Cowboy Truth: Cowboy Justice Association #3 (21 page)

Logan’s lips twitched as if he was aware of her predicament. “Go ahead. I can’t wait to hear this last one. Don’t waste it.”

“Rule number three,” she began again. “You’ll always treat me with respect even around your friends.”

Scowling, he leaned forward in his chair. “Have I ever not treated you with respect?”

“This doesn’t really have anything to do with you,” she admitted.

His expression cleared. “Some asshole acted like a jerk whenever he was around his friends?”

She nodded, remembering how Lucas had belittled her writing when they were around his literary friends. After all, she only wrote
commercial fiction
that made money. They sold
literature
.

“I just don’t want a repeat of that. It was very uncomfortable for me.” So uncomfortable she’d broken up with him shortly after. His condescending attitude had been almost insufferable.

“Agreed.” Logan grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “Now it’s my turn.”

Ava felt a moment’s trepidation at she studied his delighted expression. She’d opened up a can of proverbial worms.

*   *   *   *

Ava wanted rules. Logan wasn’t a big fan of them but if they made her feel more secure he could handle it. Logan knew cheating and being a dick wouldn’t be an issue but she still needed more reassurance. She wasn’t asking for all that much. Basically she was asking he not be a total jerk.

He could handle it.

She was now sitting across from him, impatiently waiting for his own rules. He’d set few of them in his life. Mostly Logan lived by the golden rule. Treat others how you want to be treated and don’t be an asshole. He was a firm believer in karma. He’d seen it in the Middle East and it was a heartless bitch.

Logan decided to have some fun with her. “Rule number one. If I have a hard day at the office you have to rub my shoulders.”

He watched her expression closely as she digested his outrageous request. The only reason he’d ever received a back rub was because a woman was trying to seduce him into bed. The state of his day had never been a question.

She nodded, her body relaxing slightly as if she had been braced for the worst. She hadn’t heard the next two yet though.

“Rule number two. You have to make me those eggs your mother had for breakfast today every morning after.”

Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. “You want me to cook for you? That’s a rule?”

He stretched out his long legs and enjoyed her discomfiture. “They were excellent. I don’t remember the last time someone fixed me breakfast. I liked it.”

Her expression clearly told him she thought he was crazy. He was having a great time with this. Finally she nodded. “I guess that’s no big deal. Although I think it’s a weird rule.”

“You didn’t have a rule against weird rules,” he said cheerfully.

“That’s what you really want?” she asked, confusion clearly written in her delicate features. “Breakfast and shoulder massages?”

He shrugged. “Everything else is negotiable. Rule number three.”

Her shoulders straightened and her chin went up as if he was going to give her a right hook. “What’s next? Housework?”

Logan chuckled and shook his head. “I’ve got that covered. Rule number three. You’ll be open to trying new things in the bedroom. Things you haven’t done before or wouldn’t normally be comfortable with.”

She gaped at him, her face turning a flaming crimson. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “You want to do something kinky?” Her voice had dropped to a whisper which really wasn’t necessary. Their table was off in the corner and the piped in music muffled most conversation.

“I most definitely want to do something kinky. I think you do too. So let’s make it a rule.”

Indecision was written all over her face. He knew how to sweeten the pot having already figured out her weak spot.

“I thought it would help you shake out of that good girl mode you’ve been in.” He watched her reaction closely knowing this was something she desperately wanted.

Her teeth sunk deeply into her bottom lip. “I do want to do that.”

“Then let me help you.” Erotic images ran through Logan’s mind and all of them starred this beautiful woman.

“Help me?” Her eyebrows went up. “I think you’d be helping yourself.”

“Let’s just call it mutually beneficial. Agreed?” He could see the indecision in her eyes. “I only said open to it, good girl. You have the final say.”

“Okay.” She pulled a face at him. “You have strange rules.”

“You have boring rules,” he retorted. “You’re the only woman I’ve given the opportunity to do this and look what you do with them. Just a lot of talk about respect and calling the next day. I would have done those things anyway.”

She clearly wasn’t convinced of that, ergo her rules. Maybe he should give her three more and see if she came up with something more interesting. Appearing to have something else on her mind, she frowned and dropped the fork on her plate.

“What about when I leave? What happens then? I can’t stay here forever.”

Why not?

Logan ignored the little voice inside of him. Luckily he hadn’t asked the question out loud. She had a life in Portland, a home and friends she wanted to get back to. He felt a twinge of unfamiliar jealousy and pushed it away, not liking the feeling in the least. He’d never been the jealous type and he wasn’t about to start now.

“How long do you think you’ll be here?” Logan’s fingers drummed on the tablecloth. “Are you planning to leave right away?”

“Not right away,” she denied. “Just until you find Bill Bryson’s murderer.”

“Ava, it could take months to find Bill’s killer. Or I might never find him,” Logan said gently, squeezing her hand. “Are you prepared to hang around that long? Is there something you need to be back in Portland to do?”

“I need to start my new book but I can do that anywhere really. I have a friend watering my plants. I guess I just figured you’d solve the case in the next couple of weeks.”

It was just as well she wasn’t looking too far in the future. He’d never been the forever kind. Although if he ever did settle down, Ava would be the type of woman he would want.

Logan nodded. “Then we won’t look further than the next two weeks. When those two weeks are up, we’ll reassess the situation and decide if we want to carry this forward.”

“And if we do? We might have to do the long-distance thing.”

“If in two weeks we still feel the same, that will be the least of our worries.” Logan gave her a lopsided smile. “I’m not sure how to say this but I’m not looking for a wife and a couple of kids, Ava. If you want the fantasy, I’m not your guy.”

“I’ve never wanted to get married.” Frankly, her simple statement, spoken sincerely shocked him. He’d assumed that she was looking for a husband, a commitment. She’d make a wonderful wife and mother. Just not for him. “I like being independent. I don’t need to marry a man to take care of me or anything. As for kids, well, I’m still young. I can decide that later.”

“As long as we’re on the same page,” Logan said, waiting for the rush of relief but it never came. “I’ll try to be a good boyfriend while you’re here.”

“I’ll try too. I’ll even follow your stupid rules.”

He leaned forward and her perfume teased his nostrils. Now that they had the mundane matters taken care of he was ready for more pleasurable pursuits. He’d been thinking about it all damn day.

“Would a good girlfriend go home with her man and do unspeakable acts of debauchery with him? Rule number three, good girl.”

He watched with amusement as her hands fluttered to her throat and then nervously pushed her curls off her forehead.

“I think she would.”

Logan admired her bravery. He’d be sure to reward it handsomely. Just as soon as they got home.

Chapter Sixteen

T
hey scampered into Logan’s bedroom, tripping on the stairs. Breathless and panting, Ava paused in the middle of the bedroom, suddenly unsure as to what she was supposed to do. Logan had snapped on the bedside lamp and she wasn’t sure she wanted to strip to her birthday suit while he stood there and watched.

Logan tossed his hat on the dresser and started to pull off his boots. “Take off those clothes, Ava, unless you want them torn off.”

No man had wanted her enough to tear her clothes off in a fit of passion. It sounded kind of fun. At least it would be until tomorrow morning when she had to go home in a towel. After making him eggs, of course.

“You’re bossy.” She gave him a teasing smile but he chuckled and grinned in response. Arousal curled in her belly as he kicked his boots to the side and stepped closer. She could feel the heat from his body and couldn’t resist the urge to run her hands down his muscular chest before wrapping them around his lean middle.

He bent his head and kissed her so thoroughly it made her head spin and her knees weak. It really wasn’t fair that he was this potently male. But he was all hers for the next two weeks. When he lifted his head he continued to nibble on her lower lip.

“You don’t know the half of it. I like getting my way so start shucking those clothes, woman.”

Ava tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips. “Are you going to do that all the time?”

“Do what?”

“Issue orders like that. You could try asking me.”

He looked every inch the arrogant male at that moment. He pulled her close and locked her lips with his, letting her know in vivid detail who the man was in this relationship. It was a dominating kiss, but at the same time gentle. He simply kissed her as if she belonged to him body and soul. She had a feeling when the two weeks were up that would be true. By the time he let her go, her cheeks were hot and she wanted more, much more. From the amused look on Logan’s face, he was well aware of her predicament.

“Asking takes too much time, good girl. I’d rather just tell you how things are going to be. If you have an issue we can talk about it. Then we’ll do it my way.”

He certainly knew how to poke and prod at her normally placid temperament. “You’re not the boss of me, Logan Wright.”

“That’s what you think.” He was obviously enjoying this battle of wills, supremely confident he would win any skirmish. She had to admit the back and forth had lit a fire inside of her that made this entire interaction seem bold and sexy. She’d never realized competition could heighten her arousal. “By the way, you have a punishment coming for leaving last night. I think you’re going to spend some quality time over my knee.”

Shock and arousal flew through her veins like wildfire. If this was Rule Number Three she had to at least consider it. It took mere seconds to realize her body had already responded in the affirmative while her mind was taking its sweet time catching up.

He ran his finger over her hot cheeks and down to trace her lips. “From that expression it looks like you like the idea. I give spankings to naughty naked girls so off with those clothes. If I have to tell you again it will only make your punishment worse.”

She froze, searching his features. He appeared to be completely serious. She tugged at her clothes trying not to think about the other women he might have done this with. There was no place for jealousy at a moment like this. She’d been with other men too.

Just not this kinky.

She pushed her panties down her legs and tossed them away but Logan caught them easily in midair. To her surprise he’d picked up her discarded clothing and carefully folded them before setting them on top of the dresser. He laid her panties and bra with her slacks and shirt.

“You don’t want your clothes to be wrinkled in the morning. Mommy and Daddy, remember? We don’t have to make it obvious.”

She would have made a smart ass comment about his domestic skills but he started plucking open the buttons to his shirt and her mouth went dry. His tan, muscular chest was revealed inch by inch until he was finally out of it. She followed his movements as if in a trance as he popped open the buttons on his fly and shoved the denim down and off along with his boxer shorts. Wanting to admire him she took a step back but he was already moving forward.

He pulled her into his arms, their bare bodies pressed close together. She could feel the rough hair on his thighs as their limbs brushed together. Her hard nipples were smashed against him and his cock rubbed her belly.