Irreplaceable

Making love to Logan was something I’d never get used to. With each thrust, he held me as though he’d never let go, kissed me as no one else ever could, and when he could stand it no longer he brought my legs up higher, deepening the angle and taking me to a climax that rivaled the first one.

“Us. Always,” he panted, driving in once, twice. Then, with a deep husky groan, I felt him still inside me, his lips breathless against my cheek with his release.

Logan’s arms were on each side of me, palms planted firmly against the mattress, caging me in. I never felt safer or more wanted.

When we began to sit up, I pulled him in closer, not ready to lose the connection. I wanted to stay there forever with him inside me. I wondered if he felt the same, because when he rolled over, he took me with him so I was on top of him, resting on his chest, still connected as his lover.

“That was…”Logan was panting, a sheen of sweet covering his warm body. “Unbelievable.”

I nodded, smiling to myself as I placed soft kisses to his chest where I lay.

“Extraordinary.” I laughed lightly, and his chest rumbled under me with his own soft chuckle.

His hands caressed my back and I could feel his subtle throbs inside me. Slowly, I sat up, the movement sliding him out of me. It was then I noticed the card peeking out of my jeans lying beside the bed—the card from the flowers.

Logan must’ve followed my gaze, because before I could stop him, he reached down and snatched it.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Nothing, give it here,” I pleaded as he eyed the envelope.

He wasn’t listening to me. Instead, he was pulling out the card from inside. Slowly, his gaze landed back on mine.

“You keep this on you?”

“No.”

“Then why was it in your jeans?” he asked curiously, watching me as I lay back down on my pillow.

“I found it in the pantry earlier. Hilary left it in the vase after she cleaned it for me.”

“Did you read it?”

I swallowed. “No.”

A small smile drew over his lips as he leaned down and handed it to me. “Well then, I think it’s about time, don’t you?”

I had no reply, so I took the card and inhaled a deep breath that caught in my throat as I read:

My soul aches with regret for what I have done to you. I’m at your mercy till the day I take my final breath. I am yours, and can only hope for the honor to someday prove myself to call you mine. I love you, Cassandra. Yesterday, today, and forever.

Releasing a ragged breath, I tore my glossy eyes from the card and looked up at him sitting beside me.

“Logan, I—”

“I love you, Cassandra. I think I always have,” he said with a confidence so strong I felt his words rebuilding the final pieces of my mending heart.

“I love you.” Did I just say that? The look on my face must’ve told him I was just as surprised by it as he was. He kissed me, smiling against my lips.

“Say it again,” he demanded.

“I do. I don’t know when it happened or how, and I know it took me so long, but I love you.” I swallowed a sob, tears blurring my vision, emotions rushing through my veins. I love him—Logan. I love Logan!

Unable to control the grin growing over my lips, I threw myself into his arms and held him tight, placing a long, gentle kiss to his ear. His arms encompassed me, his breath tickling my searing cheek.

“I never want to let go,” I confessed. “I love you so much. I didn’t know it could feel like this. It’s painful and beautiful, and it consumes me like nothing else.” I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes to tell him what he longed to hear. “I’m yours, Logan. I always have been.”

A tear glistened in his eye. I placed my mouth over his cheek as it slipped free, licking it away.

“I’m sorry I doubted you over and over again,” I said, tears slipping out.

“Shhh, nothing matters except that I absolutely love you with every fiber of my being and want to spend tonight showing you that.”

“Stay with me tonight,” I said, hopeful.

“You couldn’t get me out of this house without you.”

I laughed again as he readjusted my legs to straddle his lap.

“Good, ‘cause I’m not ready for tonight to end.”

“We’re far from the end, sweetheart.” Logan’s arms pulled me down, and he crushed his lips to mine.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Testing

The next day, I awoke in Logan’s arms, warm and loved. Was this my life now? Would it always be like this?

Logan placed a soft kiss on the side of my head, and I lifted my chin to his chest just enough to be greeted by his delicious, relaxed smile.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

His arms wrapped around my waist and dragged me over to lie on top his body fully, my lips over his. The thought of morning breath had me struggling to retract, but he was having none of it.

“Get out of that head of yours,” he said, his hands loosely on my hips, thumbs stroking over my bare skin.

With a smile, I leaned down and placed a small peck on the center of his inviting lips, then peered up at his deep blues. They watched as I placed another short kiss on the corner of his lips, then slowly kissed my way down his scruffy jaw.

I made my way down to his neck, where I ran my tongue over his salty skin and then placed a lingering wet kiss and looked back up. The grin creeping over my lips couldn’t be helped, as my hand trailed down his side and found him ready for me.

With one stroke of him in my hand, the blaring of my alarm sounded, and Logan reached over casually to turn it off. It was seven a.m.—time for my morning jog, and then it was off to meet my mother for breakfast before her shift.

“Please, continue,” he said, resting his arms behind his head and watching me with a pleased eye.

And I did. Even knowing we needed to start our day—the man had to work, and I was supposed to meet my mother in a couple hours—I took my time. With my eyes on his, I slid my body down the length of his, my grip firm around his erection, stroking until my mouth was over him.

“Oh fuck,” he groaned, his hands in my hair. “God, I’ll never let this end.”

I peeked up through my lashes, releasing him from my mouth just long enough to reply. “Me neither.” With a smile, I ran my tongue down his length.

Logan’s eyes lit up and his grin beamed. He looked the happiest I’d ever seen him, and suddenly he was pulling me back up and resting me over him. I wasted no time connecting our bodies, my lips on his as I rode out a morning of his love—our love—together.

“I’ll be late!” I giggled, squirming out of his arms that were locked around my back, his mouth suction-cupped to my nipple.

He let out a fierce, possessive growl and bit down gently before releasing me with a pop.

“Fine, go if you must, but I want to see you tonight. Every night.”

“I’ll be here.”

“Damn right, you will.” Logan sat up, releasing me so I could head to the shower.

It didn’t take long to realize he was following.

“Go!” I laughed, standing in front of the shower. “I’ll be late if you get in there with me.”

“And?”