The Moon is Not Enough by ThePekingNoodle

AN: For the bunnies…

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Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Grass is Always Greener

The trap is baited and things get complicated…

Max waited a few minutes before following Logan back to the ballroom. When she entered, she could see that the dinner was being served, and she made her way to Table 32. Logan and Jondy were already seated there along with another couple. Cousin Ryan was standing off to the side and he intercepted Max as she walked toward the table.

"Cousin Maxine," he began with a frown in the direction of Logan. "Perhaps we should change tables. I am sure a place could be made for you at my original table."

Max glanced dismissively at Logan and placed her hand on Ryan's arm, "That won't be necessary. I'm sure you will take good care of me here." She looked up at him with wide eyes and Ryan acquiesced gracefully, pulling out one of the two remaining chairs to allow Max to be seated.

"Hello, Logan," Max said in a sugary sweet voice. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" The way she said it, the word implied that Jondy was much more than a friend.

Logan smiled blandly, "This is Jondy. Jondy this is Max, my…." He paused, "What exactly would you say we are, Max?"

Max widened her eyes. "Oh, I wouldn't say anything about you in polite company."

Jondy choked, Ryan stifled a laugh, and Logan glared at her while the other couple looked on in fascination.

Jondy interrupted, "It's very nice to meet you, Max and…?" She looked at Ryan waiting for Max's introduction.

Ryan didn't wait but instead took her hand and bent over it, "I am Maxine's cousin, Count Ryan." He kissed Jondy's hand and then dropped into the open chair next to her.

Jondy gave Ryan a dazzling smile. "A real Count? How exciting."

Logan muttered something under his breath and Max pouted.

"What exactly is your background, Joanie?" she asked pointedly, draping a hand possessively over Ryan's arm.

"Jondy is heiress to the Rolling River brewery. Her parents are icons of Portland society." Logan informed Max superciliously. Neither Max nor Logan missed they way Ryan's eyes lit up at that piece of information. "Her family's fortune makes even yours look small, I'm afraid." Logan continued.

Jondy laughed. "My parents are always worrying about me becoming involved with a fortune hunter. It gets sooo boring."

"And they allow you to be with Logan?" Max said pointedly,

There was a gasp from the other woman at the table and she covered it with a nervous giggle.

"Now Maxine, I am sure Logan is interested in more than his lovely companion's money." Ryan murmured softly to Max.

Max tossed her head at Jondy and Logan and proceeded to monopolize Ryan while the entrée was served. Ryan flirted with her obligingly but his glance kept straying to Jondy who was intent on Logan. Every now and then she made sure to give Ryan a sidelong look though, letting him know that she was interested in him.

When dinner was over and the dancing began once again, Max jumped up and pulled Ryan along with her. "I want to dance more."

Ryan led her to the dance floor and once again pulled her close as he applied his practiced charm. When the dance finished he led her out onto a balcony, "You are flushed. Let me bring you to some fresh air," he said as he tugged her through a pair of French doors. Once outside he checked to be sure they were alone, and then put his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

"Maxine, I must confess that you have dazzled me this evening. Please say you will see me again tomorrow."

Max smiled at him and allowed him to lean in for a kiss. When he opened his mouth on hers and his hands dropped to her butt, she pulled back. "Oh. I mustn't. I mean I'm not…I don't…I barely know you…"

Ryan released her reluctantly. "I am sorry. I am rushing you. Can you forgive me?"

Max made a show of being flustered, "I guess I can… it's just that I feel I have to be so careful now you know. After Logan…."

The Count smiled, "But of course you must be, He is clearly a fortune hunter of the worst sort. Believe me when I say that it is you who I want not your money. As to that I have more than enough of my own."

Max let him see her relief at his words. "I think I would like to see you tomorrow."

"I will pick you up for dinner?" Ryan asked.

They made arrangements and then strolled back into the ballroom. When they reached the table Logan stood and looked at Max.

"Max, I need to speak to you. There is some business we need to deal with." His voice was cold.

Max frowned at him. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I know. My attorney has said you've refused to speak to him. But if we are to straighten out the financial matters between us, we need to talk. Believe me I'm as eager to finish this off as you are." He looked meaningfully at Jondy.

Ryan looked assessingly from one to the other. "Maxine, perhaps you should speak to Logan. Make him your past," he urged. Logan gave him a furious look.

Max looked at Ryan adoringly, "If you say I must, I will."

Ryan nodded at her and Logan took her arm and walked away from the table with her, leaving Jondy alone with the Count. The other couple had departed as soon as dinner was over, clearly uncomfortable with the tension between the four of them.

As soon as they were alone Ryan leaned in to Jondy. "I find you fascinating. How is it that you are with that Logan Cale person?"

Jondy laughed, "He's good as an escort for the evening. I could never be interested in him though. I like men who are more mysterious and exciting." She let her eyes roam over the Count, making her message clear.

He smiled at her. "Perhaps we should get to know each other better?"

Jondy frowned, "I thought you were with Maxine."

"Maxine is my cousin. I am simply helping her over a bad time. She's just a girl, young and inexperienced." Ryan said smoothly. "You on the other hand, are a woman who calls to me. I feel that perhaps I have found a kindred soul. I would like to see you tomorrow. For lunch perhaps?"

Jondy smiled at him, "I have no plans."

Ryan rose and held out a hand. "Would you like to dance with me? We can discuss arrangements."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Logan led Max out of the ballroom and down the hallway they had been in earlier. This time he pulled her into a room that was set up as a lounge. There were several plush chairs and a soft couch scattered around it, but it was momentarily empty. Logan locked the door behind him and pulled Max with him to sit on the couch.

"Why lock the door?" Max said curiously.

Logan shrugged. "I wouldn't want the Count to interrupt us while you're telling me how it went with him."

Max smiled, "Jondy will keep him busy. He won't even notice. Did you see his eyes light up when you mentioned her money?"

Logan laughed, "He certainly took the bait. Now it's up to Jondy to reel him in. Did you make arrangements with him for tomorrow?"

Max smiled, "For dinner."

Logan chuckled wickedly; "The Count is going to have an unexpected guest at that dinner. Greed is certainly blinding."

Max smiled at him. Their eyes met and Logan leaned slowly in to kiss her. "I wanted to kill him when he put his hands all over you on that dance floor."

"So did I." Max said as she returned Logan's kiss.

Logan's hands were all over Max as he felt a primitive need to reassert his possession of her. He gently nipped her neck as he slipped her tiny straps off of her shoulders and pushed her backward onto the couch. His knee was pressing between her legs and Max sighed as he let his full weight drop down onto her, pressing her back into the soft cushions.

"Logan…we should…" she began.

He was kissing the tips of her breasts, which had somehow become exposed. "Mmm yes we definitely should…"

Max sighed as his hands roamed over her flat stomach, their heat burning through the thin silk of her gown. She felt cool air as he slipped it up, exposing her legs. Within moments the gown was bunched around her waist and Logan felt his breath catch at the sight of the tiny red G-string that was all that Max had on under the gown,

He slipped a thumb under the side strap and slowly pulled it down. Max shivered but made no move to stop him. Her hands were on his zipper and he dimly heard the soft sound of it sliding down. Then her hand was inside of his boxers, grasping him and releasing him from their confines.

"Max…"he gasped as she began to move her fingers on him. Her hand was hot where it clasped him. Her tongue was in his mouth and he felt like he was burning up. Or she was. He couldn't tell the difference.

Max arched up against him, pressing her naked breasts against his chest, which somehow had become exposed, his shirt hanging open. Logan briefly wondered how that had happened without him noticing, but all thought fled as Max rotated her hips against him.

He reached down and pulled her hand away and then he pushed into her without any further foreplay. It didn't matter. She was as ready for him as he was for her. The world was lost as Logan felt himself engulfed in the inferno that was Max. At one point he thought he screamed, only to have her swallow the sound in her mouth. When he came back to earth she was smiling at him smugly, looking like a sated kitten.

"What was that?" he managed to ask when his vocal chords were working again.

She shrugged, " I think it's that time again. You know…."

That jolted Logan, "You're in heat?"

Max nodded. "Full fledged in the next couple of days. This is just the onset."

Logan frowned, "What about tomorrow, your dinner with the Count?"

"I'll be okay for that. Anyway we won't be alone for very long."

"Damn right you won't be." Logan frowned. He was about to say more when he caught sight of his watch. "Damn it. We better get back."

He rose from the couch reluctantly and began to put himself back together. Max followed suit.

"I think I better stop in the powder room before I go back in there," she said.

Logan smiled and pointed to a doorway. "This room has its own. Ladies first."

Max smiled and went to wash up while Logan pondered about this latest complication to their plans.

End of Chapter Twenty-Seven…TBC…