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Hearing a small bark, she cracked open one eye and saw Gigi staring at the fence angrily. The neighbor had a dachshund that irritated the fire out of her sweet dog… and the two-pound ‘Terminator’ would absolutely destroy the other animal if she ever got the chance.
“What?” June laughed softly, nudging the boogie board to the side of the pool. “Go get her, Killer…” she taunted quietly, before standing and taking a sip of her cooling hot cocoa – only to see the side gate open.
Ian was standing there, looking utterly exhausted… and shocked.
“Hey!” June called out happily, looking for her towel so she could get out of the pool. “I got your voicemail and it said you would be…”
“Stay where you are!” Ian blurted out, and yanked his boots off – tossing them towards the back door… grinning wildly. He yanked his uniform shirt off over his head, dislodging his cap that landed in the grass – and bolted for the pool.
June barely had time to realize that he was jumping in – with everything else on him. His pants, his socks, and whatever was in his pockets. Gigi yelped in annoyance as she was splashed by the sudden onslaught of water that doused her, before shaking it off… and June laughed openly at her husband’s wild antics.
This was definitely some greeting!
Pushing back her wet hair from her face, she stood there in the pool and set down her cup of cocoa quickly as Ian stood up. His dog tags lay against his tanned chest that was covered in freckles, making her remember his first email commenting on it.
“Hey Minx…” he breathed lovingly, smiling at her.
“Hey yourself, Handsome…” she replied, as he reached for her and she stepped into his arms eagerly, kissing him happily. He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers.
“I’ve missed you something fierce…”
“I guess so,” she laughed softly. “You jumped in with your uniform pants on. You didn’t have anything that could get ruined by the water, did you?”
“My wallet,” he smiled, moving to kiss her again. “It was sooo worth it.”
They stood there for several moments, just kissing, holding each other, and needing this closeness between them when he finally spoke, hugging her tightly.
“I had no idea we had a pool,” he said softly, kissing her shoulder. “And you are super-hot in that get up, woman. My goodness, all that creamy skin? I might have a new favorite good luck charm.”
“You cannot have my swimsuit, Ian,” June laughed knowingly, looking at him and meeting his smile. “Where’s your wallet? Let’s get it out so it can dry.”
He stepped back and yanked off a wet sock, tossing it in the grass as his dog tags clanked noisily against each other. Without looking away, giving her that adorable mischievous grin… he removed the other sock, also landing in the grass.
“Neither of your socks was your wallet…” she began quietly, and smiled as he reached for the button of his pants.
“Guess I should try again?”
“Maybe so, my love…” she murmured invitingly, knowing exactly where this was leading, and saw the warmth within his loving gaze turn into an inferno of desire.
“J-June?” he rasped emotionally, and she saw a tremor race through him visibly as he drew in several shaky breaths, his hands trembling as he gazed at her. He swallowed audibly, his eyes searching hers… and she loved that about him. There was so much emotion, yet he was waiting for her to be ready for him, to give their relationship a chance. “I love you so much and I…”
Ian always put her first, and was wanting to take a moment to check to see how she was doing. Her beloved wild man was very careful when it came to her emotions or feelings – and so close to perfect for her that it was staggering. She had loved Mark… but Ian?
Ian was hereverything.
He was her soulmate, her partner, her very joy and reason for breathing.
“Welcome home, soldier…” she breathed, reaching for the tie on her swimsuit.
* * *
Hours later,June lay there in the bed, and heard Gigi whining on Ian’s side.
“Shhh… ya’ little rugrat. You’re gonna wake my precious Sleeping Beauty up,” he whispered softly, moving a tiny bit as she heard the dog panting happily as her collar jingled slightly. “Shh… Miss Helicopter-butt,” he teased softly. “That tail is lethal.”
He was such a sweetheart to the puppy… and to her.
Being with Ian was everything she could have ever imagined. They talked way too much as they touched and held each other; the wonder on his face was something she would never forget – including the way his voice broke as he made love to her.
