by James, Avery
Soon enough she had her answer. Logan started to work his way back up her body, kissing her stomach again, and then her breasts. With each kiss, she felt her excitement building higher. By the time he pressed his lips against her neck, she began to think that maybe she was ready for more. By the time he sealed his lips against hers, she knew she was ready. She slid her tongue against his and oh, God, she felt his erection through his boxers pressed against her as he rocked his hips against hers, and she wanted him all over again, only now she ached to feel him inside her, to slide inside and fill her like he had before. She reached down and tugged at the waist of his boxers, pulling them off as quickly as she could.
Logan ground against her, and the feeling of his smooth skin against her drove Callie wild. That ache grew stronger inside her and she just wanted to feel the rush of having him inside again. "I need you," she whispered. She reached down and rubbed him, and she kissed his chest as he leaned forward.
"Just a second," Logan said as he reached over to the drawer. Callie didn't even notice what he was doing until he handed her the condom. She had gotten so worked up that she had almost forgotten about it. She lowered it against him and unrolled it along his length, half wishing she could feel him inside her without it, his smooth skin sliding against the walls of her core. The thought sent a new rush of excitement through her body. Logan held himself against her entrance for just a moment, but to Callie it felt like an eternity, and her anticipation reached delirious heights before Logan finally pushed himself inside.
Callie clenched her jaw and closed her eyes as surge after surge of pleasure rocked her body. Logan worked himself against her, bucking his hips against hers in a steady rhythm, rising and falling with her breaths. She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him even harder against herself, sealing his full length inside herself. She tried to stifle her moans, until Logan whispered, "I want to hear you. It's such a turn on."
Normally, she'd find the whole thing embarrassing, moaning like that, but she wanted to turn him on as much as he had turned her on, and she moaned into his ear, a full, throaty moan, one that echoed through the cabin and rang in her ears. As she moaned, Logan ran his hands over her body, cupping her breasts and rubbing her nipples, and Callie gasped in delight. She licked his earlobe and moaned again. So this was what it was like to be in the arms of a man who knew what he wanted. This was what it was like to feel sexy as hell. She rolled her hips against him as he shook the bed with his thrusts. Logan slid his hands back down over her hips and her behind, running his fingers over all of her curves as he brought her closer and closer to climax.
Callie had never felt like this in her life. She'd never felt such power in her body. She rubbed her breasts against his muscular chest and delighted in the thrill of feeling her skin against his. A thin layer of sweat had started to form between their bodies, slicking their motions against each other. Callie cried out in delight as Logan pushed himself deeper inside her and locked his lips against hers again. This was it. She felt the powerful pangs of climax rising up inside her and he tilted her head back and shouted in delight as Logan brought her to completion.
For a long while after, Callie tried to catch her breath. She was covered in sweat, and her throat was hoarse from shouting. She couldn't believe she had just done that, that she had just let go like that, that Logan had brought out those feelings in her. Her head buzzed with the wonderful haze of satisfaction. It felt just like falling, the rush of being with him, the feeling of weightlessness in his arms and the butterflies in her stomach; it was just like falling.
That sounded nice, but Callie knew it was wrong. What she was doing with Logan wasn't falling. She wasn't falling for him or with him. She was jumping, and it was thrilling. She was discovering a side of herself that she barely knew, and Logan was leading the way. She had taken his hand and followed him over the edge. She just didn't know what would happen when she finally reached the ground.
***
Callie leaned over the railing and watched the morning sunlight glint off of the water below. A light breeze blew her hair back, and she inhaled the calming ocean air. She hoped that Logan was still asleep in bed where she had left him. She didn't feel much like explaining why she had to sneak off to return a call to her sister so shortly after dawn. Amy must have found out about Veronica or the trip or almost anything that had been going on between her and Logan. Why did she worry so much about what her sister thought? Since they were kids, Callie had let Amy worry and mother her at every chance she got. Maybe this time, she'd find a way to stand up for herself and explain exactly what she wanted, if only she knew what that was.
Callie pressed send and called Amy back. "Little sister," Amy said immediately upon answering, "I was beginning to worry that I'd need to send reinforcements to help you out."
"I'm fine," Callie said. "How are you and the baby?"
"We're fine. You know me. I'm just trying to get as much done as possible before the big day. Ethan has been joking that I'll probably end up giving birth right at my desk."
"When's your due date?"
"Two weeks. You know that. I'm pretty sure you had the date circled on your calendar as the date you take over the company."
"On a temporary basis."
"Who knows. I might find that motherhood suits me better."
Callie laughed. "Amy Haven, stay at home mom, I think you'd stage a prison break by the end of the first day."
"Enough about me. How's Don Juan?"
"He's great. I mean things are going great. I mean I don't think you have anything to worry about." Callie stopped herself before she babbled on any more. What the hell was that? she wondered.
"He's great?" Amy asked. "God, you're not falling for him, are you?"
"No, of course not. We have spent some time together though." Callie kept her gaze on the water. She knew were Amy was going with this, and she didn't like it.
"I swear if you show up in some tabloid making out with Logan Harris on a beach, I will personally fly up there and fire you. I don't care if I give birth en route."
"Amy, there's nothing going on between me and Logan!" Callie shouted. She looked up to see Logan smiling at her from inside his cabin. Shit. Did he hear that? "Did you really call me to grill me about my social life?"
"No, I'm calling because I need your help. A Governor's son has impregnated his girlfriend at his boarding school in New Hampshire."
"Couldn't we just have their parents pick them up? I mean school isn't even in session."
"That would be fine," Amy said, "if the girl wasn't his teacher. Also, she's missing."
"What?"
"That's why I need you there. This whole situation could blow up if we don't handle it right. The school wants to keep everything quiet and pay her to go away. The Governor wants to press charges against her, and she is nowhere to be found."
"Oh God," Callie said, "please tell me they don't suspect the Governor's son."
"His name's Luke, and I don't know. He's not cooperating with anyone. I need you to get there. I need you to find out what he knows, and mostly I need you to find the teacher."
"What does your gut say?"
"Callie, I'm almost nine months pregnant. My gut is telling me to find ice cream and tabasco. I don't want to talk about my gut. I need you to handle this. Find the teacher. Find a way to make her cooperate. If you can convince her to sign an NDA and stay quiet, we'll find a way to take care of her. I need you there as soon as possible. Tell me you'll do this."
Callie turned around and watched Logan pulling on a shirt. This was probably the best excuse she'd have to get away and come to her senses about him, and yet, she was angry that she wouldn't be able to see where things would go. Whatever her feelings were, it made sense to get some distance and slow things down. She had gotten caught up in the excitement and romance of spending time with Logan. It really was just as he had described it. It felt like they had drawn a line between themselves and the rest of the world, like they had dr
awn a circle in the sand and declared it their own kingdom. It had been a wonderful feeling, but how long it would be before reality set in, how long before a wave came crashing onto the shore and washed the line away?
"I'll do it," Callie said. "Send me the info. I'll be on the road within the hour."
Callie braced herself and stepped back into Logan's cabin. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, buttoning up his shirt. She looked at his muscular chest and his angular jaw, and she felt that deep desire rising up in her stomach again. He looked like a god no matter what he wore, whether it was a suit or a half buttoned casual shirt. She needed to leave before she threw herself at Logan again.
All she had to do was sound official. "Logan, I'm sorry. I have to go. We'll find some other time."
"Where are you going?" he asked. He looked up at her with his deep blue eyes that seemed capable of bending her to his every whim.
Callie turned and looked out the window over the water. "It involves a prominent client. I can't really tell you anything more than that."
"Sure you can. Here, I'll start for you. 'Sorry Logan, I've found someone else to spend the day with. He's rich, and he's handsome, and I have to keep him out of jail. His name is:' All you have to do is fill in the rest." He said.
Callie laughed. "As far as I know, no one has committed a crime yet."
"Plausible deniability, I like that."
"No, really, no one committed a crime."
Logan shook his head. "I thought you said your job was interesting."
"Oh this one is interesting. It just doesn't happen to be criminal."
"Come on, you know you want to tell me. If you're going to just leave me waiting around for you, I at least deserve a clue."
"Have you ever heard of Cabot Academy?"
Logan laughed. "I got kicked out of Cabot Academy in the eleventh grade. If I remember correctly, the rumor that went around after I left was that I had been caught in a compromising position with the headmaster's daughter."
"Were you?"
"No, it was his wife."
"Are you serious?"
Logan laughed again and shook his head. "No, but I had you going for a second there. You know, for someone who deals with liars and cheats for a living, you're not very good at figuring out when I'm kidding."
"So what really happened?"
"I did get caught with the headmaster's daughter, but it wasn't what you'd think. I was driving her off campus to visit friends. I was already on probation, and well, instead of letting me get kicked out, my parents decided to enroll me in another school for the next semester. It didn't hurt that the chairman of the board was one of my father's biggest competitors. No one was exactly sad to see me leave."
"I can understand why," Callie said.
"Ouch. If I remember correctly, you didn't exactly have a problem spending the night, even if there is nothing between us."
"That's not what I meant," Callie said. "This has been fun, but I have to go." She paused for a moment and added, "alone."
"If you're not going to let me come, you'll have to find some other way to get back to shore. How's your back stroke?"
"You're kidding, right? This is my job we're talking about, Logan. I don't have time to play games right now."
"You're on vacation! You only have time for games right now. When your sister says jump, do you ask how high? Come on, you're enjoying yourself. There must be someone else who can take your place."
"There isn't. I really have to go."
"Let me bring you."
Callie could see that she wasn't going to win this argument with Logan. He was so damn stubborn. The worst part was that she could tell that he was enjoying their little fight. His eyes had lit up the second she had said no. If she wasn't so annoyed with him, it might have been amusing, endearing even, but she had to get off of his boat as soon as possible. "Fine, but you won't do anything on the trip without my approval. Ok?"
"Sounds great, boss," Logan said as he tossed Callie her clothes from the night before. "Do you want to stop by the guesthouse, or is last night's attire good for you?"
"Just get me to my wardrobe," she said, "I don't exactly feel like making one of your shirts into a dress again."
"You could always try something different," Logan said. "I bet you'd look great wearing only a tie."
"Get me off this boat, and maybe we can find out," Callie said.
"Yeah?"
"For someone who supposedly does this a lot, you're not very good at knowing when I'm kidding."
"But you'll let me tag along?"
"As long as you behave."
"Well, how about I promise not to mess up your case?"
"Isn't that the same as behaving?" Callie asked.
Logan didn't say anything in response. He just smiled.
Callie shook her head. "Fine." She had a feeling that this was a very bad idea.
Eleven
Logan beamed as he opened the garage door to reveal his vintage convertible. It was a beautifully sculpted piece of machinery, bright red, low to the ground, the top already down. It was totally impractical like almost everything else he owned.
"Do you really think we should be taking that car?” Callie asked.
“This isn’t just a car,” Logan said. “This is a 1957 Corvette. It is perfect. What better way is there to spend your hard earned vacation time than in the finest car ever made?”
"Will it even make it to New Hampshire and back?" Callie asked.
"I just worked on it last week. It's in the best condition it's ever been. The tires are brand new,” he said.
“They’re whitewalls,” Callie said. “I don’t think they’ve made those since before we were born.”
“They’re rare,” Logan said.
"If I get stuck in the middle of nowhere," I'm blaming you," Callie said.
"You won’t,” Logan said.
"Which one? Get stuck or blame you for it?"
"We'll see," Logan said as he walked over to the car and climbed inside.
"We better not," Callie said, climbing into the seat next to him.
Why she had agreed to this arrangement, she didn't know. Her job had been simple: keep Logan away from trouble and out of the headlines until Hank passed his legislation. Now, instead of doing her job, she was risking involving Logan in a completely unrelated scandal. As the wind blew through her hair, she told herself that it was the lesser of two evils. Either she could have left him alone in Newport and hoped he didn't do anything, or she could bring him with her to New Hampshire. At least in New Hampshire, she would be able to keep an eye on him. Besides, she doubted she could have gotten him to change his mind. She just wasn't sure if his intransigence was amusing or irritating.
The way Logan drummed on the steering wheel as he listened to the radio was a different story. It was beyond irritating. Here he was, insisting on driving her up along the coast on a more scenic drive, winding along the sun-drenched roads, and he was ruining it all by tapping his damn fingers incessantly on the steering wheel. It was loud enough that Callie could hear it over the sound of the wind. Eventually she reached out and placed her hand on his wrist. "No more drumming," she said. "I'm begging you."
Logan wrapped his fingers around the wheel and smiled sheepishly. "I didn't even know I was doing that. I'm sorry. Sometimes I get lost in thought, and I just go on autopilot."
"Do you drum and drive often?" Callie leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. The sun was warm on her face, and she couldn’t help but admit to herself that the drive, without the finger-tapping was relaxing.
"I don't know, probably,” Logan said. “I don't even notice that I'm doing it. I just like to be in motion. It helps me think."
"And what are you thinking about?" Callie asked.
Logan hesitated for a moment before he responded. It was long enough for Callie to wonder if he was thinking about her, long enough to wonder if he had been thinking about that kiss, too. She thought about the way his lips ha
d tasted. She thought about how firm his touch had been and the thrill she had felt as she had melted into his kiss. If Logan were thinking about that kiss, she couldn't blame him for struggling to think of anything else.
Finally, Logan cleared his throat and said, "I'm thinking about what I want to do next."
"Another microbrewery?"
"Yeah, sure, I guess," Logan said. Quickly, he changed the topic of conversation, "Thank you, Callie."
"For what?"
"For letting me make this trip with you. I know I didn't give you much of a choice, but it's good to get out of Newport for a while. Sometimes, going back and forth between the bar and the yacht, I feel like I'm living in a bubble. It's good to be outside of it, even if it's only for a weekend.”
"You're welcome," Callie said, “but it better not be the whole weekend.” She wanted to tell Logan to stop being nice to her. He was supposed to be a jerk, and that by being considerate and thoughtful and anything other than lecherous he made her feel terrible about lying to him. She wondered how she could make it through the trip without admitting to him why she had come to Newport in the first place.
"So, Callie, have you ever fooled around in a speeding convertible?" Logan asked with a grin.
There we go, Callie thought, back to normal. Maybe she would survive this trip after all. If Logan annoyed the hell out of her, maybe she'd be able to resist the rare moments when he was charming.
"Really though, tell me what's going on. I don't want to say the wrong thing when we show up, and, to be honest, I'm curious as hell." He reached over and turned down the radio, leaving only the sound of the wind between them.
Callie mulled it over for a moment. Logan would find out soon enough one way or another. She might as well earn some trust points by telling him before they got there. "Sex scandal," she said, "a student got a teacher pregnant."
"Good for him!" Logan said. He quickly backtracked. "Provided, you know, they were both the age of consent, what's the problem?"
