by Naima Simone
Jesus, he was gorgeous.
Clothed, the man exuded a leashed power and vitality that hummed like a low-level current. But naked, without the restraints of that civility? He nearly rocked her back on her heels with all that visceral sexuality and strength. He was a sleek, formidable beast who’d shaken off domestication, and the way he studied her from underneath those whiskey-colored, hooded eyes... She barely managed the inane urge to bare her neck and let him take her down.
“How do you want it?” He molded his palm to her breast, squeezing. “What’s most comfortable for you?”
He never failed to ask her this question. No matter how hot they burned—and God, did they raze each other to the ground—her comfort was always his priority. How she wished that didn’t squeeze her heart like a vise.
“I want to look at you,” she said, softly repeating the request she’d given him the first time they’d had sex. I need to look into your eyes and know that you’re here with me and only me. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, trapping those too-revealing words inside.
Cole nodded and sank to the couch. Tangling his fingers with hers, he eased her down and over his thighs until she straddled him. Their gazes locked; he guided his cock to her folds before sliding between them, nudging her clit. She gasped at the electric strike of pleasure, her head tipping back on her shoulders. Her hips rolled as if of their own volition, seeking more of that brain-numbing ecstasy. Her breath burst out of her on a ragged whimper, and she didn’t wait for him to notch his erection at her entrance. Needy, hungry, she lifted and sank down on him.
Once more, she gasped at the stretching, the almost-too-much filling of her sex. They’d been together like this so many times over the past few weeks, but he never failed to steal her breath with how he branded her. Completed her. Not just physically. But in a place so deep inside, she feared ever being able to root him out.
“Ride me, baby girl,” Cole ordered, clutching her hips, drawing her off of him, then slowly, so slowly, pushing her back down. His dusky skin drew taut, his mouth pulling into a tight line. “Fuck me and ruin us both.”
Ruined? She leaned forward, parting her lips over the base of his neck and pressing a hot kiss there. Already there. Ruined for any other man. Ruined for any future that didn’t include him. Ruined from the person she’d been before returning to Rose Bend—before falling in love with him.
If only she could wreck him in the same way.
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she rose and fell over him. Leisurely, at first, cherishing each drag of his cock over her sensitive, quivering sex. But as her desire spiked, as he hit a place high inside her with each thrust, her pace quickened, roughened. He whispered encouragement and dirty praises against her throat, urged her to take, ride, fuck with the hard grip of his hands. Pushed her closer to the crumbling edge of release as he lowered his head and caught a beaded nipple between his lips and sucked.
“Cole.” His name cracked on the air between them just as she did. Right down the middle.
With a keening cry, she bucked and spasmed, her sex clamping down on his cock as she came, rocking and tumbling like the wildest storm. Beneath her, Cole pounded into her, prolonging the pleasure that threatened to tear her into pieces. Finally, he stiffened, and his flesh throbbed within her. A sob escaped her as she collapsed against his chest. She trembled, and his large body vibrated with those quakes.
Only as they quieted, and she eased off into an exhausted sleep, did she feel the almost phantomlike caress over her belly. Maybe she imagined it. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.
Either way, she treasured that fleeting touch. Clasped it to her heart, and as the darkness finally claimed her, so did a trace of hope.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
AS SYDNEY STRODE down the sidewalk toward city hall, she couldn’t hold back the smile curling her lips. Even if it made her look like a grinning idiot. Nope, she honestly didn’t care. She’d completed the grant and forwarded it to Cole, and though he would’ve most likely already seen the email, she wanted to celebrate with him. This grant would make his dream of the community center a reality—and she had full faith that the funding would come through. And her husband definitely would.
Her husband.
God, it still seemed weird saying that, even if only to herself. Weird, new, but...so good.
Smile widening, she approached the front steps of city hall, but paused as her phone rang. Cursing to herself, she hiked the picnic basket containing her lunch for Cole on her hip and reached into her bag for the phone. After some juggling, she removed it from the inside pocket and glanced down at the screen.
And froze.
Daniel.
Her heart thudded. Why would he call her? She’d made it very clear all of their communication needed to take place through their attorneys. Did she answer it? Did she let it go to voice mail? The questions whirled, then, giving her head a hard, short shake, she hit answer and quickly thumbed through to the recording app on her phone.
She’d talk to him, but that didn’t mean she trusted him.
Hitting the red button, she said into the phone, “Daniel.”
“Hello, Sydney. How are you?” he greeted, and her stomach dipped nervously at that modulated tone.
Then anger flashed through her because of the nerves. She was through being intimidated and afraid.
“Fine.” Her fingers tightened around the phone. “But I’m sure this isn’t a casual call. Not that you should be calling me in the first place. Are you with your attorney?”
“No, I just left his office, actually,” he said. A pause followed his reply, and a thousand questions crowded into that space. But she sank her teeth into her bottom lip, trapping them. He’d reached out to her; she wasn’t going to prod him to speak. “I told him that I changed my mind about suing for full custody. I’m dropping the suit.”
Shock assaulted her, and she grasped for the stair railing, steadying herself. She couldn’t speak. Could barely squeeze a breath past her constricted lungs.
Surely, he hadn’t said... No, he couldn’t have...
“What?”
“Yes, Sydney,” he repeated, voice softer. “I’m not suing for full custody.” And because she still couldn’t shove anything out beyond that tortured one word, he continued, “My attorney will be contacting yours shortly, but I’ve told him you will have primary physical custody, and I would still like to share joint custody that would go into effect once our daughter is old enough to travel out of state. A time that would fall under your discretion. Until she’s old enough, though, I would also like the freedom to travel to Massachusetts to visit her at least monthly on agreed-upon times. We’ll still have to work out other decisions such as child support, but...” Silence beat between them for several seconds. The pounding of it as loud as her heart. “But I won’t try and take the baby away from you.”
Though joy, relief and disbelief screamed in her head like a howling gale, she didn’t speak. Not yet. A part of her didn’t trust this sudden turnaround. Daniel had hurt her. To the core. Yes, he’d believed he was only doing what was best for their child. But his idea of best—stealing her daughter from her and installing another woman as her child’s mother—made it difficult for her to forgive him for his treatment of her.
“Why the sudden change of heart?” she challenged, her voice harsh. She didn’t care. “Is it my new marital status? You realized this fight wouldn’t be as easy as you assumed?”
His sigh reached her ears, and she braced herself for his lecture on being “too emotional.” But he shocked her by murmuring, “I deserve that. I do. And I would be lying if I said that had nothing to do with me considering this situation more carefully. But I have to be honest, Sydney...” He hesitated, and a frown creased her brow. Daniel didn’t do uncertain, and something about this pause smacked of it. “When I came to see you, I didn’t expect you to push back. I tho
ught you would see the validity of my arguments and decide to return to Charlotte.”
“You didn’t expect me to stand up to you and not cave to your bullying,” she corrected, anger kindling inside her. “You expected me to be that young twenty-year-old who always bent to your ‘wisdom,’ your wants and demands. But I’m not that girl anymore, Daniel. I haven’t been for a long time.”
“I see that...now,” he conceded. “After returning home, and then finding out you’d moved on, too, I had to take a hard look at myself. And... And I wasn’t happy with who I saw. You called me a bully who was penalizing you for not falling into line. For leaving me. You were right. I hadn’t forgiven you, and though I did—and part of me still does—believe you and the baby would have a better life in Charlotte, that doesn’t excuse me using my connections and the law to threaten you into compliance. I’m sorry for that, Sydney.”
She couldn’t say it was okay. Yes, he’d realized he’d been wrong, but that didn’t make his actions anywhere near “okay.” So instead she said, “Thank you for the apology, Daniel. I appreciate it.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to acknowledge that we were growing apart. Or that you were growing into your own person, your own woman, and I didn’t want to accept it. But you are that woman, and I have to respect your decisions. I have to respect you, Sydney. That said,” he huffed a breath, and she could easily imagine him squaring his shoulders and lifting his chin in that confident way she’d always admired, “I also have to accept that as our baby’s mother, you would always place her welfare and safety first. And if it’s your choice to live in Rose Bend, I’ll work with you as long as you work with me. I want my daughter to know me as her father,” he whispered.
“She will, Daniel,” Sydney replied just as softly. “I’ve never had any intention of cutting you out of her life or to have someone else fill that role. She will be loved by her parents and be blessed to have more people in her life to protect and adore her like Cole and your fiancée. Who,” she added, firming her voice, “I really need to meet in the near future.”
“And I need to do the same with Cole—and not as your attorney.”
She chuckled. “Deal.” Inhaling a breath, she slowly let it go—determined to do the same with the resentment. “Thank you, Daniel. You’re going to make a wonderful father.”
“You’re already a wonderful mother,” he praised.
They ended the call, and Sydney stood in front of city hall, clasping her cell to her chest. Holy hell, that happened. An effervescent joy bubbled inside her and, not caring if it made her appear crazy, she laughed. She’d come here to tell Cole about completing the grant, and now she could add to that news that this custody battle was over.
Opening her eyes, she swept her gaze over the building before her with its town and state flags, then surveyed the tree-lined street behind her with its scattering of benches. Took in the people who called out to one another or stopped to chat. She waved back to one who noted her gaze and held up a hand in greeting.
And for the first time since crossing the town limits weeks ago, she felt like she belonged. Here. In this town. In this community. With her friends and maybe, just maybe, even her family.
She was finally home.
She hiked the picnic basket on her hip, practically floated up the front steps and pulled open one of the double doors at the top. She moved into the cool lobby, the scent of pine and lemon teasing her nose. The last time she’d been here, her one objective had been getting to Cole, and she hadn’t paid any attention to her surroundings. But now, she took in the gleaming, dark brown tiles flecked with gold and the crystal chandelier that shone brightly even in early afternoon. While the piece wouldn’t have been out of place in a ballroom, it had been donated by the family of one of the town’s founders many years ago. So it remained, lending elegance to the wood security desk, glass billboard case with notes and flyers about upcoming town events and closed office doors.
Though Cole’s office resided up the staircase on the second floor, Sydney headed toward the security desk. He hadn’t been at his law firm, and when she’d called his cell, it’d gone straight to voice mail. Taking a chance he was here, she’d brought her impromptu celebratory lunch to city hall, hoping to surprise him and convince him to eat with her. Her stomach did a flip and roll as she neared the security desk. Would he be happy to see her? Or irritated that she’d just shown up unannounced? Or indifferent?
Stop it. You’re celebrating, so don’t be a killjoy.
She mentally shook her head. Since she’d shared her book with him last week, that distance she’d been sensing between them had started to disappear. They were still as hot for each other as ever. That hadn’t changed. And it offered her a tentative hope that their physical connection would strengthen their emotional one. She rested a hand on her stomach, remembering his sweet caress days ago. Oh yes. She clutched onto that, too.
Did it make her pathetic that she clasped those...lifelines so tightly? Optimistic, pathetic. Sometimes she swore they were just two sides of the same coin.
“Good afternoon,” the older man greeted from behind the desk, his smile lifting up the ends of his bushy, gray mustache. “How can I help you?”
“Hi,” she replied, giving him her own smile back. “I wanted to see if Cole Dennison was in. I’m his wife.”
“I know who you are,” he said, winking. “I was at your reception. Shoot, the whole town was.” He chuckled. “I’m afraid you just missed him, though. Cole left for an appointment about fifteen minutes ago. Can I leave a message for him?” He glanced down at the picnic basket on her arm. “Like how he screwed the pooch by missing out on lunch with his pretty Mrs.? Of course, I don’t mind being a substitute.” He grinned, granting her an unobstructed view of his perfectly white, straight dentures.
She laughed, her disappointment momentarily capsized by his shameless flirting. “Oh, you’re good. Your wife must have a time with you.” She arched a brow, glancing down meaningfully at the gold ring on his left hand.
He scoffed. “We’ve been married forty years as of last month. Three children and eight grandkids. She knows better than to question me.” He leaned closer, humor glittering in his blue eyes. “Just don’t tell her I said that, okay? Forty years, three children and eight grandkids, and she still scares me.”
Sydney’s laughter echoed in the lobby, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, trying to contain the loud sound. The security guard, whose stitched name tag identified him as Bert, chuckled.
Once she had her amusement under control, she nodded. “Deal. I tell you what, though.” She set the basket on top of the security desk. “Since I won’t need this after all, enjoy yourself. And if you haven’t eaten lunch yet, maybe surprise your wife and earn some brownie points.”
Surprise and delight filled his gaze. “Well, that’s really sweet of you. I think I will.” He moved the basket behind the desk. “Thank you, Mrs. Dennison. Very much.”
“It’s Sydney. And you’re very welcome. Enjoy.”
“We will. And I’ll let Cole know you dropped by.”
“Thank you.” Waving goodbye, she crossed the lobby and stepped back out into the summer sunshine.
Well, that was that. At least she could make Bert and his wife happy. Her mouth quirked. Plan B then—dinner. Thoughts turning to what she would need to pick up at the grocery store, she started down the steps.
“Well, if it isn’t the new Mrs. Dennison,” a voice drawled from behind her.
Fuck.
Sydney mouthed the curse, grimacing. Sending up a short prayer for patience and quickly reminding herself that orange was most definitely not the new black, she pivoted to face Jenna Landon.
Sydney hadn’t seen Jenna since the first night of the motorcycle rally, and in a town the size of Rose Bend that had been a minor miracle. One she’d thanked God for. But now, facing the other woman—who appeared as
flawless as always with her sleek auburn hair, slender frame in a body-hugging green dress and nude heels—her miracle had left town.
Forcing a polite smile to her face, Sydney refused to peep down at her own less...sophisticated form clad in a white maternity tank and one of her favorite long, floral skirts. In deference to the heat and her hormones, she’d gathered her hair into a bun at the top of her head. Yeah, Jenna looked like she’d come straight from the country club and Sydney could’ve been playing in the country.
Oh well. Her flip-flops were comfortable.
But as the other woman swept a condescending survey down Sydney’s body and a faint sneer curled the corner of her mouth, embarrassment and irritation surged hot and swift in Sydney’s chest. Screw her. Sydney’s chin notched up and she returned that sneer with an arched eyebrow. This wasn’t high school, even though Jenna hadn’t seemed to figure that out yet.
“Hello, Jenna. How’re you?” I could give negative fucks, but let’s just pretend that’s not true. Even uttering those words in her head helped lend warmth to her smile.
“Oh, I’m just fine,” Jenna drawled. “I saw the basket you left behind in there.” Fake sympathy dripped from her voice, her eyes glittering with a nasty glee that sent a ripple of unease tripping down Sydney’s spine. “Was that for Cole? How sweet,” she continued, not giving Sydney time to answer. “Too bad I saw him leave with Caroline Jacobs several minutes ago. I’m sure it was just a business meeting.”
“Since they’re both on the town council, I’m sure it was,” Sydney replied, dryly. Ignoring the image of how Caroline had seemed surprised and a little dejected when she’d interrupted Sydney and Cole in his office weeks ago. But Cole was...Cole. What single woman—or hell, man—with a pulse wouldn’t have a crush on him?
Jenna shrugged a slim, tanned shoulder. “If you say so. I was just wondering, and I’m certain I’m not the only person. Married only a month and already he’s ‘lunching’ with other women. Not a good look, now is it?”