Chapter 2: To think it through

Chapter 2: To think it through

Bella

I’m sure my face is burning with humiliation. I can’t believe Logan Blake just caught me making a fool out of myself in his bedroom. Gran told me that he wouldn’t be home, so I didn’t think playing some music would be a problem. Jesus, the man, is potently gorgeous. He might not know who I am, but I definitely know who he is. For years, Gran would show us pictures of Logan. I was fifteen the first time I felt a kernel of desire. It was the first time I saw a picture of him and Gran after his graduation from MIT. In the picture, he’s embracing Gran and smirking.

You’d never think that Logan Blake would turn out to be such an infuriating jerk. It’s obvious that he cares about Gran. He seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being. If he only knew the real reason Gran was so tired is that Rafa came home drunk and stoned out of his mind last night. Unfortunately, I was covering a fifteen-hour shift at the hospital and didn’t find out about it until I got to her apartment this morning.

Gran has always thought of Logan as a son. It used to infuriate Rafa to no end. He was seriously jealous of Logan. What Rafa didn’t understand is that Logan wasn’t the problem. Rafa is the kind of man who looks for shortcuts in life, rather than working for what he wants. He’s lazy, whiny, and loves to play the victim. Logan is a glaring example of the kind of man Rafa should have been.

Strolling into the kitchen, I head over to the laundry room and remove a few articles from the dryer. I bite my lip, close my eyes, and imagine Logan’s powerful chest. He looked so gorgeous, and his body looked like it was chiseled by an artist. My heart pounds at the thought of touching all of those tightly honed muscles. The man is a work of art.

Seph strolls into the laundry room a moment later and lies down on the floor with a whine. Leaning down, I caress her silky head. “Hey, Seph. I thought we had an understanding. You should have told me that your owner was built like a Greek god.”

Seph barks and rubs her head against my hand happily. Her tongue is lolling out of her mouth, and her tail is wagging back and forth. “Don’t bark at me. You’re the one who’s lucky enough to see him every day. I’m sure he even gives you belly rubs, you lucky girl.” I mumble.

Just then, a husky male throat clears behind me. Trying not to die of mortification, I turn around and face Logan. This time he’s wearing a white t-shirt that fits snuggly against his toned chest, blue jogging shorts, and running shoes. His dark eyes glow like obsidian marbles as he hovers over me with a stoic demeanor. Wincing, I drop the sheets in my hands on the floor and stumble forward. Before I can land on my face, Logan reaches for me. Pleasure zings through every fiber of my being at the feel of his body plastered against mine. All I can do is stand there and gape stupidly up at him. I’m sure he thinks I’m some kind of idiot. My nipples bead and my folds swell with bliss at the contact of his body against mine. Every part of me is attuned to his. I want to beg him to take me.

His eyes heat for a moment, but the expression instantly disappears from his eyes. Mouth dry, I resist the urge to beg when he helps me stand and untangles our bodies. When he raises his hand and places it over my head, my body stiffens with expectation. To my disappointment, he steps back a moment later and is holding Seph’s leash in his hand.

I’m sure he’s going to pretend he didn’t hear me, but my hope is short-lived when he leans close and whispers. “Listen, Bella, I appreciate that you’re helping Matilda, but I suggest you stay in your lane. I don’t do little girls, and I definitely don’t have any desire to mess around with Matilda’s granddaughter. So, if you can finish your task and leave, I’d appreciate it.”

I’m beyond humiliated at this point. I can feel the heat travel up my chest and face. But I’m not the kind of woman who backs down, and I get defensive when men treat me like an idiot. “For your information, Logan. I’m twenty-one years old. And Just because I appreciate your physical appearance, it doesn’t mean that I’m looking to sleep with you. I deal with enough condescending assholes every day to know that you’d be a bad choice.”

I place down the folded articles on the dryer and take a step back. “You know, I really don’t get why Gran loves you so much. Especially considering how rude you’ve been to me. But since I love Gran too, I’ll leave things as they are. Have a nice evening.”

Emotion clogs my throat. I don’t understand why Logan has been so cruel to me. I barely met him, and he has humiliated me twice. Tears blurring my eyes, I collect my things and make my way out the door. Before I can walk out, a large male hand wraps around my waist, and another one slams the door shut. The warmth of his body radiates across my back pleasurably, and my body shudders when he leans close to my hair with a soft whisper. “It’s better this way, Kitten. Someone like me would never be good enough for someone like you. Tell Matilda that I can take care of myself until she’s feeling better, and to take as much time off as she needs. Also, remind her that if she needs anything, she can call me.”

A gasp escapes my lips at his nearness, but somehow I manage to nod. My heart is beating like a drum, and my body is quivering with desire, but I don’t turn to him. Once Logan steps back and drops his hand away from the door, I open it and rush out. Logan Blake is a dangerous man to a woman’s heart.