“I’ll just show you pictures, though. I don’t want to take the dresses out of their boxes.” Logan hunches his shoulders in disappointment. How did he think I’d be showing him the dresses?
We sit on the couch, and I instantly become aware of how close we are. I open my laptop and start the slideshow.
“Nadine, these are incredible,” Logan says after I show him my newest collection.
“Really?”
“Yes, I mean, I assumed they’d be decent, but they’re fantastic. I’m not an expert, but we do work closely with fashion houses for our collection shows, so I know a thing or two. And you didn’t attend any fashion school?”
“No degree. I took as many cheap online courses as I could find, and invested in a professional sewing machine.”
“You are amazingly talented.”
“Thank you.” Having someone else besides my best friend believe in me, and acknowledge my talent is empowering.
“What’s that?” He points to a folder on my laptop named Dream House.
“Oh, just some daydreaming on my part. When I was searching for empty spaces for the shop, I also came across some houses. I saved my favorite one here, even though it’ll be a long time before I can afford one. It’s good for motivation.”
“Show me.”
Hesitantly, I do as he says. Showing him my dream house feels as if I’m laying yet another part of me bare.
He smiles while browsing through the pictures. “I see you’re the white picket fence girl all the way.”
“Guilty,” I admit.
“You also seem adamant to have a garden with a very old tree—”
“And large windows in the rooms overlooking the garden.” All the houses I loved have those things in common. “One of those rooms would be my workshop. It’d be very inspiring to work with such a view.”
“You’re adorable, Nadine.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t expecting that reaction. After pushing my laptop away, Logan turns to face me. As usual, being the sole object of his attention makes me ache for him. He plays with his fingers on the inside of my wrist; the simple movement sets my nerve endings on fire. Carefully, as if he’s handling a piece of particularly fragile china, Logan lifts my hand until my wrist reaches his mouth. He feathers his lips on my already sensitized skin, and this sends me over the edge, a moan escaping my lips. He cups my cheek with his other hand and I languidly give in to his touch, craving for more. His fingers trail from my cheek down to my jaw, then around to the back of my neck. Rubbing his thumb against the skin there, he pulls me to him.
This kiss is different than the first one. It’s slow and gentle, but it dazzles me nonetheless. When we break off, I struggle for breath.
“I thought you planned to torture me and make me wait for a second kiss until our second date?”
“Changed my mind. Besides, you already agreed to a second date.” Logan smiles, his thumb perusing the contour of my lips. “I don’t want you to date anyone else while you date me.”
My insides melt. I wasn’t going to see anyone else anyway; it’s not who I am. Nevertheless, teasing him won’t hurt. “One date and you’re a caveman already?”
“Oh, you’ve seen that side of me many times since we met Alex.”
“True.”
I watch him silently. A playful twinkle dances in his eyes, but beyond that is a glimmer of domination, which sends ripples through my body. I decide to play this for all it’s worth, because I feel naughty, and it’ll be fun to watch him get riled up. “You think two kisses give you the right to exclusivity?”
Logan’s stance changes and his jaw ticks. “No?”
“No, but three kisses might.”
Logan’s tension ebbs away. “I see, bartering for another kiss.”
Here, surrounded by darkness and quiet, I become acutely aware of the effect he has on me. Cupping the back of my head, he pushes me even closer to him. Desperate for more body-on-body contact, I climb into his lap, lacing my fingers around the back of his
neck. Our groins are dangerously close to one another. His breath on my lips sends a jolt low in my body, and I lean in to kiss him. This one is explosive. He explores my mouth with his tongue at the same time he explores my body with his expert hands. They travel from my neck down to my breasts, lingering there for a sweet moment.