Page 25 of Winter’s Fire

“That sounds scary.”

Logan conceded she had a point. Perhaps a more pragmatic approach would help. “Okay then. I’ve been active in the lifestyle for more than long enough to have scened with subs of all ages, shapes and sizes. To put it bluntly, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen or spanked before.”

The wide-eyed look she gave him was priceless. Her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to say something. She made a cute guppy. The stand-off lasted half a dozen more seconds, but then she resumed her previous position without any further comment.

Which left him faced once again with the most perfectly rounded apple of an arse he’d ever laid eyes on. Best to get this over with as quickly as possible, before he openly disgraced himself.

The things he did for Queen and country. Per Mare, Per Terram, Per whatever the hell the Latin was for “bedroom”.

To Lucy’s credit, she barely flinched when he touched her this time, although tension fairly sizzled from her skin. In another time, with another woman, a situation like this would probably have ultimately led to a mutually satisfying, emotion-free fuck. In this time, with this woman, a huge red warning light was flashing in his mind. He could guarantee the satisfaction, but keeping emotion out of it might prove to be a challenge too far.

His perception of his CO’s assistant was undergoing a seismic shift. Her silken skin beneath his fingertips was only part of the picture. Her courage, her strength of character, and her hidden depths were also formidable weapons, and a challenge to every one of his defences.

Images exploded like a barrage of grenades, a deadly string of fantasies that could never become reality. She’d never allow him to gather her hair to one side, to grant him access to kiss the alluring sweep of her shoulder before he unclipped her bra. He’d never get to trail kisses down her spine before turning her over, settling between her thighs and easing his cock inside her. He’d never get to feel her come around him, see her fly from an orgasmic peak and land safely in his arms.

And he’d never get to fill her with his come, knowing she belonged to him and him alone.

Reality more corrosive than acid gutted him with ruthless efficiency. He had to ignore the ever-strengthening urge to kiss the life out of her and never stop. That privilege wasn’t for a bastard like him.

“Good girl.” The words crawled up from his balls and nearly choked him. “Stay put and let the cream do its job. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“To get you something to drink.”

The kettle boiled all too quickly. Making tea should have taken longer, given him more of a chance to regain his peace of mind. He didn’t like the woman, she was going to a pain in the arse on the mission… who the hell was he trying to kid? Neither of those statements washed anymore—if they ever truly had.

He opened the bedroom door in time to see Lucy rolling to her side. The sight of her lush breasts cradled by more ivory lace smacked him around the head and made his stupid dick stand to attention again. He held out the mug.

“Thank you.” She sipped the tea, without moving her gaze from him. “Mm, that’s lovely. I’m sorry.”

“What for?” Logan parked himself on the chair a few feet from the bed and leaned forward, hands clasped, with his forearms resting on his thighs.

“Not trusting you and arguing with you.”

An apology was the last thing he expected from her, especially after he’d blistered her butt. “Your attitude could have put your safety at risk.”

“I see that now. I also see that you only used the measures we agreed to… show me the error of my ways.”

“You could put it like that. But… it’s done. Put it behind you. I have.”

Her eyes widened. The vibe he was getting was a blend of disbelief and amazement. Logan felt compelled to find out why. “Would you like to tell me about it?”

“What?”

“Why you’re afraid I haven’t put your mistake behind me.”

She broke eye contact then, and he could almost see her dredging up the courage to confront whatever demon was responsible for her fear.

“Based on personal experience, it’s human nature to hold a grudge, remind someone constantly of their mistakes.”

“Ex-boyfriend?”

She nodded. Wariness haunted her gaze when it meshed with his again. “One of his less endearing traits was a habit of reminding me of my shortcomings as a girlfriend. As a human being in general, come to that. I’ve made a lot of mistakes when it comes to relationships, probably always will, but he was the worst. He has to be, because heaven help me if I ever find one worse than him.”

The honesty he’d demanded from her slapped him around the back of the head. Seeing her so wounded and vulnerable made his hands into bone-snapping fists, a sure sign he was ready to punch the unidentified piece of shit who’d done this to her into the middle of the next century, if the scumbag ever crossed his path.

“Doesn’t happen in a D/s relationship—none I’ve ever had, anyway. We deal with a situation, and it’s done. Maybe next time you should give vanilla a miss and try something else.”