Unknown (Hooked Book 3) (7 page)

Malik fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around Logan’s waist. With his ear pressed to Logan’s stomach, he held on. He didn’t give a fuck they were in the middle of the parking lot at Logan’s work. It equally mattered not at all if the entire world looked on. He wanted to do all the things he should have. The second Logan had left him, Malik should’ve fallen on his knees and begged. He should’ve dogged Logan’s heels until the man realized it would be easier to come home. There’d never been any pride between them. Even Malik didn’t know why he’d manufactured so much of that foul emotion when Logan left.

“You’re not allowed to give up on us,” Malik said, saying the first clear thought that sprang to mind. “I’m so fucking sorry, Logan. You’ll never know how much I’ve hated myself every time I’ve watched my words hit their mark. Give me some time, okay? Let me find a way to take it all back. Can we try? I don’t expect you to rush back home, but I need us to try.”

Logan pulled at Malik, urging him back to his feet. Malik went, only because of the desperation in Logan’s gaze. “My chest hurts when you’re not kissing me.”

Malik wanted answers, but not nearly as bad as he needed Logan to stop hurting. “Anything for you.”

As their lips brushed, Logan gave him the world. “I want to try.”

Malik took control of their kiss, tilting Logan’s head back in his ardor. Happiness ruled him, making Malik wonder if his chest would explode. He knew he’d have to leave Logan here. There wouldn’t be any rushing back to how things used to be, but Logan wanted to try. Those four words, falling from Logan’s perfect lips, were the most beautiful he’d ever heard. Whatever it took, he wouldn’t fail.

Chapter 4

“You ready to get started?”

Malik rubbed the back of his neck at Ryan’s question. Part of him had hoped he wouldn’t run into Ryan today. “Yeah, I’m not so sure.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Dude, we’ve been through this already.”

“And I heard everything you said,” Malik said with a shrug. “But I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m going to cut instead. There’s no shame in dropping back a weight class if it makes Logan happy.”

“Really?” The sarcasm in Ryan’s tone couldn’t be missed. “Do you honestly believe giving up your dreams will make Logan happy?”

Malik shrugged again. “We were fine until I moved up, so yeah.”

Logan crossed the room and dug inside his bag. Finding his phone, he returned to Malik’s side. “Let’s call him and ask.” He pulled Logan’s number up on his phone, before flashing the device Malik’s way, proving he planned to call.

Malik’s features hardened. He felt it happen. “Why do you have my husband’s number in your phone?”

“Stay on topic,” Ryan said, snapping his fingers as if pressing his point. “If you’re so sure he won’t care, let’s hear it from him.” Before Malik could argue, Ryan hit the “call” button, and passed the device Malik’s way. “You’re up.”

When Logan’s voice rang through the line, he sounded questioning. “Hello?”

A smile grew in Malik’s heart at the sound of Logan’s voice. “Hey, baby.”

“Oh. Hey.” Logan’s tone transformed, taking on a definite happy note. “Whose phone are you calling me from?”

“Ryan’s.”

“Oh,” Logan repeated. “I didn’t think you knew anyone’s number by heart anymore.”

Malik wished they were alone. “I know everything about you by heart. In this case, though, Ryan already had your number programmed into his phone.”

“Why does Ryan have my number?”

A wave of relief washed over Malik. “See, I asked him the same thing, but he ignored me. Let’s ask again.” Tilting the phone at an angle, Malik focused on Ryan. “Why do you have my husband’s number in your phone?”

A noise came from the back of Logan’s throat, distracting Malik from questioning Ryan. “I love the way you say that.”

Malik’s mouth went dry at the open lust in Logan’s voice. “What?”

When Logan answered, he still sounded turned on, making Malik consider walking away from today’s workout. “I like the way you call me yours. It always sounds so possessive.”

“Most people don’t like the jealous type. You’ve always been unique.”

Logan chuckled. Chill bumps rose on Malik’s arms as it caressed his ear. “There’s pride in your jealousy. It’s a huge turn on, knowing you’re proud to have me.”

“Do I?” Malik asked before he thought better of it.

“Do you what?”

“Have you?” Malik asked, hearing the greed in his tone, but incapable of stopping it.

Before Logan answered, Ryan cut in. “All right, guys. No phone sex with any of my devices. And quit stalling. Ask Logan what he thinks?”

Malik held up a finger, trying to buy time. Unfortunately, Logan heard.

“Ask me what I think about what?”

“Um.”

At Malik’s hesitation, Ryan snatched the device from Malik’s hands and danced away as Malik scrambled to retrieve it.

“Did you know Malik intends to drop down a weight class?”

Ryan jerked the phone away from his ear, telling Malik all he needed to know about Logan’s reaction. He tentatively pressed the device against his ear once more. A triumphant smile stretched the man’s face. “Yes, sir.” He held the phone out to Malik. “He wants to talk to you.”

Malik let Ryan know with his eyes the man would die when this was over. He switched his attention Logan’s way. “Hey, baby.”

“Don’t “baby” me. Is this shit about me?”

“Um.”

Logan growled. “Damn it, Malik. Don’t put this on me. I won’t be the reason you’re miserable.”

“Being without you is making me miserable,” Malik said, beyond caring if Ryan hung on every word. “If this is what it takes, then I’m okay with moving back down.”

“Baby, I can’t watch the light leave your eyes any more than you can give this up. Maybe you can for a little while, but it’ll be itching under your skin in no time. Then where will we be?”

“Is there an us?”

Logan groaned like Malik was killing him. “I don’t see that anything has changed. You need to chase your dreams, and I don’t know what’s right.”

“I’d rather have you.”

“I offered to train him,” Ryan yelled, ensuring there was no way Logan could miss hearing him.

Silence filled the line for a moment. “Is that true?”

“Yes,” Malik answered, because Logan sounded as if it mattered.

“Does he have anything to offer you?”

“Probably.”

Another long stretch of silence threatened Malik’s sanity. “Will you take his offer?”

“I don’t want to.”

Logan chuckled. Malik wasn’t sure if it was due to Malik’s claim or the petulance in his voice. “That’s pride talking. My man is better than that.”

“Am I your man?” Malik didn’t care about anything else. He wasn’t letting go of this. He needed Logan to give him hope more than he needed to talk about his career. Holding his breath, Malik waited while silently praying for any crumb from Logan.

“How about this? Give Ryan a shot. If he can’t show you anything new, I’ll keep my mouth shut if you still want to drop back a class.”

“Am I your man?” Malik repeated. They weren’t ending this call until Logan answered.

When Logan finally responded, his voice broke, making Malik wish he could hold him. “You’ve always been and will always be mine, even if you never want me again.”

Malik’s chest tightened. He had to clear his throat to speak. “Can I see you tonight?” Malik stared at his toes as he waited for Logan’s answer. He couldn’t watch Ryan staring at him. Everything with Logan was too close to Malik’s chest.

“I should be home from work around six.”

Happiness burst through Malik’s veins. “Then that’s what time I’ll be there.”

Logan chuckled. The sound caressed Malik’s ear, going straight to his heart. “You really don’t believe in letting me shower.”

“That’s because it’s my job to wash your back… and your front for that matter. I’m pretty sure it was in our wedding vows.”

“So was keeping my feet warm, but they’ve been freezing for months.”

Malik’s eyes fell closed and his body ached at the familiarity of it all. They’d always joked about the million tiny unspoken promises that were understood based on a few vows. He’d take out the trash. Logan would love him for exactly one hundred and eleven years plus a minute. Malik would keep him warm. Logan would keep Malik sane. Damn, how they’d both failed.

“I love you.” Malik’s voice broke on the claim. He didn’t care who saw or heard.

“I love you too.” Logan sounded so sure, exactly as Malik needed.

“See you at six.”

“Okay. Bye, baby.”

“Bye.” Malik passed the phone Ryan’s way. “Let’s do this,” Malik said, holding Ryan’s gaze. The man’s triumphant grin couldn’t touch him. Malik belonged to Logan again. He was invincible.

* * *

Turns out, Malik wasn’t invincible. Shit. He hadn’t been in a street fight since he was ten. Malik had seriously underestimated how hard Ryan could hit. The man struck faster than a cobra, and his punch was enough to rattle Malik’s bones and his confidence. Malik had expected having three inches in height and thirty pounds of muscle on Ryan would’ve made a difference, but fuck. He couldn’t match the dude’s speed. There was more work to be done than Malik anticipated. It was disheartening, to say the least. Every muscle ached, even the ones he didn’t know about. A bruise was forming across his cheekbone— not that it was anything new, but goddamn. He’d hoped to be in decent enough shape to enjoy Logan tonight.

An unexpected smile pulled at Malik’s lips as he steered his truck into Logan’s apartment complex. The first time he’d gotten a black eye, after they’d started dating, Logan had climbed into his lap and kissed every inch of Malik’s face, healing all his injuries with the barest brush of lips on Malik’s skin. His groin tightened at the memory. Maybe Logan would heal him one more time.

Malik bit back a groan as he slid from the truck. The black Dodge Ram held the heat of the sun, searing his skin as he closed the door behind him. The gray stone and white shutters of Logan’s apartment looked nice surrounded by the red flowers planted around the buildings. No doubt, it was a safe place to live. Malik hated it. This wasn’t where Logan belonged. The desire to rush the door and throw Logan over his shoulder, kidnapping him was massive. As his knuckles brushed the wooden surface standing between them, the longing increased. Everything he loved was on the opposite side of the white wood slab. Logan’s blue Camry sat parked next to Malik’s truck, waiting for Logan to climb inside and go back to his real home. This place felt fake, and it suffocated Malik. Sometimes he wondered if he’d ever breathe properly again.

*

His palms were sweating. For anyone else, this may’ve seemed a ridiculous reason to leave work early. To Logan, it was the perfect excuse. He’d never been more terrified in his life. Even the day he’d married Malik, Logan had stood tall, proud, and steady with the knowledge he was making the best decision of his life. Logan couldn’t say that about today.

As Logan moved across the room, prepared to let Malik inside his apartment, Logan had never been less sure of anything in his life. They were a thing again—maybe. Hell, he didn’t know. All Logan knew was, a month ago, he’d finally stopped reaching for Malik in the middle of the night. Each time he found himself alone, the heartbreak had been massive. Of course, then he’d stopped, and instead he mourned a new loss—the realization he’d lost hope.

Now, as the door swung wide, and he caught his first glimpse of Malik’s gorgeous amber eyes, Logan wondered which of those two heartaches he’d suffer tonight when Malik left.

Malik wiped his palms on his jeans.

Everything fell away as Logan watched the nervous motion. They felt the same.

“Your hair is wet.”

“I came home early,” Logan admitted as he closed the door behind Malik. His heart swelled as Malik’s scent filled Logan’s lungs. Malik wiped his hands on his jeans again. There was only one way to fix this. Logan linked his fingers through Malik’s as he brushed past him, and gently tugged, urging Malik toward the bedroom.

“Where are we headed?” Malik asked behind him, sounding unsure.

Logan didn’t play coy. “To bed.”

Using his strength against Logan, Malik pulled him to a stop. “That’s not why I came here.”

Logan met Malik’s gaze. He kept his features blank, refusing to let Malik see his fears. “I know, but I need to know something and I want to hold you.”

That got Malik moving. He crowded Logan’s space as they climbed onto the bed. Their bodies touched in some form every second until Logan found himself wrapped in Malik’s embrace. With Logan’s back cradled against Malik’s chest, and Malik’s arms wrapped tightly around him, Logan felt like nothing bad could reach him. Nothing could tear them apart.

“How was work?”

The words brushed Logan’s ear, making chill bumps rise on his skin. Malik’s thumb stroked Logan’s skin, as if attempting to wipe the goosebumps away.

“It was work. Did you train with Ryan today?”

He felt Malik nod. “It was different.”