Chapter 22
The bed dipped.
My eyes flew open, and I came face to face with Logan. He was sitting beside me, his back up against the headboard, his legs resting on the mattress, ankles crossed. His hair was wet, and a few drops had fallen and were making blotches on the shoulders of his white T-shirt. He looked absolutely delicious and sexy, and he was in my bed.
“Logan?”
“Eme.” His voice was low and quiet, deeper when he spoke like that. Sexier. “Go back to sleep.”
He was going to watch me sleep? I was uncertain whether I was comfortable with that or not. The intimacy of him sitting in bed, albeit fully clothed, was unsettling. Okay, really unsettling, because it reminded me of those nights in Mexico when he held me to him after we had sex, and I had loved those moments.
I frowned when I saw the cut above his right eye and knew instantly why he arrived back later than Ream. I was disappointed really. He didn’t have to fight anymore, and he’d told me he hated it. So, why was he still doing it? “Did you win?”
His mouth twitched, and my belly did this flip and dive and left an insatiable ache. God, I wanted to grab him and taste his lips so badly that I nearly reached up and touched his face. Damn it, my sleepy-self needed some control.
“I never lose. You know that.”
Figures. Actually, it was hard to imagine Logan lying on the ground after getting the shit kicked out of him. My heart picked up speed at the thought. I never wanted to see him like that. Was that what happened in Mexico after I left? Was Deck trying to tell me that Logan had lost a fight really badly? Maybe Raul had done something to him because he lost?
“I don’t fight like that anymore. Haven’t since the night you got out.” Oh. So that blew that theory up. “The cut is from breaking up an altercation Crisis had at the last venue.”
“Then why are you here so late?”
I expected hesitation or some sign that he’d avoid telling me or not tell me at all. Instead he surprised me when he said, “Had a meeting with Deck.”
“Deck? What kind of meeting?” Why would he have a ‘meeting’ with Deck?
“Go to sleep, Mouse.”
“Logan, maybe you should—”
He scowled, and I felt like smiling. He was good at looking mad, and yet for some reason I just felt like running my finger over his lowered brows. It was strange, because this is how I used to feel when we were together.
I wanted him to hold me while I slept. There was nothing sexual about it, just to feel protected and cared for. He’d always given me that. Even when he had no choice but to hurt me, he still protected me, I just hadn’t known it.
“Close your eyes.” Logan looked down at me and waited until I did as he asked. “Dream sweet, Emily.”
When I woke, Logan was gone, but his imprint remained on me and the bed. I had no clue how long he stayed; all I knew was that I could still smell him. I rolled over and hugged the pillow where he’d been and breathed in deep. He was back. I pressed the pillow into my face and moaned.
After showering, taking extra care to shave and wash my hair, I dressed in my chocolate-brown breeches with a snug black T-shirt.
When I came out to the kitchen, Kat was standing at the counter looking rather disheveled. She was dressed in ripped jeans, a grubby top with paint splattered all over it, and her hair needed an appointment with a brush. I found it surprising to see her awake considering she usually fell out of bed five minutes before she went out to the horses. But from the looks of her, she had probably been painting all night.
She half-smiled, and I noticed the puffiness around her eyes. Whatever went down between her and Ream was bad. Kat was tough, and this was wrecking her.
“Hey,” Kat mumbled then tagged her coffee and went and sat at the island.
I was in the middle of pouring myself one when I felt a presence behind me. I nearly dropped the coffee pot when his hands rested on my hips. My body reacted to him instantly, and I felt the goose bumps race along my skin like wildfire.
His breath wafted across my bare neck, and I closed my eyes as I tried to control the urge to swing around and launch myself into his arms.
“Morning,” he whispered into my ear.
It was the most erotic words I’d ever heard. Low and graveled with a hint of sex as if we’d just made passionate love all night and he was kissing my neck as he said the words. I wanted him to kiss my neck, to feel his lips against my skin. Damn it, the touch of his breath was enough to cause an ache so intense between my legs, I thought I might have to go back to my room and bring out my bunny before I could function.
I found my voice, but it crackled. “Um, morning.”
“Dream sweet?”
I wish he’d back away so I could think clearly. I couldn’t even pick up my coffee without him seeing my hands tremble. I nodded.
“Good.” His fingers squeezed my hips as he leaned closer, his mouth inches away from my ear. “You’re sexy while you sleep.”
Jesus.
When he moved away, I took several deep breaths before turning around. Coffee in hand, I immediately met Kat’s eyes. Her brows rose, and she pretended to undo her pants. I shot her an evil glare and glanced at Logan who thankfully had his back to us while he browsed through the fridge.
My gaze froze on him. Logan wasn’t wearing his shirt, and every muscle was visible, flexing with each movement he made while shifting things around in the fridge. He had a tattoo that went from the top of his right shoulder down the back of his shoulder blade midway to his waist then it swung around to I guessed, his chest. I never expected the stunning drawings of what appeared like a horse merged with a hawk surrounded by what I could see of it—a dragon’s tail. I also got a good glimpse of the side tat that said, Tear Asunder in calligraphy writing.
Christ, I was drooling.
He straightened then turned with the milk jug in hand. My mouth dropped open as I stared at his chest. Memories of him hit me like a huge wave of heat. How I used to touch him, hold him, curl into him, and yes, even the memories I tried to forget but couldn’t. Of us in the shower. Kneeling. Taking his cock into my mouth. When he’d tell me to undress. To lie down and give myself completely to him. It turned me on and I wanted it again—I wanted the dominant Logan without the fear that had come with it during those fifteen days. And he was making that happen.
He must have known I was gawking by the way his mouth twitched as he watched me watch him.
I quickly looked down at my feet and went and sat beside Kat who was eyeing us both. She unzipped her jeans and the sound echoed. I gasped. She laughed then hid it by clearing her throat. At least I’d made her smile.
Logan wasn’t paying attention to us as he chugged back the contents of the milk then threw it in the recycling bin. When he looked over at me, I glanced away. I was confident over the phone that I could resist him but now—now I wasn’t so sure.
“When are you leaving to see that horse?”
He remembered. I told him about a new client the other day. The potential to expand my cliental from this one client was enormous considering he was involved in the thoroughbred racing community. If I helped his horse then word would spread and I could gain more cliental which meant having my own farm sooner than I planned. “Umm well, I said I’d be there for ten. So shortly.” Was my voice quaking? Did he notice?
“I’ll take you.”
“What?” Shit. Not a good idea. Spending even a few hours close to him wasn’t a good idea. Kat was right, I was caving and it terrified me. “I don’t think that would be a—”
“Eme. Lego. Stop.” His short abrupt use of my nickname sent a jolt right through me. “We’ve been talking on the phone for weeks, now were going to talk in person.” He leaned against the counter, palms on either side of him resting on the marble surface. With his stance like that, it made his tatted arm muscles bulge and his chest to ... “Emily?”
My gaze darted away from his arms and up to his face. His eyes danced with mischief and I suspected Logan knew exactly how to make himself look irresistible. He’d never done that during the weeks in Mexico. Never flirted, never looked at me with anything other than cold steel eyes.
“I don’t like people around when I’m working so ...” Yeah, he so wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“You’re not going alone. You don’t know who this guy is and it’s not safe. I’m not taking any chances.” Logan’s tone had turned calm and assertive. He was going to push this.
“Then I’ll take Kat.”
She held up both hands. “Sorry, Eme. No go. I have the farrier coming this morning and twenty horses getting trimmed and a deadline for the gallery for two more paintings by the end of the week.”
Shit. “Then I’ll call Deck.”
“Deck has better things to do,” Logan said abruptly.
Yeah, like hunt down guys like Raul and save girls like Raven. “I’ve been seeing clients’ horses for two years. I’m not changing now because you’re suddenly back and being overprotective. The guy is well known in the racing world and—”
“You’re not going alone.”
“Ugh.” I looked to Kat and she immediately jumped in. “Sculpt, you’re being ridiculous. This is her business now. She helps horses and—”
“Stay out of it, Kat. This isn’t overprotective, this is being cautious.”
I put my coffee cup down a little too hard on the counter and dark liquid spilled over the sides. “Fine.” Was I crazy? Yes. I had sucker written all over my forehead, but a part of me—okay a huge part of me—was excited about spending the day with Logan.
Ream strode into the kitchen looking just as bad as Kat. The tension went from about sixty to a thousand within seconds. Kat’s back stiffened and she glared at Ream who was avoiding looking at her all together. He did say morning though then grabbed a mug and poured a coffee.
Ream chin-lifted to Logan. I noticed his quick glance at Kat. “Where are Crisis and Kite?”
“Went to Avalanche last night. This morning ... passed out with chicks I suspect.”
Ream huffed. “Thinking I should’ve been with them.”
The scrape of the stool moving across the hardwood floors sounded then Kat took off to her bedroom. I noticed as soon as her back was turned, Ream’s eyes never left her.