Crush(58)

The words seared through me. Meet him. I didn’t think I could move. Tension had already coiled tight in my belly and the feel of his hands between my thighs was the only thing I could think about.

Jeremy had stood to help Phoebe out and Logan quickly followed.

Phoebe threw her arms around Logan as best she could with her bump and I watched as he stiffly hugged her back.

When she pulled away, she patted his chest. “Sorry.”

His friends must have known he had a hard time showing affection.

Surprising me, he put his hand on her stomach. I couldn’t hear what he said, but it ripped my heart in two. The way he looked at her stomach, I just knew he wanted to have children of his own some day.

I forced myself up on rubber-like legs as he took my hand, and together we said goodbye to most of his friends. Oddly enough, they had made me feel like I was part of the inner circle.

“Come on, man, time to toast Killian. You and me and a bottle of Jameson should just about do it,” James shouted unnecessarily to Logan since he was standing so close.

James and Lindsay had stayed behind and it was just the four of us now. They were spending the weekend in Boston.

Logan was standing across from me and he tossed me an apologetic glance. Looked like the bathroom rendezvous would have to wait. “Rain check,” he mouthed.

Butterflies took flight in my belly when I looked at him and I couldn’t help but nod. He was, as always, breathtakingly handsome. It didn’t matter that alcohol had dilated his pupils. In fact, tonight they looked wide and dark. Languid. Sexy. Maybe even luminous as they burned into me with a desire I craved. His gaze seemed to have a glow in it that was only for me. And his scrumptious hair was a beautiful mess, different shades of light and dark brown sticking up everywhere because he had been running his hands through it all day. It looked like just-f*cked hair and I had yet to f*ck him tonight. Free from intoxication myself, I still licked my lips at the thought of what was to come.

Seeing him, knowing what we were like together, just being with him lit me up from the inside.

“You’re a f*cker,” Logan laughed and pointed to James.

I was glad to see the upbeat effect his friend had on him, even though their maturity was lacking. It was obvious their boyhood friendship was emerging the more alcohol they both consumed. It was okay, though. Logan needed this.

James drank from his beer bottle and then looked at me. “You’d better keep him in line, Elle. Whips and chains if need be.”

I hadn’t heard the conversation but answered him nonetheless. “Bondage? I’m not certain he’d be willing to give up control.”

James looked at Logan. “Hey buddy, that would mean you gave a shit enough to take control.” James laughed. “I’m proud of you.”

“Cold, man. Cold.” Logan drained his drink.

Insults flew back and forth. One worse than the other, and each time they both laughed.

More than five minutes later, James slung his arm around his wife, kissed her sloppily on the lips, and then patted her ass, whispering something to her that I knew had to be sexual in nature.

She smiled at him submissively, and the term alpha male came to mind. I remembered calling Logan that when we first met. Made me wonder—was he one? James was for certain. I’d spent enough time with him to know this and I didn’t have a doubt that Lindsay knew it too. Not that I was judging their relationship. They seemed very happy.

James then clapped Logan on the shoulder. “Come on, you f*cker, time to hit the bottle.”

Logan glanced at me.

“Oh man, don’t be a pansy-ass.”

Logan threw James the finger.

James shoved Logan’s hand playfully out of his face and said, “I prefer the real thing.”

Lindsay laughed at them both. She’d seen this behavior before; I could tell when she threw me a just wait and see what’s to come look.

I laughed too. Really, these two men were just too adorable together.

In the midst of the antics, Lindsay turned to James. “Mind if I get some air? It’s a bit stuffy in here.”

He nodded at her. “Only if Elle agrees to go with you,” he said, and then looked toward me. He was charming in a caveman sort of way. It seemed to suit him.

Lindsay was right, though. The room was smoky. Earlier, a few older men had been puffing on cigars and the air smelled stale. I didn’t seek Logan’s approval when I said to Lindsay, “Come on, what do you say we go for a walk?”

Her smile beamed. I could see why she was a Victoria’s Secret model. Besides being tall and thin, she had a quality about her that radiated beauty. Oddly, I wondered how many women like her Logan had f*cked. Dozens was my guess, since James and he appeared to have many similar qualities and had traveled in the same circle for many years. I hated the insecurity being around his friends had drawn out in me. It wasn’t like me at all, but then again, it had been only the two of us in our own private bubble since we met, and this was more realistic. A shroud of guilt began to consume me for my dark thoughts.

A hand wrapped around my waist and a hard body pressed against mine. “Did you forget something?” His breath tickled my neck.

I leaned back and played along. “I don’t think so.”

“Are you sure?” His voice dipped, low, husky.

“Oh, right, I probably should leave a tip on the table,” I joked.