I try to reach out to Aurora, but Logan locks his arm around my shoulders.
And yet, he adds gruffly, “I won’t hurt her. I don’t hurt kids, Lia.”
“Only women, right?” I mock, angrily trying to break free from the arm that crushes me.
“No. Only you.”
Before I have time to react, he turns his head to Everest. “Put her in the car seat, okay?
“The car seat?” I stammer in confusion.
“Isn’t she supposed to sit in a car seat?” questions Logan, snapping his head back at me. “She’s two, isn’t she?”
“Uhm, yes.” I frown, wondering how the hell he can possibly know that. I’m aware he hangs out with Carmelo, but I doubt the latter remembers her age. And he’s definitely never thought of getting her a car seat.
“Well, go on, Everest,” presses Logan.
There’s an edge to his voice that I could almost imagine is needy. I open my mouth to protest again, but the second Everest reaches the bed, Aurora lifts her arms up, spreading her lips in a broad smile.
“Piggyback ride,” she requests.
I let myself relax just a bit when Everest gives her a goofysmile, then leans down to pick her up. “Is it okay, Lia, if I bring her to the car?” he asks.
“It’s okay,” grunts Logan. “Get the kid out of here.”
“I was asking Lia.”
“Uh…” I swallow nervously, watching Aurora smile happily at Everest. I guess if there’s anyone I can trust with her, it’s the drywall-loving Ken-doll. “Okay,” I accept at last.
At once, Everest lifts Aurora up, giving her the much-desired piggyback ride. Despite yesterday’s conviction that I would spiral if I ever left her side, I actually breathe a sigh of relief when the door closes, knowing Aurora is with someone kind, rather than with… the guy who’s currently got his arm around me.
“She looks like you,” he breathes into my ear as soon as we’re alone.
“Oh,” I mumble. “Uhm, thank you.”
Then I bite my lip as his hot breath leaves my ear and I feel it instead against my neck, and down my collarbone.
For Aurora. Do it for Aurora.
But apparently, selling my body is easier to think about than to do. I’ve had sex exactly once in my life, and it wasn’t my choice. It wouldn’t really be my choice this time either, even though I know Logan wouldn’t hold me down and force me, unlike Carmelo.
He may be capable of a lot of things, but I don’t believe he’s capable ofthat.
Do it for Aurora.
My body is so tense that a cry leaves my lips when I suddenly feel the tip of Logan’s nose and then the rest of his face as he… nestles it against me.
“Wh-what are you doing, Logan?” I gasp.
“Shut up, Lia.”
He stays like that for a while, resting his head against thenook between my neck and my shoulder. I wait mutely, my body tense with confusion.
What the fuck?
Yet despite how strange it is, it feels… soothing, in a way. At least, soothing enough that I let my guard down, just a bit.
Which only makes it harder to steel myself once again when he tugs down the blanket he’d wrapped around me.