Auctioned By The Ceo

“I … that is … right. I guess congratulations are in order?” Claire looked at Hannah for confirmation, and she forced a smile on her face. “This is all a bit sudden, isn’t it?”

“You should know by now that I don’t waste time in securing what I want, and I wouldn’t call it sudden,” Logan interjected. “Hannah and I have been in a relationship for some time. With the rumor mill going into overdrive, we decided the time was right to go public to reassure all these concerned people that our private life is just that and has absolutely no bearing on what happens here at work.” He paused, got to his feet, and opened the door for Claire in a clear dismissal. “If that was all?”

“Right, yes, erm, congratulations again. Have you set a date yet?” Claire asked.

“Of course, you can expect Hannah to need some time off at the end of the month. I’ll let you know exactly how many weeks. I don’t plan on a long honeymoon, but I do want to spend some time with my new wife.” He glanced at Hannah when he said that, and the heated intensity in his dark gaze took her breath away.

Okay then…

Her core temperature just went up several degrees at the promise in those dark eyes. Try as she might she couldn’t find the outrage she surely ought to be feeling at his underhandedness in just announcing their engagement, yet all she felt was an odd sense of rightness.

“Right, yes, congratulations again. Will you make an announcement?” Claire asked, and Logan raised an eyebrow in contempt. “Right, none of my business, I get it. Shall I tell the staff then, or…”

Logan looked toward Hannah, and, somehow, she got her voice to work.

“If it shuts up the gossip, then by all means do, though it’s really no one’s business, is it?”

The other woman smiled, a genuine one this time, and a heavy silence fell between Logan and her, when the door snicked shut behind her.

Hannah kept her gaze firmly rooted to the floor, not trusting herself to not erupt into hysterics of some sort. That moment had passed after all. If she was going to object to this crazy plan then she should have done so when Logan declared their engagement, not now when the proverbial horse had bolted and was running around the office holding up a banner for all to see. His trainers appeared in her vision first, and then his deep sigh ghosted across her face, as he cupped her chin and tilted her head up.

“You could look less like a woman about to go the gallows about this.” He smiled as he said that, but the fingers on her chin trembled and tension radiated off his large frame in almost palpable waves. “Thank you for agreeing by the way.”

glared up at him. Or tried to at least. It wasn’t arrogant Logan she saw, however, but a man who looked tired beyond belief. For that one brief moment, she saw

exactly leave me much choice, did

back

I also knew that little spitfire Hannah would have no compunction at tearing me down a

in his voice made up her

don’t want to marry you. Why would I? I do want to help Rhia,

jaw clenched in response, the only outward sign

guess, you want a generous divorce settlement

to her feet, interrupting him, and his

right, damn it. It shouldn’t matter that you’re single, but you’ll be in a much better position to be looked on favorably if you’re married or at the very least in a stable relationship. So, yeah, I get that, and I’ll be your trophy wife,

he been forceful she probably would have been able to resist him … maybe … but this wasn’t a rough or demanding kiss. No, this was a slow, tender onslaught on her senses, as he ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth requesting entry, varied the pressure and angle of his full, soft lips across hers, until she couldn’t help but kiss him back. He grunted his approval when she opened for him, and then everything else ceased to matter but the feel of their tongues sliding together, as Logan took the kiss deeper. Her hands fisted in his shirt, and his roamed to her ass, lifting her higher to make this whole process easier, as heat seared between them. Desire, need, lust exploded in her belly, consumed her, erasing the last remnants of doubt. No matter what happened between them in this so-called marriage she’d agreed to, they would have this, this overwhelming passion, which made Hannah act so completely out of character, yet she couldn’t bring herself

Logan eventually broke their kiss with a soft bite to her bottom lip, they were both breathing heavily. Hannah blinked as reality set back in, surprised that the windows of the office

her, mixed in with pride that she was responsible for his current state. The long, hard imprint of his arousal tested the buttons of his jeans, and Logan winced as he sat down and adjusted himself. He looked

are best left to our wedding

sharp intake of breath, and Hannah wiggled on her

have to wait?

heat in his gaze seared her like

we don’t, but I find anticipation makes the eventual consummation so much sweeter. Besides, you’ll be my wife. That makes things different, and I think your time would be better spent getting to

sounded like the real thing, but he didn’t mean that. He just wanted to present a united front to make this whole thing look real, as confirmed by his next words. “You’ll also need to meet my mother, and Claudia. I know she doesn’t respond, but she needs to know you’ll be helping me to take care of her little girl.”