In the Arms of a Soldier (5 page)

“In case that guy comes back?” I asked, frowning.

“Yeah, I doubt he’ll be around again.  The police will be patrolling this area more, and they’re out searching for him.  He has no reason to return.  But I don’t want to leave it there in the off chance that he does come back.”

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” I said hesitantly.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to worry you.  It’s just a precaution.  Let’s just take that variable out of the equation.  Then both of us will feel better about it.”

“I know,” I said, nodding.

I must have still looked uncertain, because Josh sat up beside me and reached out to cup my face in his hand.  “Jess, I swear I’ll never let anything happen to you.”  A single tear rolled down my cheek, and Josh pulled me to him.  “Baby, please don’t cry,” he said, his voice husky.  I relaxed against his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his tee shirt, and felt his strong arms tighten around me.  A few more tears slipped down my cheeks, and I wiped them away, feeling slightly foolish for crying again in front of Josh.  We were safe in my bedroom.  It’s not like anything was going to happen to me here.

“Shhh,” he whispered, stroking my hair.  I finally began to feel calmer but made no move to leave his arms. 
As he held me close, I suddenly realized that we were snuggled up in my bed, each wearing next to nothing.  Josh had on his tee shirt and boxers, and I was wearing only the tank top and panties that I’d worn to bed last night.  His hand began absently stroking the bare skin on my upper arm, and my senses shifted into overdrive, suddenly aware of his every movement and touch.  His chest rose and fell beneath me, but I could practically feel a shift in the atmosphere between us—that, and a certain part of Josh’s anatomy that was growing hard as he held me.

Josh made no move away
from me either, and I uncertainly glanced up at him.  His blue eyes met mine, searching, and then he dipped his head down, his lips brushing against my mouth.  I hesitated only a moment before kissing him back, loving the feeling of Josh’s strong arms around me and his warm mouth on mine.  My hands traced over his face and strong jaw, feeling the stubble across his skin, and I thought there could be nothing sexier than Josh in my bed, kissing me passionately.  He shifted our bodies, gently lowering me down, so that I was lying across the bed with him hovering above me.  “Josh,” I breathed, wrapping my arms around his neck.  The butterflies in my stomach were back, only this time I could tell that so much more than an unassuming kiss was about to happen.

Josh’s
soft lips met mine again, his tongue pushing its way inside.  My tongue danced with his as he explored my mouth.  His chest rubbed up against my pert nipples, covered only by my thin tank top, and my panties were already dampening with arousal.  “Jess,” he mumbled, his voice low as he began softly kissing the tender skin of my neck.  “I’ve always wanted you.”

“What?” I murmured, confused by his sudden confession but distracted as
he gently sucked on my skin, his teeth grazing against my flesh.  His hand traced up my body, skimming over my hip and ribcage, until he was squeezing and cupping one breast.  His thumb grazed across my nipple, gently moving back and forth, as I moaned.  I could feel his erection pressing against my stomach and longed to feel Josh deep inside of me.

“You heard me,” he said softly, moving his lips
farther down until he reached my heaving chest.  He pulled my tank top to the side, exposing one breast, and he began to suck on my nipple.  He took my breast further into his mouth and then gently flicked his tongue back and forth, teasing me until I groaned again, and then he kissed his way down my stomach.  “I’ve always wanted you,” he repeated slowly, his voice husky with lust and desire. His fingers slipped beneath the top of my panties, skimming across the skin of my stomach, and he tugged the material down.

“Josh,” I panted, unbelieving this was really happening.  Was Josh, the guy I’d
grown up with and known for my entire life, really saying that he had feelings for me, too?  Was he really here in my bed?  He pulled my panties completely off and then kissed his way back up my leg, taking his time as he moved up my inner thigh until I was quivering with desire beneath him.  Before I could say a word, he was burying his mouth in me, kissing and licking my tender folds with his tongue.

“Oh,” I gasped.  My breathing became heavy as Josh continued to pleasure me. 
His tongue delved again through my folds until he found my tiny bundle of nerves.  He gently licked me there, gauging my reaction as I writhed beneath him.  I could feel an ache building deep within my core, and I was suddenly desperate for release.  Josh inserted two fingers inside of me, working them in and out, and I couldn’t help but thrust against him.

“That’s it, Baby,” he said huskily.  He lightly worked his tongue over my sensitive nub, and I felt a warmth
surging through me.  I gasped as he sped up his erotic caress, and as I thrust against his strong fingers again and again, he flicked his tongue back and forth until I was crying out in ecstasy.

Josh kissed his way back up my stomach, pushing my tank top up with him.  He pulled it up and off over my head
then gazed down at me.  “I like making you come undone,” he whispered huskily, “and I can’t wait to make love to you.” He eased his boxer shorts down to reveal his erect manhood, pulled his tee shirt off over his head, and bent down to kiss me.  The tip of his penis pushed up against my mound as his lips met mine, and I couldn’t wait until Josh was inside of me.  I reached up to guide him, and I gasped as he slid in with one smooth stroke, filling me up with his length and girth.

“You okay?” he whispered.

“Yeah,” I said, slowly adjusting to the feeling of his hardness inside of me.  Now that he was here I couldn’t imagine ever letting him go.  His chest pressed up against my bare breasts as he began to slowly move inside of me, and I was having a hard time deciding what was more erotic—the expert touch of his tongue moments ago, the feeling of him buried deep within me, or the simple pleasure of his hard chest rubbing against my nipples with every movement he made.

Josh grunted as he tried to keep the pace slow and steady, but I could tell that he was holding back. 
The base of his penis was brushing up against my tender nub as he began to penetrate me more deeply, and I could feel the beginning of another orgasm starting to form.  He held himself up on his arms, his biceps bulging, as he bent down to kiss me.  His tongue pushed into my mouth, and I gasped at the overwhelming feeling of Josh completely filling me up.  He began to pick up his pace, and I felt a new surge of pleasure shoot right through me.  He gave another powerful thrust, and I let out a small cry of pleasure, wondering if he knew the effect he was having on me.  Josh seemed to sense that I was on the verge of coming once more, and he thrust again and again, filling me up with his manhood, until I was crying out again and again.

Josh finished
as well and collapsed on top of me.  His head rested next to mine, buried in the pillow, and he turned and softly kissed my temple as he caught his breath.  “That was amazing,” he said, finally pulling out of me and moving to my side.

“Amazing,” I agreed
, still trying to catch my breath.  He slung an arm over my waist, and I glanced over at him.  “But what did you mean you’ve always wanted me?  Since when?”

“Since always,” he said with a sly grin.

“Josh,” I protested.  “That’s not an answer.”

“How about I tell you later?” he asked, a mischievous look in his eyes.

“Later?  Why later?”

He rolled over, pulling me with him, so that I was splayed out on top of his muscular body. 
He kissed my lips, and I could feel him already growing hard again beneath me.

“Because I’m ready for round two.”

Josh and I finally managed to get out of bed at noon.  He’d made love to me again and again, and it was only the phone ringing on my nightstand that finally managed to get us both to leave our safe and warm love nest.  The police had captured a suspect and wanted Josh and me to come down to the station to ID him.  After we’d quickly showered and dressed, I’d nervously held his hand as we’d taken the subway down to the station.  Josh held me securely in his arms as we stood in a private room looking at a police lineup, and I flinched slightly as the sight of my attacker.  Josh had tensed up as well, and the officer with us could tell from our reaction that was him.

We’d met up with Rob and Allie for a late lunch/early dinner at one of our favorite little cafes by our apartment.  They’d been shocked by what had happened last night but even more surprised at the sight of Josh’s arm draped over my shoulders as they sat down across from us.
   The two of them exchanged curious glances before broaching the subject.

“So, I get that you’re protective of Jessica after what happened, but does this mean the two of you are
finally together?” Allie asked.

“Well if so, it’s about damn time,” Rob said with a grin.

Josh and I locked eyes before looking back over at them.

“Yep,” Allie said with a laugh.  “I think that look said it all.”

“We haven’t exactly discussed it yet,” I hedged, hoping we could change the subject until Josh and I at least had a chance to discuss things privately.  Obviously we’d both wanted what happened between us this morning, but was it just a moment of passion fueled by the adrenaline of the night before?  Just the circumstances getting the better of us?  Although Mike had thought that I’d been too close to Josh all along, I’d only just noticed my newfound attraction to Josh days before.  If Josh had feelings for me before his return home this weekend, why hadn’t he said anything earlier?  There was definitely a lot that we needed to discuss.

“All right, we’ll cut you a break,” Allie
said.  “I’m really happy for you two though since you’re obviously meant to be together.  And so, so glad that you’re okay.  I mean what if Josh hadn’t been there last night?”

“The whole reason we got back then was because of me,” Josh said regretfully.

“It doesn’t matter now,” I said matter-of-factly.  “They caught the guy, and he won’t be after me or anyone else.”

“So how are your parents?” Rob asked, changing the subject.  “
Allie said you drove down to see them yesterday.  They must’ve been so glad to see you.”

“Yeah,
for sure.  I’d only been gone six months, but I think my mom’s ready for me to get out of the military,” Josh said, his voice deep.  I glanced over and could see the tension across his face as he clenched his strong jaw.  I knew it was hard on his mom having Josh deployed so far away.  She struggled enough with her illness as it was, and having to worry about her only son much of the time probably didn’t help matters.

“Do you think you’ll
ever get out of the Army?” Allie asked.

Josh gave a shrug.  “Who knows.  I’ve put in eight years, so I could
.  This is what I’ve been trained for though, and I’m good at it.  It would be hard to just throw my career away at this point.”

“Just marry Jess,” Rob said with a grin.  “She’s a doctor.”

Josh shifted uneasily beside me, and I glanced down at the time on my phone.  “Look, we should probably be getting back.  It’s been a long couple of days, and I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty wiped myself,” Josh said.

I hugged Allie goodbye as we stood, and Josh and Rob shook hands.  “Let’s get together for a girl’s night soon,” Allie said.  “It’s been way too long, and I want to hear all about you and Josh.”

I grinned back.  “That sounds like a plan.
  We’ll find a time when Lexie is free, too.  Tom can babysit.”

We finished saying our goodbyes, and
Josh and I walked the short distance back to our apartment.  It was late afternoon, and the sun was already starting to lower in the sky.  Josh slowed his long pace to match my stride, and as we continued down the block, I could already feel exhaustion setting in.  It was never a good idea to end the weekend less refreshed than when you’d started it, and I had a feeling that the next few days at work would be a killer.  Twelve-hour shifts didn’t go well when you started one already at the peak of exhaustion.

A man jogged by us wearing headphones, passing a little closer than he needed to, and Josh
quickly tugged me to his side.  I glanced up at him, slightly puzzled. “Now I’m always going to be worried about you,” he said quietly.  He pulled open the door to our building and held it for me as we walked inside.  We silently rode the elevator upstairs to our apartment, and I could tell that something was on his mind.  He was much quieter than usual and his mood seemed to have changed significantly from when we’d left our apartment together hours ago.

I walked over to the sofa and sank down onto it, pulling the chenille throw draped across the back around me.
  Josh sat down beside me but didn’t put his arm around my shoulders or pull me close like I was expecting.  I glanced over at him, wondering what exactly was on his mind.

“So, are we going to talk about what happened this morning?” he asked, a serious expression on his face.

“Yes, I think we should,” I said slowly.  “I’ve been thinking—”

“It was a mistake,” Josh said, cutting me off.  “I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you like that, and I’ve felt terrible all
afternoon.”