Logan's Leap (14 page)

He
turned the shower as hot as he could get it then stripped down and stepped
under the spray. Soon enough, the burn on his body replaced the pain in his
chest and he turned the shower down in heat and volume.

His
eyes were closed as he shampooed his hair and as he was rinsing, he heard the
door click. When he looked out into the room, Jayna was there setting something
on the counter. She stripped her shirt off and then her pants and panties. His
desire escalated with every passing moment. He hadn’t seen all of her since the
day she’d almost passed out in the shower and that had hardly been a desire
inducing situation.

His
breath caught as she freed her breasts from her bra. She was so incredibly
beautiful. Her hips, stomach, and thighs were rounded and soft. The fact that
she had recently given birth was noticeable but somehow part of her beauty. And
her breasts, oh damn, her breasts were so full and begged to be caressed and
relished. “What are you doing?” he asked breathlessly.

“I
want you Logan. Before I have to go, I need you to make me yours, if only for a
brief moment."

“But…it’s
only been two weeks. We can’t…” He stepped out of the shower.

“I’ve
stopped bleeding, and no, we can’t, but there is something else you can do. When
I left Reggie, it was something I vowed not to do with just anyone,” she
whispered. She moved the baby monitor out of the way and picked up what was
behind it…a condom and a tube of lubricant. “Have you ever…”

“Yeah,
yeah I have,” he cut in. “Are you sure? I don’t want to do anything that
reminds you of…him."

“It
won’t. Reggie had no qualms about hurting me. I trust you not to do that,” she
said softly as she moved closer to him. “Kiss me Logan, please.”

He
leaned in and caressed her face before capturing her lips in a deep, all
consuming kiss. “I can’t love you, Sleeping Beauty, but I can say that my chest
aches when I think about not seeing you again.”

“I’m
sorry,” she said looking into his eyes. “But it’s the only way.”

“I
know,” he murmured. “Kiss me again. I want to remember everything about you
when you are gone.”

She
pulled Logan as close as she could and kissed him with everything she had.
Their hands explored each other’s bodies as if it may be the last time they
ever touched. Logan released her lips and spread kisses down her neck and
chest, stopping to tease each breast.

“Oh
Logan,” she sighed. “I need you.”

“Turn
around and hold onto the counter, Sleeping Beauty.”

While
she did as he asked, he reached for the condom and slipped it on. His focus
switched back to her and her glorious, round backside. His hands started at her
hips and worked down over her butt cheeks, caressing and kneading. With his
right hand still on her, he reached for the small container of lube. Spreading
her cheeks slightly, he put the bottle near her tailbone and squeezed, watching
it slide down. He could barely breathe at the sight. Finally, he was going to
get to be inside of her. He would know what it was like to do something so
intimate, so reliant on her trust. It surprised him to realize that he’d been
craving that intimacy. “I’m going to touch you now,” he murmured as he ran his
hand up and down over her. He slipped one finger inside, moving gently to get
her used to the feeling of it. When she moaned and completely relaxed, he slid
a second finger inside, moving them in and out, in a circular motion. Finally
scissoring his fingers to stretch her more. Her body seemed to remember and she
moaned. “Another one, now please.”

Logan
entered her with a third finger, moving in and out then twisting back and
forth. Jayna was whimpering now. “Do you think you’re ready?” he asked
breathlessly.

“Yes.
Please,” she whimpered.

Logan
grabbed the lubricant again and dribbled some over himself, three agonizing
strokes and he was covered. He squeezed a bit more on Jayna and put it back on
the counter. He rested one hand on each cheek and eased her open. “You’re in
control sweetheart. Push back onto me whenever you’re ready,” he said resting
the head at her opening.

Jayna
took him in just an inch before pulling away. She repeated this torturous play,
taking him in a bit more each time. He moaned at the pleasure of watching
himself slide in and out. “Fill me up Logan,” she breathed. “Please.”

He
held her hips and pushed in inch by slow inch. He would stop when Jayna
tightened up and continued when she relaxed. Soon he was enveloped by her and
began to move comfortably in and out. “Look at us in the mirror sweetheart. I
love watching the pleasure on your face.”

She
looked in the mirror at his handsome face. He was happy. She saw something
close to love in his expression and knew that it was because she had found a
way to give herself to him. It was the ultimate turn on for her, and her
breathing increased as she moved back against him. “Oh Logan,” she murmured.  One
of her hands left the counter and slipped between her legs as she encouraged
him to increase his pace.

“Jesus,
Jayna! This is so perfect. You are so absolutely, fucking perfect.”

Her
smile met his gaze in the mirror but she was speechless with the pleasure she
felt.

His
hard, even thrusts pushed her forward even though he held her hips tightly. He
felt the tension build in her body and knew she would soon call out his name.
Within moments, as she went limp against the counter, his name slipped from
between her lips in a tortured whimper. With one last quick, deep stroke he
came too.

Reaching
out, he pulled her up to lean back against him. Their eyes met in the mirror.
Jayna smiled. “Thank you.”

He
kissed her neck. “No, thank you. I’ll never forget this moment. I will never
forget the trust you put in me tonight. Thank you for giving yourself to me
when you know I can give you nothing in return.” That was when he noticed the
tears sliding down her cheeks. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

A
laugh came through her tears. “You didn’t hurt me, but I’m shaky.  I need to
sit down.”

Logan
lifted her up and set her on the counter. He stepped between her legs and
kissed her. She snuggled into his arms and cried. When her sobs eased, she
looked up at him. “Come on, let’s just rinse off." Hopping down off the
counter, she pulled him into the shower after her. They washed each other
slowly, carefully, and while he was washing her hair, he asked her again.
“What’s wrong?”

“I
was happy, Logan,” he heard her say. “I never thought you and I would get to be
so…intimate.”

He
pulled her back against him and kissed her shoulder. He hoped it told her how
he felt. “Turn around and rinse your hair,” he finally said. “So I take it
you’ve decided when you are going to take off?”

“Yeah,"
she murmured. “Saturday.”

“In
three days…”

“Yes,”
she confirmed, stepping toward him. “Let’s spend the next few days just having
fun together, you, me and CJ.”

“Okay,”
he said, taking her into his arms. “We’ll do anything you want.”

“Let’s
start with a kiss,” she said, leaning back to give him access. Their lips met
and they lost themselves in each other.

CJ
cried, bringing them apart. Jayna jumped out of the shower, put on a hotel
robe, and ran out to tend to her son.

When
Logan came out of the bathroom he was wearing his sweats, low on his hips and
carrying a towel. Jayna was feeding CJ. “Move up, I’ll dry your hair for you."

Sitting
behind her, he quickly towel dried her hair then grabbed the brush off the
nightstand. “Can I brush it?” he asked.

“I’d
like that.”

The
baby ate hungrily as Logan slowly worked the knots out of her hair. “It’s
gotten so long,” he murmured.

“Not
that it matters now,” she stated. “But would you hate it if I cut it short?”

“I
think you would be beautiful no matter how your hair is done. It might be a
good idea to cut it if you plan on disappearing.”

“Yeah,
I had the same idea.”

“Are
you going to dye it too?”

Jayna
shook her head and shifted CJ in her arms. “It’s too much upkeep. Reggie was
obsessed with my
long
blond hair so if it’s short that would help."

CJ
pulled off the breast and started to cry. Out of habit, Jayna handed him over
to Logan and hurried to get dressed while she had a free moment.

“Hey
Logan, what should we do for dinner?” she called from the bathroom. “Delivery,
take out, or go out?”

“Little
man here is wide awake so I can’t feast on you again,” he said with a smile.
“How about we go to that little café down the street.”

“Sounds
good,” she said coming out of the bathroom. “Then we’re going to find a beauty
shop that's open late so I can get my hair cut before I chicken out.”

“Sounds
like a plan,” he smiled while putting his t-shirt on. “Grab the diaper bag and
CJ, and I will meet you in the SUV.”

**********

Logan
and Jayna were both full from their meals and CJ was asleep in his stroller as
they walked down the street toward a Quick Cut Hut chain. They offered haircuts
for only ten bucks. The closer they got, the more nervous Jayna became.

“You
don’t have to do this, you know?” Logan said, pulling her to a stop.  “You
could always just dye it or wear a wig, or put it up.”

“I
know,” she agreed. “But cutting it just seems like the better option. I can
always grow it back… over the next ten years.”

Logan
couldn’t help but smile. “It’s your choice, just make sure you are a hundred
percent with it before you get it done."

Jayna
took a deep breath in then let it out in small spurts. “Bye, bye long hair.”

“Alright,
let’s do this!” Logan said, opening the door to the shop.

They
signed her in then sat down to wait her turn. She picked up a few books with
various short hairstyles in them and as she leafed through, her hands started
to shake.

“All
of these are so drastic,” she muttered. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Those
are all really short,” Logan offered. “How about something like this?” He
showed her the book he was looking through and a smile spread across her face.

“I
like it!” she exclaimed. “I think I could live with this.”

“Well
then, it’s decided.”

Jayna
was soon called up and Logan watched her transform from a long-haired beauty
into a devastatingly beautiful woman. The haircut was perfect and he had no
problems telling her that multiple times on the way back to the hotel. The
crushing, burning sensation in his chest returned when he realized that he
wouldn’t be with her much longer. He wanted to sneak a picture to remember her
by.

“What
are you thinking about with that mischievous smile,” she asked as they walked
into the hotel parking lot.

“About
how beautiful you are and about how it will be strange not being able to see
your gorgeous face every day.”

Jayna
ducked her head. “You’re just saying that…but thank you.”

Logan
stopped her just outside of their hotel room. “I’m not just saying that,” he
insisted. “No matter where you go, always remember that you were someone’s Sleeping
Beauty.”

“Oh
Logan,” she whispered, moving into his embrace. “I’m going to miss you.”

“It
will be hard on everybody I think.”

“Can
we go in now,” she said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I really just want to
sleep.

”

Chapter 11

The
next few days were spent together, enjoying every last minute with each other.
On the last night before Jayna was to leave, a package arrived for Logan and he
turned the contents over to her. “Here is everything you’ll need to start a new
life, Sleeping Beauty.”

Jayna
looked through the contents of the box, pulling out ID’s and other identity
paraphernalia for her and CJ. “But how…”

“Let's
just say that my cousin’s best friend’s brother was a very bad influence on us
during summer visits. Large sums of money can make it come faster.”

“I
don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” she whispered, tears in her eyes.

“You
won’t. You don’t owe me anything.”

“Thank
you,” she sobbed.

“You’re
welcome my Sleeping Beauty. Here, take this,” he said pulling a couple of
envelopes out of his back pocket. "Fifteen thousand dollars should get you
a decent start. I’m sorry it couldn’t be more but it’s all I had quick access
to.”

“No
Logan. I can’t…”

“You
can. You have to. There is no way to rent a place or buy food and clothes
without money,” he reminded her. “Take it.”

She
reached out tentatively and took the money. “Thank you.”

“So,
tomorrow I’ll drop you off at the airport and you two start your new life?”

“Yeah,”
she murmured, tears falling from her eyes. “I guess it can’t hurt to tell you
this now, but I want you to know that I love you Logan. I did what I said I
wouldn’t do. I fell in love with you. I started to want more than just physical
release.”

He
pulled her to him and held her tight. It was the first time he had realized
that she would be hurting through all of this too. They had grown close and she
had fallen in love. “Let’s go to bed now, Sleeping Beauty.”

“Will
you hold me?” she asked in a whisper.

“Of
course,” he answered. The burning pressure in his chest was now the worst it
had ever been.

**********

“Jayna,
CJ’s awake. It’s your turn to get him,” Logan mumbled without opening his eyes.
CJ continued to cry and Logan blindly got up and went to the crib. Poor Jayna
must have been exhausted from crying herself to sleep. When he turned away from
the crib, CJ in his arms, the emptiness of her side of the bed loomed large. A
white envelope was propped on her pillow. A feeling of foreboding washed over
him and a new pain settled into his abdomen.

Walking
over to the bed, he sat down and grabbed the envelope. It wasn’t sealed so he
pulled the paper out of it and read.

Logan

I’m
so very sorry to do this to you, but I’ve realized that CJ and I would never be
safe together. Reggie will be looking for two of us. And stop right there, I
know what you are thinking. Reggie won’t care if he knows you have the baby
with you. He doesn’t want him. He only wants me. When he found out that I was pregnant
he told me that he thought the baby would be a burden. He tried to convince me
to get an abortion and when it was too late, he decided he would try to force
me into adoption.

CJ
is yours now. There are any number of things you could tell our friends and
family. Please take care of him. I don’t want anyone else to take him. You have
to promise me that you won’t give him up.

My
heart is breaking as I write this but I can see no other way. Please make sure
Charles Joseph Harper never forgets me.

P.S.
There is breast milk in the mini-fridge and in Julia’s deep freeze. There is
also a large stash in the deep freeze at the hunting cabin. When it’s gone just
switch to formula.

I
love you both

Jayna

Logan
folded the letter and put it back in the envelope where he came across a
picture of Jayna and CJ together. “Damn it!” he snapped, walking over to the
mini-fridge to get the extremely fussy baby a bottle.

Once
the baby was fed, changed and put back to bed, Logan sat down to think. His
mind raced in a million different directions. Finally, he just pulled out his
phone and opened a text to the phone he’d bought Jayna when they were taking
turns with the baby at the hospital.

“Jayna,
what the hell? Your son needs you. Please come back. We’ll figure out something
to keep you both safe. There has to be another way.”

He
never truly expected an answer from her but later that day when he and CJ were
making the rounds at the bus station, car rental places and the airport looking
for someone who may have seen Jayna, his phone buzzed with a text from her.

"Logan,
I’m sorry. This is the way it has to be. I don’t want to leave my sweet baby,
but I know he will be safe and loved by you and your family. Please don’t text
me again. Every time I see your name the horrible thing I did to my own flesh
and blood hurts more.”

Logan
was furious now. It usually wasn’t something that happened to him, but at that
moment he was seething. He hit reply. “Good. You deserve to hurt more. You need
to hurt enough that you come home to us.”

A
few minutes later, Jayna replied. “Please, Logan.”

Out
of ideas, he put his phone away and hooked CJ into his seat. They headed back
to the hotel. The next day he would try hotels, bed and breakfasts, and lodges.
After that – he wasn’t so sure what he would do.

**********

Three
days after Jayna disappeared, Logan decided to give up the search in Billings.
She was probably long gone. It was then that he decided to head home. He would
stop at the cabin and make sure everything was left as he’d found it, and then
it would be time to go to Harper’s Rock and introduce the world to his son.
There was no way he could ever give him up to strangers. How in the hell had he
become so attached to another human being?

The
trip to the cabin was uneventful mainly because CJ slept the whole way. When he
pulled up, he noticed a small, old car parked off to the side. Who in the hell
could it be? His brother was still in the hospital so there wouldn’t be any
hunting expeditions that season. He couldn’t even go in armed because he had
the baby with him.

Unhooking
CJ, he took him out of the seat and walked quietly to the front door. He turned
the knob but the cabin was locked up tight. His keys were still in his hand
allowing him to unlock the door easily. When they walked in, it was obvious
that someone was living there and all of a sudden he thought he knew who it
was.

Rushing
upstairs, he took them two at a time. When he got to the top, she was lying
there asleep with a bandaged foot propped up on pillows. His Sleeping Beauty
was there.

CJ
started to fuss and squirm around. He knew his mama was there. Logan took him
over to the bed and laid him next to her. His hungry wails brought her awake
and she broke down in tears. Immediately, she reached out and brought him close.
“Oh, I missed you sweet baby.”

"He
missed you too. It’s about lunch time for him.”

“Feed
him a bottle,” she said looking away. “He can’t get used to me again. I’m still
leaving.”

Logan
laughed harshly. “Feed him or find a way to make him stop crying. It doesn’t
look like you’re too mobile right now.” He turned and headed down the stairs.

“Logan
no! Please,” he heard her cry out. He just kept walking and went into the
kitchen to make lunch for himself and Jayna. By the time he had all of the
ingredients out of the refrigerator and cupboards, the baby had stopped crying.

Logan
carried the tray into the loft and set it on the bed. “You ready to burp, my
man,” he said, taking CJ from Jayna. “Start eating, he can have more when
you’re done. You look like hell.”

“Gee
thanks,” she murmured as she started eating. “You’d look like hell too if you
could barely stay on your feet long enough to get food.”

“What
the hell happened?” he asked as he paced the floor with the baby. “I thought
you’d be long gone by now.”

Jayna
rolled her eyes as she finished chewing a bite. “That was the plan. But I came
back here to get a few things I hid in the closet and when I was three steps
from the bottom of the stairs, I tripped. It’s kind of hard to drive when you
can’t put much pressure on your right foot."

Logan
put CJ in the crib and sat down to eat his own lunch. “Maybe someone was trying
to tell you that leaving was a bad idea.”

“Shut
up,” she glared at him. “I’m still leaving. I have to.”

“I
wouldn’t count on it, Sleeping Beauty. It seems you’re the captive of the two
most handsome men in America for a few days. We’ll convince you to stay."
He saw a brief smile cross her face before it was replaced by a frown.

"I
wouldn’t hold my breath,” she grumbled, turning away from him.

He
chuckled and continued eating.

**********

Jayna
and the baby napped together while Logan used the phone to check on the grocery
store and his mother. He was sitting on the couch watching TV when Jayna called
down to him. “Can you come get the baby so we can spend some time downstairs?”

“Sure.
I’m coming.” When he reached the stairs, she was scooting on her butt.

“You
know, I can think of better uses for that beautiful backside of yours.”

“Very
funny, shithead,” she mumbled.

When
she reached the bottom step, he scooped her up and carried her to the couch
then went upstairs to get the baby. When he came back, he handed CJ to her then
pulled the ottoman in front of her and sat. “Let me check your ankle.”

“And
you are a doctor?” she asked haughtily, but went ahead and put her hurt foot in
his lap.

“Very
funny, you brat.” Unwrapping her foot, he cringed at the look of it. “We need
to wrap this tighter and get you some boots. A trip up to Sheridan might be in
order.” He looked up at her and saw a faint smile. “When I know I can trust you
or you are up to going with me.” Her smile disappeared.

“You’re
being a real asshole,” she said through gritted teeth. "You know I can’t
stay Logan.”

“We’ll
see,” he chuckled. “Okay, you’re wrapped up tight. I’ll be carrying you
everywhere until we make it to town. You need to stay off of it.”

“Oh
joy!”

“You’re
not excited? I thought you said you loved me.”

“And
maybe if you loved
me
, I could find the strength to stay,” she said
softly.

“Not
fair, Jayna. You know I’m not capable of doing that.” He stood and walked to
the front door. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

**********

Joe
and Frank were sitting in their hotel room discussing why they were still in
Harper’s Rock. Miss McIntyre hadn’t been seen or heard from in days, anywhere
in the country. They both had a feeling their boss would be disobeying orders
and sneaking into Wyoming soon. He now seemed obsessed with Logan Harper and
his involvement with Jayna.

Joe’s
phone rang and he snarled looking at the display. “Hi boss.”

“Hey
Joe. I’m on a secure line now. We need to talk business, just you and me.”

“Sure
Boss.”

“You
know that man who has been spoiling my woman?”

“Yes
sir,” he said. Reggie must have thought he was stupid.

“I’m
willing to pay someone to get rid of that problem permanently.”

“You
mean dead, boss?”

“Of
course I do, you damned idiot. I’ll be coming to Harperville soon. I’ll pay you
and you do it. Understand?”

“Yes
Boss. I got ya.”

“Good.”

The
phone line went dead and Joe stood up. “Why does he always pick me to unleash
his crazy on? That man can rant more than my ex-wife.”

Frank
smirked and reached for the remote. “Better you than me.”

“I’m
going out for a smoke. You might want to grab a bite to eat soon,” Joe said as
he put his jacket on and walked out into the rainy night.

Joe
stood under the awning of the closed library wishing like hell he had an
umbrella. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed.

“Harper’s
Rock Police Department, how may I direct your call?”

“Can
I speak to a detective, please?”