Page 125 of Poet & Protector

And here was an opening for me to set some parameters around this visit.

“Thanks again,” I replied. “But I shouldn’t. I have homework.”

“That sucks.” He nodded sympathetically. “So do I. We can start with homework if you want.”

My brain hit a record scratch. Start with homework? Where were we ending?

Yeah, no. No way. I wasn’t starting anything until I understood what he wanted. Even if I didn’t like it, I’d rather find out now.

“Logan.” I chewed my bottom lip, worried I was about to really piss him off. “I’m not trying to be rude, but what am I doing here?”

He ducked his head. Goddammit, there was that whole shy thing again.

What is happening?

“Sorry, sorry.” He shot me a bashful glance. Totally fucking bashful. Would the real Logan Bane please stand up?

Raking a hand through his golden hair, he laughed. “I’m aware I pretty much had you abducted.”

At least he was honest.

“Pretty much,” I confirmed.

“But I wanted to spend time with you away from school,” Logan continued. “Real time. And I worried you’d say no if I asked.”

I struggled to keep from rolling my eyes.

Worried I would say no? He was a Keeper. In less than a week he was going to be the master of my pack. Yes, I would have wanted to say no if he’d asked me outright, but I couldn’t. He should have just asked. The elder Banes and the SUV were excessive.

Still at a loss, I said, “Okay, but I’m a little unclear on what this is.”

“Does it have to be something?” he asked.

“Um…no?” I replied, flustered. “Yes? I…Logan, I’m confused.”

None of this was normal. He wasn’t throwing his power around the way he had at Eden and after the pack meeting. Why the one-eighty?

“Let’s sit down.” He gestured for me to follow him to the couch in front of the giant fireplace.

Logan settled at one end and didn’t seem bothered when I sat on the other instead of near him.

He leaned his arm on the back of the couch, crooked his elbow, and rested his head in his hand, looking at me.

“Can we forget for a little while that I’m a Keeper and you’re a Guardian?”

No. That was a definite no.

I must have been frowning because Logan chuckled.

“I realize it’s an aberrant request.”

Throwing in the word ‘aberrant’ sounded more like the Logan I was used to.

“All I want is the chance to get to know you,” he said. “And for you to get to know me, without all the rest of it.”

All the rest of it was really, really important, but it wasn’t like I could argue with him…because of all the rest of it.

“How would that work?”