Page 68 of Somewhere Without You
“Say it again,”I whispered, my hips rising to meet him.
He smiled against my neck.“Emily.”
Whenhis mouth found mine again, itwaswith a hungerthatnearlyunraveled me. His hand slipped beneath my shirt, fingersdelicatelytrailing over the curve of my breasts. The heat of his touch seared into me, pulling a soft gasp from my lips. Icouldfeelthe urgency in him, the hard evidence pressed against me as he began to lift my shirt.
Butjustasquickly, doubt crept in. I shifted, pressing my palms to his chest.
His eyes searched mine,immediatelyconcerned. “What’s wrong?” he askedgently, his fingers hesitating at my waist.
I swallowed hard, shame blooming in my throat.“It’sjust. . .”I stumbled, unable to express the rush of insecurities threatening to swallow me.
Logan shifted backslightly, cradling my face in his hands. “Lookat me,” he whispered.His gaze locked with mine.“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Every inch of you—every curve, every line.Butif you want to stop, we’ll stop. I understand.”
I blinked against the sting in my eyes. I wanted this. Iwanted him.Butthe wordswerejagged on my tongue.
“I don’t lookthe way you think I do,”I revealed.I’dlostweight since Jackson, butwasstill heavier than I liked—my body still carrying remnants of the violenceI’dsurvived.
Logan’s thumb brushed against my cheek.“No, you don’t,”he smiled.“Youlookbetter.”
I let out a shaky breath, the tightness in my chest looseningjustenough for me to nod. “I want this,”I said, voice small but steady.“I wantyou.”
Something in him shiftedthen, as if my confession unlocked a doorhe’dbeen waiting years to walk through. He leaned inslowly, his lips brushing mine with a reverencethatmade my heart ache. This kisswasdifferent—less urgency, more worship. It saidyou’re safe,andIseeyou,andyou matter.
Asour bodies pressed together again, I let the tension melt away. His hands moved with purpose, exploring with a slownessthatmade every touchfeelsacred. He lifted my shirt, pausing for my silent permission before peeling it away. His eyes drank me in—not with lust, but awe.
“You’re stunning,”he murmured, as if the word itselfwasn’tenough to capture what hesaw.
I didn’t push him away this time.
His fingers skimmed down my sides, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. He kissed the hollow of my throat,thenlower, his mouth tender and patient. With every touch, he unspooled something tight and fearful inside me.
My hands roamed over his broad chest, memorizing every inch. His breath hitched when I ran my fingertips along the line of his ribs. Something primal anddeeplyhuman stirred between us.
Therewasno rush. No performance.Justpresence.Justtwo people rediscovering a rhythmthathadneverreallyleft.
Logan leaned back, muscles flexing as he peeled off his shirt, thelowfirelight casting warm shadows across his chest.
A slow smile tugged at my lips. His dark olive skin shimmered in the amber glow, and the way his hungry eyes locked onto mine sent a pulse of heat spiraling through me.
I propped myself up on my elbows, anticipation curling in my belly.Butas I lifted my mouth to meet his, he leaned in too fast—and with a sickening crack, the two of us collided.
Stars burst behind my eyelids as pain bloomed across my forehead. Disoriented, I blinked,instinctivelyraising a hand to my face.
Across from me, Loganhadrecoiledto the other end of the couch, one hand clutched to his forehead.
“Are you okay?”he asked, his voice heavy with concern.
“I’m fine,”I said, wincing as I pressed my fingersgentlyto my eye.ThenIsawa thin line of blood trailing down his temple.“Oh my god, you’re bleeding!”
Logan swiped at it and let out a short laugh.“Well, that’s a first.”He didn’tseemthe least bit fazed.“You might want togetsome ice onthat,”he added, nodding toward my swelling eye.
“Thereshould be a bag of frozen peas in the freezer,”I said, easing myself upright.
He disappeared into the kitchen and returned a moment later, not with peas—but with two frozen dinner rolls.
“I couldn’t find any vegetables,”he said, grinning as he held one out.“Thesewerethe next best thing.”
“Seriously?”I asked, raising a brow as I took it and pressed it to my face.
