“Logan.” He says my name reverently. “Although Cole was looking out for me, he should have explained himself a little better. I would be distracted. Not because you are in my house, or upstairs alone, but because anytime you are anywhere near me, I want to be right next to you. Do you not wonder why, if we write during the day, it’s upstairs most of the time? Do you not wonder why I’m always the only one awake when you get here each day? I want to be wherever you are.”
I suck in a breath. Did I hear him right? He wants to be near me?
“So, please, Logan, please stay here. I want you here.” He reaches down and laces his fingers through mine. “Come downstairs with me, hang out with us while we work.” Leaning down, placing his lips next to my ear, he whispers, “Please.”
How do I say no to that? I nod my agreement. “Okay,” I say softly.
I feel the feather-light press of his lips against my temple, and then he’s gone, lifting my suitcases onto the bed. “Let’s get you unpacked.”
I place my hand on top of the case he’s about to open. “I can do it.”
“Okay, but it needs to be done before we head downstairs. I’ll wait in the hall for you.” He looks from me to the bags then turns and walks out the door.
Holy shit!
Chapter 22
Kacen
As soon as I shut her bedroom door, I pull my phone out and text Cole.
Me: Logan was packed and leaving.
Cole: WTF?
Me: She said you talked to her, didn’t want to be a distraction.
My phone rings and his face lights my screen. I hit ignore and lean back against the wall across from her door. My phone dings with a text.
Cole: THAT’S NOT WHAT I SAID!!!
Me: I know, but that’s what she heard.
Cole: Did she leave?
Me: No, I stopped her. She’s unpacking, and then we’ll be down.
Cole: Good
I hear her door open, so I slide my phone back in my pocket. “We good?” I ask her.
“Yeah.”
“Good.” I grab her hand, lacing her fingers through mine, and lead her down to the studio in the basement. I know I’m pushing boundaries. The fucking lines are starting to blur. I want her. I’ve been good about hiding that, but something happened between last night and today when I told her douchebag ex that she was mine. She was curled in my arms as I said the words, and it felt . . . right.
Hopefully, I’ve bought myself some time to figure this shit out.
I lead her into the studio, her hand still laced in mine. All three of the guys notice, but don’t say a word. They know what it means. She’s the first girl any of us has had down here. We write alone, until now.
Tugging her against my chest, I place my lips next to her ear. “I want you next to me.”
Logan sucks in a deep breath at my admission, and if I had not had my eyes glued to her, I would have missed the faint nod of agreement that she gives me.
Keeping my hold on her, I walk to the far wall and grab my guitar. I then lead Logan to an oversized chair. Each of us have our “spots” that we like to be in when we’re writing. It wasn’t something we planned, but just became routine. This oversized chair is mine.
Tilting my head toward the chair, I indicate to Logan to sit. She does, keeping her hands clasped tightly in her lap. I’ve touched her a lot today, more than I should. I know I’m crossing lines, but I really don’t give a fuck. All I do is think about her, dream about my hands all over her tight little body. Rules be damned, I want her.
Feeling the eyes of my bandmates boring into me, I take my seat in the oversized chair next to Logan. I sit on the edge and angle my body toward her. I know she’s nervous, confused. I’ve done a complete change on her today.
I can’t fight it.
I don’t want to fight it.
I refuse to fight it.
Her teeth clasp onto her bottom lip and desire rushes through me. Yeah, it’s hot at hell, but that’s also the same move she made when I was buried deep inside of her. Leaning forward, I gently tug on her bottom lip with my thumb, setting it free. “You’re making it really hard for me not to kiss you,” I say softly.
Her eyes grow large, then dart around the room to see if the others had heard me. They hadn’t. I kept my voice low, just for us. Regardless, they know what’s up. They’ve been riding me for weeks about her, and I jump down their throats every fucking time they get near her or even speak about her in any way that indicates she’s more than their PA.
I’ve pretty much already staked my claim in their eyes. You can’t spend as much time together as we do and not learn how to read each other.
I fought it.
They knew it was coming.
Pulling away from her, I grip my guitar and raise my eyes to see if they’re ready. All three of them are wearing knowing smirks. Shrugging, I begin to strum a few chords on my guitar.
I need to let Logan in on the change. I just need time to convince her, wear her down, so she understands this is the right thing. We can be together with her still working for me. Hell, I’ll hire another PA, whatever it takes. I know she loves this job, so I don’t want it to come to that, but if that is the only thing that stands in my way, you can bet your ass it’s going to happen.
I want her.
Chapter 23
Logan
Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. I keep repeating the words in my head. Kacen is acting . . . different. Over the last few weeks, I’ve felt tension between us. There would be subtle touches or a wink, but nothing like last night and today. It almost seems like when he pretended like we were together when Daniel showed up at my place earlier, that he’s still . . . acting? I want to say it’s all just an act, but I know better.
I can feel it.
I can feel his eyes rake over my body, memorizing what they see. I can feel the heat of his body when he stands next to me. I can feel his hands, his gentle touch.
It’s not just an act.
I have no idea what this means. I work for him, and being involved is a bad idea. We both agreed that moving forward as if Hawaii never happened was the best course of action. It was a good plan, solid except for the fact that we spend five days a week with each other, and now . . . now I’m staying here.
This was a bad idea.
The sound of Kacen’s voice brings my attention back to the present. Not that it was ever far away with his body pressed next to mine. Oversized chair my ass!
His voice is deep and smooth like velvet. The sound alone sends desire coursing through me. I sit quietly with my hands folded in my lap, just taking it all in. I take the time to watch each one of them. This is truly their passion.
“Hold up,” Tristan says.
They all stop and wait for his instruction. I watch as he closes his eyes and taps his foot.
Surprising me, Kacen drops his hand to my thigh and rests it there, casually tracing circles with his thumb. “He’s working out a beat,” he says low enough that only I can hear.
I don’t reply, afraid my voice will give me away. His hands on me for . . . I’ve lost count of the number of times today. My body is screaming for him, but my head is telling me no. I couldn’t make it work with Daniel so how in the hell am I going to make it work with a rock star? Kacen is tall, dark, and so handsome it’s sometimes painful to be around him. Painful because I think of that week we shared. I study him with his chiseled jaw sporting a five o’clock shadow, dark hair that always looks like I just finished running my hands through it. His broad shoulders, six pack, and oh, yes . . . the V, and his array of tattoos is one hard to resist sexy package.