He rinsed the dishes. “Good, because Roy, Beau and Dylan are my go-to brothers for helping figure out how to get your money back from Jensen while I earn enough money for all of us.”
His faith that he could make money like that made her relax. She closed the refrigerator and dried the plates he put in the rack. “Thanks.”
“Glad we’re working on trust Hannah.” He winked at her and handed her the last dish.
She dried it and saw how he stared at her like she was dessert as he turned off the water faucet.
She put the dish away and felt more tingles in her lips. “We shouldn’t-”
“It’s your wedding night,” he said, interrupting her, as he claimed her lips in a kiss.
Fireworks exploded inside her. Logan Bentley was a force of nature she couldn’t explain, but she didn’t want to.
She’d married him. Sure it wasn’t in a church and not conventional, but she was about to give him access to everything she had already. Would his touch be worth even more? Maybe she lived in a fantasy world, but she needed to trust herself too. He tasted slightly salty and 100 percent real.
The thought fueled her as she pulled him closer, kissing him back with more fervor. Her body ached for him. As he stopped for a second, she nodded and met his gaze. “That’s true. Okay.”
Then he reached under her legs and picked her up, carrying her into the bedroom nook to claim his bride.
Chapter 6
Logan’s lips never left Hannah’s as he set her down on the bed. Every cell in her body ached for his touch, but she wasn’t sure how to ease the tension. No one had ever made her feel like this—shy, yet she wanted nothing else than to be with him.
He lifted his head and her tingling lips begged for more kisses as he pressed against her, each of them fully clothed. He smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “Hannah, you’re beautiful.”
Looking at him was too much. She could hear her heartbeat bang in her chest as she lowered her lashes to avoid his intense gaze. “Logan, I’m scared.”
He sat straight. “We don’t have to…”
No. The last thing she wanted was to end this. She traced his jaw with her fingers to get him to join her again. “I want you. I want our wedding night.”
He adjusted himself on the bed. “If you’re sure.”
From the third floor, nobody could see inside her apartment, and the windows fogged from cold snow outside and their heat but she still pulled the blinds closed for privacy. She kicked off her flats. “I’m yours.”
Without another word she reached out, wrapped her arms around his, kissed him and settled in his lap. His hands traced down her body and fireworks exploded in her chest as he continued to kiss her. When he let her go, she said, “Wow.”
A deep laugh escaped his lips as he clasped her hips. “We haven’t even begun. Take off your clothes.”
She loved the sound of his laugh and shimmied out of her white dress. “Like this?”
His eyes widened, and she reached for her bra. She’d always wanted a man who could dare her, and Logan Bentley made her body sing. She slid off her panties, and instead of feeling weak, she felt powerful as Logan said, “You’re perfect to me.”
“Every part of me is on fire,” she admitted. He unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on the floor with her clothes.
She trembled with anticipation. He kissed her shoulder as she sat back down in his lap. “Relax, we’ll go slow, and you can tell me when to stop.”
He repositioned her to lie on the bed, and she followed his directions even as her body yearned for something she didn’t understand.
He tossed his pants and underwear off and again she felt jittery as he came to kiss her. She pouted with uncertainty. “How do I know if I’m ready?”
He deepened the pressure of his mouth against hers, and his kiss was magic. She clutched his shoulders and felt carried away. As he ended the kiss, he whispered, “We’ll go one step at a time.”
This time she traced his perfect body. Her eyes glazed as her skin buzzed with desire. His muscles, his dark hair, and dark eyes. Logan Bentley was perfect, in every way. “Logan, you’re everything a man is supposed to look like.”
He winked at her and kissed her forehead. “Kiss me again.”
“That I can do.” She reached up and tugged him lower. A thrill rushed through her veins while he pressed against her.
His testosterone mixed with the essence of him and a flutter grew in her heart. “Mmhmm.”
Logan gently caressed her most intimate parts. “Do you like my touch?”
“Yes. Logan. Please.” She was ready. She needed to know what being his wife was like. She needed him.
He went lower, almost like he touched her core as he stared into her eyes. “Good girl, now I’m going to touch this.”
“Wow!” A spasm grew just from his touch.
He kissed her cheek. “Just relax. I’m only touching and nothing else.”
She relaxed her legs even more and a heady ecstasy grew from her soul as he drove her wild. Her head begged to take control but her body didn’t listen. “When did you learn to do this?”
He bent lower and kissed her lightly. “Far too young and with no one that matters.”
His finger pressed into her secret valley, tempting her to let go and forget. But she’d never just relaxed. Tension built. She let out a moan. “How do I know I matter?”
He adjusted her body, and she felt a pressure inside her, begging for him. He kissed her again. “I’ve never had a wife before, Hannah.”
“Just kiss me, Logan.” In his kiss, she felt like she could abandon her mind and be swept along with the flow of passion.
“Absolutely.” His hard length nudged her entrance as he kissed her.
A crescendo grew inside her as she lost the ability to think.
He stopped kissing her lips and whispered, “Now relax.”
“How?” Her body stretched and tightened.
He stopped, stared at her with desire so hot it melted her reserves. “Release your muscles.”
How? She closed her eyes as she couldn’t keep them open and tried. Another wave of desire grew, and she felt him go deeper inside her. Words no longer formed and all she could say was “Mmmhmm.”
“How about this?” His hips moved in rhythm.
She almost died but he directed her toward heaven itself. She couldn’t speak and just said, “Mmmm…”
“You’re mine, Hannah Bentley.” He drove her over the edge to a shattering release.
She lost the ability to do anything but feel and rejoice that Logan Bentley was her husband.
Chapter 7
Hannah’s bed was warm and she didn’t want to move. She was cozy beneath the covers, though the spot next to her had cooled under the sheet. Logan must have woken already.
She rolled to her side, but otherwise didn’t open her eyes.
Light burned over her head and reflected in her eyelids, so she covered her face with a pillow.
But then the bed beside her shifted and she felt a strong arm on her thigh that lightly stroked her over the blanket as a deep, rich voice asked, “Are you up, Hannah?”
Her husband. The word wanted to roll off the tongue. Was she a fool? It was too late to matter. She opened her eyes, threw off the cover and hugged him. “Logan, don’t let me go.”
He smelled so manly and yummy good that she gently kissed his shoulder. He hugged her back. “We have to get going, together.”
Together. That sounded wonderful. She sat up and met his gaze. “Right.”
He scooted off the bed and tugged on his pants. “We have to go meet my brothers.”
“And go to the bank.” She rose quickly, hearing the urgency in his tone. He must really want to see his family, which she understood. Harry had been one of the best people she’d seen in months.
He gently grabbed her wrist and shook his head. “We don’t have-”
What? She swallowed and realized this was about the bank and
her giving him access to the money from Kirno. She looped her arms around his neck and looked up at him. He had changed her world. “I want to trust you with everything, Logan, including my heart.”
His face went white, but he stayed close and lowered his head. “I don’t know if I’m worth that much.”
The last thing she’d do was push him. She let go, but waited for him to lift his face as she said, “Faith is about believing despite all intellectual thought. I used to be better at faith—I think that is what I was searching for with Reverend Jensen.”
“You don’t have to talk about Jensen if it makes you upset.” He shook his head, like he didn’t know what to say to her. He motioned toward the bedroom door and put his hand on her lower back. “Come. You can tell me about this foolish boy who broke your heart over breakfast.”
A laugh escaped her throat. Aaron was nothing like Logan and never would be. She slowed her steps, not wanting to leave yet. “He wasn’t my boyfriend or anything and my heart clearly bounced back. Can we go out to a coffee shop? I want to indulge my frivolous desires this morning.”
Logan made a grand bow. “Sure. Whatever my lady wants, we’ll make sure you get.”
Another laugh escaped her throat. She inched toward the bathroom. “There is a place near the mall and my bank has a branch there, so we won’t be late to meet your brothers if we leave now.”
He stared at her funny but then covered his mouth. “Are you feeling okay?”
Last night had given her tons of energy. “Yes, amazing. I’ll just take a quick shower.”
He snapped his fingers and headed toward the living area. “Can I use your computer to look up my brothers’ status? My phone is turned off still, but I’m hoping all of them are out of prison already.”
Perfect. In a few minutes they’d head out together, as one. She’d never have to set foot in this small studio that overlooked a dreary street. Sunlight was in her future. Yay! And while she hadn’t expected this, it was nice to have a husband. She smiled. “Sure, and my phone should be charged so feel free to call anyone, Logan. I’ll be right out.”
After her shower, she chose a royal blue cotton dress that she normally wore to church and checked her image in the mirror. Her skin seemed brighter, thought that was probably her imagination. She ignored the feeling of her heart being full and focused instead on packing her one measly bag with all her worldly belongings and her mother’s jewels in under five minutes.
Done, she rolled the suitcase out into the living room and met Logan’s gaze as he closed the laptop. She parked the bag. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”
“Your brother called.” He walked toward her with her phone in hand.
Harry might deflate the wind in her sails and she didn’t want that. She took the phone he offered but put it behind her back. “I’ll call him later, after our errands.”
He took her suitcase handle and she walked toward her pocketbook. “I’d rather you talk to him first.”
“Why?” She fished out her keys and dropped the phone in her bag.
He came beside her as she jingled her keys, wheeling her bag. “If he talks you out of anything, I understand.”
She shrugged and opened the door for the last time in her tiny apartment that proved she could survive anywhere. Logan passed her. “That won’t happen.”
“Make the call though—I want to be sure.” He lifted the suitcase to carry it down the three flights of stairs.
Clearly her husband was as stubborn as her brother. She shrugged, locked the door and followed him toward the staircase. “Okay, after my coffee.”
They reached the front step and he held the door open for her. “I don’t understand. You said you loved your brother.”
She clicked her car alarm and unlocked the trunk. “I absolutely love him—he’s the best brother I could ask for.”
“Then what?” Logan put the bag in the back and closed it.
She unlocked the rest of her car and hopped into the driver’s seat. “Harry was the perfect child, following in our parents' footsteps, and they always assumed he’d look out for me. I wasn’t expected to be anything. And he has this vision of his perfect life that he’s always wanted, and I never had that much of a clue—so, it’s hard sometimes to be in his shadow.”
They drove to a local strip mall that had seen better days, but it had everything they needed in one shopping center. She parked and went into the coffee shop for her latte, while Logan followed her through the door. “You’re an interesting paradox, Hannah.”
Hannah, in line for her coffee, turned toward him. “How am I a paradox?”
He crossed his arms as they shuffled forward. “Your pride stood in the way of asking for help to the point where you married a total stranger—you still don’t want to admit your mistake.”
“Can I help you?” The man behind the counter smiled his greeting. She ordered her peppermint mocha with an extra shot of expresso—no guilt.
She then made her way toward the counter to wait for her latte. Logan ordered a small coffee, cream but no sugar, and a muffin.
Her ears buzzed with his opinion of her. It wasn’t pride. Not exactly. She’d wanted a clue out of life and didn’t want Harry’s directions anymore. Was that pride? Her hand trembled so she tucked in her pocket so Logan didn’t see.
His order was completed before hers, but he waited with her. Once it was ready, they walked to a table near the window. She asked, “You really think it’s pride? That’s not good.”
He waited until she sat down and sipped her coffee. The decadent taste made her grin. Man, had she missed these.
“The day I was arrested in my office in New York, I didn’t want to call my family,” Logan said. “I didn’t want them to worry, but then we all ended up in prison together. My father is in a different prison and so is my mother. It’s hard not getting any information.”
She winced. She’d done that to her brother, her only living relative that mattered. She’d disappeared on him when he’d been the one who might understand her grief. She brushed her finger over the top of Logan’s hand. “I should have asked. How are your brothers?”
He took his muffin out of the paper bag. “We’ll see them all this afternoon, as planned.”
Good? She leaned in and hoped for clarification. “So they are out?”
“Yes.” He offered her a piece of his chocolate chip muffin and she accepted a tiny bite.
After she swallowed, she washed it down with her latte, the chocolate and peppermint mixing together with the coffee. “Perfect. And so was this cup.”
“Call your brother,” Logan said.
She would marry a stubborn man. Hannah reached for her purse which she’d hung on her chair. “You won’t let this go.”
He leaned back as she took out her phone. “No. Family is all we can be sure of in this world.”
If Logan was this loyal to her too then she’d have nothing to worry about. She scrolled her phone for Harry’s number. “That says more about your family than you realize, but okay, I’m calling.”
Logan didn’t say another word.
Her phone didn’t ring for more than ten seconds before her brother’s deep voice answered, “Hello!”
She glanced at the table and hoped her cheeks didn’t blush. She felt a little hot as she said, “Hey, Harry.”
Harry immediately said, “Finally! Sis, I read in the news you actually married Logan Bentley. What were you thinking?”
“That he’s innocent. We went to high school together, don’t you remember?” Her shoulders slumped and she cut him off before he shared his opinion on that too. “Logan insisted I call you because he said family matters. He’s right, Harry.”
Her brother asked, “Do you need help?”
Because she’d made a huge mistake and trusted the wrong person in her life? She tugged her free ear, knowing she deserved his disappointment. “Yes, but it’s not about Logan. It’s something else and I need to come clean.”
“I’l
l come and get you,” Harry said in full hero mode.
“No.” She met Logan’s gaze and lifted her chin, not in need of rescue. “Logan and I are flying to Miami later today. Maybe we can get together for dinner and talk in person. I’d rather not say what happened to me on the phone.”
“Are you sure you want to wait?” Harry sounded stressed.
“Yes.” Her brother would spend the day assuming Logan had done something to her, other than make her feel wonderful and alive. “I am fine, Harry. Don’t worry.” She sucked in her lips and stared into Logan’s dark, sexy eyes. “I’ll call you when we get to Miami and then maybe you, Roxy, Logan and I can get dinner or just drinks so we can talk.”
“I miss you, Hannah,” Harry said.
Pushing him away had been a mistake—pride wasn’t a pretty attitude to have. She closed her eyes. “I miss you too, Harry. See you tonight.”
Once he said his goodbye, she opened her eyes and stared at Logan. He’d been right that she should call. She nodded at him and stood with her empty cup. “I’m ready to hit the bank now and then we can go meet your family.”
He pressed his lips together, followed her to dispose of their trash and then out the door. As they walked toward the bank, he said, “We have to be fast. I want to see my brothers and get going.”
“We’ll rush. I promise.” She held up her hand like she swore an oath in court.
Logan took her other hand and she walked beside him. Despite everything that happened, meeting Logan’s family scared her. If this was temporary and they were all married for 30 days, then Logan might feel like he was in good company. But part of her wanted forever which was silly and another fantasy to ditch. Perhaps when she saw Caitlyn and Lois again, she’d get her head on straight. They were all in this together.
She wanted Logan to be open to more with her too, but she knew she shouldn’t. Her feelings didn’t change the facts. Logan valued his family above anything else, including her.
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