“Say it.”
A long snarl rattled his chest. “I wish I would’ve never met you so this could hurt less.”
His words stole her breath away. Such poignant pain slashed through her heart that she nearly doubled over. “Take it back.”
Logan shook his head for a long time, churning silver eyes locked on hers.
Winter stood and rushed him, shoved him hard in the chest so he felt the hurt that she did. “Take it back!”
“It would’ve been better for both of us if—”
Winter slammed her fists down against his chest. He didn’t move, and it made her angrier so she did it again. Still no reaction, so she went to town beating on his torso, pushing him, sobbing until he slid his arms around her and pulled her against him. She struggled, but his body was a fortress. Sagging against him, Winter cried until the tears wouldn’t come anymore.
And when she was spent, he folded her into his arms and strode back toward the motel. His cheeks were damp, too, so she knew he felt this. Knew he hadn’t meant it, knew he was just trying to find a way to leave this world easier. But nothing inside her wanted to make this easy on him. She wanted to make it hard enough that he would come up with a way to save himself. Come up with a way to save her.
He didn’t slow until he reached her room, 1010. He shoved open the door and dumped her on the bed, followed her down, and then his lips were on hers before the door even clicked closed. This kiss was fire. It was heat and desire, urgency and goodbye. Goodbye. She closed her eyes tight against the reality because it was too much. Winter slid her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, pushed her tongue past his lips and held on as he rolled her on top of him. His fingers shook as he tugged at her shirt, so she held his hands for a moment to steady him.
“It’s okay to feel,” she whispered. She didn’t know why she said that, only that he needed to hear it. “Fuck the rest of the world, Logan. You can feel with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed in his muscular throat as he swallowed hard. And then he cupped her neck and eased her to him gently. His lips were soft and steady. He didn’t push his tongue in her mouth or suck her bottom lip. He just lay there under her, connected and frozen in this beautiful moment she wanted to stretch on forever and ever.
When he reached for her shirt again, his hands weren’t shaking any longer, and the fire in his eyes had dimmed. Now he looked at her—really looked at her as he pushed her shirt upward and over her head. He unsnapped her bra and slid the straps down her arms slowly. Hooking a finger between the cups, he eased it off and sat up, pulled her to him, hand on her lower back.
When she arched upward, he drew one of her nipples into his mouth. There was no biting this time, only gentle, rhythmic sucking until she was rolling her hips with the pace he set. And then he moved to her other breast and gave it the same attention.
Needing to touch his skin, Winter pulled off his shirt and ran her hands down his chest. Logan stood, settled her feet on the floor, and then pushed her jeans down her legs, kneeling with them. He was unrushed, careful to put a steadying hand on her hip as he removed each shoe and sock, and then her jeans away from her ankles.
He kissed her stomach tenderly. Winter ran her fingers through his hair, angling his face up to hers. “You should say it once before you go.”
“It’ll make it harder on you.”
“It’ll make it harder if you leave me without saying it.”
Logan buried his face against her stomach, hugged her tightly, there on his knees as though worshipping her. For a second, she didn’t know if she could be strong enough to hear it. He felt it, though. She could tell by the way he looked at her, by the tears that had wet his cheeks earlier.
With a sigh, Logan tipped his chin up and trapped her in his gaze. “I love you, Winter Donovan. I take it back. I’m glad I met you. You were the best part of my life.”
Her eyes burned again, but he didn’t give her a chance to lose it. He stood, cupped her cheeks, and eased her backward, step by careful step toward the wall as he kissed her. It felt like dancing—another thing they would never get the chance to do.
When her back hit the wall, Logan slipped his tongue into her mouth, pressed his body along hers. His skin felt so good, as if he was made to hold her just like this.
This right here, in his arms, was her happy place.
Logan eased her panties down until they fell to her ankles. He unbuttoned his jeans and then kicked out of them as he continued kissing her soft, like saying I love you again but without words. He pulled the back of her knee up and settled her leg around him as he slid into her.
“Ooooh,” she groaned as he filled her slowly.
There was no scent of fur, no snarl in his chest, no weight of dominance pressing against her shoulders. There was only her and Logan, as if his bear had curled up deep inside him to give them this—their last night.
Logan eased out of her and then back in until he pressed against her clit. He lowered his lips to her neck and worked her skin, right over the hickey he’d given her. This bruise he was giving her would last longer than him, and that thought killed her.
She rolled her hips, meeting him stroke for stroke as he sped up, his back flexing under her hands with his movement. She was trapped against the wall, and she’d never liked that in sex before, but she would give anything to stay trapped by Logan always. He didn’t scare her anymore, not even a little.
Logan grunted and pushed into her faster. Pressure pulsed within her on every thrust. She was so close. Panting his name, she closed her eyes to the world and rode a wave of ecstasy only Logan could give her.