Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
LOGAN
The next morning, I dig out my keys from the snow beneath the cluster of pines next to the house while Kaylee tidies up, washing the dishes along with the sheets and blankets we used.
The power’s back and the storm is gone, leaving a clear, crystal blue sky and several inches of sparkling snow that I clear from the driveway after I shut the generator off.
Last night, we ate our lasagna by the fire and talked for hours about anything and everything.
I have to admit, a part of me was nervous that we’d struggle to find things in common given our age difference, but that wasn’t the case.
We have plenty in common, and the things that we don’t just make her more interesting to me.
We slipped back into bed once the fire was down to embers, and even though I’d told myself I wasn’t going to take her again, knowing she was sore, I couldn’t seem to help myself.
Not when she curled up naked against me and started running her little hands all over my body, telling me that her ache was back.
I taught her how to ride me, how to move her hips to make us both feel good, and we fell asleep with my cock still buried inside her tight, warm cunt.
Best night of my entire life.
Once I’m finished dealing with the snow and she’s put the inside to rights, we lock up the house and I help Kaylee into the passenger seat of my truck, the winter sun shining brightly on her hair and making it gleam. She gives me a sweet smile as I buckle her in the way I’ve always wanted to do.
“Thanks,” she says, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling, and a feeling I can only describe as euphoric joy bursts in my chest. I don’t have to hold myself back from her anymore. She’s mine.
So I lean in and kiss her softly, just like I want.
Because I can. I feel her smile against my lips as her hand lands on my cheek.
I turn my head and kiss her palm before shutting the door and walking around to my side.
I climb in and start the engine, and as I pull out onto the road, I’m relieved to see that the roads are clear.
We drive in comfortable silence, the hum of the truck and the radio on at a low volume filling the space. Our fingers are tangled over the center console, neither one of us wanting to stop touching.
“Is it this one?” I ask, slowing as I turn onto the street she’d told me earlier.
“Next one down,” she says, pointing at a tidy looking, low-rise apartment building. I feel her tense as I pull into a parking spot designated for visitors. Kaylee looks at me, biting her lip.
Something is off with my girl, and it’s got me on high alert.
“Can I come in with you?” I ask, shutting off the truck’s ignition. “I know you have work to do, but I just want to walk you in, make sure you’re okay.”
She hesitates, her fingers twisting on the seat belt. Another sign she’s nervous. “It’s, um. Yeah. Sure, you can come in.” She looks down and swallows, and my chest tightens with worry.
What could she be worried about? Is she a slob? Is her place disgusting? I just spent the past almost 24 hours with her, and didn’t notice any slobbish tendencies. In fact, it was her idea to wash the dishes and do the laundry while I dealt with the snow.
I step out into the sunshine and walk around the front of the truck to open her door. Her brows are knitted, a little frown on her face.
“Everything okay?” I ask as we walk towards her door. I snag her hand with mine.
“Mmmhmm,” she says, not quite meeting my eyes, and that weight in my stomach gets heavier.
I follow her into her apartment as she pushes open the door, revealing a spotlessly clean, lovely apartment.
Lovely, but…this can’t be right.
I immediately move in front of her, putting Kaylee behind me. “Did you get robbed?” I ask, my eyes scanning the space for signs of movement. There’s no way she lives like this. No way she has so little.
“What? No. I just don’t have much…stuff,” she says, her voice trailing to almost a whisper at the end.
It’s like there’s a knife in my heart at the visual evidence of how much she’s been struggling.
The shit can of a car. The fact that she hadn’t eaten yesterday.
The apartment she can’t afford to furnish properly.
The few items of furniture look like shit.
There are no curtains on any of the windows, nothing on the walls.
There’s clearly a spot for a TV above the gas fireplace, but the wall there is empty with wires protruding.
The kitchen counters are completely bare, no stools sitting next to the island.
There’s a tiny bistro table in the corner, worn to hell, with two mismatched chairs.
I turn and pull her into my arms, at a complete loss as to what to say. I ache for the way she’s struggled, for how long she’s been on her own. I wish she’d come into my life earlier so I could’ve been taking care of her all this time. But I can’t undo the past. I can’t change what’s happened.
“It’s okay,” I say, smoothing my hand over the back of her head.
“I’ve got you now. It’s okay.” She melts into me, her arms wrapping around my waist. I look around at her place again.
It’s clean and well-kept, but it’s clear she’s struggling.
A fierce protectiveness surges through me, making my skin feel tight and hot.
I want to take care of her, provide for her, give her everything she’s been missing.
“It’s not okay,” she says softy, her voice thick with emotion. “It hasn’t been okay for a long time now.”
“But now you have me. And that changes everything, baby.” I tip her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. “You know I can’t let you stay here like this.”
She frowns. “What do you mean?”
I tilt my head. “Well, as I see it, there are two options. Option number one is we go shopping so we can properly furnish and decorate this place. Whatever you need, I’ll buy for you.
We can make this place a safe, comfortable home for you.
You give me the payment information for your rent, and I’ll take care of that, too. ”
“I can’t let you…” she starts, shaking her head.
I smirk at her. “I had a feeling you might be resistant to that, so here’s option number two. Move in with me.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Move in with you? I can’t…”
I hold her chin in place gently, looking her right in those gorgeous blues as I talk.
“You can. I have a three-thousand square foot three-bedroom house I live in alone. I’ve got lots of room.
And not to brag, but my place is pretty nice.
I built it myself.” I sigh. “I can’t stomach the thought of you living here like this, Kaylee.
I want you with me, and I want to make sure you have everything you need.
If you move in with me, you won’t have to pay rent.
Hell, you don’t even have to work if you don’t want to. ”
“I want to work,” she says firmly, and I nod.
“And that’s fine. But don’t think I’m not gonna tell John off the next time I see him for the stress he caused you and the way he treated you.”
I can tell she’s thinking it all over. After a moment, she nods. “Why don’t I pack a bag and come for a few days? Like a…a trial run?”
I smile, knowing I’ve won. My place is stunning, and I’m going to pamper the shit out of her. She’s never going to want to leave.
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, trying to keep the cocky grin off my face. I can tell I’ve failed from the look she gives me.
Fuck, I love this girl.
I wait for her to pack her bag and then we head back out to my truck.
The sight of my vehicle reminds me that I’ve gotta get Kaylee something more suitable than the car she’s been driving around in.
I’ll see if I can convince her to let me take her car shopping in a day or two, once she’s found her bearings at my place.
Less than ten minutes later, we pull up to my house, my truck tires crunching on the packed snow and gravel driveway.
I glance over at Kaylee, gauging her reaction.
I know she’s seen it before, but I still want to see what she thinks.
Her eyes are wide, her lips parted as she takes in the timber and stone house with its peaked black roof.
I try to see it through her eyes—the gabled entrance, the massive windows, the intricate stonework.
It’s not exactly a mansion, but it is gorgeous.
I built it exactly the way I wanted about ten years ago.
“Logan,” she breathes, leaning forward to look up at the house through the truck’s windshield. “I know I’ve seen your place from the outside before, but I think I’d forgotten how beautiful it is. And you built this?”
I nod, a swell of pride inflating my chest. “Yep. Designed and built it myself.”
She turns to me, her eyes bright, her cheeks pink. “It’s incredible. You’re incredible.”
I chuckle, putting the truck in park. “Just wait till you see the inside.”
She giggles, shooting me a look. “That’s usually my line.”
I laugh as I climb out and walk around to her side, opening the door for her.
She takes my hand, her small fingers cold against my palm.
I help her down and then lean in, restraining myself to a brief, almost chaste kiss.
There’ll be time for more kissing later.
Right now, I want to show her where I live and try to convince her that she should live here, too.
We step inside the entryway, and I quickly disarm the security system.
“Oh, wow,” she breathes, eyes zeroed in on one of my favorite parts of the house. “Is that a…a tree?”
“Sure is,” I say, leading her over to the massive polished tree trunk that goes from the walk-out basement level all the way up to the top floor, with the staircase zigzagging around it.
“That’s amazing,” she says, sliding her hand over the smooth wood.