Songbird Caged
Page 37
He was breathing so roughly, but he met my eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you. Tell me if it hurts. I can take it out.”
I realised he was talking about the piercing, and I nodded. “I’m fine.”
He pulled out slowly then plunged back in, repeating the action over and over, all the while watching my face.
“It feels amazing,” I gasped, every movement sending delicious shudders through my body.
“You feel amazing,” he replied as he nuzzled into my neck.
He wrapped his arm under my lower back, lifting me to him, increasing the intensity and angle. He was absolutely unbelievable, and I was for once thankful for his past as I was now benefiting from it.
He rolled me over so I was perched astride his hips. His hands ran up my body to my breasts, squeezing gently before returning to my hips. He sat up, pulling me against him, and kissing me once more on the lips.
I pulled his head to my chest as he kissed me everywhere he could reach. Dropping my head back, I braced one hand on his knee so I could push harder against him. Every change in position and angle intensified the feeling, and I could feel myself getting close, but I wanted to wait for him.
“I’m … close … babe,” I managed to get out.
He rolled me back over so he was on top. His jaw was clenched as he groaned with every thrust.
My eyes were closed, but I heard him ask me to open them, and I did. I gazed up into the most piercing emerald-green eyes. His face was tense, and I could see he was so close.
“I want you right here with me,” he grunted out. “Just with me.”
My body couldn’t have stayed still even if I’d tried. I was matching him every step of the way as he pushed harder and faster into me. As my muscles squeezed tight around him he groaned, his eyes widening.
His body shuddered and he bit his lip hard, and I let go. I dug my nails into his shoulders as I felt a stray tear escape my eye. We felt our release together, our eyes locked the entire time.
“Oh, holy fuck,” he said, totally out of breath, as he dropped his head to my shoulder. I wrapped myself around him, and nuzzled my face into his chest.
We stayed that way until we had both managed to steady our breathing. When we could move, Cole rolled off me, pulling me onto my side so we were facing each other.
He was just laying there smiling at me, with a look of pure love written all over his face.
“I just want to look at you for a while. Make sure it’s really you. So many times I just closed my eyes, and fantasised I was with you.” He brushed the damp hair back off my face. “Then, when I opened my eyes, I felt like crying because it wasn’t real.”
“Close your eyes,” I told him.
He grinned, and closed one eye only.
“Close them both, no peaking.”
He reluctantly closed them both. “Okay, now what? Are you going to transform into a redhead?”
I giggled. “You can open them now.”
His eyes slowly opened. “You’re still here,” he said, almost surprised.
“Yes I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere. I can pinch you if you’d like.”
“You’re going to have to pinch me every day so I know it’s not a dream.”
I gave him a playful pinch on the butt. “Are you happy?”
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve also never been more scared. I finally have something to lose, someone I would fight to the death for. It’s exhilarating, and terrifying at the same time.
“But I never thought it was possible to feel like this about someone. All those soppy love songs are true; when you find ‘the one’, your whole world changes. The way you make me feel, Tara, I … I can’t explain it. As soon as I see you, I get this sense of calm wash over me because you’re close to me, but at the same time, I feel anything but calm. My heart starts racing, and I get this ache in the pit of my stomach with every step you take towards me.”
He tucked a stray curl behind my ear, then ran his fingers along my jaw. “I could just lay here and look at you for the rest of my life, and feel like the luckiest man in the world.”
He chuckled, embarrassed. “Look what you’ve done to me. I’ve gone soft.”
I laughed. “Babe, being soft is definitely not something I could ever accuse you of.”
He gave me a throaty laugh. “That’s right, make fun of the guy whose pants do a happy dance every time you walk in the room.”
We were both exhausted, so I rolled Cole over so I could cuddle up behind him for a change. I wanted to see his back tattoo again. I ran my fingers lightly along the new script.
“You realise you can never leave me now. I have your name etched into my skin.”
I remembered Riley’s tattoo of my name on his arm. It was a simple yet powerful declaration of his love for me. This was just as powerful. Cole had declared his feelings so beautifully. It was another big step for him, another show of commitment.
I thought about something Lou, the tattoo artist, had said to me when I had gone to get my first tattoo.
“Maybe I should take Lou up on his suggestion and get your name tattooed on my ass, after all,” I joked.
He chuckled. “Well, it is my ass now.”
THERE WAS a ding, and I swear I could hear something buzzing, but I was disorientated. Looking around at the burnt-out candles, the hardened wax drops down their sides, I rolled over. A wide smile spread across my face as I gazed down at the gorgeous naked man beside me, still sleeping peacefully.
I was just convincing myself that I’d been dreaming when I heard footsteps cross the tiled foyer.
Sitting up, I pulled the tangled quilt over my chest, giving Cole a firm nudge as I did. He was just in the process of pulling me back down to snuggle when an icy-cold voice destroyed the mood.
“Victor, what on earth is this?” his mother spat. “I thought I told you to end this.”
Cole sat up, running his hand through his hair. “Mum, what are you doing here? I told Phil we didn’t want to be disturbed.”
I was trying to hunker down as far as I could into the quilt with the hope that I would somehow become invisible. Being caught naked in bed with Cole by the Wicked Witch was definitely not on my bucket list.
There was noise in the kitchen, and I strained to see who else was here. It was Victor, Cole’s dad; he was putting coffee on with a sly smirk on his face.
He looked over, and I bit my lip coyly. He gave me a little wave and shook his head, the grin on his face so familiar. It was exactly the same as the one Cole wore often.
Mrs Michaels turned her perfectly groomed raised eyebrow at me. “This doesn’t concern you. You can go home.”
I smiled at her. “I am home. I live here, with Cole.” I was hoping that Cole would back me this time, and he didn’t disappoint.
He leaned over, and kissed my shoulder. “That’s right, Tara is home.” He pulled me into his side. “We live together.”
The corner of her lip curled up in a sneer. “Well, not for long.” She stepped forward, holding a folded piece of card out to Cole.
He took it from her and opened it, angling it so I could read it too. It was an engagement announcement and party invitation for Victor and Prue—the happy couple.
I tried to keep my poker face on, but Cole’s face dropped, then it turned angry.
“I can’t believe you’re still trying to go ahead with this, Mum,” he said, exasperated. “I’m not marrying Prue. I’m in love with Tara. When I do get married, it will be to Tara.”
“This,” she said pointing to me, “must come to an end, for the sake of our family name.”
Cole ripped the invitation in half and threw it on the floor. “No, Mum, this has to come to an end, for the sake of my happiness.”
I gave Cole a kiss, and a discreet squeeze on the leg. “I think I’d feel better having this discussion with clothes on,” I whispered, then kissed him again. “I’m so proud of you, babe.”
He managed
a half smile. “Can you grab me some jeans, please?”
Wrapping the quilt around me, I shuffled quickly up to the bedroom. I always had clothes at Cole’s so pulled on some jeans and a T-shirt, then found the same for Cole.
I was just about to head back to the living room when I noticed the red light on my phone flashing. I checked the missed calls. There were three last night from the same number, but no messages.
Oh well, if it was urgent they would leave a message or call back. I threw the phone down on the bed and was halfway to the door when it started ringing.
Turning, I pounced on it, just catching it before it went to voicemail again.
“Hello, Tara speaking,” I answered impatiently. I shouldn’t have answered it. I should be down in the living room, supporting Cole against the Ice Queen.
“Hello, is this Tara O’Connell?”
“Yes it is. Who am I speaking to, please?”
Come on, hurry up.
“I’m calling regarding Corporal Riley Hammond.”
My stomach dropped as I waited for the person to continue.
“General Conroy has specifically requested that you be kept up to date with any news, so I need to inform you that we have located Corporal Hammond.”
I dropped my head into my hand as the tears started to fall. They had finally found his body so he could be put to rest.
“Thank you for letting me know,” I sniffled. “Can you please arrange for his remains to be sent to Melbourne? I’ll cover any expenses.”
The voice was silent for a moment, and I was just about to repeat myself.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss O’Connell, there must be a misunderstanding. We’ve located Corporal Hammond.”
I was nodding. Yes, she’d already said that.
“He’s alive.”
Read other books by Lisa Edward
Join Tara on her journey as it concludes in …
(Book 3: Songbird trilogy)
Coming in Fall 2014
So here we are again, another book down and the support has been overwhelming.
To those of you who have gotten on board this journey with me, you make all the late nights worthwhile. Your love of my characters never ceases to amaze me … you girls rock!
A special thank-you to Monica and Mel, for being awesome sounding boards and never rolling your eyes, or telling me to pull up my big girl panties and get on with it.
Sali and Jenn, two of the best beta readers, all your comments are not only constructive but also make me laugh.
Lauren for your editing expertise and suggestions, and Emily, for all those tweaks that helped turn my manuscript into a polished book.
Last but not least, my family. Chris and Layla for understanding that sometimes I need to lock myself away. My parents for your ongoing support of this endeavour, and my sister and her family for being as excited about this path as I am.
All of you are the reason I do this and enjoy it so much.
Lisa Edward is the author of Songbird; book 1 in the Songbird trilogy, and the novella Duty of Care which is published in the Forbidden Fruits Anthology Volume II.
While Lisa Edward has called Melbourne Australia home for her entire life, she has lived and worked in England, and travelled through most parts of Europe and the United States. She loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and beautiful daughter, or curling up into the early hours of the morning with a great novel. By day, Lisa works in the analytical IT field, so relishes the opportunity to foster her creative side through writing. Her deep appreciation for literature was nurtured from a young age, being taught to respect books and get lost in their stories. She enjoys reading honest and realistic novels that are relatable, thought provoking and leave a lasting impression. She can’t write without music playing, using the emotions from different songs to invoke those of her characters. Lisa takes inspiration from her own life experiences, the people around her and those she has met in her travels.
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Other Books by Lisa Edward
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1 – Going Home
Chapter 2 – Missing You
Chapter 3 – The Proposition
Chapter 4 – The Showdown
Chapter 5 – Deals
Chapter 6 – The Curve Ball
Chapter 7 – Revelations
Chapter 8 – Financial Planning
Chapter 9 – Jellybean
Chapter 10 – You Win
Chapter 11 – Huge, Big Hairy Thing
Chapter 12 – Reds
Chapter 13 – Faith
Chapter 14 – Pops
Chapter 15 – The Walls Have Ears
Chapter 16 – Pool Rules
Chapter 17 – Food, Glorious Food
Chapter 18 – The ‘Not a Date’
Chapter 19 – Dirty Dancing
Chapter 20 – Where There’s Smoke
Chapter 21 – The Good Fight
Chapter 22 – Putting the Pieces Together
Chapter 23 – Change of Plans
Chapter 24 – Think of Me
Chapter 25 – Burlesque
Chapter 26 – Self Serve
Chapter 27 – Destination, Unknown
Chapter 28 – Tu sei sempre il moi vero amore
Chapter 29 – Letting Go
Chapter 30 – Payback
Chapter 31 – You Never Asked
Chapter 32 – The Ring In
Chapter 33 – Peanut
Chapter 34 – Another Elephant
Chapter 35 - Prue
Chapter 36 – The Phone Call
Chapter 37 – Goodbye My Love
Chapter 38 – Never Say Never
Chapter 39 - Strength
Chapter 40 - Victor
Chapter 41 – The Engagement
Chapter 42 – I Want You To Want Me
Chapter 43 – Unhappy Anniversary
Chapter 44 – Confessions
Chapter 45 – History Repeats
Chapter 46 – Words of Wisdom
Chapter 47 – Wipeout!
Chapter 48 – At Last
Chapter 49 – Happily Ever After?
Coming Soon
Acknowledgements
About the Author
About the Designer