I take off my clothes and step into the shower. Warm water sluices over me and I realize that the fear in my heart has been replaced by longing. I was afraid to love Logan. Now I long to love Logan. And I do. And always will. But I have to give him up to protect something precious to him. I know that. I don’t have a choice. The warm water steams over my back, and I lean both forearms against the wall, trying to compose myself. Tears track down my face, melding with the water. There’s a draft and I feel the curtain move behind me.

I jump when Logan steps into the bath with me. His body envelopes mine, completely naked. “Logan!” I screech.

A warm chuckle makes his chest move against my back. “I don’t want to be away from you,” he says, pushing my wet hair to the side so he can press his lips to my naked shoulder.

Logan takes my washcloth from my hands and gets it soapy. Then he drags it down my spine, slowly, ever so slowly. My breath catches in my throat when he abandons the washcloth and runs his soapy hands over my bottom, squeezing my butt cheeks in his gentle grip. He doesn’t leave a spot unwashed, his hands finding every crevice and dip, all the way down the backs of my legs, across the backs of my knees, which I had no idea were so ticklish, and over the heels of my feet. I stand there with my eyes closed, unable to look at him. He stands back up and lathers the soap in his palms again. This time, he doesn’t take the washcloth at all. He uses his fingers to skim my body. His fingers tickle all the way down my left arm, all the way to my fingertips. Strong fingers lace with mine and he gives me a squeeze before he turns me to face him.

I keep my eyes closed. I am overwhelmed by what he’s doing to me. If I look into his eyes, I don’t know what will happen right now. I might combust. I might shatter. I might break. I can feel his smile against my shoulder as he presses his lips there. I hear him chuckle. My eyes fly open.

His hair is wet and he’s dripping with water. I lean forward and lick his chest. He groans, freezing. “Logan.” He looks up at me and stills.

“Did you say something?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I say. Laughter breaks from my throat. “I can’t even think. You want me to repeat myself?”

“I felt you say something,” he says. He grins. “I just wanted to be sure you’re all right.”

I lay my head back against the wall. I’ll never be all right again. He rubs his soapy hands over my belly, and then his fingers dip lower. I reach for his shoulders.

He picks up the wash cloth again, and gets it sudsy. He washes my most intimate places, until I’m squirming and flinching.

“I think I’m clean,” I say with a laugh. I can’t take much more.

Logan stands up and kisses me. “I want to be inside you so bad,” he says. He pushes me under the spray to get my hair wet, and then washes my hair, rinsing it gently. “Your hair is growing out,” he says. “Is it blond?”

I nod. “Not platinum. But a dark blond color.”

“I’d like to see you like that,” he says. “Maybe someday.” He smiles and kisses me. He moves me to the side and starts to wash his own body, his movements quick and efficient.

“Let me help you,” I say, reaching to take the soap from him.

“If you touch me right now, this will be over,” he warns with a chuckle.

My belly flips. “Oh.”

He chuckles. “Just stand there and watch,” he says.

He washes and rinses his hair, and I let my gaze drag down his body. He told me he had a piercing down there. But he didn’t tell me he had a bar through the skin at the base of his penis. “That’s the piercing you were telling me about?” I ask.

He nods, blowing water from his lips. I opened the door to all this intimacy when I told him my name.

“Emily Madison,” I say. “My name. It’s Emily Madison.”

He stills. “Where are you from?” he asks. He turns the water off, but never looks away from me.

“California.”

“The opposite coast,” he breathes. He takes my face in his hands. “Emily,” he says again. “It suits you.”

I grin. “I’m glad.”

Logan steps out of the tub, and comes back with two towels. He dries me off and wraps me in one towel. The other he uses on himself, and then wraps it around his hips.

“Do you want to go to bed?” he asks. He fakes a yawn. “I’m really tired.”

I laugh. God, this man makes me laugh. “If you think you’re getting any sleep tonight, you are sadly mistaken.” I shake my finger at him.

“Promises, promises,” he growls as he lifts me from the tub with strong hands around my waist.

Logan

She’s so f**king beautiful that I can barely breathe. “Emily,” I say. I want to say it over and over and over. She told me her last name, too, but for the life of me all I can remember is what was written on the piece of paper.

“That’s my name. Don’t wear it out,” she teases.

I pick her up, and she wraps her legs around my waist. My dick reaches for her, and I slide against her heat. But I’m not ready yet. I want to savor every second. I carry her into the bedroom. She kisses me as I walk, and I can barely take a step, I’m so wrapped up in her.

“Is anyone here?” She sits back from me long enough to ask.

God, I hope not. “Don’t think so,” I say.

“What if they are?” she asks.