A Texas Soldier's Christmas

Not surprised Zane wasn’t interested in doing anything he saw as that frivolous, even if it could benefit him financially, Nora took another sip of her coffee. “What does the rest of your family think you should do with the property?”

Disappointment glimmered in his eyes. “Just what you’d expect. My brother Wyatt thinks I should board and train horses, like he does on his ranch. Chance wants me to start a cattle breeding operation to supply quality mama cows for his bucking bull breeding and training operation.”

No surprise there. His two middle brothers were absolute cowboys and always had been, from the time they had first set foot in Laramie County, visiting their paternal grandpa when they were kids. “And Sage?”

“Thinks I should find something adrenaline fueled to do for a living, then use the No Name as a private retreat where I can recoup from my new and exciting yet somehow less risky profession.”

“I like the way your only sister thinks,” Nora quipped, before she could stop herself.

Zane set his empty coffee cup on the railing. “So does my mom, except she doesn’t want me to do anything the least bit dangerous anymore.”

I see her point. Suppressing her desire to protect him, too, Nora pushed on, “What about Garrett?” His brother, a highly skilled physician, had served in the Army, too, before resigning to lead the family charitable foundation.

Zane sobered. “He wants me to help separated and current military at West Texas Warriors Assistance, here in Laramie.”

“Like you’re doing with the holiday gift basket drive.”

“Except on a more permanent basis.”

“But that doesn’t appeal to you, either?” she asked curiously.

Zane exhaled. “I’m happy to volunteer. But as for a career, I see myself in a more physically active role, whatever it is.”

“You could join local law enforcement.” They took a lot of ex-military. And Lord knew their life was full of challenges, Nora thought.

He nodded as if he had expected her suggestion. “I’ve got an appointment to talk with the Laramie County sheriff’s department next week.”

“Good!”

“Don’t get your hopes up.” His lips twisted. “I’m not sure that will be a good fit.”

But he was looking into it. That was something he’d never been willing to do before. “You never know.” He was certainly selfless and heroic enough for the job.

“No. You don’t,” he agreed, taking her coffee cup out of her hands and setting it aside. “And I’m going to have to do something when I leave the military,” he murmured as he drew her into his arms. “So I might as well look at all my options.”

Nora caught her breath as one palm slid down her spine, flattening her against him, and the other hand eased through her hair, tilting her face up to his. “What are you doing?” she gasped, way more turned on than she wanted to admit.

Eyes warming, Zane looked down at her. He rubbed his thumb across her lower lip. “Making amends with you.”

Nora splayed her hands across his solid, muscular chest, holding him at bay. Not the least bit surprised to suddenly be so flustered. It happened every time they were together.

He’d come striding in and give her one of his “I can’t get enough of you” looks, and she’d start feeling the same way. As if there were no one else on earth who was ever going to affect her the way he did. Excited. Enthralled. And ready for so much more. “Hey...” she chided softly, her heart already racing, as he held her flush against him, buried his face in her hair and breathed in, “I said we weren’t going to make love again.”

He moved closer still and her body registered the heat.

“At your place last night.” He dropped a string of butterfly kisses from her temple to her cheekbone, the lobe of her ear and the nape of her neck.

As she felt the pounding of his heart, the depth of his desire, tingles swept through her. She melted against him, her insides fluttering even as she struggled to keep her feelings in check.

Grinning seductively, he slid his hands down her hips to cup her against him. Softness to hardness. “We didn’t say anything about today...”

The turmoil inside her increased as his lips parted hers. Her knees went ever weaker. She jerked in another quick, bolstering breath, the kiss deepening, their warm breaths mingling. “Zane...”

Over and over his tongue plunged into her mouth, stroking and arousing. “I’ve missed you, Nora.” His lips covered hers. He kissed her hotly, ardently. Until she kissed him back. Until her arms were wreathed about his neck and there was nothing but need and yearning, and more need...

He kissed her the way he always kissed her, slowly, purposefully, demanding everything she had to give. Until he wasn’t just taking but giving. Inundating her with the heat of him, his masculine strength. Filling her heart and soul with everything she had ever yearned for. And still the clinch continued. His mouth moving expertly over hers, his arms wrapped tight around her, plastering their bodies together. And lower still, she felt the searing pressure of need. His, hers. And she gave herself over to the thrill of being loved by him once again. Then, finally, when she thought she could bear it no more, he lifted his head. Drew back. Said gruffly, “And the way you just kissed me back says you’ve missed me, too.”

And then some, Nora thought, trembling.

“So why don’t we give each other a little early Christmas gift and make love. Here,” he rasped. “And now.”

* * *

NORA KNEW ALL the reasons why she should say no. Zane was never going to put her ahead of his commitment to country. He didn’t love her the way she needed to be loved. As if she—and now Liam—were his entire world. And given the fact that he was a soldier first and foremost, he probably never would.

But she did care very much about him. Always had and always would. And now that he was here with her again, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close, all she could think was she needed to make up for all those long, lonely days and nights. Needed to do something to assuage the ever-present fear that something would happen to him and she would never see or be with him again.

So, if that meant she threw caution to the wind once again and let him into her life for just a little while, then she would. She could worry about being sensible later. When he eventually left Texas again. As she knew, deep down in her soul, that he would.

* * *

ZANE HADN’T EXPECTED Nora to give in so easily, but he couldn’t say he minded the enthusiasm she showed as they kissed their way through the downstairs of his A-frame and all the way up the stairs.

It had been a long time. Too long, since he’d had her in his arms. Too long since he’d felt the sweet give of her lips beneath his, or the soft swell of her breasts nestled against his chest. And it had definitely been too long since he had seen her naked.

Easing his hands beneath the hem, he lifted her sweater over her head. Her silky camisole top followed. Beneath the lace of her bra, her nipples jutted impudently. A familiar thrill soaring through him, he bent his head to kiss her again and rubbed his thumbs across the crests. His body tightened all the more as he felt her impatience and heard her moan, soft and low in her throat.

“You next,” she insisted throatily. Unbuttoning his shirt, guiding it off, then tugging his T-shirt over his head, she caught her breath. “This is new.” She kissed an angry red scar on his upper arm.

And the last time he’d be wounded while participating in a covert military mission, he wanted to promise her. But couldn’t. Not just yet. Not and have her believe him. So instead, he admitted to the injury with a shrug, tugged off her boots, jeans, bra and panties, and tumbled her onto his bed.

Hand beneath her head, she struck a sexy pose. Grinned and watched him strip down, too. Aware they were probably moving way too fast—as usual—he joined her on the bed. Naked, too. “Now...where were we?” he murmured.

To his delight, she cupped him in her hand. “Right here, I think...”

Eager to please her, he shifted her onto her back and slid between her thighs. Kissing his way across her breast and belly, he mused playfully, “I think it might have been here...” Gasping, she clung to him. Determined to make it last, he caught her hips in his hands and went lower still.

“Oh, Zane...” she whispered, her response honest and passionate and uncompromising.