Mine: A Romantic Suspense Thriller (A Back to Me Series Book 2)

by Brittany Taylor

  We need an escape. We’re using each other to forget the thoughts that haunt us.

  Logan’s hands are on me within seconds, removing my tank top and bra before undoing the brass button of my jean shorts. They snap open, the metal sound echoing off the walls of our bedroom. His fingers graze against my skin like silk as he pulls down my shorts. Gently pushing my legs apart, he bends over between them, his hands pressed into the mattress on either side of my hips. I sit up on my elbows, watching him as he bends down, pressing his lips to the inside of my thighs. His light breaths against my skin causes my legs to tingle and my want for him to grow. I tilt my head back and close my eyes, his mouth exploring every inch of me.

  “Logan.” I’m breathless, grasping at anything to fight my release. I want this to last.

  He kisses the top of my underwear and I fight to hold back the orgasm I know is coming. He hasn’t really even touched me, yet I feel like he has in so many ways. He’s everywhere all at once.

  He presses his lips to the lace fabric of my thong once again, his hot breath dancing across my sensitive area. A playful grin spreads across his lips and a fire burns in his eyes. Without breaking his eyes away from mine, he pushes the fabric of my thong aside, sliding two fingers inside me.

  “Fuck, Lena. You’re soaked.” He starts moving his fingers inside me and leans down once again to kiss me. I lift my hips off the mattress and reach out, grabbing fistfuls of bedsheets. Sliding his tongue across my skin, I gasp. Being with Logan like this has only made my love for him grow.

  His tongue continues to lap against me. He reaches up, grabbing my breast. His fingers brush against my hardened nipple. A tingling sensation moves down my body to where Logan is between my legs.

  “Logan, please,” I beg him, lifting my legs, wrapping them around his shoulders, fighting the urge to keep him pressed between my legs. I want him to move so he’s inside me but I want him to keep going all at the same time.

  Before pulling away, Logan gently bites against me. I hiss, reveling in the pleasurable sting.

  Logan rises, still kneeled on the bed. His stare is intense as he watches me. “I still can’t believe you’re my wife.”

  I can see the outline of his erection in his black slacks, the appearance of how I look clearly affecting him. My eyes trail back up, landing on his. “And I can’t believe you’re my husband.”

  I sit up far enough to start unbuckling his pants as he unbuttons his chef jacket. Beneath his jacket is a plain white T-shirt. I pout, my lips still swollen from Logan’s kisses in the hallway.

  Logan pauses and looks down as he holds the hem of his shirt. “What’s wrong?”

  I smirk, feeling my warm lips spread out into a grin. “Nothing’s wrong.” I scoot forward and place my hands over his, quickly starting to lift it over the toned muscle beneath it. “There’s just too many layers. Close the space between us.”

  Logan gives me a devilish grin before placing his hands on my bent knees, pressing his fingertips against them. The sunlight pours in between the curtains, highlighting every line and ridge of Logan’s defined body. I run my fingertips across his abs then wrap my hands around his waist pulling him closer. His skin is peppered with goose bumps as he leans forward, crashing his lips against mine.

  “I want you inside me. Now.” I’m begging again, but I can’t help it.

  He wraps his arm around my waist, moving us backward so I’m leaning against the fabric of our cushioned headboard. I’m practically sitting upright, my breasts on full display and my knees spread apart. Grabbing on to my ankle, Logan lifts my leg over his shoulder, positioning himself at my entrance.

  I gasp, tipping my chin up and pressing my head back into the headboard as Logan pushes inside me. His mouth lands on my exposed neck and the feeling is overwhelming in the best way. Logan has always been the more commanding one when it comes to sex.

  In the years I was with Julian, he always made it a point to let me know who was in charge. He was forceful and when he would demand for me to look him in the eye, there was always a storm cloud brewing behind his green eyes. There was something sinister swirling inside them and I knew for Julian is was more about control than it was about us being together.

  With Logan, his command is different. Behind every word, every touch, and every kiss there’s desire and love behind it. Logan always takes control without making me feel like I have no control.

  Logan continues to move inside me, completely filling me again before pulling back out, repeating the same process. A few months back, I had started taking birth control, knowing that if the threat of Julian still existed, there was no way Logan and I would be comfortable having children until we knew we were absolutely safe.

  We weren’t sure when that day would come, or even if it would come at all. We just knew now wasn’t the time.

  Logan’s movements pick up. My back presses against the headboard several times. I grip the ends of his hair as he bends down, biting down on the flesh of my breast. Taking my nipple in his mouth, he sucks on the hardened pebble, rolling his tongue across my skin. I gasp as Logan pushes into me one more time before I begin unraveling beneath him. It’s moments like these where Logan takes extra care to remind me how happy he is to be married to me, that I remember how our love runs deeper than any love I’ve ever known.

  Once Logan follows with his own release, I slide my back down the headboard. My head gently falls against the pillow as Logan wraps his arms around me, resting his head on my chest. My heart beats heavily beneath my chest. I reach up, running my fingers through Logan’s now dampened hair. He’s growing it out and I smile, loving the feeling it gives me knowing he feels comfortable letting it go back to the way it used to be.

  “I love your hair like this.” It’s the first words I’ve spoken since before Logan made love to me.

  Logan lets out a choked laugh and I can feel his grin spread out across my bare chest. “I do, too.”

  Five

  Lena

  I chose the table in the back corner, closest to the barista making the fifth cappuccino I’ve seen him pour since I sat down. The loud gurgling of foaming milk drowns out the hushed chatter of other customers. It’s odd to think how comforting the sounds of a coffee shop can be. The random piano music playing in the background. The occasional screech of a wooden chair sliding against the dulled tile floor. Even the smell is comforting, taking me back to the days when I would go to the coffee shop around the corner from my dorm back in Providence.

  It’s been nearly thirty minutes since I left Logan at the house. I didn’t want to leave him. His body was warm, pressed against mine. His head rested against my pounding chest. All of it was nearly enough reason for me to consider rescheduling my meeting with my new client. But when Logan sat up and I looked at the time, I knew it would be bad business if I didn’t keep my appointment.

  Begrudgingly, I’d quickly gotten dressed and headed out the door, my thighs still aching from having Logan between them. There’s still a warmth resonating over my body as I patiently wait for my new client. I’d almost felt as if today were a new day. I wasn’t sure if it was the tearing down of the shed, or if it was Logan’s attempt at making up for being late. Either way, I had started to feel the hole inside my chest beginning to fill. However temporary it may be.

  Looking at the time once more, I push the thoughts of Logan aside and focus on my work.

  My laptop is open to my design software. Beside it is my spiral notebook, open to a blank page. I click my favorite pen, adding it to the myriad of sounds flooding the coffee shop. I take another sip of my caramel latte, checking the time on my phone.

  The still hot coffee pours down my throat. Over the top of my cup, I spot a woman walking in my direction. The sight of her is enough to make me nearly spit my coffee out, sputtering the hot liquid all over my laptop and notebook.

  She grows closer, her deep purple lipped smile beaming from ear to ear. Her familiar shade of silver hair reflects against the golde
n lights of the coffee shop.

  She abruptly stops in front of my table, standing on the other side. “Hi, Lena.”

  “A—” I choke her name out between the coffee coating my throat. I cough, clearing the lump that’s quickly formed there. “Abby?”

  She nods vigorously, her smile never faltering. I stand up, the wooden chair sliding against the dull tile floor beneath my feet.

  “How did you—” I ask in disbelief. “How?”

  She walks around the table, quickly wrapping me in a hug. Her arms drape over my shoulders as she tightly squeezes me. “It’s so good to see you, Lena. Thanks for meeting with me.”

  I hesitate, still stunned that my best friend is here. My best friend is here. Finally, I return her hug, placing my hands on her back and pulling her close.

  After a few moments, she pulls back but keeps me at arm's length, holding on to my elbows.

  “Meeting me?” I ask her, still confused. “I don’t understand.” I can tell my reaction to Abby’s sudden appearance isn’t what she was hoping for, but I can’t help it. I never thought I would see her again. It feels as if I’ve seen a ghost.

  Her smile immediately fades, and her shoulders drop. “I’m hiring you for my branding, remember?”

  “Oh. You’re the Abigail I was supposed to meet? But you listed a different last name.” I stare at Abby with widened eyes, moving to sit down. Abby follows suit and pulls out the chair across from me. She drapes the handles of her large yellow purse on the back of the chair.

  “Yeah.” She plays off my comment with a humorless laugh, but I can tell she’s disappointed. “It’s a long story but my last name is Cooper now.”

  “Why?” I immediately wince as soon as the word leaves my mouth. Why am I sounding like such an asshole? I’m just now seeing my best friend after a year and I’m already questioning her as if I wasn’t the one who’d cut her out of my life.

  My chest aches, knowing this isn’t how I pictured our reunion. Not that I thought we’d ever have one. “I’m so sorry. That was rude.” I place my hand against my forehead and close my eyes. When I open them back up, Abby’s still sitting across from me. “I didn’t mean for that to sound the way it did. I’m just in shock. I never thought I’d see you again.”

  “Me either.” Abby looks down at the table then reaches around, digging in her giant yellow purse. She turns back around with a small black binder.

  She opens it to the first page. It’s a spreadsheet of sorts, series of numbers filling each column and row.

  I smile, the realization of having her here finally hitting me. “I’ve missed you, Abby.”

  She doesn’t speak. Instead, her violet eyes study me before the corners of her mouth draw up into a smile. She hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw her. Her hair is still the same shade of silver and her style still seems to be the same. She’s coated in pops of color and the memory of our friendship begins to seep back into my bones.

  “I’ve missed you too, Lena.” There’s an awkward pause between us. I sigh, averting my eyes from Abby’s stare.

  “Listen, Abby,” I start. “I want to explain about what happened and why I left.”

  “Hang on.” Abby stops me, holding her finger up. She grabs her wallet from her bag and stands. “I’m going to grab a coffee, then we can catch up.”

  “Oh.” I nod, relaxing back in my seat. “Of course.” I give her a small smile, watching her as she walks over to the counter, reciting her order to the older woman behind the register. The cappuccino making barista must have gone home.

  While Abby waits for her coffee, I grab my phone from the table and text Logan.

  Me: You’ll never guess who my new client is. This is crazy. I’ll spill all the details when I get home.

  I finish out my text just as Abby returns to the table with her coffee. Her nails are painted a deep blue-black color and silver rings are wrapped around three of her fingers. She really is the same person I left back in Providence.

  “So,” she says, taking a sip of her coffee. “What were you saying?”

  I swallow the lump that’s somehow made a permanent home in my throat. Guilt has found its way back to me. “I wanted to tell you why I left without saying goodbye.”

  Abby waves me off. “That’s okay. We can save that conversation for another time. I want to know how you’ve been. What have you been up to?” She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table, her coffee cup cradled between her slim fingers.

  Again, I’m shocked with Abby’s reaction. I figured she’d want to know why her best friend suddenly vanished and left without saying a word.

  “Okay.” I take a sip of my coffee. It’s already cold and I’m wishing I had ordered another one. Curiosity eats away at me, stopping me from getting up. “How did you find me though?” I ask bringing my cold coffee back up for another sip. “I’m surprised to see you, but you don’t seem as surprised to see me.”

  Abby adds a packet of sugar to her cup. “Well, last fall my father had told me about a position with an accounting firm with one of his buddies from college. He said he would put in a good word for me. I figured since you left, it was probably best for me to at least get back on the west coast. That way I wasn’t alone.” Her eyes shift to the side as she takes a sip of her coffee. She sets it back down, staring back at me. “The office was in West Hollywood, so it wasn’t too far from where my parents live in Los Angeles. At first, the job went smoothly. Most of my co-workers were friendly but one of the senior partners and I didn’t get along. I think he thought I was out to take his job or something.” She clears her throat. “Anyway, I decided to leave and look for work elsewhere. But the more I looked, the more I started to get frustrated. I was ready to give up when it dawned on me.” Abby smiles. “I should just start my own accounting firm.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing, Abby. I’m so happy you were able to start up your own business.” I genuinely mean what I say. I know Abby hasn’t always had it easy. I may not know the reason why she changed her last name or what happened in West Hollywood, but I do know Abby was destined for bigger and better things. I tilt my head to the side, still wondering how she ended up finding me. “How did you end up in Seattle if you were living near Los Angeles?”

  “That’s the best part.” She beams. “I was researching one day on how to start my own accounting business and saw Seattle had a major financial district. When I dug a little deeper on how to build my brand, your name showed up.” Abby straightens her back and squares her shoulders.

  “Really?” I’m honestly surprised to hear how my name had popped up on the internet. That means my design business was gaining traction with potential new clients.

  I ignore the twinge of doubt gnawing in the back of my mind. If Abby was able to find me through a little digging, there was a chance Julian could do the same. Maybe he’d already found me, just as Abby had. I try not to bask in the what ifs for too long. I’d already started this reunion off with too many questions and I didn’t want Abby to think I wasn’t thrilled to see her. Because I truly am.

  Abby was the friend I valued in my life. If this past year wasn’t proof of that already, I would know it now.

  I’d had to let her go. Even after us being separated by thousands of miles, she’d found me. It must be fate.

  Abby’s eyes fall to my hand, focusing on the ring wrapped around my fourth finger. “You’re married?”

  I follow her gaze, instinctively lifting it up. The small diamond sparkles against the setting sun’s rays filtering through the tall glass windows. I twirl the ring around my finger before placing my hand back around my cup. “I am.” I give Abby a warm smile. “Logan and I got married last year.”

  “You did?” Abby blows out a heavy breath. Her cheeks expand before contracting as her back lands against her seat with a heavy thud. “Congratulations. Sorry I missed it.”

  “I wish you were there. A lot of circumstances led to why I had to leave. Neither of us really planned it. It w
as a spur of the moment kind of thing.”

  “Right.” Abby slowly nods, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She’s clearly digesting my words. Her eyes swirl, her violet irises appearing as if they’re coated in glass.

  The sadness between us expands. Abby missed me getting married. She couldn’t stand beside me on my biggest day and I can tell we’re both saddened by that fact.

  Abby sighs as she searches my face. She clears her throat then sits back up, turning her attention to the binder opened in front of her. “Okay, so I wasn’t sure what you wanted to see to get a better idea of the business I’ve started to build. I have a few papers here with the outline of my business plan.”

  I don’t move, staring at Abby as she flips through the pages of her binder. Her voice is swallowed up by the noises surrounding us. I try to think of a way I could have done things differently. Through the past year, I’d find myself searching for the rewind button on my life. I wish I could go back to the moment Logan and I decided we were going to leave Providence behind us.

  I’d packed my entire life up and dragged Abby through the mud, only to end up losing her in the end. She was my best friend, standing beside me at my darkest moments. Before Julian and after. She deserved more than what I’d given her in return.

  I turn my attention to the binder Abby’s laid out. She sifts through the papers rapidly, not lingering on them too long before showing me the next one. To be honest, I don’t understand any of it. We spend the next twenty minutes pouring over her vision for her business and where she wants to take it in the future.

  When she’s finished, she stuffs the last of the papers back into her binder then folds her arms on top of it, leaning forward.

  “So, what do you think?”

  “Honestly? I’m really happy for you but I don’t understand any of it.” I laugh. “But I can still come up with a great design for your brand.” I tap the keyboard on my laptop, waking it up. The screen turns on, already open to my software. I type in the name of Abby’s company and save it as a new file. “Since you’re wanting to build your business in competition with the corporate world, I’m thinking we should go with a simple design. Streamlined, modern, and clean. Possibly using your initials, AC.”