Page 36 of The Replacement Fiance

"I was."

"And her grave would have been without flowers for the week." I sigh. "I hope you don't mind me doing that."

"No, not at all. Thank you." When I don't say anything, Logan continues. "I read your note. I know it wasn't for me and I'm sorry."

"I hope that was okay."

"You and her would have gotten along well. Even Liam said so," he says.

"Logan, I owe you an apology, too."

"What for?"

"I'm sorry for telling everyone you were just my mechanic. I didn't even have the decency to call you my friend and I am so sorry. I was a coward." I see his jaw clench but he doesn't reply.

"You were never just a mechanic to me, Logan. You were always someone special, but I was just too scared to open myself up to falling in love again." I pause, sighing. "I'm just glad my SUV and my delivery vans didn't have the same idea. Thank goodness, there was always a reason for me to bring them in and see you."

"It's called a maintenance schedule," he says, grinning. "I don't even care if you like pineapple on your pizza, Mariah. I don't want to lose you again, or ever, for that matter."

As Logan strokes my cheek with his thumb, his fingers grazing the skin behind my ear, I can feel that familiar tingle running down my body and the butterflies in my belly fluttering again. Somewhere in the neighborhood, someone is setting off fireworks.

"So what should we do now?" I ask. "My plans were pretty boring. Go home, take a shower, and greet the new year in my PJ's."

A mischievous smile graces his handsome face and he pretends to think for a moment.

"How about celebrating New Year's Eve with me? We can work out the details later."

"Sounds like a plan," I say, chuckling. "Anything else?"

"This." Our lips connect then and I feel myself melting against him. His kiss starts soft at first before becoming hard, his teeth nibbling my lower lip. It's possessive and rough, almost turning my knees into putty.

My breath emerges as a moan against his mouth and Logan pulls away, a faint smile on his lips. "Let's get out of here before I end up making love to you on the counter."

I nip playfully at his lower lip. "I do have a larger-than-twin-size bed in my apartment."

"That's good to know."

"But I'm also starving," I add, chuckling. "Like, for real, starving."

* * *

Two hours later, we find ourselves sitting on the floor in front of my fireplace as the Times Square NYE special airs on TV. I've taken a quick shower and we're drinking champagne and eating pizza we picked up on the way home, half of it laden with pepperoni and the other half pineapple. Logan even braved a taste, doing his best not to make the funniest faces. Our little celebratory meal is nothing like the wedding I just oversaw but I'll take this moment over anything else. At least, this time, it's no charade.

When the glass ball descends on Times Square, Logan turns away from the TV and gazes at me. His fingers trace the outline of my cheekbone, my jawline, my lips. I close my eyes, savoring every sensation as my hands do some tracing of their own, the hard contours of his bicep up to his shoulder and down his chest, and lower still to his six-pack abs.

I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow but I know what I want to happen tonight. "I want you, Logan," I whisper as he groans, his fingers diving into my hair, pulling me closer. Our mouths meet again, hard and demanding, our tongues tasting of champagne.

When his hands tug at my shirt, pulling it over my head, I hear him breathe a sigh as he gazes at me.

"You're so beautiful, Mariah," he murmurs before kissing me again, his hands hooking the waistband of my shorts. When he blazes a trail of kisses down my neck to my breast, his voice telling me how amazing I feel vibrating against my skin sends delicious chills throughout my body. As he continues lower, taking a nipple in his mouth, he manages to help me out of the rest of my clothes.

I gasp, losing myself in the many sensations that hit me all at once—excitement, desire and bliss all rolled into one as he catches my nipple between his teeth. When his other hand drifts between my legs, I moan, my fingers digging into the skin of his shoulders.

He lifts his head to look at me. "Are you sure about this?"

I nod, closing my eyes as Logan positions himself between my legs. I moan when his mouth finds my sensitive folds, tonguing them slowly as I lace my fingers through his hair. He has me moaning, groaning, and gasping as I ride out my first release, his tongue and fingers doing their magic until I’m out of breath, impatient to feel him inside me.

I tug at his clothes impatiently, tossing his shirt to the floor before helping him out of his jeans. He's rock hard, and I want nothing more but to feel him inside me.

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