Chapter 43
forty-three
We’re both quiet on the drive home. Logan keeps one hand on the steering wheel, resting the other on my thigh, tracing lazy circles. Every pass sends little sparks shooting up my leg and straight to my core, which is still throbbing.
Definitely going to be feeling it tomorrow, that’s for sure.
Headlights sweep across the front of my cottage as we pull into the driveway, and Logan cuts the engine.
“I’ll walk you to your door.”
I nod, and we both climb out.
His hand finds mine as we cross the gravel path and up the steps to my front porch, waiting patiently as I search for my keys.
Pushing the door open, I turn to face him. Barely there moonlight catches the sharp angles of his jaw, shielding his eyes in shadow.
“Stay with me.” The words come out before I can stop them.
Surprise takes over before his features settle into something warm and open. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He follows me inside, and I close the door behind us, flipping the lock. The familiar scent of home wraps around me as we stand in the entryway. Without me having to say a word, Logan toes off his shoes, lining them up neatly next to mine against the wall.
“Do you want a drink?” I ask, heading toward the kitchen. “I could use another glass of water.”
“Sure.”
Grabbing two glasses from the cabinet, I fill them from the filtered water pitcher in my fridge.
Fingers brushing mine as I hand it to him, he raises it to his lips.
Mesmerized, I watch as his throat works with each swallow. Tendons in his neck flex as my gaze travels down to where the first three buttons of his shirt are open, showcasing the light dusting of hair on his chest.
My mouth goes dry, and I have to focus not to choke on my water. All I can think about is dragging my tongue up the column of his throat, tasting the salt on his skin, feeling his pulse hammer against my lips.
Logan sets his glass on the counter, eyes locking onto mine.
“Bedroom?” The single word comes out as a command, low and dark, a promise.
Heat flushes my skin as I take both glasses, rinsing them quickly before putting them into the dishwasher. When I turn back around, he’s watching me with that same smoldering look, and my heart kicks hard against my ribs.
Reaching out, I take his hand, lacing our fingers together as I lead him down the short hallway to my bedroom. The curtains are still drawn, leaving only a thin sliver of moonlight cutting through the gap, painting a pale stripe across the hardwood floor.
It’s dark enough that I can barely make out the shape of my bed against the far wall, the nightstands on either side, and the armchair in the corner where I usually toss my clothes at the end of the day.
Logan releases my hand and shrugs off his jacket, tossing it onto the chair before going for his belt.
“Um.” I swallow, suddenly nervous. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
He stops unbuckling his belt. “No way you’re washing me off of you.” The growl in his voice sends a shiver straight down my spine. “I’m not done with you yet, Angel.”
My stomach flip-flops. “I need to freshen-up. Wash my makeup off.”
He studies me for a beat, then resumes slowly unbuckling his belt. “Fine.” His fingers move to the buttons of his shirt, popping them loose one by one. “But don’t you dare wash that pussy. It’s still mine to play with.”
Holy shit.
My thighs clench together, and I’m pretty sure I stop breathing for a solid three seconds. The dark, possessive edge in his voice makes my knees want to wobble.
“O-okay,” I stammer, turning on my heel.
Practically fleeing to the bathroom, I shut the door behind me.
Pressing my palms to my burning cheeks, I face the mirror. My lips are still swollen from his kisses, and there’s a faint bruise forming on my collarbone from where he bit me.
Only one word comes to mind.
Claimed.
The thought sends a fresh wave of heat pooling between my thighs.
Never figured I’d be living out my own spicy romance, but here I am.
Stripping off my clothes, I step into the shower. Steam billows around me as I scrub the remnants of mascara and lipstick from my face. Lathering my hair with coconut-scented shampoo, I’m careful to keep the spray away from my core, just like he told me to.
Because apparently, now I’m the kind of woman who follows orders. Well, at least when they come from Logan Cade.
This is something I might have let get to me in the past. But that’s not who I am anymore.
Rinsing the conditioner from my hair, I shut off the water and grab a towel, wrapping it around myself before stepping out.
Air catches in my lungs when I step inside my room.
Logan is lying on my bed, sheets pooled around his waist, bare torso on full display, every ridge and valley of his abs carved by the thin strip of moonlight cutting across the bed.
Tattooed arm butterflied behind his head, the full sleeve of ink is a dark, intricate map against his dusky skin. His gaze drags over me, full of pure, unadulterated lust.
A low growl rumbles from his chest, skittering across my skin.
“Get your sexy ass over here.”
My stomach flips with excitement as I drop the towel, slowly making my way across the room.
His eyes darken, tracking the movement before snapping back to my face. “Jesus Christ, Angel.”
The second I reach the bed, he lifts the sheets, and I slide in.
He pats his chest in silent invitation, and I tuck myself against his side, resting my head over his heart, reveling in the warmth of his body as it envelops me.
The steady thump-thump-thump beneath my ear is one of the most comforting sounds I’ve ever heard.
Untucking his hand from behind his head, he threads his fingers through my damp hair. For a long moment, we just lie there in the dark, listening to each other breathe.
“So.” Logan’s deep voice vibrates against my cheek. “I have an idea. Thought about it on the drive over.”
“Mmm?” I trace a lazy circle over his abs, smirking with glee when his muscles twitch beneath my fingertips.
“Brex used you to manipulate me,” he says casually, a playful edge in his tone. “And you let him.”
I grin and nod against his shoulder. “True story.”
“Well, I think he deserves a little payback.” I shift my head to look at him, just in time to see a slow, wicked grin spreads across his face. “What would you say if I asked you to help me get back at him?”
“How?”
“Text him.” Logan moves his hand from my hair to my shoulder, lightly brushing his thumb up and down my arm. “Tell him after we had sex in my office, I shut down. Pushed you away. Told you I needed to think about things.”
My jaw drops. “You want me to lie?”
“Just want to make him sweat a little.” His grin widens. “He spent the whole night fucking with me in front of my superiors. Let him think it backfired. It’ll serve him right.”
I giggle, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. “You’re evil.”
“Been told a time or two.”
Snuggling back into his side, I hold my phone up so we can both see the screen. Logan’s arm wraps around me, chin resting on top of my head as I pull up Brex’s contact information.
Logan and I had sex in his office, but he shut down after. Says he needs to think about things.
It takes less than ten seconds for Brex to respond.
brEX
That fucker. Don’t worry, Pretty. I’ll have a talk with his stubborn ass tomorrow.
Logan snorts.
Dots pulse on the screen.
brEX
Need some company? I can come over.
I glance up at Logan, who’s watching the screen with an expression that can only be described as pure, unadulterated delight. He gives me a slow, deliberate shake of his head.
Thank you, no. Just want to sleep.
brEX
Okay Don’t worry. I’ll set his ass straight. Sleep well. TTYS
I set my phone back on the nightstand and scooch under the sheets. Logan chuckles, tightening his arm around my waist, pulling my back flush against his chest. Warm and solid, I can feel every ridge of his abs pressing against my back.
“Don’t you think it’s kind of mean to mess with his head like that?” I ask, despite biting the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
“Nah.” His lips brush the shell of my ear, sending a shiver skating down my spine. “He started it. If he wants to play, I’ll play. Now he’s gonna be up all night, losing his freaking mind. Serves him right.”
He presses a kiss to my shoulder, making my toes curl into the sheets.
“You’re lucky I let you come after the shit you two pulled.”
My pussy pulses at the memory, and I tuck my face into the pillow to hide my grin, just as Logan’s phone starts ringing.
Reaching over me, Logan picks it up and glances at the screen before tossing it down without answering.
“Brex?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Yeah.” He situates himself back to where he was, tightening his arm around me. “I’d shut off the ringer, but I’m on call.”
The phone stops ringing for exactly three seconds before it starts up again.
No longer able to hold back, the laugh I’ve been holding in bursts out of me.
Logan growls. “You laughing at me, Angel?”
“I would never.” But the snort that follows completely gives me away.
“You’re playing with fire, gorgeous. You think because I love you that I won’t punish you?”
Before I can respond, he shifts and rolls, so he’s half on top of me. Weight pressing me into the mattress, he slides a hand between my legs, cupping my pussy.
“Or… Do you want to be punished?”
The action instantly cuts off my giggle, eliciting a sharp, breathy moan. My hips buck against his hand. “Yes.”
Then he shoves two thick fingers inside me, and my back arches off the bed. Still swollen and sensitive, the stretch burns in all the best ways.
“Such a good little angel,” he murmurs against my neck, teeth grazing my earlobe.
Then he punishes me.
All. Night. Long.