Waiting For Us (Beautiful Surrender #3)(9)
Author: Ava Claire

“That’ll be all, Mr. Johnston.” The friendliness was long gone, her lips a red slash, her eyes the color of fire and brimstone.

Jake’s hold on my arm slackened and I snatched my arm the rest of the way, fighting the urge to stick out my tongue. I stepped around him and jutted out my hand toward my savior.

“Hi! I’m—”

“Right this way.”

My arm dropped to my side as I huffed and puffed to follow her. The elevator door almost closed on me as I struggled to catch my breath. She scanned her ID badge and hit floor 25, then punched it four more times for good measure.

She glanced over at me finally, her eyes taking stock of me as she tapped her foot impatiently. “You’re curvier than I was expecting.” She blushed immediately, pressing a hand to her head like she was feverish. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

I shrugged a shoulder, even though it did matter a little. I’d always been hippy, with itty bitty br**sts and it had taken years for me to accept my pear shaped body. If I had the confidence back then that I had now, I’d punch the guys that sung “Baby got back” when I walked in the room. There was still a dash of that little girl hidden in my heart who cried because no matter how many meals I skipped and trips around the track that I made, it was never enough. I’d look at magazines filled with pictures of women that looked like the giant beside me and cry until my eyes swelled shut.

I sunk my teeth into my lip, banishing the memories. “Where are you taking me?”

She looked at me like I’d just asked the dumbest question she’d ever heard. “To see Mr. Mason.”

The elevator slammed to a stop and my heart fell to the floor. “I—uh—”

“You’re the girl from Santa Cruz, right? The reason he’s been biting off everyone’s head for the past two weeks?” She strutted from the elevator, then jerked forward to stop the doors from drawing closed. “Unless you’re an intrepid reporter with quite the scoop.”

Her last sentence went right over my head. He was miserable? And not just because of the Delilah drama, but because he missed me?

My grin stretched from ear to ear and faltered when I realized the brunette was still waiting.

I hurried out behind her. “I’m not from Santa Cruz. But I am Melissa.”

“Awesome. I’m Jessica,” she responded crisply. “I’m hoping that maybe you can run in there, kiss and makeup, screw him on the desk, something, because we need our boss back.”

We were alone in the skinny corridor, but I still glanced around, my face warm. The tail wind from her speedy gait cooled my embarrassment as I followed on her heels. My heart was screeching in my ears, my breathing as erratic and breathless as my movements. Finally, we stopped at a glass sliding door.

She turned to the side, the friendly smile back and situated in place. “I’ll give you two some privacy.” Before I could even ask, she finished, “Just walk down the hall to your right. His office is at the end.”

She shot back the way we came, her heel taps becoming quieter and quieter until the only thing left was my heart raging in my ears. I licked my lips and followed her directions, walking through the sliding glass door, blinking as I made a hard right down a dark hallway, the amber outline from his office door the only light. I stopped in front of the wooden thing, reading his name in perfect letters on the metal placard. My arm rose slowly and I knocked twice and held my breath.

“Come on in,” a voice gruffly answered.

I nibbled on my bottom lip. There was nothing gruff about the Logan I’d met. He was playful and slick and warm and—

Things have happened. A lot has happened.

I was one of the things that happened.

And I was there to make things right.

I stepped inside and almost shielded my eyes. The sun screamed into the room, shining through the floor to ceiling windows. My mouth fell open when I saw him, standing behind his desk, tie loose, shirt half untucked and sleeves rolled up to the elbow. His dark hair was longer, perfect for the surfers we left behind in Pleasure Point. Dark waves fell into his green eyes and he pushed it back, staring at me like I was some apparition.

My heart took the wheel and I rushed to him, not saying a word as I threw my arms around his neck and slammed my lips into his.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I had this whole itinerary. A bullet point list of how everything would go when I saw Logan again. At the top of this list in bold and all caps was, ‘DO NOT KISS HIM UNTIL YOU SAY YOUR PIECE’.

Yeah…about that…

My script was forgotten; my explanation as to why I ran after I poured out my heart and said I loved him null and void. There was only his tongue and my tongue. The erotic brush of his scruffy face as his lips detoured up and down my jaw line and paused at the nape of my neck. His teeth dragged across my skin, sending a slice of pain across my body that melted into ecstasy as his tongue flicked across the spot tenderly. Oh, my body missed him. It was like I was finally waking up, every part of me stretching and wrapping around his touch. Breathing him in.

Our lips hovered above each other’s, his breath hot with lust and mine hot with need. I jutted my tongue out, tracing the outline of his mouth, savoring the taste of his sweat and the deep moan that sounded in his throat.

His fingers were intertwined in my hair, holding me close. His grip tightened as questions raced across his face. “Melissa, I—”

I pressed my fingers against his lips. There would be time for talking and questions later. The only thing I wanted, needed was him. His lips curled deviously, understanding the gesture and my request. When his wrist wound and his grip on my hair tightened viciously, I knew it would be honored, but for a price.

We weren’t making love.

He was going to f**k me.

My head was pulled all the way back, my neck completely exposed. His other hand ripped at my clothing, tearing off my trench. I gasped when his fist balled the front of my shirt and literally snatched it off my body, buttons flying.

“My questions will be answered,” he murmured darkly. “But I want you so damn bad that I’ll wait. You remember what to say if it becomes too much?”

“Yes,” I whimpered. His hold loosened as he leaned down to kiss my neck, taking his time as he roamed over my skin, making me so wet I was surprised I hadn’t soaked right through my jeans.

His lips shot to my ear. “Take the rest off and lay over my desk.”

I obeyed, my fingers gliding over the hooks of my bra, letting it fall to my ankles. My jeans were next, kicked off to the side. I made him work for the underwear, hooking both sides of the thing and slowly pulling it down and off. I stood bare and naked, skin slick with sweat, ni**les hardened rocks. My pu**y ached and dripped for his savage touch.