Anything He Desires

This book is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Places, and Incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2012 by Katie Morgan. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means.

1995

             
He would protect his brother at any cost. This man’s intentions were clear. He had done this before. Logan knew he was stronger and could endure the pain. One day, he would seek revenge for this. But for now he would take it for his brother’s sake.

“Come out, boy. I feed and clothe you. I own you and your brother. Your mom gave you to me when she put you in the system. You have to earn your keep,” the man hissed in the darkness.

Logan faced the monster while his brother crouched behind the door. He could take this. He could block out the pain. As long as his younger brother was protected, it was worth the pain and the humiliation.

“There you are, boy.”

The man grabbed his arm and drew him closer.

Chapter One

Meet and Greet

2012

             
Kristen peered into her closet trying to decide what to wear to the meeting. She had to choose carefully because she was meeting Logan Anderson in prison, whose millionaire status was currently not doing him much good, only doing
her
much irritation.

He was in prison for a crime he swears he didn’t commit.

Kristen was a probation officer for at-risk youth and Logan would be in charge of a program she had created to keep youth out of prison. He would be out in two weeks but he wanted to start the program now. It was galling that his money and power bought him special privileges. But she needed funding for her program and didn’t care who gave her the money. Now if she could only decide what to wear.

             
She selected a simple shirt and skirt. She wanted to downplay the fact that she was a female and had curves. Not that she thought looking professional meant looking mannish. She just wanted to look… steely. This program was her life. It enlisted youth to participate in activities that were truly facilitative instead of debasing them and having them perform humiliating and punishing tasks. She wanted to show them not all people judged them harshly and Logan could give her the money she needed to make her dreams a reality. He could also give her a perspective she didn’t have.

             
The children she worked with could benefit from his experiences. It wasn’t like she could tell them with a straight face that she knew how they felt. She didn’t have a clue. She’d been raised in a middle-class home with parents who had stayed married and always shielded her from the world. She had decided to help at-risk youth after a project in college made her aware of their struggles. Her parents had been concerned with her choice but she didn’t care. They couldn’t protect her forever and it was time they allowed her to grow up.

At twenty-two, she didn’t have a lot of life experience, whereas the man she was visiting today had more than his share. Their upbringing couldn’t be more different.

             
She had read his profile. He had grown up in foster care with his younger brother. He had become an entrepreneur at the tender age of twenty and was a millionaire two years later. At twenty-four, he had been sent to prison for an assault on his former foster parent. He had sworn his innocence but he received eighteen months. That sentence was almost over. She would meet with him and see what he had to say.

She was so lost in thought Kimberly startled her when her roommate spoke.

“Going to the pokey today?”

“Stop it. You know where I’m going,” Kristen answered.

“I hear he’s gorgeous and intimidating, by the way,” Kimberly said with a grin.

“I’ve seen his picture. He’s handsome but that’s not the reason I’m visiting him.”

“You only want him for his money.” Kimberly laughed.

“Well, yes of course.” Kristen deadpanned, brushing her hair and finishing getting ready. She didn’t want to be late. Kimberly left the room humming a song Kristen recognized as Jailhouse Rock.

             
Kristen and Kimberly couldn’t have been more different but their friendship worked. They had met in college and became instant friends. Kimberly was wild and outgoing; Kristen was quiet and preferred the company of a book to the company of people. Their personalities had complemented one another.  So they decided to room together even after college. Kristen had chosen not to go home to her small town. She wanted to live in the city where she was most needed by at-risk youth.

             
Charlotte wasn’t so big she felt lost in it but big enough she could implement her program and make a difference. She hoped it could be replicated in other places. This was a dream Logan could help her with and she was determined to make it work. She just had to gain his full support today.

             
After a few more taunts from her friend, Kristen was off. She loved Kimberly but that one had never been angelic enough to calm Kristen’s nerves. She was about to have the most important meeting in her life. She tried to think of some of the youth this program would help and focused on them instead of the man she was about to visit on his turf. She wouldn’t allow him to see her nerves. She would be the epitome of confidence and poise.

             
The prison camp was larger than she expected. It was a bit intimidating.  Kristen had taken the kids on tours but those had been low-key, in minimum security camps that were pretty laid back.

This prison was straight out of action movies, dark and uninviting with high fences topped with razor wire. The guard tower was in the front and you could see a guard with a gun patrolling the perimeter. The walls were made to keep people inside. Yet here she was going in willingly. She smiled queasily at the thought.

             
The check-in procedure was tedious and a little humiliating. She gave her name and identification and went through the metal detectors. The correctional officers smiled at her as if they shared a private joke. As one of them escorted her to the visitation room, she heard the cat calls and comments from the other inmates. She held her head high and ignored them as best she could.

“Hey baby, I need some help with this,” said one large inmate pointing to his crotch.

“I want a piece of that,” yelled another inmate.

“Look boys, dinner has arrived,” laughed another. 

Despite her steely exterior, inside she was quivering like jelly. What if Logan was as uncouth as they were? Could she work with someone who had the manners of a pirate? She comforted herself with the knowledge that he had been very professional and well-spoken in his letters and she’d felt he was serious about their project.

             
Shortly after arriving at the visitation room, Logan Anderson was led in.

Her breath caught in her throat. To say he was handsome was a vast understatement. He was tall and even the prison clothing couldn’t hide that his body was all rippling muscle. His dark hair was longer, falling over his forehead. His eyes were the deepest blue with a piercing gaze. 

She had to exert herself to maintain control over her emotions. She could feel a blush creeping up her collar.  The correctional officer interrupted her thoughts by pointing to a table and chairs in the corner. She had been so enamored with Logan she had even forgotten where they were. The officer gave her a smile of understanding and left.

Logan walked towards her. “Hello, Miss Morgan. It’s nice to finally meet you. Even under these less than perfect conditions.” His smooth voice both relaxed and scared the hell out of her at the same time.

“Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. As you know, this program is very important to me and I want it to succeed. With your contribution, I’m sure it will,” she said in a strained and rehearsed way.

             
He led her over to the table and pulled her chair out for her. When she sat down, the chair crumpled beneath her and she ended up on the floor. Her mortification was extreme. She patted the floor and told it to hurry up and gulp her down already.

*

             
Logan struggled not to smile. The girl had already unnerved him with her stunning good looks. She had coppery hair hanging in waves down her back. Her green eyes had flashed light jade and smoky emerald in the short time he’d stared into them. And now to have her writhing on the floor in front of him looking innocent and vulnerable brought to his mind forbidden thoughts.

*

He held out his hand to help her up. When she grasped it, she felt a sharp volt tingle through her. Did he feel it, too? And what a fool she was for wondering.

“Thank you,” she mumbled and righted herself and the chair.

“These chairs are flimsy. I’m sorry for the accommodations but they will improve soon. I just didn’t want to wait until I’m released to start working on the program,” he said.

“I agree. I want to get started as soon as possible.” At least she had the program to talk about. Her voice stopped shaking because it was something she felt confident about.

“I have the funding details laid out and ready but I would like to be an active participant.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything. In her mind, she pictured them working together day after day.

“Is there a problem?” he asked.

“No,” she said quietly.

“Is it because I’m in prison? Do you have an issue with that? If you do, this might not be something you want to pursue,” he said, his tone sharpening. “The youth you will be working with are cut from the same cloth as I am and they need someone who will support them, not judge them.”

“No. You misunderstand—” She tried to think of the words to express to him what she was feeling. It had nothing to do with his imprisonment.

*

“Explain it to me.” And then realization hit Logan. When she blushed deeply, he knew he was right.  He felt both predatory and protective all of a sudden. He tamped the instincts down.

“We can work around that, I’m sure.” He couldn’t help smiling. His anger had completely dissipated.

*

Kristen wanted to crawl in a hole and die. He knew. He was aware she was attracted to him. Well, of course. He was probably used to it, wasn’t he?

“Okay. Could we talk about the program, please?” she asked.

             
He smiled and leaned in, touching her hand, which sent more of those tingling currents through her.

*

Logan had touched her to tease her but when he felt an electrical reaction, he pulled away.

She wasn’t for him. She was innocent and that was the last thing he needed in his life. His lifestyle didn’t support an innocent. He liked mature and worldly women who could meet his desires and not be intimidated by his eclectic tastes. He would leave her to white picket fences and babies. The last thing he needed was a do-gooder.

*

Kristen was working hard to rein in her emotions. She had never been attracted to a man before and this instance wasn’t only new but scary. She somehow knew she didn’t want to—must not—play with him, because his whole aura screamed dangerous.

“I’m sure we can work out something,” she echoed his earlier words.

This time he nodded and then they continued the conversation about the program.

             
She went over what they would need financially. She wanted to keep it small so they wouldn’t employ staff. The funding should be used for the youth, not on employees. He agreed with her and she relaxed a little when they came to terms. She would go ahead and lease the building she had chosen and set it up. He would arrange for the money to be transferred to her. She already had the name of his attorney and would handle it all through him.