Irreplaceable (21 page)

Hilary’s idea of dinner differed
greatly from mine. The groceries she’d piled into my fridge included oysters, a
cooked rotisserie chicken, strawberries, chocolate sauce, and four cans of
whipped cream. On the counter was another bag, which included a box of biscuits
and can of corn.

I shook my head, irritated but amused. I should’ve known
better—or at least asked her before I’d driven all the way home. There was no
time to go back out, so I’d just have to go with it.

After preparing everything in the kitchen, I headed for
the bedroom with my new bag of clothes. Slipping my toes into the pantyhose, I
began to feel it—the awakening of the relentless beast that lived deep in my
gut and seemed to answer to only Logan. The garters were snapped in place,
corset sewn up my front with a ribbon.

Standing in front of the mirror, I could no longer see
the girl who was worried about heartbreak or love. I was a woman—a fierce woman
about to have sex with a man who’d fulfill some piece of me that would give me
my independence back. Give me back my empowering will to live my life without
the need for a man…at least, until the right man came along.

I buttoned the dress, slowly covering the treat
underneath, and let my imagination run wild with thoughts about how he’d unwrap
me. A slow, seductive play of undoing each button at a time, or a quick rip
down the front, buttons flying in the air as he laid his eyes upon the naughty
side of me, dressed in black lace just for him?

There I stood, fully dressed, including a pair of black
six-inch pumps Hilary had left in front of my closet. The image reflected from
my full-length mirror was overwhelming, powerful, and beautiful. I was a real
woman, and ready for Logan to hear me roar.

I turned to my side, bending over to see exactly how much
of a show Logan would be getting before the main event. The dress tugged up to
show just a hint of the garters underneath. Logan was in for one hell of a
surprise tonight.

The alarm clock on my bedside table glowed ten to six,
and the butterflies were fully aware of it. As I turned to leave the room, my
phone went off in my purse sitting on the bed.

I answered to Hilary’s bubbly voice.

“Nice grocery shopping!” I complained instead of saying
hello.

“What? It’s exactly what I’d want.” She giggled.

“I’m sure it is.” I rolled my eyes, smiling. “I can’t
talk, he’ll be here any minute.”

“I know, but first look beside your bed, between the side
table and your mattress.”

Curious, I walked around the bed to find a hot-pink gift
bag poking out. I picked it up and sat on the bed holding it. Tissue paper
covered the contents.

“Should I be afraid to look inside?” I asked.

“It’s five fifty four, hurry up and open it!”

“All right.” Jeez, she was more nervous than I was.

I pulled out the tissue paper and gasped.

“Seriously, Hilary!?”

Her laughter filled my head as I dumped the rest of the
bag onto the bed. There was the biggest box of multi-size condoms I’d ever
seen. Judging by the girth pressed to my backside the night we slept together,
there was only one size that man was going to need.

“Two minutes left! Have fun! And Cassandra, whatever
happens, it’s okay to let yourself feel everything you do for him.” With that,
she hung up.

I knew she was hoping tonight would help me see how much
Logan meant to me and be less one-night-stand, closure sex. She wouldn’t say it
straight out, but I knew she wanted me to forgive him.

I shook my head and pulled my attention down to the
pump-style bottle of lube (which I was positive we wouldn’t be needing),
rhinestone-encrusted nipple clamps, blindfold, and pair of fuzzy handcuffs that
were scatted over my comforter.

Yeah, aside from the condoms—the box of which I’d already
ripped open and begun to pick through for the large and jumbo to go in my side
drawer—the rest was not necessary.

I picked up the items just as the doorbell rang. My head
shot to the side, staring at the six on my clock. I hurried, stuffing the items
into the bag and dropping it back between the nightstand and mattress.

After one more peek in the mirror and a smack of my lips
to redistribute my crimson lipstick, I was at the door, ready for the night to
begin.

Chapter Nineteen

Seduction 101

There are some moments in life
you just know you’ll always remember: the warmth of your lips after your first
kiss, the tingle on your skin after your first sexual embrace. And then there’s
the moment you open the door to the man who has dug a hole so far into your
heart you wonder if he was always meant to be there.

Logan stood on my doorstep, reminding me to seal my heart
away for the night as he appraised me with a thunderstruck eye, taking me all
in. His grip tightened around the neck of the wine bottle in his hand, and it
was then that I noticed the single lily in the other. His eyes feasted upon my
hair, teased up and heavy with thick curls, down to my smoky eyes, until he
reached the heels I wore with pride.

“You gonna come in or just stand there and stare?” I
asked with a soft, seductive giggle. As it turned out, flirting when you had
the sex appeal amped up was more fun than I’d expected.

He looked up with the confident charisma that had wavered
for longer than usual during his assessment and smiled.

“You look…different.” He walked inside, squeezing past me
when I didn’t move back. We were face to face, my breasts pressed to the chest
of his wool coat, our bodies rubbing together with his slow steps…mine letting
his know exactly what it was in for tonight.

“
Good
different?” I took the flower and bottle of
wine from his hands and swayed my hips as I sauntered to the kitchen.

Logan followed. “You’re always good, sweetheart.”

I glanced back over my shoulder to catch his boldly
handsome face smile warmly back at me as he removed his coat.

He was gorgeous—a true work of art—and for a fleeting
moment, I wondered what his parents looked like. The shadow of his beard mixed
with his striking features held a certain sensuality.

I ogled him openly, taking in his nonchalant stance and
roguish handsomeness. I noticed his light, wavy hair had been cut shorter
recently, and the jealously exposed in my gut from wondering who’d had the
honor of running his or her fingers through his soft locks made me shudder.

His white dress shirt showcased the powerful set of
shoulders hidden underneath, while his dark jeans hung casually around his firm
legs. They were his wardrobe staples outside of work. He was a man who carried
himself with a commanding air of self-confidence. I loved that about him.

I grimaced, turning away to dig the corkscrew from the
drawer.
Not loved—it was one of the many things about him that turned me on
,
I restated in my head over and over again.

Silence hung between us as I stood fiddling with the
corkscrew in my hand for way too long, gauging the best ways to go about
opening the bottle. The fact that Logan never said even a silly quip about my
gawking added to the electricity sizzling between us already.

Hilary always took charge of wine opening when we were
together, and I didn’t drink when I was alone. The few times I’d attempted
opening wine bottles, I’d destroyed the cork to the point that it had to be dug
out.

So not sexy.

“Need some help?” His warm, minty breath tickled my ear,
startling me. I swung around on instinct, forgetting about the weapon in my
hand.

He caught my hand, stopping the corkscrew from piercing
his abdomen. His face didn’t carry even a hint of worry—only a smile. “I’ll
open it.”

Catching my breath from the adrenaline spike, I nodded
and handed him the tool. “Thank you,” I replied, pulling back on a heavy,
sultry tone. He gave me a cynical once-over, but didn’t say a word.

“So, how was your day?” Logan asked, pulling the cork
free with ease. “I see you must have been busy.” Two wineglasses were already
set on the table, so he turned around, waiting for me to respond while filling
them both.

Things needed to remain focused on why we were there, no
matter how hard my heart boomed against my chest. It was only about sex.

I breathed a seductive murmur into his ear from beside
him, placing silverware on the table. “Do you care how my day was?”

He straightened and set the bottle down, but before he
could reply I was across the room, ready to serve the appetizer: oysters.

“Would you like one?” I purred.

He eyed them curiously. “An oyster?” I caught the humor
flash in his bright eyes as he asked.

“Mm-hmm.” I tipped one back and nearly gagged as the
slime caught in my throat.

“You all right?” He strode toward me, patting me on the back.

I choked down the filth that was never entering my mouth
again and nodded. That was my first and last oyster.

Brush it off and keep going.

“You should try one. They’re…yummy.” I nearly gagged out
the word.

God, I was a horrible liar. And ‘yummy’? What was I—five?
Even Oliver had a better vocabulary.

“Never really been an oyster fan,” Logan replied with a
knowing, tight-lipped grin.

With a cock to my head, I whispered, “That’s a shame.
I’ve heard great things about them.” I winked.

Yes, I actually winked, and then ran my finger down his
crisp white shirt, over the buttons I’d definitely have no for patience for
later.

“Sit, I’m starved,” I drawled, hoping he’d pick up on my
double meaning.

Logan must’ve picked up on something, because his palm
shot out over my forehead, testing my temperature. “You sure you’re feeling all
right?”

My eyes squinted. I was going for sexy, but wasn’t sure
it came through from the concern etched over his brow. I removed his hand,
kissing the center of his palm.

“I’m better now that you’re here.”

He didn’t say another word, instead sitting at the table
and picking up his glass of wine. Standing beside him, I unsnapped my top
button to reveal some motivation and leaned down to light the candles.

My arms brushed his, my body positioned at the perfect
angle to give him an eyeful as I carefully lit two long, creamy candles in the
center of the table.

When I stood back and flicked off the kitchen overhead
light, I heard him say, “Interesting,” under his breath.

Yes, tonight will be far better than interesting.

“I hope you like chicken.” I pranced over to the stove.

When I set his plate in front of him, he caught my arm.

“It’s fine. I think you know I didn’t come over for the
food.” His voice was so raw and throaty I wanted to wrap myself around him and
have him right there.

Oh he was feeling it, all right. I sat and crossed my
legs, tightening them together to silence the quiver of lust.

Not yet.

“I came to spend time with you,” he added.

“You don’t say,” I teased, resting my elbow on the table
and swirling the liquid in my glass.

Dinner was eaten at a snail’s pace. Our eyes were
constantly fixed on each other, searching and challenging. I wasn’t giving
anything away. My lips nibbled the meat, my tongue playing on my lips longer than
necessary to wipe away the juices. Logan barely touched his food, and I caught
him shifting in his seat more than once.

After I finished all I could eat—which wasn’t much, since
my stomach was filled with horny butterflies—I set my fork down. Logan did the
same and then leaned in, both elbows planted on the table, his fingers
interlocking his strong hands together.

“I have to say, I wasn’t expecting for you to be
so…friendly tonight,” he confessed.

“Well, despite what your big ego believes, you don’t know
everything about me, Mr. West.” His eyes darkened at my use of his full name.
“I have many sides that you’ve yet to see.”

“It appears so.”

I raised my brows, challenging him to dive in, and as I
expected, he didn’t let me down.

“Cassandra, you have until the count of five to either
tell me what game you’re playing at, or I’m coming to get you.”

My lips curled up.
Yes, please come. I’m right here,
waiting.

I sat there waiting, and almost instantly he began the
countdown.

“Five.”

My pulse raced, anticipation heavy in my veins.

“Four.”

I sat up straighter, my nipples hardening at his
promising tone.

“Three.”

My mouth opened just enough to release the breath I’d
been holding onto unknowingly.

“Two.”

Game on.
I scooted my chair back and gave him a
come-and-get-me smirk.

“One.”

Logan stood and I did the same. But to keep the upper
hand, I ran my wet tongue over my bottom lip deliberately and raised my brows.

“What are you waiting for? I thought you took what you
wanted?”

Logan’s lips attacked mine without warning. His stubble
burned against my delicate skin when his mouth traveled down my jaw and then
back up to recapture my pouty lips. His were as soft as I remembered, yet firm
and demanding.

His kissed was greedy with hunger and radiating ecstasy.
My tongue traced over his bottom lip, seeking entrance, and with a
panty-soaking growl, his mouth opened and his tongue met mine in a fierce
battle of lust.

Pulling back, I sucked in a deep breath of replenishing
air, and then demanded, “Take me to bed—now!”

A loud squeal burst from my throat when he bent down and
threw me over his shoulder, just as he’d done the day I got hurt jogging. This
time, however, he was ruthless—one hand held me in place by my calves, while
the other slid up my dress and caught my ass in his grip.

“You have no idea how bad I wanted to do that the last
time I had you in this position.” He kneaded and squeezed, walking leisurely to
my bedroom, then dragged me back down the front of his body slowly. His manhood
pressed into my stomach as I stood in front of him, swallowing at the size of
it.

He noticed, and a cheeky grin crept over the lips that I
missed already.

“You should have seen what you did to me then. Why do you
think I kept you up on my shoulder so long after we reached your porch?”

My face seared as my arousal plunged to unthinkable
depths. I’d seen him checking out my ass that day, but the fact that he’d been
sporting an erection was not something I’d even dreamed.

“I should have realized. I guess I still held out hope
you were a gentleman in there somewhere.” With an innocent smile, I went up on
my tiptoes and placed a wet kiss over his irresistible neck.

“Always a gentleman for you, sweetheart. Only you.”

“Shhh.”

No nice words could be exchanged, or the heart I’d sealed
up tight for the night would begin to uncover.

I only wanted to prove this was all he really wanted—that
he wasn’t my happily ever after, and after tonight, we’d both be able to move
on. It was the best kind of closure a girl could get: closure sex.

I silenced my thoughts as he kissed me again, my
relentless hands tugging his hair, forcing him to remain quiet.

My face angled toward his, my fingers sweeping deftly
over his scruffy jaw. He caught my pinky in his teeth, causing me to giggle. My
laughter was caught in my throat when he released my finger and placed
lingering, open-mouth kisses on the tips of each digit, one by one. He didn’t
miss a beat when he raised my hand, running his lips up my arm, his eyes
holding mine in his steady gaze.

I’d never wanted someone so badly in all my life, and the
realization that it was none other than Logan who brought that yearning out of
me was terrifying.

“We don’t have to do this.” His mouth surrounded my ear,
tongue flicking down over the lobe. My legs squeezed together, my sex
clenching.

Oh God!
The surge of heat rushing through me and
pooling between my legs was too much to bear. I needed this. I needed him.

Without a reply, I pushed him down onto the bed and
dropped to my knees. Logan raised his brows in approval, his lips pressed into
a firm line.

Looking up at him, I bit my bottom lip and let it slip
through my teeth. "How long have you been hoping to see me on my knees for
you?"

His eyes were a shade darker and half lidded. “Cassandra.”

“Shhh. Stop thinking. Just feel,” I murmured.

His black boots smelled of leather. I undid the laces
slowly and pulled them off, followed by his white socks.

Gazing down at his beautiful bare feet, I smiled, my
arousal influencing me to continue and eager to move on to the main event.
Tonight was about fulfilling all the dreams of and desires for Logan I’d ever
had.

With zealous ease, my hands slid up his jeans and over
his calves, resting on his firm thighs. His muscles clenched, building my
confidence.

Logan watched me with a stoic expression when I glanced
up under my long, painted lashes and spread his legs apart slowly.

I smiled to myself as his bulge greeting me, proud I’d
caused such a reaction from him. Gingerly, my fingers slid up his leg and traced
over his hardness, continuing to the button of his fly.

I gasped, startled when he grabbed my wrist to stop me.
When I tipped my head back to meet his gaze, my breath caught. The intensity
staring back at me could never be matched. Heat prickled over my scalp, my
cheeks burning under his scrutiny.

“Tell me you really want this.” His husky tone was
breathless.

My attempt at a smile was in vain. He could see right
through me, and I found myself lost in the depth of his gaze. The strength it
took to stretch up on the balls of my feet was nearly painful, but I managed
with confident grace to lean into his ear, the warmth of his cheek pressed to
mine while my hands braced on his thighs.

“I want this, Logan. And tonight, there is no place else
I’d rather be.”

Logan’s eyes glistened. In that same instant, he reached
down and scooped me up by my waist, flinging me up from the floor and burying
me beneath him on the mattress. His hands held mine, pinning them to the
mattress above my head.