“I needed time to give you a tour before she arrived,” he explained, his eyes bright and features carefree.

As desperate as I was to know what’d happened with his case, there was no way I’d erase that boyish grin by asking about it. I longed to reach out and trace its curves with the tip of my finger, memorizing that perfect shape.

“So this wasn’t a scheme to get me alone in a big, beautiful house where you could seduce me?” I asked playfully, batting my eyelashes.

He helped me out of my coat and hung it next to his on a coat rack.

“That may or may not have crossed my mind.” We stood in the foyer, his hand sliding around my back to settle on the curve of my hip. His other hand swiped away a tendril of hair that had slid from my loose bun. “I’d do anything for time alone with you…and here you are.”

I closed my eyes as his warm, minty breath washed over my lips. I waited for him to kiss me, anticipation set in my stiff shoulders. Instead, I was left disoriented and slightly disappointed when his hand slid down into mine.

“Come. I’m curious to hear what you think of the place now.”

The heady need he easily woke within me was hard to stow away, but I managed well enough. I followed him into the living room, shifting my focus to the brilliance of the furniture layout.

Logan wanted me to win—there was no doubt about that. It was breathtaking, and I knew then I’d win the bet hands down. But each room we entered was even better than the last.

The master bedroom with my dream closet had been transformed into a room fit for a queen. I stared at it in wonder. However, it was the kitchen that left me in true awe. It was set up more for a top chef than a college girl, and I couldn’t stop myself from running my fingers over the granite countertop that rested above sleek black cabinets—no doubt custom made.

I twirled around on my heel, grinning. “You wanted me to win this.”

He raised his shoulders slightly. “Perhaps.”

“I’d have thought you’d enjoy having me as a slave at your will for a weekend.”

“At one time, yes, but now I’d much rather be at your disposal.”

“There’s nothing disposable about you, Mr. West.”

His eyebrows shot up, a pleased smile playing at his lips. “Is that so?” He was leaning against the counter across from me with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me intently.

“Mm-hmm.” I pranced toward him and tugged his arms apart so I could slip in closer, wedging myself between his legs. My head dipped back as I stared up into the blue pools looking down at me with such tenderness it sent a shiver up my spine.

“I’m no longer a suspect in the case,” he said so calmly I thought I’d heard him wrong.

“You’re not?” I needed to hear it again. Was it really over?

He shook his head as his lips curled upward. “There’s a reason I hire the best. Turns out there was a lead the police chose not to follow. Not sure what, and I don’t care. It has nothing to do with me, and they know I’m not responsible for Kurt’s death. That’s all that matters.”

I squealed, lifting myself up on my tiptoes and locking my hands behind his neck. I’d begun showering him with kisses over his neck and across his cheeks when he clasped my face with his hands and claimed my mouth with his own.

“I’ve missed you like crazy,” I confessed, basking in the feeling of his wandering hands.

“You have no idea.” He swung me around and pulled my back against his chest before his hand plunged down the front of my slacks. It barely fit, but that didn’t stop him. The button popped, flying across the counter I was nearly bent over now.

Gyrating against his hand, I cried out when his finger brushed over my clit, lingered at my opening, then slammed up inside me. His other hand curled around my stomach, stopping over my tattoo. It was still covered with a bandage, though it had already healed. I just wasn’t ready for him to see it yet.

“Jax do that to you?”

Did he know Jax did tattoos? How? Since when?

“Maybe?”

His finger sank deeper, thumb circling my clit.

“I know what my brother does in that room of his.” His voice was grave.

I stiffened as he continued.

“I told you: I know everything that happens in my house.”

“You want to see it?” I moaned, my head falling back onto his shoulder.

“Later. Right now I want you—all of you.”

Instantly, his fingers were gone and my pants were down around my ankles before being fully removed and thrown aside. Logan’s hand rested at the center of my back to hold me in place, the sound of his zipper sending me spiraling. Anticipation had never been sweeter.

“You’re coming home with me tonight. Understand?” The head of his cock poked my entrance.

“Yes. Please.”

He thrust forward to bury himself deep. My resulting moans were lurid and wanton.

Somehow we ended up on the counter, Logan on his back with me riding him through my third orgasm.

The doorbell rang right as I finished, driving Logan harder toward his own release. He gripped my hips, rocking me faster.

“Don’t you dare stop, Cassandra!” he barked.

Logan began bucking up off the countertop. He pounded into me again and again until his head dropped and eyes slammed shut, an appreciative groan clawing its way up from his throat.

The bell rang two, three, four times in a row.

“Damn it!” Logan complained as I hopped down.

“She’s going to kill us!” I pouted.

“She’ll get over it.” Logan climbed down and handed me my clothes—all of which had been peeled off during our little sexcapade. “Go upstairs to the guestroom and get cleaned up.”

The bell rang again, and was followed by Julia’s high-pitched screech. “I know you guys are in there! I see your cars!”

I ran naked through the house, ignoring Logan’s chuckle.

“Fucking beautiful,” I heard him say as I sprinted up the stairs.

Utterly satisfied and deliriously out of sorts, I slipped into my clothes, minus my destroyed panties that I quickly realized were missing. It was one thing to have left my shoes in the kitchen—I could use the excuse of not wanting to ruin the new carpet—but my panties? I could only hope Logan found them first.

My hair, which had been up in a high bun, was now down. The hair tie I’d come in with was also magically gone, so I did the best I could, smoothing my fingers through my unruly locks to tame their recently ravished look.

As I stared in the mirror, it hit me: The drama was over. Logan was cleared, and Natasha had gotten the not-so-subtle hint that I wouldn’t take her crap.

I was nearly skipping out of the room to return to my man until I realized Julia was down there with him. She’d take one look at me and undoubtedly know why we’d made her stand on the stoop for so long.

After a deep breath, I sneaked out of the guest bedroom and descended the stairs. I could hear Julia and Logan talking in the living room. I walked in to find her wearing a giant grin as she took in the room.

I stood in the doorway, looking on without them noticing.

“So what do you think?” Logan asked her. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets.