Valentine from a Soldier

by Makenna Jameison

  Tears started to roll down my cheeks, and Ryan stepped closer, tenderly wiping them away. “Please don’t cry,” he said.

  “I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I said.

  “Me either,” he said, gently grazing his knuckles along my cheek. “I knew you were busy with the wedding this week, but I had to come see you. And I want to give you this.” He pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket and opened it up. A silver necklace with a filigree heart pendant lay inside. “Turn it over,” he said, his voice sexy and low.

  My fingers trembling slightly, I pulled it out of the box and flipped the delicate pendant over. Inscribed on the back were the words “Sarah, My heart belongs to you. Love, Ryan.”

  “It’s beautiful,” I whispered, staring at it intently.

  “Just like you.”

  I gazed back up at him and met his blue eyes.

  “I know we need to talk things over,” he said, “but I was really hoping that I could be your date this evening. Morgan said it was okay,” he added, a gleam in his eye. “And more than anything, I want to make things work for us.”

  “I can’t believe you’re even here,” I said softly.

  “I know what it’s like to love someone and lose them,” he said, his eyes growing misty. “And I know it’s not every day that you meet someone and have the connection that we did. I want to be with you, Sarah.”

  “So do I.”

  “So,” he said, a smile coming to his face. “Does that mean you’ll be my Valentine?”

  “Is that another cheesy pick-up line?”

  “Maybe,” he said, his eyes not leaving mine. His hands wrapped around my waist, and as he leaned down, I could smell the clean scent of his aftershave and feel the warmth radiating from him. As my heartbeat sped up and breathing became shallow, he softly brushed his lips against mine.

  “There you two are!” Morgan suddenly called out. I glanced over my shoulder and saw her rushing toward us and pulling Josh along with her. “I’ve been dying to meet this Ryan of yours.”

  “Of mine,” I said, laughing softly at her choice of words.

  “Yes, yours,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close as I turned to face the new bride and groom. I reached up to put on the necklace that I’d been clutching in one hand, and Ryan’s hands caught mine.

  “Allow me,” he said, his voice deep. He brushed my hair aside and fumbled for a moment, fastening it behind my neck. “Perfect,” he whispered as he ducked his head down, his breath hot on my skin.

  “So are you two going to join the party or what?” Morgan asked, looking at us both with a gleam in her eye.

  “I thought you wanted an introduction,” I said, a realization slowly dawning on me.

  “Oh, Ryan and I are old friends now,” she said with a wink. “Josh and I picked him up from the airport the other night.”

  “And you didn’t even tell me?” I protested. “Unbelievable.”

  “Guys! They’re ready for more pictures!” Chris called out, rounding the corner.

  “Well, let’s go then,” I said, taking Ryan’s strong hand in mine. “Some wedding planner I am, leaving Chris in charge of things.” I started to walk away, tugging Ryan along behind me, and I felt myself flushing as I felt his gaze admiring the way my clingy dress hung from my backside. Although the front of the dress kept me fully covered, the back was mostly open, with delicate spaghetti straps crisscrossing between my shoulder blades. The opening dipped low, with the material below my waist draping across my bottom and falling all the way down to the floor. Suddenly I found myself wishing the reception was already over. We had a lot to discuss this evening, but after we’d talked, I somehow knew I’d be back in Ryan’s strong arms again tonight.

  ***

  Ryan and I moved slowly to the music at the end of the reception as he held me tightly in his embrace. I rested my head against his muscular chest, hardly able to believe all that had happened this evening. We’d talked things over at dinner, as much as we could at least given all that was going on. Ryan had barely left my side the entire night, and I loved holding his hand in mine as we made our way around the room together, greeting my friends and the other guests. As the evening begin to wind down, we joined everyone at the entrance to the banquet hall, throwing rice and confetti at Morgan and Josh as they made their way out into the lobby. I knew they were only going upstairs, but it was still fun to give them a big sendoff.

  “What do you say we get out of here, too?” Ryan asked as the other guests were beginning to leave.

  “That sounds good to me. I’ve got a room upstairs.”

  “I thought we could go back to my room tonight,” he said, his blue eyes searching mine.

  “Sure,” I agreed, not sure what exactly was different from his hotel room than my own.

  He took my hand and led me across the lobby, down the hallway where I’d thought I’d spotted him last night. Sliding his keycard into the lock, he pushed open the door for me, and my heart skipped a beat as I stepped inside. Candles were flickering atop every surface, casting a warm, romantic glow across the room. Two dozen red roses filled a vase on the table, alongside a bottle of champagne chilled in a bucket and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. The bedspread was strewn with rose petals, and two glass filled with champagne were already on the nightstand. I turned around to face Ryan, wonder in my eyes.

  He gave me a slightly embarrassed shrug. “I was hoping you’d forgive me. I would’ve felt kind of silly coming back to all of this alone.”

  “It’s amazing,” I said, gazing up at him.

  “You’re amazing,” he whispered. He stared into my eyes and then slowly leaned over and kissed me. His mouth was soft and warm, and even though we were just getting started, I had the impression that the scent of his aftershave would linger on me long after the sun came up. This wasn’t a man in a hurry. He gently cupped my face in his hands, and I kissed him back, gently tugging on his lower lip as our kiss grew in intensity. Taking that as an invitation, his strong arms slid around me, and he gently backed me up, his mouth never leaving mine, until my legs were pressed against the edge of the bed.

  He gently caressed my cheek with his muscular hand. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured. He kissed me again, and his strong fingers slid beneath one slinky spaghetti strap of my dress. He gently ran his fingers up and down over my skin, as if he wasn’t sure if he should continue or if I would let him. I met his eyes, and he slowly lowered his mouth to my chest, softly kissing me along the tops of my breasts. I sighed contentedly, closing my eyes as I felt his warm breath and soft lips against my skin.

  “I’ve wanted to touch you all night,” he said huskily. He reached down and unzipped the side zipper of my dress, helping me to slip the straps off my shoulders. The red satin confection fell to the ground, leaving me standing in my black strapless bra and black lace panties. “God, you’re so sexy,” he murmured.

  Ryan quickly took off his uniform, undressing down to only his boxers, and he lifted me up into his strong arms. I could see his erection already forming and was dying to feel him inside me again. He placed me onto the bed and climbed in beside me, his warm body pressed tightly against mine as we kissed. He reached around my back and unhooked my bra, kissing my breasts tenderly again and again. One hand slid down until he was caressing me through my lace panties. “Is this okay?” he whispered.

  “Yes,” I gasped, as he found my sweet spot.

  After a moment he pulled my panties down, and his fingers moved through my folds. “God, you are so wet,” he muttered. His fingers trailed upward until he found my fleshy nub, and he began to trace in slow circles. I could already feel a warmth building inside of me, and I gasped as he slightly sped up his movement. “I want to taste you,” he murmured. I arched my back up suddenly, the memory of him going down on me a week ago seared into my brain.

  He moved down my body, and positioning himself between my legs, lowered his mouth and gently licked me with his tongu
e. I writhed under his touch, not sure how much longer I would be able to contain myself with his delicate caress. Ryan gripped my thighs and pushed each leg up and over his strong shoulders, opening me up even further to him. He lowered his mouth again, and after teasingly moving his tongue up and down, began to suck on my clitoris. I gasped and whimpered, unable to move in this position. It was unbelievable that such a big, strong man was able to give me such sweet pleasure. He didn’t let up, and I could feel the heat burning through me until I was spiraling out of control, crying out again and again.

  Kissing me one last time, he eased my legs off of his shoulders. Kneeling between my widespread legs, he pulled a condom on over his throbbing manhood. Ryan kissed his way back up my abdomen, until his lips met with mine and his penis was pushing up against my mound. I reached down to guide him inside me, and my breath caught as his length and girth filled me up. Ryan hovered above me, gazing into my eyes and softly kissing my lips as he began to move. The slow, steady pace of him filling me up, sliding in inch-by-inch and then back out again, was getting me aroused once more. I gasped as he thrust slightly deeper and the base of his penis met with my sensitive nub. Ryan kissed me again, his tongue pushing inside of my mouth. I ached for him to make me come again, releasing the tension building up inside of me, and he began to pick up sped, his mouth stopping any moans that were coming from mine. I gasped again as he thrust harder, and as I clutched onto his strong shoulders, I finally cried out his name.

  Ryan finished as well and pulled me into his strong arms, his hard chest pressed against my back. The light from the candles danced around the room, and I could smell the scent of the rose petals as I lay there content in his embrace. His fingers lightly trailed over my breast, and I thought I could never get enough of the feel of his touch on my skin. “I know the sight-seeing in San Francisco never worked out, but I was thinking maybe we could try Chicago instead,” Ryan whispered in my ear.

  “Mmmm…that sounds good.”

  “So what do you say we stay in bed all day tomorrow and then you can show me around next weekend?” he asked.

  “Next weekend?” I repeated, turning around to face him. “You’ll be back already?”

  He grinned as he took in the expression on my face. “I was kind of thinking of sticking around. Now that I’ve finished my third tour of duty, I’m going to try out civilian life for a change.”

  “In Chicago.” A smile played on my lips, and I was amazed that he’d really move here for me.

  “Only if you’ll have me.”

  I happily kissed him, my hands running over the chiseled features on his face as I held him to me. “That sounds perfect,” I whispered.

  “You didn’t say anything about the first part of the plan.”

  “The first part?” I asked, confused.

  “Staying in bed all day tomorrow,” he replied with a gleam in his blue eyes.

  “Why wait until tomorrow?” I asked. “Let’s stay in bed all weekend starting right…now.”

  He rolled over and pounced, pinning me down as he kissed my lips, my neck, my chest. I closed my eyes and gasped as the feeling of his mouth everywhere overwhelmed me.

  “Oh, and Sarah?” he asked, his voice deep. I looked up at him, seeing the smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  About the Author

  Makenna Jameison is author of the bestselling Christmas with a Soldier, the first book in the Soldier Series Romance Novellas. Look for more of her stories coming soon!

  Want to read more from MAKENNA JAMEISON?

  Keep reading for an exclusive excerpt from her first bestselling novella, Christmas with a Soldier.

  Single-mom Meghan Jones is heading home to finish last-minute Christmas preparations with her five-year-old daughter. Major Trent Harrison is returning to town to say goodbye to his father. When a sudden snowstorm leaves them both stranded, heated animosity between them quickly turns into a night of sizzling passion.

  Is Trent what Meghan has been searching for? Are Meghan and her daughter what Trent never realized he was looking for all along?

  Enjoy this steamy romance this holiday season! Christmas with a Soldier, the first novella in the Soldier Series Romance Novellas.

  Chapter 1

  I sighed as I saw the black Jeep blocking the narrow road in front of me. Its hazard lights were flashing, blinking a warm yellow, but it was hard to see much else with the snow quickly falling. The sudden storm had come out of nowhere, and I hoped it would quickly pass so that I could make it home in time for dinner. My five-year-old daughter Hannah was staying at my parents’ house this afternoon while I finished my Christmas shopping, and I’d promised her a special evening. We had plans to bake Christmas cookies, decorate our tree, and watch some of our favorite holiday movies. I’d planned to pick her up by 4:00, and it was already 3:30 now. The sudden snowfall, plus whatever was causing the delay in front of me, was already throwing a wrench in my plans.

  I turned down the Christmas music playing on my stereo, trying to concentrate as I navigated the slippery road. Should I drive around the Jeep? Pull up behind it and find out what was going on? If the bridge up ahead was icy, I wouldn’t have much chance of getting by either. If there was an accident blocking access, then I really would be in trouble. It would take a couple of hours to navigate the winding country roads back out to the freeway and approach town from another direction. I could always abandon my car and trek through the woods, finding a spot where the creek was narrow enough to cross, and make my way back to the road leading into town. I’d have to call someone to pick me up though, and I didn’t really want my parents driving out with Hannah to come get me in this weather.

  Finally deciding that it would be better just to stop and see what was going on, I gently applied the brakes. My car slid even as it slowed down, and I felt the anti-lock brakes pumping beneath my foot. The noise and motion of it startled me, and I let my foot up ever so slightly, causing my car to slide right into the Jeep.

  “Damn it,” I muttered to myself. My car’s bumper had barely grazed the Jeep’s, and I doubted there was any damage, but now I was going to have to get out in the cold to look at it with the other driver. I pulled the key from the ignition and wrapped my red scarf around my neck. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I ran a hand through my long blonde hair, which hung just past my shoulders. My cheeks were flushed from the heat I had cranked up in the car, and my blue eyes were wide and alert.

  The brisk air bit into me as I stepped outside, and despite the snow still falling, I could tell that it was starting to slightly let up. A few snowflakes landed in my hair, and I brushed them off. I stomped my brown leather boots on the ground, looking at the imprint the sole left on the thin layer of snow, and zipped up my black down jacket as I walked toward the Jeep.

  As I approached the vehicle, I saw that despite the hazard lights being left on, no one was actually inside. That’s strange, I thought. Maybe they had car trouble and had started walking on foot when no other cars came by. I looked up into the distance, and my heart fell as I saw the reason they hadn’t been able to continue: a large tree had fallen across the bridge, blocking access in both directions. I really would have to walk through the woods if I wanted to get home to Hannah at a reasonable hour.

  I was just getting ready to head back to my car to grab my cell phone when I noticed a man walking toward me from the bridge. He was pushing through some of the branches of the fallen tree, apparently on his way back after attempting in vain to get by. I assumed he was the missing owner of the Jeep and stood there watching as he approached. He was wearing fatigues and black combat boots and looked to be at least six feet tall. With broad shoulders and an athletic frame, I could tell that he was in excellent shape. His dark hair was cropped in the standard military fashion, and his chiseled face was set in hard lines as he gazed at me. I wondered if he noticed that my car had slid into his and suddenly felt myself flushing. Nothing like explaining to a handsome str
anger that I’d accidently rear-ended him in the icy conditions.

  “You better turn around; the bridge is out,” he called out to me in a gruff voice.

  A few snow flurries continued to fall, and he shook his head, brushing the snow off himself as he approached.

  “I know, I just noticed. I was actually looking for you though because I accidentally rear-ended your Jeep.”

  He walked the remaining twenty feet to where I stood, his dark brown eyes narrowing. “You’ve got to be kidding me. As if I needed another problem today.” He brushed past me, walking over instead to inspect where our car fenders connected.

  I awkwardly stepped back, letting him examine the damage. “I’m really sorry,” I said. “I slowed down, and the anti-lock brakes came on, and I got a little startled by the whole thing.”

  “You’re not supposed to pump the brakes,” he said exasperatedly.

  “I didn’t. I mean, I’m sorry, but I don’t think there’s any damage.”

  He continued looking at his vehicle and then finally fixed his dark eyes on me. He had dark stubble covering his face, like he hadn’t shaved this morning, and his eyes looked a little tired despite the harshness in them. His mouth was set in a firm line, and I couldn’t quite tell if he was angry or just indifferent. There were no military bases near our small town, and I wondered why he was wearing fatigues. Was he here on official business? Or maybe just visiting someone? He finally seemed to realize that he hadn’t responded to me, and he cleared his throat. “Look, just forget about it. I’ve got enough on my mind without dealing with you, too.”

  I narrowed my eyes slightly, taken aback, confusion flickering across my face. Dealing with me, too? What a jerk, I thought. It’s not like I’d intended to get into a car accident this afternoon. And it’s not my fault that he’d stopped and abandoned his car in the middle of the road. If he wanted to go check out the bridge, he should have at least pulled off the road first.