Wild (The Ivy Chronicles #3)(71)

“I’m choosing my fate. I can’t live for you. I can’t live fighting every day to prove to you that I’m not my father.”

It was like I struck her. The blood left her face. Her chest lifted on a ragged breath. “You do this on your own.”

I nodded, smiling slightly. “I’m okay with that.”

She stared at me like I was a stranger in front of her. And I guess I was. I was new to myself, too. It was going to take her a while to learn to accept this Georgia, but she would. Eventually. I believed that. At the core of it all, she loved me. And yet, I wasn’t going to fall apart if she didn’t accept me. Because this new me was strong enough to be who I wanted to be regardless of what she did or didn’t do.

I faced Logan. “Let’s go. We have a long drive.”

Logan nodded, his hand sliding down to mine. Our fingers laced together, palms flushed. Together, we walked out of the station.

WE MADE IT THREE hundred miles before stopping at a hotel for the night. Once in the room, we made it three seconds before getting naked. He was inside me in less time than that. We made love, fierce and tender. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as I came apart in his arms, his mouth fused with mine.

“Hey, why are you crying?”

“Because I’ve never felt this free . . . and this happy. Or scared. I love you, Logan.”

He smoothed the tangle of hair back from my face and tucked me against him. “I love you, Pearls. I’ve never loved another girl before . . .” He sucked in a hoarse breath. “There’s only a handful of people in my life I can even claim to love at all. It is a little scary. You chose yourself—me—over your family today. I promise you won’t regret it.”

“I know I won’t.” Even without Logan, it had to happen. I would have gone back to Dartford. He just helped me reach the decision that much sooner.

“Hey,” I said suddenly. “You know this is the first time we’ve had sex in an actual bed? We’re getting boring.”

His chest rumbled with laughter against me. “I’ve been arrested twice in the last month. I’m okay with boring for a little while. Something tells me with you it won’t last.”

I pouted at him and he kissed me again, drawing my bottom lip into his mouth. My fingers ran down his chest, over his quivering stomach and even lower. He was already hard. I lifted wide eyes to him. “Again?”

“Every night you’ve been gone I’ve thought of you. Of being with you again . . . inside you. I missed you.”

Smiling mischievously, I glanced around the hotel room. “This is kind of a nice room.” I smoothed my hand over the crisp sheets. “A nice bed.”

“Good.” He kissed me long and slow and deep. “Because I got us a late checkout.”





Epilogue

One year later . . .

Logan pressed a kiss on my neck as he came up behind me in front of the bathroom mirror as I was applying mascara. He was naked and wet from the shower. His hand drifted to my belted robe, nudging his erection against my backside.

“Hey.” I tsked, covering his hand with my own and stopping him from completely disrobing me right there. “None of that right now. We’re going to be late. I should have started getting ready sooner but someone emailed me this awesome new chapter . . .”

His gaze locked on mine through the mirror. “Did you like it?”

“Like is an understatement. I loved it. When do I get the next chapter?”

He grinned. “Oh, I don’t know.” He gripped my hips, better positioning himself against me. “Maybe you can bribe me for more—”

“You already make me barter for chapters,” I reminded, motioning vaguely in the direction of the living room, where my guitar sat near the futon. It no longer hid in my closet. It was a well-loved and well-played instrument. At Christmas, Logan had surprised me with guitar lessons. In addition to everything else on my plate, I now took lessons once a week. We teased that we had a bartering system going, but Logan liked to hear me play and I liked to read his stories. Win-win.

“I had something else in mind this time . . .”

I groaned, nerves sparking, everything in me responding to him. “Logan, we’re already not going to be on time.”

“Half an hour. Max,” he coaxed.

“It’s Pepper and Reece’s engagement party,” I reminded him as he brushed back the hair from my neck and nibbled along my throat, sending a delicious shiver through me.

“They won’t notice if we’re a little late.”

Turning, I gave in and kissed him. We’d been like this ever since he moved into the apartment above Mulvaney’s with me for the summer. Insatiable. There was something to be said for waking up together every day. Sleeping together every night. There was forever in his eyes, and it never got old.

As soon as I returned to Dartford last summer, I went to Dr. Chase and explained how I was suddenly without finances. He helped push my paperwork through the campus’s financial aid department. I’d missed all the deadlines for aid, but his influence went a long way, and I was able to continue my courses and pay for my textbooks in the fall.

Reece and Pepper let me remain in the loft, so that saved me from paying for the dorm. They refused any efforts I made to pay them. Dr. Chase hired me as his assistant throughout the year. I was learning a lot, making great connections, and earning some money. Enough to eat at least and cover the essentials. And there was Logan.