Chapter 9
Mia
My life is a mess right now and lying here with Logan like this is the only thing I’m sure of.
If I weren’t so exhausted I would’ve tried harder to change his mind about kissing me. I understand that it’s important for him to talk to Rhett, and I certainly don’t want to be the reason they fight.
Besides, the anticipation between us is an amazing feeling.
I move until only half of my body is over his, and when I bring my leg up, my thigh brushes over the hard bulge in his boxers. His breath comes out in a rush and he tightens his arm around my waist.
I let my hand brush down his chest and over his abs, watching as his muscles clench at my touch. When I near his boxers he grabs my hand and brings it back to his chest.
Seducing him is quickly becoming addictive. I love seeing his reaction to me. It’s an indescribable high.
When you’ve wanted something for the better part of your life, and you finally get to have it … there’s no feeling like it in the world.
“Can I ask you something?” I whisper as I settle into his side for the night.
“Sure.” He lets my hand go, placing his arm under his head.
“When you taught me how to kiss and took me to the prom, did you do it because you were being nice to me, or because you wanted to?”
I lift my head, so I can see his reaction to my question. He turns his face to me, a sexy smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Because I wanted to,” he answers without even thinking about it. “I kissed you because I couldn’t stand the thought of another guy taking your first kiss. I took you to the prom because I wanted to spend every possible moment with you.”
How can I not love him, when he always says exactly what I want to hear? It’s as if he can see right into my heart.
“When you left it felt like you forgot about me,” I admit to him.
“I could never forget you. It’s like forgetting to breathe, and that’s just not a possibility.”
I let out a happy sigh as I press a kiss over his heart before closing my eyes.
Falling asleep in his arms is everything … it’s heaven. It’s the first night I don’t have to fantasize about him, and I have to admit, there’s nothing like the real thing.
~
When I wake up, I’m alone in bed. I get up and slip my shorts and shirt on before going to the bathroom. I quickly do my thing, using my fingers to brush my hair and teeth.
I walk to the kitchen and my heart skips a beat at the delicious sight of Logan dressed for work. Man, he fills a suit like no other. But, as good as he looks in it I can’t wait to strip it off him.
I walk to where he’s busy making coffee, and by the time he notices me, I’m reaching for the two pieces of his tie hanging loosely around his neck.
“Morning,” I say as I quickly do his tie. I used to take advantage of any reason to touch him, and teaching him how to make his tie was only one of the thousand ways.
When it’s done, I stand on my toes and press a kiss to his cheek, almost touching the corner of his mouth.
He brings his hand to my face, and like the night before, he caresses the line of my lips with his thumb.
“I loved waking up with you in my arms,” he whispers, sending shivers racing down my spine.
“I’m moving in with Rhett today, so until you talk to him, there won’t be much of that happening,” I voice my concern. As badly as I want him, I also understand that talking with Rhett is something he has to do.
His eyes meet mine and the determination I see in them warms my heart.
“I’ll talk to him.”
I hate that the pressure is on his shoulders. “I can talk to him while we’re moving my stuff,” I offer.
Logan shakes his head. “No, it’s my place to talk to him. I need to ask his blessing so I can corrupt his sister,” he teases, taking the sting out of the tension.
After we’ve had coffee, I leave so I can get to Rhett’s place before he leaves. Logan caries the heavy bags to his car, while I carry the two smaller ones.
He holds the passenger door to his Audi open for me. Once I’ve settled in the seat, he takes hold of the seatbelt and holds it out for me. I’m not going to lie, I love the attention and can’t stop smiling as he walks around to the drivers’ side.
The car and apartment is so Logan, practical but stylish.
The drive to Rhett’s place is done in silence. It’s comfortable and just another one of the many things I love about Logan. There’s not need to fill the silence.
When we get to Rhett’s door, Logan takes my face in his hands and presses a kiss to my forehead. Without breaking contact, he trails his mouth down the side of my face, but stops just short of my mouth. I groan in frustration which makes him smile.
“Soon,” he whispers, breathing the word against my tingling mouth. I lick my lips, wanting to taste the word, and accidently brush the tip of my tongue over the swell of his bottom lip.
“Fuck,” he groans, first licking, then biting his lip.
It’s easily the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. If he wanted to I’d let him take me right here in the hallway.
Not even thinking about what I’m doing, I trail the tip of my finger over his bottom lip, taking some of the wetness left behind by his tongue. I bring my finger to my mouth, hoping to get a taste of him.
His eyes darken as they follow my finger into my mouth. When I suck, he groans, and dropping his hands to my hips, he yanks my body flush with his.
I feel his hard length pressing into my stomach which makes my panties instantly wet.
“You’re not playing fair,” he growls.
Knowing he’s hard because of something I did, is a heady thought. It makes me want to see how far I can push him before he gives in.
“All’s fair in love and war.”
A sexy grin pulls at the corner of his mouth. “War?”
“Yeah, the war is on until we get to make love. Fair warning, I won’t take it easy on you.”
“Is that so?” he growls. He brings a finger to my neck and then lightly trails a straight line over my nipple until he reaches my hip. “I look forward to it.”
Taking hold of my hand, he lifts it to his mouth. Thinking he’s going to kiss the back of it, I’m surprised when he sucks my finger into his mouth. He bites the tip lightly before letting go of me.
“I better go,” he whispers. “I’ll call you later.”
I watch him walk away and wait until the elevator closes behind him, before I knock on Rhett’s door.
When the door opens, I smile. “Surprise.”
Rhett doesn’t return my smile, but instead scowls.
“What the fuck happened to your face?
“I got in a fight with Josie.” I answer him honestly.
“The bitch laid her hands on you?”
I can see where this is going and I need to stop it now. “I handled it, Rhett. I’m not a little girl anymore. Can you help me with the bags?” I hope he hears the words and realizes I’m a grown woman.
“Mia, sorry to tell you this but you’ll always be my little sister,” he says as he brings the bags inside.
I suppress the urge to roll my eyes at him, knowing it won’t help my case of being an adult.
When he places the bags at the foot of the bed, he says, “I’ll message you the contact details for the agent who helped us get our places when we moved here. Also, there are two positions you can choose from at Indie Ink. Before you tell me to shove them, hear me out -”
“Logan already talked to me about working at Indie Ink on a temporary basis. I’m good with that, so lay it on me, what are the two positions?”
I can see that I surprised him by not arguing.
“Remind me to thank Logan,” he mumbles. “One is being a PA for me, and the other is being on reception.”
“Well that’s an easy choice,” I say, scrunching my nose. “I’ll take reception.”
He looks offended, and I fight to not burst out with laughter. “Why don’t you want to be my PA?”
“No offense, Rhett, but you’re too full of shit. You’d drive me crazy. I’m your sister, remember. You’re one of those perfectionists who needs everything done a certain way. No, thank you. I’m not a sucker for punishment.”
He laughs, knowing I’m right. Plus, we’d just work on each other’s nerves. I love my brother with all my heart, but I’ll never work closely with him.
“Take today to get settled and set up an appointment with the agent. There will be two of you on reception. I’ll tell Melissa to expect you tomorrow. I have a meeting in the UK, so I’ll be leaving tomorrow for a few days.”
“Do you go overseas a lot?” I ask.
“Not that much, but we’re busy with a merger, so it needs my attention in person.”
“How long will you be gone for?”
“Just a few days. If you need anything, phone Logan.”
I smile at that. I wonder if Rhett even realizes that subconsciously he only trusts Logan when it comes to me. Little does he know…
I spent the day getting settled into Rhett’s guest room and make an appointment with Suzie, the agent. She said she has a few places she can show me that she thinks I’ll be interested in.
Secretly I’m hoping that I won’t have to buy my own place but that I’ll be moving in with Logan soon. We’ve known each other forever, so it’s not like we have to get to know each other first. There’s nothing I want more than being able to spend every night in his arms.
I sit on my bed reliving the night before. Logan was so gentle with me. It was the happiest moment of my life when he told me how he felt about me, and that he’ll talk to Rhett. I don’t know what I’ll do if Rhett has a problem with us dating.
My thoughts turn to Josie, and I touch the corner of my mouth that’s still tender from where she slapped me.
I get up and walk over to my phone, and when I see that I have a message, I smile, hoping it’s from Logan.
It’s from Josie and what I read makes my smile die a quick death.
Josie: Fuck you, bitch! Fuck you. Fuck Rhett. Fuck Carter. Fuck Jaxson. Fuck Marcus. Fuck Logan. You fucked me over, just like those assholes did. I’m going to make you all pay.
I can feel the rage coming right through the message. I’m so upset that I can’t read it again.
I can’t believe what I just read. I try to remember if there were signs that Josie was a bitch all along, but I can’t think of anything. Up until we moved to New York she was really a good friend. Is my judgment of people so off that I can’t see the difference between a good person and an asshole?
~
The second Rhett gets home I show him the message.
“What does she mean by I fucked her over?” I know he’s not talking to me, but the second he says the words out loud I think of something.
“Rhett, did you have sex with her?” I hate asking my brother that question, not wanting to know anything about his sex life.
“How the fuck should I know,” he snaps as he scowls at me. “I can’t remember half the women I’ve been with.”
“Totally oversharing right there,” I say, pulling a mock horrified face. “Do you think Marcus still has the screw crew list?”
I hate that they have a list. Even though I want to know if Josie’s name is on Rhett’s list, I still hope that he’ll tell me they’ve thrown it away.
“How do you know about the list?” Rhett asks, surprise flickering in his eyes.
“I hate to disappoint you, brother, but it wasn’t exactly a state secret.”
“Marcus has the list,” he says, not looking happy that I know about their deep, dark secret.
“Ask him to send you the list and check if Josie’s name is on it. That will explain a lot.”
“You think she became friends with you to get back at me?”
“Crazier things have happened when it comes to you and your friends. I hate to think that she used me, but it would explain her recent behavior. I hope I’m wrong though.”
Marcus just emailed Rhett the list, and I watch his face for any signs as he reads over it. He frowns and I can’t keep quiet anymore.
“What? Is she on the list or not?”
He leans forward looking really confused. “Carter screwed her,” he says, but I can see his eyes are still skimming the page, then he says, “Fuck, Marcus did as well.” The confusion quickly gives way to anger. “How the fuck did she get it right to fuck us all? We have a rule that none of us bangs the same chick.”
“Eww…” I’m going to gag thinking that they all practically shared Josie.
“Wait. What?”
My whole body jerks when I realize he said ‘all’.
“What do you mean all of you?”
I get up, and rush to stand behind him. The list of names is sickening to see, and for the first time in my life, I’m disappointed in Rhett. My eyes fly over the all the names listed under Carter, then Rhett, then Marcus, then Jaxson. My heart sinks painfully like a stone when I see the list beneath Logan’s name. It’s not as long as the other’s but it’s more than I can count on one hand, and one of the names is Josie.
I don’t realize I’m crying until I feel Rhett’s hand on my cheek. I jerk away from him, not wanting him to touch me.
“How could you? Those are actual people, Rhett! They are women with feelings. How could you be with so many?”
I grab my phone and turn my back to Rhett, quickly typing out a message to Josie.
Mia: Did you befriend me to get back at the guys because they all slept with you?
It’s a bold question but one I deserve an answer to.
I watch as one tick appears next to the message, showing it’s been delivered, then a second tick indicating that she’s reading it. Little bubbles start to dance over the screen, as she replies.
You actually thought I was your friend? How fucking gullible of you. You’re their untouchable little princess. The only woman worth something to them. PS. I paid Connor to sleep with you. Now you know how I felt. I stole your phone so you would know what it’s like when they throw you away like yesterday’s trash. It hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it?
I cover my mouth to keep the cry in. Rhett grabs my phone from me and reads the message. His face pales and when he looks at me, I can only shake my head.
I have no words for the disappointment I feel. I feel used and dirty, knowing Connor took my virginity because Josie paid him to.
When Rhett reaches for me, I shake my head again, stepping out of his reach.
I can’t look at him any longer and go to my room. I struggle to hold it together until I close the door behind me.
I don’t know who hurt me more. Rhett or Logan?
Seeing all those names on Logan’s list makes me wonder if what we have is even real. He won’t even kiss me, but he gave himself so easily to six other women.
Where all his words just empty promises so he could add me to his list?