Have Yourself a Marine Christmas (Always a Marine) by Heather Long Read Free Book Online Page B

up for the holiday run they were hosting at Mike’s Place. It would benefit Toys for Tots and all the trees would be lit, with toys and surprise presents for the kids currently staying on campus.
    A thump from the kitchen snagged her attention and she caught his faint limp as he carried two mugs of coffee from the kitchen. Blithely ignoring the stubborn set of his jaw, she met him halfway across the room to claim her mug. “You’re sore.”
    “A little,” he admitted.
    “Want a massage?”
    Heat kindled under the ice in his manner—but it was a fleeting response. His gaze moved past her to the window and the visible lights coming on in the distance. Sipping his coffee, he bypassed her and continued to the window. “You don’t have to.” Closing the blinds added punctuation to the quiet words.
    Noel sighed. “Ryan—”
    His light laughter surprised her. “I always know when I’m in trouble. Real trouble with you.” At her upraised eyebrows, he continued. “You call me Ryan. Normally it’s Reb, Rebel, or Marine. But when you’re really upset, you call me Ryan.”
    Conceding the point, she raised her mug in a salute. “You’re sore, and I don’t want you to ignore any aches and pains if we can take care of them.”
    “Sore means I’m alive, Noel.” He waved her into a seat and waited until she chose the sofa before easing down to sit next to her. “A little fast walk up the hill isn’t going to kill me. Not after Kara’s workouts.”
    Back off and let it go . It wasn’t entirely in her nature to do either. Bullying him when he needed it had become something of a dance for them. He doesn’t need bullying . “How are those going? Really?”
    “Not bad.” A hint of a smile touched the corners of his mouth as he glanced down at his coffee. “I ran a fifth of a mile today.”
    “Holy crap, why didn’t you tell me?” She set her coffee down and reached over to give him a hug. He caught her, pulling her closer, and caged her in his arms, the embrace tight enough to squeeze the air out of her.
    “I was saving it for when I got into trouble,” he whispered against her hair and she laughed.
    “You’re a rock star.” She pulled at his hold and his arms loosened, but he didn’t let her go. “That is seriously some awesome.” Pulse racing, she didn’t even try to restrain her good mood.
    “So I’m not in trouble anymore?” He searched her face.
    Still laughing, she shook her head. “Not even a little.” How could he be? Yes, she still wanted to address the Grinch behavior, but—a fifth-of-a-mile run. A fifth . The heat in his eyes returned and his gaze dipped to her mouth. The warmth in her middle suddenly bloomed and three thoughts hit her at once.
    He wants to kiss me .
    His arms tightened and he slid his hand up to cup her nape.
    Oh hell, I want to kiss him .
    When he tilted his head, slowly closing the distance—she understood the invitation. He gave her time to reject the advance, but it was the last thing she wanted to do.
    The third thought evaporated under the wild scorch of his mouth brushing hers and she forgot to think altogether.

 
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    Drumming his nails on the table, Rebel fought the urge to look at his watch—again. Three days since he’d screwed up enough courage to kiss her and what a kiss it had been. She hadn’t rejected the overture, but she did put on the brakes after allowing him three more luscious tastes. That counted as a win in his book.
    Unfortunately, Noel had other patients and he couldn’t hog all her time. The day before, she’d had a day off and though she texted him and they’d talked by phone, she said she had to get her laundry done because she’d run out of clean clothes. Sadly, she didn’t go for his offer to just show up naked.
    Impatient, he gave into the urge and checked the clock on the wall. She was late.
    “You’re scowling.” Her lyrical voice slid over him and chased away his impatience.
    Turning, he feasted