Chapter 30
30
“Oh my God, this is amazing!”
Vivian looked over at Sally, sitting next to her in the back seats of the helicopter, and grinned at the other woman’s exuberance. “I was a nervous wreck when Logan first took me up, but I love it now.”
While Sally continued to peer out of the window, exclaiming over the landscape, Vivian looked toward the front, where Iggie was in conversation with Logan. Smiling, she settled back in her seat, enjoying the vista below. So far, her fears about trying to convince Iggie and Sally they were truly married had been for nothing. Grinning, she remembered how, when they arrived at the little airfield, Logan made sure he had his arm around her. He had kissed her as he buckled her in, too. She had just rolled her eyes at him, receiving a grin from him in return.
The Zamans came to mind, but she tried to push them out. Logan told her there was nothing they could do today, so she needed just to enjoy the weekend. Sally’s hand suddenly grabbed her arm, shaking her out of her thoughts.
“Oh my God. Did you see that? Lived here my whole life but never saw it from the air.”
Turning her attention back out the window, she watched the snow-capped mountains in the distance pass by and the crystal-blue waters of the lake below. “It’s gorgeous.”
“Preacher, you’re gonna love the lodge,” Iggie said, loud enough for them to hear in the back. “They got hot springs you can soak in that’s gonna feel like a sauna. Good food in the restaurant, and I was looking at the rooms on their website, and they look nice. Got balconies that overlook the springs with the mountains in the background.”
“Sounds good, man,” Logan said. Vivian caught his eyes staring at her in the mirror that allowed the pilot to see in the back seats.
Grinning, she ducked her head. She was now excited to spend time with Logan that didn’t involve terrorists or sleeping on twin mattresses pushed together on the floor. Logan called in his codes to the Nome Airport, and she felt them descend. Soon, he eased them to the ground.
Watching Logan alight, talking to the helicopter manager, and then turning back to give a thumbs-up to Iggie, Vivian followed Sally out the door. Iggie grabbed their bags, and as she reached into the back to get hers, a long, muscular arm came from the side and snagged it.
Logan whispered near her ear, “Babe, I cannot wait to get to the lodge with you. Don’t expect to come up for air the whole time we’re there.”
Twisting her neck, she looked up at him, her face near his neck. Lifting on her toes, she planted her lips there, right on his pulse, causing a swift intake of air.
“Oh hell, Viv, you just got me hard as a rock.”
Giggling, she slid to the side, settling under his arm, with their bags on his other shoulder. “Then lead on. I’m yours to command for the night.”
“Can’t ask for more than that, woman. Let’s go.”
Iggie had taken care of the rental SUV, and with Sally in the passenger side, she and Logan shared the back seat as they made the short drive to the huge log cabin lodge. Once they’d checked in, he almost dragged her along the passage to their room. With Iggie’s laughter and Sally calling out the time to meet for dinner, he unlocked the door, swinging it open. Stepping inside first, she noted he stopped as his eyes scanned the room. Not willing to wait, Vivian ducked underneath his arm and gasped.
“This is gorgeous,” she cried out, twirling in the middle of the room. It was paneled with one wall containing a sliding glass door leading out to the balcony. The heavy, wooden furniture included a king-sized bed, and its posters were made of logs. The bedspread in blues and greens added color to the dark, cozy room. She peeked into the bathroom, her breath leaving her in a rush. “Oh my God, Logan. Come look.”
He stepped behind her, his hands on her shoulders as they viewed the private toilet, long counter, large shower, and, in the corner, a huge, kick-ass jetted tub.
“I don’t have a bathing suit, but we don’t have to leave the room—umph!” she grunted as he scooped her up and stalked back to the bed, laying them both down.
“I’ve been hard since we got here, babe. We can explore the merits of the jetted tub later.”
Laughing, she planted her hand on the bed and sat up. Standing, she grinned as she said, “Allow me.” Bending, she grabbed one of his boots and undid the laces, pulling on the sides before sliding it from his foot.
Logan stared wide-eyed as she removed his second boot, dropping it on the floor next to the first one. Kicking off her shoes, she continued to grin as she grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it slowly over her head.
“Man, babe, you’re making it hard to breathe,” he said, his hand on his chest.
Sliding her jeans down her legs, she stood in a simple bra and panty set. Nothing too fancy. Just light pink, with a little bow between her breasts. “Oh, yeah? What else is hard?”
He sat up quickly, reaching for her, but she skirted back. Waggling her finger in front, she said, “No, no. This time, I’m in charge.” She climbed back up onto the tall bed and straddled his thighs, running her palm over his hard cock.
He groaned. “Babe, I’m totally in your hands.”
She laughed as she leaned over to kiss him, her breasts teasing his chest. “I hope I don’t disappoint.”
An hour later, as they lay naked and tangled in the sheets, he kissed her forehead. “You most certainly didn’t disappoint. Now, how about we check out that Jacuzzi?”
Hours later, Vivian sat on the deep, comfortable cushion on one side of the tall, wooden booth of the lodge’s restaurant. Logan sat next to her or, rather, so close that his thigh pressed against hers from ass to knee. His arm was slung casually around the back of her shoulders, his thumb occasionally rubbing her neck.
Across from them were Iggie and Sally—their positions were similar. The seafood and steaks were excellent. Even now, their conversations never lagged over wine and dessert.
After she and Logan had come up for air from their afternoon tryst, Iggie called and told them to get to the hot springs. Neither of them had bathing suits, but a quick trip to the lodge’s store solved that issue, and they soon met their friends in the hot springs. Lounging in the warm water, her tension was released as all her muscles relaxed. And now, sitting in the restaurant, she felt as much of a couple as Iggie and Sally.
She knew it was only half pretending— after all, she and Logan had become a real couple, but pretending to be married no longer felt adventurous. It felt disingenuous. She was falling, and Logan had even said he wanted her to meet his family. Yet there was so much more to do with the mission. And so much more she didn’t know about him. The sex was phenomenal, and when he held her during the night, it all felt so real. But there’s a look in his eye sometimes when we’re planning our work…a look I don’t understand. It takes a lot more than just great sex to become a real couple in the real world.
Feeling his fingers squeeze her shoulder slightly, she jumped, cutting her eyes to him.
“Viv? You okay, babe?”
His voice rumbled gently next to her ear, the look in his eyes one of concern.
Smiling, she nodded. “Yeah, I’m great.” Glancing back to the empty plates and glasses, she said, “I think I’m just full and getting sleepy.”
His lips curved at her answer, his fingers tightening once more. “Gotta get you outta here and back to bed. You’ll have sweet dreams in that big, comfortable bed.”
“I swear, this is our anniversary, but seeing you two so much in love makes my heart happy,” Sally said, leaning against Iggie.
Vivian’s eyes shifted quickly across the table, her smile still in place, but a tremor ran through her lips. Logan must have noticed because his hand returned to her neck, and he rubbed his thumb in long, slow movements to ease her tension.
Logan felt the change in Vivian the instant Sally mentioned the word love, and her body stiffened. His feelings for her had grown, but the middle of a mission was the worst time to start a relationship. It didn’t matter that many of Mace and Carson’s Keepers, as well as the two iconic leaders themselves, had found love during a mission, but Logan wasn’t sure how they managed it. But one thing was for sure: he wasn’t going to make Vivian feel better sitting here despite the excellent company.
Looking over at the other couple, he said, “Guys, this has been a great evening and a great meal. But my girl is about to drop, so I’m going to get the check and get her tucked in for the night.” Before he could take the check, Iggie’s hand snapped out, grabbing it first.
“No way, Preacher. You took time off from work and flew us here without charging for fuel—this meal’s on us.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but Iggie leaned in closer. “I know you’re the kind of man who doesn’t like others to pay. But Preacher, what you’ve gotta understand is, by doing this, you’ve allowed me to do something nice for my woman. She never asks for much, works harder than anyone I know, and loves me in spite of my craziness. This is me expressing my gratitude. Because of you and Vivian, my woman got a weekend full of good memories with good people in a nice as fuck place.”
Logan moved his hand back and nodded, understanding exactly what Iggie was saying. He looked over at Sally, who stared at Iggie like he hung the moon. And to her, he did.
Feeling the pressure of Vivian’s fingers on his leg, he turned to see her smiling up at him. Her expression was so similar to Sally’s that it almost hurt.
“Come on, babe.” He slid out of the booth, his hand holding tightly to hers as he assisted her up. “See you tomorrow,” he called to the others as he tucked her underneath his shoulder, and they walked out of the restaurant side by side.
Back in their room, Vivian plopped down in one of the heavy chairs padded with a deep green cushion that, like the bed, was crafted from logs. Pulling off her shoes, she wiggled her toes as she leaned back and groaned. “I ate so much… drank so much. I can’t move.”
Chuckling, Logan disappeared into the bathroom and turned on the bathtub faucets. Her curiosity must have gotten the better of her because, in a few minutes, she padded into the bathroom on bare feet.
“Oh!” She smiled as she regarded the deep tub almost full of steamy water. He flipped the switch, turning off all the lights except for the candle sconces on the walls that circled the tub. Looking at the scene, she smiled, her hand going to the belt on her dress.
Stepping directly in front of her, he shook his head as his hands moved hers away. “Nuh-uh,” he said, untying her belt before moving to the zipper at the back of her dress. “You stripped for me earlier...now it’s my turn.”
Slowly, he peeled her dress, bra, and panties away, then held her hand as he assisted her into the tub. She sank into the water and leaned back, another smile lighting her face. He stripped quickly and said, “Slide up just a bit, babe.”
She obeyed, and soon the water rose even higher as his body slid in behind hers, his muscular thighs on either side of her hips, her back now resting against his chest. Wrapping his powerful arms around her, he held her…engulfed her, wanting to give her all of himself.
“I said what I meant back there in the restaurant,” he said, his voice low as he kissed the side of her neck. “You need a hot bath, someone to take care of you, and then a good night’s sleep curled up next to me in a bed that doesn’t separate when you roll over.”
A light bark of laughter erupted from her as she nodded. “I like sleeping next to you, even if the bed moves when we roll over.”
“I kind of got that, Viv.”
She twisted her head around, but he kept his arms tightly around her.
“Every morning, I wake up with your leg over mine or tangled up in mine. Your hand is on my chest or my stomach. Your face is on my shoulder, and your body is smooshed next to mine. From the first night we slept together, I got that you like being next to me.”
“That’s irritating, you know,” she huffed. His chuckle caused her body to move with the vibrations, and she sighed. “And for the record, Logan, you laughing at me is irritating also.”
“I’ve never woken up wrapped around a woman before. Hell, it’s been over a decade since I even woke up to a woman in my bed.”
He was uncertain of her reaction to his proclamation, but her breathing halted and he squeezed her lightly before she inhaled deeply.
“Never wanted to. I might have been called Preacher, but I wasn’t a monk. Either I left, or they did. Never took anyone to my apartments when I had them. Never took anyone back to my house in Montana. Sure as hell never took anyone to meet my family… not even the girl I dated in college.” Leaning down so his mouth was right next to her ear, he continued, “So do you get why waking up with you all tangled up with me, knowing you want that as much as I do, is so important to me? I’m not making fun of you, Viv. I fuckin’ love it.”
She moved so quickly he barely had time to brace. She twisted her body around and grabbed his cheeks in her hands while straddling his legs. Some water sloshed over the side, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was this woman pulling him in for a kiss. They battled for dominance, devouring each other’s mouths, taking and giving at the same time.
Logan felt a change in her, as though any lingering doubts about his feelings for her had melted away. Taking charge, he tilted her head so he could maximize the kiss. Soon, she rooted herself on his cock, her hands on his shoulders, riding him with her breasts lightly bouncing as the waves of surrounding water sloshed even more over the side of the tub.
Later, they made it to the huge bed, legs tangled, her head resting on his chest where his arms pulled her in tight. Sweet dreams followed.