Logan (Chosen Champions #1) - Macy Blake Page 0,37

time Bailey stood back at the sink, ready to continue washing dishes, he’d expected the anxiety to be gone. It wasn’t, though. He kept staring nervously at the shadowy spot, waiting for something to move.

Nothing did.

His nerves finally settled by the time he had the bread and soup packed up and ready to take to the warehouse where Logan and his team worked. None of his friends seemed to realize he’d had a rough morning, but the moment they walked into the warehouse, Logan locked eyes on Bailey.

The way he stilled, as if he wasn’t even breathing, seemed strangely animalistic. He breathed in, then tilted his head to the side, and a confused furrow formed between his brows. Seconds later he was at Bailey’s side. “What’s wrong?”

Everyone in the room froze. Logan’s team looked ready to attack something, while Bailey’s friends looked extremely confused.

“I’m fine.” Bailey smiled and handed Logan one of the cooler bags he’d carried in with him. “I brought lunch for after.”

Logan inhaled again. “I’ll help you put it away.”

Logan’s arm went around Bailey’s waist, and then Logan gave Gideon a look and head tilt. While Logan herded Bailey upstairs, Gideon began getting everyone else ready for their morning lesson.

“It’ll be fine in the bags,” Bailey said.

“I’m sure, except the smell will be wildly distracting. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

Bailey scowled. “You said it’s better to train with distractions because that’ll be what a real-life attack is like.”

“Fair point,” Logan said. He held open a door near the top of the stairs and ushered Bailey inside. “Except I’m distracted enough when you’re around.”

Bailey snorted. “Sure you are.”

Logan took the rest of the bags out of Bailey’s hand and set them on the floor. Then he had Bailey pinned against the wall. His hand eased up to Bailey’s throat and tipped his head back. Their eyes met, and for once, Bailey couldn’t ignore the heat in Logan’s stare.

“I find you incredibly distracting.” Logan’s voice was husky and deep, a bare whisper, but it sent a shiver down Bailey’s spine. “Now tell me what frightened you.”

“How did you even know?” Bailey asked. He reached up and grabbed Logan’s waist, clinging to the fabric of Logan’s T-shirt as he leaned closer.

Logan’s nose brushed Bailey’s cheek, then traced up to his ear. “Because…” Logan breathed again, the exhale warm and damp against the sensitive skin of Bailey’s neck. “I know you.”

“Logan,” Bailey groaned, and his knees weakened. He tightened his hold on Logan’s shirt, then gave up and wrapped his arms around his waist. He clung to the strength he could feel pouring out of Logan. It wasn’t so much his physical strength—although the hard muscles of his back weren’t hurting Bailey’s feelings at all—but it was more the solid presence of him. Logan felt like an immovable force, a foundation, something solid and real and so fucking hot Bailey could barely breathe, much less speak.

Logan tilted his neck back farther, then brushed his thumb over Bailey’s lips. “Tell me you want this.”

His other hand held on to Bailey’s lower back, then crept lower. He pulled Bailey forward, closing the barely-there distance between them.

“Tell me, Bailey.”

Logan’s warm breath brushed Bailey’s lips. His eyes shone as they stared down at him, waiting on his response.

“I want this.”

Logan growled and pressed them together from hips to chest. Bailey arched into the touch, unable to hold back the little gasp of pleasure he released. Logan captured Bailey’s lips with his, gentle for the first brush, then again. But then he devoured Bailey, driving his tongue between Bailey’s lips and tangling with his own.

Never in his life had a kiss felt like this. His entire body came alive, from the tips of his toes to each strand of hair. Every cell, every drop of blood, everything wanted Logan to kiss him forever. Of course, all good things must end, and after what felt like an eternity but could only have been a couple of minutes, Logan pulled away.

Then he growled at the door like it had personally offended him.

All of Bailey’s blood must have gone south, because his brain certainly couldn’t process why Logan sounded like he’d legit growled. And not a fake, hot-guy on TikTok trying to do a thirst trap growl either. This one sounded entirely too real.

If he’d had any functioning brain cells, he’d be worried. Logan, though, appeared to be listening to someone on the other side of the door. Although how he could actually hear anything when all Bailey