Page 128 of Exposing Colorado

His cobalt eyes narrow. “Try again.”

Pepper snorts behind him, clearly entertained but not about to save me.

“That I’m supposed to follow them,” I mutter, my eyes on the darkened sky.

A silent beat passes. “Louder. And look at me this time.”

Gritting my teeth, I obey, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “That I’m supposed to follow them, sir.”

Quinn’s gaze sharpens on me. Fuck, I swear he could reach through the screen and pin me in place with nothing more than that single look. “And you didn't check in because…?”

“I rushed straight here when I landed. I was excited.”

“Not an excuse,” he growls.

Pep lazily runs her fingers through his hair in the background. “He just means he was worried about you.”

“I know what he means,” I murmur, blowing out a deep breath. “I'm sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Quinn’s expression softens—barely. “That’s our girl.”

A shiver races down my spine at those words and judging by his smirk, I swear he can see it.

“Alright, baby, let her get back to her husband.” Pepper snatches the phone before offering me a smile. “Go get your man, Red. And next time, you check in when it's time. Understood?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

She blows me a kiss. “Be good.”

“Make me,” I grin, ending the call before I can be punished for that little slight. It’s a clear violation of said rules but a thrill shoots up my spine when a text pops up from Q.

Don't think that I can’t beat your ass from a distance, Little Red. Keep testing me.

Honestly, falling into this dynamic with them came more naturally than I thought it would. At first, it was just a way to keep me off Vince's radar—Symbiotic's sleazy manager. But then it turned into… something so much more.

With Quinn, it’s the safety to submit, the steadiness behind all that rage. The way he sees right through my bullshit, no masks, no mercy. I definitely have Logan to thank for teaching me to be soft.

Pepper is different. She offers me comfort and companionship. A quiet place to exist without needing to perform. I never have to hide with her.

Neither expects me to be anything other than precisely what I am. And these last six months, I needed that.

Tucking my phone away, I turn toward the front door and freeze when I spot Logan leaning against the brick wall. His eyes are on me, hands in his pockets. He doesn’t say anything at first.

Slowly, I close the distance between us. The warmth of his body feels like home, and I don’t hesitate to throw my arms around his neck before pulling him in for a blistering kiss. He sighs into my mouth, hands sliding down to squeeze my ass. When we finally part, our foreheads stay pressed together.

“I missed you so much,” I whisper, curling my fingers into his hair.

“I missed you, too. Fuck, I'm so glad you're back. You know you can kiss me in front of Owen, right?”

I release him with a sheepish grin. “Didn't wanna make it weird. I don't know how… open we're allowed to be with this thing.”

Logan chuckles and brushes his fingers over my jaw. “Salem, everything about this thing is probably weird. But it’s ours. And Owen’s cool, he gets it. You’re not a secret.”

The simplicity in those words wraps around me like a hug, loosening something in my chest. When I lean in again, I kiss him like I mean it—because I do.

“You better warn your other partners, though,” he mumbles, nibbling on my lower lip. “I’m claiming every airport kiss from now on. I hated not meeting you there.”

“Good luck winning that competition. Quinn’s got at least three inches on you.”