Free Her Temporary Hero (a Once a Marine Series book) (Entangled Indulgence) by Jennifer Apodaca Page A

waist, her head against his shoulder, her breasts pressed into his chest; she was touching him everywhere she could.
    “You need to be touched and held, don’t you, sweetheart?”
    A flash of shame or regret contracted her pupils before she dropped her gaze.
    He was going to kick his own ass. “Talk to me. Please.”
    She looked back at him. “It’s been awhile since anyone but my friends or Sophie have touched me. I just…” Her gaze flickered, but she held his stare. “There’s nothing like the feel of a man’s arms around me.”
    He’d seen that waver; someone had made her feel bad for needing to be held. She’d been used and made to feel worthless. That shit stopped here and now. Tugging her close, he caged her in his arms, holding her flush to his body. “You feel damn good in my arms, darlin’.” He lowered his head, wanting to taste her mouth again.
    “Logan.”
    He hesitated, willing to stop if that’s what she wanted.
    “I’m not saying I want to have sex right now, but you should know that I’m on birth control. I had a shot at my six week checkup after Sophie was born.”
    “Good to know. When you’re ready, I’ll use a condom, too. We won’t take chances. But right now, I’m just kissing my wife until she’s ready for more.” He skimmed his mouth over hers.
    A sudden pounding on the door cut off his sentence. He jerked to full alertness at the aggressive knocking. What the hell?
    Jiggy came tearing out of the hallway, barking.
    He released Becky. “Stay here.” He strode to the door where Jigs stood at attention. His ruff raised along his back. The little dude didn’t lack courage. “Sit.”
    Jiggy dropped his butt down, but kept his gaze fixed on the door, issuing low warning growls.
    He opened the door and felt like growling himself. “Dad.”
    Brian Knight took one step then froze when Jiggy growled louder. His father’s face wrinkled in confusion. “What’s that?”
    What was his dad doing here? It couldn’t be a coincidence he showed up on the day he married Becky, but how would he have found out? “A dog. What are you doing here?” His father didn’t stop by for chats or a beer. Ever.
    Ignoring the dog, Brian puffed up his chest and stormed into the house. Logan could have blocked him, but that wouldn’t achieve anything.
    By the chair, Brian crossed his arms. “You got married today.”
    Man, they’d have killed for this kind of rapid intelligence when he’d been on active duty in the Marines. He shut the door. “Yes.”
    “To a Rebecca May Holmes.”
    “How’d you hear so fast?”
    “I’m friends with the husband of the judge’s secretary. When the judge asked her to file the marriage certificate, she called me.” His face darkened. “You snuck off and married her without a word to anyone. What’d you do, knock her up?”
    Logan stomped hard on his rising anger. “No. I’m fulfilling my end of the contract by marrying and living on the ranch. On my birthday, I will own my land once and for all.”
    The older man looked around the house. “I’d like to meet your bride. I’m assuming this is the same woman you’ve had stashed in the house?”
    “Another time. Becky is—”
    “Right here.”
    Logan’s breath caught as Becky walked out of the kitchen. She glided to a stop between them and flashed her beauty queen smile at his father. “I’m Becky Holmes.” She chuckled. “Whoops, make that Becky Knight. It’s going to take some getting used to.”
    Logan’s brain kicked into gear. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side. “It sounds right to me, sweetheart.” He shifted to his father. “My dad stopped by to congratulate us.”
    “I heard, how lovely.” She held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Knight.”
    His father had no choice but to take her hand. “How did you and my son meet?”
    Taking her hand back, she answered, “Lucinda introduced us and we’ve been friends for a while. Then we began