Chapter Twenty Seven
marigold house
The rain is pouring down now, and I’m still sitting here waiting for Logan.
Part of me worries that something might have happened to him, but I tell myself that nothing is wrong, and that he’s completely fine. It’s raining, so he’s driving slower.
As I’m sitting there biting my nails with anxiety and nerves, I see headlights turn in my direction and jump up.
I know those headlights.
My heart is pounding in my chest. What if I tell him how I’m feeling, and he shuts me down?
What if he’s not on the same page as me?
“Get it together.” I tell myself.
Before I can give it another thought, I run out into the rain before he even gets in front of my shop.
Logan throws the truck in park, and jumps out, leaving the truck running and his door open.
“Charlie.” he calls out over the rain. “Charlie what’s wrong? Are you ok?”
I run through the rain, my clothes completely soaked now, and jump into his arms.
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him like my life depends on it; because it feels like it does. It physically feels like I can’t go on if I don’t have him.
Logan's hands find my thighs, and he lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his waist.
He deepens the kiss, and moans into my mouth.
After a second, he sets me down, and pushes the wet hair from my face.
“You wanna tell me what this is about?” he asks with a smile.
“I needed to see you. I..” I pause, “You call me Charlie girl.” I blurt, and his eyebrows pinch in confusion.
“Do you not like it?”
“That’s what Sam called me.” I say.
His shoulders soften and his eyes meet mine, but he doesn't say anything.
“You bought that marigold land.” I state.
He wipes a hand down his face and smiles at me.
“I had to. I was going to tell you about it.”
“Well, you didn't.”
He plants a soft kiss on my lips, and his warmth spreads over my entire body.
“Why did you buy it?” I ask him, pulling away so I can look at him.
“Because.”
“Because isn't an answer, Logan.”
He looks around, and wipes his brow. We’re both completely soaked, but neither of us care.
When he doesn't answer me, I push again.
“Logan.”
His eyes meet mine, and there's something new there. Something he hasn't let me see since that night in his truck.
“Because I love you, dammit.” he says, and my heart skips a beat.
“I have loved you. And I’ll never stop loving you, Charlie.”
I suck in a breath that feels impossible.
“My life has felt complete since that day I saw you in your shop. And I know I don't talk about it enough, but I was a mess. I was struggling. With losing Matty, and being back in the regular world. I lost everything in an instant.” his hand comes up to cup my face, “And then I saw you. Your smile and your laugh washed all my pain away.”
A tear slides down my cheek, and he brushes it away with his thumb.
“I love you, Charlie girl.” he pauses, “If you would just let me love you.”
A sob escapes me, and I quickly sniffle, trying to compose myself enough so I can actually form words.
“Logan..” I whisper.
“Charlie.” he whispers, his breath warming my face and sending goosebumps over my body.
Taking in a shaky breath, I meet his eyes, and I see it.
I see my home.
“You feel like home.” my voice cracks, and my heart feels like it might jump out of my chest.
He leans his forehead against mine, his hands on either side of my face.
“Then come home, Charlie girl.”
His lips crash into mine before I can get any words out, and I moan into him. I didn't even get to tell him how I feel, but right now I don't care. I just need to feel him. I need to touch him and be as close as I can get to him.
Logan lifts me back up, and carries me to my shop. The door is standing open, and all of the lights are still on.
He quickly kicks the back of the door with his foot, and hits the light switch.
“Charlie.” he whispers against my lips.
Not a question.
A plea.
“Logan.” I murmur back, just before his lips are back on mine.
He slowly lowers us both to the floor, his lips greedy.
He trails kisses down my neck, his mouth warming me as it goes.
I arch into him, needing more.
His kiss is rough and needy. I feel his hands move down my body, sliding my leggings and underwear off, and I quickly kick my shoes to the side. I’m cold from the rain, but his body warms me.
Unbuckling his pants, he slides them down, never once taking his lips from mine.
Once his pants are off, he wastes no time.
I feel him push into me, and I moan into his mouth.
He thrusts slowly, hitting that same spot over and over, torturing me with pleasure.
His kisses are lazy and thorough, which pushes me even closer to the edge.
I moan into his mouth again, and feel him smile.
“That's my girl, let me hear you gasping and moaning for me.”
My hands greedily roam over his back and chest, taking it all in.
This is mine. And I’m not letting it go.
“I love you, Charlie girl.” He whispers into my neck between kisses.
He pulls back, meeting my eyes. I know he isn't waiting or expecting me to say it, but as I look in his eyes, while we're connected on the deepest level possible. I swear I feel our hearts merge into one.
“I love you, Logan.” I whisper back, and for once, my voice doesn't shake.
Logan's eyes go glossy, and he kisses me deeper. I feel my entire body tighten, pleasure enveloping me completely.
“Oh god.” I moan, tipping my head back.
“That's my girl.” He praises, and his voice sends me over the edge.
My legs shake, squeezing around him, and my head falls back in pure bliss.
Logan follows right behind me, filling me completely.
We both lay on the floor panting and naked, and I’m so glad it's dark outside.
We stay quiet for a minute, trying to catch our breath.
Logan sits up and leans on his elbow, leaning over me.
He smiles, and kisses my nose.
“I love you.” he says, and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “I love you, and I promise not to stop loving you.”
I kiss him back, my heart feeling complete for the first time in a long time.
“I love you.” I tell him. And it feels so good to say.
“Charlie?” he asks me as he trails his fingers along my stomach.
“Yes?”
“I want you to know, I understand how hard this is for you.” he pauses, gazing up at me trying to gauge my reaction to what he’s saying, “And I want you to know, that we can take this at whatever pace you need. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to replace Sam, or force you to move on from him. In fact I don't want you to move on from him, not completely.”
A lone tear falls from my eye, and he quickly kisses it away.
“I know Sam still holds a huge part of your heart, and I’m ok with that. As long as I can have what’s left.”
I sit up so I can look at him. My hair falls over my chest, and I watch as Logan tracks the movement.
“It was hard, at first. Really hard..but now..” I take a breath, looking into his deep brown eyes. “Now, it’s not so hard. Not anymore.”
I watch Logan's chest rise and fall, and I know hearing me say that is probably a huge relief for him.
“You have me, Logan. I am completely and wholly yours.”
Logan pulls me into him, kissing me gently, and I can feel his heart beating against mine.
Home.
After we both clean up and get dressed, I look at my phone to check the time.
It's after 8.
Which I know isn't late, but when you have a two hour drive home, it is.
“What’s wrong?” he asks when he sees me checking the time.
“It’s just such a long drive this late.”
Logan purses his lips.
“We can go to the marigold house.” he blurts out.
“The marigold house?” I ask him, confused.
“That land has a house on it. It definitely needs to be remodeled, but we could stay there tonight.”
“Um, is it safe to sleep in?”
“Yeah it’s fine. Plus you'll have me so you know you'll be safe.”
“Ok. But if I see a bat I’m leaving.”
I doze off on the drive, completely exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions I’ve gone through in the last two days, and wake only long enough to feel Logan carrying me in his arms like a baby.
I feel so safe here. Like nothing can touch me. My eyes shut just as we step through a door.
I wake up to morning sunlight on my face, and it takes a second for me to register where I’m at. I look next to me, and Logan is still sleeping.
I look around the room, and my jaw drops.
There's huge windows in front of the bed that overlooks the field.
I can see marigolds as far as my eyes will let me.
How are there so many?
This room is gorgeous. The walls are a light cream, and everything in here is light neutral colors.
There's a thin layer of dust on everything, but not the bed. The bed looks freshly made.
Weird.
Logan stirs next to me, and when he peaks his eyes open and sees that I’m awake, he pulls me back into him.
He holds me with his back against my chest, and his warmth makes sleep claim me again.
When I wake again, Logan isn't next to me. Reluctantly I climb out of bed to go looking for him.
I come to the stairs, and pause.
How did he carry me up these while I was asleep?
“Logan?” I call out.
I have no clue what the layout of this house is like, so he could be anywhere.
“I’m down here.” he yells back.
I roll my eyes, because ‘down here’ could be anywhere for all I know.
I get to the bottom of the stairs, and my eyes go wide at what I see.
The layout is an open floor plan, with the same huge windows as upstairs, everywhere. The natural lighting in here is incredible.
I spot Logan in the kitchen, and make my way over to him.
He pulls me into him, and gives me a soft kiss, then he picks me up and sets me on the counter next to the stove.
I squeal.
“You enjoy picking me up, don't you?” I ask him teasingly.
He smiles, “I really do.”
“Did you change the sheets on the bed before we went to sleep?” I ask him, draping my arms over his shoulders.
“I did.” he smiles, “If you would have seen what was there before you would have refused to sleep here. Even though you were completely knocked out.”
I giggle, then look around. He’s in the kitchen, but there's no food cooking.
“What are you doing in here?” I ask him.
Logan scratches the back of his neck, “Uh, I was going to make you breakfast. But there's no food. Or electricity.”
I throw my head back laughing. Of course he would bring me to a house with no power and no food.
Hopping off the counter, I grab his hand.
“Come on; let's go find food. I’m starving.”