Текст книги "Trust"

Автор книги: Ella Frank

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Chapter Twenty-One

The entire way home, Logan couldn’t take his eyes off Tate. In the cab, walking through the lobby, and now, as they were standing in the elevator, he couldn’t stop staring at him.

He was in his black boots and jeans today, and ever since he’d left the hospital, he’d started wearing button-up shirts, which were easier for him to get on—and made Logan want to rip them off. His good arm was in the sleeve of a warm bomber jacket, and the other side was draped over his braced arm.

God, it’s good to see him upright and in front of me again, he thought as they finally reached their floor.

“This therapy session,” Logan mused as they walked down the hall. “It doesn’t need to start on a couch or anything, does it?”

When they stopped at their door, Tate’s lips twitched and he answered, “I think it would be best to start wherever you plan to finish.”

Logan turned the key and pushed the door open, and as Tate walked past, he told him in a lowered voice, “Then go to our bedroom. That’s where we’re both going to finish.”

Tate’s eyes dropped to his mouth. Logan thought he was about to kiss him, but at the last minute, he said, “I’m going to need your help. Is that okay with you?”

Fuck yes, it is. He nodded and shut the door, and then Tate continued down the hall, shrugging out of his coat. He threw it on the couch, and when he looked back at him and smiled, Logan wanted to clutch his heart.

He’s something else. And that grin had him dumping his keys and removing his own coat as quickly as possible. Logan kicked his shoes off, and while making his way to the bedroom, he unknotted his tie and pulled his shirt from his pants. When he stepped into the room, he saw Tate by the bed, minus his shoes and socks, frowning and trying to unbutton his shirt.

Logan came around to him and brushed his hand aside. “You asked for my help, remember?”

“I didn’t mean with this. I meant with—”

He knew what Tate had meant, but he cut him off by capturing his mouth and kissing him hard. As his lips parted, Logan slipped inside to taste the coffee on his tongue and groaned when Tate sucked on him.

Then Logan pulled his mouth away and whispered, “Let me help you.” He unbuckled the arm brace before making quick work of Tate’s shirt so he was left standing in only his jeans. “So sexy,” he said as he drew a finger from the base of Tate’s throat down the center of his body to his navel, and then he touched the button of his jeans. “What do you have on under these?”

Tate’s grin reappeared, but he said nothing.

“Have I mentioned how much I love that you”—Logan paused, unsnapped the button, and lowered the zipper—“like to run around commando?”

He took the sides of Tate’s jeans and yanked them farther apart before kissing him again and sliding a hand down inside the denim. He kept his eyes on Tate’s as he circled his erection, and then Tate’s closed.

Nipping at Tate’s jaw, Logan squeezed his fist around him. “I want you to keep these on and spread apart so I can see just a hint of you.” He dragged his tongue up to Tate’s ear and sucked on his lobe.

A strained sound left Tate as he grabbed his arm for support. “God, Logan. It’s been too long.”

Logan released him and wrapped his arm around his waist, pushing his hand inside the seat of his jeans. He dug his fingers into Tate’s ass cheek and pulled him hard against him. “Yes, it fucking has.”

He walked them backwards until the mattress hit the backs of his thighs, and Tate maneuvered between his legs, careful not to knock his arm. Pushing forward, he ground his hard-on against him.

“You’re not to do anything strenuous,” he reminded gently.

“I know.”

Logan clutched his ass again and kneaded it. “I mean it. You want something, you ask. I have no problem with you using me.”

Tate chuckled and took his face between his hands. He kissed him, biting his bottom lip before saying, “What if I want to lie down and let you use me?”

I’ll probably lose my fucking mind.

“See?” Tate pointed out. “Even when you’re being sincere, it comes out full-on sex.”

“That was just an added bonus,” he sighed as Tate ran his fingers through his hair. “But I mean it. You are to literally lie back and enjoy.”

“Got it.”

“Tate,” Logan warned.

“I. Got. It,” Tate reiterated. “Now, would you take off your clothes? There—that’s me asking.”

Logan stood, and when Tate didn’t back up, their bodies brushed. “Everything?”

“Yes,” was Tate’s answer, and then he walked around him to get on the bed. When he was lounging back against the headboard, wearing only his jeans, he ran his eyes down Logan’s body in a sensual invitation before confirming, “Everything.”

As Logan took off his shirt, Tate couldn’t stop the hungry way he watched the built chest that came into view. He loved the light dusting of hair across Logan’s pecs and that sexy treasure trail of his. It led straight below, and when Logan unbuckled his belt, Tate brought his left hand to his open jeans and shoved it inside to adjust himself.

Holy shit. He was getting harder with every item Logan removed, but there was no way he was going to stop him. He wanted to see it all.

Last night in the bath had been cathartic. It was what they had needed after all they’d gone through—to be naked and vulnerable with one another.

That was definitely not the case here.

What he wanted right now was for Logan to show him that he was still desirable. That he was still the man he wanted. And when Logan’s pants and boxers came off, Tate’s fears were laid to rest. Logan’s cock was rigid and thick, as it proudly proclaimed just how turned on he was.

“Come closer,” he said, not looking away for even a second.

Logan was more than accommodating. He grabbed the bottle of lube from the side table and dropped it on the bed as he got up on the mattress.

While he moved closer, his eyes zeroed in on the hand Tate had in his jeans and he smirked. “I thought you were supposed to be exercising the right hand muscle.”

“Yeah, I changed my mind. I really think I should rest it. Plus, it’s not half as effective as my left.”

“No?” Logan asked as he straddled his legs. “I think I should judge for myself.”

Logan’s fingers flirted with the open zipper of Tate’s jeans before pulling them down his hips, which Tate lifted without hesitation, freeing his beautifully cut cock.

A low sound of approval came from the man seated in front of him, and as Tate pumped his pelvis up, Logan leaned down over him. The scents of arousal and Tate combined and had his own dick aching between his legs. It’d been too long since he’d been able to touch him this way, to even think about it, and as he let his mind relax and enjoy, he was engulfed by the eroticism of rediscovery.

Tate arched his body in an effort to get closer to his mouth, and Logan aimed his eyes up at him and tsked.

“Nothing strenuous, remember. Behave yourself.” Then he slowly ran his tongue along the underside of Tate’s cock.

Tate sucked in a hiss of air and let it out on a groan. “Logan.”

Clearly, his patience was as precarious as his own today. Logan raised his head and caught Tate’s ragged expression. “Hmm, I think I forgot…”

“Forgot?” Tate asked as he swiped his parted lips with his tongue, giving him a really difficult decision to make.

Do I go to his mouth or stay here at his cock?

Then Tate’s erection nudged his cheek and Logan turned his head to lick a wet path up it.

Decision fucking made.

“Ahh, Logan… Forgot what?” Tate panted as he tongued his weeping slit. “God, that feels fucking good.”

Logan sucked the swollen head between his lips and then felt a hand stroke the back of his head. As Tate teased the strands of hair under his fingers, Logan lowered his mouth and took him in deeper.

The groan that escaped Tate was tortured. He sounded like a man who’d been waiting years for someone to touch him, and as Logan grabbed his hips, he felt like it had been years since he’d been able to.

When he drew his lips off him and kissed the tip of his cock, his eyes found Tate’s and he whispered, “I forgot how fucking gorgeous you are when you fall apart for me.”

Tate looked at the seductive man straddling his legs and tried to remember a time when he didn’t love him—and hell if I can. Logan had weaved some kind of spell over him, one he hadn’t believed possible. But as he watched him rise up to his knees and stroke his own cock, Tate knew he’d found his person.

He reached out for him, and when Logan took his hand, Tate pulled him forward so he was kneeling over his hips.

“Kiss me,” he whispered when Logan’s mouth hovered over his. He lowered his head, and as their lips met, Tate closed his eyes, ready to savor the deep slide. When it didn’t happen and that wicked mouth vanished, Tate’s eyes opened to see Logan’s blue ones shining down at him.

“Like that?”

“No.”

“No?” Logan asked, rubbing his leaking hard-on against his chest.

Tate had his head tilted back against the headboard, but he could feel the sticky evidence of Logan’s arousal as he looked up at the hedonistic vision kneeling over him. “No. I want more.”

“Is that right?”

“With you? Always.”

When Logan leaned down, bit his lower lip, and rasped, “Good,” Tate groaned and let him in. The sexy sound that left Logan filled his ears as he cupped his face between his hands and devoured him.

He closed his eyes as Logan’s hips writhed against him, making it impossible to think of anything other than the way he moved when he was inside him. It would be a fucking miracle if he made it through the next week alive to feel that again with the way his heart was thumping in his chest.

He pushed his hips up as Logan snaked a hand down between them, and when a tight fist pumped his dick, he let out a frustrated curse. “Fuck. I want… I…”

“Yes?” Logan urged, his voice barely a whisper and his hot breath shifting the hair by his ear. “What do you want, Tate? Tell me.”

“More,” he rasped even though he knew he couldn’t have it—then an idea took root. One way or another, he was going to have Logan inside him. “I want to taste you.”

Logan’s eyes narrowed on him as if he were trying to get inside his mind, and then he gave him a look that was so fucking sinful that Tate knew he understood.

Silently, Logan backed away and tugged his jeans off of him. It wasn’t until he threw the denim to the side of the bed and crawled back up to straddle him so his cock was inches from his face that Tate knew they were on the exact same page.

As Tate’s eyes ran a hot trail down his body, Logan wrapped a fist around himself and positioned his body so he was nudging against Tate’s chin and lips. Yes, there’s my dirty Tate. I know what you want.

“Open your mouth,” he ordered.

Tate moved his hand down to touch himself, and Logan felt his blood pounding out a hard rhythm between his legs.

Oh yeah, I’m onto you.

“Tate,” he said again, drawing his attention and his eyes back to him. “Open your mouth.”

As he inched closer so his knees were flanking Tate’s sides, Tate parted his lips and flicked his tongue out across the pre-come coating the swollen head of Logan’s cock.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me, Logan thought, placing a hand on the headboard to brace himself. Then Tate looked up at him, and his expression of longing made Logan think one thing only—I can’t wait to sink my cock between his lips.

He guided himself to that waiting mouth, and as the tip of his erection ghosted over it, Tate tasted him again. His eyes lowered, and then he shocked the hell out of Logan by leaning forward to swallow him inside.

Logan ground his teeth together and flexed his fingers against the sturdy bed frame as he felt one of Tate’s palms stroke up the back of his thigh to cup his ass.

“Oh yeah, Tate. That’s it. Suck me.”

He felt the suction around him increase as Tate’s cheeks hollowed out and he moved his lips back and forth. Logan let go of his shaft and ran his fingers through Tate’s hair so he could hold the back of his head as he slid his lips along his hardened flesh.

The hand on his ass pulled him closer, and as he used Tate’s hot, wet mouth the way he’d asked him to, Logan felt his fingers dig into his ass cheek and then trace their way down to gently squeeze his balls.

Logan’s curse ricocheted around the room, and his head fell back while Tate continued to work him over. His breathing was coming fast, and he was reminded that the man currently obliterating his control was the only person who’d ever made him feel that way.

Tate had the power to make him tremble from passion and from pain—and he trusted him with his very soul.

Looking down, he saw brown eyes full of desire staring back at him. He stroked his fingers over Tate’s jaw, and when that expression morphed to one of love and gratitude, he felt his balls tingle and his body begin to shake.

His mind shut down to anything other than the explosive orgasm that then hit him while he was buried deep inside the delicious mouth surrounding him, and when Tate swallowed every drop and pulled his mouth free, Logan put both hands on the headboard to hold himself up.

Fuck, he thought. He is so it for me.

Tate had demolished any kind of thought he had, but when Logan peered down at the gorgeous face aimed up at him, he was determined to give as good as he’d just received.

He shifted down until he was lying beside Tate, and when he saw a particularly self-satisfied smile cross his lips, he asked, “Pleased with yourself?”

“Yeah, I think I am.”

Logan ran a finger along the prominent erection still being massaged by Tate’s hand. “Want to tell me why?”

Tate slid down the bed, and a shaky breath left him as Logan covered his hand and started to stroke him. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you that way. Wanted to make sure I didn’t imagine it all.”

That got Logan curious. Especially with the gleam in Tate’s eye.

“Wanted to make sure you didn’t imagine what, exactly?”

“The way I feel when we’re together like this. And the way you go insane from my hands and mouth on you.”

“Oh, do I?”

“Yeah,” Tate groaned and closed his eyes. “I wanted you to get all hot and dirty just like you used to, and it worked. You were practically all the way down my throat. I drive you fucking crazy.”

“Christ, Tate,” Logan growled, burying his nose in the crook of his neck. “First, you never need to doubt that between us. Not ever. From the moment we met, I’ve been trying to get inside you, and I’ll always want to be there. Second, I love to do everything with you, but when you say stuff like that…when you get all dirty and give it right back to me…”

“Yeah?”

Logan drew his tongue up Tate’s throat and then kissed his ear, where he whispered, “I can’t decide if I want to love on you or fuck you until you’re too weak to walk.”

Tate turned his head toward him, panting from the solid hand job he was now giving him. “Both sound equally good to me. You’re so…God…so uninhibited, and that makes me so damn hot.”

Logan kissed him and gave his most demonic grin. Then he let him go and slipped down between Tate’s thighs. He licked the straining flesh that greeted him, and dared, “Come on, then, Tate. Let me have it. Hot and dirty, just how we like it.”

And as Tate’s fingers twisted into his hair, Logan parted his lips and proceeded to drive him fucking crazy.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The week passed by uneventfully enough, though they seemed to be in a holding pattern of sorts. Logan would get up and go to work, and he would sit at home and wait.

But not today—today, the waiting would stop. Friday was finally here, his follow-up appointment was scheduled for three, and after that, Tate felt like he’d be able to finally move on with his life.

He was standing in the kitchen, eating his breakfast, when Logan came out of the bedroom fastening his watch around his wrist. Dressed for work, he looked polished, his black hair styled to the left as usual, and as he walked through the dining room, he picked up his glasses, which were resting on the newspaper, and made his way toward him.

“Seven a.m. I’m impressed.”

Tate smiled around a spoonful of cereal as Logan put his glasses on and came around the kitchen island. He kissed his cheek and then walked over to the coffee machine.

“And coffee? Wow. You are full of energy this morning.” Logan reached into one of the top cupboards for his travel mug.

“I guess I’m just ready to get this brace off.”

Logan glanced back at him. “I bet.”

“Yeah. And it’ll be nice to finally get back into a normal routine.”

Logan poured his coffee and then screwed the lid on his mug before he came over to stand beside him. Placing a hand on his good arm, he squeezed. “I agree. But I still don’t want you to rush things. Remember, Pete said you don’t need to go back for another week. The temp is hired until then.”

“I know. But I still need to move my things over here, and I also have to go down to the police station and deal with all of the accident stuff.”

A frown pulled Logan’s brow down, and he turned to get his jacket, which was draped over the back of the chair.

As he shrugged into it, Tate studied the serious expression on his face and asked, “What’s on your mind?”

When Logan merely tugged on the sleeves of his jacket, Tate put his bowl down and made his way around the island.

“Logan?”

Logan looked at him and took a breath before saying, “Have you thought any more about pressing charges against the driver who hit you?”

They’d briefly discussed what options he had when he’d been in the hospital, but at the time, he’d just wanted to deal with healing before he thought about all the legal crap he’d have to go through surrounding what happened.

“I think you should seriously consider sitting down with someone to discuss your options.”

He really didn’t like the idea of spending more money in an attorney’s office, especially after Diana had switched their divorce proceedings between two. But he also knew that Logan was right. He needed to know what his legal choices were.

Logan pushed his hands into his pockets as he walked back over to him. “It’s up to you, Tate, but you almost died that day. You were in the hospital for a little over a month, and you’ll likely need physical therapy for some time, as well as follow-up appointments.” He took his hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing it. “He needs to be held responsible for that. He was in the wrong, and he hurt you.”

Tate slid his hand along Logan’s cheek and leaned in to kiss his lips. “I know. I just needed to be back on my feet before I tackled it all.”

“I understand.” Logan nodded.

Tate could tell he wanted to say more but was, for once in his life, holding back. Which made him curious. “Did you want to do it?”

“I thought about it,” Logan admitted. Then he let him go and walked up the hall to where his briefcase was sitting by the entry table. “But I think we should speak to someone who specializes in this sort of case,” he called out.

“Hang on.” Tate chuckled. “Are you actually saying there might be someone who’s better than you? Because I think I’d like to document this moment.”

“Aren’t you funny,” Logan said as he came back into the living room and handed him a white card embossed with gold.

Leighton & Associates. Tate ran his finger over the name and then looked back to Logan.

“They’re a firm we’ve worked with a couple of times who specifically deals with personal injury claims. I’ve also come up against a couple of their employees. They’re good.”

“Good, huh?” Tate asked as he slipped the card into the back pocket of his jeans.

Logan shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah. They’re good.”

“The best?”

“No. I said they were—”

“Good,” Tate clarified with a smirk. He took a step forward so his toes touched Logan’s dress shoes and ran a hand down his navy tie. “I’m pretty satisfied with the lawyer I have. And he’s better than just good.”

One of Logan’s dark eyebrows rose. “Yeah?”

He caught Logan’s lips in a tease of a kiss before pulling back to nod. “Yeah. But maybe I should try these guys. My lawyer insists it’s always good to try a little of everything.”

Logan rolled his eyes and then stepped around him to grab his coffee. “You are in a mood, aren’t you, smartass.”

“Maybe,” Tate admitted with a laugh. “It’s nice to finally feel better.”

“Well, if you’re up to it, there are a few people who would like to see you tonight. One very pregnant woman in particular.”

Tate’s palms dampened at the thought of seeing Rachel. She’d come by to visit a couple of times after he’d woken up, but every time she’d been in the room, she had sat in the corner, silent while Cole joked around with him and Logan. She’d barely said anything at all.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s better if we wait. I don’t want to cause her any more stress, and the last time I saw her…”

“Of course, it’s totally up to you. But I think it would do her good to see you. You look like you again. Not all scary and in the hospital.”

“Gee thanks.”

Logan sighed and touched his shoulder. “You know what I mean. Plus, she asked to see you.”

“She did?”

“Yep,” Logan said before giving him a final kiss on the cheek and walking down the hall to the front door.

As he bent to pick his briefcase up, Tate enjoyed the way his dress pants fit perfectly across his firm ass.

“I’ll be back at two so we can get going. We have a date with your doctor.”

“A little impatient, are we?”

Logan’s eyes swept over him, and then he flashed a smile that was completely sexual. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“Oh, good. There you are,” Cole said as Logan entered his own office and saw his brother standing by his desk, writing on a piece of paper.

“Here I am. Leaving me love notes again? How many times do I have to tell you that it means so much more when you use your words, Cole?”

Cole flipped him off as he walked across the room and handed him the paper. “Rachel and I went through the restaurants you listed, and she agrees there are some great ones on here. But do you really think he wants to do a celebratory dinner with everyone asking how he is?”

“No,” Logan laughed. “But we never celebrated his thirtieth birthday because he kept putting it off, and he deserves a glad-you’re-out-of-the-hospital party. I know he’s so sick of being cooped up, unable to do anything. He just wants to feel normal again, so I was trying to think of something.”

“Since when have you done anything normal?”

“Good point,” Logan acknowledged, and then he remembered a letter he’d received in the mail a couple of weeks ago but had been too busy to call about.

Hmm… Now that could work.

He looked down at the list in his hand anyway just to see which restaurants they’d agreed on, and his eyes latched on to the bottom one he’d written as a joke. Logan lifted his head, and a sly smile crossed his mouth.

“You dirty dog.”

“Excuse me?”

He turned the paper around and thrust it in Cole’s face. “Whipped? You circled that?”

Cole crossed his arms over his wide chest and scowled at him. “Just because I don’t run around flaunting my sexuality quite as obnoxiously as you doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy certain things.”

As Logan chuckled and walked over to his desk, Cole continued. “That’s where I met Rachel, for your information.”

Now that was an interesting detail he didn’t know. Surprised, he turned to face Cole. “Really?”

Cole nodded as he moved backwards toward the door and opened it. “Really, really.”

Logan’s mouth fell open and then he laughed. “You’ve managed to shock me. Something I didn’t think you had in you anymore. Bravo, brother.”

Cole shook his head. “Unlike yours, my behavior remains a mystery to most.”

Logan pretended to stifle a yawn. “Yeah, yeah. Well, either way, we’re doing something right. ’Cause you got the girl, and I got the boy.”

“That we did,” Cole agreed with a smile Logan figured matched his own smug one.

Then he fingered the edge of the paper and thought, What the hell. “You’re right. Normal isn’t me. Do you think Rachel would be upset if we all catch up next week?”

“No, not at all. Actually, we all have dinner on Monday nights. You two should come.”

Logan thought about it for a second and then said, “Let me talk it over with Tate, but I don’t see why not. Meanwhile, I have a weekend to plan.” Before Cole shut the door, Logan asked, “Hey? Leighton & Associates?”

“What about them?”

“Who’s their best personal injury guy?”

Cole appeared to think it over and then snapped his fingers. “Finley. I’ve worked with him a couple of times.”

“Okay,” Logan said as he pulled his phone out to store the name in his notes. “Thanks. Oh, and Cole?”

“Yes, Logan?”

“Thank you. For everything.”

Cole gave him an understanding smile and left the office, shutting the door on his way out.

Tate had just stepped out of the shower when he heard his phone ringing from the vanity. He grabbed a towel from the rack and made his way over to it to see Diana’s number flashing across the screen.

Not exactly who I want to speak to right now, he thought as he wrapped the towel around his hips and picked the cell up. When it kept ringing, he looked at himself in the mirror and made himself answer.

“Hello.”

“Tate?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Hey.”

He closed his eyes and told himself to have some patience. “Hi, Diana.”

There was an awkward pause, and he wondered for a moment if she’d hung up until she asked, “How are you?”

Her question was almost timid, and when Tate opened his eyes, he asked himself, What kind of man do I want to be? He ran a hand through his hair and thought of the way Logan had extended an invitation to his father, which had him softening toward the woman at the other end of the phone.

“I’m doing much better,” he told her, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh, that’s good.”

“It is. I go back to the doctor today.”

“Good,” she rushed out and then added, “I’m glad.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, and while the silence this time remained awkward, there was no simmering rage like there used to be.

“Okay, well, that was all. I just wanted to know… I—”

“Diana?” he interrupted, gripping his hair in a fist. Fuck. When did talking to her become so difficult?

“Yes, Tate?”

“I never got a chance before I left the hospital to say thank you.”

“Oh,” she breathed softly into the phone. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I do. Thank you for relaying my wishes that day. I know it wasn’t easy.”

She laughed then, and Tate leaned against the wall as the sound that had once been so familiar filled his ear. “That’s an understatement if ever there was one.”

“I suppose it is, huh?” he chuckled.

“Ahh, yeah.”

When their shared laughter dissipated, he waited.

Then she whispered, “Be happy, Tate. You deserve it.” Right there in that moment, Diana sounded more sincere than he’d ever heard her before.

“I am. He makes me happy.”

“Good. Okay. I don’t want to hold you up any more than I already have…”

“Diana,” he said again and thought he heard her sniff through the phone.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for calling.”

There was a definite sniff this time as she answered, “Thank you for answering.”

“Bye,” he said softly, and she told him the same.

As he hit end on the phone and lowered it to the sink, he quietly studied his reflection. He liked the man staring back at him. The one he was when he was with Logan. He respected him, and as he lathered up his cheeks and his jaw to shave, he vowed to do whatever he needed to in order to always be that man.

Did you pack your leather pants the last time we were at your apartment?

Logan smiled at the text he’d just sent. His day had flown by, and everything was set for the weekend he had planned. All he needed to do now was pick Tate up for his doctor’s appointment.

Tate: No. There was no reason to. Why?

Logan shut his e-mails, closed out of the document he had open, and then picked his phone up to text back.

Wanted to know if we had to stop and get them on the way home from the doctor’s. And we do.

He put his phone down and checked over the papers he’d just printed before he folded them and put them in his jacket pocket. Then his phone buzzed.

Tate: Why?

So nosy. Then he chuckled as he added: Because.

Within seconds, Tate responded.

Tate: Not a good answer, counselor.

Logan stood and hit call on his phone, and when it connected, he said, “You want to know why? Because I miss seeing your tight ass wrapped in them.”

“I see. And am I taking my tight ass somewhere special?” Tate asked, his sexy laugh never failing to make Logan wish he were within touching distance.

“No. But I plan to.”

“Hmm,” Tate mused. “Where?”

“It’s a surprise,” Logan said as he grabbed his briefcase and walked to the door.

“Are we going to your cabin?”

“I just said it was a surprise. I’m not telling you,” he said as he turned the lights off. “My lips are sealed.”

“Now there’s a first,” Tate joked.

“Careful, Tate. I’m stealing you this weekend, and I plan to do all kinds of bad things to you.”

“Do you? And what if I don’t want to be careful?” Tate asked, the invitation clear in his voice.

“Guess you’ll find out after your doctor’s appointment, won’t you? But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Threats, huh,” Tate said, and the way his voice dropped made Logan’s pulse race.

He mouthed a silent goodbye to Sherry and made his way toward the exit as he said into the phone, “No, Tate. That’s a promise.”