After Six

by Jeannette Winters

  Logan knew stress was a killer. He didn’t care. Push hard and drive even harder without looking back. Right now he wasn’t thinking of the past, only of his future. Was the beautiful angel sleeping in the passenger seat just that? Was all this pain simply to bring him to this place and time?

  If James hadn’t been such an ass, she never would’ve come looking for a story. Was fate at hand? He’d always considered it to be a cruel joke. Holding her last night, he felt something he never had in his entire life. Peace.

  The ugly Henderson secret was out, and she’d looked at him with compassion and understanding . . . and unless he was wrong, with love. How she could after everything they talked about blew his mind. It reaffirmed what a special woman she was. Only someone like her could love someone like me.

  Of course, he hadn’t told her what he’d found. Hell, he hadn’t even mentioned he went to California. He wished he didn’t have to open up that wound. Logan had hoped it was anyone but a Henderson who’d killed her grandfather. James Henderson, will you ever cease to cause us pain? Will we ever uncover everything you did? So much of him hoped they never did.

  He needed to tell her, but before he did, Logan needed more information and that meant sitting down with Brice. This had to be addressed by the family before anyone else. Not because he didn’t love Cori, but there were missing pieces, and Logan needed them filled in. Like why so much hate? What happened?

  Logan had been tempted to take her to his place, but doing so without asking her first was presumptuous. Instead he woke her when they arrived back at her apartment.

  Softly he said, “Sweetheart, you’re home.”

  She stirred and made a cute purring sound but didn’t wake. He hated to disturb her, but carrying her through the halls and up to her apartment was going to bring some unwanted attention their way. Leaning over, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. That at least got a moan out of her.

  When he kissed her a second time, he felt her tongue lick his lips. Logan wasn’t so sure she was sleeping after all. Pulling back, he felt her arm reach up and wrap around his neck. “Not yet. I’m enjoying this dream.”

  “Then may I suggest we go into your apartment where we can finish it properly?”

  Her eyes flew open, and once again they were dark blue and filled with desire. “Promise?” she asked seductively.

  Logan growled, “Keep looking at me like that and I might change my mind about not finishing here.”

  She blushed and smiled. “Although tempting, I do like my apartment, and I’m sure my landlord will have some issues with—”

  “Me making love to you in front of the building?” Logan said as he kissed her neck.

  Although she protested, she leaned her head back offering herself to him. If he weren’t a gentleman, he’d have continued. “I think we better go now, or we might not make it inside.”

  He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he opened his door and hurried around the car to get her door.

  They rushed upstairs to her apartment, and he watched as she struggled with the keys to her door. She dropped them, and when she bent in front of him to retrieve them, he felt his cock jump in anticipation. Fuck.

  When she stood, he grabbed the keys from her and unlocked the door. His frustration was becoming a raging need. He’d wanted her long before now, and every second he needed to wait was driving him further into a lust-filled haze.

  Logan reached out to her as he kicked the door shut. Hungrily, he claimed her lips as they fell back against the wall. A picture knocked loose and crashed to the floor. They pulled apart briefly as he asked, “Are you okay?”

  He looked down and could see broken glass, but she nodded. “I will be if you kiss me again.”

  Logan lifted her into his arms and carried her away from the shards of glass. “I’m sorry about the picture.”

  Cori smiled as he carried her and said, “I don’t care if you break my bed, just don’t stop next time.”

  He chuckled as they entered her bedroom. “Is that a challenge?”

  As he put her down before him, Cori responded seductively, “I wouldn’t mind you trying.”

  How the hell was he supposed to take it slow if she was teasing the shit out of him? She reached around to the back of her neck and pulled on one string then another until the top of her halter dress fell forward, exposing her bare breasts. Damn, woman. You’re not making this easy for me.

  Logan stepped closer and put one hand on the nape of her neck as his thumb stroked her cheek and jawline. “Cori, you’re . . . beautiful. How is it some man hasn’t swept you off your feet yet?”

  She melted into his hand. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

  “Then your wait is over, because I’m not letting you go.” He meant every word he said, and it didn’t scare him one bit. This lovely creature had captured his heart, and he wanted to show her what she meant to him. “Do you know what I see when I look at you?” Logan asked.

  She shook her head and whispered in a seductive vixen voice, “Tell me.”

  “The strongest, most courageous and beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

  Logan bent his head and kissed her gently then started tracing small kisses across her jaw and over her collarbone. “Cori, I want to make love to you.”

  She moaned as he claimed her lips again. Slipping his hands around her bare back, she quivered under his touch. “Logan, I want you to . . .”

  “To what? Tell me, sweetheart. What do you want me to do?” He knew what he wanted—needed—but Logan wanted to make sure he pleased her first. He didn’t doubt he could satisfy her, but he wanted her to be wanting for nothing other than more.

  “I want to feel your hands on me,” Cori said breathlessly.

  “What about my hands and my tongue?” He lifted her high into his arms and flicked one nipple with his tongue.

  She arched her back and said, “I want it . . . all.”

  “Then all of me is what I’ll give you.”

  Cori tugged at his shirt and said, “Logan, I want you so much it . . . almost hurts.”

  He let her down so he could slide the dress over her full hips. His hands lingered on her cool flesh. All that remained was a silky black thong. Bringing his hands around to caress her ass as he pulled her tight against him; he wanted her to feel how much he wanted her. “You drive me wild, Cori,” he said before claiming her sensual mouth and sliding her thong down.

  She was perfection. He could inhale her intoxicating scent—something floral and sweet—and never stop desiring her. But she wasn’t the only one aching with desire. His cock was pressed firmly against his button-fly jeans to the point of pain. Quickly he removed his clothes until he was totally naked. Logan could feel her eyes on him the entire time, and her tongue traced her lips as he slid his jeans and boxers off. When his cock was free, it sprang up, and he saw her bottom lip tremble.

  The look in her eyes as they roamed over his body enhanced his hunger for her. He pulled her close, claiming her lips once again. She tastes so sweet. Logan needed all of her. As he continued exploring her mouth, one hand reached to caress her breasts. Her nipples hardened instantly at his touch. The need to taste every inch of her was driving him mad. “Cori, your body feels so damn good against me. Your skin is like silk, and you smell like honey and wildflowers.”

  “Logan, I need you, but . . . but I’m not on birth control. We can’t . . . can’t do this.” Her words were shaky as her tongue licked across his bare shoulder and up his neck.

  “I have condoms,” Logan said as he took her nipple into his mouth and nipped it gently with his teeth.

  He felt her shudder and moan, “Thank you.”

  “For this?” He nipped her again. “Or the condom?”

  “Both,” she replied breathlessly, as her hands ran up his arms and across his chest.

  He’d been holding back, trying to go slow, but her teasing mouth was straining the hell out of his restraint. Her beautiful full breasts were begging for
his attention, and he wasn’t going to ignore them. He’d hold his control, his own satisfaction, until she’d had hers. Maybe more than once. It was something he eagerly anticipated.

  Moving back to her lips, he kissed her hungrily one more time, then dragging his lips from hers, he slowly kissed his way across her jaw to the curve of her neck, stopping to feel her racing pulse. I haven’t even begun.

  She whimpered softly, “Logan, please. I . . . you . . . please.” Cori’s hands dug into his biceps as she clung to him.

  The fact she could barely speak was driving him wild. He knew what she meant and what she wanted. Apparently, his cock did as well because each moan and word from her sweet lips had it jumping with anticipation. He ached to be inside her. “Soon, sweetheart.”

  Cori reached down and took his cock in her hand. His body tensed instantly, and he wanted to lay her on the bed and enter her right then. Instead, he watched as she began stroking him. Their eyes never broke contact, and her tongue slowly traced his lips. He could only imagine how fucking incredible her lips would feel around his cock.

  Logan was already on the brink and fantasizing wasn’t helping control it one bit.

  “Sweetheart, that feels good, but if you don’t stop, I’m going to embarrass myself,” Logan said as he covered her hand with his and gently urged her to let go of his throbbing cock.

  He lifted her up into his arms then laid her on the bed. “I want to . . . have all of you, Cori.”

  She pulled him down to her. “Logan. I can’t wait any longer. I need you to touch me. I want to feel you inside of me.”

  “In time.”

  Cori arched her back, offering him her breast. Her nipple hardened into a tight little peak, and he bent and licked it in a slow circular motion. He could feel the heat of her passion rushing through her as her legs opened and her soft wet flesh touched his hard hot cock. When he bit her nipple lightly, she arched closer to him.

  “Oh, Logan,” she said, moaning his name again and again.

  No one had ever been so responsive to his touch. Each touch brought deeper moans that drove him wild. How is it possible to need someone more than you need to breathe?

  “You’re so beautiful, Cori, and I could touch and taste you forever.” His plunged his tongue into her mouth wildly. She met him just as eagerly. Then slipping one hand between her legs, he opened her folds and gently ran his finger over them as his hand urged her legs apart. “Damn, you’re so wet.”

  She opened unashamedly, giving him full access. “I can’t wait any longer.” Cori’s words were soft and breathless.

  It wasn’t that he wasn’t ready, but he wanted her to explode for him first. As his fingers circled her clit, she whimpered and trembled against him.

  “I . . .” she cried, her voice barely a whisper.

  As he slid one finger deep inside her, he felt how tight she was. Almost so tight that he panicked she was a virgin. He stopped and looked at her. “You’re not a . . .”

  She met his gazed puzzled. “A what?”

  “Virgin.”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s just been a while. Why?”

  Thank God. Although he loved and wanted her, he would have needed to step back and hold back a lot more. “Because you’re so . . .” He wasn’t sure using the word tight was a good way to describe it to her. “Perfect.”

  She smiled and kissed him. Moving his finger deeper into her, he felt her core contract around his finger. When she arched, begging for more, he slid in a second one. Each time she tightened around his fingers. He needed to feel her wrapped around him.

  He continued to move in and out of her while stroking her clit with his thumb. Her fingernails raked down his back, and she bit into his shoulder as he went faster, deeper, until her body finally clenched so tightly around his fingers he knew she was about to let go. He watched her shudder, her body thrashing from side to side, as she rode the waves of ecstasy.

  Logan let her enjoy every last second then quickly left her long enough to sheath himself with a condom from his wallet. When he returned to her, she welcomed him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her. Kissing her deeply, he knelt between her legs with his cock only inches away from her.

  He planned on exploring every inch of her, but his body was aching for only one part of her right then. Taking his hard cock in his hand, he stroked her while kissing her senseless. He could feel her heat and couldn’t hold back any longer.

  “Cori, I don’t want to hurt you.” His voice was deep, almost a growl, as he tried to control his own need. “I’ll try to be gentle.”

  She opened her legs wider. She moved his hand and took his cock into hers. “I don’t want you to be gentle. You’re not going to break me. I need all of you, now.” She guided him, raising her hips to take him inside her.

  He couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. Grabbing her hips, he pulled her to him and thrust fully into her. She cried out, and he waited until she adjusted to his size. Then slowly he entered her again and again. When she moaned in pleasure, he began pumping into her fast and hard. Oh, God. His own body wanted to let go, but he held back.

  He felt her body begin to tense again as he continued. She was on the brink, and he wanted to take her over the edge again. He entered her harder, faster, until she cried out his name.

  Once he felt her releasing, he plunged deeper inside her as his orgasm met hers, rocking him to the core. He rode the bliss with her, stronger and more powerful than he’d ever felt before.

  He collapsed on top of her, barely able to catch his breath. He quickly rolled off her, not wanting to crush her. She didn’t let go and rolled with him, so they lay side by side facing each other.

  He needed to make sure he hadn’t hurt her. “I didn’t—?”

  “No. It was—”

  “Amazing,” Logan finished.

  “Amazing,” she echoed. He inched slightly over to give her more room, and she tightened her grip on him. “Don’t let me go.” God. Those words. He’d never known how much he’d wanted to hear those words. How was he so lucky to find her?

  “I couldn’t if I tried, Cori.”

  You can’t get rid of me even if you want to.

  Cori never knew making love could be that mind-blowing and amazing. She’d had lovers in the past, but sex had always missed one major component: the emotional connection. Tonight was earth-shattering and mind-blowing on both levels.

  She snuggled closer to him, her body entwined with his. Cori sensed something different about him. He wasn’t tense. It was odd, but last night when they fell asleep on the couch, she could tell he never truly relaxed. It was as though he couldn’t shut his brain off. She understood that, but not to the extreme Logan functioned.

  Logan’s job required serious concentration, but what she’d felt from him hadn’t been work-related. Work seemed to be his escape. From everything she’d learned about his family, she totally understood why he was this way. In such a short time he’d changed. And so did I.

  She’d been filled with so much anger and hatred that it had begun to consume her. Until her heart opened up to Logan, she hadn’t even realized what she’d been doing to herself. Cori had refused to live, to be happy. Subconsciously, she worried if she stopped looking for the killer and started living her life, she was not honoring her promise to Grandpa Joe.

  Joe had been a man so full of life and love. He’d want her to be happy. But how would he feel about me loving the son of the man who killed him? She couldn’t help the twinge of guilt that ran through her.

  Would Logan understand? He’d had to face so much already, but she worried if she told him she still wanted to pursue her grandpa’s killer, it might break him. They were in a wonderful place right now, why would she want to ruin it?

  She ran her hand over his jaw. He was wonderful. Logan had made sure he gave to her. It wasn’t sex; it was making love. Until Logan, she’d only researched and read about the difference. Now she’d experienced it for hersel
f. They never uttered the words I love you, but they told each other with their bodies.

  It sounded so cliché. Part of her wished she’d told him before, but the timing hadn’t felt right. She would later. For now, she just wanted to hold on to this feeling. Enjoy seeing him at peace. Because tomorrow I’m going to have to tell him my suspicions. I need to tell him what I believe James Henderson did to my family.

  She trembled, and he pulled her closer as though he thought she was cold. That wasn’t the case at all. It was because she knew it was time for her to come clean with exactly why she had deceived him in the first place. It’s not going to be good, but at least it will be the truth. Hopefully he won’t be completely disgusted with me for faking an injury to talk to him. I’m sure it would anger him to have used his professional time so selfishly.

  She didn’t know where they were going, but she knew wherever it was, she wanted it to be with everything out on the table. Secrets and lies will eventually come out and destroy whatever chance we have for our happily ever after.

  “Sweetheart, are you okay?” Logan asked gently.

  She hadn’t noticed he’d been watching her. “I thought you were sleeping.”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  She smiled at him. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”

  “Of what?”

  Cori wasn’t going to talk to him tonight about what was troubling her. Instead, she ran her fingers over his chest and said, “I was thinking that my bed hasn’t broken yet. You might need to try harder.”

  Logan laughed and rolled her on top of him. “Challenge accepted.”

  Chapter Sixteen

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  Waking next to Logan was the way she wanted to start each day, but she understood he had a job that required him to leave at a moment’s notice. When his phone rang at four a.m., she could tell by his expression he knew what it was. The price of being a surgeon. You’re never really off work.