Chapter 8
EIGHT
Vivian
I wake up with Logan’s arms wrapped tightly around me. His nose is buried in my hair, the tip pressing against the back of my neck. One of his legs is thrown over mine, and I smile at how he’s draped all over me. It’s like he couldn’t get close enough last night.
I’m not used to people being so in my space, but I find that I like it. Or maybe I like it because it’s Logan.
Logan grumbles in his sleep as I shift. He’s so freaking cute. I’m happy for the first time in maybe forever. It feels like I’m right where I’m meant to be, like fate set me on a course to wind up with Logan.
I belong with him.
I finally have someone who loves and cares about me. I know Logan would do anything to make me happy and keep me safe. He may not have said those three little words, but he’s shown me how he feels in every single one of his actions.
I’m so hot, and I shift again, trying to kick my leg out from under the blankets. Logan stirs behind me, nuzzling into my neck.
“Morning,” I rasp.
He rolls me in his arms. “Mate,” he mutters, claiming my lips with his.
Heat blooms within me, and I kiss him back passionately. His hands stroke my sides, and I melt against him. My body is a little sore from last night, but I’m still horny to have him again.
Logan rolls me onto my back and settles between my legs, his cock hard as it presses against my thigh. He presses his fingers against my opening, testing to see if I’m ready, and growls at what he finds. I gasp as his thumb swirls over my clit.
“So fucking hot, Vivi,” he groans against my skin.
I spread my legs wider in invitation, and he gets the message. The head of his cock bumps against my opening, and we both sigh as he sinks inside me, one thick inch at a time.
“Good?” he asks, studying my face.
“Yes. I need you,” I whisper.
“You have me.”
Logan makes slow, lazy love to me, worshipping me with his mouth, hands, and body. I shiver as his tongue traces over the bite mark on my neck.
“Logan…” I pant. “Mate.”
“What do you need, Vivi?”
I open my eyes, staring up at him. “More,” I beg.
He gives me what I need as soon as I ask for it. His strokes are deeper, harder, faster. He kisses me, his tongue tangling with mine as we rock together, chasing that high.
I strain to reach my peak as Logan thrusts in and out of me. His hips pin me to the mattress, and the base of his cock rubs against my clit with each stroke. I hook my legs around his hips, and he groans as my heels dig into his ass.
“Fuck, Vivi,” he moans. “I’m not going to last.”
“Don’t stop,” I beg.
“Not until you come.”
His voice is so low, so hot. It ratchets up my desire another notch, and I arch into his chest as I come.
“Logan!” I cry out, my head thrashing on the pillow as my orgasm washes over me.
“Mate,” he shouts as he comes with me.
I stare up at him, taking in his dark brown hair and those green eyes that have turned dark with lust.
“I love you” is on the tip of my tongue. I open my mouth to tell him but chicken out at the last second.
Logan pulls out of me and rolls onto his side.
I turn to face him, enjoying the afterglow. Then my stomach growls.
He glances down, then back up to meet my eyes. Leaning in, he kisses me quickly before tugging the blankets aside. “What are you hungry for? I’ll make us breakfast.”
I stretch lazily. “Pancakes and bacon.”
“Coming right up.”
“I can help.”
He shakes his head. “Get some more rest.”
I watch him go, then kick off the blankets and head into the bathroom. I decide to take a shower before breakfast, smiling as I use Logan’s body wash and shampoo. I love having his scent all over me.
“Food is ready,” Logan calls as I towel off.
“Perfect timing. Can I borrow some more clothes?”
“Of course. Take whatever you want.”
I pad into the closet, and he watches as I grab a shirt and sweatpants. He hands me a pair of his boxers, and I smile as I drop the towel to get dressed.
“Mate,” he growls, his gaze heating as he takes me in.
He makes me feel sexy and delicate, things I’ve never considered myself to be.
His phone rings as he reaches for me. He sighs, answering it as I tug the sweatpants up and pull on his shirt.
“Hello? Oh, hey. Today?” he asks whoever is on the phone. “Hold on.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s Quinn. The girls are getting together for lunch in town today, and they want to know if you’d like to join them.”
“Oh.”
“I was going to take you into town this morning to do some shopping. As much as I love seeing you in my stuff, I’m sure you’d like some clothes that actually fit.”
“That would be nice.” I laugh.
“We could shop before you have lunch with the girls. If you want,” he adds.
“Sure, that sounds like fun.”
He nods and goes back to the phone call. I follow him out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. Our breakfast is already laid out, so I sit down and dig in.
Logan slides onto the stool next to me and smiles as he watches me eat. “We’ll head into town after breakfast. Everyone is meeting at the diner in town at noon.”
“Sounds good,” I say, glancing at the clock. “We’d better hurry.”
We eat in easy silence. I’m starving after last night and this morning, and I finish my food quickly.
Logan offers me some of his, but I’m stuffed.
As I stand to do the dishes, he glares at me and shovels his food into his mouth.
He finishes eating in record time and nudges me out of the way so he can take over and load the dishwasher.
“I had it.” I laugh.
“And now I have it.”
Rolling my eyes, I go in search of my shoes. I sit on the couch to put them on, and Logan crouches in front of me, tying them before I can. I see him smile as he does it, and I fall even more in love with him.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod. “Let’s go.”
Logan holds my hand as we walk to the garage. He opens the passenger door for me and lifts me into the seat, looking ecstatic as he does all these things for me. It’s cute.
We drive into town, and Logan parks and helps me out. He leads me into the first shop, following me as I browse the racks. I find a few things I like, but quickly learn that I have to be careful. If I so much as look twice at something, Logan grabs it and adds it to the rapidly growing pile.
When we walk out an hour later, I’ve got a whole new wardrobe—more clothes than I’ve ever had in my life.
“The shoe store is down that way,” Logan says as we place the bags in the trunk—or he does, since he won’t let me carry anything.
We move on to the next shop, where I get a new pair of tennis shoes and slippers. I insist that I have enough now, but Logan adds a pair of sandals and slip-on shoes. He pays, and we add those purchases to the trunk of his car.
“Where’s the diner?” I ask.
He nods down the street. “We have a few minutes.”
I smile. “Are you joining us for lunch?”
“No, I’ll let you bond with your friends.”
“They’re not my friends,” I mumble.
“Not yet, maybe, but they want to be. You like them, right?”
“Yeah, they seem cool.”
“Good. Enjoy your lunch with them. I’ll go home, put this stuff away, and be back to pick you up. I need to run by Knox’s place too.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around his neck. He grins down at me, grabbing my hips and pulling me flush against him.
“Can you stand to be away from me for an hour?” I tease.
“An hour?” He looks pained. “I thought it would only be twenty to thirty minutes.”
“No, I think it’ll be at least an hour.”
He looks miserable.
“You’ll be okay,” I promise.
He sighs. “Fine.”
I have a feeling he’ll also be grabbing lunch at the diner after twenty minutes.
I smile as he takes my hand, and we head down the block to the diner. Roxie, Quinn, and another woman are already there when we walk in, and I wave shyly as we walk over to their booth.
Roxie stands to hug me. “Hey! I’m so glad that you could make it!”
“Thanks for inviting me.”
“All right, I’ll see you soon,” Logan says, handing me some cash and bending to kiss me.
I shove it in my pocket. “Thanks.”
“We need to go to the bank and the phone store too,” he says.
I smile. “After lunch.”
He sighs, frowning slightly as he turns and leaves the diner. I smirk as he stops to look back at me twice while he walks back to the car.
“You two are so cute,” Roxie gushes.
I giggle. “He’s great.”
“I know. Fated mates, am I right?” Quinn asks with a wry grin. “Oh, and before we forget, this is Fern.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
Fern smiles. “You too.”
I settle into the booth, relaxing as Roxie hands me a menu and the girls talk. The server comes over, and I order a water and a BLT with a side of curly fries.
“So, how was last night?” Quinn asks, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
My cheeks heat, but knowing that they all experience the mating heat too helps to ease some of my embarrassment.
“Perfect,” I sigh, and everyone grins.
“It’s always like that,” Fern says. “I’ve been with Jameson for a few months, and I keep expecting the honeymoon phase to end, but it doesn’t.”
“How did you two meet?” I ask.
I’m horrified to learn that the cult took her too before they took Roxie, her best friend. They shot at Quinn and also held me captive.
They’ve hurt so many people. Unease fills me, and the girls must be able to tell because they all rush to reassure me.
“The Pack is handling it,” Fern promises.
“Plus, Logan would never let anything bad happen to you,” Roxie adds.
I know they’re right, but I still have a niggling sense of unease as our food arrives.
I learn more about all of them and about the pack here.
They tell me about the four Alphas and how the land is split between the packs, but they work together as one.
I learn about the Midnight Haven and other efforts to help people, especially those who are escaping the cult just north of Night Grove Falls.
We finish eating, and I notice that Logan still isn’t back. He must be giving me time with the girls, I think, as I pay my bill.
“Do you need a ride?” Quinn asks.
“No, I’m going to walk. I think I’ll surprise Logan.”
They all grin.
“It’s hard to stay away from your mate, isn’t it?” Fern asks.
I nod. “Harder than I thought. I was teasing Logan about not being able to stay away, but the truth is that I can’t either.”
“Go get your man,” Roxie cheers.
I laugh. “I’ll see you guys later?”
They all nod.
“Let us know once you get your phone, and we’ll get your number,” Quinn says.
“Will do. I’ll see you guys.”
I leave the diner, smiling at the beautiful day as I walk back to Logan’s cabin. Our cabin, I correct myself.
I make it out of town, and that’s when I feel it—eyes watching me.
I turn, scanning the trees, but I don’t see anyone. The road is empty, and I pick up my pace as I turn off onto the street that leads further up the mountain. I’m close to Logan’s road now, and I try to remain calm as I walk.
The sensation of someone watching me grows stronger. I stop, whirling around, and gasp when I see one of my guards from the cult standing there.
“Miss us?” he asks with a sinister smirk.
I open my mouth to scream, but I’m grabbed from behind and yanked off the road into the bushes.