She looked down at her hands.
Logan formally declared Jackson a world-class idiot.
“I’ll never get married again, so I haven’t really wanted to date. Because what’s the point? People date for one of two things: sex or love. I figured if I don’t want love and don’t enjoy sex, why do it? Plus, I was working on my Master’s degree, so I was busy with school. But since I moved here, a few things have happened. One, I live next door to a woman who clearly enjoys sex. If there was any doubt in your mind, I’m pretty sure she’s not faking anything with those noises.”
Logan felt a mixture of pride and embarrassment, and his face warmed.
“It annoys the hell out of me when I’m trying to drink my morning coffee, but it’s also made me second-guess myself. What if it’s possible that I could have an experience like that and the reason I never did before is because Jackson and I just weren’t good together? When we were talking last week, you said ‘he didn’t do it right.’ And both times we’ve kissed, I’ve felt more than I did after five years with him. What if you were right? What if he and I never cared enough to make the experience something worth mentioning? What if it wasn’t all my fault?”
She must have missed the paralyzed expression on his face because she held up a finger while she grabbed his bottle and took long drink of beer. Her motion for him to stay silent was completely unnecessary—he wasn’t sure he could form a word if he tried.
“I’m just going to come out with it. I want to propose you and I become friends with benefits.”
“Friends—” Logan’s voice cracked, and he swallowed before trying again. “Friends with benefits.”
“I don’t want a relationship, but I’m curious about what I’m missing when it comes to sex. You’re obviously good at it, and I get the feeling you don’t want a relationship either. You know my history and that I’m not a virgin but am…inexperienced. But ever since we kissed, I just can’t stop wondering if I’m capable of having good sex. Great sex, even.”
Logan’s eyes were wide, and he reminded himself to blink. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and pressed his fingertips to his temples. His body was taut as a live wire.
“Jeni.” His voice came out strangled.
Her hand gently touched his back, and he nearly jumped away from her for fear he was about to jump on her. “Logan.”
His heart raced, and he thought it might burst right out of his ribcage. Before he did something stupid, like agree to her insane proposal, he stood up and paced on the other side of the coffee table.
“I need…I can’t think.” His hands slid around to the back of his neck, where he gripped hard.
Not an option. She’s Andrew’s sister.
Jeni stood and walked around the table to stand before him, and his arms dropped to his sides. Her expression was a mixture of pleading and vulnerable, and that in itself nearly made him grab her by the waist and pull her close.
A woman like her shouldn’t be so unsure, about her body or what she wanted. He loved when women knew what they wanted and weren’t afraid to ask for it. Confidence and equality in the bedroom were key to making the experience enjoyable for both parties. Selfishness and insecurity were ingredients for disaster and usually left one, or both, people unsatisfied.
Logan silently cursed her ex-husband for whatever he did to make her feel this way or whatever he didn’t do to help her overcome it.
“Don’t think, Logan.” Her arms went around his neck, her hands curling into his hair. He didn’t miss the slight tremble in her fingers.
All the thoughts flew from his head, and as if disembodied, he watched his hands slide around her waist and spread across her lower back.
“You’re shaking,” he whispered.
Her golden eyes didn’t leave his, not for a second, the certainty in her expression at odds with the words she spoke. “I’m nervous.”
She pressed her lips to his jaw, and a heavy breath escaped his lips.
“Jeni.” His resolve was crumbling by the second.
“I’m nervous, but I want this.” Her lips met his skin again, closer to his mouth. “I want this.”
Oh hell.
So did he. He didn’t remember the last time he’d been this turned on.
He kept one hand on her back and slowly slid the other up her spine, coming to a stop at the back of her neck. His thumb caressed the soft skin just beneath her hairline, and she leaned into the touch, her eyes drifting closed.
Logan lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers. Soft and deliberate, like the kiss they shared before.
She arched into him, her breasts pressing against him, driving him crazy. He threaded his fingers into her hair, gently gripping the back of her head as he deepened the kiss. When her tongue entered his mouth and a shock ran through his body, he knew.