Page 58 of Annika's Aurora

When he’d moved back to kissing her lips, Annika decided it was her turn as she surged up and pushed him over to his back. She ran her fingers down his body from his shoulder, over his pecs, and across his abdomen, causing his muscles to twitch as she nibbled on his neck. Reaching lower, she grasped him in her hand, squeezing gently. He groaned and thrust into her hand. She kissed him desperately as she pumped him.

She straddled his hips, her core enveloping him, welcoming him. They both groaned as he slid deep inside her, to the hilt. She stilled for a moment, enjoying the sensation of being stretched by him.

“Annika.” His pained groan prompted her to move, slowly at first, hips rocking as she found a rhythm that pleased her. Logan placed his hands on her breasts, his thumbs teasing her nipples, he watched her move over him with an intense fire in his eyes. Pleased with herself for being able to give him as much pleasure as he’d given her, she moved faster. Undulating over and around him, she arched her back, her pleasure at the precipice. He moved one hand down to tease her clit, and that was all it took. One flick of his fingers and she was exploding around him.

He rode with her during her climax, then grabbed her hips and surged up into her several times until he found his own release. Annika collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily. Logan moved her to snuggle into his side, her head on his shoulder. Grabbing the covers, he pulled them up over them.

Chapter 15

Annikawasquietforsolonghethoughtshe’dfallenasleepasheheldherinhisarms.“CanIaskyouaquestion?”shequeriedintothedarkroom,startlinghim.

“Sure.”

“Why did you leave the SEALs?”

He laughed. “That’s an easy one.” She moved her head a little on his shoulder so she could look up at him. “I got tired of being in someone else’s country.”

“I don’t understand. I thought you wanted to protect Americans, kick some terrorist ass. I think that’s how you put it.”

He smiled, remembering how he and Jamie used to joke about that. “It was. And for a while it was good. I always spent my leave somewhere around here. I’d go camping or rent a cabin. Whatever I could find. I’d rent a boat and spend as much time on the water as I could. About four years ago, while on leave, a mayday went out. A family was in trouble on the river, not far from where I was. Their boat was on fire and sinking, and they were trapped. The bow was on fire, and the family was below in the stern.”

“And you didn’t hesitate to jump on a burning boat.”

“You know me so well.” He kissed her briefly before continuing. “I could hear the kids crying, and like you with those kids in the car, I couldn’t leave them. There were three of them and their parents. I circled around a few times, trying to find the best way to get them out. My boat, unfortunately, didn’t come with a fire extinguisher. The windows were too thick to break through. There was no way to get to them without going through the fire.”

“What did you do?” she gasped.

“The only thing I could do. I raced away a bit, then hit the throttle and sped back as fast as that piece of shit I’d rented could go. When I was close enough, I twisted the wheel hard away from their boat. It created a wave that washed over the boat and put down some of the flames.”

Annika looked up at him in stunned disbelief. “Whoa. Impressive! That sounds like something out of a movie.”

“Graham thought so. He and his Nighthawks arrived just as I was jumping on their boat. He’d seen the whole maneuver. When I was pulling the first kid out, he offered me a job on the spot.”

“Did you take it?”

“It was tempting. But I really loved being a SEAL. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to give that up yet.”

Annika played with his fingers some more. She was still a hand holder; it was one of the things he loved about her. “What changed?”

“I was sent overseas again. Afghanistan. I hated that place. Some days it felt so hopeless being there. No matter how hard we worked, nothing was going to change for those people. While I knew I was doing good helping to fight for them, I started to feel like there were so many more people I could help in my own country.”

“Graham’s offer started looking better and better?”

“I called him, asked if he was still interested, then resigned my commission.”

“And the rest is Nighthawk history.” She looked up at him again. “I’m glad you found a family with them.”

“Me too, but it still felt incomplete. I needed you. I knew that. I was just too chicken to do anything about it.”

“Until my mother’s meddling.”

“I, for one, am very happy your mom meddled.”

“Me too.” Then she hit him with the question he’d been dreading. “So, tell me, how long have you and my mom had your little secret relationship?”

He gulped. “Umm, she never told you?”

Annika sat up to look at him, the covers slipping to her waist, momentarily distracting him. She was magnificent, with the moonlight playing over her alabaster skin. He wanted to stroke every inch of that soft skin. “No, she never told me. About any of it. How long, Logan?”

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