Fucking shit.
Not until you and your sisters are comfortable with me being in all of your lives.
Translation: until I was comfortable.
I was not comfortable. I was extremely uncomfortable with the way an apology had turned into a heart-to-fucking-heart that I was not ready to have. I needed Lauren. I needed her to pinch me. Hell, we should’ve stopped somewhere along the way to Tybee to pick up the shock collar. How the hell was I supposed to trust a man I didn’t know with my mother?
Fucking hell.
My mom set her empty wine glass down on the pool deck and prepared to stand, but before she could Ian was out of his seat.
“I got it,” Ian said and nabbed the glass.
“Thanks. The bottle’s on the table.”
I stared at my mom, happiness radiating off of her in every direction. So much of it, I couldn’t bear to see it. My gaze slipped to Lauren and our eyes locked. She, too, was smiling, but it was her eyes that spoke.
She remembered what I’d said about Guy letting her get her own drink. It wasn’t near the same, or was it?
Lauren gave me a blinding smile before she turned back to Jill and continued her conversation.
Fucking, fucking, hell.
“I had a great day,” Lauren muttered sleepily and snuggled closer. “Thank you for inviting me.”
I dipped my chin and inhaled. Coconut, some flowery scent, and the faint smell of chlorine lingered even though we’d showered and I spent a good amount of time using my hands to soap her body and wash her hair.
We were now in the bedroom farthest from the one my mom and Ian were staying in. It might’ve been immature but the son in me couldn’t stomach sleeping in the room next to my mom and her boyfriend, not when my brain wouldn’t shut the fuck up.
“Didn’t exactly invite you,” I reminded Lauren.
“I know you didn’t, Logan. You demanded my presence and didn’t leave me an out unless I wanted to look like a shrew in front of your family. Luckily for you, I have manners and didn’t want to cause a scene. Also lucky for you, I’m being pragmatic and pretending you extended an invitation instead of what you really did. Also, you’re lucky I really like your sisters, and your mom’s awesome.”
I was damn lucky, and as we lay there with her head on my chest, our legs tangled, and my hand resting on her bare ass cheek, I thought she should know just how lucky I knew I was.
“Thank you for coming, Ren. I wouldn’t have made it through today without you.”
“You would’ve—”
“No, I would’ve bailed. Five minutes into lunch I would’ve gotten back into my car and left. And if not then, when you and my sisters were shopping and my mom laid me out I would’ve made myself look like a jackass and taken off. The only thing that’s kept me somewhat steady is knowing you were near, and not wanting to let you down or embarrass you.”
“He’s a good guy.”
Her whispered words fanned across my chest and my hand cupping her ass convulsed. Not even I could deny her assessment.
“He asked her to marry him and she said no.”
“What?” Lauren pushed off my chest and came up on her elbow so she was staring down at me. “She said no?”
“Yep. I guess she told him that until we, which really means me, are comfortable with their relationship she won’t marry him. But she’s moving in with him.”
“Logan,” she muttered. “Honey, your mom loves him.”
Fucking hell.
“I know she does.”
“He loves her, too.”
“I know that.”
“What are you going to do?”
I was going to man up and stop acting like a dick was what I was going to do. The problem was when the mere thought of my mom marrying Ian crept into my head I felt sick.
“I got no choice but to give my mom what she needs to be happy.”
I said the words but that didn’t mean my throat didn’t feel scratchy. It felt less so when Lauren smiled. The prickly feeling was just receding when she lowered her mouth to mine and kissed me. I fought against taking control then taking us other places. The only thing that stopped me was knowing my sisters were in the room next to us. So that meant Lauren’s kiss was soft. Sweet glides and sweeter brushes of her tongue against my lower lip.
“Proud of you, Logan.”
My eyes started to sting, and since I’d never felt a sensation quite like it, I didn’t know what it meant. But I did know it felt really fucking good. And when Lauren settled and curled her soft body into mine, I knew that felt better.
18
“Logan!” I panted and braced a hand on my headboard.
Apparently, three days without sex and Logan was feeling energetic.
“Not yet, baby.”
Both of his hands were holding my hips and he was using his grip to pull me back as he thrust forward. I was so worked up I couldn’t hold on, this was because he’d woken me up with one of his hands between my legs and the other up my shirt cupping my breast. Once I was fully awake, my shirt was discarded and he employed his mouth. Starting at my neck he licked and nibbled his way down, stopping only to tease my nipples into hard peaks, then he continued to his destination. Three days might’ve made Logan energetic but it also left him hungry. He showed no mercy when he ate me, he edged me close only to back off and then start all over. He tasted until he had his fill then turned me over and took more.
“So close, honey,” I whimpered.
“Love your ass, Ren.”
I knew he did. If we were in bed, Logan was touching my booty.
“Honey.”
“Love the way you feel, baby.”
God.
I could take no more. I dropped my forehead to the bed, tipped my ass higher, and fisted the bunched-up sheets under me. Logan drove in harder and moved one hand around and down, his finger hit the exact right spot and my pussy spasmed. Then Logan bent forward until his chest was resting on my back and his lips were at my ear. I could hear his heavy breaths, I could feel his big body vibrating, I could smell his spicy scent. It was sensory overload. I was hot and cold, felt like I was floating but held down, until pleasure ripped through me so hard it was painful.
“I can feel you, baby,” Logan whispered. “Sleek and wet. Love your pussy, love how wet you get for me. Every time. Never gonna let you go, Ren.”
He was still pounding deep, my mind hazy from my climax, but even still I heard him.
“Never, baby,” he finished and groaned.
Three more strokes and he planted himself to the root and trembled.
“Won’t ever let you leave me, Lauren.”
Showered, dressed, travel mugs of coffee poured, I was ready to go to work.
Or more accurately, I needed to escape Logan.
Something had shifted and I wasn’t the only one who had noticed.
Yesterday, at Sunday brunch Jill had openly gaped at her brother. Jackie had been skeptical at first then rolled with Logan’s mood. Dee had been overjoyed. And Ian had been…Ian. The man was nothing if not even-keeled. Steady as a rock and calm. I wouldn’t go as far as saying Logan had been friendly, but he’d been friendlier and he’d engaged in conversation with Ian.