Of Loss & Betrayal (Madison & Logan 2)

Logan’s eyes lit up. “Today’s breakfast was even worse than yesterday’s. They called it pancakes, but they were so hard I couldn’t even get my fork through them. You must have read my mind because I was just thinking that I would kill for a bagel. I think I love you.”

I knew he was just joking, but my heart twisted at his words. They reminded me that this wasn’t the Logan who loved me. He might feel some affection for me right now, but this wasn’t the man who loved me so deeply that he would wait years to be with me. I wondered if I would ever get that man back.

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head. I had to be positive about the situation, especially with Kristina on her way. I handed Logan a wrapped bagel.

“An everything bagel with scallion cream cheese. Not toasted.”

Logan raised his eyebrows as he took the bagel. “How did you know that was my favorite?”

I tried to keep my expression upbeat. “Considering I’ve eaten about a million bagels with you, it’s not hard to remember.”

His expression clouded over. “Sorry. I have to keep reminding myself that we haven’t just met.”

The knife in my heart twisted a little deeper, but I forced myself to smile at him. “Maybe it can work to our advantage. At least we don’t have to worry about our relationship getting stale, because it’s like we’re starting all over again.”

Logan took my hand and pulled me closer until my legs hit the edge of the sofa he was sitting on. He kept on pulling until I was forced to sit next to him, my side pressed against his. The sudden contact took me by surprise and I just looked at him, unsure of what his motives were.

“We can have our first kiss all over again.”

My breath drew in sharply at his words. I hadn’t expected him to move so fast. I should be pleased that he wanted to move our relationship to a physical level, but I was afraid that he would find me lacking. That all the intense heat we used to generate between us would no longer exist.

Logan reached up and gently ran his fingers through my hair. His simple touch made shivers run down my spine. It had been so long since he had touched me beyond holding hands and I craved it so badly.

“How could I have forgotten you?” he whispered, his hand lowering to cup the base of my head as he pushed me closer to him.

I opened my mouth to answer, although I had no idea what I was going to say. Before I could utter a word, his lips met mine in an achingly tender kiss. Our lips clung together as he caressed my mouth, tasting and exploring like he had all the time in the world. All the tension and anxiety that had been building inside me melted away as I was swept away by his kiss.

I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Logan made a sound of approval and deepened the kiss. What had been gentle and tender started to turn wild as our tongues tangled together, his lips crushing mine. I desperately poured all my love and desire into the kiss, as if it could bring back his memory. Soon, the loss of his memory was the last thing on my mind as I felt his hands burrow underneath my sweater to caress my back. All I felt was desire and I didn’t protest when his hands slid around to the front. I was panting when he broke the kiss to trail hot, wet kisses down my neck as his hands moved up my stomach, pulling my sweater with it until they reached my bra. I whimpered when he pulled one of the cups of my bra down and cradled my breast in his hand, the rough pads of his thumb and forefinger pulling on my nipple already hard with arousal.

Logan’s face was dark with passion. Despite not remembering me, it seemed that our desire for each other didn’t need any memories to flame hot. My head tipped back and my eyes fluttered closed when I saw his head lowering. I couldn’t suppress my cry of pleasure when I felt his mouth close over my taut nipple, sucking and pulling as arrows of pure sensation shot through me to my core. My hips automatically bucked against him, seeking release from the tension building.

Through the haze of desire, I heard the creak of a door opening and it was like a bucket of water had been poured over me. I pushed Logan away in a panic and I heard him mutter an expletive and make a grab for me, but I quickly stood up, pulling my clothes back into place. I looked at the doorway, expecting either a glowering, disapproving nurse or, worse, Kristina. Instead, there was no one.

Instead of being relieved, I was embarrassed. I knew that I had heard the door open. One of the nurses had probably discreetly left when she saw us groping each other.

I hadn’t noticed Logan getting up and stalking towards me, but all of a sudden he was standing in front of me. He didn’t look happy.

“Why did you pull away?” His tone was neutral but his eyes were piercing with intensity.

“I heard someone open the door. A nurse must have come in and then left when she saw us.”

Logan watched me for a few moments, his eyes seeming to study every feature of my face.

“Is it always like this between us?” he finally asked, his voice husky. “I wouldn’t have cared if the entire hospital staff had come in. I would have fucked you right on that couch.”

I felt a rush of wetness between my legs by his words. It thrilled me that our attraction to each other couldn’t be denied.

I gave him a shaky smile. “Pretty much. We never could keep our hands off each other.”

Logan gave me a slow smile that made my insides turn to mush. “I was looking forward to going home tomorrow, but now I can’t wait.”

I didn’t answer because I didn’t know what to say. It didn’t matter, because we were interrupted by a nurse coming in. I blushed hotly, wondering if she was the one who had come in moments before and left discreetly. She briskly checked Logan and left without saying much.

We spent the rest of the morning talking about easy topics while we ate our bagels, but every once in a while I would catch Logan watching me with a look in his eyes that told me he was thinking about our earlier kiss. I felt a little self-conscious that his eyes seemed to track my every move, although it thrilled me as well.

The door opened and I looked up, expecting to see yet another nurse, but the enjoyable morning was shattered when I saw Kristina standing in the doorway.

The last time I had seen her was when she had come to my apartment to confront me. She had been wild-eyed and panicked then, desperate not to lose Logan. The woman standing before me looked perfectly composed and in control. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back, not a hair out of place, and her green eyes were flitting between Logan and me, assessing the situation. Her quiet beauty was undeniable, and I got a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.