The Girl Worth Fighting for (The Girl #2)

by Julia Goda

  “She went to your place, didn’t she?”

  I nodded through my laughter. Logan gave in to his own grin. “Remind me to never piss off a pregnant woman.”

  I stilled for a moment, reminded of the predicament we might find ourselves in, but then pushed the thought out of my mind. Logan felt it and studied me. “Oh, it’s not because she’s pregnant. That’s just Lizzy and Cole. They bicker and bitch and generally drive each other insane.”

  “They’re like this all the time?”

  “No, not to this extreme. But expecting a girl seems to mess with Cole’s head and make him even crazier than usual. He should have known better. He forced her hand.”

  Logan took my hand and led me outside to his truck. “Forced her hand?”

  “Yeah. She threatened to move in with me for the rest of her pregnancy if he didn’t control his overprotectiveness. Saying what he did dared her to follow through on that threat. And she did.”

  “They going to be okay?”

  I waved off his concern, though it was kinda sweet. “They’re always okay. They love each other deeply. Nothing and no one will ever change that.” I felt Logan’s eyes on me and turned my head to meet them. He gave me a proud smile and squeezed my hand before he opened the passenger door and guided me up in to the cab.

  Logan didn’t live too far away from the Back Bay area. He parked his car in front of a building on Rutland Square, two spots behind my car. The house his apartment was in looked definitely cozy and homey and was nothing to sneeze at. It was one of those old redbrick buildings that had been converted into several units. His unit was the one on the lower floor with a separate entrance. When he unlocked the door, I was a little speechless at what I saw. Never in a million years would I have imagined Logan to live in a place like this. I thought he would drive us downtown, where he lived in a modern apartment building. But this, this was definitely not what I had imagined. The living room had high ceilings and was surprisingly bright for being on the lower level. There was a wood fireplace and hardwood floors. I looked around and noticed everything was neat and clean. And cozy. This was nothing like the bachelor pad I had expected. He either had a knack for decorating, which I doubted, or someone else had decorated this place for him. Don’t get me wrong, his furniture and decorations were manly, but the fact he had not just a big screen TV on the wall but had actual framed pictures and photographs scattered through the place as well as toss pillows on his dark brown leather couch was on indication of female influence. That thought caused my stomach to knot up with jealousy.

  Don’t be silly, Rainey. You’re not the jealous type.

  “Do I pass inspection?”

  I turned to face him. “Sure.” I shrugged. “It’s nice.”

  He smiled at me. “It’s nothing like your place, but it’s not bad.”

  “No, it’s not bad at all.” I frowned. “It’s really nice, actually.” I went to the window and looked out, trying to dispel that silly green monster from my thoughts.

  “Something wrong?” Logan came to stand right behind me. His hands went to my hips. “You seem a little tense all of a sudden.” He placed a soft kiss behind my ear, causing goose bumps to run down my neck.

  I turned around. He kept his hands in place, just loosened them enough for me to move until we stood front-to-front. “I…This is…” I sighed and closed my eyes for a second.

  For goodness sakes, Rainey, what the hell is wrong with you?

  “What’s wrong?” I could hear the frown in Logan’s voice and opened my eyes to see I was right. He was studying me, trying to figure out my sudden change in mood.

  God, I really was a handful.

  I pushed the unhappy thoughts aside and smiled at him while I placed my hands on his chest. “It’s nothing. You’ve got a really nice place.” Try as hard as I might, I couldn’t completely get rid of the tense undertone in my voice.

  “Rainey,” was all he said as he stared at me, waiting for me to be honest.

  I sighed. “Fine.” I looked over his shoulder and took in the room once more. “It’s…Who…I mean, who helped you decorate?” I inwardly rolled my eyes at myself. I sounded like an insecure little girl.

  I felt Logan’s chest move under my hands. He was chuckling. My eyes snapped back to his and narrowed on his amused face.

  “Rainey, baby, are you jealous?”

  I narrowed my eyes further and tried to take a step back, but Logan had a firm hold on my hips.

  “No,” I said as nonchalantly as I could muster. I even added a shoulder shrug to underline my non-jealousy. I could tell Logan saw through my game, though, as he pulled me closer to his chest. His chuckle had turned into a wide smile and his eyes had gone from amused and teasing to soft and loving.

  “Good. You’ve got no reason to be. Not now. Not ever.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “My mom picked all the furniture, wall color, pictures, pillows, you name it. She had a blast.”

  I relaxed my body into his, hence giving away my relief at his answer.

  “She’s got good taste.” I had no idea how to deal with these feelings. What had made me so jealous? The fact he’d had women before me? Duh, of course he had. I wasn’t exactly a virgin either, and with the way he looked and threw his charm around, he probably had women waiting in the wings…No, that wasn’t fair. He said he wasn’t a player and I believed him. I had admitted to judging him without knowing him; I couldn’t go back on that just because I didn’t know how to deal with being the jealous girlfriend after only a few days of being with him. I’d never been jealous, had never let anyone close enough to risk that. I didn’t like it. Not one bit. It turned me into a person I didn’t recognize. But the image of some other woman picking out furniture with him and arguing over wall colors had turned me into a harpy in less than two seconds flat.

  A finger under my chin lifted my face up, forcing me to meet Logan’s eyes.

  “It’s okay to be jealous. In fact, I like it when you’re jealous.” I narrowed my eyes at him once more, happy that annoyance was winning out.

  “So what, you’re gonna try and make me jealous to make yourself feel better?” I knew I was being a bitch, but knowing that didn’t stop me from dishing it out. Being pissed was an emotion I knew, an emotion I could handle. It had been my best friend for many years.

  Logan let go of my hips and cupped my face firmly but gently.

  “I would never do that and you know it. I told you how I feel about you; I promised you I would never hurt you. I’m gonna tell you till my face turns blue if that’s what it takes. This is not some game for me. I want you. All of you. Only you. Making the person you love jealous on purpose is stupid and juvenile. That’s not who I am.” He was firm at the same time he was gentle, just like he was holding my face. I had nothing to retort. I knew he was right and he knew I knew he was right, so there was nothing to say. He also knew me well enough to not expect an answer, which was an answer all in itself.

  He studied my face for less than two seconds before his grin came back. “I was jealous earlier today at the gym.”

  “What? Why?” I let the afternoon play through my mind. I hadn’t given him any reason to be jealous.

  “Sam made a comment, and I was ready to rip his head off.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. So there’s no reason to feel stupid or silly about not wanting another woman help me decorate my apartment. I would lose my mind if you let another guy help you decorate the space you live in. It might be irrational, but it’s true nonetheless.” That made me feel a little better, the fact he had been jealous for no reason but wasn’t afraid to admit it either.

  “Now that we’re over that little snit of yours, let me show you the rest of the apartment.” Before I could comment, he kissed me hot and heavy, and I couldn’t help but reciprocate. My hands went into his hair, where I pulled gently, but not too gently, making him moan into my mouth as his hand grabbed my ass and he lifted me up. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs a
round his hips, pressing my body against his as tightly as I could. He pulled his mouth from mine on another moan and a protesting mewl from me. His eyes were hot, and he pulled me in closer until there was no space left between our bodies as his hands went up my back. “Ready to see my bedroom?”

  A shudder ran through me as I envisioned him naked and on top of me, inside me. He held my eyes captive as they went from hot to scorching. Then his mouth was on mine again, and he was devouring me, going deep, as one of his hands went further up and cradled the back of my head, keeping me in place, while the other kept pushing at my back to press me even closer to him. I held on and kissed him back. That’s all I could do: hold on and let him take my mouth as he walked us to his bedroom.

  The next thing I registered was my back hitting a bed, but I didn’t look around, couldn’t, since all my senses were overwhelmed by the feel of Logan on top of me. I loved the feel of his body against mine, of his weight pushing me into the mattress. It felt sexy and turned me on. I dropped my legs from around his waist and pushed my center up against his, finding him hot and hard. The next second, he was gone and my eyes snapped open.

  Logan stood at the edge of the bed, breathing hard, his eyes a fiery heat while he roughly pulled his shirt over his head. He looked crazed, as if he had lost control. All I could do was stare at him as he got undressed, his movements jerky, my chest heaving, my breath panting.

  “Get naked. Now,” he ordered on a low growl.

  I didn’t hesitate and followed his orders. My shirt and bra went first before I wiggled my way out of my jeans, taking my panties and socks with them. I was naked in time to watch Logan roll on a condom.

  Neither of us moved as we stared at each other with lust-filled eyes. I lay naked and bared before him, with my elbows supporting my weight and my legs wide open. He was standing naked in front of me, his fists clenching at his sides, his dick hard and throbbing.

  “Every day for a month I’ve envisioned you in my bed just like you are now. Ready for me to take you.” His voice was strained. He was on the edge.

  “Then take me,” I whispered shakily. The last word hadn’t left my lips before he was on me. Before he took what was his. Because that’s what I was. His. Utterly and completely. Just like he had said I would be. And I refused to be scared any longer. I wanted this, wanted him, wanted us. So I took him just like he was taking me, claimed him like he had claimed me. This wasn’t lovemaking. It wasn’t even rough sex. No, this was more. So much more. It was passion. It was need. It was raw. And it was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced. I let go completely, gave everything I had to give and took everything I wanted to take, while Logan did the same.

  Our mouths ate at each other, nipping, sucking, biting, licking every inch we could reach. Our hands grabbed at each other, groping, pinching, kneading every part they could reach. There wasn’t one gentle caress or one loving, lingering kiss, yet I loved every bit of it as I lost myself in the sensation of everything Logan. Then with one hard thrust, he filled me and started moving fast and deep, making us both moan in ecstasy. But it wasn’t enough, wouldn’t ever be enough. I grabbed his ass with both hands and pulled him into me roughly, needing him deeper, needing more, at the same time I tilted my pelvis up, seeking the friction.

  “More, Logan, I need more,” I whispered on a groan. He went harder and faster, giving me what I needed as his lips found mine again. I was close, so very close, when he tore his mouth from mine and slipped out of me. He flipped me over and pulled me up by my hips until I was on all fours, and not a second later, he filled me again, even deeper this time.

  “Yes,” I moaned as I threw my head back.

  “God, baby. You drive me crazy.” Logan was holding on to my hips, guiding me, pulling me against him as he thrust in and out of me so powerfully and fast, I was close again to falling over the edge in a matter of moments. Then one powerful thrust made my arms give out and pushed me to my belly. Logan fell with me but didn’t stop. He spread my legs wider with his knees and kept at me, his hands now supporting his weight on the mattress next to my breasts, giving him more leverage. His weight on my ass pressed my hip into the mattress, creating heavenly friction.

  “Rainey. My god, you feel so good.”

  “Logan, I…I need…” I couldn’t say anything more. The sensations were overwhelming me. I needed to come. Needed it with everything in me. Logan knew this. He changed his angle and ground against me, circling his hips. I bit my lip on a moan and closed my eyes. Then I was up again, pulled up against his chest as he sat back on his haunches while he kept thrusting up.

  God, he was so strong.

  “I know what you need. And I’m giving it to you, baby. Always. Everything you need. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.” His voice was nothing more than a low growl, but I heard every word even though I couldn’t respond. I was wide open for him, sitting backwards in his lap, his chest against my back, while he moved inside me. One of his fingers found my clit and pressed in, while his other hand grabbed my breast and kneaded. Then he pinched my nipple on an upward thrust and a finger swirl, and I was lost.

  “Yes, baby. I can feel your pussy grabbing me. God. Come. Now, Rainey. Come with me.” He bit the back of my neck and let out a long and deep groan, pushing me over the edge and into bliss with him. My muscles contracted around him, and I could feel his heat erupt inside me. He clamped his arms around me, holding me tight, preventing us from falling into the mattress, while I dug my fingernails into his thighs.

  When I came down, I was lifeless in his arms as I tried to catch my breath.

  “Fuck, that was amazing.”

  Logan kissed my shoulder. “That’s an understatement.”

  I giggled and pressed my head against the side of his. “I don’t think I can move.”

  “Then I did my job right.” He loosened his arms a little and started roaming my sides, over my belly, then up to my breasts. Then he whispered, “I love you, Rainey.”

  I swallowed and waited for the fear to set in, but it didn’t come. No, it wasn’t fear I was feeling. It was warmth, it was contentment, it was happiness. His love for me warmed my insides and filled me, assuring me I would never feel alone again. And I knew I loved him too. “I love you too.” It was true. Crazy but true. I was in love with Logan. I was his and he was mine.

  Logan turned me in his arms so I was sitting astride his lap. My eyes locked on his surprised but extremely pleased ones. “You love me?”

  I nodded slowly but firmly while I kept holding his eyes. “I do.”

  Then his mouth was on mine once more, lovingly instead of lust-driven now, adoring, and the next moment, I was on my back in the bed and he was lying on top of me. This time, we made love, slow and tender love, during which we worshipped each other’s body, each other’s mind, each other’s soul. Every touch felt like a caress, every kiss was mind consuming, every look soul shattering.

  We fell asleep with our bodies entangled, our arms around each other, breathing each other in.

  I was happy.

  Content.

  Safe in his arms.

  Chapter 16

  Rainey

  “I’VE GOTTA TAKE A SHOWER.”

  I was sitting on the kitchen counter, pressed against Logan, who was standing in between my legs facing me, kissing me.

  “In a minute.”

  “I’m already running late,” I said against his lips. I didn’t want him to stop, but I had a job I needed to get to. After one last lingering touch, he rested his forehead on my shoulder and growled in frustration. “I need to be alone with you. No jobs, no interruptions, no training.”

  I kissed the side of his head before I leaned back to find his eyes.

  “And how do you suggest we do that?” His fight was in three months. I remembered only too well what that meant. The closer he got to the fight, the more intense and time-consuming his training would become. We’d be lucky if we saw each other at all in six weeks’ time.

&nb
sp; He glared at me. Then his face split into a huge smile and he kissed the tip of my nose. “As soon as the fight is over, I’ll take you somewhere. Anywhere. For at least a week. Maybe a month. We’ll leave that night.”

  My eyes grew wide. “Logan, I can’t take time off for a month. I can get a week, maybe even two if I ask real nice, but there’s no way Taryn is gonna give me a month off.”

  He kissed my mouth. “I’ll take what I can get. Two weeks it is then,” he said on a grin. I kissed him back but frowned. But before I could respond, the front door to his apartment opened and a woman walked in. Logan looked over his shoulder then looked back to me and shook his head in what looked like aggravation mixed with amusement. “Two weeks,” he repeated before he pulled back, turned around, and leaned beside me against the counter.

  I was too befuddled to say or do anything but stare at the woman. Who was she? And why did she waltz in here as if she did it every day? And why wasn’t Logan upset about it?

  “Hey, Mom.”

  Shit. His mother?

  “Logan,” his mother greeted with a wide smile. Her eyes were on me, alight with happiness. “You must be Rainey.”

  “Um, yes, ma’am. I’m Rainey.”

  She waved her hand in front of me. “None of that ma’am nonsense. I’m Rita, Logan’s mom.” She took the handful of steps that separated us and hugged me. While I was sitting on her son’s kitchen counter in nothing but panties and one of his t-shirts. I awkwardly hugged her back, then gave Logan big eyes. And what did he do? He chuckled! My wide eyes turned into a glare, which made him burst out laughing. He swung an arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple. I did nothing. What was I supposed to do? I couldn’t very well throw a fit in front of his mother, especially not the first time I met her. It was embarrassing enough to be caught half-naked in her son’s kitchen.

  “Mom, what are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to meet Rainey.”

  “I get that, but don’t you think you could have waited until we were dressed? Or maybe until I brought her over to your place?”