“And now you’re a success and making money and you could buy a house anywhere you want to, yet you still live in a condo in L.A. Why?”
Wasn’t that the million-dollar question? “Because I still don’t feel . . . settled. I still feel like that nomad, like I haven’t yet found that place I can call home yet.”
“So you’re saying you’re not happy?”
“I am happy. I have the career I’ve always dreamed of and I love the travel, which isn’t at all like all the moving around I did as a kid.”
He crossed his arms and gave her a look. “Because you’re the one calling the shots now?”
“I guess so. There’s a lot to be said for being in charge of creating your own destiny, Logan.”
“In other words, you’re not going to marry some dude in the military.”
She gave him a horrified look. “God, no. Any more than you’re going to marry some citified chick who’s going to give you three children, then abandon them.”
His jaw went tight and she laid her hand on his arm. “Your dad didn’t make a mistake, Logan, he just fell in love. But you learned from the mistakes your mother made. Give yourself some credit and know when the time comes, you’ll choose the right woman, the one who’ll love this land as much as you do, and who’ll be here for your kids.”
Logan looked at Des, this citified chick she was just talking about. He wondered if she realized how much she had just been describing herself. A worldly young woman whose life was just starting out, who still had dreams yet to fulfill.
A woman like her would never be satisfied with a life on a ranch.
Not that he was thinking of marrying her or anything. He could never see her as a ranch wife, could never imagine a Hollywood actress as a wife and mother, working the land side by side with him.
But he liked talking to her, and there weren’t a lot of women he could open up to like he had with Des. She understood him, and after tonight, he understood her a lot better, too.
So after she was finished shooting her movie she’d go her way, and he’d go his.
And maybe, just maybe, he’d find that one woman who’d love his ranch and want to have his children and settle down on his ranch. Because he was thirty-four and it was getting damn time to start creating his future.
A future that didn’t include a hot and sexy actress with black silky hair and ever-changing eye color. Because she’d be off creating her own happiness—somewhere else.
He didn’t know how he felt about that.
“So, now it’s dark and I didn’t bring a flashlight. Care to give me a ride back?” she asked.
Pushing aside the unsettling thoughts tightening his insides, he said, “Sure. Climb on in.”
He drove her to the set and parked in the lot, then got out.
“You don’t have to walk me to my trailer, Logan. It’s not that far from the lot here.”
He came up beside her. “It’s dark out, and yeah, I do have to walk you.”
They passed a trailer where there was a lot of heavy laughter and loud music.
“Colt’s trailer,” she said. “Some of our friends are in from L.A. They’ll be at the picnic tomorrow at the ranch, provided you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind at all. I’m surprised you’re not there partying with them.”
She looked straight ahead. “I wasn’t in much of a partying mood tonight.”
He cupped the back of her neck. “Because I made you angry.”
“Partly. Some of it was on me.”
He felt the tension in the muscles of her neck, and when she got to her trailer, he said, “Ask me to come in.”
She turned to face him. “Logan, would you like to come in?”
He liked that there was no game-playing with Des. She wore her emotions—and her desire—right on the surface, never hiding anything from him. When she was mad, he knew it. When she wanted him—he knew that, too. “Yes.”
She opened the door and he followed her inside, closing it and locking them in. Not that he’d know who had a key, but just in case her friends decided to come looking for her, he wanted them to know they weren’t going to have access to her tonight. “No party for you tonight.”
Her lips kicked into a sexy half smile. “I don’t know about that. Party for two, maybe.”
He drew her against him and swept his hand into her hair, pulling out her ponytail, letting the raven strands fall over her shoulders.
She palmed his chest. “Wait. I’m all sweaty from my run and need a shower.”
“I’ve worked all day and I’m all sweaty, too. You don’t need to smell like a spring shower for me to want you, Des. Unless you want me to head back to the ranch and take a quick shower.”
She leaned into him and licked his neck. “I like you a little salty. And you smell like a man who works for a living.”
He shuddered as she ran her tongue across his throat, then tugged at his T-shirt, lifting it out of his jeans.
He jerked the shirt up and over his head, tossing it to the floor.
“We could shower together,” she suggested.
“I like the sound of that.”
She took him by the hand and led him to her bathroom.
“It’s not the biggest shower,” she said as she turned on the water. “Which means it’ll be a tight squeeze.”
Logan sucked in a breath. “I can deal with things that are tight.”
The corner of her mouth quirked up. “Is that right? You’ll have to show me.” She grabbed a condom, brought the packet with her and stepped in.
It was an okay shower—not huge, but not a tiny box like he’d expected. It would do, and as long as he was in there with Des, he didn’t care. He was content enough to watch her dip her head back and let the water run over her. And when she stepped out of the way, he did the same.
“Turn around,” he said.
She did, and he grabbed the bottle of body wash, poured some into his hand, and lathered it up.
He liked having the freedom of touching her, of exploring her skin. He lifted her arms and watched as the soap trailed down in slow rivers. He drew her hair over her shoulder to expose her back, then massaged the soap in, using his thumbs to dig in where her muscles were taut with tension, rewarded with her moans of pleasure.
His c**k tightened at the sounds she made. He turned her toward the water so she could rinse, then he came around to her front and lathered his hands.
She lifted her gaze to him and kept it trained on his face while he rubbed soap over the front of her shoulders, her collarbone, and over her breasts. Naturally, he lingered at her breasts, the soap slick as he cupped the globes in his hands.
Her chest rose and fell with her quickened breaths as he rubbed his thumbs over her pebbled nipples, then, dropped to his knees so he could wash her legs.
“I could get used to this,” she said. “I like your hands on me.”
“Rinse,” he said.
She took a step back under the water, rinsing the soap off, then stepped forward. Logan slid his hands up her calves, water running over his hands as he snaked his fingers over the backs of her knees.
Des giggled, obviously ticklish there. He filed that information away for another time as he directed her legs apart, then raised himself up to put his mouth on her center.
She gasped when he touched her with his tongue to taste her. Here, she was hot, moist, and primed for him.
“Logan.” Even with the rush of water in the shower, he heard the way she said his name. He always liked hearing his name fall from her lips, especially when she was tight with passion. Like now, when she arched against him, silently asking for more of what he was giving her.
He lashed his tongue against her soft flesh, holding tight to her buttocks as he laved her cl*tand took her over the edge, listening to her passionate moans as she bucked against him with her orgasm.
She was shaking as he stood. He took her mouth in a kiss that left him rock hard and hungering with a need to possess her.
“Now it’s my turn to wash you.” She grabbed the soap and lathered her hands. He loved how small her hands were, and he had no objection to the slide of her fingers over his skin, the way she dug her nails across his shoulders, then pressed her thumbs in, lightly massaging his muscles.
She washed his back, swirling her palms over his flesh as she moved ever lower. He let out a groan when she reached around, caressing his c**k with her soapy hands, lingering there to stroke him.
“Now, rinse,” she said.
He stepped into the water and rinsed off, then turned around.
When Des dropped to her knees, he held on to the side of the shower, water pouring down his back and over his shoulders. She took him in her hands and stroked him, teasing him as her lips hovered close and she tilted her head back to give him a look that burned him and made it hard for him to take a breath.
She took him between her lips and flicked her tongue over the soft head, and he let out a groan. His gaze fixed on her full lips, the way she pressed them over his c**k and brought his shaft inside her sweet, hot mouth.
He had nothing to grab on to but the glass shower doors for support, and hoped like hell he didn’t wrench the damn door clear off the track as Des took him deep and nearly shattered him right then.
She had a sweet tongue and a devilish mind because she held him and teased him and destroyed him with her mouth. And when he was near the brink, when he could feel everything within him ready to explode, he whispered her name.
“Des.”
She held tight to him, refusing to yield even as he exploded. He shook with the force of his orgasm, his gaze never leaving her face as he watched her take what he gave until he had nothing left. It was the most intimate act, and it had left him weak and nearly brought him to his knees. He was blinded by the sheer force of the pleasure she’d given him, and nearly wrecked by it. He reached for her, pulling her up to kiss her, tunneling his fingers into her hair to hold tight to her, because he was so far out of balance right now he needed her as a lifeline.
And when he found that balance again, he pushed her under the water so he could wet her hair, then reached for her shampoo and washed her hair, enjoying rubbing his fingers into her scalp.
“Mmm, that feels good,” she said. “I don’t think I want you to stop. Do you think you could rub my head for about an hour?”
“I could rub a lot of parts of you for a very long time.”
“God, Logan. The things you do to me.”
He rinsed her hair, then she applied conditioner and rinsed that out. He washed his hair, then he turned off the water, which by now was getting cool. Not that he minded since his body was plenty heated up by their shower play.
Des opened the cabinet near the shower and handed him a towel. He dried off, watching Des as she towel-dried her hair, then ran a comb through it.
“That’s enough,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her into the bedroom.
He flung himself onto the bed, bringing Des down on top of him, already hungry for more of her.
“What? You’re not exhausted from that bout in the shower?”
He cupped her butt. “Not even close.”
She wriggled against him. “You have a lot of stamina, Logan.”
He gave her a grin and rolled her under him. “You have no idea, Des.”
Chapter 12
DES MET UP with Colt, Tony, and the others early in the day. Colt had made breakfast and given her a call so she could come over and join them. And as Logan had slipped out of bed in the middle of the night, telling her he had to be up before dawn to see to some things on the ranch, she was alone.
Unfortunately. But she understood he had work to do, so she’d kissed him good-bye and told him they’d be over sometime mid-morning to help out.
It was great to see Tony, Sarah, and Callie again.
“I heard you all partying last night.”
“As much partying as we could do, given the location,” Tony said. “But it’s enough to just be here with Colt.”
Colt put his arm around Tony as Des leaned back against the counter and surveyed them all while sipping her coffee.
Sarah and Callie were their closest friends in L.A. and also knew about Colt and Tony, often hanging out with them in groups. Sarah, a striking, tall brunette with a killer figure, was a makeup artist, and Callie, the cutest petite blond who wore her hair pixie short and had amazing piercings, was a hairstylist. And then there was Tony, drop-dead, movie-star gorgeous with black hair and deep dark brown eyes, such a beautiful contrast to Colt’s blond surfer-boy looks. Tony really should have been in front of the camera, but made his living as a cinematographer. Having them all in the business meant they had a lot in common. And they all knew how treacherous the media and gossip sites were, so they held Tony and Colt’s secret close.
“Were you in L.A.?” Des asked Tony.
He shook his head. “No. I just finished a shoot in London.” He yawned. “This jet lag is killing me.”
“You can sleep on the plane,” Colt said. “Because I’m going to spend every minute with you that I can.”
“No problem there. I’ve missed you.”
Colt squeezed his hand. “Ditto.”
“You two are disgustingly sweet together,” Sarah said. “Why can’t I find a guy as great as either one of you?”
“They’re g*y or taken,” Callie said. “Or they all live somewhere other than L.A., because they sure as hell don’t live where we do. And the awesome ones aren’t in the movie business, because most of the men we deal with are pricks.”
Des laughed. “Amen to that.”
Wasn’t that the million-dollar question? “Because I still don’t feel . . . settled. I still feel like that nomad, like I haven’t yet found that place I can call home yet.”
“So you’re saying you’re not happy?”
“I am happy. I have the career I’ve always dreamed of and I love the travel, which isn’t at all like all the moving around I did as a kid.”
He crossed his arms and gave her a look. “Because you’re the one calling the shots now?”
“I guess so. There’s a lot to be said for being in charge of creating your own destiny, Logan.”
“In other words, you’re not going to marry some dude in the military.”
She gave him a horrified look. “God, no. Any more than you’re going to marry some citified chick who’s going to give you three children, then abandon them.”
His jaw went tight and she laid her hand on his arm. “Your dad didn’t make a mistake, Logan, he just fell in love. But you learned from the mistakes your mother made. Give yourself some credit and know when the time comes, you’ll choose the right woman, the one who’ll love this land as much as you do, and who’ll be here for your kids.”
Logan looked at Des, this citified chick she was just talking about. He wondered if she realized how much she had just been describing herself. A worldly young woman whose life was just starting out, who still had dreams yet to fulfill.
A woman like her would never be satisfied with a life on a ranch.
Not that he was thinking of marrying her or anything. He could never see her as a ranch wife, could never imagine a Hollywood actress as a wife and mother, working the land side by side with him.
But he liked talking to her, and there weren’t a lot of women he could open up to like he had with Des. She understood him, and after tonight, he understood her a lot better, too.
So after she was finished shooting her movie she’d go her way, and he’d go his.
And maybe, just maybe, he’d find that one woman who’d love his ranch and want to have his children and settle down on his ranch. Because he was thirty-four and it was getting damn time to start creating his future.
A future that didn’t include a hot and sexy actress with black silky hair and ever-changing eye color. Because she’d be off creating her own happiness—somewhere else.
He didn’t know how he felt about that.
“So, now it’s dark and I didn’t bring a flashlight. Care to give me a ride back?” she asked.
Pushing aside the unsettling thoughts tightening his insides, he said, “Sure. Climb on in.”
He drove her to the set and parked in the lot, then got out.
“You don’t have to walk me to my trailer, Logan. It’s not that far from the lot here.”
He came up beside her. “It’s dark out, and yeah, I do have to walk you.”
They passed a trailer where there was a lot of heavy laughter and loud music.
“Colt’s trailer,” she said. “Some of our friends are in from L.A. They’ll be at the picnic tomorrow at the ranch, provided you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind at all. I’m surprised you’re not there partying with them.”
She looked straight ahead. “I wasn’t in much of a partying mood tonight.”
He cupped the back of her neck. “Because I made you angry.”
“Partly. Some of it was on me.”
He felt the tension in the muscles of her neck, and when she got to her trailer, he said, “Ask me to come in.”
She turned to face him. “Logan, would you like to come in?”
He liked that there was no game-playing with Des. She wore her emotions—and her desire—right on the surface, never hiding anything from him. When she was mad, he knew it. When she wanted him—he knew that, too. “Yes.”
She opened the door and he followed her inside, closing it and locking them in. Not that he’d know who had a key, but just in case her friends decided to come looking for her, he wanted them to know they weren’t going to have access to her tonight. “No party for you tonight.”
Her lips kicked into a sexy half smile. “I don’t know about that. Party for two, maybe.”
He drew her against him and swept his hand into her hair, pulling out her ponytail, letting the raven strands fall over her shoulders.
She palmed his chest. “Wait. I’m all sweaty from my run and need a shower.”
“I’ve worked all day and I’m all sweaty, too. You don’t need to smell like a spring shower for me to want you, Des. Unless you want me to head back to the ranch and take a quick shower.”
She leaned into him and licked his neck. “I like you a little salty. And you smell like a man who works for a living.”
He shuddered as she ran her tongue across his throat, then tugged at his T-shirt, lifting it out of his jeans.
He jerked the shirt up and over his head, tossing it to the floor.
“We could shower together,” she suggested.
“I like the sound of that.”
She took him by the hand and led him to her bathroom.
“It’s not the biggest shower,” she said as she turned on the water. “Which means it’ll be a tight squeeze.”
Logan sucked in a breath. “I can deal with things that are tight.”
The corner of her mouth quirked up. “Is that right? You’ll have to show me.” She grabbed a condom, brought the packet with her and stepped in.
It was an okay shower—not huge, but not a tiny box like he’d expected. It would do, and as long as he was in there with Des, he didn’t care. He was content enough to watch her dip her head back and let the water run over her. And when she stepped out of the way, he did the same.
“Turn around,” he said.
She did, and he grabbed the bottle of body wash, poured some into his hand, and lathered it up.
He liked having the freedom of touching her, of exploring her skin. He lifted her arms and watched as the soap trailed down in slow rivers. He drew her hair over her shoulder to expose her back, then massaged the soap in, using his thumbs to dig in where her muscles were taut with tension, rewarded with her moans of pleasure.
His c**k tightened at the sounds she made. He turned her toward the water so she could rinse, then he came around to her front and lathered his hands.
She lifted her gaze to him and kept it trained on his face while he rubbed soap over the front of her shoulders, her collarbone, and over her breasts. Naturally, he lingered at her breasts, the soap slick as he cupped the globes in his hands.
Her chest rose and fell with her quickened breaths as he rubbed his thumbs over her pebbled nipples, then, dropped to his knees so he could wash her legs.
“I could get used to this,” she said. “I like your hands on me.”
“Rinse,” he said.
She took a step back under the water, rinsing the soap off, then stepped forward. Logan slid his hands up her calves, water running over his hands as he snaked his fingers over the backs of her knees.
Des giggled, obviously ticklish there. He filed that information away for another time as he directed her legs apart, then raised himself up to put his mouth on her center.
She gasped when he touched her with his tongue to taste her. Here, she was hot, moist, and primed for him.
“Logan.” Even with the rush of water in the shower, he heard the way she said his name. He always liked hearing his name fall from her lips, especially when she was tight with passion. Like now, when she arched against him, silently asking for more of what he was giving her.
He lashed his tongue against her soft flesh, holding tight to her buttocks as he laved her cl*tand took her over the edge, listening to her passionate moans as she bucked against him with her orgasm.
She was shaking as he stood. He took her mouth in a kiss that left him rock hard and hungering with a need to possess her.
“Now it’s my turn to wash you.” She grabbed the soap and lathered her hands. He loved how small her hands were, and he had no objection to the slide of her fingers over his skin, the way she dug her nails across his shoulders, then pressed her thumbs in, lightly massaging his muscles.
She washed his back, swirling her palms over his flesh as she moved ever lower. He let out a groan when she reached around, caressing his c**k with her soapy hands, lingering there to stroke him.
“Now, rinse,” she said.
He stepped into the water and rinsed off, then turned around.
When Des dropped to her knees, he held on to the side of the shower, water pouring down his back and over his shoulders. She took him in her hands and stroked him, teasing him as her lips hovered close and she tilted her head back to give him a look that burned him and made it hard for him to take a breath.
She took him between her lips and flicked her tongue over the soft head, and he let out a groan. His gaze fixed on her full lips, the way she pressed them over his c**k and brought his shaft inside her sweet, hot mouth.
He had nothing to grab on to but the glass shower doors for support, and hoped like hell he didn’t wrench the damn door clear off the track as Des took him deep and nearly shattered him right then.
She had a sweet tongue and a devilish mind because she held him and teased him and destroyed him with her mouth. And when he was near the brink, when he could feel everything within him ready to explode, he whispered her name.
“Des.”
She held tight to him, refusing to yield even as he exploded. He shook with the force of his orgasm, his gaze never leaving her face as he watched her take what he gave until he had nothing left. It was the most intimate act, and it had left him weak and nearly brought him to his knees. He was blinded by the sheer force of the pleasure she’d given him, and nearly wrecked by it. He reached for her, pulling her up to kiss her, tunneling his fingers into her hair to hold tight to her, because he was so far out of balance right now he needed her as a lifeline.
And when he found that balance again, he pushed her under the water so he could wet her hair, then reached for her shampoo and washed her hair, enjoying rubbing his fingers into her scalp.
“Mmm, that feels good,” she said. “I don’t think I want you to stop. Do you think you could rub my head for about an hour?”
“I could rub a lot of parts of you for a very long time.”
“God, Logan. The things you do to me.”
He rinsed her hair, then she applied conditioner and rinsed that out. He washed his hair, then he turned off the water, which by now was getting cool. Not that he minded since his body was plenty heated up by their shower play.
Des opened the cabinet near the shower and handed him a towel. He dried off, watching Des as she towel-dried her hair, then ran a comb through it.
“That’s enough,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her into the bedroom.
He flung himself onto the bed, bringing Des down on top of him, already hungry for more of her.
“What? You’re not exhausted from that bout in the shower?”
He cupped her butt. “Not even close.”
She wriggled against him. “You have a lot of stamina, Logan.”
He gave her a grin and rolled her under him. “You have no idea, Des.”
Chapter 12
DES MET UP with Colt, Tony, and the others early in the day. Colt had made breakfast and given her a call so she could come over and join them. And as Logan had slipped out of bed in the middle of the night, telling her he had to be up before dawn to see to some things on the ranch, she was alone.
Unfortunately. But she understood he had work to do, so she’d kissed him good-bye and told him they’d be over sometime mid-morning to help out.
It was great to see Tony, Sarah, and Callie again.
“I heard you all partying last night.”
“As much partying as we could do, given the location,” Tony said. “But it’s enough to just be here with Colt.”
Colt put his arm around Tony as Des leaned back against the counter and surveyed them all while sipping her coffee.
Sarah and Callie were their closest friends in L.A. and also knew about Colt and Tony, often hanging out with them in groups. Sarah, a striking, tall brunette with a killer figure, was a makeup artist, and Callie, the cutest petite blond who wore her hair pixie short and had amazing piercings, was a hairstylist. And then there was Tony, drop-dead, movie-star gorgeous with black hair and deep dark brown eyes, such a beautiful contrast to Colt’s blond surfer-boy looks. Tony really should have been in front of the camera, but made his living as a cinematographer. Having them all in the business meant they had a lot in common. And they all knew how treacherous the media and gossip sites were, so they held Tony and Colt’s secret close.
“Were you in L.A.?” Des asked Tony.
He shook his head. “No. I just finished a shoot in London.” He yawned. “This jet lag is killing me.”
“You can sleep on the plane,” Colt said. “Because I’m going to spend every minute with you that I can.”
“No problem there. I’ve missed you.”
Colt squeezed his hand. “Ditto.”
“You two are disgustingly sweet together,” Sarah said. “Why can’t I find a guy as great as either one of you?”
“They’re g*y or taken,” Callie said. “Or they all live somewhere other than L.A., because they sure as hell don’t live where we do. And the awesome ones aren’t in the movie business, because most of the men we deal with are pricks.”
Des laughed. “Amen to that.”
