Claire began raising her dress again, making his fingers itch to take her hem in his own hands and yank the damn dress right over her head. Instead, he forced himself to remain calm and still, a silent observer. Soon, the indentation of her bellybutton was revealed, along with the upper swell of her belly and the lower swell of her breasts. Though they were concealed beneath a red, lacy bra, Logan knew their every curve. He knew how they rose and fell with each ragged breath she took when she was aroused, or when she was angry. He knew the pink-peach tint of her nipples and the way they hardened when he simply looked at them, the way she moaned when he sucked them.
At last, the tops of her breasts came into view, their lush, white skin begging for his kiss, for his touch. Logan tamped down a growl that rose in his throat. Damn it, but the path he had made for himself was proving nearly impossible. He’d never been harder in his life and he hadn’t even touched her yet. Christ, if he didn’t get things moving soon, he’d explode right there before he so much as kissed her.
Claire pulled the dress over her head, balled it up in her hands and tossed it to him. It arced between them with a seductive swoosh, barely giving Logan enough time to catch it. He smiled at her. “Come here.”
Claire shook her head leisurely, her blonde hair twirling about her bared shoulders. “No. If you want me, you’ll have to come to me first.”
Ah. She wanted compromise. If there was one word in the English language that managed to piss him off more than “compromise,” he didn’t know what it was. Logan liked when things went his way and only his way. Above all, he hated giving in. Tonight was supposed to be about regaining his control, not about once again bending to appease Claire. She owed him for today, and he intended to collect his payment. Many times over, if he was lucky enough.
“I want you,” he told her, not budging an inch. “But you want me more.”
Her eyes sparked with fire. “I do not.”
His grin grew wider. “Do too.”
“You’re being childish.” She plopped her hands on her hips, an action that only served to thrust her breasts out like tempting offerings.
He allowed his gaze to slide down to those offerings, lingering on them. “Then why are your nipples already hard? And why are you breathing so quickly?”
“Logan.” Her voice held a note of chastisement.
“You’re blushing. Did you know that when you blush, it even spreads to the tops of your gorgeous breasts?”
“Logan.”
“Come here, Claire,” he ordered again, holding out his arms to her. “You know you want to.”
Of course she wanted to. He could read as much in her expressive face. But she also didn’t want to give in to him, that much was clear in the stubborn set of her chin. To win, he would have to play dirty. Literally.
“If you don’t want to come to me, I guess I’ll just have to tell you what I want to do to you.” He released an aggrieved sigh. “First, I’m going to kiss you. Everywhere but on your lips. I think I’ll start with that sensitive spot right behind your ear, then move down your neck to your collarbone, your shoulders, your wrist. Then your belly, then I’ll tug down those sexy red panties and—”
“Logan,” she abruptly cut off his musings, throwing herself into his arms before he could continue. He pulled her closer to him, her soft body tantalizingly curving into his. She tilted her head back and he noted she was still blushing. “You really are an exasperating man.”
He flashed her another grin that was far more lighthearted than he truly felt. “I do my best.”
Her eyes grew serious. “I’m sorry.”
Her simple words hit him like a fist in the gut. “Damn it.”
He didn’t want to listen to her explanation because he didn’t want to soften toward her again. What he really, really wanted more than anything else was to get Claire into bed and have mind-numbing sex with her all night long. Holding on to his anger felt good. It helped him to put everything into perspective. But if she started talking, he knew without a doubt in his mind that he would let her sway him.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it, Logan, but I do,” she insisted, reaching up to cup his face. “I hurt you and I owe you an explanation.”
“Fine.” He turned his head to the side and kissed her palm. “But give it to me tomorrow. When I’m not about to screw your brains out.”
“Logan.” This time, her tone was indignant. Good. He wanted to distract her.
Logan bent his head and kissed her, tasting the sweetness of her lips. Claire let out a soft, mewling sound that made him go weak and kissed him back with a fervor that matched his own. Needing more of her, he slid his hands down the curved lines of her body, sweeping down her back to rest on her rounded derriere. He pressed her against his aching loins, wanting her to feel him.
Desire was a thick haze inside his skull, a potent drug coursing through his veins. Jesus, every time he was with her was better than the last. And even though he had promised himself this night would be slow, he knew that this first time would be quick, fiery, soul-consuming.
Claire’s hands were on his shirt, pulling it up over his head. Their kiss broke for a moment as the shirt covered his face, resuming the instant it was gone. She moved to his bare chest next, caressing a trail of fire over his pecs.
When she began pressing hot, moist kisses across his chest, he sucked in a breath of startled pleasure. Her hands wove their magic spell lower, over his stomach, flitting ever closer to the part of him that wanted her touch the most. She flicked her tongue over a flat male nipple, sending a blast of erotic heat crashing over him.
Claire looked up, a seductive smile tilting her luscious lips. “Do you like that, Logan?”
“Yes,” he ground out, his voice gravelly.
