by Cora Seton
Cole stepped closer. “Lacey, I want more than conversation with you.”
His warm green eyes threatened to drown her. She could always count on Cole to be straightforward. He never had a hidden agenda. He always came right out and said what he wanted and now he wanted her. She swallowed hard, not sure she could handle that no matter how much her body wanted her to.
He touched her cheek, gently. “You know I would never ask more of you than you are willing to give, right?”
His touch, so familiar, had her leaning toward him. She nodded. Cole was foremost a gentleman. There were many parts of him she could put her trust in. She just wasn’t sure about giving him her heart again. That he had a good heart wasn’t the question.
She stepped away, needing a little space. “How is Angel doing?”
“Better.” He looked away, his face serious. “She seems to know we are trying to help her, but she’s afraid of us too. If she had her way, she wouldn’t let us in the stall with her at all. When we have to touch her, she shivers.”
“Oh Cole. That’s heartbreaking.” If only Angel could understand how lucky she was to have Cole taking care of her.
One corner of his lips quirked up. “But I found her weakness.”
“What’s that?”
“Jellybeans. I have Elsa to thank for that. Wade will be bringing her here. I often keep jellybeans in my pocket for her and Angel sniffed them out. By the way, one of your Belgians, Daisy, likes them too.”
Lacey smiled. Cole’s love of horses hadn’t changed at all. It was another one of his qualities that pulled at her heart.
“Hmm. It seems all the ladies like jellybeans.” He gave her a calculating grin. “Do you?”
“No, I’m afraid I don’t. But I do like pizza that’s not cold, hint, hint.”
“Then let’s go get it.” Cole swept his hat to the side to allow her to lead then fell in step next to her.
His long stride, punctuated on the tile floor by his boots, was twice the length of hers. He used to tell her he liked that because she moved so quickly it was the only way he could keep up with her.
Everything about him reminded her of their past. All those pieces were good, perfect even, except the day he dumped her. Maybe she needed to forget about the old Cole and learn about the new one. That he believed in her was a huge difference between the two Coles. Obviously, something had changed.
With that plan in mind and a bit more confidence about having him over for dinner, she logged off her computer, let Kendra know she was done for the night, and brought Cole home.
*
Lacey popped the last bite of pizza into her mouth and sighed. “That was heaven. I haven’t had pizza in over a month. Living here where everything is provided doesn’t exactly induce me to leave much.” She lifted one shoulder then reached for a napkin.
Cole caught her hand before she could pick it up. “Allow me.” He brought her hand near his mouth and then proceeded to lick and suck each finger clean.
Her throat went dry and her limbs weakened, along with her resolve. She’d thought making him sit across from her would be safer, but it made looking at him over dinner that much easier.
More than his physical appearance had changed since she’d last seen him. His laughter was more relaxed now. He’d matured, become comfortable with himself, as if he didn’t care what others thought anymore, something that had been very important to him when they were in high school. She definitely liked this new Cole.
Not that she was discounting the strong physical aspect of the man who sat there holding her hand, his tongue sweeping down one finger before taking that digit into his mouth. He’d rolled up his sleeves and the muscle in his forearm moved as he held her wrist, turning it slightly to better access her fingers.
Then he stroked his tongue up her palm and a sizzle of desire ran straight to her core. She pulled her hand back. “Thank you.”
His gaze was warm. “My pleasure.”
Oh gosh. He was pouring on the charm again and her fortifications were crumbling. Adriana’s words flitted through her mind. Your body misses him. Take him to your place, fuck his brains out and then cut him loose. But that wasn’t who she was. The fact was, she still loved him deeply despite the hurt he’d caused. She wanted to give him another chance.
“Lacey, what’s wrong?” Cole’s face showed so much concern, she couldn’t hide her fears anymore.
“I’m afraid.”
He immediately rose and grabbed the chair next to her, moving it to face her before he took her hands in his. “I’m here. I won’t let anyone harm you, I promise.”
That wasn’t what she meant, but his sincerity blew away her final defense. “I believe you. I feel completely secure with you here. I know no one could hurt me…except you.”
Hurt flitted across his face so quickly, she could have imagined it.
“I can’t undo the past. I wish I could.” He hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. “Now that you’ve come into my life again, you’re all I think about. We had something special. I think we still can have that.”
She opened her mouth but he released one of her hands to put his finger against her lips.
“You probably have a million reasons why we shouldn’t try again, and I probably have a million to argue against you, but the bottom line is, I love you. And my gut tells me I’ll never love anyone like I love you.”
Hope, that illusive human frailty, took root in her heart and began to grow.
He squeezed her hand gently. “I don’t expect anything from you right now. All I ask is that you give us a second chance.”
A second chance, like she’d been given at Poker Flat. Her mind said it was only fair. Her heart clamored for her to agree. Her body yearned to feel him inside her again. She couldn’t deny it any longer. “I guess we could—”
Cole pulled her up into his arms, taking her breath away. He cupped the back of her head and lowered his lips to within an inch of hers. “You have the most beautiful heart.”
Her breath hitched and then his lips were upon hers, firm against her own, urging her to open to him. She gave him access and his tongue swept into her mouth, exploring like he’d never kissed her before.
She grasped his broad shoulders, feeling so tiny against the new Cole, his tongue making her toes curl in her cowboy boots. Tentatively, she pushed her tongue into his mouth and he throttled back, allowing her to explore, until he moaned.
The sound of his need made her more confident. The man was hot and she wanted him. She moved her hands to around his neck and pressed her breasts against his massive chest. He was so big, he enveloped her as if he could protect her from the world. She’d always loved that he was so much taller, but now, every feminine nerve ending focused on being loved by him.
Cole broke away, his breathing heavy. “Bedroom?”
She nodded toward her left.
He scooped her up and carried her with ease, something he hadn’t been capable of before. Just the thought of his hard chest and what she’d seen of it at the barn had her licking her lips.
Cole set her on the side of the bed and knelt at her feet. Like a prince checking to see if the glass slipper fit, he carefully pulled off her boots. Then he rolled down her knee socks and draped them on the boots.
He took one bare foot into his large hand and kissed the arch. A tingle of anticipation wove its way up her leg. This was definitely a new Cole. There had been times when they’d been so anxious to have sex that no clothes came off at all. They’d simply been pushed aside.
He held her foot with one hand, and ran his other up her calf, across her knee, and over her thigh. But he didn’t touch her where she wanted to be touched. Instead, he repeated the same actions with her other foot and leg. She held her breath as his hand moved up her other thigh, but he didn’t go any farther.
When he pulled his hand from beneath her skirt, he brought his palm to his nose. “Fresh Linen. I love that scent.”
He remembered. H
is words fed her heart even as his gaze fed her soul. Gosh, she’d missed him.
Still kneeling, he unbuttoned the first button of her shirt. When she moved her hands to help, he caught them in his own. “Let me.”
The green of his eyes was darker, the blue flecks more pronounced and she caught her breath before agreeing. Unhurriedly, he unbuttoned each button, pulling the blouse from beneath her waistband to tackle the last two. Then, as if opening a precious present, he spread her shirt apart and stilled.
He’d asked if she still wore racy lingerie. It was her one personal pleasure. His eyes riveted to the pure-white mesh bra that concealed nothing. Even as he stared, her nipples pushed against the fine fibers, teasing her more.
Cole swallowed hard. “Lacey, you don’t know what you do to me.”
“Then show me.” Her folds moistened just thinking about what his naked body would look like now.
His gaze snapped to hers and he grinned as he shook his head. “Not yet, Racy Lacey. I want to enjoy every second of your unveiling.”
She pouted and he traced his finger over her lip. Unable to resist, she stuck her tongue out and licked.
He shuddered and pulled his hand away.
He had to be hard and she desperately wanted to see. But Cole was too intent on her as he pushed her shirt over her shoulders and pulled it away, throwing it over her dressing table stool.
“Lean back and lift your hips.”
She grinned. “My pleasure.”
He coughed at her tease, but didn’t let it stop him from pulling the elastic waist of her skirt down past her hips and over her feet. This time he dropped the skirt as he stared at her thong panties. “Jesus, Lacey, you’d tempt a saint.”
“I don’t want a saint, Cole. I want you.”
He stared at her as if her invitation were too good to be true. Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her gently, his mouth on hers so tender, she felt revered. When he leaned his forehead on hers and breathed deeply, she understood he was trying to stay in control. That he did this for her warmed her soul.
She touched his face. She could see the young man he had been beneath the mature person he was now and again wondered at his transformation. “I want to see you.”
He leaned back. “I’m right here.”
“No, I mean without your clothes.” She ruffled what hair he had, surprised by its softness.
“As you wish.” He unbuttoned his dress shirt and threw it on the stool, covering her shirt.
She moved her hands over his large shoulders, amazed at the strength in his body now. She felt along his biceps and then across to his chest where his defined pectoral muscles flexed beneath her touch. She marveled at the movement under her palms. “You’re so big.”
His whole torso tensed. “I promise, I won’t hurt you.”
Chapter Nine
‡
You’ve already done that. Cole jerked at the memory of his dream. He studied Lacey’s face, afraid her next words would end it all.
She frowned. “I’m not worried about that. I want to see the new Cole and every inch of muscle you’ve put on…everywhere.”
Her fingers had fluttered down over his abdominals and hooked themselves into the waistband of his jeans. Shit. He was hard as a rock as it was. “Are you sure you want to see everything? I don’t want to scare you.”
“Cole Hatcher, I’m not some prissy country miss. Now get those clothes off.”
He chuckled and stood. He’d forgotten about the bossy side of his woman. Despite her tiny size, she had a backbone of iron. If she wanted a show, a show she’d have…as long as he stayed focused on her face. Looking at her breasts in that see-through mesh would make him lose it, never mind the tiny piece of material covering the place he most wanted to sink his cock into.
He moved their clothing to the top of her dresser and sat on the stool. Then he held his foot straight out so it was positioned between her legs. “A little help?”
She grasped his boot in her hands and pulled as he maneuvered his foot out. “Next.”
He lifted the other foot and they removed the boot easily, working together like they used to. Losing no time, he pulled his socks off and draped them over his boots. Lacey’s gaze never left him. It made him feel powerful, like he could do anything he wanted and right now he wanted to make love to her, but he wanted her very wet and ready.
Slowly, he stood and unzipped his jeans. Pushing the pants from his legs, he added them to the pile of clothing, turning his back to her in his white underwear.
“Oh my gosh.”
He looked at her over his shoulder. “What?”
“Your back is huge.” She practically drooled.
He couldn’t resist and tensed his back muscles.
She made the tiny squeak she used to make when they made love and he spun around.
“How did it get like that?”
He shrugged. “We have weight equipment at the station so we can stay in shape for our annual physical tests. That and taking care of the horses will do it.”
She continued to stare, open-mouthed, so he finished undressing and added his underwear to the pile.
Her gaze riveted to his erection, which had to be harder than a branding iron and almost as hot.
He held his arms out to the sides. “As you wished.”
Lacey licked her lips. “You have changed so much. Heck, Cole, you’re a stud.”
He smiled and strode toward her. He was about to pull her against him when her hands closed around his cock. Her touch sent need straight to his balls and he froze. She moved her hands over every inch of it as if she’d never seen it before. He’d come in seconds if he let her continue that.
Gently, he released his cock from her hands and lifted her farther back on the bed. He settled himself over her, his knees between her legs, leaning on his hands. He finally allowed himself to gaze at her mesh-covered nipples. They were hard and straining against their prison. He lowered his head and licked across each nub.
Lacey’s hiss was the only sound in the room. A sound he loved hearing. He teased each nipple in turn, sucking at it through the thin material, the hard nub welcoming his mouth. Then he scraped his teeth across it. Lacey’s squeak had him looking up at her face.
“Please, Cole.”
He let the hardened nub go, loving that she was in a hurry.
She reached behind her and the bra loosened. “Please take them.”
He knelt up and pulled the bra away before cupping both breasts. They filled his hands perfectly. “You’re so beautiful.”
She gazed at his chest. “So are you.” Her hands came up to cover his pectorals and then moved over his stomach.
He’d missed her touch. Delicate fingers explored the contours of his abdominals and he couldn’t keep them from tensing, afraid she’d touch his erection, which would end his exploration of her, and he so wanted to explore. When instead her fingertips moved back up, slightly scraping at his skin, his balls tightened as memories of the scratches she’d caused in the past doubled his anticipation.
Pulling his attention back to her nipples, he circled one with his tongue, enjoying the sight of her areola puckering. The aroma of her perfume rose from her chest to mix with the scent of her readiness. That she was slippery between her legs had him stopping to take a deep breath to rope in his own need.
Lacey arched her back, pushing her breast closer, wanting more. He couldn’t deny her. He took her hard nub between his teeth and bit lightly. Her hands grasped his head and a tiny moan escaped her throat. The new sound from her made him want more. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, taking her areola with it, and he tongued it inside.
“Oh gosh, Cole.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet it sent a shiver down his back and into his ass.
He grinned inside, pleased he could bring her pleasure again. It had been too long. Finally, letting her well-attended-to nipple go, he kissed his way down her smooth stomach, and pulled down the tiny piece of material cove
ring her entrance, revealing the small patch of trimmed golden hair that guarded her clit. Her hands dropped to the sides, but her hips rose and he easily slid off her thong.
Spreading her legs wider, he licked across the patch of hair before flicking his tongue over her hard clit, eliciting another moan from her. Giving in to his own need, he lapped down to her opening, moaning at her familiar taste, one that had always made him lose control. But he was a man now, not a boy, and he forced himself to hold back as he pushed her folds aside with his tongue before thrusting it inside.
Lacey’s moan filled the room, that new sound he wanted to hear more of. He used his fingers to spread her, giving his tongue better access, and he licked upward to her clit before diving once more into her sweetness. Her sheath contracted around his tongue and he stilled. He was going to come.
He lifted his head away. Kneeling, he spread his knees apart and pulled her ass onto his thighs, her opening just touching his cock. Looking down at where they were about to join, he couldn’t quite believe he would fit inside her tiny body. He hesitated.
“Cole?”
“Hmm?” They had done this when they were younger, but would he hurt her now?
“Look at me.” Her raspy voice brought his gaze up to meet hers.
The need in her eyes fired his to the brink of his control. His love for this woman was deeper than the Grand Canyon. How could he have ever let her go?
“Now, Cole. I want you inside me now.” At her bossy tone, he grasped her hips, ready to plunge inside.
“Shit.” He pulled his pelvis back, too tempted to sink into her immediately.
“What?” Lacey’s voice was filled with impatience.
“I forgot protection.”
She looked up at the ceiling as if she counted to ten. When her gaze returned to his, it softened. “I’m on the Pill and I got tested this month, so I’m okay. How about you?”
He relaxed. Of course she was on the Pill. They’d only used condoms in high school because they were easy to obtain without their parents knowing. “I was tested last month. You are the first.”
“Thank the saints for small favors. Now can you please bury that handsome cock inside me before I explode?”