She was here.

She was safe.

She was mine.

I felt all of that on a primal level as I forced myself to look for Delray. I wanted to talk to him as soon as possible, but his chair was empty.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“He left.”

“What?”

I whipped around to where Nate had been, but he was gone, too. “Where’d Nate go?”

“He went to put the bats away.”

A guttural growl came from me, and I started for the door. Delray couldn’t get away with this shitstorm—not until I had a word with him.

“Logan, stop!” Taylor ran in front of me. Her hands came to my chest. “Stop!”

I kept going until her back was at the front door. Then I reached up and held on to her arms. I was two seconds from lifting her up and out of the way.

“I mean it, Logan. I know you’re worried about me.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.” She softened her voice. “But he won’t hurt you.”

“He already did.” I touched the cut on her face. Blood had seeped from it, and I showed her my finger.

Her hand went to her face and touched the cut. She hissed as soon as she made contact. “I have no idea when that happened.”

“I do. When his boss was trying to yank you out of my car.” I cupped the back of her neck and lowered my forehead to gaze right into her eyes. “Taylor, do you have any idea what the guy would’ve done? If he’d gotten you out?”

Her eyes widened. “I can’t think of it.” Her voice grew hoarse.

I closed my eyes. The deep need in me—the one that would only be quenched when I was moving inside of her—was transforming into a need to protect her.

I laughed harshly. “You can’t think of it? I can. Because I have to.” She started to look away, but I didn’t let her. I turned her face back to mine, gently but firmly. “It will happen again. He’s going to go back. He’s going to want back in, and maybe they’ll let him. Maybe all will be forgiven. That’s what they’ll say, but it won’t be the case. Rankin will want to know who we are, and who you are.”

She started to shake her head. “No.”

“Yes.” She had to hear me. “You need to stay away from him.”

“Logan.”

“I mean it.” My hands fell to her shoulders. “Please, Taylor. I know he’s family, but he’s sick. He can’t be around you anymore.”

A tear slid down her cheek. She didn’t brush it away. I don’t think she even knew it was there. Cupping the side of her face, I brushed it aside with my thumb and rested my forehead to hers.

All the walls I had, all the shields I’d erected over the years—all of those were gone in this instant. Knowing she’d been so close to danger, seeing the fear in her eyes—that shattered what I hadn’t been wanting to admit to myself. From the first time I saw her at that party, saw how she was ready to help Sam when she was a stranger, I had fallen for Taylor Bruce. Since then I had fallen farther than I was ready to admit to myself.

I closed my eyes and held her, but I was rattled.

TAYLOR

Logan led me upstairs to his room a few minutes later. It was just Logan and me now. As soon as we were inside and the door closed behind us, he pulled me in for a hug. “Are you okay?”

I burrowed into him, my head resting against his chest, and I breathed in his strength. I held on to him as tightly as he held me.

I nodded, but I couldn’t talk. My throat wasn’t working.

His chest loosened suddenly, as if a ball of tension had been released. He cradled the back of my head and held me close. We just stood, relishing the feel of each other’s arms. I didn’t want to pull back, but after a few minutes, Logan slowly peeled himself away. He groaned and dipped down to press his lips to mine.

I gasped. I hadn’t realized how much I needed that touch from him. It gave me strength and assurance all at once. I pressed against him, never wanting the kiss to end.

“Fuck it,” he groaned against my lips. He grasped my waist and lifted me.

No more words were shared that night. Only touching, caressing, loving.

He carried me to his bed, and we undressed each other. As he lifted my shirt, I pulled his off. My bra unclasped at the same time I undid his jeans. I pulled them off, and he started on my pants. I was soon naked, panting, and ready for him. He paused just above me, the condom on, and looked down into me.

That moment. That look.

I knew it was coming, and my heart had clamored for it. It was the moment when I saw into him, past all his walls, shields, jokes, and the facade he wore for most people. He shed it for me, and as I closed my eyes, feeling him enter me, I knew this was the real Logan.

He was giving himself to me.

SHITSTORM

TAYLOR

“You and Logan Kade?”

I was letting myself inside my house the next morning when Jason materialized in the hallway, already inside. I looked up, my keys still in the door, and shook my head. “Like you’re one to preach.” Last night’s events came rushing back to me, and I yanked the keys out, slamming the door behind me. “That was a shitstorm, Jason.”

His scowl lessened a notch as he shoved his hands into his pockets and slouched down. “I know I’m screwed. You don’t have to remind me.”

“I told you to come here to regroup, figure out your next move. Not to think about how pissed you are at my choice of bedmate.”