Chapter 17
Logan
I’d told him I didn’t want strings, so of course he wanted me regardless of who was watching, or at least that was what I continued to tell myself while he showered.
We could have all the physical intimacy, but my heart was fluttering from the sentiment of what he had said.
I needed to have a clear head if we were going to continue to do this.
I couldn’t let my feelings get away from me.
I lay there, in Lachlan’s bed since my parents had taken the guest room, another hurtle I’d have to deal with, but not right now because the sun was starting to rise and I would have a busy day ahead while Lachlan caught up on his beauty sleep after his little adventure last night.
But my heart was a mess of things I couldn’t untangle.
I told myself it was simple. We were both clear about what this was—no commitments and I’d be out of here once the season was over.
And yet, every time he touched me, every time his lips brushed against mine, it felt like this lie was breaking apart in the best way.
My chest tightened, and I rolled over, burying my face into the pillow one last time before I’d get up and face the day. I needed to shut it down. This wasn’t real.
But . . . there was that kiss in the bar. The one in front of my parents. And just now, before he’d left me to get in the shower. Those hadn’t felt like nothing. They’d felt like he was looking right through me, reading parts of me I didn’t want anyone to see.
I could hear the shower running still, and the sound of the water mixing with the light thudding against the tile was making my eyes heavy. He probably had no idea how much I was overthinking all of this, overthinking him.
I ran my hands over my face and rolled out of the bed.
I needed to shut it off. I needed to be smart.
I couldn’t let myself get caught up in something that would be over in a month or so.
I swallowed down the emotion and promised myself that going forward, this would strictly be fun and I would let myself enjoy this while it lasted, and if there were pieces to pick up afterwards, I’d clean up the mess just like I always had.
I needed coffee . . . Alooot of coffee. I left the bedroom before the water stopped running.
My parents were on the couch, making themselves perfectly at home, but I couldn't sit here a moment longer with how much tension was in the air between us. Well, not my parents, more so Lachlan and me. At this point, it was so thick, the anticipation seemed to linger, even when he was away.
“I’m taking Tony for a walk. I’ll be back,” I called out.
“Stay warm,” they replied in unison as they started talking amongst themselves about the Evergreen Festival that was now only a few days away.
I quickly put the leash on Tony and made my way outside, and once I was far enough away, I released a sigh of relief.
I loved my parents, but they were really making this whole no-strings-attached sex arrangement a pain in the ass.
Between Lachlan working at the firehouse, me getting all of the props ready for the event, us making dinner, and just doing the daily chores around the Christmas tree farm, we hadn’t had more than a few minutes alone together since he’d kissed me a few nights ago.
Granted, we could have been sleeping in the same bed, but I’d been on the couch with Tony, staying up way too late watching TV and distracting myself on my computer.
Which hadn’t been too suspicious since I didn’t have to get up early and go anywhere for work and I had always had a bad habit of staying up late.
I’d been trying to be respectful since my parents were here.
I knew if Lachlan got me alone, it would be game over, and I wasn’t sure how quiet I could be.
But considering my mother’s profession, she’d probably tell me I’m doing more harm than good by keeping Lachlan out of my pants. Well, trying to anyway.
I could hear her in my head. Go for it, honey! What are you waiting for? That man is beyond finger-licking good. He’s toe-licking delicious. Whatever the fuck that meant.
Cold air hit my face. The weather had shifted a lot this past week. Light snow crunched under my boots as Tony tugged ahead, tail wagging like he didn’t sense the chaos brewing inside me.
I tugged Tony’s leash to slow him down, the quiet of the woods wrapping around us like a heavy blanket. My breath fogged in the air. I was just starting to feel my shoulders relax when I heard the crunch of footsteps behind me.
Before I could turn, strong hands caught my waist and spun me around.
I gasped when my back hit the rough bark of a pine tree. The cold bit through my jacket, but then Lachlan was there, his body flush against mine, his breath hot against my lips.
“Your parents seem like lovely people,” he said, his voice rough, low, “but fuck, I can’t wait for them to leave.”
And then his mouth was on mine.
The world narrowed to heat and contact and the taste of him.
I dropped Tony’s leash, barely aware of the jingle of the collar as I wrapped my arms around Lachlan’s neck.
The kiss was wild, too much and not enough all at once.
My legs found his waist on instinct, his hands gripping my thighs as he pressed me harder against the trunk for leverage.
My fingers tangled in his dark hair, then fumbled at his jacket, desperate to get closer, to forget everything. His coat smelled like pine and smoke, and I could taste the faintest hint of mint on his breath.
I pushed down the tiny voice in my head that had been telling me all of this was fake because as his lips trailed down my neck and my fingers traced the curve of his jaw, all I could think was how real it felt anyway. How easily he could undo me. And I wanted to let him devour me whole.
That was the problem.
I finally ripped off his layers, and he was in nothing but his undershirt, but then he was unbuttoning the flannel I was wearing—his—just past my waist so he could pop my breasts out of my bra and suck on my taunt nipples.
The moment he pulled away, the cold air made them pebble, and I groaned at how sensitive everything was becoming.
“Fuck, Logan, you’re so fucking beautiful.
” He wrapped a fist into my hair right at the nape of my neck and started kissing me.
I shifted my hips, and I could feel the hard bulge of his cock and started grinding against it.
He groaned, our lips never separating. I moaned as my climax started building, and he swallowed down every noise I made for him.
I wanted him to bend me over right here and feel him fill me, but I knew he wouldn’t go any further because of the weather.
I worked myself faster against his hard shaft. Fuck, I was going to come.
I gripped his shoulders and moved my hips quicker, finding the long length of him in his pants and making sure it hit my clit with every thrust of my hips.
“Lachlan, I’m—oh” I tossed my head back as my orgasm shuddered through me, and then his hips jerked unevenly.
“Fuck, baby.” He moaned and rested his head in the crook of my neck, his hot breath mingling against my pulse point.
He kissed down my chest, giving both of my breasts one last suckle and kiss before he put them away and buttoned me up.
I glanced down and noticed the wet spot on the front of his pants, and knowing that I’d driven him just as wild made me smile to myself.
He kissed me, smiling against my mouth, too, before he pulled away.
“You better get back.” He kissed me again. “Go warm up before your parents think you were kidnapped.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I teased as he was walking away, and he rolled his eyes at me.
“I was trying to help!” he tossed over his shoulder, and I chuckled as he jogged back toward the trees.
Oh, how far we’d come since then.