He pulls back and pins me with dark eyes filled with lust and uncertainty. “You sure?”
“Never more.”
I see the fire in his eyes as he hikes me a little higher on his sturdy frame and strides down the hall.
My skirt pushes up higher on my waist, the bottom of my black panties sticking out. When he gently places me on the bed, his eyes linger there a moment. I watch as his chest heaves, taking me in. He runs his hands down one of my thighs to my boot, heating my skin along the way with his strong rough hands, before removing it. He repeats the actions with my other leg and then helps me shimmy out of my skirt, before reaching for my panties and sliding them off. His dark, hooded gaze on my body sets a flame on a course throughout my whole body. “Oh, Logan.”
As if a switch was flipped, our movements increase to a frantic pace, and I race to unbutton his jeans. We each take care of our own tops, whipping them over our heads, more than ready to bare our skin and our souls so we can join together. I release the clasp of my bra. When it falls away, his chest fills, and a groan rumbles out of him. “You’re…everything…” He leans over and covers my breast with his mouth in a soft, slow caress. His tongue lingers there, and then he pulls slightly away leaving his warm breath to spread on my damp skin. “So beautiful, Mollie.”
With my heart raging inside my chest, I arch my back and pull his head back down to me for round two. But the torture is so sweet, my breaths are coming even heavier now, and I can’t wait any longer. Logan reads my body as well as he reads my mind. In an instant, he shoves his jeans and boxers down to his knees, pulls me by my thighs until our bodies meet, finally giving us what we’ve both been longing for. The connection with him I’ve been craving for so long.
It is everything and yet it still isn’t enough. His body is too far from mine in his standing position, so I reach out to him. He obliges and lowers himself until his hard chest presses into mine. He turns his head, brushing his lips behind my ear. “You feel so amazing.” He pants against my ear, and his hot breaths are like bolts of electricity shooting straight to my core and winding me into a tight coil of sparking nerves, firing off in every part of me. He uses his strong arms to push back until our stares meet. “Logan,” I gasp.
He nips at my lips, his tongue lightly sweeping the surface. “Say it again,” he says breathlessly.
“Logan…”
He laces one hand with mine and continues to move while his eyes stay locked with mine. It takes only moments of peering into his burning gaze and succumbing to his relentless rhythm before my body gives in to release and I’m soaring. I wrap my legs and my free arm around his body, an involuntary reflex to keep this man tethered to me for as long as possible.
When our bodies slow and he finally lowers and stills on top of me, I close my eyes. “I never wanted that to end, but…”
“I know. Me too.” He rolls to my side and cups my chin. “That was the most amazing experience of my life and I wanted to live in it for an eternity.”
“Guess we’ll just have to do it again.”
He sighs and kisses me softly on the lips. “And again.” He kisses my cheek. “And again.” He runs his hand down to my hip and his face grows serious. “But next time I need to be closer, and for me that means…” He pauses and his eyes turn down to where his hand is. “Would you be okay if—”
“Logan…” It dawns on me what he’s trying to say, and I don’t want him to have any question in his mind. “I turn on my side and touch his rough cheek. “I want to know every part of you. What you do to me—how you just made me feel—it was amazing. And being as close as we possibly can will be more amazing.”
He grins and leans into my palm. “You sure?”
“I want what you want.” I kiss his cheek and then his neck and whisper. “Now finish getting naked and get in bed with me.”
He nods and then sits up before pulling off each shoe. After he gets his jeans off, which were still pushed down past his knees, he begins removing his prosthesis. I sit up and run my hands up and down his back before placing soft kisses where my hands were, one after another.
When I see he’s ready, I scoot up the bed and lie back on the pillow. I watch as he stalks over to me and right on top of me, once again gifting me the sinful weight of his body. I clasp his shoulders as he takes my mouth with his. This time the kiss is just as sensual, just as exciting, but somehow more powerful, more needy, as if his life depended on this consumption of me. And I take it all willingly, feeling so overcome by it all a tear streaks down one side of my face.
When he joins us together, I moan his name and then cry out in ecstasy, in joy of this moment. The feeling of being so close with one person—it’s indiscernible where you begin and they end. He buries his head into my neck as we both reach our peaks and free fall together. His lips press into my skin as his heavy breathing slows and our bodies relax into each other. Neither of us moves to break the connection or even speak, and after a few moments, I feel myself slipping, unable to fight the euphoria guiding me into half consciousness.
Chapter 21
Logan
Sometimes it amazes me how two-faced life is. I have to laugh because when one is given the choice between laughing and crying, why the hell not—choose laughter. Life can be such a struggle, so heartbreaking and confusing. Or, it can be simple as shit. It’s all how you look at it. No, that’s not entirely true. It’s not how you look at life; it’s how you look at the pieces of your life.
Right now, I’m sandwiched between Mollie’s body and the back of the couch, watching the original version—like there’s even another option—of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Colton and Belle are sprawled out in sleeping bags on the floor in front of us and everyone else is either asleep, at work, or out with friends. The four of us just finished having leftover turkey sandwiches from a pretty damn good feast last night for dinner.
Our first Thanksgiving without Nina and Aunt Sheri was both difficult and a blessing. We missed the presence of the two incredible women who, by the grace of God, gave this family the strength it needed to survive without them. But we welcomed two very special women who’ve helped guide us from survival to living. Mollie and Lou were bright lights at our table and we all treated them like celebrities. I think we were all grateful we had someone else to focus on. And of course, someone to make a ton of kick-ass fixings. Gramps did his turkey as usual, but Mollie and Lou worked tirelessly to provide enough food for all twelve of us. The only other person not family at the table was Mason’s girlfriend, Megan. Dad said the blessing and a surprisingly tender tribute to both women we lost. Even with that reminder, the day was exactly what we all needed.
Lying here and reflecting on that day, it’s the most relaxed and content I’ve felt in I don’t even know how the hell long. Now if Mollie could just keep still and not wiggle her ass against my crotch, then it would be spa-on-the-edge-of-a-lake relaxing. Don’t get me wrong, her ass digging into me would be heaven on earth if the kids weren’t here.
Violet Beauregarde blows up into a blue ball and the four of us laugh—Colt freaking laughs. He had a friend over last week, too, and Uncle Frank took Belle and them to the park. Sure, we’re not the perfect family yet, not even close, but we are all making progress. And for that, I’m grateful.
Mollie reaches up and slides her hand right across my cheek, as if she’s been sitting in my brain reading my positive thoughts. Man, she’s so gorgeous, inside and out. And just like that, an ache rises up in my chest. Because of course, life can’t be perfect, which is why I’m choosing to focus on the pieces of life that are. I don’t know why my nightmares seem to be coming back, not to mention stronger, but I can’t think about that. I can’t dwell on that when everything else is going so well in our family. I can’t think about why I wake up in a cold sweat while lying next to Mollie after making sweet, sweet love to her. I also can’t dwell on the fact that she’ll be gone soon to visit her parents for Christmas. The thought of not touching
her for so long has literally made my hands shake.
I grab her wrist and kiss her palm, reminding myself to be grateful for any moments we have together. That’s what losing people you care about does to you—it makes you see the clock is ticking.
Just before the credits roll, Justice and Ryder come into the living room, and I’m surprised to see them together.
“Where were you guys?”
“We were watching movies at Turner’s house,” Justice says.
Ryder has that look on his face, and I know he’s got his own agenda. “Mollie, did Logan tell you?”
“Tell me what?” She scoots herself up and I sigh. Party had to end sometime.
Ryder drops down right next to her, leaving me to struggle to a sitting position. “They loved Logan’s audition tape. He gets to compete in a qualifier now.”
Mollie leans forward to narrow her eyes at me across Ryder’s body. I shrug and run a hand through my disheveled hair.
“He’ll be only the second competitor on the show to have a prosthesis,” Justice says just before heading down the hall. “I’m out. See ya, Mollie.”
“Goodnight,” she says.
“Who cares about that? Maybe they don’t even know about your leg,” Ryder says, turning to me. “You’re going to kick ass either way.”
“We’ll see, Ry. Don’t get your hopes up. We talked about this, remember?”
“Yeah, whatever. Hey, Lo. Would you rather get your nuts caught in a car door or zipped up in your zipper?”
“Dude, not now.”
Ryder jumps up from the couch. “Does Dad know about this? Is he awake?” He glances down the hallway with wide eyes.
Before I can say anything, he’s sprinting down the hall. I glance over and see that Belle is asleep and Colton is awake, watching us. “Hey, buddy, why don’t you go brush your teeth and I’ll take Belle to her bed.
He gives me a nod and gets up, but instead of heading down the hall, he comes over and gives me a hug. Then he turns and hugs Mollie. Her face brightens as she looks over his shoulder at me. I just shrug.
“He’s never done that before.”
Her smile is so sweet I can’t help but lean over and press my lips to her mouth. “Who can resist a hug from you?” I say, then put my hand behind her head and drag my lips down her neck. “I could use one of those hugs…preferably while naked.”
“Hey.” She pushes back so we are eye to eye. “Why didn’t you tell me about the show?”
I should have known nuzzling her neck wouldn’t distract her. But telling Mollie would have made it real. I wasn’t ready for that. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m not going to do it.” I stand and walk over to Belle, checking if she is really asleep. She’s actually pretended a few times just to stay up longer.
“Liar. There’s no way you’re not doing it.”
“I’m not sure I’m up for it.” I start to tell her why but I stop, unable to say the words. Instead, I put my finger to my lips, telling her to be quiet as I lift Belle up into my arms. I hold my precious cargo for a moment and look down at her angelic face. I don’t know what the future will bring, but one thing is certain. No matter how long I stay here or how big these kids gets, I will always watch over them, and I’ll care for Colt and Belle like they are my own siblings.
Mollie steps up beside me and strokes Belle’s hair. “She’s so beautiful,” she whispers.
“I know.” Her breathing is so peaceful I get lost for a moment. I wonder if I’ll ever feel that kind of peace again. Even if I don’t, my heart is content if those I love have it. It’s hard to believe I can love them all so much when I’d been away for so long.
I feel Mollie’s hand on my back and look over at her. She’s grinning but it looks almost like laughter. “What?”
“Nothing. I was just going to say she…they are all lucky to have you.”
“I was going to say the same about you,” I tell her. Then I pad down the hall and into Belle and Colt’s room. I lay her down gently, and she doesn’t even stir. Like a rock, this girl.
“D’you brush your teeth, buddy?” I ask Colton who’s already in his bed too.
He nods but I’m not sure I believe him. “Then why isn’t your shirt wet like always?”
“I’m getting better.” He stares me down and then we exchange smiles because we both know I’m letting it slide either way.
When I return to the living room, Mollie is giving me the stink eye.
I stop right in front of her and cross my arms over my chest. “What?”
She puts both hands on my forearms. Her skin is so soft, her touch so gentle, that instead of going where my mind always goes when she touches me, I take it in the complete opposite direction. “Your patients are lucky to have you too. I bet they feel like an angel laid her hands on them when you take care of them.”
She shakes her head in slow motion. “I’ll thank you for that later. But right now, I know you’re just trying to distract me.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
I lean over and brush my lips against hers, warmth glowing in my chest. But I still have my arms crossed.
“Not gonna work either.” She runs her hands up my shoulders and around my neck. “You better get your mind and your body on the same page, Logan,” she says in a sultry voice.
I can’t resist and I wrap my arms around her waist. “Oh, there’s no conflict there. I think you’re mistaken.”
She looks to the side and laughs. “Why are you working out so hard, going to the gym, running those courses…if you’re not sure you’re up for it?”
I knew it was coming, but I still don’t know what to say. Mentally avoiding it seems to have run its course. “Can’t we just make out on the couch?”
Two wide gray eyes peer into mine, waiting.
“What can I say, I like training.”
She runs one hand down my cheek and across my chin. “You’re not going to disappoint Ryder.”
I sigh and pull her closer. “I know, dammit. How the hell did I let him get me into this?”
“I think you thought it wouldn’t happen. And now you’re nervous. So what? You’ve never been nervous before?”
“Sure. More than nervous. Scared as hell. But not to look like an idiot in front of the whole country.”
She kisses my chin where her hand was and then pulls my face down closer to hers. “You couldn’t look like an idiot if you tried, and you know it. I think…that you think…that you’re doing this for Ryder, and maybe you are. But I can tell part of you wants this.”
How does this woman know me so well? I shrug and let her go on.
“You’re a strong, sexy, determined man, and I just know that you’ll be inspiring. No matter what happens.”
I hide my small smile in the crook of her neck and whisper, “Can you be naked and say that again?”
My breath tickles her and she squirms in my arms. I run my hands up her back to her shoulder blades and hold her in place while I gently suck on her neck.
She laughs but then feigns anger. “I will kill you if you leave a mark on me.”
Frank walks in right as I’m taking her down to the couch, and we both pull to a sitting position like two teenagers.
Thankfully, he only nods as he walks by, looking exhausted. He’s been working part-time at the Indian casino, trying to save money so they can get their own place.
With Frank in for the night, Mollie and I sneak off to her place and spend the rest of the night tangled in her sheets, soaking up as much of each other as we can before she has to leave. And that outlook I’m trying so hard to stay true to? Focusing on the good pieces. That’s going to be a hell of a lot harder without Mollie by my side.
Chapter 22
Logan
Days of finding private moments together have been incredible, even with her departure looming overhead. Mollie stirs in my arms, but she’s still asleep. At some point in the night, we both dozed off, a tangle of slick, naked limbs. She called me
when I was half asleep, saying it was by no means a “booty” call, but she was just reminding me we have only a few days before she leaves to visit her parents.
There’s enough light for me to make out her high cheekbones and full lips. I watch her a few moments, the rise and fall of her bare chest, her thick mane spread across the pillow. Her skin silky, her curves so inviting, I don’t know how I’ll ever sleep alone again. How could such an angel of a woman ever escape my attention? And how the hell did I get so lucky to be with her now? My chest tightens and I draw in a deep breath. She’s so still, so stunning in this moment that my desire surges. I skim my hand across her abdomen and down her hip and then her thigh. I want to wake her, pull her over me and watch her body rock on top of mine. Just imagining it has my pulse racing, pumping hot blood through my system. But then her head falls toward me, her face the picture of peace and beauty. I stroke her soft hair and kiss her forehead. And let her sleep. Before long, my lids grow heavy and take me over.
I don’t know how much time passes before I hear my name in the darkness, a faraway whisper. I note my racing heart, my hands in tight fists, the feeling of panic in my chest.
“Logan, are you okay?”
My standard issue night terror graduates to something new with chaotic flashes of something horrific. Something I never wanted to see again. I open my eyes, hoping to kill the images of wreckage and smoke and fire…blood.
“Logan, what’s wrong?”
I can hear the concern in her voice, feel her hand on my neck. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m fine.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
There’s a long pause before she speaks again. “It’s not a great way to live, Logan. Something is chasing you and…maybe you should…”
Building Bridges (Bridges Brothers Book 1) Page 18
