist and deep blue eyes staring up at him. She looks at him pleadingly, and he doesn’t know if she’s asking to be released, or if she’s wanting to be kissed.
When her tongue glides out along her lower lip and a soft moan escapes her, it’s his undoing.
He reaches down and barely touches his lips to hers. But he finds that one touch is not enough. No, he can’t stop until he’s claimed her completely. He wants her as his, to control, to please, to claim. He picks her up and her legs go around his waist. She can feel his hard shaft pressed against her and her head falls backwards as if she may faint.
He forces her to look at him.
I clear my throat, trying to get rid of the husky sound of my voice, knowing that this book is getting to me more than it should. But I can’t help but imagine it, as if I’m in the place of the heroine and my mind goes to Travis. Darn, he could definitely take the role of the alpha man of the story.
I clear my throat again and start reading.
Her eyes are hooded and already
almost glazed over from all the feelings he’s bringing to the surface. She’s never done this before. Heck, she’s never even been held in a man’s arms before. But there’s something about him that makes her want to lose all control and do what she’s never done before.
And even though she finds herself slipping, she still mutters as she tries to pull from his arms. “You can’t treat me this way, as if I’m a common whore.”
Instead of loosening his arms and letting her go, his grip tightens on her ass, wedging her even more against his hardness. She bites on to her lower lip because the contact is too much. Too fast.
He gasps and uses his hands to move her hips up and down. “You could come just from this, couldn’t you?” He’s cocky and self assured and she should stop him, but she can’t. Her body is reacting to him in a way that she’s never experienced before. There’s no sense in denying it; at this point she would let him do whatever he wants to her if he keeps doing what he’s doing now.
He sounds cocky and oh, so sure of himself, but he doesn’t give her time to answer because he’s controlling her. Pushing and pulling her hips, thrusting his hips into her. She moans, a guttural sound that fills the air around them and holds them tight. He’s supposed to be the one in control here, but he’s losing it quickly. He’d dreamt of this moment from the first time he met her, and her sweet scent and soft body is his ruin.
His mouth is tasting her, loving her neck, suckling any piece of bare skin he can reach. He groans as she starts to move her hips, seeking pleasure from him. “You’re not a whore, baby. Don’t ever say that. I’ve wanted you for so long and I know you deserve more, but I’m weak. I can’t be in the same room with you without imagining exactly this.” He thrusts his hips then, pushing her over the edge. Her whole body tautens and he soaks it all in, her little gasps, sweet whimpers, and shaking limbs. He wants to commit it to memory and never forget it. Because for the first time, he is whole and now he’s even more determined. She is his and he’s willing to do anything to keep her.
