The Truth of the Body (Templer Series) Page 4

  I almost pull Mia off her feet in my rush to escape to the back of the stage and out into the edge of the engineering tent. We have almost reached the refreshments area when I am suddenly lifted off my feet and carried out of the tent.

  ***

  I wiggle and struggle to free myself but the solid arms tighten harder around me. Suddenly we reach a building where I can smell food cooking. I am gruffly slid down his body and plonked on my feet. Logan pins me to the wall ordering me not to move before he marches inside. I hear him boom a command for the building to be cleared, and no-one is allowed to enter until further notice. A trail of cooks and a few straggling service personnel hastily make their exit, before I am pulled inside.

  Facing me now, Logan stares hard into my face for a few moments before speaking. He scrapes a hand roughly down his face. “What the fuck are you doing here, Amber?” He yells, before pacing back and forth.

  Words and sentences come and go but I only stutter, inaudibly. “I-I-I’m here…..”

  “Well? This is a fucking war zone, Amber! What the fuck!” He runs his hand down his face for a second time, taking a deep breath.

  “If you let me get my words out……” I put my hands up defiantly.

  Suddenly, he grips me by the shoulders, leaning in closer to my face. I can feel his breath as he inhales and exhales sharply. He calms slightly. “This isn’t a place for you. Not here.”

  “But, I’m here with the BFF. I came to…..”

  He relaxes his grip on my shoulders. He shakes his head softly, shutting his eyes for a brief moment. He opens them and looks at me intensely. “I walked away that night for a reason, Amber. You know the score. And now you are fucking here….in my unit, for fuck’s sake!”

  I push his arms off me. I want to get away from here. From him. Being in front of him at this moment, inhaling his scent, makes me want to throw myself into his arms. But that is the last thing I should do. And it would appear to be the last thing he would want.

  “I should go. Please, Logan, just take me back to the engineering tent. And I will try to stay out of your way until we leave tomorrow.” I avoid his gaze, shuffling from one foot to the other.

  There is silence. He does not reply or make a move to escort me back to the tent. I glance up to see him, stood stiff, hands fisted on his hips. His head is slighted bowed.

  Unexpectedly, he takes a step forward, pulling me into his arms. He brushes his lips softly against mine before tilting my head back to look him fully in the face. “Why are you such a pain in my ass, Amber?”

  Before I have a chance to respond, he pulls away and makes for the door of the cookhouse. He turns, instructing me to stay where I am, until he returns. A few minutes pass by before I see him enter the door again. He snatches up my hand and leads me across the encampment towards a row of tents. Pulling back a flap, I am ushered inside a tent which is obviously shared by two personnel, Logan I assume and another Commanding Officer.

  “Am…am I allowed in here?” I stammer.

  “Yes. We will not be disturbed. These are my private quarters that I share with another Major. Now sit here.” He gestures for me to join him on his bunk. I gingerly sit myself down, not sure what to expect.

  ***

  His eyes stare directly into mine with such intensity and need, I instantly feel my breath begin to quicken. Peeling my dress down from my shoulder, he swiftly unclasped my bra allowing it fall. He starts to plant light kisses along my jaw line, across my face, finding my mouth. His warm tongue strokes my bottom lip, before he begins to nibble it so softly causing a shudder down my spine. I feel warmth start to rise in my sex. I love the feel of his touch so much. I moan out my pleasure.

  He trails soft feathery kisses down my neck, collar bone and further to my breasts before beginning to circle his tongue around each nipple. I arch automatically to the sensation. He suckles each nipple, repeats to circle with his tongue, before gently biting, and suckling again. I arch and groan out loud. More kisses now, down across my ribcage, intervening with long, slow licks. I can feel the ache build in my sex, arousal fluids beginning to flush the folds. He rolls me dress down the remainder of my body, taking my panties until I am naked before him.

  He continues to trail kisses and licking down past my pubic area and onto my inner thighs, ignoring my sex. I arch again, wanting in there…. needing his tongue on my sex. After what feels like forever, he licks his way to my sex. I’m aching so much now, one circle of my clit will send me over the edge. I’m arching and groaning, desperate for his tongue, aching for release.

  He plunges his tongue straight into my folds as I buck in response.

  “Logan…” I whimper, arching against him, riding his tongue. He groans his own pleasure.

  Again, plunging into my folds with his tongue, in, out, in, out, letting me ride him. He releases, beginning circles of eight around my clit. The tightness and pull of imminent orgasm is almost unbearable, pain and pleasure combined. He quickens the pace of his circling before taking it whole in his mouth, sucking hard, taking me there….taking me over the edge.

  “Yes, Logan!” I arch and shudder out the release.

  “Undress me, Amber” He groans, standing before me.

  I fumble shakily with the buttons of his combat uniform, sliding my hands under his shirt, stroking his taut muscles that stretch across his stomach. I glide my hands down his torso, hypnotised by the swell of his erection as it strains against the material of his pants. I rub my hand along its length, back and forth, watching as his eyes become hooded, drowsy with desire. A loud moan escapes from his mouth, the sound so deep and guttural, my sex pulsated again with heat. I lean into him, letting the weighty head of his cock rest on my outstretched tongue. He watches me hungrily as I begin to draw his cock into my mouth, sucking and circling my lips around the dense shaft. I fist him softly with one hand while the other begins to massage his balls. He throws his head back, his eyes rolling with pleasure.

  “You have a fucking sweet mouth, baby” He groans, his hips arching into me.

  Sucking him deeper now, pulling him fully into my throat, drawing his release closer and closer to the edge. His cock begins to swell and pulse on my tongue as I hear his breath become hoarse. I moan as I feel more powerful and feminine than I have ever felt with a man.

  He withdraws himself abruptly from my grasp, sliding himself over me as he lays me down on the mattress. He gently pulls up my knees, spreading my thighs wide.

  Lifting my ass only slightly with both hands, he plunges his divine cock straight into my quivering sex, rocking backwards and forwards ever so slowly. He begins gentle bites on my neck, my jawline, nuzzling and nipping at me as he rocks against my pubic area, expertly massaging my clit. I buck and arch again needing him deeper. I can feel the tightness building again. The sounds of his gentle groans in my ear of his own pleasure taking me there, up the edge again.

  “Come again for me baby. I love to hear you come” He breathes out a groan in my ear.

  He is quickening the pace now with his cock, thrusting deeper, up, up, still rocking and grinding on my clit. The tightening is intense, feeling me squeezing hard against his cock.

  “Oh, fuck, you’re so tight and wet……I love being inside you” He growls out a groan.

  He is pounding my pussy now, my clit slapping against him. He is groaning and panting, in, out, in, out, hot against my neck. The tightening pull as my orgasm builds as I thrust myself against him, matching him pace for pace.

  “I love your cock inside me!” I cry out, shattering and flooding around him.

  “Fuck, baby. I’m there!” He growls, harsh and raw.

  And he is there, over the edge in the abyss….shuddering his release, thrusting and convulsing….his back and head arched back, emptying himself into me.

  He collapses beside me, pulling me into him holding me tight against him. He continues to nuzzle at the nape of my neck as we come down, our breathing slowly returning to normal. We lay together in silence
, as he pulls the sheets over our bodies, and sleep beckons.

  Chapter Eleven

  Five weeks have passed since my trip to Afghanistan. Logan was so loving and tender on that night, more so than any man I have ever encountered. Yet, as we woke at dawn, he reminded me that I must forget him. Let me go he had said as he must me. I knew then that he does hold feelings for me which made leaving him and trying to forget him these last few weeks even harder than before.

  I have thrown myself into my art work, creating two new sculptures since my return. One of the pieces will soon be on its way to be a permanent structure at the entrance of the rehabilitation unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I have not named this piece. Nothing seemed to be fitting or appropriate; however, it represents healing but also love.

  Ray is giving me a helping hand to wrap it ready for its move to Birmingham. She has been a true friend since I got back, listening and drying my tears. It was her that pushed me to get these two pieces finished. Mia and Tilly have been great, too. Mia insists she was right about Logan, and still remains fixated that our paths will cross again.

  ***

  “Excuse me, I am looking for Amber Templer?” Ray and I startle slightly at the quiet voice behind us, so engrossed were we in our packing up of my sculpture.

  “I’m Amber. Can I help you?” I smile, stretching out a friendly hand, as I observe the woman stood before me. She looks familiar yet I know for sure I have never met her.

  “Oh, thank goodness.” She breathes a sigh of relief. “I have been looking for you for weeks, and now I have found you.” She lets out a nervous laugh.

  “Looking for me? Are you interested in one of my sculptures?” I glance, slightly puzzled, between her and Ray.

  “Um..no, actually. I’m Amanda Grant. Logan’s sister. And I would like to speak with you privately if I can.”

  A breath catches in my throat, as my head begins to spin. Nausea rises, watering my mouth. I part my lips to speak as I sink into darkness, collapsing onto the floor.

  ***

  I take another sip of my water as I watch her pour cream into her coffee. After I fainted, and had managed to pull myself together, I agreed to go with her for a chat over coffee.

  She smiles again with kind eyes. “I’m sorry for startling you. Maybe I should have written to you instead.”

  “I’m sorry for fainting.” I reply, flushing. “I thought you were about to deliver some awful news. I feel foolish now.”

  “Please don’t. It was my fault entirely. Now can I tell you why I am here?” She leans forward a little, seeking assurance.

  “Of course. But he is ok, isn’t he?”

  She smiles wide. “Yes, he is fine. But he will be so angry with me if he knows I am here talking to you, so I must ask you if you will keep this visit to yourself?” She searches again for further reassurance. I nod my agreement, although inwardly, I’m not entirely sure if I am doing the right thing agreeing to anything.

  She takes a long pause before continuing. “I’m going to get straight to the point. Are you in love with my brother?”

  I choke back a mouthful of water, staring at her wide eyed. “Gosh, you really did get to the point!”

  “Yes, sorry. I take after Logan, I suppose. So are you in love with him?”

  “I-I don’t understand. Why would I tell you? Why are you here?” I lean back, pressing my back hard into the chair, suddenly feeling very exposed.

  “I get it. I would feel the same if some stranger turned up asking me the same questions. Simply……I think my brother is in love with you.” She rolls out the fact as though she was listing off her shopping.

  My eyes grow wider. I’m aware I am also open mouthed. Very attractive, I’m sure. “How….what…..did he tell you this?” I splutter, still taking in the information.

  “Logan?” She laughs loudly. “No, he didn’t tell me. He didn’t have to. He never talks about women. No need to. He doesn’t have relationships. Does not want a woman waiting for him and all that rubbish he fills his head with. Until you, that is.”

  “You have lost me…..” I shake my head, confused.

  “He rings home about once or twice a month. The last few calls when he has spoken to my partner, Geoff, he has ‘complained’ about this woman who is a pain in his ass, and who keeps getting under his skin. Yet while he is moaning about you, he lets it slip about how incredibly beautiful you are. When he said that you were writing to one of his men, and that he wanted to tear the guys head right off from his shoulders….well, it was obvious.” She laughs, her eyes full of love for her brother.

  I shrug weakly. “I don’t see how you believing he loves me changes anything. He’s made it very clear that he doesn’t want anything from me, or to see me again. How I feel about him is….well….”

  She leans forward suddenly. “Oh, so you are in love with him?”

  “Maybe I am” I retort defiantly. “But it still does not change anything. Christ, you sound like Mia!”

  “Mia?”

  “My brother’s fiancé. Since she overcame all her insecurities to find love with my brother, she is convinced she is an expert now. It is infuriating. She dragged me to Afghanistan to prove to me that Logan had feelings for me. All the result of that effort was for me to return home more hurt and confused than before. So I don’t need your involvement either!” A sob retches in my throat as I spit out my irritation.

  I stumble to my feet making to leave. Amanda swiftly pulls at my wrist urging me to sit back down. “Maybe you are right. Maybe you are not the right woman for my brother after all.” She sighs, although the gentle smirk that plays on her lips does not escape my notice.

  “You don’t even know me!” I spit out.

  “Well, I know you don’t wear big girly pants” She laughs.

  “What?” I throw her a puzzled grimace.

  “Because if you did….you would pull them up, stop moping, and fight for my brother. He is only doing what he thinks is the right thing to do. My brother is a fool. But are you?” She pokes a finger into the back of my hand.

  I look at her for a long moment, considering what she has just said. I take several deep breaths before speaking. “I do have big girly pants. Now will you help me?” And with that, we laugh together.

  Chapter Twelve

  Now before you go there, let me stop you. I am not a stalker. I am fighting for someone I love. And I have his family’s full support.

  So that is why I am here today. 40 Commando have finished their tour in Afghanistan and are due to parade through the town of Taunton in Somerset, the home of their main base. My stomach is in my throat with excitement, pride and anxiety. I am gripping my flag so tightly my fingers have set rigidly around the thin white pole. Amanda and Geoff have travelled down from Scotland to show their support and pride for Logan. She gives me a gentle squeeze around my shoulders as we begin to hear the Band of the Her Majesty's Royal Marines, from Lympstone, Devon marching towards us.

  Very soon we see the first sight of the full blue dress uniforms of the units as they march up Station Road before they come to a stop at the town centre war memorial. All around me people are cheering, whistling and crying, their voices and hearts bursting with pride for our troops. I see Aiden first but he does not see me. His vision is fixed directly ahead, marching faultlessly with his unit. I jump up and down trying to catch a glimpse of Logan and then as I almost give up and there he is, looking more handsome and tall than I have ever saw him. Emotions overtake me as I find myself bursting into sobs. I see Amanda and her body is shaking with tears splashing off her cheeks. We hug each other tight.

  Many spectators shed tears as the Mayor of Taunton Deane, pays tribute to the fallen men. "It is wonderful to see so many people here today supporting the 40 Commando. The Royal Marines deserve our thanks for their service to our country. We pay tribute to your colleagues who did not return home”

  We all join together in song as the Chaplain of the 40 Commando leads us through I Vow to
Thee, My Country.

  There are further speeches from the Commanding Officers reflecting on the fallen and the pride of all the serving men and women. As the parade and ceremonies draw to a close, the crowds raise final cheers, all clapping their hands in a deafening roar of pride. The families of those parading today rush forward into the arms of their loved ones.

  ***

  Amanda gushes forward pulling me behind her. She throws herself at her brother who sweeps her up into his arms embarrassed and flushed at her very public display of affection. Almost instantaneously, he drops her to her feet as his gaze reaches mine. He throws a furious glare to Amanda then back towards me. Pull up your big girly pants, Amber……

  “What the fuck?” He shouts. “Why are you here, Amber?”

  Amanda opens her mouth to defend me but I pull her away, holding my hand to her mouth. I front up to him, my chin tilted defiantly. “I came for you, Marine Man. And I’m not going away any time soon….and….”

  “Did I ask you to fucking come?” He bellows at me. I stand my ground, not flinching. I put my hands on my hips to emphasise my point.

  I make to speak again before I am thrust sideways. “Don’t you dare fucking speak to her like that!” Aiden roars at his Commanding Officer.

  Logan strides towards Aiden, his face thunderous. I gasp in horror as he towers over Aiden, inches from his face. “Watch your fucking position, Marine! Now back away now, Corporal or by God, you will fucking regret you ever spoke to me like that!” Logan growls.

  “Aiden…..walk away. Please!” I shout, tugging at his arm. He jerks away from me, storming away.

  Logan scrapes a hand down his face. His chest heaves and rises sharply. Amanda puts a gentle hand on his chest but he sharply brushes her away. I gesture to her to give us some space for a few moments. Geoff pulls her away to stand a few metres back. I repeat her action by putting my hand on his chest. He doesn’t brush it away, instead looking down at it. I hold it there calmly before speaking.