Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Gretchen peered over Maria’s shoulder. “Oh, lord a’mercy…he was about to take it out, Mare.”
With both hands, I covered my face. I didn’t need to worry about my knees being weak from embarrassment since Logan still had me pinned.
Awesome.
“You could shut the door,” Logan said, his hands planted on either side of my head as he glared their way.
“Now what would be the fun in that?” This from Mimi.
“We were kind of in the middle of something.” Logan raised his brow.
“Not anymore…this old girl needs to get home. My dogs are a barkin’, and it’s way past my bedtime. You promised to give me a ride, doncha remember?” Gretchen slurred.
“Call an Uber.” Exasperation filled his tone.
“I can’t find my phone.” She hiccupped.
Logan shook his head. “You’re fired, Gretchen. Totally, completely fired.”
“Fired? Not even close, young man. Just a smidgeon tipsy, is what I am.” She pinched her fingers together.
I pressed against his chest. “We should take her home.”
The bubble had burst.
My lips burned and my spirit singed.
In the glaring light, it was very, very apparent this was a horrible idea.
I’d let myself get lost. Allowed myself to forget.
And that was the most dangerous place I could be.
Logan sighed in their direction. “Cock blockers.”
He helped me to my feet.
I swayed to the side, and Logan steadied me. “Are you okay?”
So definitely not okay.
I gave him a shaky nod.
He led me back into the main room, and he kept his fingers threaded through mine as we told everyone goodnight.
Eden, Salem, and Tessa hugged me forever. They told me how great it was that I was there. How we were all going to have so much fun together.
I fought the welling of emotion that burned at the back of my eyes.
This was what happened when you got careless. When you touched upon things you couldn’t have.
Window shopping for what you could never afford only made you long for the unattainable.
The whole time, I tried not to stumble through the lust that still smoldered between Logan and me. The way his fingers twitched, and I could feel the desire vibrating beneath his skin.
When we stepped outside, snow was flitting from the sky.
I lifted my face, welcomed the cold, and hoped it could put out this fire.
Logan helped a stumbling Gretchen across the street. She cracked up about every three steps.
I tried to climb into the backseat, and she pushed me away. “Pssh, get your cute butt in that front seat next to your man where you belong.”
She flung herself into the back and let out a huge sigh as if it’d been the longest day of her life.
Warily, I climbed into the front as Logan did the same.
We both shut our doors, and he started the deep, rumbling engine.
Nope.
There was no dousing this fire. There were only flames.
The tension was so thick, I couldn’t breathe as he drove through the sleeping city streets.
There was no oxygen in the silence. No relief in the miles we traveled.
It only compounded with each second that passed.
He peeked at me, stroked his tongue over his lips.
I wiggled in the seat.
Logan whipped into his parking spot in the basement garage.
He jumped out, and I did the same.
He moved around to the back of the car so he could help Gretchen to the elevator, and we rode it up.
That dense, deep silence followed us.
I tried to inhale.
To stop the shaking.
To pretend as if I hadn’t just crossed a line that I never should have crossed.
The first night in my bed? That had felt like a dream. As if it hadn’t happened. Tonight? It felt all too real. As if I were touching the same boy I’d fallen for all those years ago.
Logan let us into the muted light of his apartment.
Gretchen started for the hall. “Whew, I thought I was gonna blow in that car with y’all. Barely made it out alive.” She lumbered away. “I’ll be in my room. There’s a good chance I might need a little privacy, so whatever you do, do not come a knockin’.”
In exasperation, Logan rubbed at his forehead. “We’re going to have to find her a boyfriend.”
I would have laughed except I could only focus on my next breath.
On not being consumed.
I shuffled my feet. “Well…goodnight,” I finally managed, and I ducked my head and started in the same direction Gretchen had gone.
“Not so fast.” Logan’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
I peeked back at him. He was so gorgeous it was unfair.
So powerful in his suit, every inch of him hard, rippling with sinewy strength.
I waited.
Spellbound.
“I think we have some unfinished business.”
Then he turned and walked into his bedroom.
And I was the fool who followed.
TWENTY-TWO
LOGAN
I looked back from where I’d flicked the switch for the fireplace that now cast my bedroom in a red-tinged glow.
Aster Rose hovered just inside my doorway. She wore a plush gray sweater that crisscrossed in the front, creating a deep V between her breasts. It was tucked into a pair of tight leather pants, high-heeled boots that came up to just above her knees.