Damn, she was hot and sweet at the same time.
He slid his hands under her shirt and up her back to unhook her bra, then pushed them both up and over her head when he broke the kiss, loving how her nipples puckered as he stared at them.
“Logan.” Her voice was as strangled as the throbbing dick trapped in his jeans.
He blew on her, but didn’t dare touch, way too close to the point of no return.
“Strip,” he ordered, taking care of his own clothes, giving his body a chance to cool down enough for him to take his time and do all the things he’d fantasized about as he’d watched her sweet ass straddle that ATV and torture his libido from afar.
The things he wanted to do still filtered through his mind when he stepped out of his clothes and straight to her, dragging her against him for a deep kiss. She moaned and pressed close, practically climbing his body, testing his control. Without breaking the connection, he bent and swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed, then broke the kiss and dropped her on the mattress.
Hot damn, she had great bounce.
Her curves wiggled and jiggled, then wiggled some more as he joined her, laying on his side, elbow bent, head in hand so he could watch her body shiver as he ran his hand down her body. Her hands got busy too, brushing lightly down his chest to his abs, where she let her fingers wander slowly to his erection waiting, begging for attention.
But that would be his undoing.
So he rolled them until he pinned her on her belly, the feel of her lush curves squirming beneath him increased the pulse already pounding wildly in his ears. Damn, she felt good. He brushed the nape of her neck with his jaw. She shivered and squirmed some more. So he did it again. “Someone likes that.”
She muttered into the pillow and thrust her sweet ass against his groin. Heat spiked out in all directions. Damn. The urge to lift her hips and bury himself inside her was so strong he had to close his eyes and silently count backward from ten to remain in control.
“Mmm…someone likes that,” she repeated his words back to him, her head turned to the side, tone husky and teasing.
He laughed softly, sweeping her hair aside to press his lips to her nape. “I like you.”
Although, what he felt for the woman, arousal aside, was a hell of a lot more than like. He was falling for her. Who was he kidding? He fell for her the second she walked into him at Hardbodies. It just took him a little while to realize it.
But now that he had, he was good with it. More than good. He was content, happy. She felt right. Being with her felt right. Never had he experienced this with a woman before, this connection, and fierce need to please. It made all the difference in the world. Chloe put him in a crazy state, made all the crazier by knowing she felt the same. And she did. She told him with the affection in her eyes, the way her touch worshipped, her mouth hungered. Yeah, she was just as lost. Just as found.
“I like you, too,” she said, and then moaned out a breath when he nibbled his way down her spine, the erotic sound echoing around them, making him nuts, making him want to hear more.
Nudging his thigh between her legs he smiled when she groaned. She liked that, too. He made room for the other, then it was his turn to groan when she pushed her ass into his crotch. His control was slipping. He palmed the bed near her shoulder to brace his weight off her and slipped his other hand beneath her trembling body to cup a soft, warm breast. Her nipple immediately tightened and pressed into his palm.
Damn…she was gorgeous. He tweaked the peak between his thumb and forefinger, his hard body absorbing the tremors wracking her body.
“Logan, I need you in me, now.” And to help her cause, she lifted that sweet ass again and pressed against his erection.
He hissed a breath, and in one swift move, rolled her onto her back and captured her mouth for a long, fierce, deep kiss. Barely hanging on, he released her lips and figured he must be a masochist because he immediately dipped down to take her stiff peak in his mouth, testing his control as she arched into him.
Ah, hell, he was done.
With one last tug, he released her to roll off the bed and grab a condom from the nightstand, sheath himself in record time, and return to his soft, warm, woman waiting for him in bed. “Now, where was I?”
A wicked smile curved her lips then broadened as she spread her legs. “About to rock my world again.”
His heart kicked into his ribs at the sight of her gorgeous invitation. He was the luckiest damn man on the planet. Kneeling between her legs, he ran his hands up her quivering thighs, brushing his thumbs over her center.
She cried out and vaulted off the mattress.
He loved how responsive she was.
“Easy,” he said, pressing his palm into her belly, then crawled up her body to steal a long, wet, kiss. She moaned and wrapped her arms and legs around him. He never felt so wanted, so accepted for who he was. Not a famous athlete in the spotlight with endorsements and a huge bank account. He was just a man who worked hard, owned a ranch, fought for his country, and shied away from the press.
“Logan, I need you…please…”she whispered when they broke for air.
He brushed his lips down her throat to lick at the curve while he reached down between her legs and slid a finger inside. Hot damn, she was wet.
“I’m beyond ready,” she said as if reading his mind.
He lifted up to position his throbbing head, and holding her gaze, slid inside. Ah, hell yeah. Sensory overload seized him. His eyes drifted shut as he groaned his pleasure. So good.
Every.
Damn.
Time.
She agreed with a low, sexy sound that caught in her throat. Opening his eyes, he leaned over her, hovering above her lips as he pulled out of her and pushed back in.
“Mmm…yeah…more.” She wrapped her legs around him and dug her nails into his ass, keeping him close and deep.
His favorite place. Balls deep inside Chloe. He’d never get enough of her sweet curves. He loved them, loved being over them, and especially loved how responsive they were to his body. So right. So perfect. Then she rocked into him and tightened those mile long legs around him. The world faded until only his senses remained as he upped the pace. Her eyes were closed while she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.
Wet, clutching at him, panting, skin hot, body arched and tight. She was at the edge.
Hot damn, she was a glorious sight.
Heat skittered down his spine and tingled through his balls. He was right there with her. Planting an elbow near her head, he stilled his movements. “Chloe, look at me.”
She blinked and focused on him.
“I want to watch you come.” Only when she nodded did he begin to move, increasing the pressure, the thrusts, until his whole body hummed with a heated current that raced through his veins.
The wild thud of her heart he felt beating beneath the soft breasts and stiff peaks brushing his chest, set this apart. It was more than great sex. So much more. He was in tune with this woman. To her needs, her wants. Her heart. Her every breath. And she was in tune with him.
She was special. So damn special. And being in her arms, he felt the same. Her heated, open gaze showed him everything, full of a sweet, fierce affection he felt to his soul. God, he wanted to stay like this forever, but her body felt too good and his was too taxed to hang on. Sliding a hand under her sweet ass, he changed the angle, thrusting deeper, longer, causing her to arch.
“Logan.” Bucking wildly beneath him, she came, clutching his hips, her body clamping tight, drawing him in, taking him home.
Ah, yeah…hell yeah. He never wanted to leave. But he was done. Watching her come, seeing the pleasure and euphoria he caused glaze through her eyes was too damn much. He grasped her hips and thrust deep, following her in a release that tore him down and built him stronger.
When the ringing in his ears finally stopped and he returned back to his body, Logan kissed her neck where he was slumped over on her and worked
to catch his breath. “You okay?” He eased some of his weight off her while they caught their breath.
“Mmm…so okay.” She smiled lazily, stretching, slow and languid, her gaze sated and sleepy. “You?”
He loved that he wore her out because, hell, she wore him out, too.
“So okay,” he replied, kissing her softly on the lips. The lure of holding her warm, naked body while they regrouped had him untangling from her so he could clean up for another round. “I’ll be right back.”
In under three minutes he was back with two bottles of water, a bowl of grapes, and some great ideas on what to do with them.
“Hungry?” He placed them on the bed, grabbed a grape, then ran it lightly up the inside of her leg.
Laughing, she squirmed and tried to move away when he reached her thigh, but her foot connected with the bowl and sent it flying to the floor.
“Sorry.” She sat up and frowned. “Stupid warning label. What is it with me and food around you?”
Chuckling, he kissed her knee. “I love your warning labels,” he said, before sliding off the bed to clean the floor.
“I love that you love them.” She smiled. “Let me help.”
“No, I’ll get it, thanks. You stay there and regroup.”
She was right where he wanted her. In bed. Naked. Willing. He just needed her ready, and hopefully he would be, too.
He was just reaching for the last grape peeking out from under the bed when his fingers brushed over something smooth. Lifting the bed skirt, he grabbed what appeared to be a newspaper clipping and pulled it out, surprised to find he was right. It was a clipping.
Of him.
The article he’d hated the most. The one that talked about how he busted his arm, lost the dream, and the girl. Reminders he hadn’t needed at the time. It also stated how he wouldn’t have to worry about missing out on the million dollar endorsement deals because his father owned a sporting goods conglomerate, and Logan was already a millionaire.
It wasn’t about the money. It was about playing ball. Stupid article. His life had already gone to shit, then this came out and added to it. Made his life a living hell. All the gold-diggers had come out of the woodwork. It got so he couldn’t even have a female friend without worrying about her trying to worm her way into his life to get to his bank account.
So he closed his heart, and concentrated on having fun, meaningless sex. It’d worked fine. Simple. Uncomplicated. His heart, and therefore his bank account, were never in jeopardy. Until now.
Until Chloe.
He sucked in a breath and sat back on his heels as reality hit him with the full force of a fastball to the chest. She’d been playing him. Why else would she have had this damn article? And she’d laminated it. Shit. As his fist curled around the clipping his mind balked. Chloe wouldn’t do that. She was too sweet. Too genuine. She’d never even asked about his money.
“Logan? What are you doing down there? Are you okay?” She smile down at him, then froze, color draining from her face when she caught sight of the article in his hand.
Any semblance of hope he had died with the appearance of guilt funneling into her eyes.
“I-I can explain.”
“Forget it.” He vaulted to his feet and gathered his clothes.
The reason she hadn’t asked about his money was because she didn’t fucking need to. She was living with him. At his request. Oh, she was good. She fucking got him to ask her to move in. All she had to do was flash those big brown eyes of hers, and brush against him with those killer curves.
Christ. He was such an idiot.
“Logan, wait!” She jumped off the bed and grasped his arm, brown eyes dark and desperate.
All that talk about soulmates had screwed with his head. He’d let his guard down. Well, not any more.
He shook her off and tossed the clipping at her. “I’m not interested in what you have to say. You had your jollies. Had your fun at my expense. Now we’re done.” And if she hadn’t originally been there under his father’s invitation, he would’ve sent her packing. “Once you finish the campaign my father hired you to do, I want you gone.”
No way in hell was he staying under the same roof with her now. His body was just going to have to get over it. And since she couldn’t leave, he pivoted around and strode out the door before she tried to touch him again and cloud his mind with the nearness of her lush, naked curves.
Chapter Ten
Chloe tugged her tank top and jeans on, and rushed downstairs, but Logan was already tearing out of the driveway, the devastated look tightening his face when she’d peered over the bed at him five minutes ago burned in her mind.
Dammit.
How could she be so stupid?
This was her fault. She should’ve told him sooner. Hell, she should’ve confessed while wiping wing sauce off his shirt that first day. Although—Chloe stilled as a thought occurred—that couldn’t be what upset him. She hadn’t even told him yet. No. Whatever upset him about that article still clutched in her hand was entirely different than her ruining his career.
Sighing, she turned and headed to the kitchen in search of caffeine. Her heart ached, throat was hot, and head was fuzzy. Either she was coming down with a cold, or she was in love. Had to be the latter. Heck, she’d been half in love with Logan McCall before ever stepping foot in Hardbodies. Her chest squeezed in confirmation.
All these years she’d stayed away, fought the crazy urge—the strange pull—to come back to Texas and seek him out. Convinced she was his own personal jinx, Chloe kept her distance. The last thing she wanted was to cause him more pain. Dammit. She shouldn’t have taken the McCall job. What in the world possessed her to think it would only involve contact with AJ McCall? Cripes. That was like slapping a bullseye on her chest and taunting fate to take its best shot.
Idiot.
With a grumble rumbling in her throat, she set the clipping on the island, yanked open the fridge, and swiped the Almond Joy creamer from the shelf before pouring a healthy dose in her empty mug. Then added another splash. Or three. She needed the chocolate fix almost as much as the coffee she poured on top. Her own take on liquid encouragement.
Now, if she could just conjure some brain power to figure out what just happened. Had Logan figured out who she was? She sank onto a barstool and sipped her coffee while staring at the clipping. No. She didn’t get that impression, and the article wasn’t really about the rescue. Hers was one of many that day, and since it hadn’t been captured on film, and names were never exchanged, he would’ve had no idea of her identity. He’d said something about getting her jollies.
What did that mean? She sipped her coffee in small doses, her chest squeezed so tight it made swallowing a challenge. Even if she did figure that out, she still had to come clean about the rescue, then hope to God he wouldn’t kick her out of his life.
Although, technically, he already had. But, thanks to him, she wasn’t one to run when the going got tough. That would’ve made his sacrifice in vain. Not an option. Ever since that day she’d dedicated her life to making something of herself, to pursue her creative side her stepmother thought was dumb. To face adversity. Overcome obstacles. This was no different. She was going to fix this. Logan meant too much to her to give up and walk away.
She pulled the cell phone out of her pocket and dialed his number but the faint sound of it ringing upstairs dashed her hopes of reaching him. The phone must’ve slipped out of his pocket in her room. Fingers of despair reached out to claw their way up her throat, but she swallowed them down with a mouthful of coffee. She didn’t do despair. Didn’t have time for despair.
The front door opened and her heart leapt in her chest, until Linc walked in and her euphoria faded.
“Chloe?” He frowned as he neared. “What are you doing here? I thought Logan was taking you ATV’ing.”
She shook her head and sighed.
“What happened?”
“I’m not really sure.” She eyed the guy stopping
to lean on the island across from her, and debated on coming clean with everything when he spotted the newspaper clipping on the counter and scowled.
“What are you doing with that piece of crap?”
Crap?
It was her lifeline. Her reason to persevere. Her reason to make something out of her life, a life Logan had given her. The clipping was a constant reminder of that, and of the man and what he’d sacrificed in order for her to do that.
She cleared her throat and lifted her chin. “No, it’s not. It’s important to me.”
“Important? How? That was over a decade ago. Hell, Logan was barely twenty, so you had to be just a kid.”
“Fourteen.” She’d turned fifteen a month later.
“Yeah, so why the hell would you be carrying an article spotlighting my brother’s worst day?”
She winced, despite always having thought that herself. Hearing someone else say it definitely made it worse. Amped up the pulse pounding in her ears until the thundering was all she heard. A few deep inhales and exhales calmed it down to a dull roar, and she refocused on Linc.
“Wait a minute.” He levelled her with a shrewd gaze. “Did you say fourteen?”
She nodded, then revealed more. “With a sister, and a kitten.”
“Son-of-a…” his voice trailed off as he blinked. Three times. “You’re one of the girls he rescued that day.”
She released a breath and some inner tension along with it. “Yes, and I could understand him getting mad because he found out, but it wasn’t that, Linc. I never had the chance to tell him. He saw the article, got angry, said some things that made no sense to me, then walked out. Why?”
“Are you kidding me?” He reeled back.
She shook her head. “I’ve no clue.”
“Well, let’s see.” He slid the clipping close and tapped a finger on it while he spoke. “The article talks about the injury, what Logan lost, and the fact it wouldn’t affect his bank account because of our father’s legacy. So, basically, it stated he was rich, single, and vulnerable. Women descended like vultures. And none of them gave a damn about my brother.”
Hell Yeah!: Her Hell Yeah Cowboy (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Harland County Series Book 8) Page 10
