Reluctantly, she ate one, and her face soured. “Stop lying. These things are awful.” She chuckled.
“Yeah, they are pretty bad. I could whip us up something if you’re hungry.”
“No, you are not here to work or cook.”
Logan gave her a long, thoughtful look. “Then, why am I here, Nikki?”
She folded her hands in her lap. Now, she had to come clean. He would either get up and leave or stay and talk it out with him. “I lost my head, Logan. I’m not an aggressive woman or prone to attacking men. I am an introvert and keep to myself. I need you to know that about me.”
“That never crossed my mind, Nikki. I have to apologize, too. I’m passionate and love the idea of being in love. I’ll admit, I leap fast. Too many more times doing that, and I’m liable to get burned.”
“What should we do?” She took a sip of wine. The taste was different from what she was used to.
He brushed a long strand of her hair from her ear. She shivered and loved the way his touch elicited a reaction from her. “Nikki, I’m not curious. When I kissed you, it was because of you, not that I was desperate to kiss a Black woman.”
Had he read her mind? “How did you know that was on my mind?” she asked.
“I’m smart that way. Seriously, I felt the hesitation, and I know it wasn’t because of me; I’m too damn charming, so it has to be about race.”
“I’m serious, and you’re looking to be funny.”
“I wasn’t trying to be funny. I’m not sure why you’re so suspicious.”
“I’m not a suspicious person. Just of one’s motives when it comes to certain things.”
“I don’t have any motives. What you see is what you get, Nikki. Yeah, I sent that text to you by mistake. I can’t take it back. It has no bearing on why I’m here tonight.”
“Are you expecting a replay of that kiss?”
“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t try.” He grinned and licked his lips.
“You really are arrogant.”
“I agree. When it comes to something I want, I’m damn arrogant, and cocky, too.”
“Oh God.” She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I can be that too.” He winked.
Nikki’s full lips drew into a smile. She couldn’t have stopped the smile if she had wanted to. “All right, Chef Sloan; you win the word war. I have no comeback.”
Logan took Nikki’s hand; it was tender and comforting, and it was exactly what she needed, which was odd. Nikki was never the cuddly type. She had no one to cuddle. Logan began stroking the inside of her palm with his thumb, lightly, from her wrist to the edge of her fingers. It was sweet, and most of all, it was caring. She closed her eyes, giving in to the way his touch felt.
It was a caress; it was a promise. He drew soft little zig zags across her palm, lazy lines that mapped stories of the two of them. Soon, his fingers were tracing the inside of her wrist, then the soft skin on her arm, and then, as he pulled her close, he moved closer, planting a tender, soft kiss on her jawline.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” he whispered.
Nikki nodded, waiting for the magic moment to happen.
Chapter Twelve
She looked at him, and in the dim light of her apartment, he could read those brown eyes. He could tell they were trying so hard to resist him but yet, not really wanting to resist.
He moved his thumb along her cheek, tracing a line to her lips. Then, over her lower lip, where she nipped at his thumb. He smiled as he outlined her mouth, then traced a finger down to her neck as if he were imprinting the feel of her throat, the heat from her skin, and it ignited every nerve in his body.
Nikki’s lips were luscious when he pressed his lips to hers. She went limp against him, and Logan quickly wrapped his arms around her to hold her to him. He worked his tongue into her mouth, and her tongue mingled with his.
He tasted the spices from the white wine, still alive and sweetening her tongue. She was panting as he took control of the kiss. He kissed her like it was the only thing that mattered in the world.
Breaking the kiss, Logan placed his hands on her face and gazed into her eyes as her pupils grew bigger and her walls started to fade away. Her body shifted the slightest bit closer to him, but he didn’t move. He stayed totally still. He wanted her to feel the weight of his stare. He wanted her to feel undressed with his eyes.
“What?” she whispered breathlessly.
“I want more. Do you want more of me, Nikki?” Her eyes shifted. He read the worry in them. “Don’t be afraid to say no; I’m not going to run but wait until you’re sure and ready.”
“I want to, Logan.”
“Sweetheart, relax and enjoy the kiss.” He trailed kisses slowly down her neck and felt the vibration of her moans through his lips as his kissing became ever more insistent. Then he traced his fingertips over her body—up and down her arms, up and down her legs, and up and down her thighs.
She started to squirm harder; he felt himself grow harder— if that was even possible.
“Logan,” she whimpered. “I need you. I need you so much. Please, just… right now. I need to feel you…”
God, he felt his erection pulse heavily behind his zipper. His body screamed for him to strip her naked and sink inside of her. But he wouldn’t do that. He wanted to take it slow and easy. To bask in every part of Nikki’s sexy body.
“Do you trust me?” he whispered.
“Yes,” her body shivered in response.
“Then you need to trust me now,” he whispered hoarsely, his lips brushing against her ear. “Trust that I’m going to make love to you tonight, and it’s going to be amazing. Soul shattering, even.”
“Oh, my goodness,” she moaned.
“Where is the bedroom?”
She didn’t speak but pointed to the short hallway. That was all the direction he needed. He picked her in his arms and chose the first door he came upon, and it was her bedroom.
He placed her on the bed, and she moved to the middle of it, making room for him. Logan joined her, taking her in his arms where he kissed and licked down her neck and across her chest. Nikki was wearing a sundress made out of a jersey type of material. When he licked down her chest and got to the neckline of the dress, he moved his hands up her thigh, drawing the material up and over her head.
He tossed it aside, his eyes moving up her body, stopping at her heaving breasts, mesmerized by how full and beautiful the mounds were as they spilled over her bra.
I want to taste your nipples, swirl my tongue across your breasts.
“Please do, Logan.”
He did as asked. He unhooked her bra, and her eyes closed. Logan’s cock hardened at the sight of her soft mounds topped by stiff, milk chocolate nipples. Her breathing became erratic, and her nipples hardened even further as he ran his thumbs over them. Her body’s reaction turned him on, driving him to heights of lust he’d never experienced before.
He couldn’t hold out any longer. He had to touch her, to taste her. He leaned over taking one of those tantalizing nipples in his mouth, suckling at it, working it with his tongue. With his other hand, he caressed her belly, slowing brushing up her side until he reached her other breast, tweaking the stiff, sensitive nipple.
He knew he was driving her crazy. She was squirming on the bed, and her hands were grasping at the back of his head. Her mumbling was unintelligible, but he assumed she was encouraging him—begging him.
He continued to suck and lick at her breasts for several more minutes. Then, he moved his hand down her velvety legs, urging her thighs apart. She spread her legs open for him, willingly, eagerly even. He trailed his fingertips in little circles up the inside of her thighs until he came to the very center of her core.
He could feel the heat radiating from her even through the flimsy material of her lace panties. As he lightly brushed his fingers up the fabric, he noticed that it was soaking wet.
Nikki groaned and arched her back as she felt his light touch on the s
ensitive skin of her lips. “Yes, Logan, yes…” she murmured.
He heard the note of desperation in her voice. He smiled. He loved seeing Nikki lose control like this.
Hooking his fingers in the lace material at her hip, Logan slowly slid her panties down over her legs and threw them aside. Then, moving his hands up her inner thighs, he spread her legs and took a moment to fully appreciate her beautiful body.
His eyes roamed across her perfectly full breasts, down the curve of her waist, sliding even lower past her hips, and finally landing on her center. Logan’s fingers instinctively gripped her inner thighs as he gently nudged her legs even farther apart and watched her grow even wetter right before his eyes.
Arousal and need exploded through him as he stared at Nikki’s wet center. He ignored the pounding pulse of his cock for now as he tended to Nikki’s needs. Pulling her hips to the edge of the bed where he knelt between her knees, Logan placed the palm of his hand flat on her lower belly and began to trail his thumb lightly along her outer lips, never penetrating the folds.
He felt her shudder under his light caress. Without waiting for her to beg, he dipped his head and covered her completely with his mouth. She tasted so sweet that he felt like he could spend the rest of his life devouring her. He ran his tongue up and down, again and again, alternating thrusting his tongue inside of her and working her sweet-tasting clit.
Finally, when he felt her movements become more frenzied and heard a new note of urgency enter her cries, he knew it was time to release her from this exquisite torture he was causing to burn through her.
He slipped two fingers inside of her snug heat, pushing his fingers in past his knuckles, and felt Nikki’s entire body go into spasms as he concentrated his mouth on her clit. He felt her inner muscles squeezing harder, clamping down on his fingers, and at the same time, she grasped the back of his head with both hands and thrust her hips up into his mouth, screaming, “Oh, Logan, yes! Yes! Logan… Ahhh.”
He stayed with her as her body milked his fingers, while she rode out her release. He only slowed his movements as she slowed hers, bringing her down softly from the powerful orgasm. When she was almost completely calm, she spoke his name quietly, “Oh my freaking goodness.”
He looked up to meet her eyes and saw that she was watching him—she was clearly satisfied by him.
It was Logan’s turn to groan uncontrollably. He stood on shaky legs and began to undress, unbuttoning his shirt first. Nikki watched him with a sly grin and sat up on the edge of the bed. Her fingers worked at his clothing as he looked down at her, watching her sit on the edge of the bed completely naked as she worked to undress him. It was an almost unbearably erotic image.
Completely free of his clothes, he slipped on the condom he’d pulled from his wallet. She smiled a little as he rolled it on. “You have a beautiful body,” she said, touching him lightly.
She scooted back gracefully on the bed, taking his hand and pulling him toward her as she laid back against the pillows. Logan moved over to her as she began to kiss him and run her hands all over his body. His cock throbbed painfully at her exploration.
“God,” he thought. He didn’t know it was possible to get this hard. Before long, he felt her fingers grasp his length and guide him inside of her. "Damn, it feels so perfect." She was warm and tight, and it felt as if he were completely enveloped in her when he began to pump rhythmically in and out.
He felt her hot breath on his neck, her soft skin against his body, her hands trailing over his back, and her legs wrapped around his waist, holding him tight. It felt so right to be inside of her.
Her inner walls contracted tightly around him. She locked her ankles around his back, pushing him even deeper inside of her. He felt her heat pulsing around his steel-hard erection as he thrust in and out of her. Her hips moved against his as their pace quickened.
Her nails dug into his back. “Logan. Oh, Logan, it’s happening again,” His name sounded sweet on her lips. He felt her core begin to spasm around him, and his passion rose to a peak, and then he felt it break. He came hard and pounded her fast as he emptied inside of her. He collapsed on top of her thinking he’d never experienced an orgasm like this one before.
*****
Nikki woke up knowing it was going to be a bad allergy day, but a stuffy nose and running eyes were the least of the problems she faced today. Her hands immediately covered her face to protect her from the blasted sunlight streaming in. She rolled over in bed, and the spot Logan had occupied was empty. Where was he? Had he just left and not said anything? Had she fallen for his sexy swag? Had that gotten to her? Yeah, that was probably it. She had fallen victim to the “wham, bam, thank you ma’am’” scam.
Her stomach rumbled. She was going to be sick. Throwing the cover off her, she had to get to the bathroom before she threw up. It was a false alarm. Nikki looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her fair skin revealed the red marks on her chest, arms, and stomach. She tilted her neck and saw the dark spot just under her ear. He had tagged her.
She closed her eyes remembering Logan’s touch. So soft at first, and tender, caring. Then she had become demanding, and he had answered with demands of his own. The marks on her body would fade, but the memory of their hot sex would last forever.
Turning on the shower, Nikki stepped under the warm spray, letting the water run over her face. It had been years since she had had sex and some years since her last kiss. How pathetic was it that a woman her age had not kissed a man in years?
Nikki grabbed the bottle of shower gel and soaped the sponge. Judith had damaged her so much it made her hide from life. Gayle was right: She used computers to replace human interactions. Kenya was so lucky to have been rescued and able to grow up in a loving home.
These emotions were flowing at the wrong time. She should be relishing in the aftermath of one hell of a sex session. She ran the soapy sponge over her body and wished they were Logan’s hands, remembering how callused they felt running over her soft skin.
She ran her fingers over herself, seeing if it felt as good as it had with his. It didn’t feel the same, but still, she tried to remember his fingers running over her and mimicked his movements. She tried very hard to relax and not think of how stupid she felt standing in the shower touching herself, but her mind just wouldn’t shut off. Logan was a man of his word. He had made her scream his name more than once.
She turned off the shower and stepped out, taking a towel off the track. As she dried her body, she remembered Kenya’s wedding was nearing. The gift was still on the table unwrapped. Although she had no plans to attend the wedding, she should send the gift. Nikki made a mental note to drop the package off at UPS sometime today.
She finished drying her body and wrapped the towel around her hair. No need to do anything special to it since she had the day off. Makeup was even off the table today. As she walked out of the bathroom, the door to the apartment suddenly opened, and Logan walked in carrying two tall cups of coffee. He stopped and stared at her. Stunned, Nikki didn't immediately realize she was totally naked except for the towel wrapped around her head.
“Uh, Nikki,” Logan mumbled.
He was looking at her as if she were naked pork chop waiting to be seasoned. She bolted to the bedroom and shut the door. Her heart was beating a thousand beats per minute. “What is he doing here?” she said to herself.
Opening the closet door, Nikki snatched a pair of pants off a hanger and grabbed a shirt and underwear out of the drawer. She didn’t care if the clothes were wrinkled or if they even matched: She needed to get dressed.
She sprayed her hair with sheen and ran a comb through the wet curls. Thanks to her father’s genes, her hair would dry naturally and curl with little shrinkage. Instinct had her spray on her body a touch of perfume. It was a routine she did every day to remind herself she was woman whether she hid away from reality or not.
With her nerves calmed, Nikki walked into the living room. Logan was still there, looking comforta
ble on her couch. He actually made the furniture look better. "So, this is what the morning after having sex with a stranger feels like?" she thought. Not a position she wanted to ever be in again.
“Um, I thought you were gone. How did you get back in my apartment?”
“I took your key off the hook and went to get food. Your fridge is bare, Nikki.” He patted the cushion next to him. “Sit and eat before it gets cold.”
Hesitantly, she moved over to the couch and sat down. The coffee smelled good, and she was very hungry. The appetizers had gone untouched, and the sex took a lot of energy out of her.
“Thank you. What else is in the bag?”
“Oh, I got bagels and cream cheese and fresh fruit for now. I thought we would go out for lunch later.” He took two plain bagels from the bag and put the small packages of cream cheese and jelly next to it.
“What? Wait, I thought you had to work this morning.”
“I did, but Ron is holding it down.”
She bit into a bagel, and it was warm. “That is nice of him. You don’t have to stick around.”
“Can’t I stick around because I want too? Or do you want me to leave, Nikki?”
“We need to talk, Logan.”
“I’ve told you over and over I’m a good listener. So talk to me; tell me what’s on your mind.”
She took a sip of coffee. Nikki needed the caffeine for strength.
Chapter Thirteen
He waited for her to start the conversation, but she seemed to want to finish the damn bagel first. Getting this woman to open up to him was like pulling teeth. Her surprise that he was still around struck him odd too. Most women wanted the man to stick around after sex. It gave them a sense of security they weren’t used for their own gratification.
Oh well. If she wanted to wait it out, he would wait it out with her. Logan finished his bagel and drank the coffee to wash it down. He watched her closely. How could she not get this? He was showing her everything a good man is supposed to do. He didn’t want to lose her as a friend if she regretted last night.
Text 'Yes' if You Love Me Page 10