The Naughty Soldier’s List (Spice and Seduction)

3. Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Colton

T he winter air bites with a crisp chill as I step up the snowy steps to Rachel Lane’s house. How the hell did I even get here? It’s a far cry from the usual solitude of my cabin up in the mountains. Up there, silence is my only companion. And that’s exactly how I like it.

The sounds of Christmas music and laughter drift from inside, mingling with the scent of wood smoke and pine as I reach out to knock on the door.

Except… I can’t bring myself to roll my knuckles over the timber door. My stomach is knotting in a way it never has before… fuck .

I’ve lost my damn mind.

I’m not the type to get nervous. Hell, I’ve faced more dangerous situations than I can count. Without even breaking a sweat! My time in the military had me on the brink of death dozens of times, but each time I led my men out of the darkness.

Right now, standing on this porch, outside the house of my future sister-in-law, I feel a strange, uneasy feeling thrumming through me. And it’s all because of her.

Tessa.

I can’t help but wonder if this is what they say it is. You know, the moment where you realize you’ve just met ‘The One’?

There's something about that woman, something that got under my skin the moment I saw her struggling with that damn tree. I've been replaying our encounter all day, her laugh, the way her eyes sparkled, and the way she looked at me like I was something to be admired - not feared.

I haven’t been able to get her out of my head. And it's pissing me off how much she’s gotten to me already.

I take a deep breath and knock, listening to the sound bouncing through the house on the opposite side of the door. Within seconds, the door swings open, and Rachel stands there with a surprised look on her face.

“Colton! Well, this is a surprise!” she exclaims, stepping aside to let me in. “Tessa told me she invited you. I told her she was crazy, and that you would never come.”

I shrug my shoulders and try my best fake smile. “Well, here I am. Guess I’m full of surprises today.”

Rachel takes my coat and hangs it on the rack as we step towards the noise coming from beyond the entrance. The house opens up before us and I’m surprised at how cozy it is inside. It’s decorated to the nines with Christmas cheer – garlands, twinkling lights, and a massive tree in the corner, its branches heavy with ornaments.

“It looks wonderful,” Rachel says, watching as I admire the tree I lugged on my shoulder for three damn blocks, just so I could talk to Tessa. “Thank you for helping my sister with that. It’s not everyday we see you away from your cabin, let alone twice in a day.”

Rachel gives me the once over, her eyes narrowing at me like she’s trying to figure something out.

“Where’s Tessa?” I grunt, looking around the room that’s filled with people talking, smiling and laughing.

It’s like my worst nightmare come to life. I’m straining to remind myself exactly why I’m here.

Then Rachel giggles and steps in beside me, one hand grabbing my shoulder, the other pointing across the room. “Just over there. Wow, she has made quite the impression on you, hasn’t she?”

I let a chuckle roll from my chest, not exactly in the mood to dissect my reasons for being here. “Just accepting a friendly invitation for a night out.”

Rachel smiles knowingly, like she sees right through my charade. “Well, make yourself at home. Tessa will be thrilled you’re here, Colton.”

She will? She talked to her sister about me? That can only be a good thing, right?

As Rachel walks beyond some doors that look like they lead towards the kitchen, I take a moment to survey the scene. This is the kind of event I usually avoid – too many people, too much noise. It’s gatherings like this that I have struggled to be in ever since returning from duty.

But here, there’s a warmth that’s hard to ignore. There’s a sense of family and togetherness. It’s something that I haven’t felt in a long time, and it’s kind of… nice. It’s a feeling I thought I’d buried deep, locked away with the rest of the things I lost when I left the military.

These past few years, I’ve kept to myself, hiding in the shadows of my own solitude. After the accident, I was forced to retire from my role as Special Forces Commander. The life I had, the purpose I lived for, was stripped away in an instant.

I came to Falls Creek to escape, to live in the wilderness where the noise of the world couldn’t reach me, where I could pretend that part of me was dead and gone.

But it’s not that simple.

Every day, I wake up and see the scar that runs across my chest and down my right arm, a brutal reminder of what I lost.

The military wasn’t just a job—it was my life. My identity. And now, even here, surrounded by the peaceful quiet of the mountains, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I’m just a man wandering without a purpose.

I force my eyes to wander the room, until eventually they’re drawn back to the spot where I can’t seem to look away from.

Tessa is standing by the fireplace, her face illuminated by the glow of the flames. She's laughing at something someone said, her eyes crinkling at the corners, her entire face lighting up with joy. It's a sight that makes my chest tighten.

She’s beautiful. More than beautiful.

She’s the kind of woman who doesn’t just walk into a room—she own s it.

Her laugh, her smile, the way she moves... It all draws me in, making it impossible to look away.

I grab a drink from a nearby table and slowly make my way over to her, my heart pounding harder with each step.

I said it before… I don’t get nervous. I don’t get worked up over women.

But with Tessa, it’s different. She’s different.

I reach her side, holding out a cup of eggnog and plastering a smile on my face. "Thought you might need a refill."

Tessa turns to me, her eyes lighting up in surprise. "Colton," she says, a genuine smile breaking across her face. "You made it."

"Yeah, I made it," I say, my voice gruff even to my own ears. I need to learn how to talk to this girl, before I scare her away. "Couldn't let you go through this party without at least one familiar face."

She laughs softly, taking the cup from my hand. "Thanks. It's, um, good to see you here."

I nod, feeling an odd sense of relief at her words.

We stand there for a moment, the sound of holiday music and laughter surrounding us. I sip my drink awkwardly, watching as she does the same. It gives me a moment to really take her in, really admire how stunningly gorgeous she is.

She’s wearing a snug, red sweater that hugs every curve of her body, the fabric stretching over her full breasts and dipping in at her waist. The way it clings to her hips, accentuating her curvy figure, has my blood heating in my veins. She’s wearing tight jeans that show off her thick shapely legs. Fuck . I can’t stop staring at those lips either… so soft and pink, begging to be kissed.

My pulse quickens, the thought of pulling her into my arms and claiming that mouth is making it hard to think straight.

She’s the perfect mix of sexy and sweet. But I get the feeling she doesn’t even realize how much she turns heads just by walking into a room.

We start chatting and Tessa tells me all about the wedding coming up on Christmas Day. I watch her as she talks about her and her sister growing up, listening to every word she says. I want to learn everything there is to know about this woman. I’m more invested in her than I’ve ever been in anything before.

“It wasn’t until I moved to the city to pursue nursing that we grew apart,” Tessa tells me, sipping her eggnog. Her cheeks are tinted with a pink blush, and when we collect a refill, I wonder if I should hold back on mine so I can make sure she’s safe if she drinks too much. “But I’m happy for Rachel. She deserves to be happy, and Franklin is a good man. He really is.”

I nod and watch as Tessa glances across the room. Her sister and her fiancé are in each other’s arms, locked at the mouth as they share an intimate moment beneath the towering Christmas tree.

I look back to Tessa and her smile falters as she gapes across the room. I see her shoulders sag, if only for a quick second. A shadow passes over those stunning eyes, and I instantly recognize the look.

It’s a look of longing. Of jealousy.

"You okay?" I ask, my voice low.

Tessa shakes her head, snapping back to it. “Wh-what? Oh, yeah, fine.”

I grunt, not exactly sure what to say. I can see she’s clearly affected by seeing her sister so happy, but I’ve never been good with words. I’m not the type to offer comfort or reassurance, but something about the way she’s looking at her sister makes me want to say something, anything, to make her feel better.

“Hey,” I say, nudging her lightly as she downs the remainder of her eggnog. “You’ll get there.”

Tessa looks up at me, those long, dark lashes fluttering up at me in a way that makes my body heat. “Urgh, so I’m not hiding it as well as I thought then?”

I laugh and shake my head. “It’s okay. I have a way of reading people.”

“Lucky me…” Tessa giggles, turning for yet another top up of delicious eggnog.

I place my mug down, choosing to focus on Tessa and helping her enjoy herself tonight. Family gatherings are always tough, and something about being around Tessa has ignited this almost primal need to protect her.

“You wanna talk about it, or?”

I look down at her and she lets out a long breath. She glances around the crowded room, her gaze lingering on her sister and her fiancé again. Her shoulders slump and that’s when I know I’ve seen enough.

“How about some fresh air?” I suggest, keeping my voice low and as gentle as I can manage. “Is there a spot out back where it’s quiet? Maybe you’d be more comfortable there.”

She hesitates, giving me the once over. I see the conflict in her expression, and I get it; a big, burly man with tattoos all over his body wants to drag her ‘out back’.

But I need her to know that I wouldn’t hurt her. I would never hurt her.

“We’ll stay on the porch or something,” I offer, catching the smile that creeps on her lips. “Somewhere warm and close to the house.”

“Yeah, okay. That sounds good.”

Without another word, I guide her through the throngs of people, my hand resting lightly on the small of her back. I can feel the warmth of her body even through the fabric of her sweater, and it takes everything in me not to press my palm fully against her.

Instead, I keep my touch light as we weave through the house, heading towards the back door.

We step outside, and the cold night air hits us like a brick to the face. At least it's quiet out here, though.

The sounds of the party are muffled behind us, replaced by the soft sound of snow falling and the occasional rustle of a pine branch in the breeze. Christmas lights hang around the porch, casting a golden light that makes Tessa’s soft, smooth skin look even more irresistible.

I lead her to a small bench under a canopy of twinkling lights, inhaling the scent of her floral perfume as she settles to one side of the bench.

“It’s wonderful, all of this,” Tessa says, looking around the porch at the decorations. “Seeing my sister so happy, so in love… it’s beautiful.”

“But?” I press gently.

She lets out a soft sigh, her gaze dropping to the mug still attached to her hands like some kind of emotional shield. “I dunno. I guess it just makes me think about my own life. You know, wondering when it will be my turn.”

“You’ll get there. Sometimes people just have to wait their turn.”

She looks up at me, a sad smile on her lips. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just not cut out for it.”

I feel a growl rumbling in my chest. The thought of her with someone else, anyone else makes me want to grab her and hold her against me.

“Maybe you just haven’t found the right person yet.”

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, it’s like the entire world evaporates around us. The cold air cracks with something electric, something raw and animal-like that makes my whole body clench tight.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady the thundering in my chest. I don’t know what’s happening, but I need to get a grip. And quick.

She bites her lower lip, a nervous habit that has my eyes locking onto those soft, pink lips.

"It's not just about finding the right person," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's... well, it's more complicated than that."

"Complicated how?" I ask, keeping my voice steady, even though inside I’m dying to know every damn detail.

I need to know every tiny thing this girl wants if I’m any chance at winning her over.

Tessa hesitates, glancing down at her hands. Her fingers trace the rim of her mug, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. She's debating with herself, trying to decide how much to reveal. Part of me wants to push, to demand she tell me everything. But the other part knows she needs to say this in her own time.

"I've always had this idea in my head," she starts, her words slow and thoughtful. "About what love should be like. How it should feel. And I guess... I guess I've been too scared to go after it, to really put myself out there."

"Why's that?" I ask, leaning a little closer. My body is drawn to her, like a magnet I can't resist.

She takes a deep breath, her gaze still fixed on the mug in her hands. "Because I'm not... experienced . I haven't done things that other people have. And it’s made me feel like maybe I’m not enough."

I frown, not liking where this is going. "What kind of things?"

Tessa swallows hard, finally looking up at me. Her eyes are a mix of vulnerability and defiance, like she’s daring me to judge her.

“You can’t tell anyone, okay?” Tessa says, a glint in her eye that hints a side of her I haven’t picked up on yet.

I swipe a finger across my lips, zipping them shut. “Swear on Mother Mary and Joseph.”

"Okay, well… I kind of have this list," she says slowly, her voice trembling. "A list of things I want to do, but I've never had the courage to actually try. It's my... 'Naughty List .'"

A surge of heat rushes through me. Is she saying what I think she’s saying? Does Tessa have a list of fantasies, things she’s never done but wants to experience?

My chest tightens, a possessive need surging through me.

"A Naughty List, huh?" I murmur, my voice coming out rougher than I intended. "And what kind of things are on this list?"

Her cheeks flush a deep red, and she bites her lip again, looking away.

"You don't have to know," she mutters, her voice barely audible.

I lean in closer, my breath brushing against her ear as I feel my self-control slipping away.

"What if I want to know, Tessa? What if I want to be the one to help you cross every damn thing off that list?"

Her eyes snap to mine, wide and filled with a mix of shock and something else—something that looks a lot like hope and excitement.

"You’d... you’d really want to do that? W-with me?"

I grin, unable to hold back the dark, primal urge building inside me.

"Hell yes," I growl, my hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from her face. "I want to be the one to show you everything you've ever dreamed of. And more."

Her breath catches, and for a moment, we're frozen. Her lips part slightly, and I can see the war waging in her eyes—the fear, the desire, the longing .

And then, just like that, she lets out a shuddering breath and nods. "Okay," she whispers. "Okay."

I feel a surge of triumph, a possessive need to claim her, to make her mine in every way possible. I lean in, my lips hovering over hers, waiting for her final sign of consent.

And when she doesn’t pull away, I close the distance, capturing her lips in a heated, possessive kiss that leaves no room for doubt.

She's mine.

And I'm damn well going to show her exactly what that means.