by Janie Marie
Logan’s eyes seemed to dim. “I don’t expect you to end up being close. It’s just that she can train you and back you up when I can’t be there. It would be different if you fought back, but you don’t.”
He looked stressed. “I don’t know any other girl at your school who would help you.”
“I don’t need help,” she said harshly, hoping he’d drop it.
He sighed, closing his eyes for a second. “I didn’t mean it like that. Why can’t you see I just want you safe? Your sister has been beating you, your stepmom allows it, and Kevin hasn’t even picked up on what’s going on. You are refusing to get proper help, and I can’t be there all the time. I swear she has no intention of hurting you. She acts tough, but she’s honestly the sweetest girl I know.”
God, he was just making it worse and worse.
He doesn’t know you really like him, idiot.
The sudden thought surprised her, and she could barely keep her face relaxed as he watched her.
“Don’t be afraid,” Logan said. “I’d worry if the girls at the gym trained with you, but not her. She’d be all about letting you build on your strengths and patient with you in a way I’m not even sure I could be. Plus, I wouldn’t mind watching you two go at it.” He winked at her baffled look. “Catfight, baby.”
“You perverted—“
Logan laughed as the waiter smiled and gave him their check.
“Thanks,” he said, pulling out his wallet. “What?” He still grinned at her glare. “I’m a guy, Hood. Two hot girls fighting, grabbing each other and no doubt saying dirty words. Someone’s tit is popping out, and I’m hoping it’s yours.”
Kylie swatted his hand away when he offered it to her to pull her out. “Dammit, Logan. I’m—I’m telling Ryder. Yeah, I’ll tell him you want his girlfriend’s boob to pop out in a catfight.”
He laughed louder. “Go ahead. He’s a hornier bastard than I am.”
“Yeah, well, I doubt he’s over there wishing for his girlfriend to flash everyone.” She looked away, realizing she was sort of saying Logan should consider her his girlfriend.
She prayed he wouldn’t laugh at her, so it caught her off guard when he muttered, “I didn’t think of that. Okay, I still want a catfight—lots of hair pulling, maybe kiss her or something. But I’ll put a sports bra on you to keep your tits safe. Those girls are all mine.”
“You’re a pig.”
He chuckled and pulled her to him, hugging her as he kissed her hair. “You like it.”
“Whatever,” she said, elbowing him one last time. Even though she was beyond annoyed he’d throw Janie into his little fantasy, she was completely giddy because he didn’t laugh in her face about the girlfriend slip.
“How are the ribs?”
She leaned against him as they walked past different stores. “Fine. I hardly feel it when I walk now.”
“Good. It looks like you’re feeling a lot better. Oh, here, let’s grab you a phone.” He pulled her into a mobile phone store.
Fifteen
LIAR
The sports and outdoors shop Logan had taken her to was boring, so when he struck up a conversation with some salesman, Kylie took the chance to explore the new phone he’d bought for her.
She didn’t know what apps she should get just yet, but she was too absorbed with the contacts Logan had already put in for her.
He had added himself, of course, but also Janie, Ryder, Evander, the gym, and some friend named Than Messor, who was a police officer they could trust if things got messy. He’d hinted this guy could look into her abuse, but she declined, and thankfully he dropped it.
Kylie grinned as she came across the contact he’d created for himself: Logan Stolemypanties Grimm.
“Hood,” he called, not looking up from the counter. “Black or red?”
“What?”
Logan held up two keychains that resembled spades, with handles on the end to go between your fingers. “You hold it like this”—he closed his hand, leaving the pointed end of the heart sticking out—“and punch.”
“I don’t think I need that.”
“You’re getting one, so pick.”
“Fine,” she said, sighing when he grinned in triumph. “The black one.”
“He’s bringing your mace out,” he said, still looking at the items laid out in front of him. “He said the triple action stuff has OC pepper and tear gas. I figured that’s better.”
Kylie smiled, watching him frown as he inspected a little expandable baton keychain.
“Logan,” she said, watching him flick the baton out a few times.
He didn’t look up. “Hm?”
“I’m not in love with Trevor.” Oh, God, what am I doing?
Not being a liar. . .
Logan stopped playing with the baton and slowly looked over at her as she wondered why she was even thinking like this. She’d had a plan, and now she was . . .
Her heart pounded in her chest. She could make something up. Anything.
She had nothing. All she could think about was Ryder telling her to come clean about her feelings. She didn’t know how he knew she was lying to Logan, but he did. Would the truth be worse than letting this lie go on for however long she managed to pull it off—with Logan always thinking she was using him to get Trevor? But he was stuck on Janie. She felt lightheaded.
“Are you going to elaborate or just stand there?” He didn’t look angry, but he also didn’t look happy.
It hurt to breathe. She had to say something. It might be better to scare him off now rather than fall completely in love with him.
“Hood?”
“I thought I loved him,” she blurted, pausing to see if he’d say anything. He didn’t, so she kept going. “But I realized it was just a silly crush.”
He didn’t move. He didn’t blink.
“I’m sorry I lied. I really don’t know what I was thinking. I guess it was just that Lorelei and Maura were about to hit me again, and I blurted out you were protecting me, and all I could think was you’d keep me safe. I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was afraid. And I thought if I kept reminding you—kept reminding myself—that it was just to get Trevor, then I wouldn’t be lying. But I hate saying anything about him to you. I feel terrible for using you both.”
She swallowed, her eyes misting with tears. “The truth is, I don’t have feelings for your cousin. I have feelings for you.”
He stayed quiet, and she began to shake as fear took hold of her.
“I know you don’t want a girlfriend, and that you don’t want to hurt me, but I can’t lie anymore. I like you. A lot.”
She rubbed her face when a tear fell. “I know you only care about my safety, but I needed to tell you. Just don’t think you have to stay with me. I get it if you want to cut me out.”
Oh, she wanted to scream for him to stay, but she didn’t. She kept going. “I get it if I’ve made this awkward, but I need you to know. I need to tell you what I want.”
“And what do you want?”
She swallowed, startled at his sudden question. “I want us to really date.”
He showed no reaction.
“I want this—whatever is happening between us—I want it to be real. No games. No tricks or lies. I don’t care about your stupid categories—I want you.”
Logan stayed quiet, then smirked. “I thought you weren’t going to fall for me, Hood.”
Now it was her turn to stay quiet.
“Didn’t you say, ‘I won’t fall in love with you, Logan. I don’t like you that way, Logan’?”
“I didn’t say I’d fallen for you,” she whispered, shaking because he had started walking the few steps it would take for him to stand in front of her. “And I’m telling you I like you now.”
“Really,” he said, grabbing her chin and tilting it up. “Well then”—he lowered his lips to brush across hers—“I guess I better up my game.”
He kissed her before she could really comprehend what he’d said—w
hat he meant. But she didn’t care. She threw her arms around his neck as he held her close and kissed him back, loving that he always managed to show her his dominance with just a kiss.
He pulled back but only so he could kiss down her neck. “You know what this means, don’t you, Hood?”
“We’re really dating?” She sighed, gripping his shirt to keep him close.
Logan nodded, smiling against her neck as he pressed more kisses there. “And”—he kissed his way back up her neck—“we need to stop at the lingerie store. I’m buying sexy shit for you to wear so I can rip it off after every real date I take you on.”
“You’re a pervert.” She was melting.
“A pervert you like. A lot.”
“I can take it all back, Grimm.” She really couldn’t.
He shook his head and lowered his mouth to hers for a short kiss. “Not happening,” he said, leaning back when the salesperson returned. “I already told you—you’re mine.”
Sixteen
CREEP TO FREAK
I’m such a creep.
Kylie couldn’t stop that thought because the smile on her face wouldn’t go away. She giggled to herself as she rolled onto her stomach, thankful that Logan hadn’t come into his room yet. Of course, this probably made her seem even creepier because she sniffed the sheets on his bed. But she couldn’t care all that much—she was happy.
And even though it was there in her mind that they weren’t a full-on couple yet, she was floating. They were really dating. Sure, they might not be boyfriend and girlfriend yet—at least she didn’t think they were. She didn’t know if dating was just dates until they decided they wanted to be exclusive, or if dating meant they were already together. Maybe she should’ve asked. It was too late now, though. She didn’t want to freak him out by asking him to label them further. God, this was complicated.
But he was worth it, and she was determined to make them official.
Her smile faltered as she thought about Janie. Well, not just Janie—all his girl-toys. Would he still see Janie? Would he carry on with other women until he decided to put her into the official girlfriend category?
I can’t go crazy-girlfriend on him and make demands.
She wanted to. She wanted to tell him his Janie days were over, but that probably wouldn’t go over well. Surely, he’d understand having a girl, especially an ex-girlfriend, while he was with her wasn’t going to work.
“Ugh,” she groaned, not wanting to go down this line of thinking. She wanted to focus on the fact Logan Grimm—the man-boy who had once said he didn’t do love—was trying to start a relationship with her. He’d even announced that he was trying to win her love. That had to mean something. That had to mean he wanted to call her his girlfriend.
Kylie closed her eyes as she rolled onto her back. She hadn’t slept much the night before, and their day and these incredible new feelings were all wearing on her. She needed to get some real sleep, but that was going to have to wait.
It was five o’clock, and they had just come back to his apartment. Logan wanted a little more time with her before taking her home, and he said he needed to shower. Things were about to get messy because of the fight between Janie and Maura. Kylie wasn’t expecting Maura to let it go. Logan wanted to do everything possible to show he was keeping an eye on things and that they really were seeing each other.
“Yeah, I’ll make it up tomorrow.”
Kylie opened her eyes to see Logan entering his room with his phone to his ear. He hadn’t looked at her yet. He was setting his stuff on a dresser.
“She’s better,” he said to the person on the phone. “Yeah. I talked to her about Janie—she’s going to think about it. Ryder is going to start with me. Well, maybe, but he agreed to come by this week. I think he’s just looking forward to fighting me without her getting mad at either of us.”
Kylie frowned when she realized he must be talking to Mark about her training up at the gym. Logan had gotten a call from Janie when they were looking around the outlet, and he’d moved away to talk to his ex. He promised it was just because he didn’t want her to feel bad when he told Janie she wasn’t ready to start training with her, but it still annoyed her that he wouldn’t talk in front of her.
“We won’t let it get out of hand,” he said, turning to smile at her as he dangled a lingerie bag in front of him. He walked up to her and kneeled on the edge of the bed after spreading her legs apart. “Just count it as sessions with you if I do fight him. He’s a bigger challenge than the others anyway.”
Logan placed a hand by her head and lowered his lips to brush against hers as he listened to Mark talk. “Okay,” he said, sliding his cheek against hers, making her sigh and hope he would end his call.
Maybe she could make him. Kylie smiled, then lifted her hands to his sides, making him pause whatever he had been saying. At this point, she couldn’t even remember what he was talking about. She was too busy slipping her fingers under his shirt, almost moaning because he felt that amazing. “Oh, I’ve missed this,” she whispered, her voice airy as she turned to kiss his neck.
Logan tensed above her, but he tilted his head so she could kiss more of his neck. Mark was still talking away while Logan grunted replies. It was funny and kind of cute, but she was tired of it. She felt like she had tried to fight her craving for Chocolate Logan Kisses all day, and now she was ready to binge.
“Logan,” she said, breathing his name on the side of his neck while continuing to slide her hands around his sides.
He pushed himself up onto his knees, his hand on her leg because she had been trying to wrap them around his waist. “Mark, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He didn’t wait for a response and tossed his phone on his bed. “You’re in trouble now, Hood.”
She squeaked, smiling like a fool when he lifted her and tossed her to the middle of the bed. Kylie bit her lip when he didn’t come to her right away, but she wasn’t disappointed.
Logan stayed at the edge of the bed, smirking at her no doubt needy look, and started pulling his shirt over his head.
Crap yes!
She wanted to laugh at her thoughts, but she was too busy enjoying the show he was giving her. There was no way to stop her eyes from roaming all over him. Her body was on fire simply because every one of his beautiful muscles flexed from the tiniest of movements.
“Your body feeling okay?” He kept his eyes on hers as she forced herself to look away from the masterpiece that was Logan Grimm.
She nodded, breathing out a, “Yes.”
He smirked and undid his pants. “Good.”
“Logan,” she whispered, all sorts of tingling spreading throughout her body. She wanted him to touch her everywhere. God, she wanted to touch him. Taste him.
“We’re not having sex,” he said, making her chuckle because he looked disappointed by his own decision. “I’m leaving my briefs on.”
He laughed at her pout, then he finished pulling his pants off.
Magnificent. Just everything. Him, all of him. He was perfect.
His gorgeous face and dark eyes—his muscular thighs and calves. And his six-pack. Oh, his six-pack! Christ, she’d touched every inch of them already, and she still wanted more. She especially wanted to slide her hands down the dip on his waist that created the delicious V that disappeared under his boxer-briefs.
She couldn’t decide what she wanted to touch first. Not when she let her eyes take in his inked arms, chest, and back. Gimme.
“Don’t worry, baby.” He kneeled on the bed again as he started removing her shoes. “I’m going to take care of you, okay?”
“Okay.” Her breath was a little shaky as he slid his hands up her jean-covered legs, squeezing her thighs and hips before he moved to brace himself above her.
“Did you miss my touch?”
“Yes,” she whispered, reaching up to hold him to her.
Logan grinned before kissing the corner of her mouth. “I’ve missed feeling you beneath me.” His voice was low as he slid
his mouth across her jaw to kiss her neck.
“You just touched me yesterday.” She moaned as he sucked her neck. It amazed her how him touching her in one place could make her whole body come alive.
“That’s too long,” he whispered in her ear.
Kylie lifted her hands to grab his face, the slight stubble on his jaw tickling her palms. “Oh, good,” she said, trying to pull his lips to hers. “I thought I was being needy.”
He chuckled but gave her what she wanted, dipping his mouth down to hers.
“Mm,” she moaned, moving her fingers to the back of his neck while she slid her other hand down his chest, over his abs and down to his . . .
“Fuck.” He pulled her hand away from his waistband, linking their fingers before holding their hands above her head. He kissed her harder. “I won’t stop if you do that.”
Kylie wanted to beg for him to let her, but she wasn’t ready. “I’m sorry.”
Logan grinned as he shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. I just want to do things right.” He smirked as he carefully lifted her shirt to expose her breasts. “Well”—he lowered his lips to the edge of her bra and kissed her sensitive skin—“a little bit right.”
Her lips pressed together, muting the whimper escaping her as he left a trail of kisses down her stomach until he reached the button on her jeans.
“Because I’ve never been the good guy,” he murmured, snapping her button open. “But I’m trying to be better”—he kissed her stomach—“for you.”
Kylie smiled at his mischievous grin.
He grabbed the sides of her jeans and started pushing them down. “But I’m still me, baby.” He stuck one hand under the small of her back to lift her, then yanked the rest of her jeans off and tossed them on the floor.
“I like you the way you are.” She arched her back as he started kissing, licking, and nipping her skin on his way back up.
“Well.” He slid his hand up her thigh, tugging it so he could settle himself between her legs. “I am pretty fucking amazing, Hood.”