Your Captivating Love (15 page)

Gripping the headboard even tighter, I meet his thrusts with fervor and desperation, tearing deep groans from his chest. Drops of his sweat drip on my back, from his forehead presumably. I find it incredibly sexy. Closing my eyes, I revel in the sound of heated flesh as it slaps together. Logan puts his mouth on my shoulder, grazing the skin with his teeth. His grip on my hips tightens, his nails digging into me as he takes me with ferocity.

“My sweet Nadine, what are you doing to me?”

Instead of an answer, I sigh out loud, arching my back, my body ripe for release. Logan drops one hand between my thighs, his fingers finding my clit, applying the sweetest pressure on it. My inner muscles clench around him as we both come apart.

Afterward, we lie next to each other, sweating and panting, when I suddenly burst out laughing.

“No idea why you’re laughing, but I like the sound,” Logan says.

“I’m so happy.” There’s nothing more to it.

Turning to one side, Logan pushes himself up on an elbow, facing me. “So, you liked what I did to you?”

I purse my lips to hide my smile. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” He feigns offense, widening his eyes.

“I don’t remember it all that well.” I love naked banter.

“My headboard does.”

“What?” I push myself up on my knees and gasp. My nails have left deep scratches in the leather. “I can’t believe I scratched your headboard. I ruined it.”

“You didn’t ruin it. You left a testimonial of how brilliant I am in bed.” He laughs seductively. “You can tease me all you want about my skills. The headboard bears the truth.”

“I’m so sorry. I’ll buy you another bed or headboard. When I’m not so broke.”

“No way. I’m not changing this headboard.”

“We should try your floor,” I joke. “Nothing to ruin there.”

Logan pulls me under him. “I’d say we go in the shower now. Plenty of promises to fulfill. We can visit the floor later.”

“Sounds perfect to me.”

––––––––

O
n Monday morning, I wait for Blake and his dad inside the store with apple pie. They both devour it upon their arrival, and then we work. The two men are definite pros, and the best part is they don’t snoop.

The no-prying part only lasts until noon, however, when a delivery boy brings me flowers. It’s a gorgeous bouquet of red roses. They come with a note, but I barely have time to gaze at it when Mr. Bennett and Blake walk up to me, staring at me expectantly.

“I don’t mean to meddle,” Blake says with an expression that tells me to expect lots of meddling, “but in the interest of our family, I have to ask, are those flowers from my brother? I must protect his honor if they’re not.”

“Yes, they’re from Logan,” I say. Blake smiles smugly, but Mr. Bennett nods and returns to work.

Blake lingers and mutters, “Nothing good in store for me. If Sebastian and Logan get hitched, my sisters will have ideas for the rest of the male members of our family too. Max and Christopher are older than me, so hopefully they’ll focus on them first.”

I barely resist laughing at his quasi-monologue. Blake winks at me and goes to finish his task. I don’t return to my work right away, admiring the flowers instead. Butterflies flutter in my belly, and there’s a knot in my throat as I lean to smell the roses. I retrieve my phone with shaking hands.

Nadine: Thank you for the flowers.

Logan: Welcome
.
You said there’s nothing beautiful in your shop right now, so I thought I’d send you something beautiful
.

My heart somersaults at his words. I did say that sometime last night. I can’t believe he was paying attention. Logan Bennett, super-busy CFO, took the time to do this for me.

So this is what dating a
real
man is like. I remember Ava telling me how special Sebastian made her feel, but I didn’t understand. Now I do, and it frightens me. How on earth will I piece myself together if things between us don’t end well? Especially since I’ll have to face him at any family events Ava will invite me to.

Men don’t stick around. Sooner or later, when the going gets rough, they leave. Dad did. Thomas did.

Mr. Bennett interrupts my thoughts. “Everything all right, Nadine?”

“Yeah, I just got lost in my thoughts for a bit.”

“Can you help me with these shelves?” he asks.

I nod.

“Those are some beautiful flowers my son sent you,” he comments while we work with the shelves.

“Yes, he keeps spoiling me. Your son is the most thoughtful man I’ve met.”

Mr. Bennett nods. “He’s always been this way. I could tell since he was a kid that he’s the most sensitive of them all, and much too protective for his sisters’ liking.” A nostalgic smile spreads across his face. “After Sebastian left to work and he became the oldest brother in the household, he took his role even more seriously. Since Sebastian started to help us out financially, Logan felt the need to look after his siblings in every other way he could.”

Oh
. I didn’t think there was something that could make me care for Logan even more, but it seems I’m in for surprise after surprise where this man is concerned.

***

T
he next weeks are hard. Blake and Mr. Bennett show up every day at the shop, and the entire clan joins us on Saturdays. Logan doesn’t flaunt his wealth, but there are subtle hints everywhere. His fridge is always stocked with food, and the apartment is always clean in the evening, no matter the level of mess I leave behind when I head out in the morning. He also insists for a company driver to take me to my apartment and pick me up in the morning whenever I sleep there. I fought him on this in the beginning, even though he said it’d be for my safety because my neighborhood isn’t among the safest in San Francisco. After witnessing an ugly fight on the way from the bus station to my building, I stopped protesting.

I make sure I sleep at my apartment at least two times a week, but I’m still at Logan’s place most of the time. He says it’s convenient for me, which it is, but I’m worried. If he needs his space, he’s not getting it. Men can be very protective of their ”men space.” I have completely invaded Logan’s space. He insisted I bring a lot of clothes here, which I have. While I’m sure he counted on having to make space for me in his bathroom, I’m pretty sure he didn’t count on finding my stuff everywhere. And I do mean
everywhere
. I stare at the open fridge incredulously. My eyeliner is inside it.
Wow.
I have no idea how it got there, but I snatch it quickly before Logan can see it. Heaven knows what else he found. Yeah, safe to say I don’t have an ounce of Logan’s organizational talent. Quite the opposite.

On the morning of the fridge-eyeliner incident, I bring up the subject of
space
to Logan. We’ve just finished breakfast—I’m proud to say I managed to rise before him three times this week and prepare breakfast—and we’re about to head out.

“I’ll sleep in my apartment for the rest of the week.”

Logan stops in the act of knotting his tie. “Why?”

“To give you some space,” I say with nonchalance.

He tilts his head to one side, smiling. “Why would I need that?”

I shrug, my stomach twisting. “All men do.”

Logan waltzes toward me, cornering me against the wall. He places his hands on either side of my head, trapping me in between.

“I don’t,” he says.

“But—”

“I like waking up next to you,” he interrupts me. “I like knowing you’re here when I return late in the night from a meeting. If you weren’t here, we’d only see each other on weekends. I need you, Nadine.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.” He cups my cheeks, kissing one eyelid then the other. He pulls back, watching me. “I’m not your asshole of an ex or father.”

I drop my eyes to his shoulder. “I know that.”

“I don’t think you do, but that’s okay.” He raises my chin until my gaze meets his. “You’ll learn. I’ll show you.”

My eyes sting with the onset of tears. I blink quickly, looking away. His words brought out raw emotions and old insecurities. And he’s also reassured me; he’ll be patient with me, and that means more to me than he can imagine.

“So, what else do you like about me?” I ask with a big smile. “Besides waking up next to me.”

“Let’s see. Your awful singing in the shower.”

“Stop it, it’s not that bad.”

He continues as if I haven’t spoken. “Finding your stuff everywhere.”

My mouth forms an O. “Surely not
everywhere
.”
Please, dear God, don’t let him know about the eyeliner in the fridge.

“I might have seen your eyeliner in the fridge.”

“Right, I changed my mind.” I narrow my eyes. “I don’t want to hear what else you like about me.”

“I can show you what I love about you.”

Without waiting for an answer, Logan covers my mouth with his in a breathtaking kiss. His lips nip at mine hungrily, his tongue expertly exploring my mouth, coaxing whimpers of pleasure out of me. I kiss him back with the same passion until we’re both breathless. Logan’s grinning when we pull apart. His good mood is infectious.

We leave the apartment holding hands, and I have no more thoughts of going to my place for now, though I’m still worried. In my experience, when things seem too good to be true, that’s usually the case.

***

S
ince my organizational skills don’t improve over the next few weeks, I decide to spoil my man with a bath one night in November. I buy candles and bubbly gel, preparing everything in time for his arrival.

When I hear him open the door, I say out loud, “I’m in the bathroom.”

A few seconds later, Logan pokes his head in. His eyes register all my romantic setup, but his expression is apologetic rather than happy.

“Sorry, I have a last-minute meeting. I needed to grab something from home. Don’t wait for me, I’ll be late.”

“Are you sure you can’t join me for a little while?” I pout.

Logan shakes his head.

“Okay.” A plan already forms in my mind. I have to up the stakes and be more convincing, show him what he’s missing. With Logan still here, I drop my clothes bit by bit, watching him while I do so. I step in the bathtub, making a “come here” sign with my forefinger. I am
so
hijacking this meeting of his.

“I want one kiss before you leave.”

“Nadine, you’ll be the death of me.” His tone is so husky that warmth pools between my thighs. He bends to kiss me but I pull back, lowering myself in the bathtub, lying on my back so my body is visible only from the shoulders up. I run my hands up and down my inner thighs, making sure Logan sees I’m moving my arms.

“Nadine, are you touching yourself?”

“Why don’t you reach down here and find out?”

Sweat breaks out at his temples. “Jesus, you’re not letting me out of this, are you?”

“No. It’s your fault. You’re very sexy in this suit. I want you to take it off.”

Logan shrugs off his jacket then removes the cufflink of his right wrist, rolling up his sleeve. When he dips his hand in the water, he goes straight for my sex, cupping it. My hands are just playing on my thighs.

“You were tricking me.”

“It worked.” I close my eyes and lean my head back, resting it on the edge of the tub. Logan runs his fingers up and down my folds, teasing me. “Now
this
is the best way to relax.”

“Look at me.” His commanding tone sends shivers through me, despite the warm water.

Opening my eyes, I watch him panting while he pleasures me with his expert finger.

Abruptly, I rise on my knees, splashing water around. “I need to touch you.”

“I have to go,” Logan says, but his stance remains unchanged. That’s my cue that he won’t resist me. Careful not to make him
too
wet, I undo his belt, lower his zipper, and push his pants and boxers down, freeing his erection.

Taking a deep breath, I move my lips across his length, watching his eyes as I do. As he fists my hair, I feel powerful and wanted at the same time. I test his boundaries and his will by speeding up just a bit.

“I won’t last, Nadine.”

I don’t stop; I only increase my pace.

“Fuck.” Logan throws his head back, grunting out my name again and again. Abruptly, he pulls away. He grabs a condom from a nearby shelf, rips the foil, and slides it on.

“I need to be inside you,” he grunts. Lowering himself to my level, he kisses me hard. I tangle my hands in his hair, pulling him in the water with me. I only realize what’s going on when I hear a giant splash of water and see Logan step into the tub, still fully clothed.

“Logan, your suit—”

“I need you. Now.”

Without any other words, he lowers himself into the water and pulls me in his lap. I’m hungry to touch his skin, but for now I settle on tracing the contours of his muscles through his shirt. Logan slides into me, stretching me inch by inch. My tight passage pulsates around him, welcoming him.

“Being inside you feels so good,” he murmurs. When he is inside me all the way to the base of his erection, I start moving up and down, enjoying seeing him coming undone, and knowing I’m causing him pleasure.

He rests his head back on the edge of the tub, and I lean in for a quick kiss on his neck. He rolls my nipples between his fingers, his eyes watching my breasts bobbing as I slide up and down, straddling him.

He takes a nipple between his lips, suckling at it while he slides two fingers between us, reaching for my clit.

“Logan.” I say his name through gritted teeth as his thumb circles my clit.

“I want to see you come, Nadine. You blush so beautifully.”

I pick up the pace like a woman possessed.

“Fuck,” I murmur.

“Yeah, that’s right. I love to see you all wild like this.”

“You make me wild.”

Logan cups my jaw with his free hand, making me look straight at him. “You’re mine, Nadine.”

My eyes widen at the glint of dominance in his. His words ooze masculinity and, in this split second, I’m certain they alone could bring me to climax. But Logan doesn’t rely on his words only. He presses his thumb straight on my clit, not moving it anymore, just applying pressure. I will lose my mind for this man.