“No,” she whispered. “No, never.” Her heart pounded against her ribs. The things he was saying, along with how jealous she’d become at the thought of him wanting Carrie enough to sleep with her over and over, and the way he was looking at her now, all hot and intense and drop-dead sexy . . . Oh God, she had feelings for him that went way beyond friendship. She’d fallen for him, and it’d been so seamless she hadn’t even been aware of it. Until right now.
The realization hit her hard as she stared back up at him. This big, gorgeous Viking, this sweet and sensitive man who asked nothing of her and gave so much . . . she was crazy about him. She looked forward to seeing him every day, loved talking to him, loved being with him. Ohhh, she was in big trouble. He was only so at ease with her because they were just friends. He’d just said so himself. So any sticky feelings beyond that? That was not part of the deal.
“Tess,” he continued, blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging inside her. “Yes, we started this as a plan, each of us giving the other something we needed. But we’ve bonded. We’re real friends now. And our friendship means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me.” He sighed as he admitted, “Carrie never did. She was really nice, and we had fun in bed, but I never felt anything for her, which is why I thought it fair to her to end it when I did. I was trying to spare her feelings. You understand?”
Tess only nodded.
“Sure, I wanted her then. But my Long Island Lady . . .” He quirked a grin. “I want you now. All the time. Deal or not, friends or not, you’re the most beautiful, desirable, sexy and sweet woman I’ve ever met. So don’t be jealous of her. I want you.” He lowered his head and took her mouth in a commanding kiss.
She swayed as she let herself fall into it. His hands slid up her back and into her hair, holding her to him as he plundered her mouth with deep, hot kisses. She couldn’t think straight, and she didn’t want to deal with what she was feeling. A piece of her wanted to run away from him, right there and then. But it was the end of her ovulation cycle. She needed to do what they were there to do. So she reached out and unbuttoned his shirt as they kissed, pulling the shirttails out of his pants with demand.
He pulled back to look at her, brows lifted, his gaze a silent question.
“No more talking,” she whispered. “Let’s go upstairs and get to work.”
That stopped him. He frowned, cradling her face in his hands. “Wow. Wait. We need to—”
“No. I don’t want to talk anymore.” She pulled away and headed for the stairs. It was easier to lie to him when she wasn’t looking at him, so she said as she walked, “You and your friendship mean a lot to me too, Logan. We’re good. So let’s go.”
She was halfway up the stairs when she realized he wasn’t behind her. She turned to look; he stood where she’d left him, in the middle of the living room, staring after her with a stormy, confused look on his handsome face.
“We’re fine,” she said firmly, even as her heart hammered inside her chest, making it hard to breathe. “Please join me upstairs?”
His eyes narrowed on her, pale green lasers scouring into her. Then he scrubbed his hands over his face, drew a deep breath, and started walking to join her.
Their sex wasn’t playful or fun. Intense and red-hot, the atmosphere in her dark bedroom was similar to the charged tension of makeup sex after a fight. They grabbed at each other without mercy, reckless and demanding. She dug her nails deep as they trailed over his back; he bit her and possessed her and made her scream for more. When he went to position himself over her, she brusquely turned her body, offering her back. She couldn’t do missionary position tonight. She couldn’t look into his eyes as he moved inside her . . . not with the emotions pinballing through her now. He’d be able to see how she felt about him if he looked deeply into her eyes, and she couldn’t bear the thought of it.
She glanced at him over her shoulder, signaling without words that she wanted something rougher and darker than she usually did. So intuitive, so in sync when they were in bed together, his eyes held hers for a long beat. Then, gripping her hips, he took her from behind, slamming into her hard as he went deep. She moaned loud and low, her fingers twisting into the sheets.