The Real Thing Page 7

  She laughed. “Okay. Maybe a little trouble than that. Can I do anything?”

  He glanced at her as he opened the fridge. “You could make the salad if you want.”

  Raine hadn’t done something as simple as cook dinner alongside a guy since she’d made it big and bought her Hollywood mansion. It was one more thing she hadn’t realized she missed.

  “I read the review that critic in the Times wrote about your watercolors,” she said as she cut the tomatoes. “For what it’s worth, I think he’s crazy. Your watercolors are beautiful.”

  Logan gave her a wry smile. “You’re the only one who thinks so. But who knows? Maybe when word gets around that you bought one, I’ll sell a few more.” He set the salmon steaks on the stove’s cooktop grill. “You didn’t have to go along with that whole publicity picture thing, you know. I appreciate the gesture, but I’m sure you’d rather not have any more people taking your picture.”

  “I’m happy to do it. Besides, I’m used to having my picture taken.” She cringed as soon as she said the words. “I didn’t mean that to come out as stuck-up as it sounded.”

  He chuckled. “It didn’t sound stuck-up. You were just stating a fact.”

  She scooped up the tomatoes and dropped them in the bowl with the other salad fixings. “Have you done a lot of paintings since you’ve gotten back?”

  “Some.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “In between watching your movies.”

  She blinked. “I thought you didn’t watch movies. Or television.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t, but I made an exception.”

  For some reason, his words pleased her. “I’m flattered.”

  He turned one of the salmon steaks over, then the other. “They were good, by the way. I especially liked the western you played in.”

  The simple compliment meant more to her than any review she’d ever gotten, and for a moment, she was too stunned to speak. “Thank you.”

  She set the bowl of salad on the table as he took the salmon steaks from the grill.

  “Seattle’s a long drive from Vancouver just to buy a painting,” he said after they’d both sat down

  She concentrated on cutting the fish with her fork. “Actually, I was hoping to see you.”

  He lifted a brow. “Really? That’s surprising, considering you didn’t say two words to me before you left the cabin.”

  Raine frowned down at her plate. She hadn’t expected him to be so blunt. “I…I was uncomfortable with what had happened up there. Not with the sex,” she hastily added when she saw him stiffen. “With what happened before it—the spanking. That was completely new for me, and my first instinct was to be outraged. But after I got back to LA, I thought about it and…I made some discoveries about myself.”

  “What kind of discoveries?”

  She picked up a forkful of salmon and chewed before answering. “In my world, you have to always be in control of everything and everyone. Until I met you, I never realized how stressful that can be. Or how good it can feel to give up some of that control to someone else.”

  He took a swallow of beer. “So, how’d you discover all of this?”

  “I couldn’t get the spankings out of my head. I’d find myself daydreaming about them, even fantasizing about them.” Raine looked at him from beneath her lashes. “It’s not just the spankings that turn me on, though. It’s letting you take control.”

  She held her breath, waiting for him to say something, and when he didn’t, she let out a groan. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Now you think I’m a weirdo?”

  He reached out to cover her hand. “I don’t think you’re a weirdo.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No, I don’t.” He rubbed is thumb back and forth. “You’re not the only woman in the world who gets turned on by playing the submissive and being spanked. It’s more common than you might think.”

  “I know that. It’s new to me, though. I’ve never gotten spanked before.”

  His mouth twitched. “So you said that first night.”

  Raine regarded him over the rim of her glass as she sipped her wine. “What about you? Did spanking me turn you on, too?”

  He chuckled, the sound deep and sexy. “As I tend to remember, we did have the most amazing sex right after that, so yeah, spanking you turned me on. Hell, just talking about it has me excited.”

  Heat pooled between her thighs at the smolder in his eyes. “How excited?”

  He took her hand and guided it under the table to the sizeable bulge in his jeans. “Does that answer your question?”

  Raine could have told him it did, but instead she leaned forward and kissed him long and slow on the mouth. Logan was the first to pull away, his breathing ragged.

  “What do think about me spanking you again?” he asked huskily.

  Her pulse skipped a beat. “Now?”

  “Unless you’d rather finish dinner first?”

  She moaned against his mouth. “I don’t think I can wait that long.”

  He chuckled and kissed her again. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Taking her hand, he tugged her to her feet and led her up the stairs to the loft-like bedroom. Decorated in warm earth tones and light-colored wood, it was strong and masculine like he man who slept there. Not that she noticed much of the decor, of course, because Logan pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently on the mouth. She parted her lips under his, sighing with pleasure when she felt his tongue glide along hers.

  He threaded his hands in her hair, tilting her head back so that he could trail kisses down her neck before moving back up to her ear. She shivered as his hair-roughened jaw brushed against her skin. God, she’d missed him.

  Murmuring something she didn’t catch, he slid his hands down to cup her breasts. At his touch, her nipple hardened beneath the silky material of her top, and she let out another moan as she arched against him.

  She grabbed his head with a moan and guided his mouth back to hers. He happily obliged, kissing her thoroughly as his hands slid underneath her fluttery top to cup her breasts through the silky material of her bra. Needing to feel skin on skin, Raine pulled away and lifted her top over her head.

  Logan’s gaze immediately dropped to her rounded breasts, now hidden only by a demi-bra. The glint in his eyes froze her in place and instead of taking off her bra like she meant to, she stood there on display for him. He reached out and palmed a breast in each hand, teasing her nipples through the material with his thumbs. They hardened under his ministrations, sending tingles of electricity through her, and she sucked in a breath. She twisted both hands behind her back to try and undo the clasp, but he intercepted her, holding her wrists firmly in one hand while he continued to torment her with the other.

  She growled, struggling to free herself, but it did no good.

  He squeezed her nipple through her bra. “You’re supposed to be giving up control, remember?”

  She remembered. But God, it was hard. Especially when Logan bent to suckle on her satin-covered breasts. Her nipples hardened almost painfully, and she bit her lip to keep from begging him to stop. She didn’t really want him to, anyway. Because while what he was doing was pure torture, knowing he controlled her pleasure was also arousing as hell. If he wanted to, he could spend the whole night playing with her breasts just like this, and she couldn’t do anything about it.

  But to her relief, he didn’t. She almost sobbed when he finally released his hold on her wrists to unclasp her bra. Her breasts spilled into his hands, relieved to be free. He massaged them gently, his thumbs grazing her extra-sensitive nipples before he lowered his head to take one stiff peak in his mouth.

  Raine moaned, her hand finding its way into his thick hair to pull him close as she arched against him. It occurred to her that she probably shouldn’t be taking the lead like this since he was supposed to be in charge, but Logan didn’t chastise her. Instead, he swirled his tongue around one nipple, then the other until she was dizzy from it.


  When he finally came up for air, she was the one who was breathing hard. While she steadied herself with a grip on his shoulders, he went to work on her jeans. He had them unbuttoned and over her hips before she could think. He was very good at getting her naked, she thought as she stepped out of her pants.

  As he got to his feet, Logan ran his hands back up her long legs to the curve of her hips. It wasn’t fair that he should be so overdressed when she wasn’t wearing anything but a barely-there pair of panties. She reached for the buttons of his shirt, but he caught her wrists and fixed her with a stern look.

  “Uh-uh. I’m in charge here.”

  She lifted her chin. “You can still be in charge if you’re naked.”

  “Later,” he told her.

  Raine gave him a pout, but didn’t protest when he urged her back on the bed. While she liked where this was heading, she hadn’t forgotten about the spanking he’d promised her. Had he?

  She opened her mouth to ask when he dropped to his knees in front of her. Maybe that spanking could wait.

  She held her breath as she waited for him to slide off her panties, but instead, he bent to kiss her through the thin material. She caught her lower lip between her teeth, stifling a moan. He was determined to drive her crazy, wasn’t he?

  And drive her crazy, he did. Raine hadn’t even realized it was possible for a guy to lick her through her panties, but Logan had a very talented tongue. He glided along her satin-covered folds so many times she lost count—not that she was counting. Then, he found her clit and made little circles through the material. She clutched the blanket in her fists, sure she was going to scream in frustration if he didn’t take off her panties and bury his face in her pussy.

  When he lifted his head, she thought that’s exactly what he was going to do. But he only eyed her hotly.

  “I think it’s time for that spanking, don’t you?”

  Raine blinked up at him. He wanted to spank her now? But what about the orgasm she was on the verge of?

  Tugging her to her feet, Logan sat on the edge of the big bed and pulled her between his spread legs. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the ache there. If he wasn’t holding onto her, she would have slid her hand down her panties and touched herself for sure.

  Giving her a wicked grin, Logan guided her over his knee until she was half lying on the bed. Raine held her breath. She wasn’t sure what to expect with this kind of spanking. The other times, she’d been far from a willing participant. It felt odd not to protest.

  Logan didn’t spank her right away. Instead, he gently caressed her panty-clad bottom, paying special attention to give an equal amount of love to each rounded cheek. She sighed with pleasure. Being a willing participant to a spanking might even be more fun that she’d thought.

  She was just about ready to drift off to la-la land when Logan lifted his hand and brought it down sharply on her ass.

  “Oh!”

  His hand smacked her other cheek. She yelped again, wiggling on his lap. “Owwww! Logan, that stings.”

  He chuckled. “It’s a spanking. It’s supposed to sting.”

  She looked at him over her shoulder. “Even this kind of spanking?”

  “Even this kind. Now, turn around.”

  Raine obeyed, letting out another squeal as his hand came down on her ass again. Ouch!

  He fell into an easy rhythm, spanking one cheek, then the other until they were both hot and stinging. Raine wiggled from side to side in time with his hand. Her clit ground against his thigh very time she squirmed, sending little tingles through her body. She was just about to reach down to give herself some much needed relief when Logan yanked down her panties.

  Cool air rushed across her freshly spanked cheeks and Raine let out a gasp as he squeezed her tender ass. She lifted higher up on her toes, spreading her legs and silently begging him to touch her. After all the teasing Logan had done, she was half afraid he’d refuse, but he obliged her by plunging his finger deep into her pussy and making gentle come-hither motions with it.

  Her breathing quickened in time with his finger until she was sure she was going to come, but then, at the last minute, Logan pulled out.

  She was rewarded for her frustration with a flurry of sharp smacks that had her torn between wanting to get free and get spanked even harder. Logan decided for her, wrapping his arms around her squirming body and delivering slap after stinging slap.

  Raine moaned. She loved being held down by him, loved knowing she couldn’t get away from the spanking he was giving her. But while he was definitely in charge, some part of her still knew she could trust him to stop if she really wanted him to. The mix of control and lack of it was intoxicating, and she found herself lifting her ass to meet his hand each time it came down.

  Then, just like that, the spanking stopped. Heat spread across her ass, engulfing her. She opened her mouth to beg him to keep spanking her, but all that came out was a cooing sound as he slipped his hand between her legs to make lazy circles on her clit.

  “Oh, yeah,” she breathed, undulating her hips. “Move your fingers faster.”

  He obeyed, quickening the pace. Raine sighed. God, that felt incredible. Logan better not even think of stopping anywhere short of making her come this time. But he seemed content to keep touching her. He knew exactly how she liked it, too. And when he grabbed her ass in his other hand and gave it a squeeze? God, it was hot!

  “Just like that. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

  “I won’t. I’m going to make you come like this, baby.”

  The words combined with his magical fingers to make her do just that. Her climax started right beneath his fingers, then spread to the rest of her body, sending ripples of pleasure through every part of her until she was letting out one long, continuous moan.

  Afterward, she lay there, too spent to even thank him for that wonderful orgasm. Logan caressed her derriere, tracing little patterns with his fingers.

  “Your ass looks beautiful red,” he said softly.

  She pushed herself up to look at him over her shoulder. “Can I see?”

  He hesitated, as if debating whether to let her go. “Okay. But only if you promise to come right back.”

  Eager to check out his handiwork before the color faded, Raine jumped off his lap and hurried into the adjoining bathroom. Switching on the light, she turned her back to the mirror above the vanity and looked over her shoulder.

  Her ass cheeks were practically crimson they were so red. Unable to resist, she reached back with both hands to see if they were as hot as they looked, and gasped. It felt like they were on fire.

  “Well?”

  Logan was standing in the doorway. Raine jumped. She’d been so mesmerized by her reflection she hadn’t heard him come in.

  “I can’t believe it’s so red,” she said.

  His gaze went to her reflection, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It was a lot redder before. Now, it’s more of a light rose. Let me see what I can do to fix that.”

  Raine had been looking over her shoulder again to take a peek at her bottom, and she whipped her head around. Before she could ask what Logan meant, he took her hand and led her back into the adjoining room.

  “What are we doing?” she asked, even though she suspected she already knew the answer.

  He flashed her a grin. “I’m going to give you another spanking.”

  Just like that, she found herself bent over the bed, her cheek pressed to the blanket and her ass in the air.

  Raine looked over her shoulder to see Logan unbuttoning his shirt. She bit her lip as his well-muscled chest came into view. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of looking at him. Eyes holding hers captive, he slowly unbuckled his belt. She watched in anticipation, waiting for him to take off his jeans, but instead he slid the belt out of the loops. Her pulse skipped a beat.

  She wet her suddenly dry lips. “You’re not going to spank me with that, are you?”

  He doubled it in his hand
and slapped it against his palm. “I am.”

  Raine was torn between wanting him to use the belt and telling him no way. Logan hadn’t done anything but give her pleasure since they’d come upstairs, though. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust him. Turning back around, she held her breath and waited for the first lash.

  When it came, she cried out.

  “Was that too hard?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No. You just startled me.”

  Raine shoved her ass higher in the air to let him know she wanted more. Logan was only too happy to oblige, strapping first one cheek, then the other. The belt stung way more than his hand ever could, and she danced from foot to foot each time the leather kissed her derriere.

  It was unbelievable to think something that stung so much could be arousing, but by the time he gave her one more hard lick and tossed the belt on the bed, her already wet pussy was gushing with excitement.

  She wanted to run into the bathroom again to see how much redder her ass was after a strapping like that, but Logan didn’t give her a chance. His hands were on her hips and he was inside of her before she could so much as take a breath. And then he was pumping into her and she couldn’t breathe at all.

  Doing it in this position put her at the perfect angle for him to hit her G-spot. She grabbed hold of the blanket, shoving back against him as hard as she could. It felt even more amazing when Logan began to smack her ass in time with his thrusts.

  The combined sensations were all it took to send her over the edge. She exploded inside, screaming in ecstasy as her orgasm rocked her body. She was so out of it she was barely even aware of him coming with her until she heard his hoarse groans of release.

  When they were done, he leaned forward to rest his chest against her back, his breathing perfectly timed with hers.

  “So,” he said softly against her ear. “Is that the kind of spanking you wanted?”

  She turned her head to gently press her lips to his. “That’s exactly the kind of spanking I wanted.”

  Logan spanked her again the next morning, this time in the shower. She couldn’t believe how much more it stung on wet skin, but a few smacks later, she was squealing like crazy and begging him to fuck her. He obliged, taking her hard and fast up against the imported tile wall. Raine was so replete, she could have spent the rest of the day right there in the shower with water cascading over them. Unfortunately, they had to be at the gallery by noon to meet with the photographer from the newspaper. Thanks to Logan, who told Evangeline that Raine had a full afternoon, they were in and out, and back on the ferry headed to Bainbridge Island in less than thirty minutes.