Monroe, Marla - Long, Lonely Nights [The Protectors 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Marla Monroe

  “Right, you start them. I’ll start on the bacon.”

  Ten minutes later they called the men in to start fixing their plates.

  “Okay, breakfast is on the table,” Tina called out.

  Jenna continued cooking the pancakes.

  “I’ll take over,” Tina said reaching for the bowl. “You go ahead and eat, so you can get your car.”

  “I don’t mind cooking while you eat.”

  “Nope, go sit down.”

  Jenna swallowed and sat next to Riley. Tina smiled to herself. It was the only empty chair at the table. Those two needed to settle their differences, she thought. Then she sobered. Riley would leave soon, so maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to push Jenna towards him. She hadn’t thought about that. He and Morgan would both be leaving at some point. They were only there to help Logan when they were watching her.

  Logan got up from the table and rinsed his plate off.

  “Go sit down. I’ll finish up cooking.”

  “I’ll eat after everyone finishes. I’m not very hungry anyway.”

  “You need to eat. You’re getting skinny,” he said in a gruff voice.

  “Gee thanks, just what a woman wants to hear,” Tina huffed and walked off.

  He could cook the damn pancakes. She took the seat he had vacated and realized she hadn’t gotten a plate. She started to get up, but Logan handed her a plate before she managed to get out of the chair.

  “Thanks.”

  “No excuses. Eat.” He took up a pancake from the platter and slid it on her plate.

  She grimaced and reached for the syrup. Riley passed it to her. She really wasn’t hungry, and the thought of eating bacon really didn’t sit well either. She sighed and took a bite. By the time she had finished her pancake, Logan was sliding another one on her plate.

  “No more. I can’t eat anything else,” she said.

  “Nonsense, you can eat one more.” He walked off and left her scowling.

  “Eat, Tina. If I have to, you have to,” Jenna said.

  Tina frowned at Jenna. Jenna just smiled a bright smile and continued to eat. So much for friends, she thought.

  Jenna and Riley left to pick up her car. She smiled watching Riley explain how to sit and where to put her feet. He told her to hold on to him, and she turned a panicked look Tina’s way. Tina nodded her head and hoped she didn’t fall off before they made it to the hotel.

  “Did you have a good time last night?” Logan asked.

  “Yes, it was great to get out again. It’s been a long time other than when we all went out.”

  “I hope you’re being careful with who you spend time with. You can’t trust every man you dance with.”

  “I think I know that better than anyone, Logan. What’s your point?”

  Tina was getting angry. She crossed her arms. What was with the lecture? Why did he even care? He wasn’t interested in her. She wasn’t interested in him either.

  “I just want you to be careful. That’s all.”

  “Why are you so worried about me going out?”

  “Because I care what happens to you.” Logan huffed out a breath. “Look, do me a favor and don’t go out alone. Go with Jenna, or if you want to go and she can’t go, call me. I’ll take you.”

  Tina was speechless. Where was he going with this? She decided to humor him and get him off the subject.

  “Sure. I’ll call, but I don’t go out without Jenna.”

  Logan nodded and turned away. She sighed and followed him. She needed to get her bowls and spoons. She walked past him and Morgan in the living room and went straight to the kitchen. She rinsed out the bowls and headed to the sliding glass door. Morgan was there before her and opened it for her.

  “Thanks for breakfast. It was great.”

  “No problem. Glad you liked it.”

  “Morgan.” Logan’s voice came from the living room.

  Tina rolled her eyes and Morgan smiled.

  “I can’t get close to either one of you two ladies. Makes me wonder what the deal is.” He winked and closed the door behind her.

  Tina walked back to her house and thought about it. Maybe Logan was attracted to her and couldn’t help it, but didn’t want anything to do with her at the same time. Maybe it would be worth it for her to pursue him. She knew she loved him now. Wasn’t he worth fighting for? Nothing said she couldn’t go after him. The worst that would happen is he would turn her down. She didn’t know if she could handle his rejection, but she knew she had to try. Not knowing if they could have something together was killing her anyway.

  She needed a strategy, something to bring them back together in close proximity. He obviously cared whether it was only as a friend or more. She could build on that. He had said that he would take her out if she wanted to go and Jenna didn’t. She would need to enlist Jenna’s aid. She was sure her friend would jump at the chance to help. She wanted Jenna and Riley to get together. Tina felt good about her decision to pursue Morgan in order to stir Logan up. She only hoped it would work.

  * * * *

  “So, what’s up with you two making the girls off limits? I was just being nice,” Morgan asked.

  “You’re going to be leaving at some point. They’ve been through enough without your skipping out on them in the future.” Logan leaned back against the back of the couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table.

  “Yeah, right. I’ll move on soon. Maybe I should head out tomorrow.” He turned and walked towards the hall.

  “Wait. I don’t want you to clear out or anything. I like Tina, okay? She’s special.”

  “So why is she over there and you’re over here?” Morgan asked.

  “Because I’m not good for her. She deserves better than me, someone who can treat her good and won’t hurt her.”

  “And you think you’re not that person. Why in the hell do you think that?” Morgan walked back into the living room and took a chair.

  “I’m rough, Morgan. You know the reputation Riley and I had back in the day,” Logan said.

  “So, you two shared women. Are you saying you want to do that with Tina? Cause I can’t see you doing that with the way you warned me off.”

  “No, I don’t want to share her.”

  “Then what is the problem?”

  “Dammit, Morgan, I can get rough during sex. Can I make it any clearer than that?” Logan dropped his feet to the floor and sat up, resting his elbows on his knees.

  “Considering what she’s been through, I guess I can understand your reluctance. Still, don’t you think finding out would be better than not knowing?”

  “I already found out. She didn’t take it well,” Logan said.

  “Ah, I see. So she let you know you were too rough.”

  “Not in so many words. It was her expression more than anything.”

  “Could you have misinterpreted?” Morgan asked.

  “I doubt it.”Logan sighed. “So anyway. Just don’t lead her on, all right?”

  “No problem. Not interested in her. Just being nice,” Morgan said. “We cool now?”

  “Yeah, sorry I jumped on you. I guess I’m touchy where she is concerned.”

  Morgan’s eyebrows rose. Then he turned and walked towards the front door.

  “Think I’ll go for a ride. Getting antsy. Later.”

  “Later.”

  Once Morgan had left, Logan got up and paced the living room. He cursed and decided to work on the training manual he was in the middle of. Anything to get his mind off of Tina for a little while. If anything would work, writing about Army maneuvers should do it.

  That night, after Morgan and Riley had gone on to bed, Logan sat up thinking about Tina and wishing things could be different. He wandered outside and sat down. Without even thinking about it, he turned towards her balcony and was surprised to see her sitting outside. She was dressed in a red negligee that revealed more than it hid. At first, he was mesmerized by her beauty and enjoying the view. Then, he realized that if he could
see her, then Riley could see her, too. His room was on the back side of the house.

  Suddenly angry with her, Logan marched around the fence separating their yards and knocked, more like pounded, on her garage door. He waited for a few seconds, then pounded again. Tina looked out the window at him with a puzzled look on her face.

  “Open the door, Tina,” he growled.

  “What do you want at this hour?” She didn’t unlock the door.

  “What in the hell are you doing outside in that outfit where anyone can see you?”

  “If I remember right, you didn’t mind it a few weeks ago,” she pointed out.

  “Yeah, well, that was before I had house guests who can see you as well as I can,” Logan confessed.

  “Oh.” Tina unlocked the door and opened it. “Come in.”

  Logan had to squeeze past her. Her nipples brushed his naked chest. He realized all he had on was his shorts. Not a good thing when he wanted her so badly. His cock stood out in sharp relief against his shorts. He almost groaned out loud. He had screwed up coming over.

  “I didn’t think about the others seeing me. I wanted some fresh air. It’s stuffy in the house even with the air conditioner on.”

  Logan sighed. “Yeah, I know, but until Morgan and Riley leave, stay off the balcony in your nightgown.”

  Tina licked her lips and nodded. He couldn’t help but focus on her lips and tongue. He imagined sipping from those lips and sucking on her tongue. That led to sucking on her firm nipples. Which led to even more nefarious thoughts. He lost the battle and backed her up against the kitchen bar. When her back hit it, he placed his hands on either side of her flat on the bar and leaned in.

  “I’m going to kiss you. Say no now if you don’t want me to.”

  She didn’t say anything. Instead, she drew her lower lip in and bit it.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Logan said before he kissed.

  He lightly brushed his lips across hers then licked along the seam. She opened for him. Logan took it as an invitation and drew in her lower lip to tease with his tongue. She whimpered. The sound was music to his ears. He let go of her lip and licked the inside of her mouth before locking onto her tongue and sucking it in. He devoured her mouth and pressed his body into hers. He wrapped his arms around her.

  When she kissed him back, he fought to keep from demanding more of her. She ran her hands up his chest and raked her nails lightly over his nipples. He shivered and picked her up, placing her on the bar. He pushed between her legs and lowered his mouth to her jaw. The line of her throat beckoned to him. He followed the curve of her neck with his mouth and around to the swell of her breasts. Nothing could be as beautiful as her breasts flushed with desire, unless it was her face awash in ecstasy. Logan longed to put that look on her face.

  He lowered the strap of her negligee until he could lift her breast free of the lacy material. The pert nipple beaded under his thumb as he ran it over the peak. A smile appeared on Tina’s face. He bent forward and licked at it. Then closed his mouth around it and sucked. He ran his teeth over it until she squirmed. His other hand enclosed her other breast and teased the nipple through the material. She arched her back, thrusting her breast farther into his hand and mouth. It was more than he could take. He released her nipples and ran his hands under the top of her negligee, pulling it over her head. He lifted both breasts up for his mouth to dine on. He moved from one to the other and laved them with his tongue until she moaned.

  With eyes half closed, Tina held his head to her breast. He nipped and suckled each of them until he could no longer wait to get a taste of her sweet honey.

  “Lean back on your hands,” he directed.

  When she complied, he added. “Lift up.”

  She lifted her butt off the bar, and he pulled down her panties and discarded them.

  “Ah, it’s cold,” she complained.

  “Don’t worry, I’m going to warm you up.” Logan spread her legs wider and lifted them over his shoulders.

  His first lick caused her to draw in a deep breath. He smiled. This was what he wanted, her spread for his enjoyment. He leaned forward and spread her outer pussy lips apart. Then he licked from bottom to top and back down again. The taste of her awakened his taste buds. She exploded on his tongue. He hummed his appreciation. He teased her clit with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth. She squirmed and ultimately raised her butt off the bar trying to press her clit farther into his mouth. He chuckled but didn’t let her lead him. He wanted to drag this out as long as possible. The longer it took her to come, the longer he had her in his arms.

  Tina wiggled as he licked and sucked and nipped at her. He reveled in the control he had over her pleasure at that moment. She moaned when he licked around her clit, but didn’t touch it. He pressed his tongue deep inside her devouring her from the inside out. Finally, she seemed to lose control and sat up to grab him by his head to hold him to her. He chuckled and had pity on her. He circled her opening with two fingers then pushed them inside her at the same time is mouth captured her clit and sucked. She screamed and bucked as she came. He brought her down gently, and then picked her up and carried her to the living room.

  Logan couldn’t stop now. He needed to be inside of her. He needed it more than his next breath. The couch looked to be the perfect height. He gently lowered her to her feet.

  “Bend over the couch.” He pushed between her shoulder blades.

  “Yes. Please hurry.”

  Logan shoved his shorts down after grabbing a condom from the pocket. He knew when he kept them there that he wasn’t going to be able to stay away from her. He rolled it over his engorged cock and nudged her legs farther apart with his knee.

  “Do you have any idea what I want to do to you?” Logan asked as he positioned his cock at her opening.

  “No. Tell me what you would do to me,” Tina said in a breathy voice.

  He looked at her bent over the back of the couch, her hands holding her up on the cushions. Dark auburn hair splayed out around her head. She blew some of it out of her face as she turned to look at him over her shoulder.

  “Tell me,” she said again.

  “I want to spank this round ass of your until it’s a nice shade of pink. I want to fuck you until you scream your release for everyone to hear.” Logan pushed forward until he began to enter her.

  “God, yes. Fuck me. Spank me. I don’t care, just do something now.”

  Her words spurred him on, and he pushed into her until he was all the way in. Then he set a steady rhythm wanting to prolong the moment. He slapped one ass cheek and then the other. She squealed, but pressed back meeting his thrusts with her own. He knew he wouldn’t last long. As much as he thought about her, it would be a miracle if he could last long enough to see her climax. He reached around to play with her nipples as he pushed deeper still inside of her. She moaned when he pinched first one then the other nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

  “Please,” she begged.

  “Please what?” Logan asked.

  When she didn’t answer him he slowed, worried that he was hurting her.

  “No. Don’t stop. Harder, please fuck me harder. I want to feel you pounding inside me.” Her voice came out in a near sob.

  Logan wasn’t sure he heard her right, but when she began pushing harder back to meet his thrusts, he realized he had heard her right. She wanted more. She wanted it harder. His cock jumped at the realization that she might be able to handle him. He sped up and fucked her harder, faster.

  She began whimpering even as she began to come. He felt her tighten around him, milking him as she exploded. He groaned and shouted his release, as he was helpless except to follow her over. Their combined panting sounded throughout the living room as they both fought to regain their breath.

  Logan pulled from her and wrapped his arms around her waist to stand her up. She wobbled on shaky legs, but he held her up until she seemed to have gotten her footing.

  “I need to sit do
wn.” She walked around the couch to sit down and leaned against the back.

  “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” Logan was almost afraid for her to answer.”

  “Hurt me?” she gave a shaky laugh. “Not hardly. That was wonderful.”

  “I’ll be right back. I need to deal with the condom.” He walked back to the bathroom and discarded it.

  He leaned against the sink and stared into the mirror. What had he done? Treated her like a whore that was what he had done. He hung his head and cursed. She wouldn’t want to see him anymore. Not even as a neighbor. He needed to apologize. Shaking his head, Logan returned to the living room to find Tina sound asleep on the couch.

  Talking would have to come later. Instead, he picked her up in his arms and climbed the stairs to her bedroom. He found her bed already turned back. He gently laid her on the bed then pulled the cover over her. For a long time, he stood and watched her sleep. Then he turned and went back down the stairs.

  He found her panties on the kitchen floor and tossed them in the laundry before he let himself out the back door. He slipped inside his house and locked up. Then he returned to his bed to lay awake for a long time just thinking about her and what he had done. How would it change their relationship? He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tina came awake slowly. She stretched reveling in the aches and pains that come after good sex. And it had been good. Better than good. She rolled over and realized she was alone in the bed. She checked the pillow next to her, but there was no indention as if someone had slept there. A frown stole over her face. He hadn’t stayed the night. Puzzled, she rolled out of bed and realized she was naked. The events of the night before played through her mind. She must have fallen asleep on the couch, and he carried her to bed.

  But why hadn’t he stayed? She slipped into the house shoes by her bed and pulled on a robe off the back of the bathroom door. She needed a shower, but first, coffee. Glancing at the clock, she realized she was going to be late if she didn’t get in gear. First she brewed coffee, and then she took a cup with her to the bathroom to get ready. While she showered, Tina continued worrying over Logan’s absence in her bed that morning. Did he regret last night? The idea scared her. Maybe he decided that she wasn’t who he thought she was after all.