Page 56 of Logan

Looking over at the other couple, he said, “Guys, this has been a great evening and a great meal. But my girl is about to drop, so I’m going to get the check and get her tucked in for the night.” Before he could take the check, Iggie’s hand snapped out, grabbing it first.

“No way, Preacher. You took time off from work and flew us here without charging for fuel—this meal’s on us.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but Iggie leaned in closer. “I know you’re the kind of man who doesn’t like others to pay. But Preacher, what you’ve gotta understand is, by doing this, you’ve allowed me to do something nice for my woman. She never asks for much, works harder than anyone I know, and loves me in spite of my craziness. This is me expressing my gratitude. Because of you and Vivian, my woman got a weekend full of good memories with good people in a nice as fuck place.”

Logan moved his hand back and nodded, understanding exactly what Iggie was saying. He looked over at Sally, who stared at Iggie like he hung the moon. And to her, he did.

Feeling the pressure of Vivian’s fingers on his leg, he turned to see her smiling up at him. Her expression was so similar to Sally’s that it almost hurt.

“Come on, babe.” He slid out of the booth, his hand holding tightly to hers as he assisted her up. “See you tomorrow,” he called to the others as he tucked her underneath his shoulder, and they walked out of the restaurant side by side.

Back in their room, Vivian plopped down in one of the heavy chairs padded with a deep green cushion that, like the bed, was crafted from logs. Pulling off her shoes, she wiggled her toes as she leaned back and groaned. “I ate so much… drank so much. I can’t move.”

Chuckling, Logan disappeared into the bathroom and turned on the bathtub faucets. Her curiosity must have gotten the better of her because, in a few minutes, she padded into the bathroom on bare feet.

“Oh!” She smiled as she regarded the deep tub almost full of steamy water. He flipped the switch, turning off all the lights except for the candle sconces on the walls that circled the tub. Looking at the scene, she smiled, her hand going to the belt on her dress.

Stepping directly in front of her, he shook his head as his hands moved hers away. “Nuh-uh,” he said, untying her belt before moving to the zipper at the back of her dress. “You stripped for me earlier...now it’s my turn.”

Slowly, he peeled her dress, bra, and panties away, then held her hand as he assisted her into the tub. She sank into the water and leaned back, another smile lighting her face. He stripped quickly and said, “Slide up just a bit, babe.”

She obeyed, and soon the water rose even higher as his body slid in behind hers, his muscular thighs on either side of her hips, her back now resting against his chest. Wrapping his powerful arms around her, he held her…engulfed her, wanting to give her all of himself.

“I said what I meant back there in the restaurant,” he said, his voice low as he kissed the side of her neck. “You need a hot bath, someone to take care of you, and then a good night’s sleep curled up next to me in a bed that doesn’t separate when you roll over.”

A light bark of laughter erupted from her as she nodded. “I like sleeping next to you, even if the bed moves when we roll over.”

“I kind of got that, Viv.”

She twisted her head around, but he kept his arms tightly around her.

“Every morning, I wake up with your leg over mine or tangled up in mine. Your hand is on my chest or my stomach. Your face is on my shoulder, and your body is smooshed next to mine. From the first night we slept together, I got that you like being next to me.”

“That’s irritating, you know,” she huffed. His chuckle caused her body to move with the vibrations, and she sighed. “And for the record, Logan, you laughing at me is irritating also.”

“I’ve never woken up wrapped around a woman before. Hell, it’s been over a decade since I even woke up to a woman in my bed.”

He was uncertain of her reaction to his proclamation, but her breathing halted and he squeezed her lightly before she inhaled deeply.

“Never wanted to. I might have been called Preacher, but I wasn’t a monk. Either I left, or they did. Never took anyone to my apartments when I had them. Never took anyone back to my house in Montana. Sure as hell never took anyone to meet my family… not even the girl I dated in college.” Leaning down so his mouth was right next to her ear, he continued, “So do you get why waking up with you all tangled up with me, knowing you want that as much as I do, is so important to me? I’m not making fun of you, Viv. I fuckin’ love it.”

She moved so quickly he barely had time to brace. She twisted her body around and grabbed his cheeks in her hands while straddling his legs. Some water sloshed over the side, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was this woman pulling him in for a kiss. They battled for dominance, devouring each other’s mouths, taking and giving at the same time.

Logan felt a change in her, as though any lingering doubts about his feelings for her had melted away. Taking charge, he tilted her head so he could maximize the kiss. Soon, she rooted herself on his cock, her hands on his shoulders, riding him withher breasts lightly bouncing as the waves of surrounding water sloshed even more over the side of the tub.

Later, they made it to the huge bed, legs tangled, her head resting on his chest where his arms pulled her in tight. Sweet dreams followed.

31

“Looks like everyone’s busy next door. Guess the weekend is over.”

Logan followed Vivian’s gaze toward the Zamans’ house as they drove into the driveway. He heard her sigh and matched it with one of his own. The weekend had been more than he could have hoped for, including room service breakfast in bed—along with other activities in bed—before having to leave. He knew they’d turned a corner in the relationship over the weekend. Her doubts seemed to melt away, hopefully realizing that, while their marriage might be a cover, his feelings for her were not. Meeting up with Iggie and Sally for the uneventful flight back home had been the perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Now, parking behind Vivian’s little car in the driveway, his mind jumped to the inevitable—stepping up the mission and getting his hands on what was cooking in their neighbors’ makeshift lab.

Moving inside, he could barely walk with Sakari protesting loudly at having been left alone overnight. There was still food and water in her dishes, so he knew she was fine, but scooped her up to pet. As Vivian came up behind him, he transferred thecat to her arms and picked up the bags again before he walked to the bedroom and dumped them onto the floor.

As he came back into the living room, he saw her already firing up the laptops. Her eyes met his, and she nodded, saying, “I know. We’ve got to get back to work.”

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