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Rhyme (Hard Rocked Series, #1) by Lexy Timms (19)

Olivia and Logan emerged together from together from Nathan’s office some time later, Nathan assuring them both that he’d be following up with them. That he would start a formal investigation, if that’s what Olivia wanted. As they left, Lori emerged from a nearby conference room carrying her purse and coat. She followed them to the elevator and rode down to the lobby with them.

“I have no desire to be anywhere near that man. I’ve been sitting up here, writing out a statement. Nathan told me to take tomorrow off, and then I’ll be temporarily reassigned until some kind of decision is reached about Ryan.”

“Did Nathan say anything else?” Olivia tried to keep a distance between herself and Logan, to maintain the façade of attorney and client, but she longed to be next to him. Longed to feel his arm around her. Even though Lori had heard everything Ryan had said, Olivia hoped the other woman would just chalk it up to Ryan’s anger at being caught, believe it was just him spewing vitriolic words at Olivia, and nothing more. She and Logan had known they’d be taking the risk of exposing the affair to Lori, trusting that she’d be so caught up in whatever happened it wouldn’t really register to her what she was seeing.

“Just that it would be best if Ryan were on leave. He certainly can’t come to work now.” Lori snorted in disgust. “Of course, the leave will be paid, so it won’t make any difference to him. Other than the damage to his ego. And believe me, that man has an ego bigger than the Empire State Building, but as fragile as spun sugar. When his ego or his pride is damaged, look out.”

Olivia frowned at Lori. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I think he’s wounded. You’ve wounded him where it hurts. And you’ve damaged his reputation.”

“He did that himself,” Logan said.

The elevator deposited them in the lobby. Lori turned, putting a hand on Olivia’s arm. “I’d be careful if I were you. There are reasons that I didn’t speak out all these years.”

It would have been wiser to take separate cabs back to Logan’s hotel, but Olivia was done pretending for the day. She got into the back seat of the car with him, leaning into his side in silence during the brief ride. They were back in his room before Olivia was finally able to let go of the tight rein on her emotions. And when she did, the tears started. Logan held her, drawing her down on the couch beside him.

“Shh. It’s over. It’s done. You’re fine. You’re fine, leannon.” His words grew less distinct, English slowly replaced with soft Gaelic, the words gradually forming the rhythm of music. It wasn’t long before Olivia recognized the Olivia of the song from the gig in Scotland. The song about home.

She raised her head, her tears trailing away to sniffles. “Thank you, Logan. For thinking of this. For being there when I needed you. Thank you for everything.”

An involuntary shiver ran through her body. “I can still feel his hands on me. Touching me. I knew that I had to let him, but still. It was... And for you to see that...”

“Olivia. I know why you did it. I was in on the idea. Let it rest. You’ll make yourself ill.”

He sat back, pulling her into his lap, and stroked her hair until the shivers stopped. Olivia leaned against his chest and felt the tension gradually fade.

“Tell me what you need, mo chridhe?”

She took a breath. “I want to stop feeling his hands on me. I want you.”

“I think I can oblige.” The teasing light in Logan’s eyes, and his gentle smile made her relax.

Logan slid his hands beneath her suit jacket, fingers brushing against the silk. It was so different from Ryan’s touch, and already the memory of Ryan’s hands was fading under her desire for Logan. She pressed eagerly against him. He was watching his hands as they moved over the material, over her breasts beneath, his eyes half-closed and dreamy. Her nipples tightened, pushing against the silk.

“You’re not hungry, are you? For dinner, I mean.” His eyes met hers. She shook her head, and the seductive smile she received in return set off a small explosion low in her belly.

With his help, she shrugged out of her jacket, letting it fall to the floor. Logan’s eyes traveled slowly down over her body, and she enjoyed every moment of his gaze, the fire and passion in his eyes mirroring the heat that was blooming inside her.

He looked at her like she was beautiful. Precious. Not like she was some object he wanted to acquire. Under his eyes, she felt loved, and powerful. Olivia breathed his name, and leaned forward, claiming a gentle but insistent kiss.

The pressure of his hands increased, and soon she was moaning against his mouth. She was going frustrated at the confines of her clothing and shifted on Logan’s lap, tugging her skirt up her legs, straddling his hips.

The touch of his fingers on her inner thigh sent a shiver through her body. They crept higher, and she spread her legs a little further, her skirt rucked up entirely around her hips. Every caress sent new ribbons of heat through her.

Logan went still. His eyes widened, and then he looked up at her, a smile flickering around the corners of his mouth even as he tried to keep a straight face. “Why, Miss Michaels, I’m shocked. You’re not wearing anything under your dress.” His laugh was low and warm, and it sent curled behind her ribs. His eyebrows drew together in mock reproach. “What exactly were you planning for today?”

“Actually,” Olivia pointed out primly. “I am wearing stockings. And garters.”

The heat in his eyes sent a pleasant shudder through her. “That you are,” he agreed. “Are these for me?”

“Just for you,” Olivia promised, and meant it completely. The first time they’d met, she’d been wearing lingerie for the man who had dumped her over the phone. This time, it was all for the one in front of her.

His fingers slipped up to the apex of her thighs, stroking her softly, and her hips rocked against the pressure in response, her body undulating into his touch. When she spoke, her voice was a breathless whisper. “I wanted to give us both a treat, after this afternoon.” She met his gaze, lips parted.

“Oh, believe me, you’ve done that.” Logan’s voice had dropped low, roughened at its edges and husky with want. “You’re utterly gorgeous, leannon.”

A flush heated Olivia’s cheeks. He leaned forward, one arm behind her back, his skin warm through the thin shirt. She was cradled between the hand on her inner thigh and the one between her shoulder blades. As he held her, he bent his head, lips brushing the silk of her blouse. His breath was warm, the fabric fine enough that she could feel every nuance of his mouth on her body, ever breath filtered through the fabric.

The touch of his tongue on her nipple made her cry out, the friction of the wet silk against her body an entirely unfamiliar sensation. She wound her fingers through his dark hair, holding him gently against her breast, and he drew her into his mouth. It was gentle at first, but with increasing fervor. He moved to the other side.

Olivia was moaning, back arched, pressing herself against Logan. His fingers were still exploring: stroking over her folds, slipping inside her. And the combination of his lips and tongue and fingers all conspired to drive her into a state of complete abandon.

If Logan’s hands hadn’t been holding her, she would have tumbled off his lap. As she came, he held her hard against him, his cheek turned against her breast, moaning with her as she shook in his embrace.

She finally sat up, and he raised his head, eyes meeting hers. Her breath had slowed, her heart rate gradually decreasing back to normal. She could feel Logan, though, still hard against her thigh under his suit pants.

“I’m afraid I’ve ruined your blouse.”

The words were completely unexpected. Olivia dissolved into a fit of giggles. She laughed until her muscles were sore with it, sliding off Logan’s lap to lie on her back on the couch. Letting them run their course while he watched, an amused smile on his lips.

“It’s good to hear you laugh again,” Logan said, when she had mostly managed to come back to herself. “It seems like so long since I’ve heard you so happy.” He leaned over, kissing her briefly as the last of her giggles faded.

As he straightened, she stretched her arms over her head, feeling the wet silk clinging to her body. Logan’s eyes strayed from her face, trailing down her body. She knew her skirt was still up around her hips, leaving her bare below the waist except for the stockings and garter belt.

“Like what you see?” Arms still extended, she arched her back slightly, the silk molding closer to her curves.

“Oh. Aye.” His voice was a low growl and it set off a corresponding shudder in Olivia. The amused look on his face had been replaced by something else, a wild and dangerous look. A look that had Olivia drawing in a sharp breath, her heart fluttering in her chest. His eyes met hers again.

“As much as I like this blouse, I think it’s needing to go.”

She started to reach for the buttons, but Logan was quicker, grabbing the front of the blouse and pulling sharply. Buttons went flying. He helped her slide it from her shoulders and tossed it to the floor.

“I liked that blouse,” Olivia said, mock-pouting at Logan. The cool air on her damp skin made her shiver, her nipples peaking tighter.

“I’ll buy you a dozen.” Logan leaned over, his lips hard on hers, his tongue flicking over her lower lip. His hands were at her hips in an attempt to tug the skirt off. Olivia covered his hands with hers, breaking away from their kiss.

“I also like the skirt. So give me a second.” She grinned up at him. “There’s a zipper.”

She tugged it down, and Logan quickly had the skirt joining the blouse on the floor, leaving Olivia nearly naked on the couch.

He sat back, kneeling between her legs, and undid the buttons on his pants with an impatient hand. She was incapable of looking anywhere else but where his fingers worked, the bulge of his erection so very obvious, and all the more tantalizing because she knew that she was the one who had done that to him. That she aroused him. The knowledge made her warm.

With a slowness that belied their mutual desire, Logan stood, leaving his flies undone but his pants in place, the head of his erection just visible above the waistband. Olivia bit her lip, wanting more, reaching for him. But he just smiled, undoing the buttons of his shirt one at a time, teasing her as he stopped to slowly undo the buttons on the cuffs.

He left his shirt open too, revealing a seductive view of his chest and stomach, as he looked own at her, eyes traveling over every inch of her body. Everything he wanted to do to her was written in his gaze, and Olivia swallowed hard around a moan.

At last, Logan shed his shirt, and Olivia let her eyes wander over his broad chest, down his torso to the pants that still concealed most of his length. Logan drew them down over his hips, finally, kicking them away, and stood naked in front of her.

The strip tease on its own had been enough to leave her wet with want again, every nerve ending singing with desire. She wanted him: to touch him, to have his hands on her skin again. Her body was moving on its own, hips rising, fingers curling and uncurling against the couch cushions. His restraint was utterly maddening, and she was on the verge of begging him to come to her when he did. He sank down on the couch, and pulled her effortlessly into his lap once more, so much bare skin against skin.

He held her gaze for a moment, his eyes burning with a fire that matched her own. His hand reached out, brushed over her cheek with a tenderness that contradicted that heat. Or maybe complimented it. Then he dropped the touch and wrapped his hands around her hips. They came together.

There was nothing restrained any more in either of them. They moved hard and fast, with an intensity that left her gasping. She met him fully, all of the emotions and tensions of the day transmuted into pure, animal lust.

One of Logan’s hands slid up from her hip to her breast, thumb rubbing circles over her nipple. She braced herself with hands on his shoulders and took control, setting the pace. She pushed him to the edge, only to pull back at the last minute before either of them could fall over that cliff. And then again.

Logan growled. Abruptly, they were shifting, turning, and Olivia was on her back on the wide couch, looking up at him with her hair spilled around her. She surrendered to that desire, wrapping her legs around his hips as he filled her once more. There was no turning back this time. No reason to control anything. She was free to fall, free to let him take her with him over the edge.

He held her face in his hands, his body rising above her, his breath coming hard and fast, their bodies locked together. The strength of his gaze took her breath away, his words washing over her.

“Dammit, woman, but I love you. More than I thought possible.”

His eyes closed. He cried out. Her body responded, arching beneath him, pulling him closer. As he shuddered he dropped his face to his shoulder. Groaned low in his throat.

There seemed to be no end, and Olivia lost track of time and space. Her body was consumed with wave after wave of ecstasy, and, from a distance, she heard herself crying out—high and keening, mixed with Logan’s deeper noises.

Sometime later, she became aware of their breathing. Breath gradually slowing. Logan rolled them over so that they lay on their sides, his arms still holding her close. Olivia snuggled into his embrace and breathed in the scent of him, stronger with their exertion.

“I love you too,” she breathed against his chest.

He stroked her back. Whispered words half heard into her hair. But the last ones she heard clearly. Recognized as the ones he had said to her back in Inverness, when they had pledged to hold together through whatever came.

“’S ann leatsa a tha mo chridhe gu brath.”

Her eyes met his and she repeated the words, a smile on her lips. “My heart is yours forever.”

There were still troubles waiting for them. Ryan wouldn’t be happy that he had been exposed for what he truly was. The suit with Ashton was only beginning. But in that moment, Olivia couldn’t think of a time she had been happier.

Whatever happened, they would face it side by side, and get through it together.

That was enough for her.

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THE END

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Harmony – Book 2