by Desiree Holt
In the mirror, she saw an unfamiliar image, a woman full of life and exhilaration. Her eyes sparkled, and she glowed with passion and joy.
“You’re so beautiful you take my breath away.”
She looked up. Cole stood in the doorway, clad in chinos and a bright blue sweater that stretched over his powerful muscles and accentuated his dark hair and features. She saw such emotion in his eyes that her heart turned over. She went to him and wrapped her arms around him. “You make me beautiful,” she said.
“You should dress this way all the time,” he told her. “Except other women would most likely object. They’d pale into insignificance.”
She laughed, not used to that kind of compliment. “Let’s go make our calls,” she said. “The ranch first, I guess.”
Lindsey picked up on the first ring.
“Were you sitting on top of the phone?” Tara asked with amusement.
“I’ve been ordering myself to wait until you called and fast losing the battle. Is everything okay? We’re dying out here.”
“Everything’s fine.” She laughed. “More than fine. The gifts were great, but the best gift of all was the maneuvering you all did to get us together.”
“Oh, Tara, I’m so glad. We wanted this for both of you. You two are made for each other.”
“We’re going to stop for breakfast before we pick up Molly, if that’s okay.”
“Come out whenever you want. Why don’t you plan on staying for the afternoon? We’re just watching the football games, and I’m going to fix some sandwiches later on.”
“That sounds great.”
“Oh and tell Cole that Sean’s out here. We’ll pass along the good news. He’s been about ready to drive back into town and bang on your door.”
“You can all see for yourselves in a couple of hours,” Tara laughed.
Chapter Thirteen
The day was one of Texas’ glorious winter gifts, the sun blazing yellow, the sky a heavenly blue. To Tara and Cole everything seemed newly washed, the way their lives had suddenly become. The air had a fresh scent to it, and even the birds seemed to be singing just for them.
When they pulled up at the ranch, Tara got out of the car and Cole came around to her side, pulling her body to his. He leaned down and kissed her with such thoroughness her knees were weak. He had held back for so long. Now the dam had broken, and he couldn’t keep his hands away from her.
“Careful,” she told him, “or we night find ourselves naked in the dirt right here.”
He chuckled. “At least, it will give those idiots peering out the window something to look at.”
As Tara turned, the door to the house opened and Lindsey came out, followed by Jake and Sean. They smiled at the couple in front of them.
“No use to ask how things are,” Jake joked. “All we have to do is look.”
Lindsey hugged Tara. “You look absolutely amazing. As if you’re a whole new person.”
“I feel like it,” Tara said, laughing.
“But the change in Cole is unbelievable. For the first time in what seems like forever, he’s relaxed and at ease. He’s actually smiling.” She leaned closer and whispered to Tara, “I guess last night really did the trick.”
Tara felt heat creep up her cheeks, but she answered, “I never kiss and tell.”
“I’m so glad you took pity on him,” Sean told her. “Another day and I’d have killed him for sure.”
She laughed and hugged him. “You do good work.”
Cole shook hands with both men. Nobody said anything, but the emotion that passed among them all was almost tangible.
“The kids are upstairs napping,” Lindsey announced, “so we can have a few hours of peace. Jake’s got the fire going, and Luisa made something that I don’t know the name of, some little rolls that I can’t stop eating.” She linked her arm through Tara’s and led her inside. “We’re so happy for you,” she said quietly. “Both of you. You deserve happiness.”
The afternoon was tranquil. That was the only word for it. They watched football games, Tara and Cole next to each other on the couch so close not even a sheet of paper would fit between them. He held her hand most of the time, the rough texture of the warm skin feeling good against her palm. Even when they ate, he found excuses to touch her in some small way.
When it was time to leave, Tara got Molly ready, but she noticed that Cole, without prodding, put the baby seat in their car and took Molly’s things from Luisa. It was the first time she remembered seeing him touch any of her belongings.
The little girl dozed on the ride home and barely woke when Tara took her in the house. When Tara came into her room after settling Molly in her crib, Cole was stretched out on her bed, stark naked, hands behind his head and a lazy grin on his face.
“Tomorrow, I’m moving my things in here,” he announced.
They’d both agreed his bedroom held too many bad memories for them to share it. Maggie’s aura was everywhere. Any time Cole spent in there was painful.
“We should think about redecorating the room,” Tara told him, dragging her eyes away from his swollen, waiting cock. “Something that would personalize it and make it truly ours. New colors, new furniture.“ She tilted her head. “Does that appeal to you?”
The look in his eyes told her he was only interested in one thing. “Sounds interesting. We’ll talk about it in the morning. Tonight, you’ll have to be satisfied with just me.” He reached out a hand to her. “Come to me, Tara.”
She drew her sweater over her head, tossing it to the side, then shimmied out of her jeans. After the previous night, she found herself surprisingly unselfconscious undressing in front of him.
“You take my breath away,” he told her as she joined him on the bed.
He gently teased her nipples, and they hardened under his touch. Her skin heated as he traced a line down to her navel, to the warm flesh of her stomach and below that. All her nerve endings woke, sending messages directly to her cunt. When he palmed her opening and slid one finger inside her, she pushed against him.
“Already wet.” Desire thickened his voice. “My god, we might kill each other at this rate.”
“See what you do to me?” she whispered, her hands moved over the taut flesh of his back. The curling hair of his chest rubbed against her breasts, making them feel tight and heavy.
“Same goes,” he whispered.
She let him take her hand and place it on his erection. By now, he was fully engorged, and she relished the feel of it, stroking the silky skin and gently rubbing the tip.
“God, Tara,” he groaned. “I can’t wait tonight.”
“Don’t wait,” she urged. “Do it now.”
Spreading her legs wide, he thrust into her in one powerful motion. She gasped then forced herself to relax to take the thick, full length of him. The time for slow foreplay was past. He began thrusting at once, moving hard and fast. They climaxed together, quickly, but so mightily, it exhausted them both. He collapsed on top of her, the scent of sex surrounding them.
“I hope we get ourselves under some kind of control soon,” he muttered, “or we’re going to die from happiness.”
Tara laughed, a warm, bubbling sound. “They say that’s the best way to go.”
He rolled onto his side and tucked her up against him, pulling the covers over them both. “I love the feel of you in my arms,” he told her. “Sleep, baby. We’ll have good dreams.”
* * * *
When Tara brought Molly downstairs in the morning to feed her, she found Cole already in the kitchen. She was grateful to see he’d brewed a pot of coffee and poured a cup for each of them, but she wondered if he would retreat to his den until she was through with Molly. Instead, he just leaned against the counter, watching through narrowed eyes as she fed the little girl breakfast.
At least, it’s a start. He’s trying, just as he promised.
She realized he wasn’t dressed in a suit today, even though it was Monday. He’d pulled on gray s
lacks and a red v-neck sweater. Casual clothes. While she finished with Molly, he called Angela, his secretary, to tell her he’d be out for the day. Tara wondered what that was all about.
“You don’t have to stay home today,” she told him. “We’ll be okay.”
“Much as I hate to admit it,” he grinned, “I think they’ll get along without me. I just hope they don’t find out.”
Tara settled Molly in her playpen with her favorite toys and turned on the mobile attached to one side. That would keep her occupied while she fixed breakfast for herself and Cole. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved around the kitchen. They were some time getting through breakfast, because it turned into a sensual exercise. Tara made scrambled eggs and sausage, and Cole insisted on feeding her the sausage by hand. As he placed each spicy piece on her tongue, she sucked at his fingertips, touching the edges with her tongue. That made him lean over and trace her lips, licking the taste of the sausage from them. He fed her the eggs one forkful at a time, first himself, then her, his tongue tracing her lips after each taste. When he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she sucked on that, too, loving the mingled taste of coffee and Cole.
Cleaning up became even more of a challenge. She stood at the counter in her nightgown while Cole cleared the table, pressing himself against her back with each delivery, his hot erection probing at the warm flesh of her buttocks. She had barely gotten the last dish in the dishwasher before he swept her up in his arms and carried her upstairs.
Pulling the covers back with one hand, he deposited her on the bed, pulled her gown over her head, stepped out of his sweat pants then mounted her. She was wet, as she always seemed to be now when he touched her. In two days, she had gone from ice maiden to wanton, carnal need consuming her so strongly she couldn’t shut it off.
His mouth took hers in a hungry, greedy kiss, his tongue dueling with hers, her own small one twisting against his. He licked the roof of her mouth and the inside of her cheeks, each stroke of his tongue sending sensations straight to the heart of her pussy. She threaded her fingers through the heavy silk of Cole’s hair, pulling his head even closer to her.
His hands slid down her body to find her nipples, pinching and rolling them until they stood up in hard, stiff peaks. Her heart raced and her pulse throbbed as her body responded to his touch. He shifted his body back and forth so his cock rubbed against her clitoris, driving her need higher than she’d thought possible.
She slid her hands around to find his flat nipples, pinching them as he had hers and scraping her fingernails over them. Cole lifted his head, the rhythm of his breathing changing and becoming uneven.
“I want you now,” he rasped.
She opened her legs as he moved into position. They were both so ready, when he slid his penis inside her, she took the entire length of him in one stroke. They lay still for a moment, savoring the feel of her slick inner muscles grasping at his shaft. Then the room was silent except for the sound of skin against skin, heavy panting and their mingled shouts of joy as their climax crashed through them.
Cole collapsed against her, catching his weight on his forearms as they struggled to drag air into their oxygen-depleted lungs and calm their galloping hearts.
“That was …incredible,” Tara said in a weak voice, when she could speak again.
Cole kissed her softly. “Every time with you is incredible.”
“Did we save enough energy to shift all your clothes?” she asked. “That’s on our agenda for this morning. Remember?”
“I don’t think I could move my body, much less my clothes,” Cole chuckled, but he slid off the bed and pulled his pants back on. “All right, woman. I’m up and on my feet. Let’s get busy.”
When they were finished moving his clothes and personal belongings from one room to the other, Tara surveyed the results with great satisfaction. To her, the sight of their things mingled together was an affirmation of the pledge they had made to each other and the night before.
“Pretty pleased with yourself, aren’t you?” Cole wrapped his arms around her from behind and tucked her head under his chin.
“You bet. Now I feel as if we’re married.”
“Oh, we’re married all right,” he told her in his deep voice. “Trust me. There’s no doubt about that.”
“Don’t forget, I want us to think about making some major changes in here.”
“We will. We’ll do something. But I have other things on my mind at the moment.” He stood for a long moment, looking at the closet again, scanning the clothes. He had the same speculative look in his eyes Tara had noticed in the kitchen.
Tara hugged herself nervously, wondering if something about the closet bothered him. He turned her around to face him, a somewhat unsatisfied look on his face. Was something making him uncomfortable?
“Is my face smudged?” she asked at last. “Why are you staring at me that way?”
“Because it gives me enormous pleasure.”
She could see desire smoldering in his eyes. And something else, something she couldn’t quite identify.
“What’s going on behind that smile?” she asked. “Are you hatching something?”
“You bet.” He grinned at her. “Do you think your folks would take the baby until after supper?”
The baby. Not her name, but at least not the child. “I’m sure they would if they don’t have plans. They love having her with them. Why?”
He reached for her, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. “I want to take my beautiful bride shopping, if that’s all right.”
“Shopping? For what?” She was totally bewildered.
“A new wardrobe.”
“But Cole, I have—”
“Not what I want you to have. You need more things like the outfit you wore yesterday. It gives you, oh, I don’t know, electricity?” He placed his hands on either side of her face and studied her. “Please let me indulge you.” He winked. “And wear that outfit from yesterday.”
Cole had other things in mind, too, but he’d need to make a few calls to accomplish them. He’d do it while they shopped, when Tara was tucked out of sight in a dressing room. He had always looked at money as just a means to an end. He’d never had it when he was younger so he’d worked hard to get it. Now that he had more than he knew what to do with, he enjoyed being able to use it in a manner that give him real satisfaction. He smiled to himself, thinking over the idea that had popped into his mind.
Tara’s parents were delighted to babysit, as she’d expected and even offered to keep Molly overnight. Soon, Tara and Cole were headed downtown to the Rivercenter Mall.
“I feel as if I’ve stepped into a reality television show,” she told him, as he moved her along from store to store.
“Believe me, it’s real enough,” he grinned.
One thing was certain. The man had unerring taste. He sorted through displays, shooing her into dressing rooms, salesgirls following her with arms loaded. There was no question he was in charge today, but he was relaxed and comfortable, a man showing off his wife. He was having fun and so was she.
Tara chuckled in one store at the sight of him lounging in a chair, his legs crossed casually with an ankle resting on the opposite knee, looking magnificent.
“All the women are drooling over you,” she whispered when she came out to model an outfit for him.
“If you ask me, I think it’s the men who can’t take their eyes off you.” He touched her hand possessively. “I must be sure to let them know you’re taken.”
They smiled at each other, a smile full of intimate secrets that shut out everyone else.
While Tara tried on clothes, he put the rest of his plan into action. He made calls on his cell phone, speaking in a low voice and watching for Tara to appear. Things were coming together just the way he wanted.
By the time they stopped for coffee late in the afternoon, she was glad to have a minute to catch her breath.
“You must be out of your mind,” she protested
again. “I don’t need all these clothes.”
“Yes, you do. You need more color, more…everything. Besides, I love buying things for you, so don’t argue with me. I’m a man who knows his own mind. Or so they tell me,” he chuckled.
“I feel like a kept woman,” she smiled.
“You are,” he said. “And I’m the one who’s keeping you. For a very long time.”
“Where did you learn so much about women’s clothes, anyway?”
“Watching my brother. And don’t ask me for details,” he grinned. “My lips are sealed.”
Cole had planned for dinner on the Riverwalk, but by the time they finished at the mall, he agreed with Tara that home looked a lot better. “We can pick up pizza or something on the way,” he said. “That okay with you?”
“You bet. I’ll be glad to get home.”
It took both of them to carry the bags to the bedroom. Tara hung up the things that needed hanging and left the rest for the next day.
“Right now, all I want is a shower,” she said.
She was already standing under the streaming hot water, letting it work on her still sore muscles, when she felt someone beside her, a hand sliding the soap along her spine.
“I believe this is my bathroom now, too,” Cole said in a low voice. “And my shower.”
Her fatigue dissipated as he slowly lathered her body. He made her lean forward, bracing her arms against the wall, while he covered her back from her shoulders to her ankles, up the insides of her thighs and into the cleft of her buttocks, his fingers lingering there and moving in a gentle motion. Then he turned her around and did the same with her front, circling the nipples and sliding lathered fingers into her sheath, paying careful attention to the sensitive flesh inside. As she began to shake with desire, he stopped and handed her the soap.
“Not yet,” he said. “My turn.”
He stood while she moved the soap over his rock-hard body, covering every inch of it, rubbing his flat nipples until they were stiff, spreading the lather over his erection, running her finger over the tip, watching his face darken with desire. He turned off the shower, dried them both off and carried her to the bed. She had thought herself too tired to want this tonight, especially after making love that morning, but just his touch inflamed her and gripped her with a violent need.
