He filled her now. Held her. Loved her.
And she answered. Making love to him with all of herself—not just her body, but her voice as well.
“I l-l-love you,” she cried.
He paused, looking deep into her eyes, his body as deep as possible within hers. “It scares you to say that?”
“No.” Her eyes watered again but she tried to smile. “Stupid stutter. Sometimes happens for no reason at all.”
He dropped to his elbows, rubbed his nose against hers lightly. “It might frustrate you, but it doesn’t bother me. I’ll always wait to hear what you have to say. I’ve got nothing but patience for you.”
It was true. He’d never been bothered, had just accepted her as she was. And she smiled. Because she could be playful with him. Could be herself.
“Really?” She teased, arching up to caress him intimately. “You’re sure about that?”
He wrapped his arms more tightly around her, pressing closer. Pinning her.
“Yes,” he smiled. “Say it again,” he whispered. “Please say it again.”
She smiled even though more tears were falling. She was so happy. And she didn’t say it, she sang it. “Love you, I love you, I love you.”
His expression melted her heart.
“I love you Logan,” she said it again as he moved, upping the tempo. Kissing her so she couldn’t have said it again even if she’d wanted. But there was nothing more to say in this moment. Every touch, every look, screamed the message.
Joy. Desire. Love.
They danced until she moaned, throwing her head back, reveling in the rising sensations—the bliss of his body working into hers. The delight of his touch. His care.
“Oh y-y-yes,” she sighed. Abandoned and free in the way she could be free, only with him.
And she touched too, teasing even as she loved him. Smiling even as she cried.
Until aching need overtook her. Desperation forced speed. She writhed, chasing what she yearned for. But what she wanted, she’d already caught. Locked in her arms, in her body. Logan gave her himself.
“I love you Min,” he growled as he shook in her arms. “Love you.”
Utterly hers.
It was only minutes before he rose up on his elbows, breathless but bright-eyed. Bursting with infectiousness, sending that electrifying pulse through her. It only came from Logan shivering through her.
“Shall I tell you again how much I love you?” he challenged. And it was all challenge. “Shall I show you?”
Min curled her arm around his neck and planted a kiss on his wicked mouth. “G-g-go get that ice-cream and I’ll show you.”
Chapter Thirty-One
#SixMonthsLater
“Where are we going?” Min asked as she walked through the airport terminal with Logan. He’d burst back into their apartment after a day of meetings and told her to toss some things in an overnight bag and come fly with him.
“You know I like surprises,” he answered.
But it wasn’t a surprise for long. As the flight attendants completed the safety check, Min sent Logan a questioning look. They were flying to Vegas?
Why?
But he said nothing. It wasn’t like Logan gambled—on the stock exchange or on a new company, yes, but not in casinos. Her heart thumped. He took her hand and smiled like he knew her thoughts were scurrying, secretly dreaming... because not so long ago he’d made her a promise.
“Research trip,” he said. “We’re scoping a location for the next catalog shoot.”
Oh, right. Research. She was so not disappointed.
“So we’re not partying?”
Not going to one of those all-night wedding chapels? That would be crazy, right? He wasn’t thinking that at all.
He shook his head. “I’m thinking early night, actually. I brought some toys with me.”
Oh. Her toes curled. “My turn to use them.”
“You might want to see what they are first.” He chuckled.
The ball gag had come out only a couple times since that trip. Once she’d used it on him and the silk ties. She’d never known such wicked pleasure and power. And after she’d released him? She’d never known payback could be so sublime. She still shivered just thinking about it.
So now she turned in his arms the second he closed the hotel room door behind them.
He chuckled and drew her close. “Something you want?”
“You know exactly what I want.”
And he made sure she got it.
“Why s-s-so early?” She groaned as he kissed her.
It was still dark out and it felt like only half an hour since she’d finally fallen asleep.
“Because.” He ran his fingers up her calves, tickling her into awareness. “Come on, it’ll be worth it. I promise.”
Didn’t he know she’d follow him to the ends of the earth if he asked?
They took a limo back to the airport. She turned and frowned at him. “We’re leaving already?”
“Just a little trip.”
“In a helicopter?” She sent him a soft smile as they walked towards the waiting pilot. She remembered very well what had happened the last time she’d taken a trip with him in a helicopter. “You have another surprise destination?”
“Uh huh.”
Dawn was just breaking as they took to the sky and in a matter of minutes they were flying over the Grand Canyon.
“Oh Logan, this is just beautiful.” She blinked. “You have to do the shoot here.”
Not that Logan modeled anymore, but he oversaw the final production. They both avoided the cameras still—and for the most part, the people behind the cameras now ignored them. Too boring. Too happy.
The helicopter descended. He held her hand tightly and they quickly climbed out and ran out towards the clearing.
“It’s coming back, right?” She laughed as the helicopter took off again.
“Eventually.” He nodded.
“We’re going walking?”
“Actually, no.”
“Then w-w-what?” She swallowed.
Logan looked nervous. And now she was nervous. Because he’d taken both her hands in his and she could feel his tension.
“Logan?”
“It’s that day, Min.”
“What?”
“Right here. Now,” he said. “Let’s just do it. No hesitation, no regret.”
“What?” she whispered.
“Marry me.”
He released one hand and reached into his jeans pocket. She stared at the gleaming platinum circles he pulled out. Wedding bands? No way.
And even though it was everything she’d wanted, what she’d secretly been hoping, she couldn’t quite believe it.
“This is just you and your all or nothing thing. This is your recklessness... you’re rushing...” she whispered. She didn’t want him to regret it.
“And this is just your fear,” he argued gently. “This is you unwilling to take a risk. Truthfully? It’s no risk at all. I’m not being reckless,” he said. “The stupid thing for me would be to let you go. And it’s no rush. I’ve been so good. I’ve waited this long already.”
She laughed. “Oh yeah, so patient.” But she licked her lips. “Logan—”
“I know you don’t much believe in marriage. Both of us have had pretty crap examples from our parents, but I want anyone and everyone in the world to know we belong together. That you’re mine and I’m yours. I want to be safe and secure in that knowledge. Want you to feel just as safe and secure. To know you’re loved. You, just as you are. Right now. For always.”
Her eyes filled. She pressed her hands on his chest, needing to feel that solid, reliable, energising force of his heart.
“I didn’t think I could give you what you needed.” His voice turned rusty. “That you deserved more than I could give you.” He looked down. “You know my mom suggested we go ahead with this the way it was that weekend of their party. Every bit of me rebelled at that idea.” He brushed a l
ock of her hair back from her face. “Not because I didn’t want to be with you, because I did. I do. But because you deserve so much more than the kind of marriage she was talking about. You deserve to be loved. Wholly, absolutely, forever.” He smiled at her so tenderly. All beautiful angel. “You deserve trust and honesty and faithfulness. And I’ll give you that. Always, Min. Trust in me.”
“I d-d-do.” She wiped the tear from her cheek.
“I won’t let you down. I know what not to do. And I’ll communicate. Really communicate. My needs. My thoughts.”
“Even your f-f-feelings?” She laughed through her tears.
“If I have to. My feelings are pretty straightforward. I feel amazing when I’m with you and crap when you’re gone. I want you with me.”
She clutched his wrists, holding his hands to her face.
“For good,” he whispered.
“For always.” She lifted her chin and kissed him.
She’d never get enough of kissing him. He was so passionate. So playful. So loving.
Chuckling, she drew back, but her eyes were still watering. “So the plan was six months celibacy, and now we’re settling down after six months of—”
“Absolute bliss.”
She nodded, her throat blocked.
“I love you, Min.”
“I love you too.” She kissed him again.
“So you say yes?”