Chapter 9

NINE

Logan

At the table, Annie regards her empty glass sadly, then reaches for the bottle and tips it over the glass.

I sigh and hold out my glass, too.

When we had lunch that day at Betty's and I learned new things about her I realized that not only am I still (again?) insanely attracted to her, I actually like her. But holy shit, when I spotted her on the dance floor I wasn't even sure it was her. She looks so different tonight. At the arena, she wears sweats, with her hair in a ponytail and not much makeup. Tonight, she's dressed in a short, tight, black strapless dress and killer heels that are begging to be tossed over my shoulders. Her blond hair is long and loose and messy and her eyes are all dark and shadowy. She looks absolutely, stunningly fuckable.

There's a whole shitload of chemistry between us and I know she feels it, too. We were practically combusting on the dance floor. After she snapped me out of my jealous funk.

Jealous. Jesus. I rub my forehead and drink my vodka. I don't know how I can be jealous, but I was. Seeing her with that guy practically having sex on the dance floor had my insides being sliced up by sharpened skate blades.

And then finding out they live together had those blades slashing at me again. I'm a fucking mess right now.

I toss back another mouthful of vodka. I don't really like vodka. I've gotten to like good whiskey but I'm basically a beer guy. And I need another beer.

I look around and spot a waitress. I catch her eye and she hurries over, smiling. Everyone's ready for more drinks, and even though I'm pretty sure Annie's a little drunk and I feel like I should take care of her, it's not my place to babysit her. Christ. She's no baby, despite her small size. She is all sexy woman.

I shift slightly so I can watch Annie as she talks and laughs with her friends. Her face is so expressive, her smiles wide and genuine, her eyes bright. I watch the curve of her full bottom lip and the flick of her long eyelashes. A couple of times she glances at me and our eyes meet with a punch of heat.

I try to focus on the conversation going on around me and participate so I'm not sitting here like an obsessed lump.

"But really, how many French fries is it okay for someone to steal before you tell them to order their own?" Jack says.

"And why do girls do that?" Mateo demands. "Why don't they order their own?"

"I just want a few fries," Annie says with a beguiling look up from beneath her lashes that has my groin tightening. "Not a whole order."

"Exactly!" Ellen agrees.

"I miss having a boyfriend I can steal fries from," Maya says with a sad droop of her lips.

"You can steal my fries any time," Russ replies. The two exchange a long look.

I guess he's getting over Hannah.

"I thought it was because other people's food tastes better than your own," Mateo says.

"It does!" Inaya says. "Why is that?"

"I had a girlfriend who always stole my fries," I say. "I broke up with her because of it."

"Shut up!" Annie gapes at me, as do the others.

I grin. "Yeah. But it was because I realized if I really loved her I wouldn't mind sharing my fries with her. Therefore, she wasn't the one."

"Awww." Annie's outrage dissipates. "Okay, that's actually kind of sweet."

Again, I watch her face, the way her mouth softens and her eyes go hazy. And then her gaze drops to my mouth…and lingers.

Christ. I feel another tug of desire in my groin.

"I love fries," she murmurs.

I think she just said she loves sex. I'm sure that's what I heard.

The conversation moves on and then people move on, heading to the dance floor or the restrooms or the bar, I don't know, but suddenly Annie and I are alone. Heat crackles around us and every nerve ending in my body tightens. I slowly reach out to brush her hair off her face. She doesn't stop me. Her eyelids grow heavy.

That ache in my groin turns painful as my cock hardens even more.

I don't know who moves first and I don't care because our mouths are crushed together. The kiss is hungry and burning, desperate and uncontrolled and…inevitable. I draw back and stare into her eyes. "Oh, fuck." And I go back in for more, angling my head, opening my mouth on hers, sliding my tongue against hers.

She makes a needy sound in her throat, opening wider to me. I taste vanilla on her lips and breathe in the scent of her—more vanilla mixed with sugar and something warm and sexy. It sends a flood of heat to my balls, and also to my brain, drugging me. I curl my fingers around her upper arm, then slowly slide them up over her bare shoulder, my thumb brushing over the edge of her strapless dress, then I cup her face and this kiss turns softly exploring. Dangerously sweet.

We're in a night club surrounded by pulsing lights, thumping music, and people. Lots of people. We can't do this here. "We need to go."

She drags her eyelids open. "Go where?"

"I don't care. But we can't do this here." I brush my mouth over hers. "And I want to do this." I let my question show in my eyes.

Those blue eyes are dark and hazy as she gazes back at me. Her lips part. My breath stalls in my chest as I wait for her response.

She smiles. "Let's go."

Thank fuck.

She picks up a little purse and slides out. We stop at the coat check, and I help her into a pink trench coat. Her hand slides under her hair to flip it out from the collar in a seductive sweep that makes my groin tighten. I take her arm and hustle her out onto the dark street.

"I really hate to say this." I pause us on the sidewalk as I reach for my phone. "But…your place or mine?"

She grins. "Do you live alone?"

"Yeah."

"Then your place. Although my roommate is still back in there." She gestures. "Oh shit. I better let him know I'm leaving. He'll freak out." She pulls out her phone and sends a text message.

"Mine, then." I thumb open the app and request a car. "Five minutes away."

"Too long." She slides her phone back into her purse, takes my arm, and presses against me.

"Yeah." I maneuver us out of the path of people walking by, closer to the brick building. "And it'll take another half hour to get to my place." I pull her around and against me, looping my arms around her waist. "I might die."

"Me, too." Her reply is breathy. "We probably shouldn't be doing this."

"Oh, I know." I close my eyes briefly. "But I honestly don't care right now. My dick has taken over my brain."

"I hear that's a problem with men."

I huff out a laugh. "It definitely is."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, my vag has taken over mine." She goes on her toes and presses against me. As much as I'm pulling her against me, she's trying to get closer, too. Her tits are small but I can feel them through her dress and coat and Christ, she's so fucking sweet and funny and, praise Jesus, horny.

"Are you sure it's not the booze?" I kiss her again.

"I'm a little drunk. But not that drunk." She meets my eyes. "Really."

Yeah, she's not that drunk, just soft and loose and happy. I like seeing her happy—glowing, smiling, eyes twinkling eyes. I nod.

She kisses my chin and I lean back against the wall, pulling her with me, uncaring about the cars driving past on the street or the people walking by us. It's New York. I bend my knees to find her mouth again, delving inside, tasting her sweetness. Her tongue is small and soft.

"Your dress is a goddamn sin," I mutter. "I wanted to run my tongue over your shoulder…your collarbone."

"Do it later," she gasps.

"I will."

A car pulls up at the curb. I check my app and confirm it's ours and then hustle Annie into the back seat. We're kissing again before Ravi has pulled out into traffic.

We make out pretty much all the way up Tenth Avenue. As we approach West 50 th , Annie waves a hand. "That's where I live. Down there."

"Huh. Really?"

"Yes." Her head falls back as I slide my lips down her neck. "This neighborhood is called Hell's Kitchen and I thought it was scary but it's actually not bad and close to Central Park."

"My place is close to here."

She lifts her head. "Cool."

We cruise past the Lincoln Center and make a couple more turns to get onto Riverside. The Uber driver stops in front of my building. I add a hefty tip and say, "Thank you, Ravi."

"Thank you!" Annie echoes, jumping onto the sidewalk. She looks up. "Nice building."

"Thanks. A bunch of the guys live here, too."

She checks out the park across the street that almost hides the 9A, the river just beyond that in the dark, then follows me through brass doors and into the lobby with its gleaming stone floor and columns. "Wow. This is way nicer than my building. I mean, Ivan's. I'm staying there until I can get my own place."

Another couple in the lobby is already waiting for the elevator and we get in with them. Exchanging heated glances, we stay apart until we arrive at the eleventh floor where my apartment is. A soon as I open the door, a rapid clicking and scrabbling sound greets us. Then Teemu flings himself at me, bouncing and yipping.

Jesus, I love my dog, but it's one delay after another. I bend and pick him up, letting him lick my chin. "Hi, buddy. Hi. Hi. You're okay. I'm home."

He whines and licks more.

I catch Annie's amused look. "He's cute," she says.

I turn so he can see her and she extends a hand for him to sniff the back of it. He does so, going quiet, then ignores her and attacks me again with his tongue.

Annie laughs.

"I need to take him out," I say apologetically. "Sorry."

"That's okay. Should I come with you?"

"Whatever you want. You can wait here. Make yourself at home."

"Okay." She removes her coat as I fasten Teemu's leash to his harness.

"Closet's right there." I gesture. "Snoop around, if you want."

She laughs.

I take Teemu down and out onto the boulevard where he immediately pees, thankfully. That's all he needs to do, but I let him sniff around for a minute since he's been alone inside for a while, but only a minute because there's a hot, willing woman inside waiting for me.

I find Annie in my dark living room at the big windows, looking at the view of the sparkling lights of Union City across the river.

"Your place is nice," she says.

"Thanks." I grab a dog treat from a package in a cupboard and give it to Teemu. "Good boy. Go lie down."

Hopefully he'll leave us alone.

I walk up to Annie, take her hands in mine, and pull her closer to kiss her.

"Mmmm."

Heat instantly explodes all over again as she leans against me. Our mouths grind together. I release her hands to hoist her up by her ass and she wraps her legs around me, clutching my shoulders. Her dress hikes up so high I've got my hands on silky bare skin and I turn and stride down to my bedroom.

"Don't I even get a drink?" she asks against my mouth.

I stop and lean back to peer at her face.

"I'm kidding."

"Oh good. Now you made me feel like an animal."

She grins up at me. "I like animals."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

I carry her into the bedroom and drop her on the bed.

"This bed is huge!"

"Yeah." I glance at it with satisfaction. "I love my bed."

"It's nice." She pushes at the mattress.

I peel off my leather jacket and drop it onto the chair, then toe out of my boots. "How do you like to be fucked, Annie Bang?"

Her lips part and her breath catches. "Um…"

"Oh, wait. I remember." I undo my belt, then my fly. "You like it physical. Fast and rough."

She exhales on one word. "Yes."

I reach behind my neck to pull my sweater off. When I look at her, she's biting her bottom lip and her eyes are alight. We share a smile that slows things down a little. I pull my sweater off and toss it, too, then saunter to the bed.

"You have something, right? Protection?"

"Yeah." I move to the nightstand and yank open the door to grab condoms. I toss them onto the bed. "Now let's get you out of this little black dress." I draw a finger along her shoulder. "This sexy little black dress."

Going onto her knees, she gives me her back, and I find the hidden zipper and tug it down. Skin. Lots of smooth golden skin. All the way to her waist. No bra.

The dress loosens and falls around her hips. Then, still facing away from me, she pushes it down to the bed. I'm staring at her back, all slender curves and glowy skin, and her ass—perfect firm globes with only the strings of thong panties stretched over her hips. "Jesus," I groan. I reach out and trace fingers over delicate swirls of ink on her ribs. "You didn't have this before."

"Mmm…no."

"What is it?"

"It's a figure." Her voice is wispy.

"Okay."

"A figure that you do in skating. Years ago, figure skaters had to do figures on the ice in competitions." She peers at me over her shoulder, her long hair sliding over bare skin, and our eyes meet. She's half-smiling, eyes heavy-lidded, and I've never seen anything as exciting and erotic in my life. "This one is figure one eleven. I like doing it."

"Huh. That's cool. Sometime you can show me on the ice." I bend and kiss the tattoo. "I remember you had a skate tattoo."

"Yes." She touches her ribs on the other side at the front. "And I have this one on my arm." She shows me the script that says make every day your masterpiece .

"I like that." I kiss that one, too. "Turn around."

She does so, slowly, pulling the dress out from under her. I reach out and take it from her as I check out this new view and it's just as spectacular. Holding her dress in two hands, I take my time studying her. I feel like my bedroom is on fire, flames licking around us, burning my skin.

She's small and slight, but perfectly proportioned. I remember thinking she was delicate, and she is, in a graceful, elegant way. But she's not fragile or weak. Beneath that sleek skin are toned muscles everywhere—curving deltoids, firm abs, taut thighs.

She's surveying me, too, her gaze moving over my shoulders, chest, and abs. And the bulge at my groin. Then she meets my eyes directly, confidently. Patiently.

"You're gorgeous," I say roughly. "So fucking beautiful."

Her lips curve upward. "I think you're gorgeous, too. Come here." She crooks a finger.

I toss her dress to the chair and step forward, and she reaches out to open my pants, parting the opening and slowly pushing them down my hips. Her fingers on my skin send electric sparks skittering down the backs of my thighs. I step out of my pants, now wearing a pair of black boxer briefs, and join her on the bed, also kneeling. We face each other and I can't stop myself from touching her.

"I want my mouth on you everywhere." I press a kiss to her shoulder, trail my lips and tongue over soft skin toward her throat.

Her chin lifts. "I like your mouth."

"You like coming on it." Another reminder of last time we were together, years ago.

"Oh God. Yes…"

I kiss her again, my hands sliding down her back to grip her ass, and she holds onto my shoulders. Then she sets her ass on her heels and runs her palms over my pecs, pressing kisses to my collarbone, my chest, my stomach. Her mouth is hot and her tongue drags over me in wet little licks. Jesus.

The fire in my belly burns hotter.

"Gonna take these off." I hook a finger into the side of her thong. As I drag it down, I turn her with my other hand, bending her over so her ass is in the air. "Fuck yeah. This ass is beautiful." I lean down and kiss her there, open-mouthed kisses, my hands caressing her hips and butt cheeks.

She gasps and pants, her hand in my hair, then shifts onto her butt and I drag the tiny panties down her legs. Her hair's a tousled mess around her face.

I reach for her hips and haul her toward me, tipping her onto her back. She smiles. I kneel between her legs and bend for one more quick kiss to her mouth, then I shift my knees back as I kiss my way down her torso. "I have to play with these pretty tits." I lick all around one, then over the tight little nipple, then take it into my mouth in a gentle pull. She draws in a breath, and I suck harder.

"Oh God…yes…"

I watch her responses as I linger there, cupping the sweet mounds, sucking and nibbling, Lust pumps through my veins and my dick throbs.

"Need to taste more of you." My tongue traces a trail down the groove between her abs. I tease her bellybutton, then lick lower still. My hands go to her inner thighs and push them wider, opening her to me. She's completely bare here, and I brush my lips over the softest skin.

"Look at you," I say roughly, drinking in the sight of her pink plumpness. "Gorgeous."

I lick and kiss her there, then open my mouth wide over her pussy to devour her. She's making erotic little noises, moans and gasps, writhing on the bed. I hook an arm around her thigh and press a hand to her belly to hold her still as I eat her. "Fuck, you taste good." I slide my tongue between wet pussy lips. "I could eat you forever."

She makes another wordless sound.

"Wanna make you come," I mutter, slipping a finger inside her. "So wet here. Are you aching, sweet girl?"

"God yes."

She slides a hand into my hair and I open my eyes and gaze up along her body at her face. She watches with smoky eyes and parted lips, her cheeks flushed.

"Mmm. Good." I slide my tongue over her again.

I feel her body tensing, her abs contracting, her breath quickening, and I find her swollen clit with my tongue and rub it. Over it. Around it. Over it again. She grabs my hand that's on her belly and squeezes it so tight I'm afraid my bones might break, but I fucking love it as she comes so hard, contracting on my fingers inside her, making noises of pleasure that fill the room and make my cock hurt.

I keep licking, drawing it out, but she reaches for me and grabs my jaw and my neck and tows me up over her. "Too much," she pants. "Oh God."

I kiss her with lots of tongue, wet and sloppy, and her hands fumble at the band of my boxer briefs.

"Need these off," she gasps. "I want to see you. I want to feel you inside me."

"Oh yeah."

I roll onto my back, head on the pillows, and stretch out. Smiling, she crawls over me and lowers her mouth to the stiff outline of my dick through the cotton. She rubs her mouth and her cheek over my erection, sighing with happiness, glancing up at me a few times to see me watching her with an avid gaze. Her pale hair falls all around her face and tickles my thighs as she mouths me, then slips her fingers lower to cup the fullness of my balls.

"Mmmm." She tugs my briefs off, sliding them down my thighs, watching my cock spring up eagerly. "Ohhhh my God."

My lips part as my breath becomes choppy, my body tightening everywhere. The veins in my cock pulse and the swollen head aches.

"Beautiful," she murmurs, closing her fingers around my shaft. She kisses the tip, licks all around the head, getting me wet, then opens her mouth on me.

Christ . Sensation burns and twists inside me, pressure building at the base of my spine.

I slide both hands into her hair and hold her head, not to push her down, just to hold her as she glides the tight circle of her mouth up and down, swirling her tongue in a dirty little tempo.

My heart is a drumbeat, heavy and pounding all through my body, my balls tightening at the base of my cock. "Okay," I gasp. "I'm so close. Come up here. I want to be inside you."

I slap a hand out to find one of the small packets I threw down earlier. Annie plucks it from me, opens it, and carefully rolls it down over my throbbing dick. That nearly does it for me. Sweat breaks out on my forehead.

Watching my face, she moves over me, rising onto her knees, gripping my cock then lowering herself onto me. At the touch of the head to her hot pussy, a groan rumbles up from my chest. Pleasure burns through me, making me crazy for more.

She bites her lip and eases herself down, slowly. I watch her eyes smolder. She's flushed pink everywhere—her cheeks, her nose, her chest and throat. So fucking perfect.

"Come on, sweetheart. You can take all of me."

She throws her head back as she finally fully takes me. My cock throbs inside her tight channel and she pauses, her pussy contracting, like she's still orgasming.

"Can you come again?" I ask.

Her tongue slides over her bottom lip. "I think so. I want to." She slips a hand down between her legs and rubs her clit.

"Oh yeah." I lift my hips, pushing up into her, not too hard because she's small. But she likes is hard.

She meets my thrust, and then we do it again, finding a rhythm together, picking up speed. She rolls her hips and rides me, moving her arms behind her to brace her hands on my thighs, giving me the most exquisite view. Then she covers my hands on her waist and urges them up to her breasts. I happily squeeze and fondle them, tweak the nipples, making her contract around me.

"I love that," she pants. "More."

I tug at the tender tips as she fucks me, fingering her clit again until she's quivering and whimpering. With a wail, she stretches down over me and kisses me, hard and desperate. I keep moving inside, her orgasm so close. Our mouths part but stay a breath apart, her hair all around our faces, her hand on my jaw. My head drops back and I wrap my arms around her shoulders as my body seizes with sensation exploding, rippling through me, heat burning over my skin. I make unintelligible guttural noises as I hold her so tightly and I'm wrenched with painful spasms.

When we've both gone still, but my body is still pulsating, she pushes up and rolls off me, collapsing on the bed beside me, her tits rising and falling with her quick respirations. "Holy hell."

Yeah. I'd agree if I could form words.