by Ella Frank
“Yes?” Logan urged, his voice barely a whisper and his hot breath shifting the hair by his ear. “What do you want, Tate? Tell me.”
“More,” he rasped even though he knew he couldn’t have it—then an idea took root. One way or another, he was going to have Logan inside him. “I want to taste you.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed on him as if he were trying to get inside his mind, and then he gave him a look that was so fucking sinful that Tate knew he understood.
Silently, Logan backed away and tugged his jeans off of him. It wasn’t until he threw the denim to the side of the bed and crawled back up to straddle him so his cock was inches from his face that Tate knew they were on the exact same page.
* * *
As Tate’s eyes ran a hot trail down his body, Logan wrapped a fist around himself and positioned his body so he was nudging against Tate’s chin and lips. Yes, there’s my dirty Tate. I know what you want.
“Open your mouth,” he ordered.
Tate moved his hand down to touch himself, and Logan felt his blood pounding out a hard rhythm between his legs.
Oh yeah, I’m onto you.
“Tate,” he said again, drawing his attention and his eyes back to him. “Open your mouth.”
As he inched closer so his knees were flanking Tate’s sides, Tate parted his lips and flicked his tongue out across the pre-come coating the swollen head of Logan’s cock.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Logan thought, placing a hand on the headboard to brace himself. Then Tate looked up at him, and his expression of longing made Logan think one thing only—I can’t wait to sink my cock between his lips.
He guided himself to that waiting mouth, and as the tip of his erection ghosted over it, Tate tasted him again. His eyes lowered, and then he shocked the hell out of Logan by leaning forward to swallow him inside.
Logan ground his teeth together and flexed his fingers against the sturdy bed frame as he felt one of Tate’s palms stroke up the back of his thigh to cup his ass.
“Oh yeah, Tate. That’s it. Suck me.”
He felt the suction around him increase as Tate’s cheeks hollowed out and he moved his lips back and forth. Logan let go of his shaft and ran his fingers through Tate’s hair so he could hold the back of his head as he slid his lips along his hardened flesh.
The hand on his ass pulled him closer, and as he used Tate’s hot, wet mouth the way he’d asked him to, Logan felt his fingers dig into his ass cheek and then trace their way down to gently squeeze his balls.
Logan’s curse ricocheted around the room, and his head fell back while Tate continued to work him over. His breathing was coming fast, and he was reminded that the man currently obliterating his control was the only person who’d ever made him feel that way.
Tate had the power to make him tremble from passion and from pain—and he trusted him with his very soul.
Looking down, he saw brown eyes full of desire staring back at him. He stroked his fingers over Tate’s jaw, and when that expression morphed to one of love and gratitude, he felt his balls tingle and his body begin to shake.
His mind shut down to anything other than the explosive orgasm that then hit him while he was buried deep inside the delicious mouth surrounding him, and when Tate swallowed every drop and pulled his mouth free, Logan put both hands on the headboard to hold himself up.
Fuck, he thought. He is so it for me.
Tate had demolished any kind of thought he had, but when Logan peered down at the gorgeous face aimed up at him, he was determined to give as good as he’d just received.
He shifted down until he was lying beside Tate, and when he saw a particularly self-satisfied smile cross his lips, he asked, “Pleased with yourself?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
Logan ran a finger along the prominent erection still being massaged by Tate’s hand. “Want to tell me why?”
Tate slid down the bed, and a shaky breath left him as Logan covered his hand and started to stroke him. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you that way. Wanted to make sure I didn’t imagine it all.”
That got Logan curious. Especially with the gleam in Tate’s eye.
“Wanted to make sure you didn’t imagine what, exactly?”
“The way I feel when we’re together like this. And the way you go insane from my hands and mouth on you.”
“Oh, do I?”
“Yeah,” Tate groaned and closed his eyes. “I wanted you to get all hot and dirty just like you used to, and it worked. You were practically all the way down my throat. I drive you fucking crazy.”
“Christ, Tate,” Logan growled, burying his nose in the crook of his neck. “First, you never need to doubt that between us. Not ever. From the moment we met, I’ve been trying to get inside you, and I’ll always want to be there. Second, I love to do everything with you, but when you say stuff like that…when you get all dirty and give it right back to me…”
“Yeah?”
Logan drew his tongue up Tate’s throat and then kissed his ear, where he whispered, “I can’t decide if I want to love on you or fuck you until you’re too weak to walk.”
Tate turned his head toward him, panting from the solid hand job he was now giving him. “Both sound equally good to me. You’re so…God…so uninhibited, and that makes me so damn hot.”
Logan kissed him and gave his most demonic grin. Then he let him go and slipped down between Tate’s thighs. He licked the straining flesh that greeted him, and dared, “Come on, then, Tate. Let me have it. Hot and dirty, just how we like it.”
And as Tate’s fingers twisted into his hair, Logan parted his lips and proceeded to drive him fucking crazy.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The week passed by uneventfully enough, though they seemed to be in a holding pattern of sorts. Logan would get up and go to work, and he would sit at home and wait.
But not today—today, the waiting would stop. Friday was finally here, his follow-up appointment was scheduled for three, and after that, Tate felt like he’d be able to finally move on with his life.
He was standing in the kitchen, eating his breakfast, when Logan came out of the bedroom fastening his watch around his wrist. Dressed for work, he looked polished, his black hair styled to the left as usual, and as he walked through the dining room, he picked up his glasses, which were resting on the newspaper, and made his way toward him.
“Seven a.m. I’m impressed.”
Tate smiled around a spoonful of cereal as Logan put his glasses on and came around the kitchen island. He kissed his cheek and then walked over to the coffee machine.
“And coffee? Wow. You are full of energy this morning.” Logan reached into one of the top cupboards for his travel mug.
“I guess I’m just ready to get this brace off.”
Logan glanced back at him. “I bet.”
“Yeah. And it’ll be nice to finally get back into a normal routine.”
Logan poured his coffee and then screwed the lid on his mug before he came over to stand beside him. Placing a hand on his good arm, he squeezed. “I agree. But I still don’t want you to rush things. Remember, Pete said you don’t need to go back for another week. The temp is hired until then.”
“I know. But I still need to move my things over here, and I also have to go down to the police station and deal with all of the accident stuff.”
A frown pulled Logan’s brow down, and he turned to get his jacket, which was draped over the back of the chair.
As he shrugged into it, Tate studied the serious expression on his face and asked, “What’s on your mind?”
When Logan merely tugged on the sleeves of his jacket, Tate put his bowl down and made his way around the island.
“Logan?”
Logan looked at him and took a breath before saying, “Have you thought any more about pressing charges against the driver who hit you?”
They’d briefly discussed what options he had when he’d been in the hospital, but
at the time, he’d just wanted to deal with healing before he thought about all the legal crap he’d have to go through surrounding what happened.
“I think you should seriously consider sitting down with someone to discuss your options.”
He really didn’t like the idea of spending more money in an attorney’s office, especially after Diana had switched their divorce proceedings between two. But he also knew that Logan was right. He needed to know what his legal choices were.
Logan pushed his hands into his pockets as he walked back over to him. “It’s up to you, Tate, but you almost died that day. You were in the hospital for a little over a month, and you’ll likely need physical therapy for some time, as well as follow-up appointments.” He took his hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing it. “He needs to be held responsible for that. He was in the wrong, and he hurt you.”
Tate slid his hand along Logan’s cheek and leaned in to kiss his lips. “I know. I just needed to be back on my feet before I tackled it all.”
“I understand.” Logan nodded.
Tate could tell he wanted to say more but was, for once in his life, holding back. Which made him curious. “Did you want to do it?”
“I thought about it,” Logan admitted. Then he let him go and walked up the hall to where his briefcase was sitting by the entry table. “But I think we should speak to someone who specializes in this sort of case,” he called out.
“Hang on.” Tate chuckled. “Are you actually saying there might be someone who’s better than you? Because I think I’d like to document this moment.”
“Aren’t you funny,” Logan said as he came back into the living room and handed him a white card embossed with gold.
Leighton & Associates. Tate ran his finger over the name and then looked back to Logan.
“They’re a firm we’ve worked with a couple of times who specifically deals with personal injury claims. I’ve also come up against a couple of their employees. They’re good.”
“Good, huh?” Tate asked as he slipped the card into the back pocket of his jeans.
Logan shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah. They’re good.”
“The best?”
“No. I said they were—”
“Good,” Tate clarified with a smirk. He took a step forward so his toes touched Logan’s dress shoes and ran a hand down his navy tie. “I’m pretty satisfied with the lawyer I have. And he’s better than just good.”
One of Logan’s dark eyebrows rose. “Yeah?”
He caught Logan’s lips in a tease of a kiss before pulling back to nod. “Yeah. But maybe I should try these guys. My lawyer insists it’s always good to try a little of everything.”
Logan rolled his eyes and then stepped around him to grab his coffee. “You are in a mood, aren’t you, smartass.”
“Maybe,” Tate admitted with a laugh. “It’s nice to finally feel better.”
“Well, if you’re up to it, there are a few people who would like to see you tonight. One very pregnant woman in particular.”
Tate’s palms dampened at the thought of seeing Rachel. She’d come by to visit a couple of times after he’d woken up, but every time she’d been in the room, she had sat in the corner, silent while Cole joked around with him and Logan. She’d barely said anything at all.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s better if we wait. I don’t want to cause her any more stress, and the last time I saw her…”
“Of course, it’s totally up to you. But I think it would do her good to see you. You look like you again. Not all scary and in the hospital.”
“Gee thanks.”
Logan sighed and touched his shoulder. “You know what I mean. Plus, she asked to see you.”
“She did?”
“Yep,” Logan said before giving him a final kiss on the cheek and walking down the hall to the front door.
As he bent to pick his briefcase up, Tate enjoyed the way his dress pants fit perfectly across his firm ass.
“I’ll be back at two so we can get going. We have a date with your doctor.”
“A little impatient, are we?”
Logan’s eyes swept over him, and then he flashed a smile that was completely sexual. “You don’t know the half of it.”
* * *
“Oh, good. There you are,” Cole said as Logan entered his own office and saw his brother standing by his desk, writing on a piece of paper.
“Here I am. Leaving me love notes again? How many times do I have to tell you that it means so much more when you use your words, Cole?”
Cole flipped him off as he walked across the room and handed him the paper. “Rachel and I went through the restaurants you listed, and she agrees there are some great ones on here. But do you really think he wants to do a celebratory dinner with everyone asking how he is?”
“No,” Logan laughed. “But we never celebrated his thirtieth birthday because he kept putting it off, and he deserves a glad-you’re-out-of-the-hospital party. I know he’s so sick of being cooped up, unable to do anything. He just wants to feel normal again, so I was trying to think of something.”
“Since when have you done anything normal?”
“Good point,” Logan acknowledged, and then he remembered a letter he’d received in the mail a couple of weeks ago but had been too busy to call about.
Hmm… Now that could work.
He looked down at the list in his hand anyway just to see which restaurants they’d agreed on, and his eyes latched on to the bottom one he’d written as a joke. Logan lifted his head, and a sly smile crossed his mouth.
“You dirty dog.”
“Excuse me?”
He turned the paper around and thrust it in Cole’s face. “Whipped? You circled that?”
Cole crossed his arms over his wide chest and scowled at him. “Just because I don’t run around flaunting my sexuality quite as obnoxiously as you doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy certain things.”
As Logan chuckled and walked over to his desk, Cole continued. “That’s where I met Rachel, for your information.”
Now that was an interesting detail he didn’t know. Surprised, he turned to face Cole. “Really?”
Cole nodded as he moved backwards toward the door and opened it. “Really, really.”
Logan’s mouth fell open and then he laughed. “You’ve managed to shock me. Something I didn’t think you had in you anymore. Bravo, brother.”
Cole shook his head. “Unlike yours, my behavior remains a mystery to most.”
Logan pretended to stifle a yawn. “Yeah, yeah. Well, either way, we’re doing something right. ’Cause you got the girl, and I got the boy.”
“That we did,” Cole agreed with a smile Logan figured matched his own smug one.
Then he fingered the edge of the paper and thought, What the hell. “You’re right. Normal isn’t me. Do you think Rachel would be upset if we all catch up next week?”
“No, not at all. Actually, we all have dinner on Monday nights. You two should come.”
Logan thought about it for a second and then said, “Let me talk it over with Tate, but I don’t see why not. Meanwhile, I have a weekend to plan.” Before Cole shut the door, Logan asked, “Hey? Leighton & Associates?”
“What about them?”
“Who’s their best personal injury guy?”
Cole appeared to think it over and then snapped his fingers. “Finley. I’ve worked with him a couple of times.”
“Okay,” Logan said as he pulled his phone out to store the name in his notes. “Thanks. Oh, and Cole?”
“Yes, Logan?”
“Thank you. For everything.”
Cole gave him an understanding smile and left the office, shutting the door on his way out.
* * *
Tate had just stepped out of the shower when he heard his phone ringing from the vanity. He grabbed a towel from the rack and made his way over to it to see Diana’s number flashing across the screen.
Not exactly who I want to speak to right now
, he thought as he wrapped the towel around his hips and picked the cell up. When it kept ringing, he looked at himself in the mirror and made himself answer.
“Hello.”
“Tate?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Hey.”
He closed his eyes and told himself to have some patience. “Hi, Diana.”
There was an awkward pause, and he wondered for a moment if she’d hung up until she asked, “How are you?”
Her question was almost timid, and when Tate opened his eyes, he asked himself, What kind of man do I want to be? He ran a hand through his hair and thought of the way Logan had extended an invitation to his father, which had him softening toward the woman at the other end of the phone.
“I’m doing much better,” he told her, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Oh, that’s good.”
“It is. I go back to the doctor today.”
“Good,” she rushed out and then added, “I’m glad.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, and while the silence this time remained awkward, there was no simmering rage like there used to be.
“Okay, well, that was all. I just wanted to know… I—”
“Diana?” he interrupted, gripping his hair in a fist. Fuck. When did talking to her become so difficult?
“Yes, Tate?”
“I never got a chance before I left the hospital to say thank you.”
“Oh,” she breathed softly into the phone. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, I do. Thank you for relaying my wishes that day. I know it wasn’t easy.”
She laughed then, and Tate leaned against the wall as the sound that had once been so familiar filled his ear. “That’s an understatement if ever there was one.”
“I suppose it is, huh?” he chuckled.
“Ahh, yeah.”
When their shared laughter dissipated, he waited.
Then she whispered, “Be happy, Tate. You deserve it.” Right there in that moment, Diana sounded more sincere than he’d ever heard her before.