Out of Control
Chapter 14

Libby didn’t complain as Logan led her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. She didn’t care where they made love. All she knew was that she couldn’t seem to get enough of him. And the more they made love the more she craved him. Her gaze fell down his backside to his taut buttocks and muscled thighs as he pulled her toward the bed. He was in superb condition. The scars from his recent accident were healing nicely and didn’t take away from his virile attractiveness. In fact, they emphasized his masculinity. Battle scars revealing that what he did for a living wasn’t time spent behind a desk somewhere.

They reached her bed and Logan’s arm encircled her waist. He fell backwards on the bed, pulling her with him, the unexpected action causing Libby to catch her breath. His hands smoothed down her backside, cupping her buttocks before continuing down the backs of her thighs. She strained into his caress, grinding the lower half of her body into his. “Damn, you feel good,” he growled, arching his h**s. Libby’s palms flattened against his chest.

A soft laugh escaped her. Her breasts were smashed against his chest, her nipples tingling. In fact, her whole body was tingling everywhere it touched Logan’s hard flesh. “You don’t feel too bad yourself.” She kissed him on the neck. “But I’m afraid we have a little dilemma.” Instinct guided her eyes to the clock on the dresser.

“What’s that, honey?”

His unexpected endearment caused her heart to swell with joy. “It’s later than we thought.” She kissed his chin when he turned to look at the clock. “Gram said nine but she’s habitually early in everything she does. Nine o’clock to her will be closer to eight thirty.” It was eight fifteen.

“You think I can’t perform in fifteen minutes?” Logan thrust against Libby, letting her know that he was hard as steel and ready for action.

“Not fair,” she g*****d, shivering.

His expression suddenly turned serious. “Fair? What’s fair about a little red-headed witch that has a man’s insides so twisted in knots that he can’t think straight?”

“I do that?” Libby started showering k****s down his scarred chest, relishing in the shudder that racked his body. “What else do I do?”

Logan moved and in the blink of an eye Libby found herself beneath him. “Let me show you.” She barely caught her breath when he thrust forward, entering her in one smooth plunge.

“Oh!”

“Oh,” he mimicked then covered her lips with his. Libby wasn’t sure if the sound that erupted around them was from her or Logan. She reacted wildly, arching hungrily to his thrusts, the pleasure so intense she rapidly climbed toward the pinnacle of release. Logan reacted like a male in his prime, claiming his mate. Leaving no doubt that he could accomplish whatever he wanted in fifteen minutes, or less if he had to. He knew just how to control his thrusts to give Libby the ultimate pleasure. His fast and steady movements were designed to make her peak quickly.

She opened her mouth, welcoming his tongue as eagerly as she welcomed him into her body. Her hands roamed over Logan wherever she could reach him. Exploring a body she was fast beginning to know as well as her own. Her caresses lingered in spots she instinctively knew would pleasure him and test his control, as it tested her own.

His tongue began to mimic the movements of his body. She felt his hands at her h**s, pulling her to him each time he plunged forward. His technique intensified the pleasure of being satisfied by him. She cried out, overwhelmed by a kaleidoscope of sensations exploding through her senses. The telltale feeling flowing through her body told her she was about to come. Caught up in the moment she ran her nails down Logan’s back, igniting his own passions to uncontrollable proportions.

He pulled back, his eyes blazing down at Libby as he continued to pound into her again and again.

“God help me, Libby. This isn’t how I meant it to be!” he panted. “But you’ve bewitched me!”

In spite of not being able to catch her breath, in spite of the exquisite feeling gripping her body and holding it captive, Libby managed a little smile. “Your fifteen minutes are almost up.” The next time he entered her she purposely clenched her muscles around his shaft and squeezed, at the same time leaning forward to tongue his nipple.

“Oh, hell!” Logan g*****d, slamming into Libby one last time before erupting strongly inside her. “Damn…”

In spite of her own tremors Libby held him to her, absorbing the aftershocks of his forceful release, relishing in her ability to push him over the edge. For a time their heartbeats pounded as one. She felt Logan’s warm breath against her neck as he panted heavily. Their slick sweaty bodies were flush, leaving no secrets between them. Gradually his hands relaxed against her h**s. Her heart swelled with emotions she could no longer hold back.

“I love you.” Oh God, had she said that out loud? Libby froze, immediately aware of her mistake. How could she have been so careless as to utter something like that…at a time like now? The last thing a man wanted to hear a woman say while still in the throes of a climax was that she loved him. Especially when it’s not what he wanted from her. Maybe Logan hadn’t heard her.

But who was she fooling? He stilled, the subtle movement alerting her that he’d heard every little word. The silence that followed was crushing, and painfully telling. Well, what did she expect that he’d reciprocate? Libby bit down on her bottom l*p to keep it from trembling. But nothing stopped the burning sting from gathering behind her eyes.

“Logan, I…forget I said that. It just slipped out. I…” She could barely look him in the eyes when he pulled back to glance down at her. “You know, the heat of the moment and all that.” She prayed he believed her. Only how could she expect that when she didn’t believe it herself? “Surely you’ve ah, uttered a few things you didn’t ah, exactly mean….” God, her explanation sounded weak.

Slowly, Libby raised her eyes until they met his. His expression was unreadable, the look in his liquid silver eyes just as undecipherable. Why didn’t he say something? Anything would be better than the god-awful quiet surrounding them.

“What’s wrong?” Could it be any more awkward? The part of Logan still joined to her slowly slipped out, causing her to catch her breath. “It was a slip of the tongue…”

“Don’t worry. I think you’ve made that abundantly clear.” His tone was flat. An emotion flickered in his eyes that she couldn’t identify. Concern, relief? Was he worried she’d get all weepy or clingy, now?

“I meant to say l**t.” She was painfully aware that she was trying to turn the whole incident into something insignificant.

“I think my fifteen minutes is up.”

Under normal circumstances Libby would have taken his comment as a joke. Only the look on his face hadn’t changed. The next thing she knew he was pushing off her and getting to his feet. Libby felt vulnerable, exposed, as he stood staring down at her. Pride kept her from reaching for the spread beneath her and bringing it over her. Besides, his eyes never left hers. After a few seconds he turned and reached for something on the floor.

“Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.” Libby watched him slip into his jeans. Please, she added to herself. “It was a slip of the tongue…”

“Was it?” His hands made quick work out of zipping and snapping his jeans.

“It meant nothing.” She forced a laugh. “I mean, love? We’re just having a good time, Logan. Great s*x…” Libby halted. His expression turned hard, his eyes crystallized.

The hands at his belt buckle hesitated. Her effort to make things better seemed to be having the opposite effect on him. He actually looked mad. “Maybe I should just shut up.”

Just the tiniest glimmer in his eyes revealed her comment amused him. “Good idea.” After finishing with his belt he reached for his shirt. “I’ll meet you in the living room.”

Libby watched him leave the room, confused. It didn’t take long for the tears to fall and for a moment she just lay there, letting emotion rule her actions. She wondered why she just didn’t tell Logan the truth. She couldn’t help that she’d fallen in love with him. Maybe he didn’t return those feelings because he didn’t feel them, or he couldn’t. But if he was going to run then it might as well be over the facts, right? She sighed heavily, brushing at her cheeks. He was going to think she was crazy if she went into the living room with a different story now.

A glance at the clock showed her it was just after eight thirty. She jumped from the bed and headed to the closet, reaching for a pair of bright green boxers on the top shelf and an oversized tee-shirt she sometimes wore to bed. It didn’t take her long to slip into them as she made her way to the dresser.

She reached for a brush, running it through her damp hair and catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her eyes seemed over bright, lingering proof she’d been crying. To make it worse her nose was a little red too. Damn!

Libby tossed the brush down with self-disgust, angry that she’d broken the rules and let her heart get involved. She had no one to blame but herself if Logan walked away and never came back. Hadn’t he warned her from the beginning what he wanted from her? Well, she’d certainly given him a lot of that.

As she turned to leave her eyes fell to the floor, landing on her discarded body suit. Oh no! Had Logan seen it? Maybe he had but didn’t recognize it for what it was. For the first time Libby realized he hadn’t once asked about Reba. Hadn’t he been curious as to where she’d disappeared to after coming inside?

Maybe his thoughts had been preoccupied with something else, because surely he hadn’t discovered her secret! She refused to even think it.

Halfway down the hallway to the living room she heard the low sound of the TV. She found Logan sitting on the edge of a chair, his linked hands dangling between his spread knees, staring at the tube. But she could tell by his blank expression that he wasn’t really watching the old rerun of Friends. He seemed deep in thought. After a while he acknowledged her presence by turning his head and meeting her eyes. She wasn’t expecting to see the forlorn look in them.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

He ignored her comment. “You’ve been crying.”

“I have nothing to cry about. It must be the lighting.” Libby shrugged, trying for nonchalance. “Would you like something to drink?” She didn’t know what else to say.

A grin softened his mouth. “Yeah, only I doubt you have what I have in mind.”

“You might be surprised.” She turned toward the kitchen and opened the cupboard door over the stove. “We have cooking sherry, white wine?” She glanced at Logan long enough to get his response, which was a negative shake of his head. She closed the door and opened the refrigerator. “We have ice tea, milk,” Grinning, she met his eyes. “Prune juice?”

He was still shaking his head, a slight quirk on his hard mouth that didn’t quite reach the seriousness of his eyes. “What about a beer?”

Libby’s eyes grew round. “I actually think we have some, buried in the back.” She stuck her head in, shifting things around when she saw a couple cans behind the leftover chicken.

“Gram keeps it around, says it’s good for her hair.” Grabbing a can, she straightened and closed the door. “Oh!” She was surprised to replace Logan standing there. “I didn’t hear you move.” She held the can out to him.

He took it, almost reluctantly. “I think I should leave.”

Their eyes met and held. Libby inhaled deeply. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Logan the truth, no matter what the consequences. “You don’t think we should talk?”

He popped the top and took a swig, shrugging. “What about? You made it clear that you don’t love me, so I have nothing to worry about, right?”

There was something in his tone that Libby couldn’t identify. She felt a twist of pain in her heart that he didn’t love her back. Tell him! Tell him! Her heart demanded it, in spite of knowing the pain it would cost her. “Logan…” Damn! She was going to cry again, she could feel the sting behind her eyes. Was she strong enough to see him walk away? Or, was she going to be unfair to both of them and continue the lie just to keep him coming back?

Libby realized Logan was watching her with interest, his eyes delving into her very soul. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he did feel something for her. “Logan…I’m sorry, but…”

A muscle twitched in his lean jaw. “Don’t!” he snapped, shocking Libby into silence. He further surprised her by curling his hand around the back of her neck and pulling her to him for a k**s that sent a sharp tingle down her spine and a flutter in her belly. Moaning, Libby gave herself up to Logan’s heated k**s. Almost immediately he pulled away and released her, leaving her hungry, and unsatisfied.

“Damn you!” he uttered with deep emotion, his eyes flashing like silver lightning. “Goodnight, Libby.”

Just like that, after what they’d just shared? Before she could stop him Logan pivoted toward the front door and pushed it open. A sob escaped her before she could prevent it.

Stepping up to the screen door, she watched him practically run down the steps. He didn’t glance back as his rapid strides took him home. Sniffling, she wiped furiously at the tears building in her eyes. What was she going to do?

Just as she was about to turn away Vincent’s car came around the corner and pulled into the drive. She did turn away then and headed for her room. Her grandmother couldn’t see her like this! She’d ask questions and Libby didn’t want to lie to her. She’d grab another shower to wash away the heartbreak in her eyes and pray by the time she got out her grandmother would already be asleep in her chair in front of the TV.

LOGAN FINISHED HIS beer in one long swig and then crumbled the can in his hand, tossing it angrily toward the can he spied behind the counter. It hit the floor with a clang that was barely heard over the jukebox blaring in the corner. The bartender snorted, reached for something beneath the counter and set another can down in front of Logan.

“Looks like you can use something stronger than beer tonight, friend.”

Logan glared at him, but the man’s grin only widened. “I’ll stick with beer, thanks.”

He wondered how much he’d have to drink to forget the last time he saw Libby. How ironic, that he should be the one to forget the rules he’d laid down. She made falling in love with her easy. But she’d made it painfully clear she didn’t love him, which is what he wanted, wasn’t it? It would certainly make his life a lot easier. Especially when he returned to California. No ties. Only now he’d be taking home memories of a hot little redhead he couldn’t get enough of.

He thought about his doctor’s visit that afternoon. Finally he’d been cleared to return to work. And Logan decided he was going back to California as soon as possible. He was only torturing himself by remaining there. Wanting Libby day and night. The sooner he distanced himself from her the sooner he could get her out of his system.

Realizing he was sitting there daydreaming, with a can of beer warming in his hand, he popped the top and put it to his lips. Part of Logan knew he couldn’t drink away his troubles, but it didn’t stop him from downing the contents of that can, and another. When it dawned on him he was well on his way to getting a buzz he began to nibble on the pretzels in front of him.

His gaze shot to the TV above the bartender’s head, which was muted. The news was on but all he heard was the jukebox playing in the background. That and the noise of conversation and laughter around him. The door to the bar opened. Nothing unusual about that except that this time something drew Logan’s attention to it. He stopped breathing when Libby and her friends walked into the dimly lit room. They were laughing and dressed to kill. Three women on the prowl for a good time. He couldn’t explain the anger that surfaced, only knowing that it was fiercely blinding.

Just the thought of Libby in the arms of another man made his b***d boil over. His eyes dropped down her scantily clad body, seeing her as he’d never seen her before. A white off the shoulderblouse clung to her breasts, so thin and airy he knew she wasn’t wearing a bra. The peaks of her breasts were pointed, telling Logan her nipples were hard against the silk. A short black miniskirt left her magnificent legs bare from the tops of her shapely thighs down to the sexy impossibly high stilettos on her dainty feet. She’d pulled that red hair of hers back into a haphazard style that left it wild and full of life about her shoulders and back.

His gut clenched, recalling what her soft hair felt like against his body. Like silky fire. Damn! He was responding to her allure. She was sexy as hell and the three days since he’d held and kissed her had only left him wanting more. If Pete and Ron were alive they’d tease him mercilessly and say he had it bad. And he wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

He willed Libby to look his way, only she was too wrapped up with her friends and what they were saying. Then the door closed, shutting out what little light was behind them from the setting sun. His eyes followed them as they made their way to one of the tables. He couldn’t help but be aware of the heads turning their way as they sashayed by.

They had enough h*p action going on to test a saint. The temperature of Logan’s b***d shot up another notch. He started to leave his stool when he saw three men approach their table.

“Hello, handsome!” A hand on his arm prevented Logan from taking more than a step. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”

It was the resident barfly, the blonde from a week ago. He would have thought she’d gotten the hint that he wasn’t interested. There wasn’t much difference between her attire and Libby’s, yet her hot pink skirt and matching blouse didn’t turn Logan on. Her perfume was so heavy he felt his eyes water and she had enough war paint on that it actually took away from what he thought would be a pretty face.

“I haven’t been here lately.” His eyes shot past her to Libby. Her friends had paired up and were heading toward the dance floor with two of the guys, but the third was scooting into the booth next to her.

“Dance with me.” The thick purr of the woman’s voice drew Logan’s gaze back to her. The fumes coming off her breath warned him she’d been drinking.

He tried to figure a way of getting rid of her, without insulting her, or causing a scene. “I’m sorry but I’m not in the mood for dancing.” Praying she didn’t notice he slowly pulled his arm from her grasp.

“How about a drink instead?”

Her expression, which had started to darken with his first remark, quickly brightened with a smile.

“I’d love a drink.

Bartender, another dry martini please.” She hitched up her skirt until she was able to slither upon a stool. “Why don’t you sit down and join me? I’ll make it worth your while.” She reached out and ran her hand down the front of Logan’s shirt.

“No, thank you, ma’am.” He stepped back and made eye contact with the bartender as he set a martini down on the counter. “Add it to my tab.” Before the woman could protest Logan swung around and headed for the door, but not before he glanced back at Libby.

He pressed his mouth when he noticed how the man was crowding her against the wall. He hesitated. She didn’t look like she was protesting, but she didn’t look all that at ease either. The man definitely looked like he’d set his sights on her and was working it for all it was worth. He couldn’t be more obvious about his intentions. When he reached up to brush a curl away from Libby’s cheek Logan saw red and made a beeline for their table. He picked up speed when he saw Libby slap the man’s hand away after he’d reached for her a second time.

“I’m not going to tell you again to stop.” As Logan neared the table she glanced up and saw him. They made eye contact. “Logan…”

Ignoring the man sitting next to her, Logan held out his hand, cutting off her exclamation of surprise. “Dance with me.”

“I…”

“Excuse me, but the lady’s with me.”

Logan made eye contact with the man, who sat there so assuredly claiming Libby as his own. He brushed aside the impulse to punch the guy in the mouth, thankful when Libby took matters into her own hands.

“Please let me out, John.” The smoky timbre of her voice was barely audible over the noise in the room.

Her eyes never left Logan. What he saw churning in those beguiling depths, besides the ever present mischief, was warmth brimming with very clear designs. What is she up to? He felt a moment of uncertainty, something clenching in his gut. Like, he was the one who suddenly needed rescuing. Had she set him up?

“John.” She gave him a nudge.

With a shrug of indifference, John slid out of the booth. Libby slipped her hand in Logan’s and he turned, pulling her with him onto the dance floor. When he stopped and turned she glided into his arms naturally, as though she’d done it a hundred times. She felt good against him. He closed his eyes and savored her seductive fragrance and the softness of her body moving against his. Everything about Libby attacked his senses at once.

Threatening to suck him under.

“You looked like you needed rescuing,” he murmured against her forehead.

She chuckled lightly. “So, this was payback for my rescuing you the other day. And here I thought you were just looking for an excuse to hold me in your arms.” She pulled back slightly. Their eyes met, hers filled with mild humor. “John’s harmless.”

“I know what I saw; he looked like he was harassing you.”

“John harasses everyone.”

“You know him.”

Her soft laugh heightened his awareness of her. “We grew up together. The six of us have been friends since grade school. John—”

“I didn’t like him touching you.” Damn, it slipped out before he could prevent it.

Laughter escaped her. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t like Bambi touching you, either.”

So, she’d known he was there all along, interesting. She’d been watching him. That realization made Logan smile. He tightened his arms around her, linking his hands at the small of her back. She in turn snuggled against him with a sigh, running her nose along the skin beneath his ear. Then her lips were touching him and a sharp feeling of pleasure shot straight to his loins. He’d never met a woman who could turn him on so fast.

“Why?” Her lips caressed his skin as she spoke.

“Why what?” Why did he want her to dance with him? Why did he turn bone-hard against her the minute she was in his arms?

Why did he love her?

“Why didn’t you like John touching me?”

Oh, that. Logan released a deep breath. He wasn’t going to answer that, because he couldn’t and not reveal how he felt about her.

“You smell good.” She smelled good, looked good, felt well. And he was a damn fool!

He clenched his jaw, wishing he could replace the words to take back what he’d uttered in her kitchen so long ago, on that first day. But Logan recognized the reason he couldn’t do that was because he was afraid. For the first time in his life he was running, and from a little mite with laughing eyes. Afraid she didn’t love him.

“You didn’t answer my question, and you’re tense,” Libby observed, drawing back enough to meet his eyes. “Do I make you nervous?”

Damn her! In spite of her candidness Logan found the corners of his mouth lifting. He couldn’t resist the lure of mischief in her eyes. “Why would you make me nervous?” He didn’t know if he liked the secrets dancing in her eyes.

“You tell me.”

Her tone was challenging, yet Logan ignored the glove she tossed down, knowing he couldn’t answer her honestly. He pulled her closer, forcing her to lower her face until her head was resting against his shoulder. With her arms linked around his neck he was aware of every inch of her pressed against him. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling, trying to pretend he wasn’t going to miss her like hell. And it wasn’t just the s*x he was going to miss. It was everything about Libby.

It didn’t take much to get him in the mood when she was around. And Libby had to know it. Why else was she melting into him with a satisfied purr? He gritted his teeth, feeling her nipples harden into his chest. He recalled what the tight buds felt like when he rolled them on his tongue. His hands unlocked at her waist to glide over her rump, giving the luscious mounds a barely controlled squeeze. Then before he could help himself he forced her tighter against his swelling c**k, groaning low in his throat.

“You’re hungry.” Her throaty laughter rumbled against Logan’s chest, teasing him mercilessly. She turned the heat up several degrees by wedging her thigh between his and teasing the hardness pounding persistently behind his zipper.

An overloud laugh brought Logan back to reality and with it the reminder that they were in a public place. It hit him like a ton of bricks that he wasn’t doing either of them any favors.

He made himself take a step back. It was the only way to regain control of his senses. Only it wasn’t enough. He’d need to leave the state for that.

Perhaps it was that thought that caused him to blurt out, “I’ll be leaving for California soon.” He cringed inwardly at the sound of desperation in his tone.

Libby released a resigned sigh. “I know, Vincent told me at coffee this morning. When?”

Logan smiled at her slip. She’d gone to coffee not as herself, but as Reba. “This weekend.”

“That soon?” she exclaimed, her eyes rounding up at Logan. Damn, she almost sounded disappointed. “There’s a big fire on the California, Nevada border. They need all the help they can get.”

“I see.” Logan got the impression the smile on her face was forced. She barely made eye contact with him. “Is this goodbye, then?”

Something twisted in his gut, then traveled up to his heart. “I’ll stop by Margaret’s before I leave this weekend.”

Her eyes slowly lifted to his. “I won’t be there.” What? He raised his brows and waited for her to continue. “My folks are going out of town for the weekend and want me to housesit.”

So, that’s why he’d overheard her, or Reba actually, asking his grandfather to look in on Margaret over the weekend. She’d looked cute, whispering in his grandfather’s ear so Margaret wouldn’t overhear. Then her admission hit him, making him realize that maybe this was goodbye. He stopped dancing, and for a moment they were just two people standing close to each other, staring into each other’s eyes.

Libby surprised him by reaching up and touching him tenderly on the cheek. There was something in her eyes he couldn’t quite identify. Then she took his breath away by smiling.

And Logan knew at that moment that he’d never make it to California alive with the ache pounding in his loins. He had to have her, if not forever, then at least one more time.

“You feel like going for a ride?” He thought about her sitting behind him on his bike, with her arms wrapped around him. Her breasts crushed against his back and her hair flying in the wind.

“Where?” she asked without hesitation.

Logan knew exactly where. There was a park not far from there, closed to the public after seven. The chain kept cars from entering after hours but it wouldn’t stop his Harley. “Does it matter?”

“No.”

“What about your friends?” He wondered if her friend John would be receptive to her leaving with another man.

Her smile widened. “Let me tell them goodnight. I’ll be right back.”

Logan watched the provocative bounce of her fanny beneath the miniskirt as she walked away. He wondered how long it would take him to remove that bit of nothing, and what she was wearing beneath it. When she reached the table her friends occupied he sauntered back to the bar to pay his tab.

“I’ll settle my bill now.”

“Nice,” the bartender commented, his gaze directed at Libby. He slapped a receipt down on the bar in front of Logan. “She’ll cure what ails you.”

Logan glanced her way before meeting the man’s knowing eyes. He wasn’t about to respond to his slightly crude remark. But it did make him stop and think. What was he doing? She was the reason he was in the state he was in, both physical and mental. A second ago the only thing on his mind was taking Libby somewhere private and making love until they were too exhausted to move. Only he didn’t just want Libby’s body, Logan wanted all of her.

He wanted her heart, her soul.

He reached inside his pocket and pulled some money out, peeling off the amount he owed, plus a generous tip. “Keep the change.” He turned just as Libby walked up to him.

“Ready?” She smiled.

Like a rocket getting ready to launch. The look in her eyes revealed she was ready, too. Logan knew her well enough to recognize the desire simmering in those pretty eyes. He reached for her hand and turned, pulling her behind him. The other day he’d convinced himself he was better off ignoring what he wanted and leaving Libby alone.

Tonight he was going to get her out of his system, once and for all.