Bound To My Husband

Chapter11

THIRD PERSON POV

Logan moved away from the window immediately, leaving the kitchen to go outside. Alison stared one last time at the window before moving away.

She didn't want anything to disturb her. She had come to Logan's house to feel his touch, to enjoy every bit of romance he could give her, and she wasn't going to let this ruin it. Whatever was going on outside, she was sure he would tell her sooner or later. She just had to trust him.

Logan stormed downstairs as he shoved his phone into his pocket. In that moment, Selena slowly got out of the car, like she was there to pose for a camera.

"Selena." The coldness in his voice was sharp enough to cut. "You can't just show up unannounced to a place you are not invited."

"Since when do I have to inform you before I come to see you." She pulled out her cigar and leaned against the car, completely unbothered, like his anger was background noise. "Have I really been reduced to nothing, Ace?"

Something tightened in his jaw. "Don't call me that. Call me Logan like everyone else."

Selena was quiet for a moment. She lit the cigar, took a long slow drag and let the smoke leave her lips before she bothered responding. "Are you panicking because your wife-to-be is inside, or you just think I won't find out."

"How is that your problem." He folded his arms across his chest. "When are you finally leaving."

"I will go when I am done smoking."

"Not from here." He swallowed, the muscle in his throat pulling tight. "When are you leaving the company. When are you leaving my life."

"You really want me gone that badly." She let out a short laugh, more amused than anything. "I want 70% shares from the company. Nothing less. Then I will vanish somewhere you won't ever find me."

Logan laughed. Not because it was funny. It wasn't. It was the kind of laugh that comes out when something is so ridiculous your body doesn't know how else to respond.

"You know that's impossible. My company will collapse if I even attempt that." He ran his fingers through his hair, frustration bleeding through every word.

"Well, too bad." She shrugged like she hadn't just said something catastrophic. "Then I won't be leaving. And somebody won't be getting married." She grinned, slow and deliberate. "What do you think will happen when she finds out the real truth, hmmm? She will hate you forever, Logan." She stood up and threw the cigar on the ground.

Panic moved through his chest like cold water. The image of Allison walking away from him settled in his mind and wouldn't leave. "And who are you to stop my marriage?" His voice came out rougher than he intended.

"Not me." She made a pitying face. "It's according to the law, baby."

"Enjoy your honeymoon, Logan." She moved closer and pressed her lips against his cheek.

He pulled his face away almost immediately, wiping his cheek with the back of his hand. His eyes instinctively shot to the kitchen window, checking if Allison saw that.

She got back into her car and drove off. The gatekeeper shut the gate behind her.

Logan walked slowly toward the gatekeeper, the tension still sitting heavy in his shoulders. "I do not ever want to see her here again." He didn't wait for a response before he turned and walked back inside.

When he entered, Alison was already in the sitting room. She was curled into the couch, watching him with soft eyes, like she hadn't been standing at that window only minutes ago.

Something about the way she looked at him, trusting and quiet, made something in his chest pull uncomfortably tight. He didn't deserve that look. Not right now.

His feet carried him to her before he even decided to move.

He went down on his knees beside her, bringing himself to her level. "Allison," he started, voice lower than usual. "I have something to tell you."

She shifted closer to him, and her hands found his face, gentle and warm. Her eyes searched his. "What is it, Logan."

"Selena..." He paused, the words stalling somewhere between his throat and his mouth. He looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment he didn't know if he could say it. "She is my ex..... And." He didn't get to finish before her finger pressed softly against his lips.

"You don't have to worry about that. I don't care."

"It's more complicated than that." He already felt the color draining from his face, his heart doing something disorganized in his chest as he looked at her. There was something helpless in his eyes that he couldn't hide.

She leaned in and kissed him. He didn't kiss her back immediately. He just froze for a moment, like the kiss had caught him off guard. Then slowly, he kissed her back, and everything he was afraid of, every version of losing her he had pictured in the last twenty minutes, came pouring out of him into it.

His face felt warm. His chest was still a mess. He pulled back but let his forehead rest against hers, both of them breathing the same air.

"I don't want us to get married yet." He said it quietly, like if he said it softly enough it would hurt less.

She pulled back slightly. "Why?" The panic in her voice was immediate, unfiltered.

"I don't think we should." He stood up and took a small step back, putting space between them that neither of them asked for.

Alison stood too. She looked at him like she was trying to find the real answer somewhere on his face. The fear had already settled in her stomach, cold and spreading fast.

"Is it because of Selena?" The words tumbled out of her. Her hand went to her face, catching a tear before it could fall. "You still love her, don't you."

"No, don't say that." He closed the distance between them again, his hand sliding to her waist and pulling her flush against him. "It has already been you. From the moment I set my eyes on you, it has been you."

The butterflies that erupted in her chest were almost embarrassing. Her hands found his back and she held on.

"This is actually an advantage for you." His voice was steadier now, but when he got to his next words he swallowed quietly. "If at the end of one month you change your mind, you can leave me."

She rested her head against his chest and stayed there for a moment.

"So now I am your girlfriend?" She lifted her head to look at him.

"Yes." He laughed, genuine this time, the tension finally cracking around the edges.

"Since you are jealous about nicknames," he lifted her up without warning, settling her against him, "why don't you give me one. You look adorable when you're jealous." The teasing was back in his voice.

The heat rushed to her face immediately. She already knew her cheeks had given her away completely.

"I will call you husband." She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding his gaze without blinking.