Chapter 11 — Logan

"Dude, oh my goodness, she was totally into you." Reed playfully shoved Logan’s shoulder as they walked along outside on the street.

Logan shook his head, smiling. “Yeah, she wasn’t bad for a MILF, right?”

“I can try and set you up, if you want.” Reed’s mouth curled at the corners.

"Shut the fuck up, man, I’m kidding. I swear you did that on purpose."

Visibly relaxing, Reed chuckled. “Damn, you had me for a moment. But no, I’d no idea she’d be like that.” Reed wrinkled his nose. “Damn and did you see her red nails? I swear they were like some serious talons. I thought she was gonna tear into your biceps or something.”

They walked along the street, Reed teasing him but Logan ignoring it. He had to keep his eye out for potential dangers. He noticed that Reed kept checking out the stores and realized again that this was a trip back home for Reed. He was probably checking to see which stores had opened and closed since he was last here.

And then, they stumbled onto a motorcycle shop, which immediately caught Logan’s attention.

"Are you in heaven now?" Reed planted a hand on his hip, looking at Logan. “You certainly look a little more excited now.”

He peered his head around the entrance of the shop. "Do you mind if I stop in for five minutes to check out what they have? I might be able to score some parts for your dad's bike while I'm here."

Reed waved his hand. “No problem, take your time. But do you mind if I stay out here? I just need to make a call to Kellen."

“That’s cool, but stay in my line of sight, okay? No funny business with trying to escape to other stores or anything.”

Reed raised his fingers in a salute. “Gotcha. I promise to be a good boy."

Logan pointed his two fingers to his eyes and then back at Reed, raising an eyebrow. “I’m watching you."

Reed rolled his eyes and leaned against the outside of the shop window. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and looked up to see Logan still rooted to the spot. "Dude, I promise I'm not going anywhere. Relax."

Logan wasn’t entirely comfortable leaving Reed on his own, but the street was fairly quiet and it would be easy to keep an eye on him from inside. Besides, he was only going to be a few minutes.

Satisfied, he stepped into the store and began to check out all the bike paraphernalia. Every now and then, he would glance out the window and see Reed, who appeared to be deep in conversation on his cell.

The store owner began reminiscing about his days on the road as a biker, when, from the corner of his eye, Logan spotted a couple of guys approaching Reed. All senses on alert, he pretended to be engaged in the conversation but his attention was focused outside the front door, curious to see if they were friends or a potential threat. Unable to get a feel for the situation, Logan dropped the part onto the counter and held up his finger at the owner. "Give me a sec. I'll be right back."

Logan headed for the front door and saw that Reed had dropped his call, his fingers clenched around his phone. From the look on Reed's face, the two guys standing in front of him weren't friends.

Logan pulled open the door and went to stand by Reed, eyeing up the men. "Everything okay here?" Reed was staring at the two guys with so much hatred in his eyes that Logan immediately guessed who these two guys were. Ready to intervene and about to open his mouth, but Reed held up his hand and gave him a slight nod. "I'm good."

Logan turned his attention back to the two men standing in front of Reed. They looked around his same age and had that small-town redneck look—greasy, slicked back hair, tattoos covering their neck, and numerous piercings in their ear. The one on the left spoke first, his lips curling in disgust. "Long time no see."

Logan didn't like the way the guy sneered at his friend and then turned his attention back to Reed. Both men purposely ignored Logan. The second guy spat on the ground and then stepped forward, jamming his thumbs into his pockets. "What’s a piece of shit like you doing back in the town? Just the sight of you is dirtying this place."

Reed’s eyes narrowed. “Mason. Still a cock, I see. You should wear a condom on your head, because if you’re going to act like one, you may as well dress like one.”

Nice, Reed. Logan snorted with laughter but kept his eyes on them. This Mason guy was giving off a really bad vibe.

“Fuck you, Luxe. Get the fuck out of our town.”

“I’d slap you but that’d be animal abuse, Mason. Get the fuck out of my face.”

Mason looked at his friend and smirked. “He’s got a mouth on him now, Chris. Our little queer is all grown up.”

That was the last straw. Even if Reed didn’t want him to intervene, Logan couldn’t stand to see these assholes try to intimidate Reed. He stepped closer to the men, effectively blocking Reed.

“I suggest you do as Reed tells you. Get the fuck out of his face. Now."

The two men looked at each other and started laughing. Mason took a step back but pointed at Logan. “You got yourself some backup here but whatcha you gonna do when he's not around to protect you, huh? Fucking freak.”

They gave Logan one last glare, which Logan returned and then Mason rubbed his hands together, sauntering off with Chris down the street. As soon as they were out of sight Logan turned to Reed. “You okay?"

Reed exhaled loudly, squeezing his eyes tightly shut. "Yeah, I'm fine. It was just a bit of a shock to see them after so many years." He snapped open his eyes. "I hate them so much, but it looks like they still despise me more." He unclenched his fists. "I don't know what I've done to them, but they are incredibly homophobic.” He shook his head and looked away. “They’re the reason I couldn’t wait to get away from here, why I didn’t want to come back. Although I’d hoped I’d never see them again.” He looked at Logan. "They’re bad news—not just them—their entire family and friends. Thanks for stepping in.”

Logan glanced up and down the street for any signs of their return. Not that he was worried—he’d be able to take them both out. He started off in the direction of the SUV. "Come on, let's head back to the ranch."

Logan was pissed all the way back to the ranch. He couldn’t stand the fact that Reed had to endure so much hatred and bullying. Little did Reed know that they shared a lot in common. His heart twisted at the thought of Reed’s childhood but was equally proud of the way he stood up to them back there.

Reed was just as quiet, simply staring out of the window, barely saying a word the entire way back.

Something wasn't sitting quite right with Logan. Reed was right—Mason was bad news.

As soon as they got back, Reed headed up to his room to wash up before dinner. Logan took the opportunity to make a couple of calls. After he spoke to his contact, he placed a call to Kellen.

“Logan. How’s it going?”

“Hey, Kellen. Not bad thanks. Any news on your end?”

Kellen sighed through the phone. “Nada. We’ve got eyes all over Reed’s house but nothing’s showing up. You think he could have gotten spooked and backed off?”

Logan considered his question. “Maybe, but I’m not willing to take a chance.”

“I agree. We’ll keep looking. How’s he coping out there?”

Logan smiled. “I think you know the answer to that better than I do.”

“Aw, shit.” Kellen laughed at the other end. “Just make sure he doesn’t convince you to bring him back to the City.”

“He’s already tried but he knows he’s staying put until this threat’s neutralized. Do me a favor though?”

“Sure, anything.”

“Send a package down with some of his favorite pampering shit. It could only help.”

“Good thinking—I’ll ask Marie. Gotta run. We’ll catch up soon, okay?”

“Awesome. Later, Kellen.”

It was approaching dinner time and there still wasn’t any sign of Reed. Logan ran up the stairs and knocked lightly on the door. He heard a muffled reply so he pushed open to door and found Reed curled up in a ball in the center of his bed. Logan shut the door behind him, feeling confused at why his heart was tearing at the sight before him.

“Oh, Reed.”

Before Logan could even think it through, he moved across to the room and onto the bed, gathering Reed into his arms. Reed sniffed and roughly wiped away his tears, wrapping his arms around Logan’s neck and settling into his chest.

“I’m a grown man,” he sniffed. “I’m over it. It just took me by surprise—I haven’t come across that type of hate in a long time.”

Logan gritted his teeth. He found his hand automatically sliding up and down Reed’s back which only caused Reed to tighten his grip on him.

Something changed for Logan—he felt a surge of heat roll through his gut. He'd never felt this way while holding someone close to him. Reed’s soft, slim and defined body pressing against his chest sparked off a chain reaction internally. Logan felt his body responding, his cock awakening and beginning to pulse. Gently, he pulled back and locked eyes with Reed’s beautiful chocolate ones, rimmed with thick, dark lashes.

Lately, Reed had been getting to him in ways Logan couldn't explain—the funny things he said, the sharp way he dressed, his continual zest for life, always looking on the positive side of things. Where Logan was used to regiments and routine, Reed was carefree and light, breezing his way through life—and having a good time along the way.

Logan realized that he was drawn to fact that they were opposites—Reed was like a breath of fresh air in his monotonous life. Logan had never felt this way about anyone before—the need to be close to someone this much—and he sure as hell hadn't felt this way about a guy.

He dipped his finger under Reed's chin and tipped his face up to his. Reed’s eyes flared at the contact, unspoken questions reflecting in his eyes. Logan dropped his gaze to Reed’s perfect, cupid lips. He didn't know what he was doing but all he knew was that it felt right in his gut. Without a word, Logan closed the space between them and pressed his lips against Reed’s.

Their kiss was soft at first—tentative, Reed responding but with caution. Neither of them knew exactly what was happening but then… Reed seemed to melt in his arms as their bodies moved closer together. Reed tightened his grip around Logan's neck and brought his mouth closer.

Logan could've said it felt wrong, but in his heart, he knew it wasn't. Any doubt he'd had and all tension in his body evaporated as Reed opened his mouth and teased him with his tongue. The kiss was nothing like nothing Logan had ever experienced. Reed’s tongue wrapped around his as the kiss grew deeper and more urgent.

The minute Logan slid his hands into his soft hair, Reed broke the kiss.

Startled, Logan blinked at him, wondering if the disappointment showed on his face.

“What are we doing, Logan?” Reed whispered the words, furrowing his brow in confusion, his desire evident from the bulge protruding in his shorts.

Logan sucked in a breath at the sight, his own cock straining against his jeans, almost painful with need.

“Fuck, Reed.” Logan backed off, running a hand through his hair. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

Reed grabbed his hand. “No, don’t be. I’m just…” Reed shrugged his shoulders, vulnerable and exposed, looking for an answer.

“It won’t happen again.” Shaking his head, Logan swung his legs off the bed, and made for the door.

“Logan, wait!”

He ignored Reed’s cry and shut the door behind him, leaning against it, inhaling some heavy deep breaths to settle his thumping heart.

What the fuck just happened?

Logan felt like a total ass for rushing off like that, like there was a wildfire raging behind him. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing his heartbeat to calm down. He had no business coming onto Reed like that, no matter what he was feeling. Despite the fact that the kiss felt electric or that Reed made him feel alive, Logan knew he was a broken man and wouldn’t be able to offer Reed the life he deserved.

Reed deserved better than him.

And more than anything, Reed was a client who needed protecting. Logan would never again make that mistake of taking his eyes off the ball.

He’d just have to hope that they could return to their normal relationship and put this incident down to a mistake.

He exhaled slowly. So, why does my heart hurt at the thought?