Chapter 21
~ ~ Logan ~~
“You still trust me, Princess.” I looked down at her flushed face, eyes bright and happy.
“I do, Logan.”
All the fine hairs on my body rose and my heartbeat kicked up a notch to match hers.
“Can we take this off?” I teased a finger across her shoulder, the soft material of her dress like a wall between us. “I’d really like to get you out of this because I’m feeling a little overdressed here.”
“You’re naked Logan,” she laughed, bright and cheerful and wasn’t it the best damn sound I’d heard today.
My lips curved into an easy smile. “So, you can see my predicament. I don’t like to feel like the odd one out.”
Her giggles quietened, wetting her lower lip, nodding. “Okay.”
I pushed up. “Would you allow me to undress you?” So far, Maddy had always done it herself. But I wanted her to trust me. Like she’d done in the barn that night before it all went south. It had crossed my mind that maybe I’d been responsible for her psychological changes and body issues.
Had I rushed her that night? Pushed her into something she’d not been ready for?
I’d been a jackass. Thinking with my dick. So it was important to me that I made it right. Fixed it.
“Okay. I guess so.”
I sat back on my heels as she pushed up. The blush that had held her cheeks captive slowly faded and like someone had flipped a switch, she was withdrawing into herself.
Nervous. Shy.
So different from how she was minutes earlier when she’d given me the best blow job of my life, and a part of me couldn’t understand how a woman could go from sassy to a serious case of self-doubt.
But I wasn’t backing down. I’d stop if she asked me to. But tonight was about crossing the invisible line between us.
Tonight, I wanted her naked. No underwear. Skin on skin.
Her dress was already riding the top of her thighs so I gathered the material and she wriggled from side to side allowing us both to hitch the material over her ass. “Let me.” She let it go and I took over. “Arms up.” They shot straight up and I lifted it over her head, tossing it to one side, not caring where it landed because my eyes were drowning in the prettiest baby blue lace bra and panties I’d ever set eyes on.
Maddy shivered, painting her arms was a rush of prickled bumps.
“Cold?”
She shook her head. “I know it’s stupid, just nervous again.”
Confirming what I already knew.
“It’s not stupid, Maddy.” Expression softening, a pent-up breath left her small body, and I watched her chest rise and fall again, lifting my hand to run my fingers over the swell of her breast where the cups of her bra met flesh. “Have I ever told you I’m a big fan of blue underwear?”
Her shoulders relaxed just a little and when my hand smoothed over her ribs and coasted the curve of her waist, she sucked in a breath. Her nipples sharpened to points, testing the lace fabric.
My dick stirred, and I sat drinking in the sight of her sitting on my bed in nothing but underwear. It was almost enough to let me die a happy man already.
“May I?” My eyes fixed on her bra.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. And I leaned up and reached around back and unclipped, feeding the straps down her arms.
This was the first time I’d seen her without a bra.
Her small, round breasts with dark pink nipples were perfect.
She was perfect.
A flush spread across her chest and her head dipped slightly with several strands of hair framing her face and shoulders, with the rest streaming down her back.
“You’re so incredibly beautiful, Maddy.”
She huffed a bitter laugh, keeping her eyes cast down. “No. I’m not. There ain’t nothing special ‘bout me.” Shaking her head determinedly. “Nothin’ at all.” She protested, moving her hands to cover them.
“Don’t!” my voice cracked, catching her hands. “Look at me, Maddy.” Her eyes slowly lifted. “Never hide yourself from me, Princess.” I pressed her left palm to my roughened cheek, turning my lips into it, sealing a soft kiss.
To me, her slender body was a wet dream walking.
“Perfect. That’s what they are. All of you is perfect.” Still holding her other hand, I tangled my fingers with her smaller ones. Delicate and warm and so damn right in mine.
“I’m nothing like my sister,” she whispered stubbornly.
She thought I’d compare her to Riley Jo? I’d never looked at her sister the way I looked at her.
“Maddy. It ain’t your sister that gets my blood boiling or my heart thumping.” I shook my head. “Half the time I’m walking around with an iron rod in my jeans, making me ache so goddamn much I have to jack off twice a day.”
Her eyebrows shot up. ”Oh, oh...Twice—a day?”
I grinned. Perhaps that was an overshare.
But it was true.
The sound she made, that girly gasp, tightened my body. And damn. I wanted her even more. “Not a word of a lie, Princess.” She kept on looking at me like she wasn’t sure she believed me and I wanted to kiss her stubborn, beautiful mouth to take away those words... those feelings that must eat her up. And I hoped in time me and Jackson would erase every negative thought she’d ever had about herself.
Finally, she jerkily nodded.
“The rest?” My eyes dipped to those sweet lacy panties and heat rose in my chest at that sensual place I was so desperate to push inside.
Rolling her lips together, she pressed her palms onto the bed on either side of her and lifted her ass.
A hot rush of arousal lanced down my spine and that was all the invitation I needed as my hands hooked the soft material and teased them down to reveal a nest of golden curls.
Couldn’t fake a natural blonde.
Again, she tried to apologise. “I’m sorry. I know guys like or prefer—” she stopped, heaving a sigh.
I wasn’t most guys. “I ain’t a guy, Princess. I’m a man and this?” Running my fingers through the soft patch of hair. “I like you just the way you is.”
Christ. I wanted to taste every inch of her. “I wish you saw yourself through my eyes. Jackson’s too.”
The look she gave me still screamed disbelief.
“You still don’t trust me, huh?” I thought of something that might change her mind. “Look.” I took her hand and pressed her to my hardening cock. “It usually takes a hell-of-lot longer to recover if you know what I mean.” I raised an eyebrow. “But seeing you on my bed, naked. I’ll be able to hammer nails home. That Maddy is all on you.”
She blushed and the tiniest of smiles pulled at her plump lips—but even that lit up her face, giving those baby-blues a warm glow. I was gonna make it my job to make sure it stayed there.
“Lie down for me.”
She did, and I shifted over her as we fell into each other’s gazes for a long, long moment, the vulnerability swirling around, the mixed confusion of how she should feel and how I made her feel. I could see it all. I could also see she wanted me. She trusted me.
And didn’t my heart pump faster with that secret knowledge.
She wet her lower lip with the tip of her tongue, then tilted her chin up so that her lips met mine. Kissing Maddy never failed to ignite that spark between us as I slipped my tongue between her lips. Gently at first and then with a growing sense of hunger.
“Log...” she moaned as our lips broke apart.
“Yeah, Princess?”
“I...” she started, but then stopped herself, lifting her head to capture my lips again and I happily obliged, kissing her deeply. And I was sure she was feeling everything that I did.
I was lost to her. In her.
Finally, I eased back. “You’re in control here. Tell me to stop at any time.”
She nodded.
Pressing my lips to her throat, I cupped her breast, loving the soft feel of it in my palm. More than a handful was always a waste in my books. And I hated waste.
She moaned as I squeezed them a little firmer. “Beautiful,” I whispered across her skin.
I lifted some of my weight so I could move down her body with ease. I kissed across the pink of her chest, licking and sucking those sweet little nipples into my mouth as she whimpered under me, her body begging for more as her back arched into my touch.
I was in heaven, lavishing attention on both her breasts. Take my sweet time about it. Until I couldn’t wait any longer and I moved down to kiss the knot of her belly-button to hear her suck in sharply, biting back her giggles.
My girl was ticklish.
I finally wound up where I wanted to be. “Open your legs a little wider for me. Let me in.”
I waited and watched as her frame tensed, eyes wide open, but then her legs slowly drifted apart. That’s my girl.
“Is this okay?” I wanted to be certain we’re on the same page and she knew where this was going.
“Yes,” her voice wobbled.
“Good, because I’m starving.” And I lowered my mouth to where it was warm, wet and silken and pressed a kiss. Light. Soft.
And I was rewarded when her whole body sighed.
More butterfly kisses and her hips shifted restlessly, hyper-aware of my mouth. So I blew softly to hear her gasp and her breath caught on a hitch when I traced the seam of her pussy with my tongue. And contrary to the urgency clawing at me, I kept it slow, unhurried, giving her time to accept and relax.
I also want to drag out and savour this moment. Our time together.
I slipped my tongue in between her puffy lips. No one knew this, but it was my first time going down on a woman.
Weird, I know. But eating pussy to me has always felt more personal than fucking. And truthfully, I always wanted Maddy to be my first. It was the only thing I’d saved.
And sweet Jesus, it had been worth the wait. The taste of her made me dizzy and harder than I’d ever been.
I moved my tongue up to tease her clit. It gave me goddamn goosebumps, and I felt like I was getting so much more out of this than she was.
Flicking my eyes up, expecting to find her closed. Nope. She stared back, lips parted as she watched me with wide, interested eyes.
I sucked her clit a little harder.
"Oh-oh ooooh, Logan...”
Perfect.
And I was sure she was just as aroused as me.
I played with her body. Licking. Sucking, even nibbling. Testing what would make her explode, wanting to make her boneless and sticky.
And those sweet little moans said I was doing it right... so far.
It was also time to take this up a step. I sucked her little clit harder, fetching my hand up. I placed my thumb over her clit and rubbed it, moving my tongue down till I could push it inside her.
She gasped again when she felt me inside her. Firming up my tongue, I moved it in and out, each time licking a little deeper, almost simulating a fucking action. I half expected her to tell me to stop.
But she didn’t.
I knew she would war with herself both mentally and physically, turning her inside out. But I also knew the way her breaths were coming faster, her hips moving on their own. She was close to the edge. Close to coming undone. Maybe for the first time.
And I needed her to fall apart. So I kept on circling that sweet little nub faster combining with the deep thrusts of my tongue inside her.
And then she did. A full body shudder. A scream. And my name on her breath.
She exploded.
Just fucking exploded.
Her back bowed off the bed, neck arching as another scream filled by bedroom.
It was the best sound ever. One I wanted to hear over and over.
Holy shit!
Her inner walls soaked my tongue, and I happily swallowed her sweetness down, running over my tongue and out down my chin.
It was fucking beautiful. Perfect.
She was perfect.
And slowly her back lowered, and her entire body softened as she sank into my mattress.
Kissing that sweet flower until the last of her shudders stopped, I moved down to lick up her thighs.
I’d said I hated waste—right?
Not a drop escaped. I wiped my hand across my mouth. Best damn thing I’d ever eaten. That’s for sure.
I crawled up, pressing small kisses over her damp body, only lifting my head when I nibbled on her chin.
Her eyes opened, fixed on mine. Her pupils were blown, leaving only a thin band of blue. But it was her bonafide bright grin, reassuring me she was good, and that made my heart burst.
I kissed her, and she greeted my tongue into her mouth eagerly, tasting herself on me, no doubt.
As the kiss came to a natural end, I eased up a little. “That was my first time doing that...Going down on a woman.”
Her mouth rounded into a surprised O. “It was?” And those long lashes, slightly darker than her hair, seemed so much longer as she slowly blinked, taking in what I’d just said. “And how was it—for you?” she shyly asked.
I let loose a surprised chuckle. “Sure beats my Aunt Jody’s peach cobbler and trust me, that’s not an easy feat.” I couldn’t keep the smile off my smile. “But more important to me—how was it for you, Princess?”
And her smile damn near well lit up the entire room. “Good. So good, but I’m guessin’ you already figured that one out.”
Her cheeks burned hotter. “And it’s only gonna keep getting better, Princess. I promise you that.”
Christ. I wanted her. And I knew she would be feeling my erection pressed between us. Just a slight adjustment and I’d be home.
But I wasn’t gonna push my luck. My tongue had tasted heaven, and that was enough for now.
~ ~
Saturday came back around. And this morning whilst I was left sorting through endless piles of paperwork. Maddy was out with Hank, my Ranch Manager.
My girl was like a sponge. She wanted to know everything and how it worked at the Ranch. I was hoping in time she might turn her attention to the admin side of running the Ranch too. Paperwork was the bane of my life and if I could pass it on—trust me, I would. Happily.
Lifting the paper, trying to focus, the last few days tripped over in my head. I couldn’t lie and say just the two of us had been bliss. Every night she’d been in my bed and every night I’d eaten straight from the honeypot. I couldn’t get enough of her.
Deciding I could not process another word without a fresh injection of coffee, I picked up my mug and headed to the kitchen for a refill.
Pouring out a fresh cup, my ears pricked as I heard someone outside. Then the door opened, and I half expected to find Maddy or Jody.
It wasn’t either. It was Jackson. Back from his travels. I put my mug down and turned around, leaning up against the counter, folding my arms. He had answered none of my texts.
He tossed his baseball cap on the table and dropped his heavy duffle bag on the floor, running a hand through his hair.
“I see the wanderer returns.” I smiled. “’Bout time you showed up. Thought I might have to send out a search party if you stayed away any longer.”
“Missed me?” His lips lifted into a half-smile.
Weirdly I had. Not that I’d tell him. Flicking my chin up. “Everything good with your army, buddy?”
He’d not said much. Only knew his name was Dobson.
Jackson grumbled, patting down his pockets, looking for something. “Yeah,” he finally answered. “Sorry ’bout not being around.”
“We managed.” It was pretty damn clear he wasn’t gonna talk about whatever it was. Jackson, for being the more talkative out of the two of us, was as tight as a clam on this subject.
Perhaps it had something to do with why he suddenly quit the army?
“Coffee?”
His head lifted. “Yeah, coffee sounds good.” Pulling out a chair. “Maddy around?”
“She’s out with Hank.”
“Ah.” He nodded thoughtfully. But there was something different about him, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
He caught me staring. “So you wanna fill me in on what’s been happening around here?”
Setting two coffees on the table, I pulled out my chair, sitting down. Long or short version?”
“Long. Unless you got somewhere you need to be?”
The long version it was. And by the time I’d filled in Jackson, paperwork was the last thing I wanted to do. Saddling up. I went to search for Maddy and Hank. It didn’t take long to track them down.
My guts twisted, and my jaw locked. Half of the guys, if not most of them, were fawning all over her. And it drew an odd feeling of protectiveness. One of possessiveness. But it might be good for her self-esteem. So I would grit my teeth and tolerate it—for a short while.
But if any of them made a play or stepped out of line. They’d be dealt with quick sharp. A boot up their ass no doubt and kiss goodbye to working here again.
Maddy Lockwood was off the market. Permanently, as far as me and my brother was concerned.
When I told her Jackson was back, I said I’d help finish up with Hank so she could go welcome him home.
She didn’t need telling twice as kissed me in front of everyone and climbed onto her horse, hightailing it back home without so much as a glance back.
The rest of my day passed by quick and I got back to the house around five. Taking off my hat and kicking off my boots. It was quiet.
I walked out of the kitchen, stepping onto the first stair. I paused, hearing a squeal, or more like a loud giggle.
They were upstairs. And I guess they were in her bedroom.
I scrubbed my hand across my dust-covered chin, taking my foot off the step. It wouldn’t be fair to disturb them. I’d had some alone time, and it was only fair that Jackson got some too.
Turning around, I walked back into the kitchen to see Jackson’s phone vibrating and lit up.
About to ignore it, I wondered if it might be important and plodded over.
Dr Monroe. Was flashing on his smartphone.
Picking it up, I held it for a second as if it were a puzzle that I had to solve. Why would a doctor be calling him?
My finger hovered over the call accept.
I swiped it and held the phone to my ear.
“Hello Mr Reilly, it’s Shirley from Centre for BrainHealth,” she greeted and I didn’t have time to reply before she went about her business. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to schedule your appointment before you left yesterday.” She sighed. “Dr Monroe went onto another procedure after yours and...” she paused. “Listen to me going on and on.”
What the hell? Procedure?
“Dr Monroe would like you back this coming Monday. He needs to schedule you for another CT scan.”
Fuck. CT Scans!? And another. How many had he had already?
What the hell was going on?
Was Jackson sick?
Nausea roiled inside my gut like churning clouds.
I almost felt lightheaded with the bombardment of questions running through my mind.
“Mr Reilly?” I must have been quiet too long.
“Hang on,” I said a little brusquely, and the line went quiet as she waited patiently for me, or rather Jackson, to respond.
But how the hell was I supposed to respond? All I could think about was what kind of sickness was ailing him.
“Hello, Mr Reilly. Did you understand what I said?”
Shit, I’d forgotten about her. I gulped. “Is something wrong?” My stomach went into free fall.
“I’m sorry Mr Reilly. I just schedule the appointments..” I heard talking and clicking on a keyboard in the background. “Would you like me to get the doctor to call you back?”
“No,” The words were tight in my throat like they were a lie. “It’s fine.” It sure as hell wasn’t fine as my eyes rose to the ceiling, knowing my brother was up there with something wrong with him.
“So Monday—one in the afternoon?”
I panicked. “Can I call you back?”
“Yes. Of course Mr Reilly. You have my number.”
“Thank you,” I tried to think what she said her name was...oh, yeah. “Appreciate it, Shirley”
“You’re welcome, Mr Reilly.” She ended the call, and I just stood there with his phone in my hand and dread in my heart.
It was ’bout time me and my brother had a chat. And even if I had to hog-tie him down and beat it out of him. He was gonna tell me what the hell was going on with him.