Rich, Rugged Ranchers. Kathie DeNosky

to take possession and never let go. It was strange to feel that way about any woman, but with Sophia it felt right.

      He made love to every ounce of her with heated kisses and strokes of his tongue until he could barely breathe from the fire building in his system. His hands wove through her long thick hair and he bruised her lips with hot crushing kisses.

      He made sure Sophia was well loved in every way. It pleased him to please her.

      His mind briefly went to his father and how he’d lusted after Louisa Montrose. The only difference being that Logan wasn’t married to another woman. He hadn’t spoken vows or pledged his love to one woman and then bedded another. He would never fall in love with a Montrose. Sophia wouldn’t break him. Not in that way.

      He wanted her in his bed.

      He’d never fall into the same trap his father had.

      Nothing had changed in that regard.

      Sophia’s soft, labored moans were frantic. She unzipped his jeans, and all thoughts of his father went out the window. The gorgeous woman slipped her hand around his swollen member and he’d barely had time to put a condom on before she sought an end to their mutual torment.

      He guided her down and with one slow, earth-shattering thrust they were joined.

      Sophia tossed her head back, taking him inside her. The arch of her back, the sheet of dark hair tossing from side to side as she slid her sweet body over his, were a thing of beauty.

      Logan seared those images into his memory as they rode the waves of glory together.

      I love you, Logan, Sophia thought as she glanced at him. Though he was normally well-groomed, this morning, short, thick strands of his hair stuck out in several directions and a day-old beard darkened his handsome features.

      Sophia wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t going to make a scene. She would be strong. Like her mother. She wouldn’t let Logan know how much she loved him. Not now. She couldn’t trust him with those feelings. She couldn’t tell him truths that he wasn’t ready to hear. She knew it would take time, but Sophia had never been in love before. She’d never felt the full force of the emotion and the power it wielded might cause her great injury. She knew she would have to step carefully to avoid the land mines of her own making.

      Sophia lay there with a lump in her throat. Logan had made love to her thoroughly last night. She still ached in private places from his ruthless pursuit of satisfying her. He had made his mark on her. She would never forget her first night with Logan Slade. She hoped there were many more to come. She would not give up on her love.

      Was she being a fool?

      Her mother’s words rang out clearly in Sophia’s mind. She had never forgotten them. “Loving Randall Slade was a waste of love.”

      Because it had ended in heartache. Sophia wouldn’t allow that to happen with Logan. Her love would not be wasted. It couldn’t be. She’d given everything she’d had to give to him. Would he be so cruel as to throw it all away?

      Dawn peeked out on the horizon, the first glimmering rays of light sneaking into the room. Sophia gave Logan one last glance, and then rose from the bed. Her feet landed quietly on the floor and she tiptoed away hoping not to wake him.

      She grabbed Logan’s shirt she’d worn last night, along with her pants, and dressed before she exited the room. The Slades’ household staff did not live at the house, but they would arrive shortly.

      Logan’s remark about how his men knew they weren’t just baking cookies together came to mind.

      Sophia cringed at the notion. She’d never wanted a reputation as a gold-digger, but it seemed to follow her every move. She would have fallen in love with Logan Slade even if he were penniless. Money wasn’t the issue but who would believe that about her now? On paper, and from what people perceived about her, she appeared guilty.

      And then there was Luke. What was she going to say to him? When he arrived home, would he understand her motives? Would he hate that she’d fallen in love with his brother?

      Sophia entered her room, quietly shutting the door behind her. She wasn’t ready to start the day, but doubted she could fall back to sleep. She stripped off her clothes, walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower faucet. She stepped inside and let the warm water slide over her skin. She stood there for a long time in the steamy hot spray, deep in thought.

      The night she shared with Logan had been remarkable. The earth had moved and the stars had aligned. She sighed at the memories—the taste of his mouth, the scratch of his stubble bruising her skin, his strong hands gentle on her, all rushed through her mind. It had been ecstasy and Sophia wouldn’t allow herself to think of it as a one-night stand.

      But she had no clue what Logan was thinking. She wondered if he’d set out to seduce her or if they’d been caught up in something powerful that both of them couldn’t deny. Last night, their relationship had changed forever.

      Sophia washed her hair and scrubbed her body with lavender-scented soap. The pleasing fragrance had always soothed her nerves and made her feel better. When she stepped out of the shower and dried off, most of her pressing doubts were banished.

      Someone knocked on her bedroom door. Sophia took a quick breath, wrapped herself in a plush towel and shook out her wet hair before going to the door. “Who is it?”

      “It’s me, Sophia.”

      The sound of Logan’s voice gave her tingles. She opened the door slowly. His cool dark eyes blazed with warmth when he looked at her draped in the towel. “Tempting.”

      He was dressed in business clothes, dark slacks and a white shirt. Seeing him again took her breath away. “Good morning.”

      “Mornin’. You’re up early,” he said.

      “I, uh, woke up and couldn’t fall back to sleep.”

      “You wanted to skip out of my room before the housekeeper arrived.”

      “Yes,” she admitted, her face flaming. “Do you blame me?”

      His smile was seductive, his voice a rasp of desire. “Don’t run away from me, Sophia.”

      She nibbled on her lower lip, unsure what to say.

      He stepped into the room with a gleam in his eyes. He reached for the top of her towel. Her throat tightened and she just stood there rooted to the spot with his big hand on her chest. When she thought he’d undo the towel, his fingers stayed on her skin just above the cotton. The intimate touch made goose bumps erupt on her arms.

      He bent his head and kissed her, whispering over her lips, “You know I have a shower in my room. Big enough for two. Next time, we’ll do it together.”

      An immediate image rushed into her mind and Logan smiled knowingly. But his automatic assumption that there would be a next time flashed in her head like a lightbulb moment.

      Sophia surprised herself by saying, “We can’t …” She hesitated, knowing in her heart this was the right thing to say. Even so, it pained her to draw a line in the sand. “We can’t have an affair.”

      Logan didn’t flinch, but she noted a quick flicker in his eyes. “Because we don’t like each other?”

      Because I’ve fallen in love with you and need more than that.

      But Sophia couldn’t tell him that. She couldn’t trust him with her love. He was still the same man, with the same prejudices and opinions. “I never said I didn’t like you.”

      The corner of his mouth crooked up. “Last night was good, Sophia. You can’t deny it.” He brushed her hair to one side, touching her shoulder in a soft caress. She trembled from his touch and the blazing warmth in his eyes. “We could have more nights like the one we just had.”

      She summoned her courage and asked him the question that would define this new relationship. “Have you changed