When she’d stepped aboard the boat this evening, Cassie had been completely unprepared for the sight of Logan—Bonnie’s ability to keep a secret was definitely improving. Despite her initial hesitation when she’d realized what her best friend had done, Cassie was glad she’d allowed herself to open up to him. She’d had a lovely time. The evening had been wonderful.
Cassie thought what she’d wanted was a one-night stand, had believed the experience of a hot night of foreign action would fill that place in her that, for years, had sat waiting, wanting more … needing more. But tonight, this perfect shining jewel of a night with Logan, this was what she’d been waiting for. This was the souvenir she’d craved, and the memory she would keep with her always.
CHAPTER 10
LOGAN RODE UP to the executive floor with Cassie and her friends. He watched her, wondering if she too was remembering what they’d done the last time they were in a lift together. Only this time they were not alone. When they’d arrived at the hotel, Theo had bid the ladies good night and headed for the bar while Logan offered to see them to their rooms.
When the bell to their floor dinged and the doors opened, Logan pondered his next move. Should he invite Cassie to his room? After that story about the Italian prick who tracked the lasses to another country, he was reluctant to admit he’d booked a room on the same floor of their hotel.
Her friends waved and murmured good night as they split up and slipped into their rooms. Looked like Cassie was sharing with the little redhead again—so much for option B.
“So…” Cassie paused outside the hotel room door Bonnie had just entered.
Logan wondered if the lass was feeling the same awkward combination of eagerness and uncertainty as he was. Only two nights ago, they’d slept together. Christ, had it only been two days? And here they were, standing outside her door again. He’d like nothing better than to pick up where they’d left off the last time they were in a hotel room together—exactly where they’d left off, if possible.
“So…,” he echoed. Way to charm her with your excellent conversational skills, numpty.
She fiddled with her purse string, her gaze focused on the ground. Logan wanted to slip a finger under her chin and lift her face, so he could see those pretty, dark eyes. He wanted to look into their depths and know what she was thinking—what she was feeling. She had very expressive eyes. He’d seen the sable brown of her irises turn almost black as they snapped with anger, or glow amber with fiery passion when she’d shoved him against the wall of the lift and kissed him. He loved watching her eyes, loved watching how they shifted and changed and told him what he needed to know.
From inside the room he heard the telly click on. Her roommate was obviously settling in for the night. Again, Logan considered inviting Cassie to his room, only a few doors away. Before he could muster up the courage, she stopped fiddling with her purse and looked up at him.
Her eyes were dark and warm, but a color he’d not seen yet, a shade of brown that made him think of sweet sticky things like honey and toffee.
“It was nice seeing you again.”
He nodded, unable to respond, his mind too focused on trying to come up with the right way to accurately describe the swirls of amber around her pupils.
“Will you be staying with your friend long?” she asked.
“What?” Topaz … was topaz what he was thinking of?
“Your friend, Prince, er, I mean, Theo.”
“He’s not a prince, he’s a duke.” Shit, how had he let that slip out? It wasn’t like his mate’s rank was a secret, but Logan knew when Theo met someone who didn’t know he was a member of the peerage, he preferred not to enlighten them. People sometimes got weird when they found out they were in the presence of honest to bleedin’ God nobility.
“Oh. Well, good for him.” Luckily, the lass didn’t seem to give a fig about Theo. Maybe it was because she was tipsy, or maybe it was because she had her mind on other things. She leaned back against the door of her room and continued to stare up at him. “Are you guys staying at his castle or something like that?”
He grinned. “Something like that.”
“Is it far?” She reached out and straightened his shirt collar, her fingers brushing the skin of his neck
“Not too far,” he replied, swallowing hard. It wasn’t a lie.
“Maybe the two of you could join us for breakfast in the morning—share some pointers on what sights we should go see.” She trailed her knuckles up the column of his throat, her eyes following the movement. If she thought he hadn’t noticed the wee nookie badge she’d given him on the side of his neck, she was wrong. “You owe me a breakfast, after all.”
“I do?” Logan took her hand in his and pressed her palm to his lips.
“Mm-hmm. You skipped out on breakfast in Edinburgh.”
He kissed the tip of each finger. “I recall you skipped out on something else in Edinburgh.”
“Not fair. We were interrupted, remember?” Her pupils dilated, amber swirls filling with shadows, as she watched him nip gently at the pad of her thumb. She gasped when he sank his teeth into her skin. Her response made his cock, still primed from their snogging session on the boat earlier this evening, throb with need.
Abruptly, the door behind her swung open, and Cassie stumbled backward. She would have landed on her lush little arse if her friend hadn’t been there to break the fall.
“Oh!” Bonnie dropped the ice bucket she’d been holding and locked her arms behind Cassie’s elbows, helping steady her. “You’re still here.”
Balance and composure back in place, Cassie tucked a chestnut wave behind her ear and smiled at Bonnie. “Uh, yes. Logan and I were just discussing plans for the rest of our stay. I asked him if there were any must-see sites we should visit.”
Bonnie bent and retrieved the ice bucket. She was wrapped in a fuzzy bathrobe with tiny teacups printed all over it, toes tucked into equally fuzzy slippers with what looked like miniature teapots sewn on top of each. “Yes, there are.” The redhead scooted between them. “Hampton Court and Windsor Palace. We’re touring both tomorrow.” She headed down the hall, stuffed teapots bobbing authoritatively on her toes.
“Well.” Cassie waited until the sound of her friend’s slippers shuffling on the carpet had faded. “What she said.”
“I haven’t been to Hampton Court in years.” Logan recalled a school trip, he and his mates in their ties and sweater vests, running like hooligans through the garden maze, their professor threatening to leave them behind. “There’s a hedge maze; it’s a lovely place.”
“Would you like to join us? I mean, I’ve already invited you to breakfast, you might as well make a day of it.” A smile lifted the curve of one cheek, and Logan tried not to think about a similar smile she’d given him, standing outside another hotel room door, as she’d asked if he wanted to come in.
When he hesitated, the smile faded, and she hurried to add, “Your friend is welcome too. Unless, of course, you have other plans already.”
“Nothing important.” He processed logistics. The girls had probably planned to hop a tour bus, but that was hardly an ideal setting for a cozy conversation, and Theo’s bucket of bolts wouldn’t hold them all. Logan decided to book a rental, something big enough for all seven of them to ride in. Or maybe two cars. Then Theo could drive some of the girls, and Logan could have some alone time, or almost-alone time, with Cassie.
“Is it a date?”
Logan realized he hadn’t answered her. He grinned, liking very much the idea of spending more time in her company. He couldn’t have her tonight, but he would have her all day tomorrow. “It’s a date,” he agreed, bending down to kiss her. He’d meant it to be a chaste kiss, a good-night kiss, short and sweet. But the moment his mouth touched hers, lightning surged in his veins and he wanted more. He tracked the lush curve of her lower lip with his tongue before plunging deeper, devouring the hoarse moan rising in her throat.
Over that delicious sound ca
me the curt noise of someone pointedly clearing her throat. Before he could break the kiss, Bonnie tapped him on the shoulder. “Can I get by please or do I need to dump this bucket of ice on your head?”
Down his pants would probably be more helpful at the moment, but Logan decided not to share that with her lest she take him up on the suggestion. “Sorry. I was just leaving.”
Cassie moved aside to let Bonnie through the door. “Logan is going to join us tomorrow.”
“Oh, happy day.” Bonnie shuffled past them. Her normally perky voice had taken on a very droll tone. Logan wondered what her problem was. The lass had seemed keen enough to help him get together with Cassie before. He’d never have been able to arrange the meeting on the dinner cruise this evening without Bonnie—it had been her idea, in fact. What had changed?
“Don’t mind Bonnie.” Cassie slipped his jacket off her shoulders and crossed the threshold of her room. She turned to face him around the edge of the door and passed his jacket back to him. “Meet you in the dining room tomorrow morning. Around eight?”
He folded his jacket over his arm and nodded, already counting the hours between now and then.
“Good night.” She blew him a kiss and shut the door.
CHAPTER 11
AFTER LEAVING HAMPTON Court, Ana suggested they head for a trendy Indian place she’d been eyeing right in Covent Garden not far from the Waldorf. Ana had a knack for finding amazing restaurants, and this place was no exception. Everyone stuffed themselves on naan, soft and fluffy as a cloud, and samosas so irresistible, even Sadie indulged. Cassie and Logan sampled each other’s curry, cooling their tongues with tall glasses of lassi mixed with rum, a house specialty.
On the walk back to the hotel after dinner, Cassie strolled between Logan and Bonnie, ensconced in the mellow, happy glow that only comes after a good meal shared with good company. “What a perfect day.” She took in a deep breath of the warm summer night. “I think that was my favorite palace yet.”
“It’s not that grand,” Logan grumbled. “Nothing as fine as some Scottish castles I could show you.”
“Aw.” Ana stepped closer and squeezed Logan’s shoulder. “Are you feeling a bit of palace envy?”
Logan gave Ana the side-eye, throat working in a Gaelic sound of amused disgust.
Sadie snorted with laughter and gave Ana a fist bump.
Cassie laughed too, enjoying the banter. It was fun to see Logan joking around with her friends, engaging in playful teasing. Careful. This was starting to sound like more than just a one-night stand. Well, it was more—wasn’t it?
To be perfectly honest, Cassie would like nothing better than to spend what was left of her trip in Logan’s company. Her voice of reason had been on vacation ever since meeting the sexy Scot. Why pay attention to it now? She gave Logan’s hand a playful squeeze. “Bonnie told me she’s planning to stay in Delaney’s room tonight.”
Hint taken, Logan glanced past Cassie to beam at Bonnie. “You have the best roommate ever.”
“It’s true, she does.” Bonnie winked at them and moved ahead to join Delaney, who was grilling Theo with questions about whether the nursery rhyme about blackbirds in a pie was based on something King Henry really ate.
“Does that mean you’d like to come up?” Cassie asked, not sure why she felt nervous. Maybe because he’d been acting different today. More likely because she always seemed to be the one making the first move.
“Aye, lass. Lead the way.”
“That’s what I’ve been doing,” she muttered under her breath. Three times now she’d been the one to get things started—not that she was counting—okay, fine, she was, but she wasn’t trying to. So far she’d been the antithesis of hard-to-get and decided this time he needed to work for it a little. Tonight, she wanted Logan to initiate things. Though technically, she’d already done that by inviting him up to her room.
When the elevator dinged, Cassie slipped out ahead of Logan and fumbled for her keycard. She swiped her key and opened the door, leaving it up to him to follow her inside. Cassie dropped her purse on the small occasion table in the suite’s living room and clicked on a lamp. Pulling out the clip holding her french twist in place, she shook out her hair, rubbing the spot where the accessory had pressed against the back of her head.
When she turned around, she caught Logan watching her. Holding his gaze, Cassie ran her fingers slowly through her hair, letting the long, brown waves fan out over her shoulders. She wrapped a fat lock around her finger and considered him. He still hadn’t moved, but stood frozen, his back pressed against the closed door of her hotel room, eyes hooded and hot.
She glanced at the impossible-to-miss bulge in his pants. Unless that was a stray cucumber for some new prank, he wanted her. What was he waiting for? He wanted to stand there and watch her? Fine, she’d give him something to watch. This was her vacation—her fantasy fling—and if she had to take the lead, again, she would.
Cassie let her hand drift lower, to where the ends of her hair curled slightly, grazing the top of one breast. From there she traced the lace trim of her dress, her fingers following the curve of the sweetheart neckline. When she reached the dip between her breasts, she paused.
Logan leaned forward, his anticipation tangible. Cassie bit down on a triumphant grin and let one finger slip beneath the fabric, then two. He swallowed hard and continued to watch.
The glow from the lamp cast her body in highlight and shadow, and she wondered if he could see the pebbling of her nipples. She glanced down at her chest. Yep, the headlights are definitely on. But just to be sure he didn’t miss the show, Cassie raised her hands to her shoulders and tugged gently. The straps of her dress slipped down her arms, baring her to the waist. She stared down at herself, at the dark pink circles of her areolas and the jutting tips of her nipples, which had tightened further in the air-conditioned hotel room.
She flattened her palms and pressed them against her breasts. When she began to move her hands in slow circles, the gentle brush of her own skin against her was both wicked and delicious. Cassie closed her eyes and let her head drop back, giving herself over to the pleasure as she continued to lightly stroke her breasts.
A hoarse sound broke the silence of the room, and Cassie lifted her chin, not sure who had been the one to moan. Meeting Logan’s gaze, she straightened her spine and thrust her body forward. Taunting him. Daring him. His eyes dropped to her chest once again, and she cupped her breasts, the weight of his stare making them feel heavy in her hands, hot and full and aching.
Watching him watching her was turning her on. Wanting to reveal more of herself to him, Cassie slid the dress down. The fabric clung to her hips, and she shimmied until it fell in a heap at her feet, pooling around her strappy sandals. At any other time, she’d have thought she looked ridiculous standing there in her undies and shoes, but right now, with his gaze intent on her, she felt sexy as hell.
She stepped forward, kicking free of her clothes, and pressed her fingers to the hollow at the base of her throat. Her pulse a throbbing rhythm against her fingertips, Cassie stood perfectly still, waiting until she had his attention right where she wanted it. Once she was sure Logan was watching her hand, she trailed her fingers slowly down the valley between her breasts, over the softly rounded curve of her stomach, pausing when she reached the satin edge of her panties.
Logan licked his lips. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Cassie thought she saw a muscle clench in his jaw. She closed the distance between them, stopping when her bare breasts were a breath away from his chest. The crisp linen of his dress shirt grazed her nipples every time he sucked in air. The fleeting, teasing contact made her ache for more.
She looked up at him and allowed herself to be naked, truly naked—letting him see all her desire, all the passion and hunger she felt for him. Their first night together had fulfilled her long-standing fantasy of a foreign fling. Tonight, she was going to make a few more of her fantasies come true.
They hadn’t said a
word to each other since they’d gotten in the elevator. Hadn’t spoken since entering her hotel room. Now, Cassie discovered she had something she very much wanted to say to Logan. She pressed the tip of one finger against the top button on his shirt. There was one benefit of making the first move. Since she started the game, she got to make the rules. “Your turn.”
* * *
Logan didn’t want to presume anything, but he thought he knew what the lass intended by inviting him upstairs—after all, it wasn’t like this was unchartered territory between them.
However, once the lift doors slid shut, an awkward silence descended, and he hesitated. Throughout the day, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about his hotel room or the unsigned waiver waiting in his jacket. They’d been a constant pressure, an albatross around his neck, choking him with guilt.
He’d planned to tell Cassie about his room at the hotel, he really had. But after their conversation last night, he’d been paralyzed by the possibility she’d think his following her to London was Lorenzo-level creepy. And she’d be right. He had followed her. But not because he was obsessed with her, though that may no longer be strictly accurate. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
So now he was nervous and guilty—to the point he couldn’t bring himself to make a pass at her. No matter how badly he wanted her, and Christ did he ever, he’d rather suffer the biggest case of blue balls on God’s green earth before he’d take something from her that she wasn’t willing to give.
Except her signature on that damn waiver.
He needed to tell her about the waiver, about his room at the hotel, a few doors down from her own. It was best he come completely clean, and hope she understood. Get it over with, mate. Now.
“Your turn,” she’d said. Did that mean she was going to undress him or did she want him to undress for her? He decided things would go better if she kept her hands off him for the time being. There was no telling what would happen if she touched him in the state he was in right now. Logan lifted her finger from where it pressed against the top button of his shirt. He bent his head and brushed a kiss over her knuckles. “As you wish.”
Getting Hot with the Scot--A Sometimes in Love Novel Page 12
