Reckless Together: A Contemporary New Adult College Romance (The Reckless Series) (33 page)

"A woman of mystery. Intriguing." He laughed. "I'll be there in ten."
 

Chapter Twenty-Three

Logan

El was waiting for him on the steps of her dorm, sitting, highlighted in sunshine like some kind of beautiful angel. His angel. Just the sight of her lit up his day. But the soft, happy look on her face would have brought him to his knees if he hadn't already been sitting. He needed her. After last night, he realized just how much.

She waved and bounced to her feet as he pulled up and leaned across the driver's seat to open the door for her. She slid in and their lips met. It was like fire as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Even though he was dead tired, he wanted El.

Someone honked behind them. El pulled away, laughed, and buckled up. He put the car in drive and forced himself to look away from El and concentrate on the road.
 

"You look like the walking dead." She was so happy, she made it sound like a compliment as she touched his cheek and ran her fingers just over his eye. "I am so relieved that you don't have a black eye or a broken nose or a fat lip." She kissed his cheek. "I thought for sure you and Caleb were swinging at each other. You're so much hotter this way."

He loved the way she worried about him. "We did. He's slow and has crappy aim."

"I don't think he really wanted to hurt you," she said.

She didn't know his brother. Caleb had been pissed and wanted blood. He let it drop.

"How much sleep did you get last night?"

"None." He smiled at the concerned way she furrowed her brow. Everything about her was fucking cute. "I haven't slept in almost two days."

"Not at all?" She rubbed his arm.
 

"Nope. Keep talking or I might doze off."

She bumped him playfully. "You should have slept before you came over!" She had the cutest little worry lines.

"I couldn't wait to see you, El." Which was the absolute, desperate truth. He couldn't stand being away from her another minute. As he grinned at her, he noticed the circles beneath her eyes. "You look tired, too. How much sleep did you get?"

"None. But I've only been awake for twenty-four hours. I'm fresh as a daisy compared to you."
 

"You're not half as fresh as I can be." He steered with one hand and slid the other between her legs, going hard as he felt her heat through her jeans.

She rested her head on his shoulder and looped her arm through his. "Want to pick up something at the drive-thru?"

"Anything you want."

"I want cheap pancakes, sausage, eggs, and coffee in a bag to go. And a private place to talk."

"You got it. We'll go to my place. Collin and Zave are taking their moms to breakfast before they head out. Then they'll come home and crash all day after that."

Fifteen minutes later, he tossed his keys in the bowl on the console table in his entryway, set the bag of food on the table, and pulled El into his arms, right where she belonged.

She looped her arms around his neck and brushed his lips with a kiss. When he tried sliding his hand down her back and beneath her jeans to cup her butt, she pulled back and laughed. "Not until you spill everything, Logan. I want to hear your news! I'm dying here."
 

"So am I. I missed you."

She pulled him to the couch, kicked off her shoes, and tucked her legs beneath her. "So? What happened to the screaming Walkers last night?"

"You first. You said you had good news? Is it just that your wicked mother has flown off on her broom?"

"No, actually, it's better than that. She may not be as evil as I thought."
 

El told him everything—about bumping into Jason, how relieved Melissa was that he was El's father, how she'd been worried that some psycho serial rapist was, and how they'd talked a lot of things out.

"You were right, Logan. I'm not angry anymore and it feels great. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. But I kind of want Mom in it. It's hard to blame her, knowing what she went through and how she did what she could to protect me. I mean, it's not like I'm going to trust her all the way." She stroked my cheek. "Especially around you."

"I can't believe it." He was totally shocked, almost stunned speechless. "I'm thrilled for you."

"You knew about the rape." El studied him. "I know you two share that bond."

He didn't want to talk about any of that upsetting shit. "Yeah, but not the timing of it. Not that she thought it might have created you." He took El's face in his hands. "Not that it would have made one bit of difference to me who your father was, El. I'd love you no matter what. And thank the bastard for creating you."

"Well, I'm glad it's Jason." She snuggled into him and hugged him, resting her head against his chest.

"Yeah, me too." As he rested his chin on her head, a wave of sleepiness washed over him. He blinked, trying to fight it off.

"Your turn. What happened last night? Mom told me about running into your parents and telling them what she overheard Amber saying."

"Yeah, Mom and Dad were pissed at her. Mom has never liked Amber."

"She has good taste there," El said.

"Figures you agree with her." He squeezed El. "Amber's pretty much on everyone's shit list, and Caleb isn't far behind for sleeping with her."

"The favorite son has fallen."

"Yeah, I may be the favorite for a while."

"So—was Mom right? Is Amber screwing you all over in the deal? Is Harlan going to turn her in? Prison orange might be her color. I bet they'd still let her wear her Double Deltsie pin in prison."

"El, she's not going to jail." With El in his arms, Logan was relaxing. He stifled a yawn. "Dad's lawyers and connections will see to that. It's a long story. But basically, she thought the IPO was in trouble because the company we're funding was behind schedule. Amber was worried it would have to be pushed back and we'd need to put up more money to cover operating costs until they could go public.

"She's over-extended, and didn't have it. This Cutter guy from Core Technologies approached her, offering her to pay for insider information. She cut a deal, fed Core some details she thought weren't too vital, and used the money to fund our company. She claims she was always on our side."

"And you believe her?"

"Yeah."

"What does Harlan think?" El lifted her head.

Logan cupped it and pressed it back against his chest. He liked feeling her cuddled there. "That Amber's learned a lesson. And that he can salvage the IPO. We had to stay up until five, which is when this shark investor he knows gets up. We had a good talk with him. We're all going to get our money back and make a profit. It may take a while, though."

"Oh." She sounded so disappointed.

"Dad offered to fund grad school," he said. "If I decide to go."

She pulled back to look at him, and she looked so hopeful it nearly killed him. "Will you take him up on his offer? If you decide to go."

"Are you kidding? No way."

Her face fell.

"I told Dad if I opt for grad school and I still don't have my money, I'll take a loan from him. At very reasonable rates."

"That's awesome." Her face lit up again.

He nodded. "Yeah, and I don't know what alien invaded Dad's body, but he said he was proud of me for trying to stand on my own. He even suggested I contact the companies who've made me job offers and see if I can defer them a year and get them to pay for my first year of grad school before I start work for them."

"Will they do that?" El stifled a yawn. "Sorry. Didn't mean to yawn. This is great news."

"I don't know. But some companies do. It's worth a shot." He leaned down and kissed her. "I love you, El."

He scooped her into his lap and stood up with her in his arms.

"Are you carrying me to the table? 'Cause I can walk. I think. And our food's getting cold."

"Fuck our food, El. I'm so damned tired, I can't even eat. I just want to take a nap next to you, naked."

"Just sleep?" She covered her mouth as she yawned again.

She was so sexy when she was tired. She was sexy all the time. But he was so exhausted that he felt drugged. "If I weren't so damned tired, El…My head is willing, but I'm crashing. And you are, too. In another minute, I'll pass out. But when I wake up, all bets are off. I'm going to wake up horny."

"You better."

Ellie

Logan fell asleep almost the moment his head hit the pillow. I watched his breathing become calm and even and his face relax. I was so happy it was almost scary. And too tired to sleep. I wanted to. I tried to, but my mind was racing. Going over all the awesome possibilities. Like Logan staying at school with me. Like the two of us being together forever.

I closed my eyes and made my mind slow down. I slowly, almost mindlessly, traced Logan's naked chest, feeling every firm muscle and rugged contour of his body. Tired as I was, I couldn't keep my hands to myself. I loved his arms. I couldn't resist squeezing his biceps and feeling the soft skin on the inside of his arms. Such a contrast—the soft and the powerful.

His breathing, which had been deep, grew shallow and excited. I was awake now as I realized my own power.
Now is the time
, I thought.
 

Very gently, I pulled back the blanket he'd thrown over us and traced his nipple until it stood up.

He was so perfect. I loved looking at him. I loved touching him. I grew tight and wet. I wanted him. I wanted to be on top and chase all memories of
Her
away forever. I wanted him to know he could trust me to be in control and he could lose control with me.

I slid my hand down his body, listening to his breathing, until my hand rested on the inside of his thigh. Moving slowly so I didn't wake him, I gently stroked his dick, watching it grow long and hard beneath my touch.

Every move I made was so incredibly gentle, like I was a butterfly making love to him. Tender. Patient. I sat up slowly and the bed creaked.

Logan stirred and inhaled deeply. I stilled my hand until he quieted down, my heart pounding until his breathing became even and shallow again.
 

Slowly, gently, with incredible patience, freezing when the bed moved too much, I positioned myself in a kneeling position over him, one knee on either side of his waist.
 

He was so handsome. I couldn't stop looking at him. I took a deep breath and steeled myself, hoping this worked, hoping the risk was worth it.
 

I grabbed his dick. Leaned down to whisper in his ear. "It's me. El. Just me. I love you, Logan."

I slid him inside me. Naked. Without a condom. As I started rocking on him, I tipped my head back. I had never felt such pleasure. Or fear. This had to work.

Logan

El is on top of me, her prefect breasts bouncing as she rides me. Her hair falls down around me, tickling my chest and arms and driving me mad with desire. She's so fucking beautiful.
 

I'm so turned on, I'm afraid I'll come too early. I'm afraid I don't have enough control to hang on. I smell her perfume. I'm crazy with lust and desire. I thrust up into her and the sound of her soft moans almost throws me over the edge.
 

Her eyes sparkle. She smiles down and me and tosses her head back. As I stare at the creamy arc of her neck, I know she loves me and that's all that matters. She's moving back and forth on my dick, building pulses of pleasure.
 

Everything's beautiful, but suddenly I feel anxious. I've been here before. I'm about to lose El.

I try to open my eyes, but it's like they're glued shut. My heart races until my pulse is uneven and wild, part ecstasy, part revulsion and fear. Sweat beads on my forehead. My eyes will not open. I'm losing her.

"It's me. El. Just me. I love you, Logan." Her breath is urgent in my ear.