Chapter 18
Ji-an
Logan didn't let the conversation drop.
Of course, he didn't.
The man had the persistence of a soldier on a mission—because, in his mind, everything was a mission. That much I had gleaned from our conversations. And apparently, figuring out why I was mad at him all the time had just become his newest objective. I should have known he wouldn't let it go.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees, gaze locked onto me. "So tell me something."
I sighed. "What now?"
"If we only met briefly almost a year ago, and considering I'm not exactly memorable," he said, voice even, measured, "why do you remember me? And better yet, why do you care so much that I remember you?"
My breath caught.
He wasn't being cocky. He wasn't fishing for compliments or trying to trap me.
He was genuinely asking.
Because in his mind, he wasn't memorable. He shouldn't be on my radar.
Logan Carter—the man who had just single-handedly taken down five attackers like they were nothing, who commanded every room he walked into, who had unknowingly been living in my head for ten months...didn't think he was worth remembering.
I swallowed, looking away. "I don't know."
His eyes stayed on me. "Yeah, you do."
I clenched my jaw. "I don't."
"You're lying. And you're terrible at it."
I exhaled sharply, scowling. "You're so annoying."
That damn smirk—just barely there. "You've mentioned that."
I groaned, pressing my fingers to my temples. "You are such—"
I stopped.
Stopped, because I had almost said it. Almost blurted out, You are such a know-it-all, no wonder Emily gets mad at you all the time.
But I caught myself just in time.
My heart pounded. I had never slipped before. Never even come close.
But right now, sitting across from him, exhausted, irritated, and too caught up in the moment, I almost gave myself away.
Logan noticed the pause. His brows pulled together slightly, like he knew I had almost said something else.
So I did what I always did.
I covered it.
"You're the most obnoxiously persistent man I've ever met," I finished smoothly. "That's why I remember you. You don't shut up."
Logan exhaled a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're so full of shit."
My stomach twisted.
I hated how easily he could see through me.
Hated how much I wanted to prove something to him.
Hated that he was making me feel things I didn't want to feel.
So I did something reckless. Bold.
I pushed off the couch, walking over to where he sat.
His brows lifted slightly, but he didn't move as I crossed the room. He didn't move as I sat down—on his lap. He didn't move as I wrapped my arms around his neck, as I leaned in close, as I blew against his ear.
I tilted my head, watching him.
He was so still, so controlled. It irritated me. I wanted to see that control snap, to watch his composure crack—just a little. Just enough.
Slowly, deliberately, I let my fingers trail along the back of his neck, nails barely grazing his skin. He was warm beneath my touch, the heat of him seeping into my fingertips. His pulse was steady, maddeningly even.
I leaned in, my lips hovering just over his ear, close enough that I knew he could feel my breath against his skin. "You know," I murmured, my voice low, teasing, "I've been thinking..."
No real reaction. Zero change to his face. Only a barely-there shift, the tension in his shoulders tightening just slightly.
Encouraged, I pressed in closer, my chest just barely brushing against his. "You act so unbothered," I continued, my tone laced with amusement, "As if nothing gets to you. Like you don't even notice what I am."
I traced slow circles against the back of his neck, letting the silence stretch between us, thick with unspoken things.
Then, softer, more dangerous:
"Tell me, Logan." My lips almost touched his ear now, a whisper away. "If I asked you to take me now, would you?"
A beat.
Then—
Logan hummed, tilting his head slightly like he was actually considering it. "Take you where?" His voice was maddeningly casual. "Depends. It's kinda late and I'm tired?"
I narrowed my eyes. "You know what I mean."
His lips quirked. "Do I?"
I exhaled sharply, dragging my nails a little harder against his skin, just to see if I could make him crack. "You are so—"
"Annoying?" His tone was so smooth, so effortlessly teasing, it made me want to strangle him..
I leaned in again, my lips barely brushing the shell of his ear this time. "I'm asking if you want to have sex with me Logan"
Logan didn't react right away.
Didn't shift. Didn't lean in.
Just watched me.
His gaze flickered, slow, controlled. From my eyes to my lips, then back again.
His jaw clenched.
The air between us tightened.
My palms were sweaty.
What did I just do? Did I seriously just invite Logan Carter to my bed?
Would he take me up on the offer? Take me to the bedroom and have his way with me?
I wasn't sure what I expected but I wasn't ready for the way he inhaled. I wasn't ready for the heat in his eyes or the way his fingers twitched, like he was physically stopping himself from reaching for me.
I swallowed. For a moment—just a moment—Logan Carter didn't look like a man. He looked like a beast. A wolf staring down his prey.
And from that look, I expected our clothes to come flying off. I expected to be in his arms, calling his name, his hands on me, his mouth claiming mine.
I was ready.
But It didn't happen.
I watched as Logan felt his emotions. I saw them flicker across his face, raw and unguarded.
I watched as the beast slipped away.
As he controlled himself.
He didn't blink. Didn't move. Didn't lean in.
He was a statue—until he wasn't.
His hands came to rest on my thighs, light but firm. The touch was electrifying.
I nearly moaned.
His fingers shifted, tracing upward, higher and higher. My breath hitched. My throat went dry. I was half a second away from throwing caution to the wind and taking what I wanted.
And then. He stopped.
Slowly, deliberately, he pulled his hands back, sat up a little straighter, and met my gaze.
For what felt like forever, he just looked at me.
Then, with the same steady, infuriating calm, he asked, "Why?"
I frowned. "What?"
"You just asked if I wanted to have sex with you."
"Yes."
"Why?" he repeated.
I hesitated.
Logan tilted his head. "Is this because I saved you?"
I scoffed. "Oh, come on."
"I mean, it's an easy conclusion." He shrugged, voice even. "I swoop in, take out the bad guys, you get a rush of adrenaline, and suddenly you think you want me. Classic."
I scowled. "That's not—"
I stopped.
Because, honestly? That wasn't entirely wrong.
Was it part of it? Maybe.
But it wasn't all of it.
Logan leaned back, stretching his legs slightly. I looked at his face, his expression was maddeningly unreadable. I adjusted myself on his lap. He didn't react.
"Besides," he mused, that cocky smirk back in place, "isn't this really bold for a Kpop Idol? Trying to sleep with a man she doesn't even like?"
My scowl deepened. "I didn't ask you to marry me just if you wanted to join me in my bed. Apparently you think I cannot be causal. And who says I don't like you?"
He smirked. "You've called me annoying like fifty times."
I rolled my eyes. "What are you, twelve?"
"I do love chocolate milk."
"Seriously, you're acting ridiculous."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
"You sure you're not just testing me? Trying to gain control over the situation?"
"Yes, why are you taking this so seriously?"
He just grinned. It made him look younger. Handsome. Freaking bastard. Fine. You want to play games. You want to act like youre in control and don't care that I'm sitting on your lap practically throwing myself at you. I was going to prove it. I will get you to unleash the beast.
I took Logan's face in my hands. Caressing him his cheeks feeling the stuble on this face. I ran my thumb across his lips.
"Take what you want Logan." I whispered.
I leaned in to kiss him, but right before our lips met.
He flicked my forehead!
It actually hurt.
I gawked at him, stunned.
Did that just happen?!
This man rejected a bed invitation, and my kiss attempt—and then flicked me in the forehead?!
I felt embarrassed. Then rage. Pure, unfiltered rage.
I shot up from his lap, glaring at him. He sat there, completely unaffected, like he hadn't just committed an unforgivable crime.
"What the hell was that?!"
He smirked. "Just checking to see if you were still awake."
I gasped. "You flicked me!"
"Yes."
"Ji-an. Leader of Nova."
"I'm well aware of who you are."
"I am one of the most famous women in the world."
"That is probably true."
"Are you out of your mind??"
"No, I am completely in control of my facilities."
"So Ji-an from Nova invites you to her bed and then goes to kiss you and your reaction is to flick her forehead. You must be insane."
Logan narrowed his eyes. Stood. He walked towards me aggressively. I panicked. I don't know why, but I found myself backing up. Suddenly I was against the wall. Right before I touched the wall I had put my hands out like I was going to push him away. Somehow, and I don't know how, in one smooth motion Logan grabbed both my hands in one of his and suddenly my hands were above my head and my back was against the wall and Logan's body was almost against mine. His other hand was on my hip. I could feel the heat of it.
It was one of the sexiest things I have ever experienced. I went weak in the knees I have no idea how I was still on my feet. I stared at Logan. And lord help me I didn't know if I was scared or horny. Logans eyes pierced me.
"Ji-na"
"Yes?"
"I flicked you. Because I needed to remind you that actions have consequences and you weren't thinking about yours."
Wait? What? What the hell did that mean?
Logan took his hand from my hip and touched my cheek. Then ran his finger tips across my lips and down my neck . Slowly touching me just above my chest. He leaned in and I thought he was going to kiss me but then.
"Don't play these games, not everyone is as nice as I am."
Logan released me and took a step back and I was left with my eyes closed for half a second. I didn't even realize that I had closed them.
Then I got pissed
"You freaking bastard," I said trying to keep my voice low so I didn't wake up the others. "You are the most arrogant, condescending, annoying man—"
"Careful," he murmured, eyes glinting. "That's gonna be number fifty-one."
"You just threw away a once in a lifetime opportunity." I seethed. I needed to leave before I threw something at his stupid, smug face. I turned sharply on my heel, stomping toward the master bedroom. "I hate you,"
I muttered under my breath, slamming the door shut behind me. I collapsed onto the bed, furious, flustered, and incredibly turned on. The asshole actually rejected me and flicked me in the forehead.
ME???
I swore I heard him chuckle from the other room.