Out of Control
Chapter 11

“What are you trying to do?” Logan slammed Libby up against his chest, practically snarling the words down at her. “Give me heart failure?”

She tried for indifference, but her tone was too husky with emotion to make it work. She laughed softly instead. “Whatever it takes….” She purposely let the sentence trail off.

“I’ve never met another woman like you,” he continued, dragging her closer, until they were nearly kissing. Then they were. Libby immediately opened her mouth beneath Logan’s.

Her hunger knew no bounds and she yearned for so much more than his k**s. Once again she’d acted shamelessly out of character with him, but the pleasure she found in just his k**s alone was worth it. All at once she found herself lifted off her feet, a strong arm wrapped around her thighs, beneath her buttocks.

“What, where?” she gasped, relishing in the raw desire stamped on his handsome face.

Logan didn’t answer, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. As he turned he reached up and unscrewed the light bulb until the light went out, leaving them cloaked in darkness. The next thing Libby knew he lowered himself onto something. She instinctively spread her legs so she was straddling him.

They didn’t need to see to find each other. Their lips came together in a k**s of rough passion, their tongues clashing. Their hands moved over each other with growing abandon.

Logan’s hands were at Libby’s waist, half caressing her while yanking her nightgown up out of the way. Breaking the k**s, he leaned forward and took a breast in his mouth, suckling it through the material covering it.

She cried out with pleasure. Her hands moved to the front of Logan’s jeans, surprised to find they were already unsnapped. All Libby had to do was slide the zipper down; his seeking arousal did the rest. She wanted him inside her, wanted to feel his possession.

“Logan!” she whispered impatiently. Did he hear the fierce pounding of her heart? He lifted his h**s long enough for her to roll his jeans down, freeing his member for her inquisitive fingers. Libby’s hand encircled his hot flesh eagerly, gaining a g***n from Logan that rivaled the ever-present thunder booming outside.

“Damn!” he gasped with obvious surprise. “Baby, you’re going to make me come…”

She covered his mouth with hers, rolling her tongue behind his bottom l*p and whispering, “Isn’t that the objective?” Then laughing, she began to rock her h**s so she grazed his flesh with the damp hunger between her thighs. For a moment she played with Logan, guiding the velvet tip of him back and forth over the aching nub of her own arousal, before pulling back and doing it again.

“Libby!” He shuddered several times, his fingers flexing almost painfully against her waist. He was strong enough to take matters into his own hands but he clearly enjoyed what she was doing, letting her have control of the moment. As she teased and tormented him with the promise of heaven he put his mouth against her neck, attacking her soft flesh with tender yet savage nips.

“You like that?” she asked, recalling his words to her from another time. She could feel his unmistakable smile against her throat. “Maybe just a little.”

“What about this?” She guided him deeper into her welcoming body, and then pulled back.

Logan shuddered. “You keep doing that and I’ll finish without you.”

Her husky laughter boomeranged around them as she continued to manipulate the situation. “Is that a threat, Fireman?” Libby figured he was good for one more tease.

Before he had a chance to realize what her intentions were she scooted back, bent down and took him in her mouth. As his c**k glided past her lips she took note of the velvet strength against her tongue. The taste of l**t on the tip of his shaft exploded on her taste buds, causing little sounds of pleasure to escape her. She got caught up in the moment, the musky scent of his s*x driving her on.

His low g***n sounded like a man on the verge of dying. But if it was pain he was feeling, it didn’t prevent Logan from stretching his legs out and arching his h**s so that Libby was able to take more of him into her mouth. His hands clutched at her shoulders in a response he clearly couldn’t control.

“Oh, God!” Logan g*****d, sucking in his breath. “Baby…”

Libby’s tongue began to explore the hardened length of him from the tip to the base back to the tip again. Her teeth gently raked the steel power of his flesh. When she thought he’d had enough she sat up, raised her bottom off his lap and proceeded to guide his stone-hard c**k into her body. Once there the game came to an abrupt end. She m****d with pleasure; he growled something low. And his control was gone. Libby felt his hands at her h**s and he began to move her so that she was riding him.

Hard and fast, he took charge of their movements, the alpha male asserting dominance over his mate. Their eyes met and clung in the darkness. Libby felt like she was about to go up in flames. Logan knew right where to touch her, making sure his shaft brushed against the sensitive swelling of her desire every time he thrust forward. When he entered her body little mewling sounds escaped her. As the spiral of utter completion raced through her body she slapped her mouth over his, leaving him with no choice but to ride out the journey until they were shuddering and breathless with fulfillment.

“Why are we here?” Libby asked some time later, grinning weakly against Logan’s chest. She’d collapsed against him in blissful exhaustion. Breathing in his scent, breathing in their scent. She could feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest. A pleasant tingling warmth bathed her well sated body.

His light chuckle revealed he was still exhausted. “You have a way of making me forget everything too,” he admitted with something that sounded like unhappiness in his voice. “I think it had something to do with your cat.”

Libby made an effort to lean away from him, too aware that she’d like nothing better than to stay nestled against him forever. Or at least a very long time. She liked hearing the strong thump of his heartbeat in her ear. Listening to his heavy breathing as it gradually returned to normal. She wondered if he was aware that he was caressing her back with the tenderness of a lover whose feelings were involved. He made her feel safe and protected; he made her feel loved.

She hated making comparisons, but making love with Scott had been very empty and unfulfilling. Sure, she’d had an o****m once or twice, but he’d always been more concerned with his own pleasures than noticing just how many times he’d left her aching and frustrated. Logan was too considerate a lover to be that selfish.

“I guess we should look for him,” she finally breathed with reluctance. “Before Gram comes looking for me.” Leaning back, she was able to meet Logan’s eyes, for the first time realizing morning had come and there was just enough light filtering in from outside to see.

“Libby, I’ll be leaving soon. Once I’m cleared to return to work I’ll be heading for California.”

Talk about changing the subject! Where had that come from and more importantly, why was he telling her? “Are you feeling guilty, Logan?”

A heavy sigh escaped him. “As usual, you hit the nail right on the head.”

“Why? You made it clear from the beginning what you wanted from me.” Was that her voice sounding so little, and sad, and so very unconvincing? Libby tried to squirm off his lap, only his hands shot out, taking hold of her upper arms. She was miserably aware of the betraying moisture filling her eyes, meeting his gaze only because the power he held over her seemed to force her to. “What?” She bit her quivering bottom l*p, cursing her weakness.

“Damn it, Libby. Don’t do this!” His tone bordered on panic.

Rufus chose that moment to make his presence known, jumping from behind a cooler on the top shelf to the floor. In his usual klutzy style he caused several things to come crashing down with him. Libby jumped to her feet, but the blasted cat scampered out of the shed and into the rain before she had a chance to make a grab for him. She halted in the threshold, watching him nearly fly across the yard toward the porch and through the open door where her grandmother was standing, a huge smile of relief on her withered face. Noticing Libby, she tossed her a wave before closing the screen door and stepping back inside the porch.

Realizing the moisture on her cheeks wasn’t from the rain; she reached up and wiped it away. The last thing she wanted was for Logan to think she’d read more into their lovemaking than there was. Yet at that moment, it dawned on her that she was half in love with him. Okay, if she were honest, more than half. And she knew if he suspected anything like that he’d run and keep on running.

“The rain doesn’t look like it’s going to let up.” She turned back to Logan reluctantly, and forced a smile on her face when she saw the concern on his. “I guess I should go.” The last thing she wanted was for him to set the rules straight.

His gaze moved over her as she stood in the threshold, making Libby wonder what he was looking for. His expression gradually changed into a mild frown. “Just a minute.” He stood, zipping up his pants as he walked to where something was hanging on the wall. Removing it from the hook, he turned back to her.

As far as she could tell it was a shirt of some kind. He draped it around her shoulders, leaning in close. “You might as well be naked.”

She shivered when his breath stirred the hair behind her ear. He pulled back. “You don’t like what I’m wearing?” She couldn’t help teasing.

“Oh, I like it, maybe a little too much. It’s what got us into trouble.” He smiled, his knuckles beneath her chin where he was holding the shirt together. “No need giving one of our neighbors a heart attack.”

“It was dark when I first came out,” Libby explained unnecessarily.

“I know.”

“I didn’t think I’d be running into anyone.”

His eyes held hers, a mixture of gladness and regret in his gaze. “But you did,” he said after a while. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he lowered his head.

Libby lifted her face in anticipation of his k**s. However, just before their lips connected he pulled away and stepped back, a dark flush spreading over his face. Something behind her had caught his attention and she turned, seeing her grandmother watching them with curiosity from the porch. She’d never gone back inside the house!

She turned back to Logan with a light chuckle. “Why, Logan, are you blushing?”

“Probably,” he replied without hesitation.

“Going to make an honest woman of me?” Libby inquired, before she could rein in her tongue. “I mean, ah…”

“Relax, honey; I know what you didn’t mean.” He touched the end of her nose, and glanced at Margaret again. “You’d better run home to your grandma, little girl.”

The sensual rasp of his tone caused a ripple of awareness to travel over Libby, renewing her desire. “Where I’ll be safe?” she whispered.

“No.” There was a brief hesitation on Logan’s part before he admitted in a low voice, “Where I’ll be safe.” He turned Libby around, giving her a brief push out of the shed and into the rain.

Without glancing back she darted across the yard, her head bent against the weather, holding tightly to the shirt as the wind threatened to tear it from her fingers. Margaret opened the door for her as she approached.

“Goodness, child, get in here. I was getting worried when you didn’t return with Rufus, until I saw you with Logan.”

“I’m sorry if you were worried, Gram.” The screen door slammed behind her. As Margaret turned to head into the living room Libby glanced back at the shed, surprised to see Logan standing in the threshold, watching her.

Lord, he looked so sexy! No shirt, his jeans hanging low on his lean h**s and the snap undone. A rush of heat enveloped her as a tiny explosion of awareness caught her by surprise her. It hadn’t been that long since they’d made love. Maybe she was becoming a s*x maniac! But who wouldn’t with a hunk like Logan living next door? A chuckle escaped her at the silly thought and she shot him a wave, and then turned to follow Margaret.

“WHERE THE HECK HAVE you been, boy? I was worried when I woke to find you gone. Especially once I glanced out the door to see your bike in the drive.”

Logan grabbed a dishtowel from the kitchen drawer and began wiping the raindrops from his hair. Vincent was standing next to the coffeepot, a steaming cup of what looked like tar in his hand. “I heard a noise and went to investigate.”

“Find anything interesting?”

Logan’s eyes narrowed on him as he moved the towel over his shoulders and down his chest. Did he know something? It suddenly occurred to him that he could have probably glanced out the only window in the house without a hurricane shutter, the bathroom, and seen him and Libby in the shed. Deciding to play it cool, he headed for the coffeepot.

“A large chunk of metal flying around in the back hit the shed.” He reached for a cup hanging on the mug tree.

Vincent walked to the front door to peer out. “I see a lot of things flying around out there,” he agreed. He took a sip of his coffee. “Saw Rufus fly out of the shed heading for home like the devil was after him.” He took another drink. “Then I saw Libby…”

Why did he feel like he was about to get his ears boxed?

“Gramps, you’re beating around the bush. Why don’t you just get to the point,” Logan breathed deeply, taking a cautious sip of coffee. He made a face at the strong, bitter flavor but swallowed it anyway.

Vincent glanced his way, a twinkle dancing in his eyes. “You got something to say?”

Logan shook his head; he wasn’t about to tell his grandfather that it was none of his business. And he sure as hell wasn’t about to tell him he’d just got done making love to Libby on the old sofa.

“I just don’t want to see the girl hurt. I like her. And what’s more, I like that cantankerous old grandmother of hers.”

“I thought it was Reba you were after,” Logan admitted with some surprise.

Vincent chuckled. “Naw, I just show Reba a little attention to make Margaret jealous. She’s not my type. And don’t change the subject.”

Logan forced himself to take another swallow of coffee to stall for time, trying to think of a half decent answer. How could he tell his grandfather that he wouldn’t hurt Libby, when his gut told him he’d be lying? That he’d already hurt her. Yes, he’d told her all she’d get from him was s*x, but hell, he couldn’t fool himself into believing that’s all it was between them.

“Well?” Vincent said impatiently, a frown between his brows. “Have you come up with a good story yet?”

Logan almost spit out a mouthful of coffee, a chuckle of amusement escaping him before he could stop it. Damn, was he that easy to read? First Libby, now his grandfather. No wonder he’d never been very good a poker. “What happens between Libby and me is our business, Gramps. I wouldn’t hurt her intentionally.”

“Then I’ll come right out and ask, what are your intentions toward her?” he demanded, a spark in his eyes that warned Logan he was getting fired up. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

Like a hungry wolf that couldn’t get enough, Logan imagined. “Meaning?”

He shrugged, his thin shoulders barely moving beneath his lightweight shirt. “If you want her, go after her. But don’t play with her emotions. Do I have to remind you about Anne?

Did it feel good when she left you?”

Logan felt the heat of anger crawl up his neck, knowing exactly what his grandfather was talking about. He was probably the only one who could get away with even mentioning Anne’s name. Her pretty face flashed before his eyes, like a bad dream that wouldn’t go away. Only, when was the last time he’d dreamed of her?

There’d been a time when he’d thought Anne was the only one for him. He’d barely gotten out of the hospital when she’d decided to break off their two-year engagement. And nothing would ever convince Logan it didn’t have anything to do with his accident. The look of revulsion in her blue eyes whenever they’d touched upon his scars was testament to that.

She could barely bring herself to touch him. However, he didn’t blame her.

Libby, on the other hand, didn’t have any aversions to his imperfect body. In fact, her eyes had eaten him up like a kid eyeing an ice cream cone on a hot day. And when she caressed him with those skillful hands of hers, it was with a tender knowledge that soothed the pain from his body, and his heart.

Damn…his heart? Where the heck had that thought come from? He gave his head a brisk shake, reluctantly meeting his grandfather’s eyes, knowing he wouldn’t get by without a response of some kind. “Don’t worry about Libby, Gramps, she’s a big girl. Besides, I doubt we’ll be bumping into each other that much before I head back to California.”

Vincent’s brows rose with surprise, as he looked at Logan over the rim of his cup while taking a sip. “Sounds like you think that’s going to be soon,” he commented, sounding a little sad.

Logan drained his coffee and placed the cup in the sink. “It will be if I have anything to say about it. Looks like the rain has stopped. Let me get a shirt on and we’ll go out and assess the damage.”

Without waiting for his grandfather’s reply he left the room for his bedroom. Hoping that when he returned the subject of Libby was behind him. He was uncomfortable talking about her. Maybe because he knew that making love with her had been a mistake. One Logan knew he’d repeat as often as the situation presented itself.