Christmas With Her Marine, page 1
©December 2020. T.O. Smith. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design: Tiff Writes Romance
Editing: Tiff Writes Romance
Proofreading: T.O. Smith
Paperback ISBN: 9798515634988
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
EPILOGUE
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CHAPTER ONE
Carolinn
“Carolinn, I really, really need you to take this table for me.” My friend and coworker, Anslee, begged me as she pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen where I was trying to enjoy a quick bite to eat before I jumped back out on the floor again to finish up my double. “I would take it, but I already have six tables, and it’s a large group that just came in.” She told me.
I sighed and stood up with my to-go plate of chicken tenders and fries, turning to dump it into the trash, knowing I would never get to finish them now. It would be well past midnight before I managed to get out of here tonight.
Anslee was a good waitress when she didn’t have to take on too much. But the moment things became even the tiniest bit stressful? She caved. Anslee was horrible at working under pressure.
One day, I would make enough money as an author to not have to work all of these shifts anymore. Until that day, I guess I was stuck picking up the slack when all I wanted was to enjoy a damn meal.
“Have any drink orders been taken?” I asked Anslee as I fixed my hair, pulling it back up into a stylish, yet messy bun, a couple of strands falling out to frame my face.
I made my money off of tips, which meant I needed to look as pretty as possible – make-up always on point, a smile on my face. Especially since this time of night, most of our customers were drunk men. Drunk men liked pretty faces, and the prettier you were and the more you smiled, the more they tipped.
“No, sorry. I can’t handle that table – at all. I’m at my wits end.” Anslee told me.
I nodded and quickly moved out from the kitchen, moving to the servers’ area so I could scope out the room, take in how many customers there were. The restaurant was getting packed already, and it wasn’t even well into the night yet.
Tonight was going to be a long one, that was for sure.
“Table 26.” Anslee told me.
I nodded and strode over to the table, a wide, beaming smile on my face. “Hi! My name is Carolinn, and I’ll be your server tonight.” I introduced myself. The men were all in military uniforms, most likely coming home on leave since it was nearing Christmas soon. A lot of military personnel tended to stop in here during a break in their flights if they had a layover, so it wasn’t uncommon to see them.
Though, it tore at my heart.
My mind flashed to my boyfriend who was currently overseas, serving for our country, and a longing so strong hit me in my gut that it almost knocked the wind out of me.
I blocked out the thought before I could start crying. I hadn’t heard from him in months, and to say that I was worried sick about him was an understatement. I really fucking missed him.
“What can I start you off with to drink?” I asked them.
I gasped in shock when warm hands slid around my waist, a hard, muscular body pressing against my back. Familiar, soft lips pressed to my temple. I squeezed my eyes shut as tears welled up, my throat closing up with tears as that familiar, pine scented cologne wrapped around me. “Merry Christmas, baby.” He whispered in my ear.
I sobbed as I turned around in Colton’s arms, jumping up to wrap myself around him. He quickly lifted me up the rest of the way, and I wrapped my arms and legs around him as hot, fat tears rolled down my cheeks, ruining my make-up. “You’re here.” I cried as I leaned back to look at him, running my eyes over his handsome face. I ran my fingers over his features, another sob falling from my lips.
He was really fucking here, holding me.
He only softened his smile, his eyes tender as he ran them over my own face.
“I’m here, baby.” He told me. I sobbed. “I’m home – for good.” He assured me.
I cupped his face in my hands and leaned forward, slanting my lips across his, so fucking happy that he was here, that he was back home with me. I had missed him so fucking much.
He released a soft growl as whistles and cheers sounded throughout the restaurant. I didn’t even care about the attention like I normally would have.
Colton was here. He was with me again. God, he was finally home for good. After months of not hearing from him, of not knowing how he was doing, what was going on with him, he was finally here – holding me like I had been silently craving him to do for months.
“You’re done here for the night.” Cole told me as he began to carry me out of the restaurant, peppering kisses all over my face. “You’re done here every night. I’m home now, baby. I can take care of you.”
I only cried harder, so fucking thankful that I finally had my man back home with me.
COLE HELD ME ON HIS lap in the recliner in my apartment, using his feet to gently rock us back and forth. “You’re really home for good?” I asked him, my voice breaking, still unable to fully believe it.
He brushed his lips over my forehead, and I closed my eyes, drawing comfort from the tender kiss. “For good, baby.” He assured me. I slowly opened my eyes, locking them back on his perfect, handsome fact. “My contract is up. I didn’t sign another one. It was time for me to come home, to be with you for good, baby girl.” I sobbed, tears beginning to fall from my eyes again. He reached up and brushed them away, his hands sure and strong as he cradled my face. “I promised you that once I served my contract, I would come home to you, and I would build a life with you.”
“We were so young then.” I reminded him, my voice sounding strangled. “Barely out of high school -.”
“I meant every word.” Cole softly interrupted me. My bottom lip trembled at his sweet words. “I love you, Linn. I’ve always only ever loved you, and I know you’ll always be the one I love for the rest of my life.”
I ran my eyes over his face, taking in his dark, chocolate brown eyes and his wavy dirty blonde hair. It had grown out a bit while he was overseas, and there was a lot of scruff on his jaw where he was beginning to let a light beard grow out.
God, he was so perfect.
And he came home – for me – finally.
I leaned forward to kiss him again, and this time, he met me halfway, his lips meeting mine in a hot, demanding kiss, his lips savagely taking mine. I moaned softly, so desperate to be with him again.
“Later.” He growled as he gently pulled back from me, nipping my bottom lip before he pulled back from me completely. “There’s some things I need to do first before I make love to you like I’ve been dying to do since I left.” He told me as he reached up to run the pad of his thumb over my soft bottom lip, his eyes darkening as he did so.
“Like?” I asked him as I ran my fingers over the stubble on his jaw. He groaned softly and wrapped his fingers around my wrist before he turned his head to press a kiss to my palm.
He flashed me a secretive smile, making me pout at him. He knew how much I hated secrets. I was never a fan of the unknown, even if it was supposed to be something fun for me. “That’s for me to know, and for you to eventually find out.” He told me. I huffed, and he grinned in response, his smile making my heart trip a beat in my chest just like it did when we’d first met. “But for right now, I need it to be a secret.” He gently squeezed my thighs. “And now, it’s time for both of us to go to bed.” He told me. I frowned slightly, not wanting to go to sleep yet, terrified that I would wake up and he really wouldn’t be here – that this would all be just a dream.
“No, babe.” He soothed, easily picking up on my fear. Colton had always known me so damn well, even when we first getting to know each other. He was always so damn good at picking up on my moods. “Linn, baby, I will still be here when you wake up in the morning, laying right beside you in bed as I stare at your stunning face while I wait for you to wake up.” He promised.
I blushed at his sweet, tender words. He grinned. “There’s my favorite girl.” He whispered. He abruptly stood up, making me squeak in shock as he began to carry me down the hallway towards my bedroom. His hands squeezed my ass. “But fuck, baby, I’m going to be playing with this ass tonight.” He warned me. “Swear, it’s gotten bigger.”
My blush deepened. “I ate a lot while you were away.” I told him, shame washing over me. Cole was so perfect – so well built, strong, and nothing but hard, toned muscle, and he had me as a girlfriend who couldn’t even be bothered to eat a salad at least every once in a while.
“Don’t.” He growled. He squeezed
I blushed again, and his grin widened. I covered my face with my hands. “I need pajamas.” I told him, trying to get him to stop talking about how much he loved my butt.
“No; you don’t.” He told me. “We may not be having sex tonight, Linn, but I fully intend on feeling your naked body next to mine tonight.” He told me. I peeked up at him through my fingers to find him removing his shirt, his muscles flexing with every move he made. I sucked in a sharp breath, unable to help myself as I ogled him.
He really looked like he was sculpted by a god – all hard, toned, beautiful muscle.
As soon as he shed his clothes, he moved over to me, his hands running over my body in a sensual caress as he slowly stripped me out of my own clothes, taking his time as he relished in the feel of my body beneath his hands.
“God, you’re so perfect.” He growled. He leaned over me and pressed a soft, slow kiss to my lips that had me moaning, reaching up to tug him further against me.
“No, not tonight.” He reminded me as he rolled onto his side. He tugged me into his arms. “I promise, baby, I plan to make love to you all night very soon, but not before I do what I need to do.” He reminded me.
“I missed you so much.” I told him as I snuggled closer to him.
He released a soft sigh, his arms flexing around me. “I fucking missed you, too, baby. More than you’ll ever begin to understand.” He whispered. He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “Sleep, baby girl. I’ll be right here holding you when you wake up; I promise.”
CHAPTER TWO
Colton
Carolinn was still passed out next to me when I woke up early the next morning, as I expected she would be. I was used to being awake by at least six A.M. every morning regardless of if I had to report for duty that morning or not. It would take a while for my body to come off of the automatic time clock it was currently on and be able to catch some real, decent sleep.
But last night? That was the best damn night’s sleep I’d had in months. Being able to roll over and feel the soft body of my woman sleeping next to me? Best fucking thing ever.
I slowly rolled onto my side, being careful not to wake the sleeping beauty next to me. God, it had been nine months since I’d seen her last. It had ripped me apart to leave her once again, but I was under contract with the Marine Corps. I couldn’t not go. I would be considered AWOL, and I would end up leaving her for a lot longer than nine months if I abandoned my duty to my country.
But now I was home again – back where I belonged – right by my woman’s side. And I had no intention of ever leaving it again. I had already purchased our dream home, the one she had always admired growing up. I had gotten extremely lucky with the elderly couple that owned the house when decided they were ready to sell. They had no kids to pass their home and land down to, so when I had gotten news of the home going on the market, I closed in on it as fast as I could.
It had been mine for a little over a year now, and soon, it would be ours.
My next step was to just ask her to marry me on Christmas in front of both of our families.
And, if I had my way, I would make her my wife on New Year’s Eve.
Then, and only then, would I make love to her all night and ring in the New Year buried inside of her, hopefully creating a beautiful baby that would take after her.
Because Carolinn was perfect. She always had been.
I ran my eyes over her delicate features. She had a pale complexion – always had. I knew we lived in a town that got a hell of a lot of snow this time of year, and we had long, cold months and short, warm months, but still, I hadn’t ever come across anyone with such a pale complexion before.
And yet, it looked perfect on her. Her naturally dark hair always fell in perfect waves around her shoulders without her even having to do anything to tame them. I preferred her without make-up, and I’d been so damn relieved when she had come home and cleaned it off of her face, complaining that it was ruined from her crying.
But she had stolen the breath right from my lungs when she had stepped out into the living room, bare faced once again just how I loved to see her.
“Why are you awake right now?” She groggily asked me as she slowly opened those beautiful, hazel eyes to look up at me.
“Internal alarm.” I told her with a shrug. She groaned as she burrowed closer to me. I tightened my arms around her, clutching her tighter. God, it took everything in me not to roll her over onto her back and slide into her slick, wet heat and slowly rock us together, never leaving this damn bed for the rest of the day. She was so soft in my arms, her hard nipples pressing into my chest.
And I knew if I slid my thigh between her legs, I would find her already wet for me. She had always responded so eagerly to me, even when we were teenagers.
I had been a senior when I met Carolinn at a high school party. She was a junior, and I had barely noticed her when she had come into the house with her now ex-boyfriend. I was fucking around with some other girl. Besides, girls with boyfriends were strictly off limits for me.
After a couple of hours, Carolinn had walked in on her boyfriend fucking the senior head cheerleader.
How anyone could cheat on this perfect woman in my arms still blew my fucking mind to this day.
I found her screaming at them in the hallway, and while her boyfriend was begging Carolinn to just hear him out, the bitch he’d been balls deep inside was spewing hateful words at Carolinn. And when I had stepped into that hallway upstairs, Heather – the head-cheerleader – had instantly smiled flirtatiously at me.
Carolinn had snagged her chance. She flat out told her ex, Brenden, that they were over and that he was nothing more than a pile of dog shit before she turned to me.
Those fucking eyes had sucked me right in. They had always been more gold than green, but the two colors blended so fucking perfectly. I never stood a chance against those beautiful eyes.
I had always been a hit and quit it kind of guy, but I knew the moment I laid my eyes on Carolinn, she was it for me. There would never be another girl.
In her mind, I was supposed to be nothing more than a revenge fuck, but after I took her body, claiming her as mine over and over that night, she soon knew differently. Of course, like with any high school romance, there was a fuck ton of drama, but I never let her go. Not when she was screaming at me to go the hell away, not when she was crying because of the hateful words posted on her social media calling her a slut and a whore, and definitely not when she wanted to break up with me because she couldn’t handle having a boyfriend overseas most of the time.
Carolinn was a once in a lifetime kind of girl, and I had vowed to myself that very first night I met her that I would never let her go.
And I intended to keep that vow to myself even now.
Carolinn squirmed against me, yanking me from my memories. I growled softly, my fingers digging into her hips, stilling her movements. “Woman, please don’t make this difficult for me.” I begged her.
“You’ve been gone for months, Cole.” She told me, her needy, beautiful eyes locking on mine. Fuck, this woman was going to be my damn undoing. Those eyes were my fucking weakness – always would be.
“Christ.” I swore, knowing I needed to do something for her. I never let my baby girl suffer. What kind of man would I be if I did? My sole purpose was to make her happy and to please her.
I took her lips in a hot, searing kiss. She instantly arched her back, pressing that beautiful, soft body into mine. I quickly shoved my thigh between her legs and sucked in a sharp breath of air. Sure enough, she was fucking soaked for me.
She moaned as she grinded on my thigh, her beautiful, fuckable lips falling open into a small O shape.
“Damn you, woman.” I softly growled. I took her lips in another savage kiss before I yanked the blankets off of us, letting the cool air of the room sweep around us. She gasped, her nipples tightening even further at the cold temperature.
I released a soft groan before I leaned down and flicked my tongue over one, then the other, promising myself, and silently Linn, too, that I would worship every inch of her body in a few days.
