Page 112 of The Things That Hold Us

“Yes. All the time.” he says, and waits for me to add more.

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. Look at me. I’m 35 years old, living in my sister's spare bedroom, currently unemployed. I think about starting over all the time.”

“How would you do it? If you did." I ask him.

I watch him contemplate, his lips pursed.

“I would build a house, on a plot of land. Or at least buy a house that has land, and renovate it. Then find what I love, and figure out how to make a living off of that.”

“What do you love?” I ask him, my voice cracking slightly.

His eyes meet mine, and he opens his mouth to say something, but then shuts it.

After a minute, he says, “I love to cook. And I love to build things.”

“Build things? Like what?”

He smiles, “Before I enlisted, I was making wooden furniture: tables, bookshelves, things like that. I sold a few pieces, but never enough. Cooking though, That’s what I have a real passion for.”

“Have you ever thought of opening a restaurant? Or a food truck?”

He waves a hand, “I’ve thought about it, but that's so much work. After everything happened, I kind of lost all motivation to do things like that.”

“Ok, well what's something that's not a lot of work that you want to do?”

“Honestly?”

I nod.

“I just want to live.” he says. “I want to enjoy life, and just be. I want to watch the sunset by a fire, surrounded by the people I love.” his eyes flick to mine, and my heart stutters.

“I want to stargaze under the moon, eat good food, make a lot of love,” he winks at me, “and just..live. Being in the military really showed me how much I took life for granted. I’m still here; I don't want to waste a second.”

My heart beats a little faster as I look at him. His eyes drop down to my lips, then he leans in, pressing a soft kiss on my mouth.

“Most importantly,” he whispers, “I want you in my life, with me.”

My eyes dart back and forth between his, then down to his lips, and back up.

“You do?”

Logan leans his forehead in so it's resting on mine.

“More than anything.”

I feel my heart beat start to pick up as my core heats. The effect this man has on me is like nothing I've ever experienced. I press a kiss to his lips, sliding my hands up to the sides of his face.

“I think..” I pause, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I think I’d like that.”

Logan's arms wrap around my waist, hoisting me up into his lap so I’m straddling him.

As soon as I sit down, I feel his erection under me, which only fuels me more.

I grind against him, causing a moan to escape his lips.

God, I love that sound.

---