by Zoe York
“Cole!” She laughed and slapped his ass.
Maybe it was ridiculous, but he liked the caveman approach of carrying his woman off. Or in this case up the stairs and into her pretty bedroom. He deposited her on the bed, standing back to watch her bounce, legs kicking and the hem of her skirt rising to the top of her thighs.
She was laughing. It was balm to his soul. He wanted to keep her happy.
Scarlett propped herself up on her elbows, one foot dangling, the other on the edge of the bed.
“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said.
She glanced down and away.
More baggage?
He hated that anyone might have ever made her feel unworthy.
Cole put a knee on the bed then cupped her chin, urging her to look at him.
“You’re beautiful, Scarlett, inside and out. I should know. I’ve checked.” He grinned at her.
“Stop.” She laughed and shook her head.
The smile was back.
“I’m serious. Your eyes are the most beautiful shade of golden brown. Your hair is fascinating. At first it looks brown, then red and brown again. Your skin is so soft it makes me want to bite you.”
“Bite me?” Her brows rose.
“You might like it.”
“I’m not into vampires.” She pulled away, but not out of his hold.
“But you might be into biting.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it.” He stretched out next to her, savoring this. They’d get to sex eventually, but all of this, teasing her, watching her light up, were every bit as pleasurable as what would come later.
“Do you like biting?” Now she was curious.
“A little. Not hard enough to leave bruises or anything.”
“Hm.”
“You want to bite me?” He slid his hand around to the back of her neck.
“No,” she answered quickly.
“You sure?”
“Do you want me to bite you?” She arched a brow.
“It could be fun.”
“I’ll think about it.” She regarded him through narrowed eyes. “Where do you want to bite me?”
“I’d start here.” He drew a circle on her inner leg, just above her knee. “A little nibble. Then here and here.” He caressed a spot halfway up her thigh then higher still.
Scarlett stopped breathing.
“Want me to show you?” He flattened his hand against her leg, urging her thighs apart.
“Nibbles?”
“Just the smallest of bites.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Cole slid to his feet and toed off his shoes. He braced his hands on the bed and lowered to his knees, keenly aware that a week ago he’d taken up a similar position between her legs for the first time.
Had it only been a week?
It felt as though there’d always been a Scarlett spot in his life, ready and waiting for her.
She allowed him to part her legs making room for him. He slid his palms down her claves and then back up. He kissed her knee, then the other, his hands never stopping. Her gaze never left his.
Did she realize how turned on he was?
He hoped he did the same for her.
Cole waited until she had to breathe and then he bit down. It wasn’t a real bite, more like he pressed his teeth against her skin and dragged them together, gently applying pressure to her skin. By the time he reached the top of her thighs Scarlett was panting.
He pushed back to sit on his heels and adjust his groin.
“What’d you think?” he asked.
“I think you are a sex god.”
“What?” Her answer startled a laugh out of him.
“When I first saw you I thought you were an angel, but I was wrong. Sex god.” Scarlett pushed up farther, her knees drifting together.
Cole pushed to his feet and swayed. All the blood was in his cock, leaving him light headed.
Scarlett slid off the bed and fisted his shirt. He let her pull it up over his head and then her mouth was on him. She kissed his chest while her hands stroked his skin.
“I missed you,” she said between kisses.
“I missed you, too.” And that was crazy. They barely knew each other, and yet there it was.
“I want you to sit.” She nudged him back a few steps to the very foot of the bed.
“Here?” He glanced at a padded bench that butted up against the footboard.
“Yes.” She was intent, focused, determined and hot as hell.
Cole lowered to the bench, keenly aware of every zipper tooth.
Scarlett stepped back and pulled her dress over her shoulder. The black bra was conservative, cupping and holding all of her, while the panties were barely there. Just a bit of black lace.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
“Not yet.” She grinned at him and bent, kneeling on the woven rug at his feet.
Cole’s stomach flip-flopped and his mouth went dry when she reached for the tab on his jeans.
“Scarlett…”
“Sh.”
She lowered his zipper with expert care then freed his dick and balls. He fisted the edge of the bench to keep from dragging her up into his lap right fucking now.
There was no way he was going to maintain control for long. Not when he wanted her this bad. But this was something she wanted to do. The woman who’d lain in that bed last week hadn’t possessed this confidence and he sure as hell wasn’t going to make her think things could only be his way.
Her tongue traced the pulsing vein on the underside of his cock from root to tip.
“Scarlett.” Her name sounded tortured.
She merely chuckled and wrapped her lips around him like he was her favorite candy and sucked. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe through the pleasure of her mouth on him.
“Baby. Scarlett, you have to stop.” He stroked her shoulder and neck, trying so hard to maintain the control he needed.
She sank down, taking him deeper than before.
His vision blurred a bit.
Not like this.
He dug his hand into her hair and pulled her mouth from his cock. She pouted, fucking pouted at him with that glossy bottom lip.
Cole kissed her, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, tasting himself. He needed her. All his good intentions about keeping it easy were gone. He hauled her up onto the bench until she straddled his lap. The condom in his wallet took a few precious seconds to procure and roll on.
“I need you,” he said, his voice ragged.
Scarlett nodded.
He reached down and pulled her panties aside. She canted her hips, helping him find her opening.
There.
She gripped his shoulders with both hands and sank down on him.
“You’re so damn wet.” He pulled her hips down to grind against her.
“You make me crazy,” she whispered.
“Only the good kind.”
He hooked a finger in the front of her bra and pulled it down. The cups nestled under her breasts, plumping them up for him. He kissed and sucked each nipple in turn while she rode his cock.
“Bite me.”
He almost didn’t hear her say the two words. It was more her nails digging into the back of his neck that made him realize her request.
Cole gently bit down on one nipple.
“Oh!” Her sex constricted around him and her body went tight.
“Fuck.” His vision blurred as her pussy milked his cock, spurring on his orgasm.
He wrapped his arms around her, holding onto her as the aftershocks wrecked him.
She was a biter after all.
That was fun.
Scarlett’s body relaxed. Her head lay on his shoulder and her lips wrapped around him long after her breathing evened out. They had to get up soon, but he was greedy for these moments with her.
“Will you stay tonight?” she asked, her voice small and uncertain.
“You couldn’t drive me away.” He wanted to bask in this, her presence, all damn night.
Chapter 13
Scarlett reached across the car and squeezed Cole’s hand. This morning had taken a surprising turn when Cole’s brother called to ask if they wanted to do breakfast. After some back and forth, Cal and Eve were driving up to attend the high school’s fall pancake breakfast charity to benefit the local firehouse. Given that half the town had been burned down in ’68, the fire department was one thing no one skimped on.
“You want to get out, or wait on them?” Scarlett asked.
“Let’s get out.” Cole squeezed her hand back. “Thanks for making time to do this.”
“Thanks for letting me tag along.”
Cole leaned across and kissed her cheek. It was a sweet gesture after a night of intense heat. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing Garth later. He’d been cool about Cole showing up, but she was dreading his real reaction later. Garth couldn’t stop being Garth even if he wanted to.
“Come on.” Cole opened his door.
They got out and walked hand in hand across the grass toward the small parking lot in front of the school.
Several grills were being manned by local firemen, while high school students took orders, delivered pancakes and bussed the tables. Scarlett had suggested going a little later to miss the early morning rush. There were still lots of people clustered around tables stuffing their faces. No one knew what the firemen put in the pancakes, but they were amazing.
“Hey,” Garth called out.
Scarlett saw his hand waving at them.
What did he want now?
The barn was set up. There was nothing for her to do. It wasn’t fair to demand she be there when both Garth and Benji were here.
Cole led her to the table where Garth sat with a few other familiar faces.
“Want to join us?” Garth gestured to two seats.
“Oh.” Scarlett blinked.
Had aliens abducted Garth?
Who was this person?
“That’s really nice of you, man. We’ve got two people joining us.” Cole frowned and pulled his phone out. “Oh. They’re almost here.”
“Who isn’t here yet?” Garth frowned.
“My brother and his wife.” Cole answered easily enough, but Scarlett felt the way his hand tightened on hers.
“Oh. I’ll have to meet them. They from around here?” Garth leaned back in his chair.
“Sort of. Burleson.”
“Cool. Have a good breakfast.” Garth nodded. “A table just opened up over there.”
Cole and Scarlett snagged spots in the middle of the table sitting across from each other. He kept glancing toward the parking lot and drumming his fingers on the table.
“Nervous?” Scarlett asked.
“Yeah. Kind of. It’s just…Cal’s still in a lot of ways just like I remember him.” He shook his head. “It’s going to take time to get used to that.”
“I’m sure they understand.”
He glanced down at his vibrating phone.
“They’re here.” He sucked in a breath and they both glanced at the parking lot.
Two people and a tiny dog that seemed to have springs for legs walked toward them.
“Wow.” Scarlett stared at Cal. Even from this distance the relation was easy to see.
Cal wasn’t as tall or wide as Cole, but he had the same dark hair and nose. He was tan and his smile seemed to be permanent. He wore basketball shorts, athletic shoes and a T-shirt advertising some sort of summer camp. Evelyn waved at them, her smile beaming. Like her husband, she was petite. She radiated warmth. Scarlett liked her without even meeting her.
“You didn’t mention you were going to be an uncle,” she whispered and thumped his arm.
“Ow.” Cole glared at her and stood up, rubbing his arm.
“You must be Scarlett.” Eve went straight for her. There wasn’t even the pretense of shaking hands. Eve came in for a hug, folding Scarlett in her arms. There was an aura around the woman of care. Just hugging her Scarlett felt a sense of peace come over her.
“It’s so great to meet you.” Scarlett closed her eyes. She meant it. From everything Cole had said, Eve was a big part of why this reunion was happening.
Eve let go of her and turned toward the others. “This is my husband, Cal. Don’t pelt her with questions yet.”
Scarlett chuckled and shook the guy’s hand across the table.
“Great to meet you finally,” Cal said.
“Sit, please?” She gestured at their table.
“And who is this guy?” Cole already had the little dog cradled in his arms.
“He’s actually why we decided to drive up today.” Cal glanced at his wife, the sheepish look on his face speaking to his guilt.
“Oh?” Cole looked up from the fawning mutt of a dog at his brother, brows lifted.
“We found him yesterday morning in a dumpster on our walk.” Cal sighed and scrubbed his hand across his jaw. “We can’t keep animals at Hope House. We aren’t home enough to have a pet. Eve called the local shelters and with that hurricane a few months back, they’re all full. I was hoping you might know of someone or somewhere we could take him.”
“He’s so sweet. I couldn’t take him to a shelter. The rescues I spoke to are at capacity, too.” Eve swiped at her cheeks. “Don’t mind me. Hormones.”
Cole glanced at Scarlett. His expression was neutral, but she could read his gaze. They’d talked about his dogs, how he missed not having one, and now this cute little creature had literally landed in his lap after a particularly big bound.
“We have to find him somewhere to go today.” Cal propped his elbows on the table and sighed. “He can’t come back to the house with us, and I don’t know what to do for him.”
Scarlett bit her tongue to keep from offering her place to the pup. She liked animals, but had always shied away from getting one either because of where she was living, who she was living with and for the last two years, because she wasn’t fit to care for anyone but herself.
“I’m sure I can find him a place,” Cole said, his tone light.
“Thanks, man. I know it’s wrong to just drop him on you like this, but I had to do something.” Cal reached over and gave the dog a scratch. “I’d love to have a dog at the house, but it’s against the rules. I’m just—”
“Cal. Not today, please?” Eve stared across the table at her husband.
A pair of teens showed up to take their pancake orders, putting a pause in the discussion.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett whispered to Eve while the guys were distracted.
“Long story.” She sighed and laid a hand on her stomach. “We want to do so much more for the kids, but there are rules that prevent us from running with a lot of Cal’s ideas.”
“What are you two talking about?” Cal asked.
“Is it true you run a wedding venue?” Eve asked, ignoring her husband.
“Yes. I run it with my cousins.” Speaking of The Love Barn… Scarlett glanced at her clock.
“What’s your start time today?” Cole asked.
“I need to be up there around eleven thirty. Ceremony isn’t until four. There’s a tent and lights and flowers. We’re going to be racing to get it all done in time.”
The conversation moved to swapping stories about childhood. Scarlett enjoyed the brother’s animated exchange, letting it wash over her. She was also aware of people peering at them, no doubt wondering who the strangers were.
How long until Cole’s family became more gossip fodder?
“Hey, Scarlett?” Garth approached the end of the table. “I’m heading home. Need a ride?”
“Actually, yeah, if you don’t mind?”
“Sure.”
“Garth.” Cole offered Garth his hand. “This is my brother Cal and his wife Eve.”
The couple shook hands with Garth, exchanging pleasantries.
“This is the tent vendor.” G
arth flashed her his phone screen and winced.
“Go, I’ll be right behind you.” Scarlett waved him off.
“I’ll be at the truck.” He strode toward the parking lot, phone to his ear.
“It was so nice to get to meet y’all.” Scarlett ate her last few bites.
“I thought I was giving you a ride home.” Cole frowned at her.
“You have a new friend to worry about.” She got up, circled the table and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
“Tonight?”
“Maybe.” She grinned. Their plan of him coming over might need to be amended what with the dog which was fine with her. “Bye.”
Scarlett strode after her cousin, but she hadn’t taken half a dozen steps before a bony hand reached out and snagged her hand.
“Help an old woman up?” Bunny asked.
Scarlett could see the trap. Bunny wasn’t a frail old woman, no matter her diminutive size. Still, Scarlett offered a hand then her arm.
“Walk me to my car?” It was a request, but only because Bunny knew she would be obeyed.
Scarlett and Bunny strolled toward the parking lot for a few steps. Neither speaking.
“Any big plans today?” she asked.
“Oh, just fall festival things. It’s going to be a smaller affair this year with us organizing it last minute,” Bunny said.
“Well, let me know what I can do to help.” Scarlett figured with Cole’s canceled wedding the weekend would be wide open to pitch in.
“That young man treating you right?” Bunny asked.
“Cole? Well—yes.”
“Good. I like seeing you smile. There’s nothing like young people in love.”
“I’m not—we’re not in love,” Scarlett stammered.
“Maybe not yet.” Bunny’s smile widened.
A family of four paused on the walk ahead of them. Scarlett hadn’t paid them any mind because Bunny was up to something. Now she glanced up and caught sight of Mr. and Mrs. Hume.
Allie-Kate’s parents.
“M-morning,” Scarlett said, her gaze skipping to AK’s sister’s.
The three woman regarded Scarlett with a coolness that almost made her shiver.
“Morning,” Bunny said, ignoring the chill passing between them. She pulled Scarlett to a stop. “Have we heard where Allie-Kate has gone off to yet?”