Page 68 of Break the Barrier

He settles it over me, giving me a wink before taking his seat and handing me my pie.

We sit and chat about lighter topics than our siblings, both of us actively trying to talk about something other than serious topics. The pie is divine and is from the local bakery in town.

We finish our desserts and face each other, my knees pulled up under me. He’s got one leg bent on the couch and one leg with a foot on the floor so he can face me on the couch.

I groan and let my head fall onto the back of the couch, feeling more content than I’ve felt in a long time. “Why did you let me eat so much?”

He chuckles. “I can’t help it. You need to be fed.”

“Why do you thinkthat?”

Logan raises a brow at me, his knowing look making me squirm. “If I had to bet, I would guess you maybe get one full meal a day, and the rest is fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants stuff.”

“I eat,” I protest, looking down at my full hips. I wasn’t a skinny person, by my definition. I was thick in the thighs and butt, with a healthy set of shoulders and a soft stomach. I was… normal. Not fit, but not fat, I guess. “It’s hard to make time for it when I’m so busy.”

“That’s what I’m for.”

I look back at him then, and his eyes catch mine. I sigh and snuggle into the blanket. “How come it’s so easy to be around you?”

“Are you insinuating that you thought I’d be difficult?” His teasing makes me laugh, and I’m glad to see that smirk curve up on the side of his mouth.

“No, I’m insinuating that we’re new to dating each other. Usually, there’s a warm-up period.”

For a moment, he doesn’t answer me and seems to be thinking that over.

“Well, maybe consider that you’ve felt there’s a warm-up period with everyone else because you weren’t with the right person.”

I blink at him, wondering if his train of thought is the same train I’m on or if we’re on different tracks. I don’t think we are though.

I lick my lips and swallow, watching the intensity in his gaze heat up. “Are you suggesting you’re the right person?”

He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he gently takes his hand and cups the side of my head, his thumb resting in front of my ear and his fingers wrapping around the base of my skull in a way that makes me feel protected.

With a slight encouraging lift of my chin, his lips come down onto mine.

It’s not a crushing kiss, it’s not meant to be rushed or painful or too exciting, but gentle and passionate and romantic.

I open my mouth to him, and he sweeps his tongue into my mouth. I moan at the contact, feeling like I’m floating on a cloud with him, and for just this moment, we’re the only two people in the world.

He pulls me into him, and I grant his wish, crawling onto his lap until I straddle him, our mouths barely taking a moment to breathe while we readjust before we’re right back in it with each other.

My hands roam over his shoulders and into his too-long hair. I may not think it’s too long now. With my fingers digging into it, I feel like it may just be the perfect length.

His hand finds purchase under my shirt, his bare hand on my stomach, and I feel like I’m on absolute fire.

I’m about to suggest something else when a lock clicking makes me freeze. The front door opens, and thankfully, we’re hidden from view by the wall separating the foyer from the living room.

“Dad?”

I jump off Logan’s lap, landing ungracefully onto the couch where I’d been just minutes before.

Logan’s eyes focus on the floor as his elbows rest on his knees, taking deep breaths, and I cover my mouth when I realize what he’s trying to do.

“We’re in the living room,” I call out, unsure if Logan can properly speak yet.

“Oh.” Lue pops her head in and smiles broadly at me. “I’m glad you’re still here!”

She bounds into the living room, taking invitation to sit in the small space left between Logan and myself on the couch. I smile a nervous smile as she snuggles right in between us, and Logan props his arm over the back of his couch and smiles at me over her head.