Logan (Carolina Reapers 4)

“Right?” She threw her hands out. “It’s possible to be friends with the opposite sex without having it. Sex, I mean.”

My mouth went dry.

“Right. Of course.”

She turned back to the cart and started pushing it down another aisle, and I quickly followed her. “And just because her relationship started as friends-with-benefits, doesn’t mean that’s right for everyone. Look at us! We’re friends. Just friends, and completely content with that.”

“Mmm-hmm.” If she shoved that book in its place any harder, she might have tipped the entire stack over.

“And sure, I guess maybe it makes sense. After all, sex is about trust above all else, and friendship is based on trust as well, so maybe that’s why she won’t let it go.”

“Wait, you think sex is based on trust?” I questioned.

“Well, yeah.” She took another book from the cart and put it away. “What do you think it’s based on?”

“Mutual desire at first. Passion. Lust. Need—those all come to mind.” I’d had sex with more than a few one-night stands that I hadn’t trusted.

“All good points. You have to have those to even get to the trust, I suppose.” She stood but didn’t look my way. “But you can’t go to bed with someone that you don’t trust to look after your...well-being.”

My brow furrowed. “Well-being? Like orgasms?” I was damned good at handing those out.

She snorted and rolled her eyes at me, but there was a deeper pink tinge to her cheeks, now. “Please. I don’t need to trust a man with my orgasms. I can handle that all on my own.”

My head emptied.

No thoughts.

No words.

None.

Then it flooded with a fantasy of watching Delaney make herself come. I gripped the cart and pulled it back against my hips to hide the instant, raging erection. Fuck me. Usually when I got to this stage of sexual deprivation, I slaked the need with someone I’d never see again. But the idea of taking my desire for Delaney to another woman was almost enough to make my dick shrivel up. Damn, I really wished it would, because this was going to get awkward fast.

“Logan?” she questioned. “You all right?”

“Yep,” I answered with a forced smile.

She gave me a weird look, but took the next book from the stack and filed it. “Anyway, I don’t trust easily, so no sex.” She shrugged.

“You trust me, right?” Just the thought that she didn’t was enough to send a pang of...something...right at my chest.

“Well, yeah. But, we both agreed…” Her forehead puckered as she stared at me.

“Yeah, of course. I just didn’t want to be alone on the trust side of this friendship,” I answered lamely. “I don’t trust people easily, either, but I trust you.”

“Why? Because of your ex?” She took another book and led us down the next row of books.

“No, because of my sister, I guess.”

“Your little one? Kaitlynn, right?” She filed the book and reached for another. We were almost done with the full cart.

“Right. Did I ever tell you that she has Down syndrome?”

“No,” she replied as she finished putting that book away. “You only said she was younger than you are.” Another book filled her hand, and she moved us along.

A lump filled my throat at how casually she responded. Every other girl I’d ever told launched into pity or got all weird.

“Yeah, Kate is a junior in high school. And honestly, she’s the most beautiful person I know. She doesn’t lie. She doesn’t fake her emotions. When she’s happy, there’s this pure joy that fills her up, and when she’s pissed, she lets you know. She’s authentic, and has really pretty eyes that are so much better at seeing the world than mine are. And it’s always been so fucking frustrating that people are drawn to me because what—my face is symmetrical? But they don’t see her. They look at her and glance away. I learned really fast how fucking shallow people are—that they’re only interested in what you look like, or what you can give them.”

Delaney stopped in the aisle and turned to face me with soft green eyes and a sad smile. “People generally suck. And in my experience, beauty, athleticism, perfection...it’s really nature’s warning to stay away. You know, like poisonous frogs are bright blue?”

I blinked, and let her words sink in. “You’re beautiful,” I told her slowly, making sure she knew I meant it.

She dropped her gaze to the cart, and then lifted a book, hugging it to her chest. “Thank you for thinking that, but I should be bright blue, too. Trust issues, remember? I don’t know if I’ll ever let anyone all the way in again, and that’s just as cruel to anyone who could ever want to be with me.”

“Am I blue?” The question was quiet, but I had to know.

“You?” she startled but looked up at me again.