Everyone Loves a Hero

by Marie Force

“As you would say, wow.”

  “Same to you, my love.” He nibbled on her neck and dragged a finger into the plunging neckline of her black dress.

  She hoped he wouldn’t notice that it was the same dress she’d worn to their dinner at the airport. However, he didn’t seem to be noticing anything but her cleavage at the moment. “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere the concierge recommended. Asian fusion cuisine—whatever that is.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  He wrapped a shawl around her bare shoulders. “You look gorgeous, Liv. Every guy in the place will be checking you out.”

  “You’ll turn a few heads yourself—like you always do.” She adjusted his tie and then reached up to kiss him. Wiping the lipstick off his lips, she studied his handsome face.

  “You’re staring again,” he said with that half grin she loved so much.

  “I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

  Putting his arms around her, he brought her in for a kiss that quickly spiraled out of control. He appeared dazzled as he pulled back from her.

  “Just say the word and we can stay in,” she said.

  “No. We’re going out to celebrate.”

  She stopped him with a hand on his arm. “I don’t need anything more than you to have a celebration.”

  “I love you.” He kissed both sides of her face and then her lips. “Have I mentioned that lately?”

  “Not in the last half hour or so.”

  “I don’t mean to be slacking off.”

  “That’s all right. You did a pretty good job of showing me a little while ago.”

  “Mmm,” he growled into her ear. “Just pretty good?”

  She giggled. “Very good.” The thought of it made her want more, but since he was determined to go out, she turned him around and pointed him toward the door.

  After dinner, they went dancing at the Top of the Mark Sky Lounge. “I’d love to paint this,” Olivia said wistfully as she swayed with him to the sounds of a jazz band. Over his shoulder, she took in the sparkling lights of the city that stretched for miles below the nineteenth-floor landmark.

  “We could probably arrange to get you up here tomorrow.”

  “I meant the night view.”

  “Could you commit it to memory and paint when we get back to the room?”

  “You wouldn’t care?”

  “Why would I? I have to learn to take the bad with the good if I’m going to be your kept man.”

  Olivia laughed softly. She had been delighted to discover he was a smooth, graceful dancer. Their bodies were locked together in sensuous movement that wasn’t all that different from lovemaking. His cologne, a dark and spicy scent that suited him perfectly, filled her senses as his arousal pressed against her, an ever-present reminder of the passion they shared.

  “Remember when I told you yesterday was the best day of my life?” she asked.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “I can’t believe it’s possible, but today was better.”

  Cole tightened his hold on her. “I wonder what tomorrow has in store for you.”

  Glancing up, she found his eyes closed and his face relaxed. “Nothing could top this.”

  He opened his eyes and dipped his head to kiss her. “You never know.”

  They had apple martinis and danced for an hour at the Sky Lounge before they strolled back to the Fairmont. In the elevator, Cole kept his arm around her. She rested her head on his chest. “Thank you for yet another unforgettable evening.”

  “Congratulations on all your good news.”

  She choked back a yawn. “It wouldn’t be half as good if I couldn’t share it with you.”

  “Are you too sleepy to work?” He opened the door to their room and ushered her in ahead of him.

  “I told you that second martini wasn’t a good idea.”

  Cole pulled off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. “What you need is some sleep to recharge. You can get up early in the morning and get to it.”

  She reached up to caress his face. “You’re right. It’s too late to start anything now.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Anything?”

  Laughing, she said, “Too late to paint.”

  “Better.”

  As he took off his suit coat, Olivia went into the bathroom to change into the last of the silk nightgowns she had bought for the trip. This one was black with lace trim and fell to mid-thigh. She slipped on the matching thong and washed the makeup off her face. Filled with giddy anticipation, she brushed her hair and teeth.

  Every time with him felt like the first. That she could be with such an amazing, loving, thoughtful man any time she wanted was something she was still getting used to. And that he loved her. Really loved her. Maybe she had finally taken that leap after all. One thing she knew for sure—faced with the choice, she would gladly give up all the other incredible things that had happened recently if it meant she got to keep him.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, she discovered he had lowered the lights and removed his shirt. He stood in front of the big window with his hands in his pockets. For a moment, she took in the delicious sight of broad, muscular shoulders, a narrow waist, and tight buns.

  Oh, how I love those buns, she thought, resisting the urge to giggle. She slipped her arms around him and pressed her lips to his back.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  He surprised her when he said, “My mother.” Putting his hands on top of hers, he added, “She would’ve loved you. I’m sorry you’ll never get to meet her.”

  “So am I.”

  “I want you to meet my dad and the rest of my family when you come out after Christmas.” He turned to her. “Would that be okay?”

  “I’d love that. My dad wants to meet you, too.”

  “Another big leap,” he said with a teasing smile. His eyes darkened when he finally noticed what she was wearing. “Oh, man.” He tilted his head for a better view. “Wow.”

  She smiled. “Your favorite word.”

  “Only since I met you.”

  Winding her arms around his neck, she skimmed her tongue along his bottom lip. “I want you,” she whispered.

  He pulled her tight against the hard ridge of his erection. “You have me. I’m all yours.”

  “Let’s go to bed.”

  “When there’s a perfectly good wall right here?”

  “I’ve learned that walls are nothing but trouble.”

  Grinning, he brought his lips down on hers for a hot, desperate kiss full of longing. He lifted her into his arms and wrapped her legs around his hips.

  “Speaking of trouble,” she whispered against his lips. “Is it midnight yet?”

  Perplexed by the question, he glanced at the clock. “Ten after. Why? Do you have a curfew?”

  “No, but I am late.”

  His eyebrows knitted with confusion. “Late?”

  “Officially late.”

  Watching his face soften with awareness was among the best in a string of unforgettable moments with him.

  “Yeah?” he asked, his voice gruff with emotion.

  Nodding, she moved her hand to his chest in time to feel his heart flutter.

  “Does that happen sometimes?”

  “Never. I’m like clockwork.”

  This time his kiss was fierce—and possessive. “Maybe we scared it off with all our ‘activity’ this weekend.”

  She laughed. “I doubt it. I’ll give it another day or two, and then I’ll take a test.”

  “Do we have to wait that long?”

  “I’m only one day late. And you’re supposed to be having a meltdown, not hoping it’s true.”

  “Who says? I want it to be true. I want it so much.”

  “So do I.”

  For a long time they held each other, absorbed in thoughts and dreams Olivia had certainly never imagined might come true for her.

  “Cole?”

  “Hmm?”

  “It only took ten minutes fo
r today to top yesterday.”

  Chapter 23

  He laid her down on the bed and hovered above her, teasing her with light touches of his lips to hers. “What do you want?”

  “You.” She reached for him, trying to bring him down on top of her. “Just you.”

  He shook his head and then kissed her neck. “You have to tell me.”

  “Cole…” She moaned when he added his tongue to the action on her neck.

  “What?” he whispered in her ear.

  Olivia squirmed under him as he drove her wild with just the tip of his tongue against her ear. The sensations rocketed through her, causing her nipples to tingle and heat to pool at her core. She caressed the hard muscle of his chest and shoulders.

  “I need you. Don’t tease.”

  “Why not? It’s so much fun.”

  She closed her eyes tight against an almost painful wave of desire.

  “For who?”

  Laughing softly, he rolled his lips over her nipple through the silk nightgown.

  Olivia, who hadn’t seen that coming, almost flew off the bed. She clutched a handful of his hair to anchor him to her chest.

  “Tell me,” he urged. “Tonight is all about you, so I need to know what you want.”

  She felt the flush of longing from her breasts to her face. “I want you.” Her voice was small when she added, “In me.”

  “What part of me?”

  Her wail of dismay echoed like a sob as he continued to toy with her nipple. “All of you.”

  Nudging aside the flimsy silk of her thong, he pushed two fingers into her, and she came instantly. As she rode the wave, he sent his tongue plunging into her open mouth, mimicking the motion of his relentless fingers.

  “God, Liv,” he whispered. “You’re so hot.”

  The two-pronged assault on her senses made her head spin and her heart pound. She was aware of him removing the nightgown and thong as well as the rest of his own clothes. And when his hot mouth closed over her sensitive nipple, Olivia almost came again. She reached for him and curled her hand around his straining erection, but he stopped her before she could stroke him.

  “Don’t, baby,” he rasped. “I’m hanging by a thread here.”

  “Then don’t wait,” she said, urging him to enter her.

  “Not yet.” He kissed his way down to her belly. “You haven’t gotten everything you asked for.”

  Pushing her knees as far apart as he could get them, he teased her with endless strokes of his tongue on her thighs that stopped just short of where she wanted him. Finally, he gave her his tongue in soft but determined caresses.

  Olivia clutched the duvet and lifted her hips in answer to his questing strokes. She was so hot she feared she would combust if he kept it up much longer. The heat built until it was almost unbearable. And then she shattered into a million pieces. He stayed with her throughout the tumult and only let up when she had returned softly to earth, her eyes closed tight against the rush of emotion. That it was possible to feel so much, even more than ever before, amazed her.

  He sat up to reach for a condom on the bedside table, but she stopped him.

  His eyebrow arched in a questioning look.

  “I want to feel you.” She tugged at him. “Just you.”

  “Liv, we shouldn’t.”

  “What does it matter now?” She sat up, eased him onto his back, and straddled him.

  “Wait, honey.”

  “Shh.” Olivia leaned forward to kiss him and slid her hot wetness back and forth over his hard length.

  He groaned, held her still, and surged up and into her in one smooth move.

  Olivia gasped at the impact and struggled to accommodate him. She tossed her head back, reveling in the sensation of being filled by him. For a long time she stayed still, her hands on his chest supporting her weight. Then she began to move the way she knew he liked.

  She looked down to find his eyes closed, his lip between his teeth, and his forehead damp with sweat. Reaching for his hands, she laced her fingers through his and held on tight as she pivoted her hips back and forth.

  “Liv,” he gasped. “You’re killing me.”

  “Good,” she said, keeping up the pace.

  He squeezed her hands as his eyes flew open and found hers in the soft light.

  She raised their joined hands and brought them down on either side of his head. Leaning forward, she kissed him softly, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on his and her hips moving.

  He surprised her when he suddenly turned them over without losing their connection.

  As he pounded into her, she was exhilarated to realize she had once again broken his control. This was how she loved him best—wild and driven to take and take and then take more. Everything.

  He dipped his head and sucked hard on her nipple, sending her into a climax that ripped through her like a freight train. Then his hands were under her, holding her tight against him as he went deep one last time and let himself go with a cry of release ripped straight from his soul.

  Looping her arms around him, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, still joined with him in every possible way.

  ***

  Cole worried he might be crushing her. He dropped a kiss on the side of her breast as her chest rose and fell in an easy cadence.

  “Am I hurting you?” When he received no answer, he raised his head. “Liv?”

  He smiled when he realized she was asleep. It was no wonder she was exhausted. She amazed him. He had never been with a woman who could be counted on for no fewer than three orgasms every time they made love. He wondered if that was just another sign of a perfect match. Maybe he’d never experienced such a thing because he had been making love to—or, he should say, having sex with—the wrong women.

  He’d also never in his life had unprotected sex, and now that he knew what he’d been missing… well, it would be damned hard to go back to using condoms after experiencing what it was like to bury himself in her with nothing between them but love and desire.

  As he planted a kiss on her breastbone, he watched her pretty pink lips part and then move as if she were dreaming. Was she dreaming of him? He certainly hoped so. Withdrawing from her, he reached for the soft chenille blanket at the foot of the bed to cover her. He kissed her cheek, and just in case she wasn’t completely asleep, he whispered, “I love you.”

  She mumbled and turned into him.

  He held her for a long time before he got up to take a shower.

  Standing under the pulsing massage of the hot water, he thought of her joy at selling her painting, the way her face had lit up when she told the story to her loved ones at home, her almost childlike enthusiasm for the exotic food they had shared over dinner, and the awestruck reaction she’d had to the Top of the Mark. He loved her so much. And now there might be a baby to love, too.

  For the first time since his college girlfriend rebuffed his proposal, he could imagine asking the question again. He laughed to himself when he thought of what his mother—who had long ago given up on ever seeing her oldest child settled down—would’ve said about him being ready to take the plunge with a woman he’d known only six weeks. Yes, she would have enjoyed this.

  Time hardly mattered in a situation like this, he reasoned. He had known instantly that Olivia was special, just by the tender way she had cared for him after the incident in the store. She had shown him her heart in those first few minutes, and nothing that had happened since then had detracted from that crucial first impression. If anything, she had demonstrated time and again that he’d been right to go back to find her after thinking about her for two long weeks.

  Being in love like this made him feel dizzy and breathless, just like flying fighter jets when every move had to be carefully considered. The last thing in the world he wanted was drive her away by pushing for too much too soon.

  She was right when she said they were at different places in their lives. Now that he had her in his life, he was ready for all the t
hings he had disdained for so many years. But that wasn’t what she wanted. Not yet anyway. If they were having a baby, though, that would move things along. Olivia wouldn’t bring a child into this world out of wedlock if she could avoid it. Of that he was fairly certain.

  He turned off the water and wrapped a towel around his waist. Using a hand towel to dry his hair, he wandered into the bedroom, anxious for reassurance that she was still there.

  She slept on her side with her hand under her cheek. Her silky dark hair was fanned out on the pillow, in sharp contrast to the snow-white sheets.

  Cole wanted to wrap himself around her and never let go. For a guy who had spent most of his life avoiding commitment, the feeling was new and unexpected. He had also taken meticulous care to ensure there would be no unplanned children. But because of her, none of that frightened him anymore. No, the only thing he was truly afraid of now was that he would somehow manage to push her away by wanting her too damned much.

  ***

  Olivia woke up thirsty at two thirty and was disoriented for a moment. The last thing she remembered was making crazy love with Cole and then… nothing. Had she really conked out right after? That was kind of embarrassing. I hope he doesn’t think I didn’t like it or that I was bored. Nothing could be further from the truth. He looked so adorable and peaceful, asleep on his back with an arm thrown over his head. She wanted to wake him up to apologize for falling asleep, but she couldn’t bring herself to disturb him.

  Getting up, she went to find some water and was surprised to feel a rush of sticky wetness between her legs. Oh, no! No, no, no! The disappointment overwhelmed her. She’d had no idea until that very second just how badly she wanted the baby she wasn’t even sure she was carrying. Then she remembered they hadn’t used a condom, and maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t her period but something else.

  She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer, “Please, please, please.” Her eyes opened slowly and took a moment to focus. She had to look again to be certain. It wasn’t her period. The relief was so overwhelming that she closed her eyes to absorb the feeling. By the time she had showered and changed into a clean T-shirt and panties, she was wide awake and full of nervous energy.