37. Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Seven
IZZY
I sighed as I finished wiping down the counters in my kitchen. The twins were at school and I didn’t work at the hospital today, so I had way too much time on my hands. I'd already baked three dozen cookies hoping it would make me feel better, but all it did was remind me of the day I handed a shirtless, sexy-smirking Logan cookies.
I jumped from being irritated with him to being frustrated with myself, and then back to missing him. He wanted to protect me, and I shouldn’t be irritated about that. I really did understand why he was keeping us away. But something my brother said last night stuck with me.
“He’s protecting his kids and the woman he loves. I’d go to the ends of the earth to protect Nora and Sarah.”
It made me smile to think Logan actually loved me, but he hadn’t said that yet. He didn’t even ask what I thought or what I wanted. That was what actually bothered me. That none of this had been a conversation. I got it in the heat of the moment, and the direct aftermath, but I thought by now we would’ve talked about what we were going to do moving forward.
A knock came from my front door, and I put the sponge down before heading to answer it. Not sure who would be knocking on my door on a Tuesday in the middle of the day, I almost stumbled back when I opened it to find Logan standing there, hands braced on either side of the doorframe, head slightly bowed.
“Logan?” Did something happen? Maybe they finally caught the guy…or maybe he decided this thing between us wasn’t going to work. My stomach twisted painfully at that thought.
He looked up, and in his gaze was so much turmoil. “Can I come in?”
I swallowed, stepping back and waving him in. “Of course.” After shutting the door, I crossed my arms over my chest and faced him.
“I messed up.” He grabbed the back of his neck. “I wanted to protect you and the girls, but I didn’t handle it right. I should have started by telling you I love you, and the thought of anything happening to you or my kids scared the hell out of me.”
“I know.” My body relaxed, and for the first time in five days, I smiled, hope blooming in my chest. I stepped forward and reached for his hand. “I’m not mad, and I love you too. I understand why you needed to do what you did.”
He shook his head and brought my hand up in front of his chest, covering it with both of his. “Sweetheart, if we’re going to make this work, we need to be honest with each other. Talk about things. Make decisions together. You may not be angry, but I don’t believe that the way I handled things didn’t hurt you.”
I lowered my head. I wouldn’t lie to him. “I did understand, but yes, I was a little hurt. I just wished we would have talked about it. That you would have asked what I wanted.”
He reached up and cupped the side of my face with his palm, tilting my head up to look at him. “I promise, from here on out, you and I are a team. There may be times I feel strongly about something, but I will remember to talk it out with you. Include you in the plan and not be an insensitive ass.”
I needed to take responsibility for my part, too. “I should have spoken up. But I wanted you to see that I can handle your life. The girls, the hours, even the possible danger. I know you think because I’m young I might see a life with you as being tied down or too much, but being with you and the girls makes me the happiest I’ve ever been.”
He pulled me toward him and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, bringing me flush against his chest. “Jesus. One of the things I love about you is that you speak your mind. Please don’t ever allow me to squash that.”
I giggled, tightening my arms around his waist. “Good to know.” I melted into his hold, not realizing until that moment how much I needed this.
“I missed you so much.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head.
“Me too.” I pulled back and tilted my head back to look up at him.
He leaned down and captured my mouth, brushing his lips tenderly against mine before pulling back with a smirk. “So there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
“Yeah?”
“I want you to move in with me.”
My mouth fell open. Was he serious? “You don’t think it’s too soon?”
His lips twitched. “I’m sure it’s what I want. If you need more time, take as long as you need.”
“It’s what I want too.” Although my lease wasn’t up until the end of the year because I took it over from Angie halfway through hers. “I might need some time to find someone to take over my lease, though.” And I knew exactly the person to ask.
“That’s fine. But starting tonight, I don’t want to go another night without you in my arms.”
Was he not worried about the danger anymore? “What about the arsonist?”
“I’m having a security system installed tomorrow. One like Dylan’s, with cameras and motion-activated lights.” He studied me for a moment. “We can talk about it more, but I’m not sure I want you guys to be there overnight without me. At least for right now.”
I nodded. The security system was a good call. His fingers tangled in my hair, and he claimed my mouth again. God, I missed his kisses, the way he always left me a desperate puddle of goo.
I trailed my fingers up his back. “How long do you have before you have to get back?”
A sexy smirk lifted his lips. “Missed my cock?”
I nodded. “Very much so.” But more than just the pleasure he gave me, I missed feeling connected with him like I did when we were together.
Our gazes locked, and something powerful passed between us. Like he knew exactly what I wanted.
He bent his knees and grabbed me by my ass, lifting me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist and giggled as he turned and headed down the hallway.
“We’ll have to make it quick.” He threw me on my bed, and his hands went to the buckle of his pants.
I quickly stripped out of my one-piece romper and gasped when he grabbed my ankles, pulling me to the edge of the bed.
“You ready for me?”
I nodded and he ran the tip of his cock through my wetness, spreading it before inching so slowly into me I thought I might die.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” He stared down at me with so many emotions swirling in his irises. “So perfect.”
Once he was fully seated, we both let out a moan. He stilled, gaze locked on my face. I couldn’t look away. The intensity in his eyes, the unguarded vulnerability. The love I could plainly see. All of it left me breathless.
His hands trailed up my thighs, over my hips, and gripped my waist. He slowly drew back and slammed back in. With each thrust, my body lit up with not only sensations of pleasure but the love I felt for him, too. Tears burned behind my eyes and I closed them, focusing on where we were joined and the pleasure he was giving me.
“Sweetheart, look at me.”
I swallowed and opened my eyes.
He brushed the hair back from my forehead. “I got you.”
The words were simple, but the meaning behind them was so much more. And even though we both knew we didn’t have a lot of time, his thrusts were slow and unhurried like we had all the time in the world. Neither of us wanted to rush. Instead, we wanted to savor every moment.
He grabbed my hands and pinned them to the mattress on either side of my head, leaning down so he was only a few inches from my face. His stare was so intent, as if he was storing every detail to memory.
We didn’t speak, yet so much was being said. We were barely moving, staring at each other as he slowly rocked into me. I felt treasured in that moment with him. Being with him always felt different, and now I understood why. It wasn’t sex. Even from that first time, it was always making love.
The emotions overwhelmed me, intensifying everything, and I embraced them. I let myself feel it all. It only added to being with him. The first waves of pleasure started low in my gut and threatened to overtake me as I fought to hang on. Fought to draw out this moment with him.
“Logan,” I moaned.
“Got you,” he repeated.
And those two words sent me soaring. He leaned down and took my mouth in an all-consuming kiss as I came harder than I ever had, and he followed me over the edge a second later.
His movements slowed as we both came down from the high. He pulled out and collapsed down next to me, bringing me into his side and pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
“Jesus. That was fucking amazing.”
I smiled. “Intense.”
He rolled us so he hovered above me and cupped my cheek with his hand, searching my face. “I love you,” he whispered.
I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair. “I love you, too.”
He leaned down and claimed my mouth, his warm lips running back and forth over mine until the tones of the radio interrupted the moment. He rested his forehead against mine and sighed heavily.
“I hate that I have to leave you.”
“I’ll see you tonight.” I gave him one last kiss before he rolled off me and stood up, fixing his pants.
He stared down at my naked body and groaned. “I’ll pick you up for dinner after I get off work.”
I raised a brow, and he chuckled.
“If that’s okay with you? Or you can meet me at the house if you want to do dinner at home.”
Home. Warmth blossomed in my chest at the idea that would be our home.
“Dinner out is fine. As long as we're together, it doesn’t matter to me.”
He smiled and placed another quick kiss on my lips before he was gone. I lay there for far too long, basking in the happiness that embraced me.
Being with him was so much more than I ever thought was possible.