Logan raised an inquiring eyebrow as he took a step into the room. “For any reason?”
“To give us some privacy so we can talk.”
The corners of his mouth turned up just a fraction. “Is my night looking up, Grace?”
I rolled my eyes at the wicked rumble in his words. “Not in that way. I said talk, Logan.”
He gestured to the armchair as he sat down on the sofa. “Then let’s talk.”
“You’re sure you’re not too tired from work?” I said, hoping to stall.
Logan knew exactly what I was up to and he shook his head, mirth in his expression. “I’m perfectly energized.”
I narrowed my eyes at the innuendo. “I’m so glad I’m getting to see this side of you.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet, babe.”
“You’re filthy.”
He leaned forward, practically stripping me naked with his gaze. “You haven’t seen anything yet, babe,” he repeated slowly.
I shivered and squeezed my legs together. “Can we be serious?”
“I am being serious.”
“Logan.”
“Grace.”
I huffed and stood up. “I’m trying to tell you something here.”
“Then tell me.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I glowered down at him. “Now I’m not so sure.”
He stared up at me, all flirtation and teasing out of his expression now. “Tell me.”
I sucked in a huge breath and shakily released it. Locking eyes with him, I hoped I could say what I had to say without any misunderstanding between us. “I talked to Maia today.”
“Is she okay?”
I smiled at his immediate concern. “She’s fine. She’s very persuasive.”
Hope brightened his eyes. “Do I need to increase her allowance?”
I laughed lightly and looked at my feet. “Maybe.”
“Grace?”
When I looked into his face again, I shivered at the utter longing I found there. I knew if I wasn’t careful I could find that kind of attention addictive. “I still don’t trust you completely.”
He nodded carefully, tentatively, as though he didn’t want to scare me away.
“But Maia pointed out I’d never learn to trust you fully if I don’t give you a chance to earn it.”
“That is one smart kid.”
I smiled. “Yeah. She is. And I don’t want her to get hurt in this, so I need you to really think about this, Logan. Put aside the fact that I happened to be the person who was here for you when this huge change happened in your life, and put aside my closeness with Maia. I need you to really think about me, just me, and if I’m really the woman that you want.” I felt naked saying those words, so naked and vulnerable. “Will you do that?”
“I haven’t confused the situation,” he said. “Why would you think that I had?”
“Look at me.” I huffed in frustration. “I was there, Logan. I saw all the women who came and went from your flat. They were my opposite in every way.”
He shot to his feet, and I stumbled back at the sudden movement. “Aye, do you know why? I didn’t want serious, Grace, so I slept with women I knew I couldn’t see myself getting serious with. I didn’t want the complication.” He took a step toward me, and I forced myself to remain still. “You want the truth? There have been a few women over the last eighteen months who I sparked with… that spark of potential. I walked away. I didn’t take their number and I certainly didn’t sleep with them. Because I didn’t want serious. I didn’t want reality. I just wanted oblivion.”
Seeing the pain in his eyes made me move toward him. “Logan…”
“But you” – he shook his head – “I can’t walk away from you even if I wanted to. And I don’t want to. You are reality and sweet oblivion wrapped up in one annoyingly argumentative, always-bloody-right, classy, gorgeous-as-fuck package.”
I held my breath at his beautiful words.
“Does that answer your question, your doubts?”
I nodded slowly.
“So are we doing this?” He started to prowl toward me.
I panicked a little and backed up. “I’m going to try, but we’re taking it slow and we need to – ahh!” I cried out as I suddenly found myself hefted up over Logan’s shoulder. “What are you doing?” I yelled at his back as my hair swung against his delicious bottom.
“That was reality. It’s time for oblivion, babe.”
“No sex! We have to talk!”
He stroked his hand over my bottom. “I want inside you.”
Suddenly I found myself falling through air. I landed with a soft thump on Logan’s mattress and stared up at him in a panting, disheveled, and very aroused state.
“And you want me inside you.” He unbuckled his belt slowly, the blaze in his eyes turning me into a hot, flustered puddle on his bed.
“You are so very cocky,” I whispered.
“Take your top off,” he demanded, cockily.
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared up at him. “No.”
He grinned. “Take your top off, babe.”
“I don’t take orders.”
“In bed you will.”
My eyes widened, my heart thumping hard in my chest. “Are you into that kind of thing? Whips and dominance kind of thing?”