Unravel (Unbound Trilogy Book 1)

by Kathy Coopmans

  If only I knew how to let her. Regard her reaction before I soil and contaminate.

  Fucking Christ.

  It won’t be long before I’m drowning the both of us in murky quicksand with no one to lend a hand to pull us out.

  Shit.

  My dick twitches when she begins to shift her ass over him — grinding for a little relief.

  It feels right, but damn it all to hell is it wrong.

  Slowly, I take my time exploring that neck. Her back arches ever so slightly, welcoming to nip and tease. The animal in me wants to mark it with a bite. I settle for running my nose up the side, the feel of her shivering on my lap, my hips slowly thrusting upward, hers grinding down is making me painfully hard.

  A gasp falls from her mouth, lips shockingly parted. She feels so good in my arms, trembles wracking through her, nipples hard as she presses her tight little body into my chest.

  “Logan.”

  “Needed a taste, the next move is up to you, Ellie.”

  Bright blue-violet eyes take in my face. Mainly my mouth. As if the beauty wasn’t sure she heard what I said.

  “You get off on driving me crazy, don’t you?”

  I feel my life of debauchery covering my eyes as I assess how to answer her question. “I do, Ellie. Foreplay is sweet torture. It’ll make fucking you again better than it was the first time around.”

  “It better.” She sighs, stopping her movements with a little frustrated moan. Swear to God, that sexy sound could kill a man where he stands.

  I want to take back my words and fuck her until she screams for mercy.

  Adjusting her next to me, I change the subject. I tell her a story I’ve never told anyone before — a time in my life when things weren’t so fucked up and blurred.

  “These sandwiches are made with my mother’s homemade recipe. Strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. My older brother, Lane, and his daughter, Lexi, made the jelly. I have a younger brother, Seth, too, the three of us used to help our mom make it, then after we lost our dad in a car accident, she got lost, ended up killing herself. But Lane, he kept on trying to make the jelly until one day it turned out right. I don’t know, a fond memory of when things were perfect. What about you, what’s one of your favorite childhood memories?”

  “I’m sorry about your parents.”

  I shrug. “They’re gone. Nothing I can do about it. My father, Liam, I miss him. The bitch who born me, not so much. After they died, we were taken in by family friends. Kind of like you.” We sit and eat while I fill her in on Gabe and Lena. Ellie doesn’t bat an eye when I let her in on Gabe being mafia. “Now we have Lexi, my niece. She’s Lane’s.”

  Ellie’s blue gaze bounces to mine.

  “I’d love to meet her sometime.”

  “I’d like that too.” And Christ I would, Lexi probably more.

  “I was seven, and my father took my mother and me out on one of his offshore oil rigs, he used to take us all the time. He named it The Wynn; it was his first one. We sat on the helicopter pad and watched the sunset, tossing flower petals into the water, and my mom looked at my father and said this is my favorite place. As awful as this might sound, my father died on that rig. Besides being with Mom and me, it was his favorite place to be too, not because he owned it, because of the view.”

  I gulp around the ball of fire blazing in my throat.

  A tremble crawls down my spine. Fingers are reaching inside and squeezing tight. Faces, so many endless women’s faces, and non-meaningful nights I wasted when all along I could have spent them listening to her.

  I’ve done some messed up shit in my life, but one thing I’ve never done is given up. Once she knows everything about me, I won’t let Ellie walk away without a fight.

  She is priceless.

  Chapter 15

  Ellie

  “Hello?” I call into the lifeless house, pushing open the door and closing it softly.

  “There’s a doorbell, you know.”

  I look up at where Maggie, Logan’s secretary, stands at the bottom of the stairs. Hands on her hips. Her boobs practically spilling out of her too small bikini top.

  “Excuse me, let me step out and ring the bell so the lady of the house can let me in.” I roll my eyes.

  I don’t like her. The overconfident way she lifts her brows as if she wishes I would do just that makes me want to knock her off her high-heels. Who the hell wears heels with a bathing suit? Other than beauty contestants, and this one isn’t a queen at all. She’s a jealous tramp like the rest.

  “Don’t bother, I’ll let Logan know you’re here to see him.” She tilts her head to the side, studies me briefly before starting to walk away.

  “Maggie, Logan invited me, you know very well why I’m here and it isn’t for a business meeting. I’m very capable of letting the guy I’m dating know myself. Piece of advice, wipe the jealousy off your face, it doesn’t fit you any better than that godawful swimsuit does.” I allow my eyes to roam up and down her body. As childish as my words are, she isn’t going to treat me like garbage.

  When she turns on a little huff, her heels clicking on the floor, I smile in spite of stooping to her level.

  Driving here, I had no idea what I was about to find, but when I pulled up and saw guards at the gates, I had a feeling they were in plain sight for me, and not hiding as Logan told me they usually are.

  I’m sure they have everything to do with Logan still searching for who hurt me. It could have been Maggie, for all I know. I’d think Logan would trust her though.

  I sure don’t.

  He warned me there was going to be women here and not to trust a single one. As if I would anyway.

  I could be heading for a disaster. Quite honestly, I shouldn’t care. I’m not here for those people, and if any of them try to intimidate me like Maggie tried, they’ll get a hushed, harsh lashing from my tongue.

  I pause, all thoughts of anyone else flying out the door I just came through. My face heats up when I spot the floor to ceiling windows. I have a feeling those are the windows where Logan’s big body brought my spirit to soar.

  The crazy thing is, I’d never cared that a touch, a kiss, a man was missing from my life. Not until Logan Mitchell bulldozed right through my solid walls. I wasn’t prepared for how his touch makes me feel. How I crave more of it; how his hands are capable of worshipping me just by holding mine.

  Logan makes me realize how lost I was and how happy I am he’s the one who found me.

  It’s unbelievable, and now I’m about to meet the only other female in his life — the one person whose first impression of me matters the most. Plus, his brothers’. I owe Seth more than I can ever repay him for. And, Lane. I’m just all around anxious to meet him.

  This past week with Logan has been magical, also a lot confusing. All we’ve done is ask and answer questions about one another. At times he seemed lost. Giving me a strong sense he has something else he wants to unload off his chest.

  Logan is making me need things I’d never thought I’d need. Things I had a pretty good sense of judgment would make me fall too quickly if I gave in as I did before. I’m positive he sensed it too, and that’s why he told me the next move was mine, so instead of pressuring me, all the big man has done is kiss me, and I’m ready for more.

  Aching and splintering into pieces.

  Hiking my bag over my shoulder, I gaze around the spacious foyer, letting my mind take everything in until my eyes become dazed when I observe what’s sitting in the living room.

  A surprised gasp escapes my lungs. I smile so wide my face hurts.

  I’m stunned.

  Knocked with excitement so boundless it nearly drops me to my knees.

  “He bought the furniture I showed him.”

  At first, when Logan said he wanted ideas, I was shocked. It didn’t take a day until my excitement got the best of me, and I was searching online like a girl gone mad. When I ran across these pieces, I knew they were Logan. And he just up and bought
them.

  Unbelievable.

  Brown rustic worn leather furniture surrounded by light wood tables and a bold abstract colorful area rug rest around the river rock fireplace with a large flat screen television above the mantel. This design is full of texture and depth. It’s a class of its own.

  It’s perfect. Homey and I love it.

  “You surprise me at every turn on this long drive. There’s still a lot of roads left to cover, a lot to know about you, Logan Mitchell,” I whisper. I know I won’t like some of it, but as long as it stays in his past, it won’t make me like him less.

  Trust.

  It’s bending his way a little more.

  I straighten myself out and start making my way toward the kitchen. I’m going to make sure today is a great day despite whoever is here.

  Logan brought up a birthday party for his niece he was hosting today, asking me if I wanted to come. I said yes, and when I asked him to tell me about Lexi and the things she liked, our eyes locked, mine curious to know everything as well as thankful he wanted me to meet his family. And his lighting up in shock, it was almost as if he was stunned someone would care enough to want to know them. As if no one ever sincerely asked before.

  I found myself sinking in the depths of his dark, dark ocean colored orbs as he talked fondly about Lexi and his brothers. Even though I listened to every word he said, I couldn’t help letting my mind wander. I swear the man reminds me of a cliffhanger at the end of a book, one you never saw coming yet stays on your brain, one you want to study the pages, frightened, yet intrigued, and so damn anxious to get to the next book. To figure what’s happening with the big secret that left you hanging at the end.

  Logan’s a thriller. One big giant man full of secrets and I’ve willingly hopped in the driver seat. All I can do from here is pray we don’t crash and burn.

  “Logan, I’m here?”

  Laughter in the form of little girl giggles drags me through the still empty dining room. I pause when I enter the luxurious kitchen that I fell in love with before. There’s a nook with a large bay window looking over the magnolia trees. The view would be one I’d admire every day. It doesn’t hold my attention as much as the room that looks like no one has ever used.

  “What a shame.”

  Everything is white. Not a splash of color in sight, unless you’d call the stainless steel appliances a color. Not a coffee pot on the counter, no fruit on the small long island in the middle of the room.

  This home needs brought to life.

  “This is a far cry from the lively colorful exterior. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear Logan moved out.”

  I jump, letting out a squeal when a shirtless man strides through the door. Big and tall and wide.

  “Shit, I’m sorry.” His voice rough.

  “It’s okay. I’m Ellie; Logan invited me.”

  I raise my head to get a better look at the man, and my eyes bug out. My mouth is drying up instantly. Good Lord, the sight of this man has me placing my hand on my chest. He looks so much like Logan it’s scary.

  Droplets of water drip down his face from his long jet-black hair, and when he runs his fingers through it, twisting it into a ponytail, those eyes as green as Logan’s probe deep with a divided sadness as he takes me in.

  Nervously, I approach him, a little ruffled and wondering which one of his brothers he is. Whatever one, he has some horrible demons living inside of him.

  “I’m Seth, and this trouble maker here is the birthday girl, Lexi Mae. We were coming in to get her Ariel cake. Weren’t we, little mermaid?”

  His words are slurred, jagged and worn around the edges as are his tired eyes. I dare to think he’s halfway to being drunk. The one thing Logan told me he was hoping Seth wouldn’t be.

  But I’m glad to meet him and give him the thanks he deserves finally.

  Collecting myself, I take a few steps toward him and look down to where the little girl stands grasping onto her uncle’s leg. Blonde hair in two long braids aside her cute little face, so pretty with big blue eyes staring up at me in curiosity. I fall in love with her instantly.

  I turn toward Seth and nearly stop breathing when he breaks into a smile, eyes swirling with intensity and alcohol I’d be able to smell a mile away as he takes hold of my hand and brings it to his lips.

  A gentleman with secrets. Just like his brother.

  “Nice to meet you. Thank you for what you did for me, Seth. I might not be standing here if it wasn’t for you.”

  He cringes as if my words slice right through him.

  I’d dare to think this grown man has rarely heard a sincere thank you in his life.

  God, what the hell happened to the Mitchell brothers? It’s almost like they miss having a woman in their lives who genuinely care.

  It’s one of the saddest thoughts ever to cross my mind.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get there before he hurt you. I promised Logan nothing would happen to you. I let him and you down. It seems my promises are going to shit,” he whispers, blame and shame and self-loathing not hard to pick up from his gruff voice.

  “It’s not your fault. Let’s not bring it up again.”

  He wavers for a second as if he can’t believe I’d accept his apology, before he nods, let’s go of my hand and looks off to something behind me.

  It’s unnerving, those piercing eyes of his despite the sincerity in them is holding something else inside. Something I’m all too quick to understand.

  Pain and grief.

  I’m drawn with a need so fierce to hug the man. To tell him he isn’t as bad as he might think he is.

  Seth’s look reminds me of one I’ve caught on Logan many times. This particular gaze is one of the things I’ve come to learn about Logan. He thinks he isn’t worthy of me. I can see it every time he takes me in.

  Makes me wonder if Lane holds something inside of him too.

  “You said a bad word, Uncle Sef. The S-word is fifty cents in the swear word jar.”

  I can’t help it; I let out a laugh.

  “You better forgive me or no present for you, little girl.” He tugs on her braids causing Lexi to giggle and shake her head.

  “No way. Today is my day. You haf to pay up, or I’m telling Daddy.”

  Adorable is the word that comes to mind when I hear her speak. She can’t yet grasp onto her Ts. I bend down to become eye level with Lexi, and as I do, Seth shakes his head and walks past me without another word.

  “Happy birthday, Lexi. Your hair sure is pretty.”

  She smiles, dimples and all.

  “I like yours too; it looks just like mine.”

  Logan informed me how much Lexi loves to swim. Not having any idea if I’d get into the pool, I decided to braid my hair.

  “Guess that makes us twins then.”

  “Yup and my name is special too. Lexi, it means I’m super smart and pretty. But Daddy calls me his princess.”

  There went my heart. “Want to know how else were alike?”

  “Yes.” She squeals, her little eyes going wide.

  “My middle name is Mae. The same as yours.”

  “No way. Wait until I tell my daddy. We’re really twins. Except you’re a queen and I’m a princess.”

  God, this little thing is precious. Even I can see it, and I’m not around children very often. It was clear when Logan spoke about her, she’s the most treasured person in his life. I can see why. Lexi is the light to his dark.

  She’s these men’s entire world, and if that isn’t proof they aren’t bad, then I don’t know what will.

  Makes me wonder if he sees me the same way.

  Logan keeps revealing a little more of his good every time I see him, digging himself just a little deeper.

  I cannot deny any longer I’m drawn in a way I might never understand.

  A strong pull.

  He needed me in his life as much as I needed him.

  With a smile, I lift my head, then freeze when my vision rolls over the giant o
f a man standing in the doorway. My breath catches in my throat, blood pounding hard in my ears. He has to be Lane, and he’s also the biggest of the three. Damn, it’s no wonder women fall all over these men. They are strikingly handsome with those deep bad boy vibes that draw you in.

  “That’s right; you are a princess and my favorite girl. Thank you for coming today, Ellie. Lexi has been waiting to meet you. We all have. I’m Lane.” I take his hand and melt a little when he kisses my knuckles. “The guests are waiting for you, princess; we need the cake and then it’s time for presents.”

  Lane is wearing swim shorts too. His skin free of ink, all except a red rose across his heart dripping with teardrop shapes of blood. He’s just as dangerous and intoxicating as his brothers. He has the same eyes with a lot less coldness. But there’s something dark and threatening about him — a bit of rigidity and a whole lot of heartache.

  “My pleasure, Lane. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” I shake his offered hand. There’s warmth and kindness behind it; even so, I can see he holds the same kind of sadness as his brothers.

  These brothers are a riddle. A complex one I don’t dare try to solve. Not when I haven’t fully unraveled their older brother.

  Neglect and abuse. It’s clear as day that’s the foundation to the three of them — a wide range of grief and heartache and pain.

  “Okay, Daddy. I need to tell my new best friend something first, okay?” Lexi wraps her arms around Lane’s legs, her voice loud and confident.

  “It’s your day, baby. Just don’t talk her head off.”

  I snag a lift of his brows before I shift my gaze back to Lexi and give her my attention.

  “Daddy, Ellie’s head can’t come off from me talking. Geez. I’m five now, Ellie. Uncle Logan said he’d buy me a new Ariel doll if I were good, I’ve been super good. The bestest I can be. I don’t need a new doll, ’cause I sleep with the one Uncle Sef bought me, but I wanted an Ariel cake, so Uncle Logan bought me one. He doesn’t know how to cook. My daddy does. He makes the best mac and cheese and grits. Do you like grits?” She pauses, scrunches up her nose as she looks up at her father once again, more than likely silently gathering the courage to finish what she wants to say. “I have monies in my backpack. Do you like Ariel, ’cause, ’cause, she’s playing at the movies and Daddy has taken me twice. I want to see her again.”