Page 90 of Explorer's Revenge
“Fine!” Rick yells dramatically and rips his shirt up, pushing his pecs together and shaking his chest. “Boobs.”
“I meant Carter’s,” Logan grouses. “Nobody wants to see those.”
“I do,” I comment as I give Rick a thumbs-up as he shakes his rack.
“Mine are better,” Wilder remarks impassively. We gape at him, and then his shirt is suddenly up around his neck and he’s flexing his pecs.
“Yours? Check these out.” Still chewing, Way pulls his shirt up and flexes his chest as he wiggles his eyebrows.
“Well, if you can’t beat them . . .” Aiyaret sighs and stands, shyly lifting his shirt and exposing one of his nipples, smiling brightly.
“There are so many nipples out, yet none are the ones I want to see,” Logan whines.
“What the hell is happening in here?” We turn to find Ajax and my dad at the door, looking horrified, and I burst into laughter so hard, I almost piss my pants.
The others went in search of snacks and new games to play, so for once, the room is quiet. Logan is asleep, or so I thought, but his eyes open, locking on me. “You don’t have to watch me all the time, you know.”
“You love it,” I tease, and his smile is slow and sure. The drugs have worn off, and there’s a tightness around his eyes that betrays his pain, but I know he isn’t due for another dose yet. He also admitted he didn’t want to take them often and become dependent.
“Makes up for all the time I used to stare at you,” he murmurs, and I must look confused because he turns his head to face me, his fingers playing with mine. “You had to know I watched you.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Don’t be dumb, Carter, it doesn’t suit you. I wanted you—always did. You were just so . . . beautiful. Even when you were covered in mud and climbing mountains and being crazy, I couldn’t look away. I used to sneak off and watch your videos so the others didn’t know, but then I caught Wilder doing the same thing.” The wicked smile he gives me as he betrays his brother makes me laugh. “I never thought I’d have the opportunity to get close to you, never mind have a . . . relationship like this.”
“And what relationship is that?” I tease.
“Whatever one I can have with you. I’m not stupid. I know you want the others too.” His smile is small as he holds myhand, his eyes filled with pain for a moment, so even though I’m uncomfortable, I press to distract him.
“And that doesn’t bother you?” I ask as his thumb rubs back and forth across my knuckles.
“No,” he replies. “I share everything with my family, so why not you? Besides, even if I get a little bit of your attention, I’m fine with that.” He sounds so truthful, so honest, that it hurts, making me feel like shit.
I slept with his brother yesterday, then I kissed his friend, yet he stares at me like I’m the best thing to ever happen to him, and I don’t want that look to change.
The truth is, I want Logan too, and I always have.
He’s always been attractive, but seeing him on that island and working with him to survive showed me another side of him, and any man willing to get his leg bitten off to save me? Yeah, they are worth sticking around for.
I can’t bring his leg back or make what will come next easier for him, but for one minute, I can give Logan what he wants—me.
Releasing his hand, I remove my stolen hoodie, which I’m pretty sure is Way’s, so I’m in nothing but an oversized shirt and loose pajama pants.
“Maeve,” he murmurs, “what are you doing?”
I grin. “You wanted boobs, didn’t you?”
He’s uncharacteristically serious as he watches me.
My smile fades, a nervous sort of energy filling me as I slowly remove my shirt, and then I’m naked from the waist up. His eyes resist lowering at first, searching mine before they drop to my mouth and then to my chest. I drink in his expression as he looks at me—the slow blink, his teeth sinking into his lower lip.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers. “Want to fool around?” he jokes, but it falls flat as his hand balls into a fist on the bed. “Ican’t even move to get you.” He looks away, shame etched on his features.
I stand and step closer to the bed, tilting his chin back so I can look into his eyes. “I still want you as much as I did before, leg or no leg. Besides, I can move for you.” Taking his hand, I press it to the base of my throat, and his fingers reflexively circle it, making my chest flush as desire hums through my veins. He slides his hand down my chest, between my breasts, and over my abs before gliding back up.
“You’re so beautiful, Maeve Carter, more beautiful than any monument or world wonder I have ever seen. We’ve been to every unexplored corner of the world, searching for something beautiful, but nothing rivals you.”
Holy fuck. My mouth drops open as he meets my eyes and his fingers circle my nipple, deft and sure, before he tugs it into a tight peak. Desire shoots from my nipple to my clit, throbbing in time with my heartbeat as he slides his hand over to my other breast, giving that nipple the same treatment.
