Page 10 of Logan (The Valeur Billionaires #1)

Chapter Eight

SLOANE

T he rush of adrenaline keeps me wide awake, leaving no chance of sleep. So, I decide to divert my attention elsewhere—if not with real-life intimacy, then with the fictional kind. Settling into bed, I slip on my headphones and cue up my audiobook.

I delved into this story yesterday and found myself captivated, already halfway through, and unable to tear myself away. The electric chemistry between the protagonists crackles through the pages, and I think they’re finally going to fuck.

Forget slow-burn romances, I’m practically feverish with anticipation, and I’m horny as hell after all this non-sexual contact with Logan.

I press play and close my eyes.

Nothing happens.

I reopen my eyes, perplexed. The app appears to be functioning, the timer ticking away, yet there’s no sound. I fiddle with the volume controls, cranking it up in hopes of a response.

Still, silence.

It worked perfectly fine before, and now, just as it got to the juicy part, it fails me? I push the volume to its maximum, wondering if my headphones have given up on me.

Then, the room is filled with sighs and moans.

“Ahhh, yes. Now Aiden, I want you inside me. I need to come. Please. Fuck me, Aiden.”

“Have you been a good girl, Piper? Do you deserve my cock?” He wraps his hand around my hair and tilts my head back.

I sit up and my mouth falls open. The voices aren’t coming from my room! Heart racing, I dash to the door and fling it open, only to be met with the unmistakable sounds emanating from the living room.

Fuck.

I rush outside, and there it is—the wireless speaker perched on the table, broadcasting the steamy scene from my book at full volume. I lunge for it, frantically pressing every button, desperate to silence it, but the moans and groans persist, refusing to relent as Aiden fucks the lucky Piper.

Why won’t it stop?

My heart nearly does when I notice a pair of legs before me.

I lift my gaze, locking eyes with Logan seated on the sofa, his expression unreadable. He didn’t retreat to his room like I did. He’s been here the whole time.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! By the gods of all mighty fucks, won’t you show me some mercy? Why do I deserve this? And why won’t this damn speaker shut up already ?

“Sorry,” I mumble, ready to hurl it against the wall to silence the relentless moans.

Logan rises from the sofa and strides over to me, his expression as frozen as ever. With a single press of a button, he brings sudden silence to the room.

A silence that’s deafening.

I swallow hard. He’s so close now, near enough that I can see the clarity in his eyes. For a fleeting moment, I think I detect a hint of amusement flicker within them. But it couldn’t be. The Dark Lord feels no amusement. Maybe it’s just gas.

Yes, most likely.

Neither of us moves, and my gaze falls to his full lips.

My mind screams for him to kiss me. If he makes the move, to hell with it, I’m going for it.

I release a shaky breath, taking in his scent of mint and cinnamon. His eyes, intense and penetrating, hold mine captive, stirring something primal within me. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, craving his touch with a hunger I can barely contain.

In reality, broken men stay broken, and they will only break your heart.

The words of Emery echo in my head, reminding me of who I am. Who he is.

I take a step back, the hardest step I’ve ever taken in my life, creating a little space between us. A gap to draw in a breath, to reset.

He’s my damn boss, not a fleeting fling I’ll forget. So what if he embodies every fantasy from the pages of my books ?

“Sorry for the noise,” I say, apologizing again.

“I hope he lets Piper come,” Logan remarks, his expression solemn. “Even if she hasn’t been a good girl.” With that, he retreats to his room, shutting the door behind him, and I let out a shaky breath.

Fuck .

I take advantage of the time difference to call Emery, and I don’t even bother waiting for a greeting before pouring out everything that happened the day before.

“Shit,” Emery exclaims. I hear a commotion on the other end of the line, followed by the sound of a door closing. “You were almost assaulted yesterday. Do you realize that? Oh my God.”

“Yes, but nothing happened, and Logan protected me.”

“A man attacked you, and you’re talking about your boss?”

“No one has ever stepped up for me like that before. It’s significant.”

“He’s putting on a nice show for you, and you’re buying it. Tomorrow he’ll be between your legs.”

“I wish.” I sigh. “I’m sure he knows his way around in bed, and it’s been ages since I’ve had good sex. You always tell me men like the ones in my books don’t exist in real life, but Logan could outmatch them any day.”

My cheeks heat as I recall his comment. I protect what’s mine .

“Are you on a first-name basis now?” Emery’s tone lacks approval.

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.

You’ve heard the rumors; he’s not a nice man.

People quit after being confronted by him, and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

Even his brother is afraid of him. Logan Valeur is your boss, Sloane.

You’re betting on your job and your future. ”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything. I’m fully aware that Logan is my boss. Nothing will happen between us. And I don’t think he’s as scary as they make him out to be. He’s been nice to me so far.” I even cursed him, and he didn’t make a big deal out of it.

“After just a few days with him, you think you know him so well?”

“I never said that?—”

“We’re talking about Logan Valeur, Sloane. Not a cute kitten. Have you noticed no pictures of him with women show up anywhere? The last time he was seen with a woman in public was almost a year ago.” She takes a breath. “Perhaps he offs them in the end.”

I chuckle. “You went digging on him?”

“Yeah, because of you. I’m concerned about you and wanted to see what’s what. There’s barely any info on him except for some business articles. Oh, and he snagged spot number twenty-three on the list of the most cutthroat CEOs in the industry. If that doesn’t scare you, I don’t know what will.”

“I still believe those rumors about him are just that—rumors. He’s got a heart and feelings like the rest of us.” And what happened yesterday proves it.

“Oh, Sloane, sometimes you’re too trusting. ”

“I feel like it’s fate. He and I end up here in this apartment at the same time. What are the odds?”

“What are the odds? Really?” she mutters. “It’s his apartment, and you invited him to stay. Truly the hand of fate. Go for someone with no connections, someone you’ll never see again, with an amazing British accent, and pretend you’re a princess or something.”

“I tried that yesterday, and you know where that got me. Because of your flight fear, you’re not in London with me, and I almost got involved with a potential serial killer. Thanks but no thanks. Once is enough.”

“Promise me you won’t get tangled up with Logan Valeur. I don’t want you in over your head.”

“Don’t worry. Even if I wanted to he’s not interested. He hasn’t hinted or said anything like that. And he’s always so serious.”

“Maybe he’s just got a stomachache.” Emery chuckles.

“Headaches.”

“What?”

Shit.

“Nothing.” I have a feeling he won’t be pleased if I tell her about his headaches. “Do you think he never smiles because he’s in pain?” That’s an intriguing thought. Maybe that’s why he’s always grumpy.

“I have no idea, Sloane. I’ve never spoken to the guy. Not everyone hides secrets, though. Sometimes they’re just not nice people.”