“Let go. Make love to me.”
He sucked in a strong breath and moved with greater strength and purpose, limbs steadying. Her hand moved of its own accord, pressing tight to his chest, absorbing the comforting pound of his heart and taking everything he would give.
“Make love to me,” she repeated. “Make love to me.”
The phrase fell from her lips with each of their movements, hovering on the air between them. She didn’t know when the mantra changed. Didn’t notice when the words rearranged or when some dropped away.
She only realized it after they both found release. When he rolled to his back, arms wrapped tight around her and she followed. When she replaced her hand at his chest with her wet cheek. Just as she had the first time they’d been together.
The plea lingered on her tongue, breaking the silence, just as it had all those years ago. It echoed around them and within her, mingling with the thundering beat of his heart and the searing heat sweeping over her skin.
“Love me. Love me.”
And she wanted him more than she ever had before.
“I’M SORRY.”
Logan grimaced. He knew it was the wrong time to tell her. Could feel it in the stiffening of Amy’s spine beneath his fingertips and the slow lift of her face from his chest. But he needed to say it. Needed to pry it from his gut and put it down. So they’d at least have a fighting chance.
“For everything,” he said. “All the way back to the very start.”
Amy rose to her elbows and faced him. Her brow creased, her lush mouth parting on shallow breaths. The light sheen of sweat on her flushed cheeks glistened in the lamplight.
His body tightened. He dropped his gaze, studying the raven tangles of her hair pooling against the white blanket beneath them.
“I remember the exact day things changed between us.” He dug deep for the right words. The ones he’d arranged so carefully. “I was twenty. Had finished a good day’s work and took off on my own. Rode hard. Decided to stop off by the creek to let the horse take a breather. I was half asleep propped up against that old oak tree when I heard you coming.” His mouth curved, a small smile fighting its way out despite his unease. “Your feet snapped a twig or two and I figured you were sneaking up on me. Pulling a prank like you always did. So I kept my eyes shut and played along.”
Amy’s flush deepened. “Logan—”
“But that’s not what you wanted.” His mouth tightened. “You kissed me, instead.” He tapped a fingertip to his lips, warmth spreading from the spot and heating his face. “Right here.”
She squirmed against him and he curled his hand over the curve of her hip, stilling her.
“I was just to practice on, you said. That some guy had caught your eye and you wanted to be prepared.” He laughed, the sound grating over his ears. “You turned beet-red. Just like now.”
Amy winced and looked down. The long sweep of her hair cascaded over her shoulders, hiding her face.
“I was still a kid,” she whispered.
“You were sixteen. Had that beautiful hair and flirty grin. And I knew you were lying.” He reached out, brushing her hair back and rubbing the strands between his fingers. “It caught me by surprise. I’d only ever thought of you as a friend and was under the impression you felt the same way about me.” His gut churned. “I remember wishing you’d shift that attention to Dom or some other boy closer to your age. Because all I could think was...if I don’t put a stop to this, I’m not just gonna lose my best friend, I’m gonna break this girl’s heart.”
She glanced up, gorgeous green eyes welling.
“And, damn me to hell, Amy,” he choked, “that’s exactly what I did.”
She shook her head and placed her palm to his jaw. “You tried to let me down easy. I know it had to be awkward for you, and you did your best to set me straight over the years.”
“My best wasn’t good enough.”
“You tried. That’s the important thing,” she said, looking away. “What happened later was my fault. And none of it matters now.”
His throat tightened, heart bleeding for her. For the innocent girl she’d been. And the guarded woman she’d become. He lifted his hands, cradling her cheeks and dropping gentle kisses across her face.
He may have made mistakes by eventually giving in to Amy. By not keeping his distance. But when he’d learned of the pregnancy, he’d chosen to marry her despite the fact that she’d deceived him. As her husband, it’d been his job to protect her and he’d failed her. His throat closed. It’d been his job as Sara’s father to protect her, too.
Sara.
Logan froze. A wave of nausea swept through him, flooding his mouth. Just their daughter’s name was enough to bring the pain back. Enough to remind him of how much they’d lost.
“It doesn’t have to all be for nothing, Amy.” His voice sounded strange, even to his own ears. “However we got here, this is where we ended up. We still have a chance to build something solid. Something real.” He looked up, hating himself as much as he hated the hard glint in her eyes. “You’re not still looking for a fairy tale, are you?”
Her mouth tightened. She turned away again, gazing blankly beyond his left shoulder.
“No.”
Logan sighed. “We can make this work.”
“No. We can’t.”
Amy pulled against his hold. His hands shot out, tugging her back against him.
“Why not?” He pressed his forehead to hers. “We were best friends once and can be again. That alone will make our marriage strong. We’re good together. We proved that earlier with Thunder and just now.”
“What just happened was a mistake. One we’re not going to repeat.”
A mistake. Logan’s chest burned. “We’re still married.”
“Not for much longer.” She tossed her hair over her shoulders. “I’ve been truthful with you this time around, Logan. You knew exactly what my intentions were coming here.”
“I heard you say it. But I can’t believe it’s what you really want. Raintree is your home. Your family’s here.” He curved his hand around her jaw, her skin warm under his palm. “I’m here. I want you with me and I want this marriage to work.”
She shook her head. “Only because you feel obligated. You didn’t want to be married to me. Didn’t love me that way—”
“I cared for you.” He gathered her against his chest. “I still do. I know that doesn’t sound impressive. But love is just a word, Amy. One that people throw around as an excuse for reckless behavior.”
Logan’s
