Page 72 of Winter's End

“She’s showering in my room,” Hillary responded cheerfully. “She didn’t want to wake you.”

Cute. It was tempting to climb in with her, but I thought better of it.

“I’m glad you finally made your move, Loggie-bear,” Hill teased, winking at me over her coffee. Her grin turned stony, though, in a second flat. It was almost scary how she could do that. “Don’t you fucking hurt her, Logan. Or I’ll kill you myself.”

“She’s not a fucking toy, Hill,” I shot back, annoyed by her warning. “I’m not going to fucking hurt her.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Unless she asks for it,” I tossed out smugly.

“Ask for what?”

Winter came down the hall in a college sweater and leggings, with a towel around her head and no makeup.

She never looked fucking sexier.

“Nothing,” I said dismissively. I pulled her into my arms as she walked past my seat at the island. I settled her between my legs and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Good morning, Princess.”

She wrinkled her nose at the nickname but didn’t protest.That’s my girl.

A shy smile filled out her lips and her gorgeous blue eyes peered into mine under her dark lashes.

“Hey.” She reached up and poked the bridge of my glasses. “I like these; they’re cute. Are you secretly a nerd, Logan Eccles?”

I snorted. “Hardly. This body’s close to perfect, but I have some flaws.”

Hillary choked on her coffee behind me, but I pretended not to hear her.

A wicked grin crossed Winter’s face. “I’m not sure that’s true. I saw your comic book last night. Quick’s going to have a field day when he knows you have something in common.”

I rolled my eyes in real irritation. “It’s Manga.” I growled, not wanting a thing in ten lifetimes in common with Shane Quicksilver, other than the woman we were fucking. “It’sart, not a comic. But forget that.”

I lowered my mouth to hers and pressed a deep, longing kiss to her lips. She tasted like citrus and mint, and something so uniquelyher. I wanted to devour her.

“As cute as this is,” Hillary interrupted sharply to my right, “I am not letting you two fuck in my kitchen. How about we order breakfast?”

I spun Winter around in my arms and nestled my head on her shoulder, keeping my hands locked around her waist. I sought out the time on the microwave clock and blew a long breath into Winter’s hair.

“I only have time to shower and then I have a meeting.” I squeezed Winter tighter to me. “You should have waited for me, Princess. We could have showered together.” I bit the tip of her earlobe and then released her, getting up from the counter to get moving with my day.

The meeting I had was important and necessary to move things forward with our web of fuckery. The band of fuckwits were counting on me, and I wouldn’t be the one to let them down.

Not something I ever thought I’d say, but here we fucking were.

I showered and dressed in twenty minutes, choosing my navy suit and pale pink tie for the special occasion.

Before I could leave, I needed another taste of my girl. I tucked my hands in her hair and cradled her to me, kissing her until we were both breathless and wanting.

I dropped a light kiss to the tip of her nose and soaked in the look of pure joy on her face. My princess was my most precious possession, and I’d be kissing those lips every fucking morning from now on.

“Don’t forget, you have a tux fitting at nine tomorrow!” Hill called after me just as I swung open the door.

“You don’t control my schedule anymore, Hill!” I barked back in annoyance before shutting it behind me; even though I’d fucking forgot about that stupid appointment and actually needed the reminder.

Like I needed more stupid suits in my closet. Camden and Stanley were on us more than ever to be the Golden Couple at the Golden Gala. The last fucking thing I wanted was to be paraded around like Stanley’s fucking show pony, but it would be the last time—the very last miserable time.

Maybe I’d get lucky and Georgio could kill him for me. I’d put a bug in Travis’ ear, since he was the next coming of the Carlos family. Poor fucker almost had a family worse than mine.

Almost.

I sped out of the parking lot and made my way to Doug Fraser’s office, just outside of the city. I needed a discreet PI with no previous ties to me for this job, and Chase had given me his number. The guy had found his mother, so he was fucking competent, at least.

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