by Avery Duncan
Logan visibly relaxed against her, flashing a smile.
“Thank God,” he said, pressing a kiss to her temple. She flushed, giving the doctor a look like she was sorry.
He smiled at her indulgently. “I’m the family doctor. When you guys have kids, my wife will be ecstatic. She’ll want to see the baby.” He stood up, shaking hands with the two of them as they rose. “Have a nice day. I’m going to go take care of your brother now – he has a broken rib and I don’t even know what else. Reminds me of the days when your mother would bring the three of you in here, all roughed up from the fights you started.”
The doctor, whose name tag read Dr. Johnson, nodded at them as he left.
“The visit is paid for as long as you can promise some children soon.” He flashed a charming grin and then left them.
Claire turned to Logan, about to say something, when his lips crashed down on hers.
She sighed when he pulled back. “Let’s get home…. I want my wife.”
They pulled into the driveway, not noticing the extra car that was parked there.
Claire was too focused on Logan, on the way his hand massaged the back of her neck, the way his eyes would look over at her every-so-often. His eyes were softer than she’d ever seen them, adoring. She almost laughed when she thought that maybe she should try to get killed more often – it had him following after her. She’d completely forgotten about their fights, and all she wanted to do was get him in bed as soon as possible.
The doctors words rang in her ear. Baby.
Having Logan’s child… Her eyes traced the lines of his face and she couldn’t help but wonder if he would like a child. She knew that with Christina he had hoped, but it had slowly died out. Maybe he would think that she was the same way, someone who wanted to preserve her body.
Her eyes lowered as indecision flashed through her. They still didn’t know much about each other. She knew his past, she knew he had a temper and he was protective, but she didn’t know what he liked to eat, what his favorite color was, what his middle name was. How could someone have a marriage based off of just generalities?
And if he thought she was like that… Her heart dropped.
“Logan?” she asked hesitantly when he came around her side of the car to open the door for her. He helped her down, his hands lingering at her waist.
“Yes, baby?” He pressed another kiss to her forehead, slipping his arms around her waist as they began to enter the house.
“Did what the doctor say…weird you out?”
“What, about Chase?”
“No…the other thing.” He gave her a look like he had no clue what she was talking about. Her face flamed.. “The baby.”
His face turned into an “oh” face. They were just inside the door now.
“Why do you ask?” He slipped off his shoe.
“I want…. Well, I’d like to… Uh, damnit. Iwanttohaveyourchild,” she rushed out, slapping a hand over her face. “But! I want to get to know you. Do stuff with you. Now that this is all over…”
Logan was silent as he stood there, one shoe off, one shoe on.
She stared at him helplessly for a moment…and then looked away. “Ah, forget I said anything. It’s okay. I’m going to shower –“
“Claire,” he said softly. He took her hands in his. “I would love to have a child with you. Listen, I need to tell you something –“
“Claire?”
Her face drained of all color at the sound of her father’s voice.
Logan’s eyes closed in anger and she turned around slowly.
“Dad? What are you doing here?” She grasped Logan’s hand.
Her father had lines around his eyes that hadn’t been there before. He had bags under his eyes, his normally combed hair was sticking up in random places, and his shirt wasn’t even tucked in.
Logan growled and kissed her lightly. “I’ll let you guys talk alone.”
She tried to reach for him, but he’d already left them.
“Let’s sit down,” her father said, gesturing with his hand toward the drawing room.
“Who let you in here?” She followed him and sat down, opposite of him, keeping her distance.
“A couple of…men. They were carrying a big black bag,” he said, frowning.
Claire just stared at him.
She remembered every word he’d said, every threat he had made to Logan. “Why are you here?”
“I am so sorry…for everything. I love you, Claire. You’re my first and only daughter. You have to understand, at the thought of losing you to someone like…like him, it tore me up. I wanted to make you a perfect match,” he murmured. “I wanted to make sure that when you married, you would be with someone who could provide for you.”
“Logan,” she said coldly, her pride slammed for her husband, “has a multi-billion ranch business. I am more than ‘provided’ for here. I have a man who adores me and a family to take care of.”
“Does he love you though?” Sadness laced his voice, as if he felt bad for her.
Claire’s lips pressed. “He will realize it soon enough.”
“So that’s a no. Claire, come back with me. There are plenty of men for you to talk to, who will love you.”
“Love me, or my money?” she asked bitterly.
Her father blanched. “You, of course. Any man coming near you will have the same amount of wealth, if not more – there is no reason for them to want your money.”
“Wow. Dad, after everything, you still don’t understand. I don’t care about money. I’m not something you can use to gain alias anymore. And treating me like I’m something for you to barter with?” Her voice was bitter as she stood up. “I’m done here. Don’t come back to Logan and I until you’ve changed – I’m not your property anymore, Dad. I love you, but I know that Logan has his best interest at heart whereas you only have your pocket at heart.”
He sat there silently, staring up at her. The lines, in a matter of seconds, seemed to imprint deeper into his skin and he looked ten years older. “I don’t want to be kicked out of your life… You’re my daughter,” he said helplessly, his hands raising and then falling to his lap.
“Then treat me like it,” she said softly. “I would love for you to be a part of my new life. But if you’re threatening my husband, you’re ultimately threatening me as well. I’m not eighteen anymore – I’m going to be twenty five in just a couple of months. It’s time that I make my own decisions.”
There was a tense silence, and then a sigh. “You’re right,” he said shakily. He pushed his hands through his hair, looking at her with resignation. “I need to stop. It’s not just about me anymore.”
She almost smiled. He was finally seeing the light. Claire had been fully prepared to leave her father out of her life, if just for a chance at happiness with Logan. Her father had treated her right, had taken care of her and made time to do things with her, but he had never treated her as a daughter when it came to other people. She had been used, she realized, to gain perks from other people. The parties she held, the people she knew… it had all been for her father. Her friends had been picked out for her by her father. If there had been someone he didn’t like, she stayed away from them.
With Logan, she was finally finding her own voice.
She thought of him, and her heart soared. Maybe there was a chance that she could have both him and her father.
“Are you okay? I came as soon as I heard… I was still in town,” he said, sheepish.
She nodded, reaching out to wrap her arms around his shoulders. “I’m perfectly fine. If you want to stay here tonight, feel free… But I have to talk to my husband about something important.”
His eyes darkened before he could mask it. “I heard about it.”
Claire refused to be afraid of her father’s reaction. “And you might be a grandfather soon,” she said, laughing when his face blanched.
“Claire, you’re too young…!”
“Mother was only twen
ty three when she had me,” she defended, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Too young,” he said sternly, even as he stood up with a smile on his face.
“Oh, whatever.” She rolled her eyes, hugging him again.
“I will stay at the hotel tonight,” her father said after their embrace ended.
Claire smiled. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“I love you, Claire.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
When he was gone, she went in search of her husband. Claire was just at the top of the stairs when she heard a grunt and then something dropping to the floor. The sound had come from their room. She raced to the door, throwing it open.
And then she froze.
Chapter 31
Chase exited the hospital, keeping away from the street and the car that he knew had several men inside. Logan’s friends had dropped him off at the request of Frankie, and he knew that without the request, they would have just left him there.
Fuckers.
His rib hurt like a bitch. Every step he took was like a needle shoving itself deeper into his body, but he forced himself to ignore it. He’d rather walk and think by himself than deal with the assholes that were waiting for him.
It had been almost five minutes after Logan had left the ranch that the car had pulled up. Roared up, actually. He was pretty sure it had been going maybe fifty miles an hour, but it had been hard to deduct – by the time he’d had his gun drawn, it had slammed into his stomach and he didn’t remember the rest.
But he’d failed Claire, and he’d failed Logan.
One job. Protect her and make sure no one harmed her. Instead, she now had a cut down the side of her face and, he had heard from the doctor, some bruised bones. Guilt slammed into him.
Once again, he’d failed to protect a female. Just like he had with Raelyn.
At the thought of the small black-haired woman, his heart clenched. They’d never gotten along. He knew that it was the only reason Cale even thought about sending Chase after her when she managed to get herself into trouble. And now, because of their past animosity, boss-man thought it was all his fault that his daughter had been taken.
That right there pissed him off beyond belief.
Raelyn was a small raging bitch when she wanted to be. She had the strongest personality he’d ever met in a woman at such a young age, and she knew how to bend everyone to her finger – except Chase.
They’d talked several times in the past, and each time it resulted in an argument and then her flouncing off to Daddy.
Spoiled. She was nothing but spoiled.
And maybe that’s what he found so damn enticing about her. She was a woman her knew her own strengths, and also knew that when she wanted something, she would get it.
Their last argument had been explosive, and it had been several months ago.
Now, he knew that he had to find her – to demand what the hell she had done to get herself into the mess she was in now, and to kill the fuckers who would dare lay a hand on a woman. It didn’t matter that it was Raelyn, he told himself. If any man hurt a woman, they would find Chase’s fist in their face or his blade in their stomach.
He didn’t plan on going back to the car. No, he was going to let Logan be happy with Claire and would take care of this on his own.
Chase took one last look at the hospital, at the car that was parked several feet away.
Yeah, he wasn’t coming back until he had found Raelyn.
Claire gasped, a hand to her chest.
“Logan! Honey, what are you doing?” She rushed to his side, helping him up. He had been carrying a vase filled with water, and soggy roses were scattered all over the face. The vase was intact, but the roses, sadly, hadn’t made it.
“God damnit,” he growled, his cheeks darkening. “I rammed my side into the table and the water in the vase sloshed out and – god damnit.”
She hid her smile as she brushed water droplets away from his strong cheeks. “What were you doing with it?”
He glared at her, getting to his feet. “I think you know.”
“I really don’t,” she said earnestly.
He mumbled incoherently, looking away from her face.
“Can’t hear you, speak up.”
Logan glared at her even more darker, his whole face a dark shade of red now. “I wanted to do something romantic for you,” he growled.
Claire smiled gently, keeping her laugh mental as she stared at him. His face was still drenched, his cheeks were red, and he was holding roses like a lost boy who didn’t know what to do with them.
She took them from his hand, kissing his cheek. “You don’t need to be anything than what you are, Logan.”
“I want to try...for you.”
He stood up, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to the bed. She forgot about the mess on the floor and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him back to her when he would have moved away.
“No,” he said, pulling away. “I have to tell you something.”
She frowned. “You can do it right here, though.” Her arms opened for him.
Logan shook his head, keeping his space. “I’ve never…done this before. So just bear with me, okay?”
Her arms dropped. “Alright,” she said slowly.
He inhaled, opened his mouth, and then froze. Closed it. Stared at her. Claire twisted her hands in her lap, growing nervous. “Hey, it’s okay if you can’t… Or should I be scared?”
Logan laughed, a nervous endearing sound. “No. No just listen.”
She sat there silently, heart pounding.
“When I first saw you….standing outside of the pharmacy, I felt like – wow, I don’t even know. You looked so guarded so I felt like I should protect you. It made me angry at myself…” He trailed off, looking away from her.
“Logan –“
“Hush, Claire.” She quieted, fisting her hands. “I know it’s soon… you’ve only been here a month or so…but I’ve never felt for anyone before, like I do for you. When I thought you were hurt, after you attacked Joey, I felt my heart just stop. It literally stopped. In my chest. Without you, I have no reason to even breathe. I want to do everything I can to protect you, to take care of you. My mom used to say that when someone enters your life, and you don’t know whether it’s good or bad, just hold onto them. She let the man of her dreams run…but I’m not going to give either of us that choice. You accepted me, and I swear I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”
Claire’s heart stopped as his words echoed around in her head. He didn’t give her time to say anything because he continued. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he spoke.
“I know I’m domineering and I have temper issues. And I have some weird-ass friends… But I’ll always include you and care for you. I’ll always…love you.”
Tears welled in her eyes sharply. “Oh, Logan.” She threw her arms around him and clutched as tightly as she could, letting the tears rain down her face uncaringly. “I love you. God, I love you so much. I never --- I love you. IloveyouIloveyouIlove you,” she whispered into his neck.
His body was shuddering under hers, but his arms held her steadily. “Never in my life have I ever felt for someone the way I do for you, Claire.” His hand threaded into the hair at the back of her neck, pulling her away gently.
He lowered his face to hers, whispering, “I love you.” Then his lips came upon hers in the lightest of touches, sending shivers up and down her back and arms. Her mouth opened to accept his kiss even deeper.
She moaned at the taste of him. In seconds, he had her flat on her back, his hands sliding up her shirt, and her eyes closing. Fire danced along her skin, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, encouraging him. His hands were tender yet insistent. She could feel the same desperate need in him that she felt as he trailed his mouth to her neck, her collarbone. Claire braced herself for the pain, but he was gentle, so gentle that it brought tears to her eyes.
“I
could have killed him for this,” he murmured, brushing his lips over her shoulder. She sighed softly, hands finding his shoulders, urging him to do something, anything.
Her moan echoed around the room, but she didn’t care. He was so masculine, so dominating.
And she loved him. With every part of her being.
The danger that was now over, the stress of her father…all gone. No more. All she had to worry about now was Logan and her, about how quickly she could get his clothes off, how amazing he was going to feel inside of her.
“I want you,” she whispered, face heating.
Logan flashed her a smirk, sitting up and pulling the black T-shirt over his head. “I’m all yours, Claire. Every part of me. My heart, body, and soul.” She swore her heart stopped at the words, but she was to busy tracing her hands over his smooth, dark skin, too busy dragging him down to kiss her.
His hands worked at her leggings, finally getting fed up and then tearing them from her body. She didn’t care – she wanted him now.
She feathered her lips over his neck, his chest, excitement and love coursing through her as he finally got rid of his jeans. He spent the next five minutes kissing every inch of her body while stripping her of her clothes. “So beautiful,” he murmured when he had pulled the shirt over her head. He kissed her neck, and moved his way down to the swell of her breasts as he slipped his hands under her back, unclasping her bra.
The straps fell away, and his low growl was proof enough for her that he wanted her. Her hand slipped down, taking his length into her palm, catching his eye. “Make love to me, Logan.”
“God,” he groaned, crushing his lips to hers, pushing her back into the bed. He spread her legs, moving between them. With gentle, surging movements, he was buried deep inside her. She accepted him, whimpering, clenching around him. “So good…You feel so good, baby.”
A pleasure-filled fire built in her body, taking her from the inside out. She kissed him deeply as he began to pump inside of her, pushing deeper, going faster. Claire moaned against his lips, her body starting to tremble.
