by Peggy Jaeger
Cole reached out and grabbed her wrists. “Tiff, stop,” he said, his breath raspy.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he bent and scooped her up in his arms in one effortless motion, carried her to the bed and laid her down upon it as if she were a delicate piece of porcelain. He tossed his clothes haphazardly at his feet as he wrenched each article from his body.
When he was naked, her eyes widened and tears brimmed at the corners.
Cole lay down beside her and gathered her into his arms. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”
A sob choked from her. “Hurt me? My God, Cole. I can’t believe this is finally going to happen. I’ve wanted this for so long.” Her moist eyes impaled him. “Ever since I knew what it meant to be loved this way. You’re the only one I ever dreamed of being with. Hurt me? The only way you could hurt me is if you suddenly got an attack of that famous guilt of yours and left me here alone.”
He traced a finger along her jaw, then outlined her lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
His mouth once again captured hers. One hand slid across her torso to cup the underside of a breast. For someone not overly endowed, it was full and firm in his hand. Tiffany’s breath hitched when he rubbed his thumb across the nipple, and teased it into a hardened bud. He rolled the swollen nub between his fingers with just enough of a squeeze to make her gasp. When his mouth took over for his fingers, his tongue circled around the areola, sucking it into a tight, hard pucker.
Tiffany responded to his ministrations by arching her back, allowing him full access to whatever part of her he wanted. His hand trailed delicately down over the curve of one hip, to rest on her bare thigh.
With a tender nudge, he pushed her onto her back.
His eyes raked her from head to toes and then back again in one slow, sensual stream. “I think I could look at you like this forever and never grow tired of the view,” he told her with a smile. “Who would have ever guessed someone who can do what you can, who has such strength, such athletic precision, could be so wantonly beautiful like this. You’ve been telling me for days you’re a woman now, through and through. And you are, Tiffany. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
His hand trailed to that tender spot between her thighs, now hot and wet. Softly, deftly, his finger rubbed back and forth over the delicate, sensitive area. Tiffany’s eyes glazed over, and a purr of pleasure blew past her lips. Time was lost as he slowly and expertly brought her up and over her first peak. When she cried out his name, her hips rising off the bed as he felt the waves crash through her against his fingers, Cole’s heart swelled.
She opened her eyes and stared up at him. “Cole, I…”
“Shush.” He silenced her with a kiss. “That was for starters. I want to take you higher. Let me?”
A frown pulled at her brows.
“What?” He nipped at her ear lobe, tugging it into his mouth. “What’s wrong?
“I’ve never...I mean, you know...I’m a...oh God, Cole, I don’t…”
He placed a finger against her lips, then kissed them, “I know you’ve never been with a man before.”
He was charmed when her entire body blushed.
“And you’re not...disappointed?”
With one of her hands in his, he kissed her palm and placed it across his cheek. “Never in a million years could I be disappointed in something so special, so wonderful. I can’t find the words to tell you what this means to me, to introduce you to something so incredible, so extraordinary, so miraculous between a man and a woman. I want this to be perfect for you. I want it to be something you’ll never forget.”
“I couldn’t if I tried.”
Cole’s lips nipped at her jaw and then traveled back to her mouth, taking it prisoner, ravishing it. His hands splayed across her back and pulled her body to his. When he cupped her derriere, pushing the most intimate parts of their bodies and beings together and heard her groan of intense pleasure, any and all worrisome thoughts about ever being like this with her flew from his mind.
Together, they rolled, Cole supporting his weight on his elbows, as his mouth continued to play with hers. One knee gently spread her thighs apart, and she opened for him. When he entered her, her body sheathed him, fully, completely.
His last thought before all sanity left him was they fit together flawlessly.
His hips started to rock against her. Never had anything felt so good, so perfect. So right.
Tiffany matched Cole’s movements, meeting every thrust with one of her own.
When he called out her name and plunged into her one final time, tears sprang to his eyes as his heart quite simply turned over.
Chapter Fourteen
“Where are you going?”
Tiffany stared down at Cole, loving him more than she ever thought was possible. Thick, jet black hair, mussed and wild, fell into his eyes. Drowsy and utterly content eyes.
He’d done exactly what he promised her he would: taken her places she’d never dreamed existed, made her feel things, emotions, sensations she’d never felt before.
She ruffled his hair and planted a kiss to his cheek. “To shower. Mom and Mike will be here in an hour. I need to get ready.”
With astonishing speed, Cole’s hands grabbed her wrists, pulled her back down onto the bed and into his arms. “Plenty of time.” He kissed the hollow of her throat.
Tiffany sighed, closed her eyes, and wound her arms around his neck. “No, there isn’t. You know Mom. She’s always early. Now let me go. I need to shower.”
He allowed her to move back. A lazy smile spread across his face. “I know a way we can save time.”
“How?”
Cole sat up letting the sheet fall to his hips. Tiffany couldn’t prevent the quick hiss of air she let out when she saw his naked body, hard and solid and oh so desirable. For a second she considered forgetting about the shower completely.
His hand snaked around her bare waist and yanked her up on her knees. Planting hot, wet kisses on her neck and shoulders, he said, “We’ll shower together. It’ll save a whole lot of time.”
“I don’t know if it will save time or make us super late.”
Cole chuckled and smiled down into her face. “Let’s find out.”
Forty-five minutes later Tiffany slammed her jewelry box shut and then opened it again for the third time, as she searched for her gold bracelet and diamond earrings. She’d heard the doorbell and knew Carly and Mike were waiting outside with Cole for her.
After three attempts, her shaking fingers finally secured the earrings in place. She placed her hands against her flushed cheeks and took a deep, calming breath.
Would they guess? Is it possible for them to notice the difference in me? In us?
The afternoon had meant everything to her. Cole’s tenderness, his desire to ensure she experienced total pleasure, meant more to her than she could ever have imagined. He was without doubt the only man she could ever love, both physically and emotionally. They’d been bonded to one another for years and were more so now since they’d given themselves to each other intimately. Tiffany’s one hope was they would continue on as they’d begun. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—lose Cole now that he’d finally taken the leap and committed to her this way. Getting him to commit to her for eternity was the next step, one Tiffany felt determined to see through.
She took one last look at herself in the vanity mirror, secured the two gold combs at her temples to keep her mountain of hair off her face, and nodded at her reflection.
“Sorry I kept you waiting,” she said, as she breezed through the bedroom door with a smile on her face, “but I’m ready now.”
“I’ll say you are,” Cole told her.
“You look lovely, sweetie.” Carly kissed her cheek. “Cole was filling us in on what happened at the rink today. Are you okay?”
“I’m better now,” she said, her eyes finding Cole. He looked magnificent in his tuxedo, hair freshly combe
d back, face shaved. Like a movie star from the forties. Cary Grant and Errol Flynn mixed together. “Cole took good care of me.”
She knew her face was flushed, partly caused by the amorous look he gave her, combined with the memory of where his lips had been just minutes before.
“Nice dress,” he said, handing her a diet soda.
An off-the-shoulder, midnight blue, floor-length gown with a slit halfway up to her thigh fit her to perfection, hugging every curve and line on her body. Tiffany knew the paleness of her skin and the deep, luxurious color of the dress were perfect foils.
His fingers lightly brushed hers when he offered her the glass, and Tiffany’s breathing stopped. She said a silent prayer that Mike and Carly took no notice of her outward nervousness.
“Mike was just telling me the dinner tonight is sold out.” Cole folded his hands into his tuxedo pants.
Carly laid a hand across her husband’s arm. “All the proceeds are being donated to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation.”
“That’s wonderful!” Tiffany smiled at them both. Her eyes, though, couldn’t stray from Cole’s for long.
“We’d better get going,” Mike said. He put his empty champagne flute down on the bar. “Wouldn’t do for me to be late to my own party.”
Cole took Tiffany’s floor-length mink from the hall closet, a present from one of her commercial sponsors when she’d won her second gold. His fingers, warm and hard, splayed out across her shoulders as he helped her into it, lingering just a fraction longer than was necessary. Before he let her go, he traced a finger across her shoulder blades causing a frisson of desire to cascade down her spine. She could feel her blood pulsing through her system from his touch.
She said a silent prayer to get through the evening without attacking him and making a complete fool of herself in front of everyone.
The four of them rode the elevator to the lobby where the limousine stood waiting.
The ride took only a few minutes, but for every second of it Tiffany was intensely aware of Cole’s thigh pressing against hers, his arm thrown casually around the back of her seat while the four of them talked.
The ballroom at the Waldorf was spectacularly arranged. Tiffany absorbed every detail of the ornate, over the top, autumn-themed floral table arrangements, the orchestra’s impressive position and size, the delicate bone china that laced the pressed, linen-clothed tables, the crystal goblets filled with slices of lemon and water perched next to them.
“It’s pretty in here. The network’s gone all out for you,” she told her stepfather and kissed his cheek. “They must think you’re as special as we do.”
Mike smiled down at her. “You and your mother are very good for my ego.”
“This is some shindig.” Cole scanned the room. “The entire network body looks like it’s here.”
“Carson Stepman told Mike that the major affiliate shareholders, plus everyone in the bureau, was invited,” Carly said. She slipped an arm through her husband’s. “Hardly anyone declined.”
They were interrupted when the man in question joined them.
“Mike, Carly,” Carson Stepman said. “Some turnout.”
“You know Cole,” Mike said, as the two shook hands. “This is my daughter, Tiffany.”
“No introductions are necessary for you, young lady,” Stepman said, smiling broadly at her, his gargantuan hand swallowing hers. “I’ve been a big fan of yours for years, as have my children.”
“Is Maureen here with you?” Carly asked.
Stepman shook his head. “My wife, unfortunately, got a call this afternoon that her mother had taken ill in the nursing home. She flew down to Florida right away to make sure everything was under control. She sends her regrets,” he added to Mike. “And her congratulations.”
“Congratulations?” Cole said, looking from his boss to his uncle.
“Didn’t Tiffany tell you?” Carly asked.
“Tell me what?”
“Mike’s been named broadcaster of the year by the A.B.A.,” Stepman said.
Cole hugged his uncle tightly and patted him on the back. “That’s great news and well deserved. Congratulations.”
Mike returned the hug. “Thanks. Maybe one day we’ll be congratulating you for the same thing.”
“Speaking of.” Stepman placed a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “We need to talk. I told the board about your considerations and concerns. I have a few things to follow up on.”
“Tomorrow,” Cole told him. “I’ll call your secretary.”
Stepman nodded.
“Everybody’s going in,” Tiffany said.
“We’d better, too.” Mike offered his arm to his wife. They began walking toward their table, Stepman with them.
“Shall we?” Cole extended his arm and Tiffany wound hers through it.
“I’m really sorry I forgot to tell you,” she said. “Mom called me this morning to let me know.”
Cole smiled and bent down to kiss the tip of her nose. “You’re forgiven. I know you had other things on your mind. And on your body.”
She grinned up at him. “Yeah. I guess I did.”
****
Dinner was a long affair, complete with lengthy speeches and heartfelt tributes to Mike from colleagues. Cole and Tiffany endured the rounds of tablehopping, endless chatter, and gossip they knew was expected of them as Mike’s family. The one respite came after dinner when the orchestra began to play.
“Come on, Brat. I want to dance.” Cole yanked Tiffany up from the table.
“That was rude,” she said, easily gliding into his arms, her body matching his movements as they danced. “Mrs. Candes was asking you about Africa. You should have answered her.”
“Too bad,” he said, pulling her close. “I couldn’t stand not touching you for another second. Besides,” he added, dropping a kiss to the tip of her ear, “Mrs. Candes can live without knowing about the horrible things I’ve seen for another few minutes.”
Tiffany’s entire body heated as she molded to him. She drank in the firm, protective feel of his arms, the thick solid fortress of his thighs as they seductively rubbed against her while they moved across the dance floor.
“This,” he said, “is much more enjoyable than boring chatter with boring people.”
Tiffany couldn’t stop her giggle. Cole’s descriptive term, short and succinct as it was, fit Jennifer Candes, wife of the Washington news bureau chief, to a T.
“You know,” she said, nuzzling against him and delighting in the small groan that came from the back of his throat, “when you’re the news anchor, you’re going to be around people like her more often than not. It’s part of the job to socially mingle with all the big shots.”
“Who says I’m taking the job?” His hand dipped dangerously low down her back, his fingers resting just above the soft swell of her bottom.
“Stop that! Someone might see.”
He chuckled and moved his hand a fraction upward. “So?”
“I don’t want Mike and Mom to know what’s happened between us yet.”
Cole smiled into her hair. “Tiff, if you think your mother doesn’t know about us, then you underestimate your grandmother.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you honestly think Alaina wasn’t on the phone to Carly seconds after we drove away, telling her what she witnessed in the icehouse?’
Tiffany pulled back to gaze up at his face. “I never thought about it. But Grandma wouldn’t…would she?”
Cole shrugged and pulled her head back to rest on his chest. “That’s better. Stay there. And yes, I think she would. So relax. There’s nothing you can do about it if they know, and if they don’t, they will soon enough.”
“I’m not telling them.”
“You won’t have to. Your mother is hyper observant. I’ll bet she’s watching us right now.”
Tiffany tried to pull back again, but Cole’s sturdy arms prevented her. “No. I want to feel you against me. This is a poor substit
ute for having you in bed, but it’ll have to do until we can beg off and leave. Which, I’m hoping, we can do soon. I can’t take much more of this. A few more minutes and I don’t know what I’ll do for relief.”
“Geez.” Tiffany shook her head against him. “A little sex and you get all super charged and demanding.”
This time Cole was the one to pull back. His eyes had turned hard and serious as he looked down at her. “Never say that again, Tiff. What we did together today, what we started, is more than just a little sex, and you know it as well as I do.”
Held prisoner by his stare, Tiffany swallowed the ball that had formed at the back of her throat.
Cole pulled her back to rest against his body, and continued speaking softly into her ear as they danced. “What you and I shared today changed us both. And I’m greedy. I want more. Much more. I want to feel you underneath me, writhing, screaming out my name as you come again and again. I want to learn every single thing that gives you pleasure, and then I want to do all of them to you over and over. I want you like I’ve never wanted anything else in my life. Today was just a taste of what we could have together.”
The punch she felt rip through her stomach as she listened to his words was too much. Her hands started to shake as badly as her insides.
“I-I need to sit down.”
“Come on.” He led her back to the table.
“Are you all right, sweetie?” Carly’s brow furrowed. “You look a little pale.”
Tiffany tried to smile. “I guess I’m still feeling put out about what happened today, and, well, everything else,” she said, trying to come up with a plausible fib.
“I don’t blame you,” Mike said. “I told your mother you’ve been doing too much lately with this show. And after today’s scare, well, I wish you had more time to relax before the opening. Cole, why don’t you take her home?”
