Chapter 16

W hen I wake up, Maci isn't next to me—just like last night, when she was working in her office instead. The side of her bed is cold, and I wonder where the fuck she is.

I look at the clock, and it's only six a.m.

Panicking that my dad called me and I missed it, I reach for my phone on the nightstand, sighing in relief when I don't see any missed calls on the screen. I'm sure Amelia had the best time and is in no hurry to come back home to my crappy pool with no slide or splash pad.

When I get out of bed, it's much like déjà vu from last night as I pull my sweatpants on and head down the hallway to find her. Only when I look into her office, she isn't there. The house doesn't feel the same way that it did last night when I was searching for her. It feels colder somehow. And darker.

The door to her bedroom is closed, but I don't give a fuck about that as I gently push it open. As I walk to the edge of the bed, I find her lying on top of the covers, a restless look on her face as she sleeps with Clyde curled up beside her closely, almost as if he's comforting her in some way.

I knew I should have kept my fucking mouth shut last night, but I couldn't help but to just push it a little too far. Lately, I've been feeling things I never planned to feel for her, nor did I think I'd ever feel this way for anyone—let alone my kid's nanny. Yet here I am, an absolute fucking fool for this woman. And then I told her, freaked her the fuck out, and now, here she is, hiding in her own room, cuddling her drooly fucking dog instead of me.

I don't want to wake her up. And part of me is pissed off that she gave me that whole I'm just tired bullshit instead of just being honest and saying she didn't feel the same. I'm not the guy who gets mad often, but when I do, I get fucking pissed. So, here I am, irate that the one girl I actually want in that way doesn't want me back. Only her actions before this point sure told me differently.

Reaching down, I pat Clyde's head. He doesn't even wake up; he just continues to snore softly, happy to have his human beside him. Lately, he's been sleeping with Amelia a lot of the time, and I know last night, he was pacing around, wondering where the hell she was.

Heading out, I walk to my room and get my running shit on. I guess one thing I can do before Amelia gets back home is get this training shit out of the way. I can't just let myself go, especially after the number of pancakes I shoved down my throat last night.

Should have just eaten her pussy and called it a day.

Sliding my shoes on, I grab my headphones and head toward the door, hoping that running myself to the point of exhaustion might make me feel less awkward about last night.

She's acting weird.

There's no question about it.

I got home from my run an hour ago and found her in the kitchen, making coffee. As soon as I walked in the door, she looked like she had seen a ghost. I tried my best not to act like a little bitch who didn't get to have an ice cream after practice, but fucking A, she's making me crazy.

I stand in the shower for much longer than I usually would—unless she was in here with me, of course. Then, I'd take my sweet fucking time sudsing up her entire body and pounding my cock deep inside her soaking wet heat. But it's only me in here, and I guess you could say I'm avoiding the girl. Turns out, she was right; this shit we have been doing has made things awkward, but I don't care.

My dad and Michelle are going to bring Amelia back later, and we're going to eat dinner here, all together, before they catch a midnight flight back to Georgia. It was too quick of a visit, but I know my daughter needed it.

And I needed the alone time with Maci, even though that didn't end the way I'd planned.

Turning the knob to the shower, I cut off the water and step out. Drying myself off, I walk out into my room, and that's when I hear her talking on the phone in the kitchen.

I know I shouldn't listen, but I can't help myself. I catch the tail end of her call with who I assume is a police officer on her case because she mentions them arresting the men who broke into her place.

"Great," she says, but she doesn't exactly sound excited. "Yes, definitely. Thanks. Clyde and I appreciate all you've done to help us move back in."

As she ends the call, I waste no time strutting to her. I might only be in my towel, but I don't give a fuck.

"Did you mean what you just said?" I say, catching her off guard.

She spins to face me, the phone still in her hand. "What part?"

"The part where you said you're moving back to your place?"

I walk even closer, and she presses her back against the counter like she's scared of me or some shit.

"Well, I mean, they caught the men who broke in. It doesn't really make much sense for me to continue paying rent if I'm not going to move back home, does it?" she says, setting her phone down and putting her palms on the countertop.

"Fuck rent and fuck your place." I walk until I'm inches from her, glaring down at her big green eyes. "Why don't you say what's actually going on, Boston?"

"I don't know what you mean," she whispers, her lips trembling now.

"That I told you I fucking wanted you, and now, you're running scared," I growl. "And running right back to your apartment, which will probably get broken into again, and I'll have to fucking be up at night, worrying about it."

"It's not like that, Logan." Tears fill her eyes. "I'm … I'm not who you think I am."

"You're exactly who I think you are. Stop being fucking scared."

"I'm not scared," she hisses, gritting her teeth before she starts to cry harder. "Logan, I need to tell you the truth about me." Her hand rests on my bare chest. "And it'll change the way you feel." Tears flow from her eyes now as her voice breaks. "It'll ruin us."

Bringing my face to hers, I grip her chin harder. "Then, fucking lie to me, Mace," I rasp. "Tell me fucking lies because I'm not ready to ruin us."

My lips attack hers, and I loop my arm around her waist, bringing her ass up onto the counter. She doesn't kiss me back at first, but she doesn't push me away either. And when I part her legs, stepping between them, I slide my hand to her nape and kiss her even harder. She melts against me, kissing me back and clawing at my chest.

I'm so fucking gone on this girl that whatever deep, dark secret she has … I don't want to hear it. Not yet anyway.

Deep down, I know I'm being stupid. I'm a fucking father to the world's best kid. Before I go any further, I should make Maci tell me whatever secret she's holding in. But I've seen her with Amelia. She adores my daughter. Amelia already lost Maddie, and I can't bear the thought of her losing Maci too.

Lifting her from the counter, I never break contact with her lips as I carry her into my bedroom. I set her on the bed and reach for her waistband. I pull her leggings and panties down, tossing them to the floor before yanking her shirt over her head.

"No bra, Boston?" I murmur, leaning down and bringing her nipple into my mouth. "You're so fucking beautiful."

Under my towel, my cock swells, standing up straight at the sight of her perfect fucking body, and I pull it off of me, letting it fall to the ground.

Wrapping my fist around my length, I give it a few pumps, keeping my eyes on her as she brings her knees up and spreads her legs wide open for me.

"Jesus Christ," I hiss, jerking myself harder.

Her eyes are on mine as she slowly slides her hand down her abdomen, heading right to her pussy. And when she makes it between her legs and sinks two fingers into her heat, I fucking lose it. A bead of pre-cum leaks from the tip of my cock, and I hiss in pure need for my dick to take the place of her fingers.

"Logan." She barely whispers my name, and yet I can still hear the desperation in her tone.

Part of me wants to fuck her face or maybe even her throat. If she's choking on my cock, she won't be able to tell me whatever it is she's hiding. Another part of me wants to eat her out until she's crying my name in agony because she's come so many times that it fucking hurts. But most of all, I just want to bury myself deep inside of her heat and pound her into my mattress like it's the last time I'll ever get the chance to. Because let's face it; with whatever it is she needs to tell me … it very well might be. I don't need anything fancy or elaborate. I just need her pussy wrapped around my cock, her moans in my ears, and her nails digging into my back.

I climb over her and hover the tip of my cock over her opening before I nudge myself inside of her. I start off slow and steady, but when her nails find my back and her legs wrap around my waist, I thrust harder and deeper. The bed creaks with every pump of my hips, and her moans grow louder in my ears.

Grunting because it feels so fucking good, I pick up my head and stare down at her. Her eyes burn into mine, and her chin tilts up slightly. For once, no dirty words come to my mind. Right now, it's just her and me and this bed. And no matter how deep I am, selfishly, it isn't enough. I need more.

It's not about fucking her for a scene she needs to write or trying to give her some inspiration either. It's just about being as close to this woman as I can possibly get. This woman, who somehow feels like home, and I'm scared to fucking death I'm going to lose her.

She stares up at me, her eyes wide and full of so much emotion. Suddenly, tears swell in them before spilling down her cheeks. I've never felt so much without speaking words before.

Whatever she's going to tell me, it's going to ruin everything for not only me, but also my daughter.

My hips continue to roll against hers as I fuck her into the bed roughly, feeling her tightening around me. Her lips part, and she drags in a breath. Her hips lift upward to match my rhythm, and as she squeezes my cock, I come inside of her—hard. Trembling, I pour my seed deep into her heat. We continue fucking each other, greedily taking every ounce of our orgasm like this might be our last and we don't want it to stop.

My body shivers as the last bit of cum drips from my cock, and her pussy slowly releases its hold on my dick. I don't pull out right away though. Instead, I bring my lips to hers before putting our foreheads together.

"I'm not ready to say goodbye to you yet. And neither is Amelia," I mutter against her lips. "So, please, Boston, for now … just pretend like everything is fine, okay? Even if it isn't."

More tears spring from her eyes, and her face is filled with sadness.

"Okay?" I say sharply.

Eventually, she nods, but only once. "Okay."