6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Logan
Addie is gorgeous in her soft pink dress with her hair swept up, revealing her neck. It takes every ounce of my control from stopping myself from stooping down and kissing along her skin. She's so beautiful. My beauty.
After our kiss yesterday, I can’t stop replaying it over and over. The way she molded herself to me, and allowed me to discover her, has me aching since then. It makes me wonder what she’d let me do while I search over her whole body.
My cock grows a little stiffer and I struggle to tamp down those thoughts. It’s not smart to be sporting a heavy erection while at this impressive gala where I’m meeting her parents.
Addie’s wrapped around one of my arms as I escort her into the party, and the place is decorated up to the nines. For a smaller community, this gala can compete with anything in the bigger cities.
“If I forget to say this to you later, thank you so much for doing this,” Addie says.
I smile and take in how beautiful she is. “You’ve thanked me a hundred times already. You’re good. Now, how about we enjoy ourselves?”
Addie’s shoulders relax and she gazes up at me a little calmer. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s have a great time.”
Several people say hello to Addie, and she introduces us. Everybody adores her and I know why — she’s amazing. Then Addie stiffens and on instinct I move in closer, as if I can shield her from everything with my body.
“You okay?”
“Um, yes. It’s my parents. They're heading over.”
I nod and move my hand to her lower back and stroke my thumb back and forth in a soothing gesture.
“Addison, you look lovely, dear. I have to say, it’s bold to wear that color. Black is better suited for you.”
I’m the one to stiffen now, as I can’t believe the backhanded compliment from her mother.
“But the pink suits your complexion.”
Addie does nothing. She’s obviously used to these comments. “Thank you, mother. You look lovely as always. Hello, father.”
Mother? Father? Seriously, this is how she addresses her parents, so cold and old-fashioned?
“And who do we have here?” Her mother asks as she looks me up and down with a calculating gaze. However, it does the opposite of what I think she’s hoping. It emboldens me to want to pull the stick out of her ass.
“This is Logan, my boyfriend. Logan, this is my mother Gretchen and my father Reginald.”
Not wanting to ruin Addie’s night, I lift my hand. “Hello, nice to meet you.”
Reginald takes my hand first and shakes it, while her mother is more hesitant.
“Nice to finally meet you. Addison’s been telling us there’s somebody special for a little while now. I’m sorry to say we know little about you,” Reginald says.
“Oh, yeah. We’re still getting to know each other. What would you like to know?”
Reginald opens his mouth, but his wife speaks first. “Why are you with somebody far too young for you? Are there no women who are more age appropriate?”
Addie gasps, “Mother.”
Reginald sighs as her brief outburst doesn’t surprise him. I take a calming breath and maintain the smile on my face. Reminding myself, I’m doing this for Addie, all for her. She’s worth it.
“I can see how our ages may cause some concern, but when you meet somebody who makes you question everything about life and what can truly bring you happiness, you learn that age is nothing but a number.” I glance at Addie and smile wider. “When you meet somebody as amazing as Addie, well, you let all your fears and perceptions go because you need to have her in your life.”
Our gaze locks and the surprise on her face has me wanting to drop my head and kiss her with every ounce of passion I possess, but, instead, I drop and give her a couple of soft pecks that wipes the surprise from her face and casts me with a love struck smile.
“That’s great to hear. I’m happy somebody embraces my Addison and everything she offers,” Reginald says.
Addie gets a blush that makes me fantasize how far down it goes, but I mentally slap myself to stop and bring me back to where I am, standing in front of her parents, who are sizing me up.
“Tell me, Logan, what do you do?” Gretchen asks as she remains distant.
“I own a bike shop, repairing and building custom bikes.”
Gretchen’s lips purse.
“Oh, how amazing is that? So you ride. I’ve always been fascinated by motorcycles. I just could never quite pull the trigger on getting one.” Addie’s dad grins.
“Well, if you come down to the shop, there are a few loners on hand. We can take them out sometime and see if you like riding. Let me tell you, nothing like it.”
“I might just take you up on that.”
“Reginald,” Gretchen says his name like it’s a curse word.
“Oh, relax, Gretchen. It’ll be fun. Riding is tens times better than golf.”
Addie laughs. “Only because you’re bad at it.”
Reginald points his finger at his daughter as he tries to hide a smile. “Watch yourself, little girl. I’m not the one who drove a ball into the back of Dr. Mathers' head.”
“You said you wouldn’t mention that again.”
Reginald shrugs and takes a sip of champagne. Addie laughs while her father joins her. I can’t help but enjoy the bond father and daughter have. The issue is mother and daughter.
Gretchen rolls her eyes, but lights up when she notices somebody over my shoulder and her demeanor changes. She looks more polite and approachable. “Mason, over here.”
Addie tenses and pushes in closer to my side, and I can tell it’s a muscle reaction, not intentional.
“Gretchen, Reginald, how wonderful to see you. What another smashing evening. Well done.”
A man, a decade younger than me, with wiry glasses, several inches shorter than me, and the early stages of balding, stands next to me with a smarmy smile on his face.
“Ah, hello, Addison, lovely to see you.”
“Hello Mason. I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Logan.”
“Nice to meet you.” I put my hand out and the man’s handshake is pitiful. And he narrows his gaze a little at me, but not enough to warrant any problems.
“Same. I didn’t realize you had a boyfriend, Addison.”
“Yup.” She adds an extra pop on the p.
“It’s new, Mason. We only just met Logan ourselves.” Gretchen says, looking adoringly at him and trying to get Addie’s attention. It’s easy to see she finds Mason perfect for Addie, and I can’t believe how unaware she is of her daughter. Addie tenses. Her body curls in on herself, and she can’t stare Mason in the eye. She’s clearly uncomfortable around him.
“Well, it was nice meeting you all, but this lovely lady here promised me a dance and I’m going to get it early as I plan on sweeping her off her feet all night.”
Reginald agrees. “Sounds like a great idea. You two have fun. Save a dance for me, little girl.”
“I will, father.” Addie relaxes the further away we get from Mason and her mother.
“Wow, you weren’t lying. Your mom is dead set on you getting with that guy.”
Addie waves as people smile and greet her, but we never stop as I guide her to the dance floor. “You have no idea. She’s been pushing him on me since I told them I wasn’t going back to grad school.”
“Your dad seems like a good guy.”
“Yeah, he is. I’m lucky to have him as a buffer, but when my mom really wants something, she listens to nobody.”
The band plays some golden era classics, and I spin Addie around and pull her into my arms. She giggles and I could listen to that sound for the rest of my life. I tuck her in close to me, and I sigh. This is heaven. This is what I’ve been hoping for since I pushed my way into the fake relationship. To hold her in my arms and not have anybody question if it’s right or wrong. More importantly, to have her not to deny me this, getting so close.
“You’re a talented dancer,” she mutters, sounding shocked.
“Hey, don’t sound so surprised. I have a lot of hidden talents.” I spin her around and she giggles again.
“I’m sure you do.”
The breathy nature of her comment has me stumbling a little as I wonder how she means it because I instantly went lustful, and the way she drops her gaze makes me think she meant it as such too.
Damn. I’m screwed.