by Lori Foster
“I was going to ask. Thanks.”
“Sorry I can’t stay too, Cole, but I already have plans. If you’d warned me—”
Chase gave his brother a distracted look. “Zane, you always have plans. What’s her name this time?”
Unabashed, Zane straightened in a cocky way and said, “I never kiss and tell.”
Cole figured Zane was more than old enough to manage his own love life, so he thumped him on the back and said, “Have fun,” as he walked away to meet Sophie. She was still standing in the middle of the floor, and he realized she wasn’t certain where to sit. From the beginning she’d always taken the back booth, which was the most secluded. But tonight, right this moment, she wasn’t supposed to be Sophie and she didn’t know how to act.
Someone turned on the jukebox just as Cole reached her and he had to yell to be heard. “I see you got my message.”
She stared at him, devouring him with her eyes, and now he knew how to interpret that look. His lower body tightened in anticipation.
“Yes. Uh…Sophie told me to make it a little later. How soon will you close up?”
“Chase will give the last call in a few minutes.” A couple shuffled past them, clinging to each other, barely moving their bodies as they feigned an interest in the music. Cole grinned. “Do you dance?”
As he asked it, he caught her hands and tugged her closer. She blanched. “Ah, no I don’t…. That is…”
“No one is paying any attention,” he cajoled. He pulled her into his arms, at the same time looking over her shoulder and seeing the rapt faces of his brothers. No attention, indeed. He frowned and shook his head at them. They all three nodded back, displaying various degrees of humor and curiosity.
Sophie tucked her face into his shoulder. “I’ve never danced much.”
“You’re doing fine.” He nuzzled her temple, enjoying the feel of her warmth and softness so close, breathing in the sweet, familiar smell of her. She brought out his animal instincts, and he wanted to somehow mark her as his. His arms tightened and his thoughts rioted with plans for the coming night. “I like holding you.”
Shuddering slightly, she leaned back to see his face. “I like having you hold me. Very much.” She bit her lip, hesitant, then blurted, “And I liked what we did last night. Why did you stop?”
Cole felt poleaxed by her direct attack. He hadn’t expected it. Lifting one hand, he cupped her cheek. “It was time to close the bar.”
Sophie shook her head. “No, it was more than that. You seemed angry.” Color in her cheeks deepened, but she held his gaze. “I want you to know, Cole, just because I’m…Sophie’s sister, that doesn’t mean I’d expect any more from you than any other woman.”
“Oh?” Silly goose. She was so sweet and innocent, he wanted to pick her up and carry her away someplace private, then spend the long night reassuring her, making love to her, tying her to him. He knew his brothers were all watching, all alert, so he controlled himself. “What do other women expect from me?”
She swallowed audibly, but those smoky blue eyes never wavered, and he realized he admired her guts as much as everything else about her. Carrying out her plan couldn’t be easy on her, and it directly indicated just how badly she wanted him. Lord help him, he’d never make it through the night.
“Nothing more than a nice night or two together, I suppose. I won’t…won’t be in town long. For the few days I am here, I’d like to share your company. But you don’t have to worry about me hanging around afterward. I have my own life to live and I’m not interested in complicating it with a relationship. You don’t have to worry that I’ll make a pest of myself.”
His chest tightened with some strange emotion he’d never experienced before. He brushed her bottom lip with his thumb, then whispered, “Come into my office where we can talk. I’ll have Chase bring us something to drink.”
She looked more than a little relieved by his offer and smiled her thanks before taking the hand he extended to her. Her fingers were still chilled from the outdoors, and he gently squeezed, giving her some of his warmth. His body thrummed with excitement.
He turned and caught the flurry of movement as his brothers quickly found something to do. Zane was pulling on his coat, ready to leave. Mack was red in the face, studiously inventorying their stack of shot glasses. And Chase merely smiled, giving them both a brief nod.
As Cole passed him, he said, “A couple of drinks, Chase?”
“Sure thing.” There was so much wickedness in Chase’s tone, Cole felt obliged to add, “Colas please.” He didn’t want to gave Sophie a hot chocolate, thereby giving up the game by showing her he knew her preferences. Beyond that, he wasn’t at all certain his control was up to it right now. The way she drank hot chocolate was better than an aphrodisiac.
Luckily, Sophie didn’t notice the byplay. Her gaze remained on her feet as they entered his office. This time, he’d left the light on. He wanted to see every small expression that might pass over her face. He locked the door and smiled at her. “Come here.”
Slightly startled, her eyes rounded and her sweet mouth opened just before he covered it with his own. He vaguely heard Chase announcing the last call, and he felt his muscles tense. Soon they’d be alone; he’d have her all to himself, with all the privacy he needed to see about fulfilling every single wish she’d ever had.
He folded her closer, one hand cupping the back of her head, his fingers tangled in her silky hair, the other pressing low on her spine, urging her body into more intimate contact with his.
And just that easily, she melted. There wasn’t an ounce of resistance in her. He parted her lips with his tongue, licking into her mouth, touching the edge of her small white teeth, stroking deep, claiming and exciting. Her hands fisted on his chest, pulling tight the material of his shirt.
“Cole…”
The knock on the door announced the arrival of their drinks. Cole took in her dreamy gaze, her flushed cheeks, and smiled to himself. “Don’t move.”
She merely nodded in response.
He opened the door and took the tray Chase handed him. “Thanks.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“What wouldn’t you do?”
“Exactly.” Chase slapped him on the shoulder and pulled the door shut.
When Cole turned back to Sophie, she was still standing in the same spot as if rooted there. He smiled, set the tray on the desk, and turned to her. He touched her cheek, her chin, smoothed her eyebrows. Her face was so precious to him. He kissed her again, then began maneuvering his way to the desk. She clung to him, following his lead, and when he lifted her to sit on the very edge, she did no more than sigh.
“I’m glad you wore a skirt, baby.” He trailed kisses over her jaw and down her throat.
Breathless, she asked, “Why?”
He lifted his gaze, amused by her innocence, charmed by her heavy-lidded eyes and dazed expression. Slowly, he slid one hand down her side to her knee, then back up again, under her skirt.
“Oh!”
He grinned, but it cost him. Her slim thighs were warm, silky, and as his fingers climbed, he realized she wore stockings. He muttered a low curse and took her mouth, bending her back on the desk, hungry for her. With her skirt bunched up it was easy to nudge her legs apart and nestle his hips there. He gave up the exquisite explorations of her legs to cup one small, perfect breast. “I can feel your heart racing,” he said against her mouth.
She pressed her face into his chest. “I love having you touch me.”
“Then you’ll love this even more.” He slid the top button of her V-necked blouse free. She sucked in a breath, then held it. The next button opened, and he could see the silky-smooth flesh of her chest, the beginnings of her cleavage. He traced a finger there, dipping and stroking both breasts, moving close enough to a nipple to make her shiver in anticipation. “God, there can’t be anything softer or sweeter on earth than a woman’s breast,” he said as he continued to tease her.
He shaped and molded her breasts in his palms, pushing them up, marveling at the resiliency of her soft flesh.
Sophie gave a quiet moan.
He tugged another button free. Her bra was white lace, barely there, and the sexiest damn thing he’d ever seen. He wondered if it matched her garter and panties.
Their foreheads were together, both of them watching the slow movement of his dark hand on her pale, delicate skin. He opened the last two buttons and pushed her blouse aside, lifting both hands to cup her breasts in his palms.
“So pretty,” he breathed.
Her breasts trembled with her deep breaths; he touched the front closure of her bra with a fingertip.
And the music in the bar died. Sophie lifted her head, startled.
“Shhh, it’s okay. They’re just shutting down. It’s time for everyone to go home.”
She blinked, and her lips quivered. “Do we need to go, too?”
“Not if you don’t want to.” He kissed her, a warm, featherlight kiss. “But I’d like to take you home with me, sweetheart. My apartment is only a few blocks away. My couch is okay for a quick nap, but I don’t have napping in mind, and I don’t want anything about tonight to be quick.” He touched her face, his fingertips barely grazing her downy cheek. “I don’t mean to rush you. I know things are progressing awfully fast.” His mouth tipped in a small smile and he added, “After all, we just met. But I want you, and you obviously want me. Will you come home with me? Will you spend the night?”
Her eyes went wide, her lashes fluttering. He could see the wild racing of her pulse in her throat. “Yes.” She swallowed hard, then smiled. “Yes, I’d like that. Thank you.”
Chapter Four
Cole grinned at her perfect manners, wanting to tease her but unable to dredge up an ounce of humor.
The rigidity had left Sophie’s shoulders by the time they were in his car, but she was far from relaxed. He’d barely managed to talk her out of driving herself to his apartment. He knew she’d wanted her car there as an avenue of escape.
He wanted her to trust him, to give him everything.
She remained silent as he parked the car and led her to the second floor of his apartment building. He didn’t mind. The silence wasn’t overly uncomfortable, but rather charged with tension and anticipation. Something very basic and primal inside him wanted to see Sophie in his home, on his territory, in his bed. He wanted to stake a claim, and he intended to do it right. He’d never been a barbarian before, but right now, he felt like howling, like slaying dragons to prove his affections.
She looked around as he unlocked the door and led her inside.
“My place is pretty simple. I’m not one for much decorating, and until recently, one or more of my brothers lived with me. Mack only moved on campus this past year and he was the last to go.”
He watched as her gaze skimmed over everything, the dark leather furniture, the light oak tables, the awards and trophies set on a table that one or more of his brothers had won in sports and academics.
The eat-in kitchen was barely visible through an arched doorway. The bedrooms were down a short hallway.
“It’s very nice,” she said.
He pulled off his jacket, then took her coat, tossing both over a chair arm. “Zane teases me about being a housewife, but I like to keep the place clean, and now, he’s no different. Teaching those three to do laundry and mop floors and cook was a chore, but they finally picked it up. We used to have a regular cleanup day, and there were no excuses accepted for missing it. Well, except for the time Chase broke his leg. Then we let him off the hook.”
He grinned at her, wanting her to relax, to get to know him better. He was telling her things he’d never discussed with any other woman, and truth be told, she looked fascinated.
“How old were you when your parents died?”
“Twenty-two. I’d just finished college. Mack and Zane were still in grade school, but Chase was in junior high.”
“It must have been awfully rough.”
He nodded in acknowledgment, unwilling to rehash the past and all the problems that had cropped up daily. “We got through it. They were good kids, just a little disoriented by it all. It took time to get readjusted, to get past the loss.” He wanted to ask her about her own loss, but because he wasn’t supposed to know about it, he couldn’t, and it frustrated him. They should be using this time to build a closeness, not hiding behind secrets.
Abruptly, he asked, “Are you hungry? Or would you like something to drink?”
She hesitated only a moment and that intriguing blush turned her face pink. Then, suddenly, she launched herself at him. Her arms went tight around his neck, almost smothering him as he caught her. “All I want is to finish what we started at the bar.” She pressed frantic kisses to his neck, his nose, his ear, making him laugh, and at the same time groan with an incredible rush of hot lust. “I want to lie down with you and touch you and—”
“Honey, shush before you make me crazy.” To guarantee her compliance, he kissed her, holding her face still, thrusting his tongue deep, tasting of her, making love to her mouth. Her words had affected him, making his body ache in need.
He pulled her blouse from her skirt and quickly skimmed the buttons open, then pushed it off her shoulders. She helped, wiggling her arms free and trying to keep their mouths together.
Laughing again, he said, “Take it easy, honey. We’ve got all night. There’s no rush.”
He gentled her, stroking his hands up and down her bare back, placing small, damp kisses across her skin. Her hands clutched at his hips and he obligingly stepped closer to her, letting her feel his rigid erection, nestling it into her soft belly.
She made a small sound of mingled excitement and delight. “Cole?”
“Hmmm?” he muttered, distracted by the taste and texture and scent of her skin. The fact that this was his Sophie sharpened the pleasure to a keen edge.
“Will you take off your shirt, too?”
He hesitated, afraid he might lose control if she started touching him too much. But her eyes were soft and huge, inquisitive and excited, and he couldn’t resist. His heart pounding, he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off, then peeled his T-shirt over his head. He dropped them both on the floor. Sophie’s gaze moved over him, warm and intimate.
“You can touch me, honey.”
Still, she seemed timid, so he took her hand in his, kissed her palm, then laid it flat on his chest. Sophie licked her lips as she tentatively stroked him. “You’re so warm and hard.”
He laughed. Hot was a more apt description, and there was no questioning how hard he was. It felt like his jeans would split at any minute. He ruthlessly maintained his control and started on the side button to her skirt.
“Cole…” She stiffened, anxiety in her tone.
“I want to see you, baby,” He searched her expression and read so much nervousness there, he paused. Cupping her face and leaning close, he whispered, “You’re very sexy. I could spend a lifetime looking at you and it wouldn’t be enough.”
Her small hands curled over his wrists. “And we certainly don’t have a lifetime, do we? I…I’m leaving in just a few days.”
When would she give up that ridiculous tale? At this point, it almost annoyed him. It was so difficult not to call her by name, not to admit how much he cared. But this was her show, he reminded himself, and he was determined to let her play it as she chose, at the same time, helping to meet her goals, to give her everything she’d ever wanted. “Are you sure you won’t be able to stay in town awhile?”
“No.” She interrupted him quickly, firmly, then stepped against him to wrap her arms tight around his waist. “No, we can have tonight, but that’s all I need. Just one night. An exciting experience for both of us, but no more than that.”
His confidence started to dip. Had he misread her? Did Sophie truly only want a very brief affair?
Not even that, he thought, as her words just one night reverberated in his
brain. Maybe, unlike him, she had stayed single by choice. God knew, the woman was more than attractive enough to draw men in droves. He’d seen the underlying sensuality beneath her quiet persona, so it stood to reason other men would have seen it as well. Even Zane had commented that she was a looker, and he was a connoisseur of women.
Anger washed over him. Her ruse no longer seemed so touchingly sweet, and he was met with a new determination, one to make her so deliriously satisfied, so sated with his lovemaking, she wouldn’t be able to deny him ever again. He would give her what she wanted and more. Before the night was over, she’d be as addicted as he.
One night hell.
“Take off the skirt, sweetheart. Let me touch you.” The growled words hung heavy between them until finally Sophie released her death grip on him and lifted her head. Cole stepped back just enough to allow her to move freely.
Her eyes looked more gray than blue as they held his, looking for reassurance. At his smile, she carefully released the button to the waistband of the skirt and slid the zipper down. It immediately dropped over her slim hips to layer around her ankles. Cole took her hand and she stepped out of it, leaving her shoes behind as well.
The dark, sexy stockings covering her long, slender legs were enough to make him groan, but it was the sight of her narrow waist, her flat belly, that shook his control. Her panties were pale, and the small triangle of chestnut curls could be seen beneath the sheer material, taunting him, making his palms burn with the need to touch her.
“Christ, you’re beautiful.”
He hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until she let it out in a long shaky sigh. “I wasn’t sure what you would think—”
“I think I’m one lucky bastard,” he muttered, his tone none too steady. “Come here, honey.”
He didn’t mean to be rough, to startle her, but he didn’t think he could take much more. He’d been imagining this moment for almost seven months, and the reality was much sweeter than any fantasy he’d dredged up. He supposed it was because he genuinely cared about her, because he liked and respected her, that sex between them seemed like so much more. To him, laying her down and burying himself in her would be more than physical, it would be emotional and mental, too, a bonding of more than just their bodies.
