Chapter Thirteen
Four days later
“Babe…”
Tori shook her head. Nope. She wasn’t waking up. If she woke up, then she’d have to admit they were back in Atlanta, and it would be time to take Logan to the airport. She wasn’t ready for that. “Sleeping.”
“No you’re not.” He laughed against her bare belly, which just made her ache between her legs. Which is where he was headed, the evil, wonderful man. “Come on. I’ll give you a nice little orgasm before we have to head out.”
She blinked her eyes open and slowly propped herself up on her elbows as he peeled back the sheet. They’d arrived back at her apartment just before midnight, tumbled into her bed naked after a quick shower, and fallen fast asleep instead of making love.
But she wanted to have one last time with him before he had to head back to Coronado. “I want you inside me,” she whispered as he kissed the crease between her torso and her thigh.
“Then you’d better come quickly on my tongue.”
She did, and then he pulled her on top of him and let her ride while he stroked her breasts and gazed up at her like a man in love. Which he was—he didn’t hide that. And as overwhelming as it was to know how strongly he felt, it never felt like too much. How could it when he was still her best friend, and now her lover as well? And she meant lover in every way, although she hadn’t yet made the same confession of love in the same way. It felt weird and wrong to leap into making that kind of promise to Logan when a week earlier she’d been ready to marry someone else.
What a terrifying disaster that would have been. And after their week together, she had no doubt that she’d not only dodged a bullet, but found a true hero and partner in her best friend at the same time.
But it was still too soon to say that out loud.
With her body, though, she could say everything that needed to be spelled out.I’m going to miss you like crazy. I’ll think of you every minute of every day until I can hold you again. You’re the only man I can imagine myself being with for the rest of my life. Oh, God, this is scary.
She could say some of that out loud. But they didn’t need words. They had a connection that went deeper than that.
And he knew she loved him on a bone-deep level, always had and always would.
When she slowed her pace, holding him inside her longer so she could rub against him before rising again, he pushed himself up to sit, holding her in his lap, and they finished together in a sticky, grinding tangle.
Showering was bittersweet. She didn’t want to wash him off her body, but it wouldn’t be romantic once she left her bedroom smelling of sex. He scrubbed her back and she soaped up his chest, and they avoided talking about what came next.
The truth was, neither of them knew. Not the details. The broad strokes weren’t in question—she was his, and he was hers, and they’d figure it out.
They had time.
But that didn’t make saying goodbye any easier.
She let him drive to the airport. He looked good in her car. Big and capable, strong and handsome.
The tears started in her chest as they parked. That’s where they stayed, though, a hot, burning ball of sadness that she wasn’t letting out until he left. Not that he missed her growing sadness.
He squeezed her hand as they walked together to the departures area. Held her tight to his chest, even as the clock ticked toward the time when he’d have to let her go.
“What do we say, babe?”
How could he be this strong, when she just wanted to cling to him and cry? She swallowed hard and nodded. “I can’t wait to do it all over again.”
“That’s right. You’re my beautiful, smart, incredible best friend. And I’m counting down the days until I get to kiss you right…here.” He brushed his lips against the corner of her mouth. “And here,” he whispered, light as a feather against the other corner. “And definitely…” He hauled her against him, and kissed her until her head was spinning and her heart was full. “Right there.”
She grinned as he stepped back, and they exchanged a private laugh as he walked toward the security line.
I can’t wait to do it all over again.His words—now her words—rang loud and clear in her head as she watched him exchange a quick, respectful few words with the TSA agent, then snake through the line of travelers. And when he turned to give her one last wave before heading through to the departure area, she knew her heart might be leaving for California, but Logan had left his with her right there in Atlanta.
She pressed her hand to her chest, waved back, and blinked away the tears that threatened to fall until he was out of sight.
The walk back to her car was a blur. So was the time spent sitting in stunned silence.
But slowly, piece by piece, reality clicked back into place.
