Logan was standing across from me and he tossed me an apologetic glance. Looked like the bathroom rendezvous would have to wait. “Rain check,” he mouthed.

Butterflies took flight in my belly when I looked at him and I couldn’t help but nod. He was, as always, breathtakingly handsome. It didn’t matter that alcohol had dilated his pupils. In fact, tonight they looked wide and dark. Languid. Sexy. Maybe even luminous as they burned into me with a desire I craved. His gaze seemed to have a glow in it that was only for me. And his scrumptious hair was a beautiful mess, different shades of light and dark brown sticking up everywhere because he had been running his hands through it all day. It looked like just-fucked hair and I had yet to fuck him tonight. Free from intoxication myself, I still licked my lips at the thought of what was to come.

Seeing him, knowing what we were like together, just being with him lit me up from the inside.

“You’re a fucker,” Logan laughed and pointed to James.

I was glad to see the upbeat effect his friend had on him, even though their maturity was lacking. It was obvious their boyhood friendship was emerging the more alcohol they both consumed. It was okay, though. Logan needed this.

James drank from his beer bottle and then looked at me. “You’d better keep him in line, Elle. Whips and chains if need be.”

I hadn’t heard the conversation but answered him nonetheless. “Bondage? I’m not certain he’d be willing to give up control.”

James looked at Logan. “Hey buddy, that would mean you gave a shit enough to take control.” James laughed. “I’m proud of you.”

“Cold, man. Cold.” Logan drained his drink.

Insults flew back and forth. One worse than the other, and each time they both laughed.

More than five minutes later, James slung his arm around his wife, kissed her sloppily on the lips, and then patted her ass, whispering something to her that I knew had to be sexual in nature.

She smiled at him submissively, and the term alpha male came to mind. I remembered calling Logan that when we first met. Made me wonder—was he one? James was for certain. I’d spent enough time with him to know this and I didn’t have a doubt that Lindsay knew it too. Not that I was judging their relationship. They seemed very happy.

James then clapped Logan on the shoulder. “Come on, you fucker, time to hit the bottle.”

Logan glanced at me.

“Oh man, don’t be a pansy-ass.”

Logan threw James the finger.

James shoved Logan’s hand playfully out of his face and said, “I prefer the real thing.”

Lindsay laughed at them both. She’d seen this behavior before; I could tell when she threw me a just wait and see what’s to come look.

I laughed too. Really, these two men were just too adorable together.

In the midst of the antics, Lindsay turned to James. “Mind if I get some air? It’s a bit stuffy in here.”

He nodded at her. “Only if Elle agrees to go with you,” he said, and then looked toward me. He was charming in a caveman sort of way. It seemed to suit him.

Lindsay was right, though. The room was smoky. Earlier, a few older men had been puffing on cigars and the air smelled stale. I didn’t seek Logan’s approval when I said to Lindsay, “Come on, what do you say we go for a walk?”

Her smile beamed. I could see why she was a Victoria’s Secret model. Besides being tall and thin, she had a quality about her that radiated beauty. Oddly, I wondered how many women like her Logan had fucked. Dozens was my guess, since James and he appeared to have many similar qualities and had traveled in the same circle for many years. I hated the insecurity being around his friends had drawn out in me. It wasn’t like me at all, but then again, it had been only the two of us in our own private bubble since we met, and this was more realistic. A shroud of guilt began to consume me for my dark thoughts.

A hand wrapped around my waist and a hard body pressed against mine. “Did you forget something?” His breath tickled my neck.

I leaned back and played along. “I don’t think so.”

“Are you sure?” His voice dipped, low, husky.

“Oh, right, I probably should leave a tip on the table,” I joked.

“No. Not that.”

I tipped my head back even farther. “Help a girl out and tell me.”

He spun me around.

That grin. The look. Heat. God, I loved him, every piece of him. Happy or sad. Right or wrong. Dressed or naked. Sober or drunk.

“I can do better than that,” he growled, and then his lush lips were on mine, parting, demanding, seeking.

Breathless, I pulled away. “Oh, if you wanted a kiss goodbye, all you had to do was ask,” I said with a wink.

In the midst of all the sadness surrounding him, he gave me a heart-stopping smile that I would remember forever. “I shouldn’t have to ask,” he teased.

On my toes, I gave my own alpha male another kiss, not like his but memorable nonetheless. Wet. Wild. With a little bit of tongue. “Was that better?”

“That’s enough, Romeo.” James’s big hand was on Logan’s shoulder, yanking him back. “It’s my turn.”

He pretended to go in for a full-on mouth kiss, but Logan shoved him away before he got too close.

Laughing, Lindsay and I left the pub.

Being free of Miles felt good. I appreciated the protection he had provided for me but was more than thankful when Logan called it off. After everything, Logan knew the one thing Tommy hadn’t lied about was leaving me alone.

Also, I hadn’t received any more blocked calls or messages, for which I was also thankful.

Outdoors, it was still light. Although inside it seemed like midnight, it was actually only six o’clock. Since Michael’s office closed early on Fridays, I was confident that even though it was right around the corner, he would have left already. Still, to be safe, I took Lindsay down the side streets.

We walked down one and up another, passing store after store. Soon, the light started to drain from the sky. “We should probably head back,” I suggested.

It was then that she spotted a stationery store called Love Notes and clapped her hands together. “Oh, let’s go in.”

I shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

Myself, I’d never been into cards. Then again, I’d never had anyone to give one to.

Inside she found the section she was looking for immediately. It was in the back and designated by a sign that read naughty.

“Porn cards.” I had to laugh.

“Erotic cards,” she corrected. “Haven’t you ever given one to Logan? I give them to James all the time.”

Rather shocked such a section even existed, I shook my head. “No, I haven’t.” Surprised she gave them to her husband, I had to ask, “How long have you and James been married?” Logan hadn’t spoken of his friends much, so I knew little about them.

She laughed. “Not long. The same amount of time we’ve known each other.”

Eyes wide, my mouth dropped open.

She glanced at me. “We got married the night we met, or maybe it was the next day.”

Perplexed, I had to ask, “How does something like that happen?”

With a head shake she answered, “It was a Friday night and I was out with my friends. Next thing I know I’m on a private jet headed to Vegas with about twenty people, and then I’m in a chapel saying ‘I do.’ Sounds crazy, but it was love at first sight and we both knew it, so since we were in Vegas, we decided to do the deed.”

“Sounds almost like a fairy tale.”

She gushed, “He is my Prince Charming.”

My eyes wandered the section in front of us. There was a card with two cherries and a tongue between them, one with a woman stepping on a man’s ass in high heels, and another with a woman in a garter belt sitting forward on a man’s knees while he had his hand inside her panties.

Lindsay browsed for a few moments and then she picked one up. On the front was a picture of a woman bent over a man’s lap, his hand on her bare ass. The card read, “I’ve been naughty. Punish me.” She handed it to me. “Do something bad and then give this to Logan. I guarantee you’ll like the results.”