Hometown Hope: A Small Town Romance Anthology

by Zoe York

  Cole crouched then launched himself up, grasping a low-hanging branch with both hands.

  “What are you, Tarzan?” Scarlett laughed.

  “Maybe.” He walked his hands down the branch until he knew he’d cleared the pen.

  He let go of the branch and fell to the ground.

  Scarlett yelped and took a step back. He hadn’t realized how close he was to her. He reached out and grasped her arm and instinctively pulled her toward him, steadying them both. She chuckled and her hands flattened on his chest.

  He stared down into her eyes. The flood light made it possible to see them and the way she was staring at him didn’t help those fantasies one bit.

  Scarlett’s hands slid up to his shoulders, and she leaned against him. His arm was around her waist. When had that happened?

  Cole knew in his gut that if he kissed her, she wouldn’t push him away. She wouldn’t tell him to stop until the damage was done. She felt this same burning attraction, but it wasn’t what she wanted.

  He wasn’t what she wanted.

  One, hot, passionate kiss wasn’t going to change that. It would destroy the fragile trust they had.

  “We shouldn’t,” he said, and it sounded like another man, one with a voice like gravel.

  He forced himself to take a step back.

  “This isn’t what you want,” he said.

  Scarlett’s hands fell from him and she blinked a few times.

  God, he wanted to scoop her up. Hold her. Kiss her.

  Cole backed away while his every fiber saying this was wrong. That he should be with her.

  He wasn’t going to force her into succumbing to the draw he’d felt from that first moment covered in med.

  “I can do friends, Scarlett. I’m sorry.” He turned and locked his eyes on the Buick.

  It killed a part of him to admit that, but if he were being honest, his motives for being close to her would never be innocent. If she didn’t want him, then he had to stay the hell away.

  Chapter 8

  Cole had to get in the car. All he could think about was Scarlett in all the ways he wanted her. That wasn’t being friends.

  “Cole? Cole, wait.”

  “No, Scarlett.” He kept going, curling his hands into fists so he couldn’t reach for her.

  Footsteps rustled the grass and fallen leaves. He could feel her coming closer.

  She grabbed his elbow and yanked. She wasn’t strong enough to stop him, but he gave in anyway. Because he wasn’t ready to walk away from her yet.

  “What?” He turned toward her, his whole being vibrating with the need to touch her.

  For another long moment they stared at each other, her face lined with emotion he couldn’t name. She felt too deeply. It was there in her eyes. She knew what she wanted, and he was barely figuring his shit out. He’d very likely hurt her if this kept going.

  He closed his eyes and inhaled the night air, catching the sweeter scent of the vanilla candles still clinging to her skin.

  “Scarlett—”

  Her hand gripped his shoulder and then her mouth pressed to his. The angle was wrong, he wasn’t ready, and it was more than a little awkward. But she had kissed him.

  He wrapped his arms around her, soaking her in before the moment passed. He tilted his head, finding just the right angle and nipped her lower lip. She shivered against him and her breath hissed out, cooling his damp skin. He cupped her cheek and took the kiss deeper, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, tasting her. She groaned and pulled on his shoulders, pitching them off balance.

  They stumbled, legs tangling, until he braced a hand against the tree. He walked her back to it, caging her in, trapping her with his thigh pressed between her legs. She whimpered, a needy sound that he wanted to soothe.

  He slid his hand down her face, cupping her cheek.

  This was too fast even for him. His head spun, and he needed air.

  It took effort to gentle his kiss, pull back a little.

  “Cole.” She fisted his shirt in her hand, but didn’t do anything with it.

  “What is it?” He sucked in a breath and stared down at her beautiful face. She seemed to glow in the moonlight. So damn beautiful.

  “Kiss me?”

  Was that really what she wanted?

  “I can’t do friends. I can’t do this.” He leaned against her a little harder, letting her feel him.

  “I don’t want to be friends. I’m going to think about you nonstop. I’m not going to stop wanting you.” Her hand slid up to cup the back of his neck. “I can’t just be friends with you. You’re right, this thing, I feel it and I don’t want to ignore it. I can’t.”

  “You’ve got to stop right now.” He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “You have no fucking idea how badly I want you.”

  “Except, maybe I do? Cole? I—this is all stuff I haven’t done in a long time, and—”

  “Don’t tell me that. Please?” He bent his head to her neck, breathing her in and dropped a kiss on the exposed flesh. “I’m trying to do the right thing here.”

  He pushed off the tree and took a few unsteady steps away from her.

  Scarlett’s hands were splayed on the tree. Her clothes were rumpled and he could see her lips glistening even in the low light.

  Fuck, she was amazing.

  He was going to have to scrape his brain cells together and leave.

  Scarlett pushed off the tree and closed the distance he’d fought to put between them. She didn’t touch him, but she did reclaim her fistful of his shirt.

  “You’re coming inside,” she said in a tone that brokered no argument.

  Cole was out of fight as she tugged him to follow her. He grasped her hand and their fingers tangled together. She jogged, pulling her after him until they were racing up the stairs and into the house. He slammed the door shut and turned toward her, just in time to catch Scarlett around the waist as she launched herself at him.

  He blindly walked toward the sofa. He’d seen it, knew it was there, but not how close it was or if anything was in the way.

  Scarlett’s hands were under his shirt, stretching the fabric. He pulled the garment up over his head, breaking the kiss for as long as it took to get the shirt off. She backed away from him a few steps, into the living room, her grin wide, her eyes shining with desire and excitement.

  She was stunning, absolutely gorgeous in her confidence, and right now all his.

  He stalked toward her, the need to touch her driving him. She held her ground, chin up.

  “I can hardly think,” she said.

  “Then don’t.” He was far more interested in what she’d feel like, how she’d sound. The kind of responses that came naturally.

  “Protection?” She held up both hands.

  “I have a condom.”

  “Good.” She reached for him, sliding her hand around his waist.

  He clutched her to him, took her mouth and walked her the last few steps to the sofa. He laid her down without ever breaking contact with her skin. She shivered and chuckled as he found ticklish spots on her neck and shoulders. Her responses were genuine, uninhibited and intoxicating.

  Cole knelt next to the sofa and pushed her shirt up, pressing kisses to her stomach and the flare of her ribs. While his lips kissed toward her chest, he made quick work of the snap on her jeans. She gasped when he slid his fingers under the elastic band of her underwear.

  If she’d have him, he’d make this good for her. Better. He’d make her climax so many times she lost count.

  She wiggled her hips, shimmying out of the jeans as he stroked her mound and nuzzled the underside of her breast.

  “Oh—God,” she groaned.

  He slid his finger along her slit, feeling the dampness.

  Why had he thought they could ever be platonic?

  Cole tugged one cup of her bra down, exposing her breast. The nipple was tight, ready for him, while her legs shifted. He dipped his finger inside of her and found her slick with desire.


  Hell yes

  He wrapped his lips around her nipple and sucked.

  “Cole—Cole…”

  Her body shuddered, and he froze.

  Already?

  She dug her fingers into his hair and pulled his face up for a kiss. He stroked her pussy as the delicate muscles spasmed around him.

  This was going to be fun.

  He only had one condom, so it would have to count. But until then he had plenty of things he’d like to do to her.

  “Oh, God. Oh, Cole.” She panted.

  “Feel good?” He stroked her, and she shivered.

  “Y-yes. I, um—didn’t I say it’d been a while?” A note of unease snaked into her voice.

  “Careful.” He kissed her cheek and pulled his hands out of her panties. “You’re going to make me crazy. You haven’t wanted anyone but me in a while?”

  “Two years,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I’d rather not talk about that right now.” She pushed up, one arm wrapping around her middle, as though to protect herself.

  “Then let’s not.” He wanted to make her smile, give her pleasure, not dredge up memories better left forgotten.

  Cole shifted, so he knelt between her thighs, urging her to open to him. She did, though not as readily as before. Whatever memory they’d stirred up had dimmed that beautiful light.

  “You know what I want to talk about?” He pushed her hair over her shoulder and kissed her neck.

  She shivered again.

  “How good you feel. How soft. How beautiful you are.” He punctuated each statement with another kiss.

  “But—I came so fast,” she said.

  “Baby, I don’t see that as a bad thing.” He chuckled even as he wanted to pummel whatever asshole had made her think being a sensitive, amazing woman was negative.

  “You don’t?” The confusion in her voice was both adorable and heartbreaking.

  “Nope.”

  A light flashed out of the corner of his eye.

  Right.

  All those windows and not a single curtain.

  He didn’t want to be down here when the brothers got back.

  “We’re taking this upstairs.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted.

  Scarlett squealed, and she held tight to him. She buried her face against his neck, her hair tickling his nose.

  Cole climbed the stairs to the second floor and paused on the landing.

  “Bedroom?” he asked.

  She pointed at the door in front of him.

  He carried her into the master and she flipped on a dim light, allowing him to see the space.

  Large, four poster bed. Dormer windows. Airy space done in white, gray and pastel flowers. It was so very Scarlett in every way possible.

  He carried her to the bed and set her down on the edge. It was his turn to pull her shirt up over her head. She peered at him, eyes dilated and cheeks flushed.

  Damn she was pretty.

  Cole bent and kissed her, cupping her ignored breast in his hand and teasing the nipple through the fabric until she whimpered.

  “You’re going to enjoy this,” he said against her lips.

  “Am I? Are you sure?”

  “Do you like orgasms?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then trust me.”

  “I do.” She sighed.

  Those words hit him in the gut like a ten pound weight.

  She trusted him and they barely knew each other. He had to be worthy of that trust. He had to do right by her. And first step was making her crazy with pleasure.

  Cole eased back, breaking the kiss and dragged his hands down her body. The bra stayed on, for now, but the panties had to go. He hooked his fingers in them and dragged the down her hips and legs.

  “Lie back,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “I’m going to show you why being this sensitive can be fun.” He dropped her panties to the floor and sat back on his heels.

  She stared at him with wide eyes.

  Yeah, he was going to show her how sexy she was and enjoy every minute of it.

  Cole bent and kissed her knee, his hand running up her other shin and knee. He urged her legs apart, and she relented. Her muscles remained tense, not quite ready to trust him. That was okay. He was going to enjoy coaxing Scarlett.

  He nibbled his way up her thighs, kissing the sensitive skin all while drawing closer to his goal. She eased back onto her hands, still watching him. The tension was easing, but not gone yet. He’d have to work for her trust and he was okay with that.

  When he finally reached the apex of her thighs he grinned.

  This angle would not do.

  He bent, lifted her legs over his shoulders and pulled her ass to the edge of the bed. Scarlett yelped and laid flat, her calves pressing into his shoulder blades. He kissed her mound and stroked her folds, keeping the touch gentle. While he didn’t doubt her sensitivity, he was willing to bet anticipation had played into that first orgasm. This time he’d apply himself in a different way; see if he could prolong her pleasure.

  Cole flattened his hand to her abdomen and licked along her slit. She shuddered and gasped. He kept his touch light while he kissed and nuzzled her, finding the nub of nerves.

  Was this as sensitive as her pussy?

  There.

  He flicked his tongue over her clit and her spine bowed off the bed.

  Damn. Just as sensitive

  He thrust his fingers into her, giving her something to clench around as he sucked, ratcheting her climax higher.

  “Cole, Cole, Cole.” She chanted even as her hips bucked against him.

  She yanked on his hair and he relented, easing her down as she whimpered and lay back.

  He kissed her thighs again and eased her onto the bed where she sprawled in boneless grace.

  He planted his elbows on the side of the bed, a few inches from her face and grinned.

  “Enjoying yourself?” he asked. He shouldn’t be pleased with himself. She wasn’t making him work to pleasure her, but he was still satisfied that it was him bringing her to orgasm.

  She dug her hand in his hair again and pulled him toward her for a kiss. She rolled to her back, wrapping her arms around him. He didn’t follow her onto the bed. He levered up and out of her arms.

  “What are you doing?” Her voice was sultry, pleasured.

  “Trying to decide how I want to be in you.”

  “How?” She quirked a brow at him.

  “Do I want to look down into your eyes and watch you go mindless? Do I want to bend you over the bed? What if I boosted you up on the wall and fucked you there? Or do you want to ride me?”

  “Oh.” Now her eyes were wide. “Why not start with one and see where that takes you?”

  “One condom,” he reminded her.

  “Fucking hell.” She groaned.

  He chuckled and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, gratified she felt his pain.

  “What do you want?” he asked her.

  “All of it.”

  “But what turns you on the most?” He straightened and pulled his wallet out of his pocket, retrieving the condom first. He was quickly losing his ability to think rationally.

  Scarlett curled up on her side and watched him. Her chestnut hair was spread over the pillows and the floral print quilt made it look as though she were laying on a bed of soft petals.

  “Tell me what you want, Scarlett.” He popped the button on his jeans. “Do you want hard and fast, or slow and soft?”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You care. Tell me. You said you trusted me.” And he needed that trust that she wasn’t being driven solely by lust. He bent, bracing his hands on the bed and smoothed her hair off her cheek.

  “Face to face,” she said softly, staring at the quilt. “I want to look at you.”

  “Look at me. Right now.” He bumped her chin with his knuckle.

  Her eyes darted at him, then away.

 
“Want to see how hard you make me? How much I want you?” He pushed up and shoved his jeans and underwear down, freeing his cock.

  He hissed and palmed the stiff flesh.

  Her eyes grew wide.

  “See this?” He stroked himself and toed out of his shoes. “This is because of you. You’re sexy. Beautiful. Funny. I was crazy if I thought for a damn minute I could ignore this.”

  He stepped out of his jeans, standing in her bedroom naked and touching himself.

  “What do you say, baby? Do you want me as bad?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  Fucking hell. He wished she’d have hesitated even a little bit.

  Cole grabbed the condom. If he wasn’t in her soon he was going to lose it on the hardwood. He rolled the latex on then climbed onto the bed.

  Scarlett shifted, then flung the bra onto the floor, leaving her as naked as he. She reached for him and he lowered himself into the cradle of her body. Her eager mouth met his, and they kissed. He toyed with her nipples, causing her to gasp.

  The leash on his control was straining. He had to be inside of her soon.

  Cole reached between them and grasped his cock, guiding it to her. Scarlett groaned as he touched her folds, sliding between them, coating himself with her arousal.

  “Think you can come again?” he asked.

  “I don’t care. I want to feel you inside of me, I want…” She shook her head and closed her eyes, the admission too much.

  “You have me, baby.” He kissed her cheek and flexed his hips.

  Easy. Go easy.

  Her legs wrapped around him and she dug her nails into his lower back. He shuddered and thrust, her slick channel yielding to him.

  “Fuck,” he groaned.

  “Oh—Oh, my God,” she whispered.

  Cole gathered her to him, kissing her cheek, the corner of her mouth, the tip of her nose while her body adjusted.

  “You okay?” he asked after a moment.

  “Yes.” She panted, chest heaving.

  He pushed up and looked down at her.

  Face to face.

  She wanted to see him and he wanted to see her, to watch the pleasure, to memorize these moments.

  “You’re so damn beautiful,” he muttered.

  Her lips curled into a smile, but it was brief. He ground his hips to hers and her head tipped back.