Page 14

14

QUENTIN

T his was a mistake.

Logan smelled like a dessert, and holy shit, I wanted to eat her. Her long, braided hair hung down her back, and her pouty lips and wide eyes were right fucking there. I could bend over two inches and kiss her again. I could say it was for show, come up with some excuse as to why I had to kiss her, but my moral compass wasn’t entirely shattered.

She’d fallen and bruised her hip. That was my fault. I needed her resting for the day, not fake-kissing me.

“Quentin,” she said, her voice throatier than normal. Was it the pain? I hated seeing her hurt. She was all sunshine and smiles, not frown lines and hurting.

“Hm?”

I held her tighter against me as I reached the top step. My muscles hardly strained from it, and I thought about offering her my help all the way to the house.

“I can walk, okay?”

We stood there, my chest aching and my blood heading south. This damn girl was slowly becoming a weakness, one I couldn’t have. Not with my future on the line. “Sure, yeah.”

I cleared my throat as I set her feet on the ground. She smoothed down her large shirt, pushed her hair behind her ears, and stared at me with pink cheeks. I never thought blushing was so cute until her. Gripping the back of my neck, I swallowed down all the unfamiliar and unwanted feelings. The air around us closed in, like some invisible forces pushed us together.

Neither of us moved.

Logan’s chest moved fast, the same way mine did, and I licked my lips. Her gaze zeroed in on it the movement, and heat entered her eyes. Fuck me. Reaching for her hand, I played with her fingers, overcome with feelings that were weird and uncomfortable. I wanted to apologize, kiss her, then demand she take off her clothes in the same breath.

Her breath hitched when I traced her wrist to feel her pulse. “Quentin,” she whispered, her tone urgent, pleading.

“Heyo, Hawthorne!”

I jumped, like her hand caught fire, and immediately found two of my teammates walking up the stairs to the rink. Liam and Cooper approached, smiling and gazes curious on Logan.

God, to think I’d been about to kiss her without a reason. Shame and guilt flared throughout me, causing my skin to feel too hot and tight. We’d agreed on pretending. I couldn’t go about and kiss her again.

“Hey, Logan, right?” Liam held out his hand. “I’m Liam. Q here told us about you possibly tutoring some of the guys. Said you’re brilliant.”

That pretty blush returned, and she shrugged. “It’d be weird to say yes, I am brilliant, right now because what is one supposed to say to that? Sure?”

“Own it.” Liam grinned.

“Okay, then yes, I’m brilliant.” Logan’s blush disappeared as her smile grew. “I’d love to tutor if that’s an option.”

“It is. I heard back from our coach, and he’s game. What’s your number? I can send some details to you.”

“Thank you! This is exciting.” She rattled off her number, and Liam texted her.

“Ask any questions if you have them, I’m usually fast at responding unless I’m on the ice.” Liam hit my shoulder, something like approval on his face. “You leaving or arriving?”

“Leaving. Logan fell, and I want to make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m fine, Quentin.” She rolled her eyes. “But yeah, I tried ice skating for the first time, and it wasn’t amazing.”

Cooper chuckled, but it wasn’t cruel. “Don’t let that stop you though. Also, hi, I’m Cooper. Defense.”

“Oh, hi, Cooper Defense. Is that really your last name?”

I couldn’t stop the chuckle coming out of me. “No, the dumbass told you his position.”

“Oh, is that what you do? I’m Quentin. Winger. Maybe you should introduce yourself like that.”

We all laughed, and a protective urge came over me. Logan was charming and funny, but she was with me. I slipped an arm around her shoulders, the message pretty fucking clear, as I nodded at them. “We’re heading home. See you at workouts tomorrow.”

They said bye, and once we were a few steps away from the rink, I took a breath. I wasn’t someone who’d experienced jealousy before, not like this. I’d been envious, hell, I was with all the guys who made it into the NHL. But watching my teammates smile at Logan because she was funny and obviously beautiful caused a tight sensation in my chest.

“What does a winger really do?’

I laughed. “I play offense and defense, basically. I disrupt passing lanes and have to find opportunities for us to score.”

“That seems important.”

“All positions are. The hardest part is finding the right position for each player, where their skills match the position. I have to be fast and get up and down the ice, so my body type fits that.”

“That makes sense, yeah, and Preston is huge and strong, so that makes him being defense good.”

“Yup.” I didn’t like the huge and strong comment, but it’d be insane to actually express that out loud.

“I’ve watched games and cheered Preston on, but I never got super into it. It makes me super lame, so make fun of me please, but sports just don’t excite me. I understand them. I get it. But I wish I cared more.”

“You like what you like, nothing wrong with that. I bet you don’t feel that way about reading.”

“Obviously, Hawthorne. I’d read all day every day if I could. Escaping to another world? Hell yes. Sign me the hell up.”

My arm remained on her, and after we walked a few blocks, she leaned into me more, like her hip hurt and she wanted to relieve the pressure.

“I can carry you if you want.”

“I don’t want you to hurt yourself, but thank you.” She forced a smile, but her face was my own version of a favorite book.

I knew her expressions like she knew the words of her favorite stories. In the short time of living with her, I’d become an expert in Logan’s feelings. Her brows were pinched, and sweat formed on her forehead. She was flushed from effort of hiding her pain. “Get on me.”

“Mm, what now?”

“I’ll give you a piggyback ride the rest of the way. I know you’re hurting, and I’m not making you walk more.” I crouched down. “Come on.”

“What if… are you sure?”

“It’s either this or I throw you over my shoulder. Take your pick.”

“Whoa. Okay, don’t take offense to this, but that was kinda hot.” Logan giggled as she put her hands on my upper shoulders and held on. “That was book boyfriend level shit.”

Kinda hot.

I couldn’t even respond. The feel of her legs wrapping around my back, her arms on my neck, and her breath hitting my face…I needed a cold shower after this. Truly.

It wasn’t that I was a horny bastard who needed to get laid every weekend like some of the other guys. The release of it lost its appeal after I realized I’d been a shitty human last year. Instead of partying and going out, I’d turn into myself.

It had been a long time since a women’s legs excited me like this.

“Did I make you uncomfortable? I’m sorry. I sometimes let my inside thoughts outside, and I know better.”

“I’m not uncomfortable,” I gritted out. I had to hold onto her thighs so she didn’t fall, and her skin was soft as hell.

“Oh-kay, well, I said that hot comment, and you stiffened and went silent.”

“I’m not letting my inside thoughts outside right now,” I said, almost smiling. She was so cute.

“Why not? I shared one so it’s only fair you share one.”

“Like if you flashed me, I’d have to do the same?”

I swore, she squealed. Chuckling, I squeezed her thighs. “I’m teasing, Logan.”

“I know, I know, but you can’t say things like that to me!”

“Why not?”

“I just told you that you were hot. Then I’m on your back, so talking about flashing and showing me yours…”

“You gonna finish that sentence?”

My god, I hadn’t had this much fun in a while. Maybe it was better that I couldn’t see her face. This flirting, the back and forth, I loved not knowing what the hell was gonna come out of her mouth. “Or is it more of an inside thought?”

“Definitely an inside thought.”

“Share it.”

“It’s your turn, Hawthorne.” Her breath hit my neck, and goose bumps exploded down my neck and arms. I shivered with want and need. “Share your thought.”

“Your legs wrapped around me are fucking hot, Log. There, that’s my inside thought.”

“Oh. Oh boy.” She nuzzled into my neck, probably out of embarrassment, but the motion caused my blood to tingle even more. “Quentin, that was…sexy.”

“Book boyfriend type shit?”

“Definitely.” She was breathless, her lips grazing my ear. “Is it bad I wished we were at a party?”

“Why?”

“Because then I could do this.” She kissed my neck, biting into the skin just a hair before pulling back.

My body caught fire, and I stilled. I wanted her teeth all over me. An animal unleashed inside me, clawing out where I could focus on Logan. I dug my fingers into the soft flesh of her legs, kneading her until she released a soft moan.

“Quentin… what are we… I’m…” She ground against me, her body squirming against my back.

Laughter caught my attention across the street, and that sobered up my wild thoughts. We stood outside, in plain view, where anyone could see us. I did the quickest mental math of my life as I said, “Eight minutes until we’re at the house.”

She stiffened, but I could feel her nod against me.

Keeping my hands on her thighs, I walked us home as fast as possible. Heart thudded against my ribcage as each step brought us nearer to the front door. I wasn’t one to question myself but damn, would it be terrible to explore this chemistry?

“I’ll crouch down, and you can slide off.” I bent down on our front step and groaned as her body slid over mine, where I felt every curve on my back. My hands shook with need as I opened the door and ushered her inside.

Her eyes glowed, and her face had the cute blush again. “Th-thank you.”

I couldn’t respond. I wanted to hoist her up and carry her to my bedroom, strip off her baggy shirt, and not be interrupted. But she didn’t go up the stairs the second we got inside. She paused, standing between the kitchen and the stairs, her back to me and her shoulders stiff.

Fuck. She was unsure, and I didn’t want that.

“Quentin…” she said my name so quietly, almost like a question. I placed a hand on the center of her back, an urge to ensure she was good more than anything else.

She spun around, her eyes wide when she ran a hand down my chest. Then, of all the things to do, she winced.

Her eyes clouded over in pain, and she gritted her teeth.

Her fall!

“Let me get you ice.” I darted into the kitchen and opened the freezer, letting the cool air wash over my face and calm me the hell down. It made my thoughts clearer, reality hitting me in the chest. One taste of this woman and I was becoming obsessed. Couldn’t have that. I had to focus on the season, on getting an agent, on the team, my mom and her weird games…letting Logan more into my life would be a mistake. I didn’t have a heart, and she was a relationship girl.

She deserved someone who could give her that.

“Taking a long time for ice in there. If you wanted to avoid me, you could’ve just said.”

Her nearness and bluntness caused me I jump, and I smacked my head on the freezer. “Damnit.” I grabbed the ice pack and faced my little distraction.

Her hand rested on hip, and Logan’s eyes lit up, lips wet like she just ran her tongue over them.

“I’m not avoiding you, Logan.”

“You stood with the freezer open for at least four minutes. I could almost hear your brain spinning.” She rubbed her lips together and held out her hand. “Ice pack, please?”

“Right yeah.” I gave it to her and then Logan lifted her shirt and pulled down her shorts, exposing her stomach. My braid short-circuited. Skin. Her body. Her hip bone and v-line that went right down to where I wanted to explore.

She placed the pack against her skin, her eyes seeking mine. I couldn’t meet hers though, they were stuck on the sliver of skin exposed with her shirt hiked up. My hands clenched into fists, the brief moment of sanity in the freezer gone.

“I want to touch you,” I said, my voice gruff.

She grinned, a wicked delighted expression crossing her face. “Then do it.”

“It’s probably a terrible idea,” I said, inching closer to her. “I know it is.”

“Why? We feel the chemistry we have, Quentin. We definitely can acknowledge that.” She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing as I stepped even closer. I played with the hem of her shirt, damn near combusting when my fingers tickled her stomach.

She sucked in a breath, and her lips parted.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” I meant that in every sense of the word. “I’m not a long-term person, and you’re not a fling.”

“Are you speaking for me?” Her brown eyes flared. “A fling might be exactly what I need. No feelings, just raw, sexual tension. My heart is shattered Q, so I’d prefer no feelings actually.” She gripped my forearm, digging her nails into it. “I’ve only been with one guy my entire life. He tore me apart, so the thought of exploring that part of me with you would be amazing.”

I actually trembled. It seemed wrong to have someone so perfect willing to be with me, even just as a fling. Good things didn’t happen to me. Not really. This seemed too good to be true. “Logan, Logan,” I pleaded, for what… I wasn’t sure. “What does this mean? What do you want?”

“For you to touch me, me to touch you.” Her chest rose fast, the pulse at the base of her neck quickening. “For us to do dirty things together in private.”

“Without getting attached,” I said. “I can’t.”

“Of course. Neither one of us can afford it. We remain friends, no matter what.”

I nodded. I couldn’t imagine not being friends with Logan and her jokes and smiles and how she brought me comfort. “I have one more rule.”

“We have rules now?” She stepped closer so our mouths were inches apart. She was forced to look up to meet my gaze, and I fisted her shirt in my hands, tugging her even closer.

“We do.”

“Mm, but I like breaking rules.” She licked the corner of her lip, the gesture sending heat to my cock.

“We’re exclusive,” I demanded. The thought of someone else helping her get back out there caused a horrible fury deep in my chest. “No one else but me helps you.”

Instead of agreeing or nodding or complying, she tossed her head back and laughed. I was torn between kissing the sound out of her or demanding her to explain why that was funny. I did neither before she gripped the back of my neck.

“Quentin Hawthorne, you’re a dork. There is absolutely no one else who I’d do this with. Only you. I trust you completely, and I don’t really trust anyone else outside my housemates. Your rule isn’t even necessary.”

I trust you completely.

“You shouldn’t trust me,” I warned her, moving my fingers up her stomach to tease the underside of her perfect handful of breasts. I had a shit track record. The last person I wanted to hurt was Logan, and if she fell for me, I would definitely do that.

She gripped my chin and glared at me. “Why the fuck should I not?”

She rarely cussed, and the intensity of her words had me pausing.

“Because I’m not a great person.”

“You keep saying that, but I’ve yet to see it. You are an amazing person, thoughtful, kind, intentional. I’m grateful to have you in my life.” She stood on her tiptoes, took a deep breath, then kissed me.

It was a simple lip-to-lip kiss without tongue, yet the emotions behind it caught me off guard. It was intimate, cute, and so Logan, I sighed against her mouth as my arm roped around her. No one had said those things to me before, that they were grateful to have me in their life. I groaned into her, sliding my tongue into her mouth to taste her, to drink in her joy and support.

Fuck.

She kissed me back with the same intensity that she smiled. Her hands dug into my back, and her hips rocked against my erection, the heat and attraction that had built the last few weeks exploding. “You are fucking perfect,” I mumbled between kissing her. I had to feel her. Right now. “Does your hip hurt, baby?”

“No. Not right now.”

Thank god. In one scoop, I picked her up and carried her up the stairs, not breaking our kiss to even breath. Her soft lips and warm tongue and mouth tasted like mint and sin, and I was captivated and obsessed.

“Too hot, need you,” she moaned against my teeth. Wrapping her legs around me tighter, the little minx gripped the hem of her shirt and ripped it off before we got to my room.

She wore a flimsy, sheer bra that I wanted to tear apart with my teeth. Her gumdrop nipples were dark pink and hard as hell and begging desperately to be sucked.

“I’m so turned on, Quentin,” she said, grinding against me. “I feel like I’m on fire.”

“I’ll take care of you.”

I kicked my bedroom door shut before practically throwing her onto my bed. Without waiting a beat, I crawled over her and took one of those perky nipples into my mouth and sucked through the fabric. “Mm, baby.” I tugged it with my teeth, watching her eyes glazed over as she leaned up to stare at me. “Need to learn what you like.”

“You. I like you.”

Well, fuck.

Words like that made me want to keep her.