Slow Hands

‘Chelsea. Farnsworth Place.’

‘Swanky. Now, go convince him to take you on.’ It was Lizzie’s turn to wait a beat. ‘And don’t you dare refuse dessert. It could prove mighty appetising...’

As she walked up the immaculate stone steps to Logan’s house April tried not to think about dessert. It was so bloody tempting, though—until she remembered that the man stirring all her juices was hopefully going to help save her business. That was what she should be focusing on right now, not hot, raunchy and undoubtedly fabulous sex.

April sucked in a steadying breath. Lizzie had been right about Farnsworth Place. Swanky. The house was one in a row of majestic three-storey houses with cream-coloured wood cladding offset with glossy black railed balconies.

Yet again, he’d thrown her off balance. It didn’t suit him, somehow. Too conventional, too...civilised.

Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she pressed the doorbell. While she waited, she pulled the strap of her tote bag higher onto her shoulder and the box inside bumped her hip, reminding her why she was here.

A guy opened the door, holding a beer. ‘You must be April Sinclair. Come in.’

Thrown by someone other than Logan greeting her, April teetered on the top step until the man ushered her into the airy hallway. Her first impression was of space and not one iota of clutter. Several large abstract paintings hung along the ivory walls, providing a splash of bold and dramatic colour. The tiled floors were cool and functional, with just a few pieces of walnut furniture scattered along the length of the hall, leading the eye towards the back of the house.

‘Let me take your coat. He’s through there.’

April shrugged out of her coat, feeling out of place in her black knee-length skirt and pale blue tee shirt. She followed the man down the hall and into the living area. Terrace doors, stretching the full width of the room, showcased Chelsea Harbour and the glittering waters of the River Thames.

Logan stood looking beyond the terrace doors, speaking on his mobile phone. He turned to her and she felt the punch of his heated appraisal right down to her toes.

The man was impossibly gorgeous.

He wore his dark shirt open at the collar, which seemed to emphasise the width of his shoulders—or maybe it was the way he stood. Tall, upright and confident, one hand holding his phone, the other slipped into the pocket of his jeans.

Master of his universe. King of his domain.

She tried not to react to the slide of lust that flashed in her belly and burned through her blood as, with his gaze on hers, he finished his call and walked towards her. The pull of attraction radiated between them, hard to ignore and definitely hard to deny. She wasn’t at all sure about the intensity of this reaction he pulled from her. Despite the whole wanting to jump into bed with him thing, he made her feel strangely vulnerable. And that wouldn’t do. Hadn’t she vowed never again to let anyone hold power over her, over her life?

‘I see you’ve met my brother, Connor.’ Logan slapped the man playfully on the shoulder. ‘He’s just leaving.’

Connor turned and arched a sardonic eyebrow at his brother. ‘I am?’

‘You are,’ Logan confirmed with a quick smile as he took Connor’s beer. ‘Keep working on that status report for me, okay? We’ll catch up later.’ He turned his brother towards the hall with a little shove, receiving a fulminating look in return.

‘Drink?’ Logan asked as Connor left, the front door closing behind him with a hefty thud. ‘What’s your poison?’

‘Just coffee, please.’ April followed him into a huge kitchen, which afforded another fabulous view of the harbour and with the most delicious smell coming from the double oven. ‘I didn’t know you had a brother.’

‘Three,’ he said switching on the coffee machine. ‘Plus a sister. All younger than me, and each one a royal pain in the ass.’

Since he said it with a smile in his voice, April recognised the affection there. It was interesting to see this side of Logan, a glimpse of softness in the blatantly powerful and sexy lawyer. It tugged at something inside her. A little wistfully, she thought about how she’d always yearned for siblings. A big, loving family. Instead she’d been an only child, born late and unexpectedly to parents who had taken little interest in her except to manage and direct every aspect of her life.

‘Do they all live close?’

She enjoyed watching the easy way he moved around the space. His tight ass in those exquisitely cut jeans, his broad shoulders, strong arms... Sadly, his forearms were covered by shirtsleeves tonight, although the cuffs were turned back, displaying firm wrists and sturdy hands.

‘Connor lives in the city. The others are scattered all over, doing their thing.’

‘Which is...?’ April asked the question almost automatically, fascinated by the warmth that slipped into his tone as he spoke of his siblings, and mesmerised by his masculine appeal as he performed the simple domestic task of placing coffee cups, milk and sugar on a tray.

‘Aiden and Ty are both in the forces. Colleen is at uni in Edinburgh.’

She leaned back against a unit. ‘Do you see them much?’

‘I make sure to. Gotta keep them on the straight and narrow.’ He turned, mirroring her as he leaned back. ‘How about you?’

‘No siblings. No parents now. My mother died several years ago, and my father more recently.’

Logan frowned. ‘That’s rough.’

‘I’ve got great friends.’

He nodded, then his eyes turned heated. ‘A man?’

‘Like I said, I’m not in the market for complications.’

The corner of his mouth hiked into that cocky grin. ‘Doesn’t have to be complicated.’

‘Not at the start, but that’s how it usually ends.’

‘Not if everyone plays by the rules.’

The gleam in his blue eyes shone across the space between them and made the air positively sizzle. She’d told Lizzie she was interested in Logan. What she had failed to admit was that she was tempted beyond words to throw caution to the wind and jump him. Every moment she spent with the man made it harder to resist him.

And why the hell should she? She was long overdue some fun—the dirtier the better—and she knew Logan was exactly the man to provide it.

Could it be that simple?

‘What sort of rules?’

His nostrils flared. ‘That’s open to discussion.’

She remained silent, contemplating him and his words while her thighs trembled. If she gave in to temptation, wouldn’t that negate the progress she’d made in getting a lawyer who actually seemed to be taking her seriously? Wasn’t she better off focusing on the reason she was here and resisting the temptation of his admittedly considerable sexual appeal?

‘I think I’d rather discuss the threat to my business,’ she said, hoping that her eyes conveyed that she hadn’t completely drawn a solid line through the other discussion.

He studied her for several long moments, his blue gaze penetrating and panty-melting, and she was on the verge of telling him to scratch what she’d said when he nodded, then placed the coffee pot on the tray.

‘Okay. Let’s go and move things on.’

Considering the gist of the conversation they’d just shared, April wondered what exactly they were about to move on with. Business? Or pleasure? Both?

She followed him down the hall to the front of the building and into a sumptuous study. Book-filled shelves on every wall and a welcoming log-filled fireplace made the imposing space cosy and convivial.

Logan indicated the large leather sofa by the fireplace, then poured them both coffee before taking his seat on the matching sofa opposite. He’d switched to business mode, which gave her the answer to the moving things on question.

Settling back, he hooked his ankle across the opposite knee and started to flick through the folder she’d given him earlier. She found herself ogling his wide chest, the brawny shoulders. Since his forearms were covered by shirtsleeves, she let her attention slide leisurely downward. She almost smiled when she got to his shiny Italian leather shoes, wondering if it was true what they said about men with large feet.

‘Did you bring it?’

‘What?’

It was impossible to mistake the gleam in his eye. The man knew that she’d been checking him out.

‘The vibrator.’

‘Of course, that’s why I’m here.’

‘Then let’s take a look.’

April reached into her bag and pulled out the oblong box showing a busty half-naked blonde touching the pink vibrator to her red pouting lips.

Bloody hell. It would have been bad enough handing the box over to any lawyer, but to a man who seemed to fan her sexual flame just by breathing? It was impossible not to imagine him taking it out of the box and using it on her. They’d both be naked, and she’d be spread out beneath him while he treated her to that cocky grin as his big capable hands slid the vibrator between her legs...

Her core was wet and throbbing, but she held Logan’s gaze as she handed the item across to him. ‘This is from the same batch,’ she explained, her voice thready with lust. ‘The only difference is the colour.’

He took it, perused the box as if it held something mildly interesting. ‘These things come in different colours?’

April nodded. Her pulse hammered when he opened the box and held the vibrator up to study it. Her eyes zeroed in on his fingers as they slowly stroked and glided over the smooth plastic before moving to the ridged areas of the toy. More heat shot between her legs. She wanted to clamp her knees together, squirm in the seat to get some relief, but he was looking at her with that steady blue gaze.

Saying nothing, he flicked the switch with his thumb and raised his eyebrows when nothing happened.

‘New stock,’ April explained, annoyed that she’d forgotten to ready the toy. ‘It needs batteries.’

‘Right.’ A flicker of something deliciously wicked came into his eyes as he handed over the toy. ‘Maybe you should handle that.’

She wondered if he was imagining exactly what she was picturing. How his hands would subject her to the same slow and steady torture with which he’d made his acquaintance with the vibrator. Strong, leisurely strokes that would incite an aching need everywhere he touched...making her crave, making her burn...

Every cell of her body fired with the intensity of her thoughts as she slipped the batteries out of the box and pushed them into the toy.

She was so primed, so aware of him, that the sudden whir of the vibrator as it sprang into action made her start. The pink giant oscillated and pulsed, adding to the sensual heat April was trying her hardest to ignore. When Logan held his hand out for the toy she basically threw it at him. No bloody way was she going to make any kind of physical contact with the man while she was in this state of heightened arousal.

He smiled, and she knew he was aware of every thought and reaction she’d had.

‘It’s got three speeds,’ he said, holding the toy in one hand, while reading from the box. ‘And it can be used in the shower.’

Logan flicked the switch again and the vibrator went into top-speed mode. It started undulating. Oh, for pity’s sake. She couldn’t take much more of this.

Her intimate muscles contracted so hard she feared she might climax just from the sight of his adept fingers manipulating the thing as it continued to tilt and roll. Bloody hell, but she suspected Logan’s hands were a damn sight better suited to manipulating more interesting things than a piece of plastic.

‘And you’ve sold hundreds of these?’

Of what?

April gave herself a fierce mental shake. ‘This kind of toy is one of my top sellers, but this is the first time I’ve used this particular supplier for them. They were offering a limited time deal and I sold them as a special offer. They turned a decent profit.’

Thankfully he switched off the vibrator, but he continued to hold and study it.

‘Did Veronica Lebeck purchase the product through your website?’

‘No. Party-plan. Most of her friends bought one. I pretty much offloaded all the stock I had with me that night.’

‘When was that?’

‘About six weeks ago.’

‘Anyone else complain of problems with their purchase?’

‘No.’

April had an image of him in full legal wig and gown, interrogating some poor sap on the witness stand. She imagined he’d look pretty spectacular.

‘How’s business right now?’

‘It’s good.’

‘No need to cut corners? Take below-standard stock in the hope of offloading it fast?’

‘No.’ Her annoyance levels rose rapidly. ‘I would never deliberately sell sub-standard stock. I’ve got a good reputation...a huge percentage of returning clients. If you want to see testimonials, I can provide those easily enough.’

‘Testimonials?’

‘Satisfied customers.’

His grin flashed quick and sexy. ‘Excuse the pun?’

Still annoyed by his questioning of her standards, April glared at him. ‘I’m glad you’re finding this funny. I’m afraid I can’t share the sentiment.’

‘What’s the deal with your insurance?’

‘I forgot to renew it. Believe me, I’ve had sleepless nights about it, but I was distracted at the time. Personal matters. It was a foolish mistake.’

Logan studied the toy again, turning it this way and that. He placed it down next to the box on the table beside him, then walked over to his desk and picked up a sheaf of papers. ‘You might as well complete these while I take a closer look at the terms and conditions on your website.’ He handed them to her. ‘Something wrong?’

‘You need me to complete forms? Just to get your advice?’

He shrugged. ‘You’ll need to do them at some stage—might as well be now. Whoever handles your case will need the information, so go ahead and fill in the paperwork.’

Firm and non-negotiable, April thought as he went back to perusing his laptop. Did anyone ever get the better of Logan Fitzpatrick? Unlikely. Which only heightened her disappointment that he couldn’t be her lawyer. Probably just as well, though, since April suspected she’d be paying off his fee like a second mortgage for the next fifty years. Lawyers of his calibre didn’t do discounts or mate’s rates.

Looking on the bright side, there was nothing stopping her from letting him be something else. Nothing in the way of her acting on her undeniable attraction for the man. She was single, unattached, and desperately in lust. It would just be sex. Where was the problem?

Somehow she managed to drag her thoughts away from carnal possibilities long enough to complete the paperwork.

‘Done?’ Logan asked as she put down her pen.

She nodded.

‘Good. Now I get to feed you.’

The way he said it made her stomach do crazy, stupid things, but it might have been the copious amounts of caffeine she’d swigged down while completing the forms.

She was still on edge from that display with the vibrator, and her gaze flashed to where it sat on the side table.

Logan followed the direction of her look as he walked around his desk. ‘I’ll hang on to that. Unless you need it?’

Since her hormones were enjoying their own private disco, and her stomach had yet to settle from its vibrator-induced rollercoaster ride, April knew that she’d definitely be needing something. It looked as if her sample stock drawer would be raided the moment she got home.

This rampant flare of sexual attraction wasn’t going to diminish any time soon. If anything, the more time she spent in Logan’s company, the more she bloody wanted him.

‘Keep it,’ she said. ‘You might want to do more research.’

‘Yeah, I might.’

He held out his hand, his fevered gaze inviting her to take it...and much more. Shivers of awareness rippled down her spine as his fingers wrapped around hers, and heat burned between her legs and made her knees wobble.

‘I’m starting to develop a fascination,’ he said.

‘With vibrators?’

His gaze dropped to her mouth, and he made a long and seductive perusal of her lips. Those shivers shot from her spine straight to her core. She was wet, and aching, and so turned on it was ridiculous.

‘Not just vibrators,’ he said, his fingers tightening even more as the compelling blue of his eyes caught her in their devilish depths. ‘Although I’d like to know more about how they work.’

Oh, and how I’d like to show you.

‘You’ve just had a practical demonstration.’

‘Of the basics. Not the logistics. Can those things actually make a woman come?’

Oh, God.

‘Of course.’ How the hell did she sound so composed when her whole body was firing on all cylinders? ‘Women don’t always get their needs met by a man.’

He waited a beat. ‘Then that man isn’t doing his job properly.’

April pulled her inner muscles up hard. Anything to stop the constant throbbing and intense need. It was getting unbearable.

‘I suppose you’re going to tell me you’ve never had any complaints.’

Why had she said that? Did she have some hidden propensity for torturing herself? For baiting him?

‘Not one.’ He moved a little closer. ‘Which is why my women prefer the real thing.’

Bloody hell.

‘That’s what they tell you.’

He caught her other hand in his, moving ever closer. ‘They tell me with a satisfied smile on their face. That’s if they’ve got the energy left.’

Unable to resist, and not wanting him to have all the fun, April stepped closer this time. She touched her breasts to his chest, enjoying the way he sucked in a breath.

‘We women are good are bolstering men’s egos. How do you know that as soon as you’ve fallen asleep your women don’t go and seek out Mr Sparkly?’

His throat contracted, then his eyebrows rose. ‘Mr Sparkly?’

Had she said that aloud? Who cared? ‘It’s one of the games we play. At parties.’

She was on a roll now, feeling bold and daring. If this thing between them was going anywhere, then it made sense to let him know that he wasn’t the one who’d be in the driving seat.

‘Sex toy parties?’

He tilted his hips and his erection nudged her stomach. This time they both sucked in air.

‘I prefer the term “adult toys”.’

His hands settled on her hips, fingers digging in. ‘How does it work? The game?’

‘There’s an instruction sheet inside the box. I put one in with all my vibrator products.’

His impressive bulge pushed harder against her. ‘I’m not much for instruction sheets. Prefer working things out for myself.’

‘Typical man.’

‘There’s not much typical about me.’

She shimmied against him. ‘So I’ve noticed.’

His hands moved to her ass, tugging up her skirt and coaxing her legs apart to guide that impressive bulge between them. She was ridiculously wet.

He brought his mouth to within a whisper of hers, held there as they both breathed hard. Tilting her chin, she raised her lips to his. It was the lightest of touches, barely skimming, but the reaction pushed deep into her being and made everything come alive. Her heart hammered, her senses spun.

The kiss deepened until it was hard and hot. She dragged her hands up his masculine chest, felt his heart beating fast against her palms.

‘I really, really want you,’ she managed between kisses.

He groaned low in his throat, his hands gripping her hips and hiking her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

‘And I damn well want you,’ he said, his voice rough and edgy. ‘It’s time to eat... And I don’t mean pasta.’

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