It seemed to be a night of amazements. He jammed another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and then pointed to her bowl scooped high with vanilla ice cream. “Eat up, darlin’. You’re lagging.”
She dipped her spoon in and gave it a taste. Her dark-lashed eyes slowly closed as she swallowed. A lump formed in Logan’s throat. Watching Sophia relish anything was like watching an artist apply the first strokes of paint to a fresh canvas.
And tonight, Sophia had been hard to resist. Besides her beautiful face and knockout body, she made him smile. They’d had incredible sex less than an hour ago. Why shouldn’t he laugh along with her and allow himself a night of indulgence?
“Here,” he said after watching Sophia take two more delicate bites of her ice cream. “Let me help.”
He took the spoon from her hand and scooped up a good-sized amount of vanilla ice cream from the bowl. Sophia’s lips eagerly parted for him with a sensual curve upward as he inserted the spoon into her mouth. This wasn’t like feeding a baby, Logan mused. It was erotic as hell. Her mouth moved up and down and her eyelids closed as she tasted the dessert he fed her. He leaned closer, whispering, “I want more, Sophia.”
Her eyes snapped open and without hesitation, she replied softly, “So do I.”
Logan brought his mouth to hers, brushing a gentle kiss over her chilled lips. He tasted the sweet vanilla cream that lingered there. “I’m not talking about ice cream.”
She nodded and whispered, “I’m not hungry for ice cream, either.”
Logan’s heart hammered in his chest. The woman was a temptation that could destroy a weaker man. Logan pushed his seat out and stood, taking Sophia by her arms and lifting her up against him. She wrapped both arms around his neck and he bent his head to take her in a fiery kiss that got all of his juices flowing. He pulled her closer, melding their bodies, fitting her against him like a tailor-made suit. He curved his hands on the slope of her buttocks and rocked her against the erection straining his jeans.
Sophia moaned at the deliberate contact, giving him a little cry of anticipation that matched his own desperate desire.
He swept her up and carried her out of the kitchen and down the long hallway. Her eyes gleaming, her body nearly weightless in his arms, he kissed her several times as he strode into his master bedroom. When he reached his large bed, he turned down his bedspread and then lowered Sophia onto silky sheets. Her luxurious hair fanned out against the pillow and he stripped her bare within seconds, needing to see her naked on his bed.
His fantasies, the secret ones he’d kept hidden from the world, came to fruition, seeing her here now, waiting for him with lust in her eyes. He’d bedded her once tonight, quickly, on a worn-out sofa in the barn, but this was where Sophia needed to be. Cast in moonlight, her body accommodated on a luxurious bed—his bed—and now Logan would take his time with her. He would savor her like she was a sweet bowl of strawberry ice cream. And he would lick every last creamy inch of her, until they were both satisfied.
“As much as I like you in my shirt, taking it off is definitely an improvement.”
Sophia wasn’t coy or timid; she was bold as she lay there allowing him to study her. She was a rare find, a woman who could easily grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She was perfect in her naked form.
“I’m a little lonely in this big bed,” she whispered, rolling to her side and patting the area next to her.
“I told you I’d take care of your loneliness.”
He unhooked his belt, kicked off his boots and then lowered himself down onto the bed. He reached for her, just as she came up over him to straddle his thighs. He’d kept his jeans on, and now he wished he hadn’t.
“You’re lonely, too, Logan,” she said softly. “You simply don’t realize it.”
There was truth to that, he admitted to himself, but now was not the time for that conversation. “Then keep me company for a while.”
“I intend to,” she whispered.
Her breasts were round and full, overflowing in his hands. A man could die happy like this. He brought one rosy-tipped peak into his mouth and Sophia uttered a little cry of pleasure. Logan paid proper attention to both of her breasts, cupping and weighing them, kissing and suckling. Sophia was lost, writhing with uncontrolled passion.
She was beautiful atop him. Her hands flat on his chest, her body fluid and primed for sex, Logan’s control was ready to snap. It was too much and not enough. He wanted to own her, to take possession and never let go. It was strange to feel that way about any woman, but with Sophia it felt right.
He made love to every ounce of her with heated kisses and strokes of his tongue until he could barely breathe from the fire building in his system. His hands wove through her long thick hair and he bruised her lips with hot crushing kisses. He made sure Sophia was well loved in every way. It pleased him to please her.
His mind briefly went to his father and how he’d lusted after Louisa Montrose. The only difference being that Logan wasn’t married to another woman. He hadn’t spoken vows or pledged his love to one woman and then bedded another. He would never fall in love with a Montrose. Sophia wouldn’t break him. Not in that way.
He wanted her in his bed.
He’d never fall into the same trap his father had.
Nothing had changed in that regard.
Sophia’s soft, labored moans were frantic. She unzipped his jeans, and all thoughts of his father went out the window. The gorgeous woman slipped her hand around his swollen member and he’d barely had time to put a condom on before she sought an end to their mutual torment.
He guided her down and with one slow, earth-shattering thrust they were joined.
Sophia tossed her head back, taking him inside her. The arch of her back, the sheet of dark hair tossing from side to side as she slid her sweet body over his, were a thing of beauty.
Logan seared those images into his memory as they rode the waves of glory together.
* * *
I love you, Logan, Sophia thought as she glanced at him. Though he was normally well-groomed, this morning, short, thick strands of his hair stuck out in several directions and a day-old beard darkened his handsome features.
Sophia wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t going to make a scene. She would be strong. Like her mother. She wouldn’t let Logan know how much she loved him. Not now. She couldn’t trust him with those feelings. She couldn’t tell him truths that he wasn’t ready to hear. She knew it would take time, but Sophia had never been in love before. She’d never felt the full force of the emotion and the power it wielded might cause her great injury. She knew she would have to step carefully to avoid the land mines of her own making.
Sophia lay there with a lump in her throat. Logan had made love to her thoroughly last night. She still ached in private places from his ruthless pursuit of satisfying her. He had made his mark on her. She would never forget her first night with Logan Slade. She hoped there were many more to come. She would not give up on her love.
Was she being a fool?
Her mother’s words rang out clearly in Sophia’s mind. She had never forgotten them. “Loving Randall Slade was a waste of love.”
Because it had ended in heartache. Sophia wouldn’t allow that to happen with Logan. Her love would not be wasted. It couldn’t be. She’d given everything she’d had to give to him. Would he be so cruel as to throw it all away?
Dawn peeked out on the horizon, the first glimmering rays of light sneaking into the room. Sophia gave Logan one last glance, and then rose from the bed. Her feet landed quietly on the floor and she tiptoed away hoping not to wake him.
She grabbed Logan’s shirt she’d worn last night, along with her pants, and dressed before she exited the room. The Slades’ household staff did not live at the house, but they would arrive shortly.
Logan’s remark about how his men knew they weren’t just baking cookies together came to mind.
Sophia cringed at the notion. She’d never wanted a reputation as a gold-digger, but it seemed to follow her every move. She would have fallen in love with Logan Slade even if he were penniless. Money wasn’t the issue but who would believe that about her now? On paper, and from what people perceived about her, she appeared guilty.
And then there was Luke. What was she going to say to him? When he arrived home, would he understand her motives? Would he hate that she’d fallen in love with his brother?
Sophia entered her room, quietly shutting the door behind her. She wasn’t ready to start the day, but doubted she could fall back to sleep. She stripped off her clothes, walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower faucet. She stepped inside and let the warm water slide over her skin. She stood there for a long time in the steamy hot spray, deep in thought.
The night she shared with Logan had been remarkable. The earth had moved and the stars had aligned. She sighed at the memories—the taste of his mouth, the scratch of his stubble bruising her skin, his strong hands gentle on her, all rushed through her mind. It had been ecstasy and Sophia wouldn’t allow herself to think of it as a one-night stand.
But she had no clue what Logan was thinking. She wondered if he’d set out to seduce her or if they’d been caught up in something powerful that both of them couldn’t deny. Last night, their relationship had changed forever.
Sophia washed her hair and scrubbed her body with lavender-scented soap. The pleasing fragrance had always soothed her nerves and made her feel better. When she stepped out of the shower and dried off, most of her pressing doubts were banished.
Someone knocked on her bedroom door. Sophia took a quick breath, wrapped herself in a plush towel and shook out her wet hair before going to the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Sophia.”
The sound of Logan’s voice gave her tingles. She opened the door slowly. His cool dark eyes blazed with warmth when he looked at her draped in the towel. “Tempting.”
He was dressed in business clothes, dark slacks and a white shirt. Seeing him again took her breath away. “Good morning.”
“Mornin’. You’re up early,” he said.
“I, uh, woke up and couldn’t fall back to sleep.”
“You wanted to skip out of my room before the housekeeper arrived.”
“Yes,” she admitted, her face flaming. “Do you blame me?”
His smile was seductive, his voice a rasp of desire. “Don’t run away from me, Sophia.”
She nibbled on her lower lip, unsure what to say.
He stepped into the room with a gleam in his eyes. He reached for the top of her towel. Her throat tightened and she just stood there rooted to the spot with his big hand on her chest. When she thought he’d undo the towel, his fingers stayed on her skin just above the cotton. The intimate touch made goose bumps erupt on her arms.
He bent his head and kissed her, whispering over her lips, “You know I have a shower in my room. Big enough for two. Next time, we’ll do it together.”
An immediate image rushed into her mind and Logan smiled knowingly. But his automatic assumption that there would be a next time flashed in her head like a lightbulb moment.
Sophia surprised herself by saying, “We can’t...” She hesitated, knowing in her heart this was the right thing to say. Even so, it pained her to draw a line in the sand. “We can’t have an affair.”
Logan didn’t flinch, but she noted a quick flicker in his eyes. “Because we don’t like each other?”
Because I’ve fallen in love with you and need more than that.
But Sophia couldn’t tell him that. She couldn’t trust him with her love. He was still the same man, with the same prejudices and opinions. “I never said I didn’t like you.”
The corner of his mouth crooked up. “Last night was good, Sophia. You can’t deny it.” He brushed her hair to one side, touching her shoulder in a soft caress. She trembled from his touch and the blazing warmth in his eyes. “We could have more nights like the one we just had.”
She summoned her courage and asked him the question that would define this new relationship. “Have you changed your mind about my mother? About me? Do you still resent me and my presence here?”
The warmth in his eyes evaporated. He dropped his hand from her hair. “Don’t go there, Sophia. It’ll only ruin things.”
Sophia closed her eyes. She had her answer and her heart ached with the brutal truth. Last night hadn’t been about fondness, caring or love. It had been about lust and sex. Logan didn’t have to say the words, but she knew now that she’d been a fool to think he’d change his mind so easily. He still thought her mother was a calculating home wrecker. He’d probably thought worse of Sophia. He still took exception to her inheritance. She couldn’t forget that he’d tried to buy out her share of Sunset Lodge when she’d first arrived just to get rid of her.
Yet her love for him didn’t diminish. It didn’t fade, not even a tiny bit, knowing what he thought about her. Sophia loved him from the bottom of her heart. And unfortunately, it would take a lot more heartache before she stopped loving him. But she wouldn’t give any more of herself until he could make her believe there was some hope.
She tilted her chin, thinking haughtiness worked better with clothes on, but a towel and wet hair would have to do in this circumstance. “Then we have nothing to talk about.”
Boldly, she searched his eyes, daring him to say something. To plead his case or try to convince her otherwise. But Logan didn’t say a word.
Instead, he reached out and slowly unwrapped the towel from around her body. The material dropped to the floor in a lush heap. She stood bared to him, her skin freshly cleaned and perfumed.
He raked his gaze over her naked form and then inhaled a sharp clipped breath. His mouth moved and she listened to words that would stay with her until the end of time. “This isn’t over, Sophia. You’ll see that soon enough.”
Eight
Sophia sat in the office she no longer shared with Ruth Polanski, her desk the only one in the room now. She’d turned it around to face the window and the verdant grounds of the lodge with the regal Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background. She could be happy here. No, she amended that. She would be happy here. Living a peaceful life at Sunset Ranch was what she truly wanted now.
All of the managerial duties at Sunset Lodge were on her shoulders. She relished the challenge, and dove into her work. This morning she had to make phone calls to vendors and deal with a stable boy who’d been rude to one of the guests. In the afternoon, she had a luncheon planned with a local landscaper. Sophia had a few changes in mind that would enhance the overall property. And she had to go over Logan’s budget for the year.
She heard footsteps approaching, and turned to find Hunter Halliday standing behind her half-closed door. In his arms, he held an exquisite arrangement of lilies. “Ms. Montrose?”
Technically, she was Mrs. Gregory, but she’d never used her legal name. She wondered what prompted her to think about that now. “Come in, Hunter.”
The strapping boy sauntered into the room and stood in front of her desk, looking uncomfortable with the feminine flowers in his hands. Sophia stared at the stargazers tinted with a touch of pink on the petals. “They are lovely,” she said when Hunter didn’t volunteer any information.
He’d been staring at her.
“Oh, um... Mr. Slade sent me over with these.”
“They’re from Mr. Slade?” Sophia’s mouth dropped open. For an instant, when she’d seen Hunter bringing them in, she’d thought the flowers had come from Hanson Landscapers. It wasn’t unusual for vendors to send managers perks, thank-yous or deal sweeteners to butter them up.
“Yes, ma’am. And he
said to read the note in private.”
She felt her face turning three shades of pink. “Okay.”
A small white envelope appeared in her line of vision as Hunter set the flowers down on the only cleared-off space on her desk. “All right to put these here?”
“Uh, yes. That’s fine.” The arrival of these amazingly beautiful flowers put a major roadblock in thinking that she could ignore what had happened between her and Logan last night.
This isn’t over.
Those three words Logan had spoken echoed in her heart. She didn’t want it to be over between her and Logan, either. Heavens, it had barely just begun. But Sophia’s pride wasn’t a small thing. She couldn’t face herself in the mirror every morning, knowing that Logan hadn’t changed his mind about her. How could she possibly give herself to him, love or no love, without expecting him to make some concessions, without him willing to hear her explanations and tell her side of the story?
He still thought of her mother as a wicked woman, and thought of her as a gold-digger.
She sighed aloud and Hunter’s eyes snapped to hers. “Oh, uh, thanks for delivering the flowers, Hunter.”
“You’re welcome.”
Hunter didn’t budge an inch. He hovered by her desk, watching her.
She smiled.
He sent her a troubled look. There seemed to be something on the boy’s mind.
“Is there anything else?” she asked.
“Yep. But I don’t know if it’s appropriate for me to say.”
Sophia wanted to reassure the boy. His unease was practically tangible. “If something’s bothering you, you can tell me what it is. Why don’t you sit down?”
“Okay.” He took a seat across the desk and didn’t look any more comfortable in it than he did while he was standing. He rubbed his hands back and forth and Sophia waited for him to speak.
“It’s about Gabriel Strongbow.”
Sophia’s brow rose at the name. He was the stable boy Sophia had received a complaint about. “What about him?”
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