by Tina Donahue
Tessa’s pacing paused, her voice suddenly lilting, filled with affection. She had to be speaking to Molly. It reminded Logan of how a mom should talk to her kid. Gentle. Doting. What a mother she’d make. What a lover and companion. For someone outside the agency, a man who was more than just a client like him.
Logan scrubbed his face with his hands, glad they’d never have a real connection. He didn’t want to get close to Tessa. Especially Tessa.
He liked her too much as a person when he should have been enjoying her as a paid escort. What a joke. She wasn’t anything like he’d presumed. She was a damn amateur shrink. A good woman with a lush body and sweet face that belonged on a cheerleader for a Christian university, not a call girl.
Who in the fuck was she talking to now? Her tone was again subdued, her words sounding hurried. Had she called a boyfriend? Was she involved?
He pushed to a sitting position, shifting the mattress. Jack scampered to the edge of the bed, his small body trembling with his panting, his tongue lolling over the side of his mouth. Logan patted the little guy’s head while his focus returned to his and Tessa’s kiss. Could a woman respond like that if she were in love with another man? More importantly, could Tessa pull it off?
For some reason, the thought troubled Logan even as he told himself he didn’t care. This wasn’t a damn date. It was an appointment with pleasure. A chance to relieve his sexual needs and relax. Best they got with the program—or rather that Tessa did.
No more of that getting to know each other shit. Could be she’d said that to stave off the inevitable because she felt guilty about sleeping around on her guy. Or because she suspected what Logan’s clothing hid and wasn’t looking forward to seeing the brutal evidence of what jealousy could do. Possessiveness and obsession that he’d once mistaken for love.
How wrong he’d been then. How tired he was of waiting now.
The mattress shook as he left it, determined to get what he wanted for a change. What he’d paid for.
Chapter Six
Chewing the side of her thumb, Tessa leaned against the kitchen’s windowed wall indifferent to her bare butt pressed against the glass that shot straight to the ceiling. Sun spilled into the expansive space, all wood and brick with shiny copper appliances. Rustic. Masculine. The area nearly four times the size of her apartment.
Molly darted through the shafts of light, chasing her pacifier, which she’d dropped a few minutes earlier. Each time one of her forepaws hit the thing and it skittered away, she followed. Her drool sparkled on the floor.
Tessa couldn’t help but smile.
On the other end of the call, Felicity continued to advise, “Don’t get too comfortable there, hon. I know you’re impressed.”
That was an understatement. Tessa couldn’t stop gawking at the granite countertops and stone floor—both the color of butter—wood cabinets polished to a high sheen, the wrought iron chandelier bearing vintage glass shades in a nubby design, the tint similar to oatmeal.
Felicity continued, “I also realize that you think he’s a nice man, but this isn’t about what you want. No matter how he’s behaved so far, it’s all about him.”
Tessa lowered her hand and mumbled, “Not all guys are selfish jerks.”
“Well no. Those below the age of twelve are pretty sweet, actually. Then puberty hits and watch out.”
“I can’t be that cynical.”
“Better that than being disappointed because you’re hoping for the impossible.”
Molly ran into one of the stools at the center island. Its legs scraped the stone, sending the burgundy leather seat into the island’s wood. That only made the pup more determined. She kept pushing against the thing, trying to get her pacifier, which was trapped beneath one of its legs.
Tessa sank to her knees at the stool. “I’m not hoping for anything. I just want to make this as nice and satisfying as possible.”
“Then don’t get dressed. Do him until his cock’s ready to fall off. Trust me, that’s all he wants.”
“I don’t buy it, from you or him. There’s more to pleasure than that.” There had to be. “I—” Tessa paused, hearing Logan’s footfalls overhead. They crossed the room, then headed toward the right. The stairs. “He’s coming down. I have to go.”
“Remember what I said.”
“I will,” she lied.
Tessa grabbed Molly’s pacifier and pushed to her feet. She had just shoved her phone back into her purse when the pup whined and jumped on Tessa’s legs, wanting her property.
“Sorry.” Tessa bent at the waist and slipped the pacifier’s nipple into Molly’s mouth. “Better?”
The pup looked at her with naked adoration. She let the pacifier drop from her mouth so she could lick Tessa’s fingers.
“Aw, you’re such a good, good girl.” Tessa stroked Molly’s head until the pup was in doggy heaven, which took no time at all. If Felicity had been here, she would have compared Molly to men, all of them simpleminded creatures who expected everything and gave nothing in return. Unwilling to be that pessimistic, Tessa picked up the slobbery pacifier and put it back into Molly’s eager mouth. “Better?”
The dog panted and ran behind her. Tessa glanced over at Jack darting into the room. The pups collided with each other, fell over, then scrambled back to their paws. Molly chased Jack’s tail on the way out of the room.
Logan was already in the doorway, his shoulder propped against it, his gaze on Tessa’s ass, the way she was bent at the waist, as though inviting him to ride her. Vaginally or anally. Given her position, he could have chosen either.
Her vision blurred for a moment with the rapid beating of her pulse. When it cleared, she noticed a bulge in his front pocket that hadn’t been there before. A box of condoms?
She also recognized the naked hunger in his eyes, so different from his earlier restraint. What had he been doing in the bedroom all this time? Surely, he hadn’t gone through her luggage…her lingerie. Fingering and smelling those dainty items, eager to catch her scent, picturing how the satin, lace, and silk would look on her, deciding how he—or she—would take it off.
Determining the punishment that would follow if she didn’t comply quickly enough.
Tessa imagined gripping his hairy calf as she lay across his lap while he paddled her, his palm coming down hard enough to heat her flesh, pinking it up nicely. When he was finished, he’d run his fingers over her pussy, wanting to see if his domination, their carnal play had made her wet.
Tessa had no doubt she’d be dripping, her cunt aching for him to fill it, like now. The room spun with her thoughts, her body growing tense and limp. An odd, but not unpleasant combination.
Before she lost control and made this purely physical, she straightened and turned to face him, struggling to sound composed. “Did you put my stuff away?”
He studied her pussy—no doubt her blatant arousal—for a long moment, then frowned in what she thought might be confusion.
“You mean in the closet or dresser?” he said. “No. Of course not. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering. You were gone for quite a while.” She backed up to the copper refrigerator, one of those humongous models found in a commercial kitchen. “I’m a little behind on lunch. I was helping Molly find her pacifier.”
Logan came into the room, stopping at her side. Close enough to touch. Kiss. Fuck. Heat and sexual energy radiated from him. Tessa could smell his clean, woodsy scent, along with a hint of his musk. She leaned against the fridge, needing it for support.
“I know,” he murmured, “I heard you talking to her.”
He had? From upstairs? Good god, what else had he heard? Surely not her conversation with Felicity. Tessa went hot with embarrassment.
Logan studied her reaction as though he didn’t know what to make of it. He looked as though he might say something, but instead brushed Tessa’s hair from her shoulder, the tips of his fingers skimming her skin. More warmth surged through her.
His exp
ression said he wanted to do something to make her even hotter, powerless with need. However, he moved no closer, searching her face instead.
To Tessa, this moment was more intimate than if he’d been inside her. That would have been no more than two bodies joining. This was him trying to determine the contents of her heart and soul.
Why? Breathless, she asked, “What?”
He shook his head. “It’s none of my business.”
“What isn’t?” She could see he was battling against something that bothered him.
Dodging her question or his answer, he ran his fingers down her bra’s satin strap to the cup’s lacy edge just below her nipple. It went tight and hard exactly as it had earlier when he’d touched her. Quivery sensations shot up Tessa’s torso and down her arms. It was all she could do to keep from whimpering in delight.
He murmured, “Who you were talking to on your phone. Not my business or concern.”
Her skin went even hotter then clammy cold. Oh shit. He had heard that conversation. Or at least enough of it for him to bring it up. Tessa tried to remember exactly what she’d said to Felicity and couldn’t.
Before she could think of an appropriate response, he brought back his hand and said, “Does your boyfriend mind you doing this?”
“My what?”
“It’s okay. Did you have to calm him down?”
“What? Wait.” She frowned. “I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m not involved with anyone.”
Genuine surprised flashed across his face.
It matched hers that he thought she was seeing someone.
“I wouldn’t be here with you if I were,” Tessa added, saddened that he’d think that of her even though he had every right given why she was here. Still, she wasn’t that casual when it came to sex or relationships. Never would be. “I was talking to the agency,” she lied. “To let them know I arrived here okay.”
“Wallace couldn’t do that?”
“Well yeah, he could.” She thought fast to cover her lie. “But he’s getting up there, you know? Forgets stuff. I had to remind him about picking me up today. He’s probably still winded from lifting my luggage. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a nice man but not exactly the Incredible Hulk.”
Logan nodded seriously. “You like them big, green, and mean, huh?”
She liked him joking around again. Playing with her. Teasing. “I like kinky…within reason.”
Curiosity sparkled in his eyes. “Define reason.”
God, he was a good flirt. If he allowed himself to be happy again, to forget the horrible events that had changed his life, he’d have women crawling all over him. Even without his massive wealth, Tessa knew his great looks and what she sensed was his kind heart would have drawn hundreds of females to him. Maybe thousands. All of them babes.
None of them ordinary like her.
Of course, if he’d done what most guys would have, just gone on living, finding another wife, building a new future, Tessa wouldn’t have been here right now. Sorrow stabbed her at what he’d lost…what she might not have experienced if it hadn’t happened. It was wrong for her to feel glad about her time with him, but Tessa couldn’t help herself. These moments were precious, no matter what Felicity had claimed. Connecting with him mattered far more than gratuitous sex to quell a momentary desire.
“I’ll have to get back to you on that,” she said, answering his comment about defining reason.
Logan’s expression grew firm. “You have until our lunch is finished. Outside. By the pond. Just as you want.” He slipped his arm around her waist, easing her away from the refrigerator door and into him.
Intolerable need tore through Tessa so quickly, she wanted to get as freaking close as possible. Physically and emotionally. If she could have, she would have crawled beneath his skin, to touch his heart and stroke his soul.
Overwhelmed by her unruly emotions, she lifted her face to his, helpless within his embrace, all too aware of his strength, the temptation of being so near. His toes touched the tips of her sandals. Their bellies snuggled against each other, her nipples grazing his chest.
She felt each breath he took.
With his attention still on her, he reached over and opened the refrigerator. Leaning close, his mouth on her ear, he murmured, “Go on. Make us lunch. Dazzle me. I’ll watch.”
Tessa turned her face into him, smelling his skin and hair. Both clean and so very male, she was about to purr, no different from a kitten. “Okay.”
Logan released her. It took Tessa a few minutes before she could do the same with him. Once she had, he leaned against the center island, arms folded over his chest, legs crossed at the ankles. Waiting. Watching.
Beneath his scrutiny she grew shy, which excited her to the point of dizziness. As though he was the lord of the manor and she was his scullery maid, unnoticed at first yet now unclothed, ordered to go about her tasks nude, unprotected against the intensity of his gaze and touch.
Unable to pull her attention from him, Tessa reached inside the fridge and grabbed what was closest to her. An opened can of puppy food.
“Better not,” he murmured. “Molly and Jack haven’t reached the sharing stage yet.” He fought a smile. “Maybe you should look at what you’re reaching for.”
Uh-huh. She turned to the fridge’s contents, not seeing any of them. Cool air wafted over her. Didn’t do a damn thing to reduce her feverish state. Logan had left the counter to move behind her. The front of his thighs touched the back of hers. His thick rod, decidedly hard, nestled against her ass. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his bristly skin wonderfully rough.
Turning his face toward hers, he whispered, “How can you see anything with your lids shut?”
Tessa hadn’t been aware of closing them. She cleared her throat and tried to concentrate on the food.
Logan’s size, the enchanting weight of his body against hers, continued to distract. Somehow, she managed to choose deli-sliced ham, provolone, Dijon mustard, and potato salad.
The items shook in her hands. He ran his fingers down her arms, cupping the containers with the same expertise he would have used to fondle her boobs or cradle her ass. “Let me help.”
“Okay.” She tried to catch her breath, stunned at how outrageously weak she sounded.
He brought the stuff to the center island. Tessa rested her forehead against the refrigerator’s cool metal door.
“Too warm in here for you?” he asked. All innocence. All play.
She straightened but kept her face lowered, hiding her smile. “What kind of bread do you like?”
“Rye. You? I have it all.”
He certainly did. “Rye’s fine.”
Logan dropped the loaf on the island, then went behind Tessa as she made their sandwiches, his fingertips stroking her hair, skimming her neck, slipping across her waist. Basically chaste movements that thickened her blood and caused goose pimples to rise on her skin.
The knife fell from her hand. Mustard sprayed across the wood.
“Maybe I should do that.” He spread the condiment over the rye and built their sandwiches, all while he remained behind her, nuzzled close.
Tessa swallowed as well as she could and turned her face to his. He had a wonderful profile, male and strong. His hair was amazing, so thick and shiny.
At length, he met her gaze.
In the next room, the pups grew friskier, bumping into the walls, yapping happily. The air-conditioning kicked on, its whoosh delivering a blast of coolish air from an overhead vent.
Logan’s muscles tensed against her, his desire evident. Yet, he didn’t drag her down to the floor as Tessa sensed he wanted. Instead, he whispered, “Let’s take this outside.”
What? Their passion? The food? Both?
Tessa had no chance to ask. Releasing her, Logan went to a tall cupboard and pulled out a canvas shopping bag emblazoned with a grocer’s logo. With the sandwiches wrapped in linen napkins and the potato salad in its plastic container, Logan added silverware, mor
e napkins, and four bottles of Samuel Adams beer.
He held out his hand.
Tessa laced her fingers through his, thrilled to be touching him again. “I’m supposed to be serving you. You did all the work.”
“Don’t worry.” He rested his forehead against hers, just as she’d seen her friends in school do with the boys they liked.
If someone had come upon them now, they might have believed that she and Logan had been dating for ages. They were that comfortable with each other. Completely in tune.
At least for the next seven days. After that…
Tessa didn’t want to go there.
“Your turn is coming,” he said.
Okay.
They remained as they were for a long moment. Tessa sensed he savored the closeness, this sweet intimacy as much as she did, despite their building appetite for each other.
With a smile that guaranteed all sorts of wickedness, Logan eased away. Halfway down the hall to the front door, he stopped. “Wait. Forgot something.”
He took a detour into the living room.
Nearly as lengthy as a football field, one of its walls was all glass just as the other rooms in this place. A stone fireplace dominated the area directly ahead. Positioned in front of it were two bronze leather sofas and three chairs upholstered in dark-cherry leather. There were numerous accent tables with either copper lamps or lush plants resting on them. Covering the floor was the largest area rug Tessa had ever seen. Persian, like the one in the hall, only this baby was quite colorful in shades of orange, red, and gold.
All told, a magnificent room.
Logan lifted an afghan throw in a bright patchwork design from one of the leather chairs. He handed it over. “So you don’t get any bugs on you when we’re outside, rather than in here.”
Smiling, Tessa slung the thing over her shoulder. “Don’t be such a baby. It won’t be so bad.”
“I’m definitely planning on that.”
With his cryptic-yet-suggestive comment, he walked past, motioning for Tessa to follow.
How could she not.
