Logan Kade (Fallen Crest #5.5)

I ignored the last statement, and began walking around him. I had to get lunch and figure out where my third class was, but he walked with me. He held the door open, so I ducked under his arm. I was just stepping outside, almost past him when I looked up. Claire was hurrying my way, her jaw clenched. When she saw me, her eyes slid to the arm I was ducking under and her eyes bulged.

I stepped past him, but I felt him moving with me. He was behind me, his breath on the back of my neck. I tried not to notice—I tried to shut my mind off. I failed. I’d been attuned to him since class started, but this went to a whole other level. He purposely moved so he was almost touching me, and my body went on high alert. My knees threatened to buckle. Sensations shot up and down my spine, and I had a full-on sauna effect going. I almost fanned myself to cool down, but Kade would’ve known instantly the effect he was having on me. I felt an ache between my legs that I hadn’t felt in nine months.

Claire slowed as she approached us.

“Ah.” His breath teased my skin. “Delray’s friend number two. I can chat with both of you then.”

“Hey,” I murmured to Claire.

“Hey,” she said, her gaze glued to him.

Logan chuckled. “You went here last year, right?”

Her gaze cut to mine, questioning.

I stepped to the side, away from Logan. I didn’t want to move. No, actually I did, but my body didn’t. I almost cursed myself, but I felt Logan’s gaze on me. It was like he could see inside of me, right past the walls I erected.

“Uh, yeah, I did,” Claire said.

“So you know Delray turned me down last year.”

“Turned you down…?” She glanced at me again.

“The gambling circuit he used to run for Park,” Logan prompted. “Is he still running it?”

“Uh…” Claire had become a statue. She was on the spot, particularly because I was present. Jason promised to quit gambling after we graduated. All three of us made a promise to each other, and that was his. I now knew that he lied, and so had Claire. She knew he hadn’t quit.

“Yeah. He’s still running it.”

“This is what’s going to happen.” Logan clapped his hands together and rubbed them back and forth. His eyes were gleaming, but it wasn’t malicious. He was being more mischievous, and that same expression of laughing at the world was there. “I’m going to take Taylor’s number down.” He pointed with both of his hands to me. “And yes, I’m using Delray to get your number. No shame in my game. I want your number bad, Bruce, but I have a message for Delray, too. He’s gotta get in touch with me via my new sociology bud here.” He put his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side.

A tingle shot through me at his touch.

He kept talking, “Tell him I want him to take some bets for me at a party I’m going to throw. And no, it’s not negotiable. He has to do it. I let him off last year. I understood the conflict of interest, but Sebastian is gone. The numb nuts has been squashed. So, do we all know our roles now?” He looked at both of us.

Claire seemed wary. “You’re going to call Taylor?”

“Yep.” He held his hand out. “Phone please, Miss TayTay.”

I handed it over, but tried to keep a firm scowl on my face. “I’m doing this under protest. I don’t approve of Jason gambling.”

Logan took the phone and paused, glancing at me. A slight smile flashed my way. “Why do you think I’m going through you for this?”

I didn’t reply. My gut told me to let it go. Logan Kade was even more of a whirlwind than I’d realized he’d be, and I felt a little like I was in the damn Sahara. My mouth watered, and my lips were dry. I licked them, an unconscious habit, but when Kade’s gaze lingered there, I realized what I’d done. I sank my teeth into my lip instead and forced my gaze away. It felt like I was fighting against a rubber band, stretched tight from me to him. The more I tried to break free, the stronger it became.

“Okay.” He handed my phone back, and his eyes were laughing at me. A darker promise surfaced there too. My heart picked up. “I’ve got your number,” he added. “I’ll call you later, and I want Delray’s answer through you.”

“Why are we helping you?” Claire tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. She was trying to be stern. She was failing. “Jason’s our friend. Not you. Neither of us wants him to be part of the gambling world.”

Logan smirked at her. “You’re helping because I’m not one of those morally upstanding guys. I’m completely fine with blackmailing you, and you’ll help because I may not know your name, but I remember the dudes you were flirting with last night. My friends can get to your friends, and when that happens? Well, I won’t take your friends away, but I will ban them from campus parties. And not to be a dick, but something tells me your guy friends are a little desperate when it comes to getting into parties.”

“You’re a dick.” Claire gasped, her hand covering over her mouth. “I can’t believe I said that.”

He was, but he didn’t seem to care. In fact, I think he was loving it.