As they walked around the edge of the clearing, she scuffled her feet and watched the fine dust glitter in the patchy moonlight. An owl hooted in the distance, getting no answer in return.
Loneliness crept through Rebecca. No matter what happened now, she'd move out of her apartment.
As they reached the lodge again, Matt cleared his throat. “So, are you going to forgive me?”
She realized she hadn't said a word for the entire time. Oops. “Sorry, Matt.” She pulled open the door to the lodge and said, “But don't worry. I-”
Her breath burst out of her as if someone had punched her in the stomach.
Across the room, Ashley straddled Logan's knees, staring over his shoulder at Rebecca and Matt. With a smug smile, she leaned forward, pressing her breasts against Logan's face. Rebecca could only see the back of Logan's head, but she could imagine the look on his face, having the sexy Ashley offering herself.
Despite the pain in her chest, Rebecca managed to move, and she stepped back onto the porch. Matt followed, and the door closed behind him.
Had she decided to join the swingers after all? Or gone back to her boyfriend? Logan scanned the lodge room and saw Matt in a small group by the fireplace, playing some touchy-feely game. No Rebecca. Logan hadn't found her outside when he made the rounds. Or in the kitchen. Or in his bed, not that she could get there without the key code.
Anger gnawed at his guts like a hungry rodent. He didn't consider himself a particularly jealous man, but territorial? Hell yes. In the fetish clubs and here, if a BDSM group rented the cabins, he might play with a sub in public. But unlike some Doms, he didn't share. Ever.
Rebecca was welcome to change men in midstream, but she could have had the courtesy to tell him. And not worry him by disappearing.
Thor at his heels, Jake wandered in the door, shrugging out of his jacket and tossing it on the hook. “Getting cold out there. Looks like a storm's moving in.”
Logan grunted and bent over to scratch Thor's sides. “You seen Rebecca?”
“Nope. Lost your woman?” Jake's sense of humor had netted him frequent black eyes as a kid.
Logan just looked at him and considered giving him another.
Grinning, Jake put his hands up and backed up a step. “Sorry, bro. I haven't seen her, but didn't you say she came with Matt?”
“That's right. But he's here in the lodge.”
“The lights are on in that cabin.”
“The way this group swaps beds, it could be anyone in there”-Logan scratched his jaw-“but I think I'll go check it out.”
“She gonna suffer for pissing you off?”
“Fuck, yes.”
Well, she liked having all her stuff around again, Rebecca decided as she took another shower, shaved her legs-although what was the point of smooth skin now?-and washed her hair with her own shampoo and conditioner. She'd felt too awkward to move her things over to Logan's rooms, and wasn't it a good thing she hadn't?
He'd be up there now, giving Ashley a ride in front of his fireplace. Her hands fisted so tight, she could feel the fingernails cut into her skin. God, how pitiful. Rebecca pulled in a breath and felt a sob welling up from deep inside her chest.
She put on her new nightgown because she deserved something special and shoved a chair closer to the woodstove. As her hair dried, she tried to concentrate on
She had no claim on him, and hey, he probably took women right and left. Not a swinger, true, but a virile man with-her breath huffed out-a lot of skill and experience. And why did she have so much trouble thinking of him as just a wonderful…fuck? What a typical girlie move, imagining a relationship where there was none.
Why couldn't she be gay? Or a nun?
Somebody pounded on her cabin door. She jumped, then rolled her eyes. Two men from the club had been by already, trying to interest her in some sex. Apparently she'd have to refuse them all one by one? “Not interested,” she yelled. “Go away.”
A key scraped in the lock, and the handle turned. Didn't Matt ever learn? She jumped to her feet. “I told you-”
Broad shoulders filled the door, and cold blue eyes shot into hers.
“Logan?” She took a step back.
“Very good,” he said in a dry voice. “You do remember me. The one you've been fucking for the past two days?” He walked toward her, as unstoppable as a semi truck, and she retreated until her back hit the wall. He put a hand flat on each side of her, trapping her. He'd never looked so angry, not even when she'd been hiking alone.
“I remember you.” Then she also remembered why she'd come to the cabin. Her spine straightened. “I thought you'd be”-she spit the word at him-“
“Ashley?” His brows drew together as if he was perplexed. “Oh, the horny blonde. I wouldn't fuck that…” Suddenly the anger disappeared from his face, and his lips curved. “You saw her jump on me and thought I'd be occupied tonight?”
Why did she have the feeling she was one step behind him? “Well, yes. If she didn't smother you with her breasts,” she said drily.
“You must have been in and out within seconds, then, little one,” he said softly, moving closer until she could feel the heat from his body through her thin nightgown. “Right after she shoved her tits in my face, I stood up. I'm not sure what hit harder, her ass or her pride.”
Rebecca choked on a laugh and tried to contain the heady feeling sweeping through her. He'd turned Ashley down. He'd come looking for her.
“Seems like we had a bit of miscommunication here.” His hand cupped her chin. “I thought you decided to go bed-hopping tonight.”
“Ew.” She wrinkled her nose. “Please.”
His grin flashed, dark and wicked. “Then you're not all dressed up to…ah, entertain?” His gaze swept down her figure, and she became acutely aware of how very thin and provocative her nightgown appeared. Leaning a forearm against the wall over her head, he ran his other hand down her neck, across the lacy cleavage of the gown. “Very nice.”
She brought her arms up and crossed them over her chest. “I put the gown on just for me.” She bit her lip and added, “I felt a bit unhappy.”
“Ah.” The crease appeared in his cheek. “In that case, perhaps you need cheering up.” He took a firm grip on her wrists and lowered her arms to her sides. “Leave them there, little sub,” he cautioned.
“I'm not a-”
“Silence.”
The snapped command sent heat pooling inside her as if he'd touched her.
He stroked a finger down her neck and across the top of the nightgown. She knew the sheer gold fabric wouldn't hide the tightening of her nipples. Shoot, it didn't hide anything. She'd bought it assuming she'd be somewhat toasted and with Matt, not sober and with someone who curled her toes every time she looked at him.
“Do you know how gorgeous you are?” he murmured, dipping his hand into the bodice to fondle her breast.
