Page 48 of Shattered
His voice was thick and hoarse when he spoke again, "And now?"
For once I didn't have to think about my answer, "I'm not scared anymore."
Big hands scraped over my cheeks, fingers pushed into my hair and pulled my face to his until our foreheads were touching. "No more running."
I nodded my head as much as I could. "I'm done."
"Good," his breath of relief blew over my lips. "As long as I have breath in my body, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you and Flynn safe. I need you to hear me and understand me, Sugar."
I was overcome with emotion so all I could do was nod. With one sentence this man had managed to suture the gaping laceration on my heart and I didn't have the words to tell him that.
"You probably already know what's coming-" he whispered against my skin. "-but I'm going to tell you, anyway. You and that little boy of yours have stirred up some pretty strong feelings in me-"
Before he could finish, I pulled back and pressed my fingers against his lips. "Please don't say the words," I begged. "The last man that said he loved me ended up being my worst nightmare. You don't need to say it for me to feel it."
Logan pulled my fingers from his mouth and dragged my wrist to his lips. "Alright, I'll wait till you're ready to hear 'em. But, Sugar, you have to understand one thing: a man that is capable of doing what that bastard did to you wouldn't know the true meaning of love, even if it stood right in front of him."
The tears that had been threatening to fall finally broke free and streamed down my face. They never stopped. Not when Logan kissed me. Not when he carried me through the house and laid me down on the bed. Not even when our bodies moved together as one.
"I'm a mess, I'm sorry," I sniffled into Logan's chest when we were a jumble of tangled limbs and sheets.
Slowly running the tips of his fingers up and down my spine, he chuckled. "Mybeautiful mess." The kiss he pressed to my head might as well been placed on my heart. "Besides, you never have to apologize for letting go of the past. It feels good, don't it?"
He was right, it felt amazing and freeing. With a contented sigh, I pushed further into his embrace and gave in to the sudden tiredness that had overcome me.
The following morning I woke to slobbering doggy kisses. Wiping my face, I sat up just in time to see a fully dressed Logan amble into my room with coffee. After placing my mug on the bedside table, he sat down on the bed next to me.
Combing my fingers through my hair, in a vain effort to straighten my appearance, I gave him a shy smile, "Hi."
Logan promptly gripped my wrists and halted my actions. "Stop fussing, you're pretty as a peach." His dark head dipped before he planted the softest of kisses on my lips. "Morning." I felt him smile against my lips before he claimed them in one more kiss, this one far more passionate than the first.
"Don't get upset," he said when he eventually pulled away. "I helped Flynn get ready for school, in fact, we're fixin to leave in a minute. I also called Chase and told him you're taking the day."
"Why-"
Logan silenced me with another kiss when he was satisfied that he'd kissed my protest away, he pushed to his feet. "I'm going to drop Flynn off, then pop by the shop real quick. I'll be back in a couple of hours with breakfast."
Without giving me even a second glance, he sauntered out the door just as Flynn came bouncing in.
"Mommy! Logan made me pancakes,andhe's driving me to school." My son jumped on the bed and wrapped his little arms around my neck before puckering his lips in anticipation of my kiss.
With a laugh, I kissed him bye and then watched as he, very excitedly, skipped toward a waiting Logan. I waved them off and once I heard the front door close, I let my head fall back against the headboard. If I had known my mornings could look something like this, I might have given in a lot earlier.
My lids were just starting to droop when a knock sounded. Figuring the boys forgot something, I jumped out of bed and rushed to the door. Nothing could have prepared me for what I found there.
"Hello, Sarah."
For the first time in years everything felt right.
Waking up next to Harper was just about the best feeling in the world. A close second was making breakfast for Flynn as if we had been doing it for years. Sure, the little guy finding me in his mom's kitchen possibly wasn't the best way to introduce him to the idea of me being around long term. To his credit, though, he seemed more excited than freaked out.
I had to admit as great as I felt; I felt anger in equal measures. How any man could think it was okay to raise a hand to a woman, was beyond me. The love of a good woman wasn't something you took for granted…ever. I was overcome with this need to find out where I could find Drew Mercer. I would have loved to see him pick on someone who could fight back.
"You think mommy would say yes?"
Flynn's little voice sounded beside me and promptly gained my full attention. "Yes to what, buddy?" I shot him a sheepish smile before I turned my eyes back to the road.
A small, exasperated sigh slipped past his lips and I had to hide my chuckle. "To fishing this weekend, you said you'd teach me." With every word he uttered the excitement in his voice was evident.
