“Logan,” I sighed, framing his face in my hands. “I am moving on, and right now I need to be reminded of what I have—what we share. I need you not to make me forget, but to remind me that it’s over.” Unshed tears beckoned, blurring my vision. “My body needs your touch to…” My voice lowered; I was suddenly nervous. “…to remove the feel of his. I need to feel you—need for you to make me whole and safe again.”

The pad of his thumb slid over my cheek, wiping away a traitorous tear. I sucked in a cleansing breath, ceasing further tears as I watched him swallow. Almost instantly, I was enveloped in his strong embrace: the one place I belonged. He tipped my head back, his lips massaging mine, soft and gentle.

“How can I ever deny you? Anything you need, it’s yours. Let’s go inside. I want you warm in my bed first.”

“No. Here.” My voice cracked, but I didn’t think. I only moved from his lap and tugged at the waistband of my sweatpants.

He grabbed my hand, stopping me. “It’s freezing. You’ll catch a cold—”

“Logan, please…I don’t want to be afraid out here. I want to be free—safe.” I nearly yelled it, expressing my need to the wind, then pulled on a coaxing hint of a smile to prove I was ready. “Besides, I know you’ll keep me warm.”

Logan stood wearing only his unbuttoned dark wool coat, grey pajama pants, and unlaced boots. He regarded me with an intense stare, reading me, until his lips began curling up. His hesitance lifted into determination when I whispered the challenge.

“I’m waiting.”

“Come here,” he replied hoarsely, kissing me hard before taking my hand and leading me back up the steps to his front door. “Don’t move.”

I waited as he disappeared inside. Alone outside, I felt no fear—only anticipation.

When Logan emerged a moment later, it was with the grey throw from his living-room sofa. He placed it over the railing, then turned his attention back to me. He pulled me into his arms, his stubble warming my cheek as his lips ran over my ear.

“I love you,” he whispered.

There was no time to reply. I gripped his shoulders for support as he grasped the waist of my sweats and lowered them down my legs. I’d bent quickly to remove my boots when his hand grabbed mine.

“Keep them on,” he rasped.

“What? No!” I replied, conscious of how ridiculous they’d look. I attempted to kick them off again, but he wasn’t having it.

“I want those cute toes of yours nice and warm.”

He removed one pant leg over the boot, then lifted my other to do the same. I didn’t fight him. His expression lightened when he glanced up, feasting on my nearly nude state, and hooked his fingers in my panties. The look wasn’t one of lust, but pure adoration. With the slowest movement I’d ever seen him make, he dragged the pants down my legs and over the boots.

The security light flickered off, and his aqua eyes glistened in the darkness surrounding us. Ever so slowly, he unzipped my coat, pulled it down over my shoulders, and let it fall. The freezing temperatures didn’t have time to attack as he directed my arms up over my head, freeing me of my sweater before immediately wrapping the blanket around my shoulders. There I stood on his porch, in only my brown UGGs and a fleece throw.

Logan’s hands slipped inside the blanket, encasing me as he stepped closer. Without warning, his lips collided with mine, loving and tender. I lost myself in the moment, which was over too soon when he stepped back to release me, then slowly worked his lips down my neck before dropping to his knees.

I watched my beautiful man, staring up at me, take my ankle and place his mouth just above my boot. His lips trailed up over my leg, then paused at a small cut on my shin, where he placed a lingering open-mouthed kiss.

“I’ll always keep you safe,” he murmured, slinking up to the next cut just above my knee. “Always.”

My body woke with vigor, trembling as I braced myself against the front door. He placed my leg back down and took the other, repeating the movements. His hands began kneading the backs of my thighs, holding me in place as his tongue ran up over my knee. The heat of my arousal melted away the anxiety our setting had brought. My fingers weaved through his messy short hair, my body relaxing, legs widening to welcome him.

He lifted my foot and rested my calf over his shoulder, then maneuvered his head to trace the dip below my knee with his tongue. “You’re mine. My angel.”

A moan sang out as I moistened my bottom lip, my stomach buzzing with eagerness.

Logan’s tongue swirled, working its way up until his nose brushed below my sex. “Every part of you. Only my hands are allowed here. I’ll kill any other man that thinks otherwise.”

His words soothed me, refueling the power that had drained from my soul. It felt amazing; his body against mine, his lips trailing around my sex, was everything I could want. My body would only ever answer to him. Kurt was becoming a distant, foggy memory.

“I love you,” I managed, my eyes focused solely on Logan.

His only reply was the raise of his head, showcasing the familiar glowing smile that consumed my heart. He slipped my leg back down, then opened the afghan to reveal my raw stomach and placed a warm kiss over my belly button.

“I’m the luckiest man alive…an undeserving beast, but I’m too greedy to care,” he spoke against my skin. “I finally have you—all of you—and I’ll guard you with my life.”

I whimpered when his left hand slipped up and intertwined with mine, holding me there with him. His lips placed one last kiss over my stomach, and the pain from the wounds disappeared. “These hands belong to a man that could never bring you harm,” he said, running his fingers up over my breasts.

He rose up and took my nipple into his mouth, suckling. My gaze never strayed from him. The overwhelming desire to feel him pressed inside me, connected to me in every way, grew unbearable.

A reverberating snap sounded around us and my entire body shuttered, nearly jolting me from his arms. Logan held me tightly while he surveyed the area carefully. Together, we watched a small raccoon sneak from around the corner of the house.

“Sorry.” I covered my face with me hand, relaxing, embarrassed at my overreaction.

Logan stood and peeled my hands away. “Shhh, don’t be. I’ve told you never to be sorry. I’m the only person out here with you. It’s only ever going to be me this close to you. I promise.” He reached under my ass and lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist instantly, locking my ankles together. “God, how I wish I could help you forget,” he said in barely a whisper.

“You do more than that,” I replied, holding him close and crushing my lips to his.

My foremost need for him was stronger than ever. I reached between us, slipped my hand into his pajama pants, and freed his erection. Not waiting for his response, I lifted up slightly in his arms and plunged down, filling myself with his thickness.

He sucked in a hiss through gritted teeth, his face tight, eyes closing as I took all of him.

“Cassandra,” he growled as I began to rock against him.

“Yes.” I rode him harder, faster, my mouth on his neck, tongue tracing his jaw. I was wedged in place between him and the door, and I used them both to support me as I took what I needed—what he gave me.