by Zoe York
“Oh.” Now she got it, the chorus of the once popular song in the back of her mind.
“You look like I want to eat you up.” His hands slid under the camisole and against her back, pulling her closer still.
Given the number of times she’d enjoyed his oral attentions Scarlett decided the milkshake comparison wasn’t that bad. More than anything, it was the way he touched her, the reverent way he kissed her exposed skin. Being with him sent a thrill through her. It was fun and easy in a way she couldn’t remember having before.
Without warning Cole stood, his hold moving her with him. She felt the ridge of his erection through the denim, not that she’d had any doubt he was turned on.
“Did I tell you that you could stand?” Scarlett couldn’t keep a straight face. That was the so-called problem with Cole. They had fun.
“If you want what’s in my pants, I need to stand.”
“I do like what’s in your pants.” She grasped the end of his belt and slid the tail free, releasing the catch. For good measure she pressed her breasts to his chest and grinned up at him.
“You’re so fucking sexy.” His hands coasted up her arms, and he gripped her shoulders.
Cole made her feel that way, from his words to the way he touched her and how he looked at her. She felt desired. Confident.
His jeans slid straight off his hips. The belt clanged on the floor.
She pushed against his chest and he sat back, bouncing a bit on the sofa.
Yeah, the lingerie had hit the spot, now she just wanted him. Her body was tight all over and she wanted him inside her. She grasped the hem of the camisole, but Cole stopped her.
“Leave it on,” he said. “We just need to get rid of these.”
Cole hooked his fingers in the waistband of the panties and pulled them down her legs. He kissed her stomach through the lace then her hip before allowing the panties to fall to the floor. He took her hand and sat back, pulling her toward him. She placed one knee on the sofa, then the other, straddling his lap.
“How long have you had this planned?” Cole’s fingers traced the straps over her shoulders, following it down to the lace over her breasts.
“Since we went shopping Friday.”
“Damn.”
He hooked his fingers in one of the cups and pulled it aside. He leaned forward and kissed the nipple, his tongue drawing a circle around the stiff flesh.
Three days.
Friday.
Saturday.
And today.
She hadn’t been able to see him long enough for things to go this far in three days. She wanted him badly.
Scarlett reached into the other cup and pulled out a condom. Cole grabbed it from her fingers with a growl.
He leaned back and opened the packet, rolling the condom on. A sense of giddy anticipation rushed through Scarlett. She pushed up, but her knees sank into the cushions so deep there was hardly any clearance between them.
This sofa sex idea was not going to work unless her goal was grinding them to death.
Cole seemed to realize their predicament at the same time.
“Kneel over the sofa,” he said.
Scarlett knew where this was going. She scrambled off him and gripped the back of the sofa. He leaned over her, his cock sliding between her folds. She pressed back against him, but he didn’t thrust into her. Yet.
“I’ve missed you,” he said.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
Cole thrust and she rocked forward, all her nerve endings coming alive.
“I’ve missed this.” He groaned.
She pressed her forehead into the cushions and closed her eyes, focusing on the way he felt inside of her, the way his hands held tight, the brush of his thighs on hers, the hair tickling her, even the smell of him on the cushions. His hands teased her, ramping up the need.
“Oh—Cole.” She buried her face in the sofa. Her toes curled and her shoes fell to the floor.
His grip on her hips tightened, and he drove into her harder. She cried out as her orgasm tightened her body, pleasure coursing through her.
He kept going, working his cock in and out. Her muscles continued to spasm, the orgasm not quite finished. She moaned and fisted the cushions, not sure she could take much more.
“Scarlett.” His voice was a hoarse whisper as he drove deep and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair.
He rocked into her, groaning his release.
She closed her eyes and sucked down air, all her nerves dancing.
Cole pitched sideways. She squawked, but he caught her and draped her across his chest.
“Not funny,” she mumbled.
He merely patted squeezed her a little tighter. There were worse places to be lying boneless and spent. She listened to Cole breathe and the beat of his heart. There was a warmth in her chest that had little to do with sex and everything to do with Cole just being Cole.
That was what she’d been waiting for all day. So worth it.
She turned her face and kissed his chest. He stroked her shoulder, his fingers tangling in her hair.
“How many times did you come?” Cole asked.
“Once.”
Was that bad? Was something wrong with her?
She chewed on her lip.
“Why do you think that is?” she asked.
“Not sure,” he said.
“If you had to guess?” She peered up at him.
“An educated guess? You said you haven’t had sex in two years. You were probably hyper-sensitive.” His hand coasted down her back to her ass. “Your sex well was dry. It’s filling up now, so getting to orgasm takes more work.”
“Oh.” Shit. That sounded bad.
“Hey.” Cole tipped her chin up. “It’s not a bad thing. Your vagina feels different before and after orgasm. You get increasingly sensitive after one, which means I have to be careful. I actually like working to make you come because then I know it’s because of me.”
“Oh.” She swallowed and settled her heated cheek against his shoulder.
“I like knowing that it doesn’t take just any cock to pleasure you.” He squeezed her ass once then returned his hands to less sensitized areas.
She hissed and stretched toward him, kissing his lips.
This man ticked all her boxes. Every time she found something to be worried about he wiped those fears away. She was pretty enough, sexy enough, responsive enough. If she asked him he’d heap compliments on her, but what stuck out to her more than the praise was that he’d never found real fault in her. He didn’t pick away at her confidence, belittle her or demean her. He cared for her just as she was. She’d always wanted to find a man who loved her for who she was, not what she could be.
Did she love Cole?
The idea made Scarlett nervous, but she’d known it was coming. She always did fall fast and hard. Hell, she’d probably been in love with Cole since the moment they locked eyes.
His lips caressed her cheek, the corner of her mouth then her lips.
“Mm, more of that soon. But first, hungry?” He withdrew his hand and tugged her camisole down.
“Starving.”
Chapter 14
One thing Scarlett wasn’t sure if she’d get used to were alarms on Mondays. She groaned and cracked one eye open in time to watch Cole’s tight ass bound out of bed. Pip leapt onto the floor to follow his human into the bathroom.
It was still dark outside. Cole liked to get to the clinic a half hour before they opened at seven. If he hadn’t promised her breakfast she’d roll over, go back to sleep and let herself out later, but her stomach protested loud enough Pip scampered back onto the bed to check on her.
“I’m up,” she muttered at the dog.
To prove her point, she levered up into a sitting position and patted Pip’s head.
She pulled on clean clothes and tied her hair up in a messy bun. At this hour the only people who’d be at the diner were male counterparts of the L.O.L.s and a f
ew cops. She didn’t need to dress up for anyone.
“Are you taking Pip to work with you today?” she asked when Cole stepped out clothed in teal scrubs.
“I was thinking I’d try leaving him here today. Ready?” He scooped Pip up.
“Hey, would you mind if I borrowed your washer and dryer? It looks like the pig has been back, rooting around my house and she did some damage to one of the pipes.”
“Yikes. Can you get it fixed?” He secured Pip in his kennel with another generous helping of treats.
“Garth and Benji said they’d work on it today. We just discovered it yesterday, so the water to my place got shut off.”
“Now I know why you came over wearing what you did.” Cole waggled his eyebrows at her and held the front door.
“Hush, you.”
“My place is your place. You know where the extra key is?”
“Yeah.”
Cole opened the passenger side of the car and handed her in, then kissed her cheek. He had this sweet side to him that she couldn’t get enough of. Sure, he could be macho and bossy at times, then he did something that melted her heart.
She had it bad for him. Oh so bad.
“Calm yourself,” Scarlett muttered as Cole circled the car and got in.
“I’ll come home and we can do lunch together if you’re still here.”
“Let’s be honest, we’re going to have breakfast then I’m going back to bed for a few hours. I’ll probably just be getting started by the time you’re ready for lunch.”
Cole grinned at her.
“What?” She narrowed her gaze at him.
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“It’s really nothing. I just like you. Here. With me.”
She watched his profile as he drove them down Main Street to the diner.
Did he mean that?
Probably not how her heart wanted him to mean it, but it was still a profound point in a relationship. Not everyone could share space easily.
“I like being around you, too,” she said finally.
Cole reached over, took her hand and lifted it to his lips so he could kiss her knuckles.
This man owned her heart. From the moment she’d laid eyes on him she’d been in danger of this. Falling for him. And now that she was here, she couldn’t see the point in resisting.
They parked and ambled inside.
Sure enough, the booths were mostly full of quiet little old men. A few patrol officers were at the counter.
Cole guided her to a table, and they took their seats. After a moment pursuing the menu they placed their orders. Scarlett curled one leg under her then frowned at the way Cole kept glancing over her shoulder.
“Something wrong?” she asked.
“I feel like everyone’s watching us,” he said in a low voice for her ears alone.
“Yeah, well, we’re still news around these parts, Doc.”
Cole waved. She turned and caught sight of Casey Smith and Liam Jones strolling toward them dressed in his uniform.
“What’s up, officer?” Cole asked.
Liam bent, leaning on the back of an empty chair while Casey remained standing.
“Morning,” Liam drawled.
“Sorry to butt in like this.” Casey’s frown was etched deeply on his face.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett glanced from Casey to Liam and back again.
“I thought you’d both want to know that Allie-Kate’s back in town. Liam stopped her last night for having a tail light out.” Casey nodded at the other officer.
Scarlett blinked, the words not yet processing.
Allie-Kate was back.
“She’s driving a car registered to you,” Liam said, his eyes on Cole.
“Yeah, she is. Did she have a dog with her?”
“She did.” Liam dipped his chin.
“Thanks for letting me know, guys.” Cole gave the two men a tight smile.
Scarlett reached her hands across the table to where he had his tightly clenched together.
“You two have a nice day.” Casey nodded his head. He and Liam moved away from the table.
Holy shit.
“You okay?” Scarlett whispered.
She’d known this day was coming. Allie-Kate was bound to come home, eventually. But when Mrs. Hume had said it would be around Christmas Scarlett had taken her at her word.
So much for Christmas.
“Yeah.” Cole dragged a hand across his mouth. “This doesn’t matter. It doesn’t.”
“You sure?”
“This was going to happen. Her being here doesn’t change anything.”
Then why did he seem tense all of a sudden?
Scarlett didn’t like it, but she couldn’t change things. Wishing AK away wouldn’t make their lives easier.
They ate in silence, Cole focused on his plate. She wanted to do something for him. Fix this. Take away the awkwardness. Whatever it took for them to regain the easy happiness they’d enjoyed an hour before.
She finished her breakfast, unable to enjoy the homemade cinnamon rolls after the news. She was glad they had the heads up. She just wished AK had stayed away a little longer. Cole paid for their breakfast and they left. This time it was her reaching for his hand and giving it a squeeze, not the other way around.
The frown lines etched into Cole’s face made her stomach knot up. She didn’t speak until they were in the car.
“What are you thinking?” she asked softly.
“I’m not sure what to think.” He sighed and started the Buick. “I mean…I’m not upset she called off the wedding. Clearly. I’m just… I think I’m finally mad at her.”
“That’s not a bad thing. You’ve been very understanding. I think to be human you’d also have to be angry.”
“I guess I can finally get my car back. I wonder what she’s done to it?” Cole shook his head and turned onto the street.
“Everyone’s going to know she’s here by the end of the day. What do you want to do about her?” Scarlett personally wanted to smack some sense into AK, but this wasn’t her fight.
“I don’t know. There’s a lot of history there. You don’t tie that up easily.”
Cole’s answer left Scarlett unsettled.
She wanted to hear him say that he was done with AK that her stuff needed to go and their lives divided. But he wasn’t.
He pulled into the driveway and turned toward her. “I don’t know if I’ll be home for lunch.”
“Okay.” She jerked her head in a nod.
Was he going to see Allie-Kate? Why wouldn’t he talk to her about it? What did this mean for them?
Instead of asking any of those questions she pasted on a smile, leaned over and gave him a quick peck and said, “Try to have a good day, okay?”
“I’ll try.” His smile was tight and unconvincing.
Scarlett forced herself to get out of the car and wave him goodbye instead of begging him to stay, talk to her and figure out what came next.
She stood there and watched the Buick until it disappeared around a turn.
There was no way she was going to sleep now.
Scarlett gathered her laundry, let herself into the house and released Pip from the kennel. She went through the motions of getting her laundry going then settled on the sofa with Pip to stare at nothing.
Cole had never given her the indication he wanted to get back together with Allie-Kate. In fact, the way he spoke, it sounded like there’d never been any love there at all. But what if AK’s appearance made Cole realize he wanted something else? What if he decided to move? What if—what? What was Scarlett afraid of?
Losing Cole.
Against her better judgment she’d fallen in love with him and now all of the power was in his hands. He could hurt her. No, he could destroy her. She’d fallen for a man she knew wasn’t sure of what he wanted. That meant she had to accept that she could lose it all, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Three hours late
r Scarlett had started in on Cole’s laundry. The towels and sheets were next. She’d scrubbed the kitchen, did the dishes and a quick sweep. Nervous energy still had her itching to do more. Cole hadn’t replied to her more than twice all morning, which she didn’t like one bit even if she knew he was busy.
It wasn’t her life AK had thrown into upheaval, it was his. And Scarlett needed to remember that. She needed to be patient and understanding, just like he was. But she wasn’t as nice of a person as he could be.
The front door rattled.
Scarlett glanced at the clock.
It was almost eleven.
Had Cole gone to lunch early?
She crossed to the door, flipped the lock and opened it.
“Hey—” Scarlett stared into the stunned eyes of another woman.
A familiar woman.
“Allie-Kate.”
“What are you doing here?” AK tipped her nose up and frowned down at Scarlett.
AK was taller and curvier than Scarlett. Her wavy blonde hair was down and she wore ripped jeans and a T-shirt. She must have been somewhere warm because her tan was a deep golden brown.
“I’m wondering the same thing about you.” Scarlett leaned on the door, Pip tucked under her arm.
“This is my house,” AK said.
“This is Cole’s house.”
“My name’s on the lease.” AK’s gaze narrowed even further. “Scarlett?”
“Yup.”
“What are you doing in my house?”
“Laundry. What are you doing here?”
“I need you to leave.” AK stepped back and gestured.
“You don’t live here. Cole lives here, and Cole—”
“Is my fiancé.” AK presented her left hand. An antique sapphire ring encircled her finger.
Scarlett stared at the woman.
Was she serious?
Deep breath. Do not freak out.
“You called the wedding off.” Was Scarlett hearing her right? Did AK really think this would work?
“If you don’t leave, I’m going to call the cops.” AK’s voice rose to a shrill note.
Scarlett grit her teeth.
AK was probably right about the lease. She had a legal right to be on the property even if Cole wasn’t going to like it. Standing here starting shit wasn’t the way to handle the situation.
