“Would you like some tea?” she asked as he pulled off his coat and set it on one of the armchairs.
“No,” he said gruffly. “I want to talk about what happened.”
“Okay.” She stood there, intertwining her fingers in front of her.
He shook his head in displeasure. “You’re mad. I don’t blame you. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not mad. And you have nothing to apologize for,” she said. “First of all, you have a life of your own, and who you slept with before me is none of my business. Second, you didn’t insult me, she did.”
“I hated that,” he bit out. “She was just lashing out.”
“You think I don’t know that?” She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. “Guess I’ll be switching into a new yoga class. It’s a shame. She’s great at it. I liked her.”
He sighed and raked his hands through his hair, then over his face. “Okay. So, she was the one I was seeing last year, obviously. It started as a casual fling, but she . . . started having feelings for me. After a few months, she wanted us to date exclusively, turn it into a real relationship. I didn’t.” He started pacing the living room. “So yeah, when she saw us together, that’s one thing. But for her to hear you’re my girlfriend, when I told her in no uncertain terms that I didn’t do relationships? Of course she’s surprised, and probably hurt, and I feel bad about that. I do.” He scratched at his beard as he added, “But she had no right to sling an arrow your way. That was uncalled-for.”
Tess shrugged. “Don’t worry about that. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. It’s all over you. You’re back in ‘untouchable princess’ mode, and I hate it.” He stopped and looked at her mournfully. “I’m sorry, Tess.”
“Stop apologizing,” she demanded. “You did nothing wrong.”
He pinned her with a sad look. “Then why do I feel like you’re a million miles away when you’re standing right here?”
She stopped cold at that. He was right, and that wasn’t fair. They were friends. She could tell him anything. She trusted him enough, and respected him enough, to do that. “All the way home, I tried to figure out why I’m at all bothered by this. It’s got nothing to do with me, and I have no right to be put off. But here’s the truth . . .” She lifted her chin a bit, twisting her hands as she admitted, “It’s been easy to get lost in this. Especially tonight, with the romance of Valentine’s Day and all that . . . It was really lovely. I was really enjoying it all. But the lines got blurred tonight, and I’m mad at myself for forgetting that.”
He shook his head in frustration. “I was enjoying it too. We were having a great night. But—”
“Logan . . .” She took a deep breath. “The truth is you’re sleeping with me because we made a deal. Because you have to. But you slept with her simply because you wanted to. And I’m . . . a little jealous about that.” She pushed her hair back over her shoulders. It was hard to admit it out loud, but she would. “I wish you wanted me for the sake of just wanting me, like you did her at one point. I envy the fact that she attracted you on her own, without strings or a pact. I have no right to, but I’m human. So . . . yeah, it stings a bit.” She tried to shrug as she added, “That’s on me. I’ll get over it.”
He stared at her so forcefully, she felt her skin heat. Closing the space between them in two long strides, he gripped her shoulders and said in a low, intense tone, “We’re telling the truth? Okay, truth. Yes, we made a deal. I’m sleeping with you because of it. Lucky, lucky me. But if you think I don’t want you, you’re not as smart as I thought you were.”
She swallowed hard as her heartbeat upped its pace. His hands ran up and down her arms as he stared into her eyes, compelling her to not look away. “I love sleeping with you, Tess. I think about it all the time, and I shouldn’t. You’re my fake girlfriend. Friends with benefits, and that’s it. But being in this thing with you . . . It’s fun. Because you’re amazing.” A grin bloomed on his face. “You’re easy to talk to and goddammit, woman, I’m sorry, but I love getting in bed with you. That’s the truth. Legal papers and all, deal or not . . .” He trailed his fingers along her cheek, her silky jawline. “I’ve never been so attracted to a woman in my entire life.” He peered harder, brows furrowing as he whispered, “Jesus, Tess, do you really not feel that from me? Have I ever made you feel like making love to you is a chore?”