Chapter Sixteen
S miling at my reflection, I replayed the evening as I washed my hands.
Logan had relaxed and opened up so much. He seemed more and more comfortable talking with me as the night went on and I had a remarkably deep knowledge of the man now.
His humor, sincerity, intelligence and warmth had come through so strongly. His personality was even more captivating than his handsome exterior. Everything I’d learned drew me to Logan even more, craving something more than his friendship.
I raised a brow at the mirror. Set your sights lower, lady.
I noticed a small clock on a shelf as I dried my hands and was surprised to see it was almost 10:30. It was probably time to end the night, head home, and not overstay my welcome.
When I left the bathroom in the hall next to the dining room, I heard music playing. I returned to the living room and found Logan standing in front of one of the big windows, his hands in his pockets, staring out at the night sky over the ocean .
“I wouldn’t have pegged you as a Barry Manilow fan,” I told him.
Logan looked down as I came up beside him. “I look more like a Prince groupie, huh?”
I shook my head. “No way, you’re not fooling me. You had New Kids on the Block posters all over your bedroom and blasted them on repeat.”
He chuckled. I loved the sound of his laughs.
“Aren’t you too young to recognize Manilow?” he asked.
“Why yes, yes I am.” I grinned. “My mother has always been a fan.”
“This playlist IS my mother’s.”
A new song started and I looked out at the night sky as well, letting myself savor a few more minutes in his company.
Logan pulled a hand from a pocket and held it out to me. “Care to dance?”
I had unconsciously begun moving to the music and stopped the slight motion, giving him a bashful smile as my cheeks heated. “Oh no, that’s okay. I’m not much of a dancer.”
“I can believe that, Crash,” he teased, “but neither am I. If you’re up for it we could just” —Logan squeezed one eye shut, his mouth going goofy— “sway together?”
I tried to hide my excitement and nerves at Logan asking to touch each other intentionally, chewing my lip as I nodded.
He took my hands, bringing them to his shoulders, then placed his on my hips and we started to, well… sway, for lack of a better word .
I was on cloud nine as our bodies slowly moved while the ballad played, thankful I didn’t have to focus on any steps since the feel of Logan’s hands at my waist was all I could think about. I focused on his chest through the final verse of the song.
When Barry went into the final chorus, I looked up at Logan shyly and felt a jolt as my gaze collided with the intense blue of his.
He kept watching me closely as we stopped moving once the music faded. As the notes of another song began, Logan tilted his head to the side.
“So, how do you think it went?” he asked. “Our first” —he blew out a breath and then said the word as if it were foreign to him— “date.” His brow knit. “It was a date, right?”
I dipped my chin to hide my face as a thrill ran through me.
He’d said those words.
My imagination wasn’t playing tricks on me.
This was really happening.
To me.
With Logan Harper.
My mind began to race with what response to give him and not sound stupid or over-enthusiastic.
But when I looked back up, Logan was staring at my lips and my smile fell as my heart skipped a beat and my brain stopped working completely.
He lifted a hand and brushed some hair behind my ear, then rested his fingertips on my cheek gently and I sucked in a breath .
I had to blink away tears at the sudden storm of emotions that swept through me.
You don’t realize how precious even the simplest of intimate touches can be until you’ve gone without feeling them against your skin for a long time.
My neck tipped on its own accord, angling toward his warmth like a flower reaching for sunlight as he softly stroked my skin.
I think my face told Logan exactly what he wanted to know, but he didn’t seem to want to take any chances this time.
“May I kiss you, Madison?”
My vision blurred and my pulse sounded in my ears for what felt like an eternity, but was only a matter of moments before I felt myself nod.
Logan didn’t hesitate. Moving his hand to the nape of my neck, he pulled me closer to his body with the other and we both let out a groan as our mouths crushed together. He wrapped an arm around me, bringing me against his chest as he deepened the kiss quickly.
I moaned as Logan lifted my hand and moved it to the back of his head. I ran my nails through his hair and he let out a growl, squeezing me to him even tighter, bringing me to my tiptoes as his mouth moved against mine urgently. We stood locked in the embrace as he devoured me. Our breathing became labored as neither of us focused on inhaling nor exhaling .
A hand pressed into the small of my back against my exposed skin and I shivered. His other moved back up my spine to my neck until his fingers splayed through my hair.
I was on fire, my body waking up in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. The adrenaline made me feel powerful and the power made me feel bold. I twisted my fingers more firmly into his hair, turning his face slightly to change the angle to better suit me. Now, I was the one devouring him.
I heard a pleased sound from his throat, encouraging me as I pressed myself into his mouth and against his body more fully.
He gently cupped my bottom and raised my feet from the floor. I instinctively lifted my legs to wind around his hips as his hands slid lower to my thighs to support me, only vaguely having a passing thought of worry that I was too heavy for him.
Our mouths never broke as Logan carried me to the sofa and I moved my other hand to his soft hair as he sat with me on his lap. I brought my legs down to straddle his thighs and his fingers returned to my back, rubbing them up and down along my spine, sending pleasure through my body as he brushed his tongue against mine in that dance he’s fond of—me an eager participant this time, quickly learning the steps as our mouths moved in sync.
We spent a long time taking turns leading the kiss, repeating the intoxicating rhythm again and again. I hadn’t had such an intense make-out session since I was a girl, and god did it feel amazing .
I started to grow lightheaded from the lack of oxygen and lowered my hands to Logan’s chest, forcing myself to push lightly. At the touch, he slowed the movements of his hands and mouth.
I leaned back and stared into smoldering eyes that made me feel desirable for the first time in so long.
“It was wonderful,” I murmured.
Logan’s beautiful blues blinked. “Hmm?”
I smiled. “Our date.”
He smiled back and let out a satisfied sigh as he reclined against the cushions, taking me with him.
His arms stiffened around me the same moment I realized the new angle changed the contours of where my body rested against his and I could feel the hard length of his arousal pressed against my stomach.
We gaped at each other like awkward teenagers. I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound stupid.
“Well,” Logan beat me to it, “this is a little embarrassing.”
I squeezed my eyes shut but I couldn’t help it and started to giggle.
Logan covered his face and chuckled himself. “How can you be amused at a time like this?”
When he dropped his hand, there was distinctly more heat in his eyes as he studied me.
I sobered and put my cheek against his shoulder to hide my face. I liked knowing he wanted me. How could I not? And I wanted Logan as well. I could feel the desire, the ache between my thighs. And why the hell shouldn’t I? I was a grown-ass, consenting woman after all.
I swallowed, running a fingernail across my lips nervously before I spoke. “I’m not sure if I’m the type to do certain things… on a first date.”
“I would never want you to do—”
I cut him off before I lost my nerve. “But if we consider the beach today, and the cafe yesterday…”
I felt his fingers still on my back where they had been lightly grazing my skin again.
“If we even counted the bar, which we probably shouldn’t since that would have been a disaster of a first date.” I grimaced. “Yeah, no, please forget I said that last part.” I bit my lip anxiously before lifting my head to look at him again. “Maybe I could stay…”
I wasn’t brave enough to say it, say it, and looked at his bedroom door for a moment instead.
Logan’s jaw hardened. “Are you sure that is what you want, Madison?”
I nodded shyly. “If you would like me to.”
His arms tightened around me as his eyes turned to blue fire.
“Hell. Yes. I would like you to.”