Hard to Hold (The Hold series Book 2)
Page 30
“Excuse me?”
“My name is Rose. Rose Bloomer. I just thought you should know . . .”
I stand immobile while Cole undoes my bra with one flick of his very talented fingers and take my nipple into his mouth.
“Nice to meet you, Rose. Rose Bloomer.” His dimple pops out at me.
Wait for it. And there it is. His face contorts as he tries to refrain from laughing. He loses the battle.
“My mother had an ironic sense of humor.”
He grins at me. “Perhaps she was a frustrated florist? I like your name. Rose Bloomer. It suits you.”
My name never sounded so decadent. Cole kisses me again. This time, his hands travel to my butt and he brings me flush against his hard body. Very hard. Everywhere.
Not breaking our contact, he turns us both and leads the way to the sofa. He undoes the zipper at the back of my skirt, and it joins the rest of my clothes on the floor, leaving me only in my thong and sky-high heels.
“Sexy,” he whispers in my ear. “Leave the shoes on.”
When he lightly pushes on my shoulders, I sit on the sofa. Cole, still in all of his clothes, follows me down. Time to get my hands on his hot flesh. I undo the buttons of his shirt and toss it to the floor. Now, I’m face-to-chest with his six-pack.
I whisper, “You’re ripped. I didn’t know. Wow.”
“For you, darlin.’”
Cole’s eyes, now lust-fueled, scan my body possessively until they land on my birthmark. “What is this? A tattoo?” His tongue traces the beauty mark at my hip.
His breath tantalizes my core, which is yearning for the same attention. “Birthmark,” I manage.
“It looks like a flower. How perfect for you, Rose.”
He pulls my thong down my thankfully shaved legs and throws it to the floor. His tongue pushes between my legs. He’s beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. And now his fingers join this one-person party, playing my body like his guitar. My body responds to his expert attention. He blows on my sex, then licks my clit. Oh my.
He demands, “Come for me.”
His tongue and fingers stroke me harder. The tingling starts at my toes, then moves throughout my body until I clench around his fingers. I scream as my orgasm overtakes me.
As I float back to earth, I watch Cole strip the jeans off his perfect body. He’s commando. Will he fit inside me? If he doesn’t, what a way to go. Sucking in my breath, I grab his head and frantically pull it down to mine. My lips, tongue and teeth devour the amazing man above me. My body celebrates when our naked bodies finally come into full contact. Cole moans in appreciation. I made him moan. Yes!
He moves from kneading my breasts down to kneading my butt. I have to touch him or I’ll die. I wrap my hand around his magnificent erection and move up and down. Does he like it? His hips thrust forward, which I take as a yes.
I writhe under him, repeating one word, “Cole.”
“Do you want me, darlin’?”
“Cole. Oh God, Cole.”
He grabs a condom from nowhere and rolls it down on his hard, huge length. A sheen of perspiration coats his handsome face.
He lines us up and thrusts all the way inside me. “Yes, darlin’,” he breathes into my ear.
After a few seconds, he pumps into me. The shock of his size dissipates, leaving only pleasure in its wake. My back arches as he pulls back slowly, then pushes forward. Over and over. I’ve never felt anything so amazing. He’s amazing.
Cole rolls us over so that I’m on top. I put one heel on the floor to maintain balance and look down at the hot man beneath me. He must sense that I’m a bit unsure because he puts his hands on my hips, guiding our rhythm. My mind goes blank as I revel in riding him. When he strokes my clit, I come immediately and loudly. He pumps twice more, then stills and groans louder than me. He even groans in tune.
I remain on top of him, enjoying the aftermath of our cataclysmic union for a few minutes, until he pulls out of my body. Lightly smacking my butt, he opens a door I hadn’t noticed before and disappears into what must be a bathroom.
The enormity of what I just experienced with Cole Manchester washes over me. My body has been forever marked by him. Hopefully, I left a small mark on his soul. Yeah, right.
I better leave before he thinks I’m a needy mistake. Quickly, I put on my thong, skirt and bra. Looking around, I locate my shirt. As I’m slipping it over my head, the bathroom door opens.
Cole walks into the room wearing nothing but a big smile. “Now who’s underdressed for this party?”
“Cole, that was . . . wow. No words.”
“I had a great time too, darlin’.”
I reach up and trace his dimple and bring his head in for a final kiss. With my hand on the door knob, I say, “I’ll never forget tonight, Cole.” I never will.
His hand snakes around my waist and he turns me to his naked body. He gives me one last, long, passionate kiss.
Releasing me, he says, “It was a very good night, Rose Bloomer with the flower birthmark.”
I want to thank so many people for their encouragement and help along my first journey into the publishing world.
First, to my critique partners, Noella Phillips and Michelle Bond. These amazing ladies tirelessly shared their insights, suggestions and time. This book—and series—is so much better for their wonderful advice and support. Without them, these books never would have left my laptop.
A great big thank you goes out to my professional team! My amazing editor Angela Polidoro of Polidoro Editorial Services is simply the best. My exceptional proofreader Jen Leisenheimer of Beyond the Pages Editing cleaned up my manuscript with ease. My absolutely fantastic formatter Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs made these pages look amazing. And last, but certainly not least, my cover designer Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs created the perfect cover that still takes my breath away.
My betas – Maria Dema and Freddie Bonaire. You have calmed me down, given wonderful advice and loved Cole and Rose throughout it all. I am honored that you shared your valuable time with my manuscript.
Thanks to Dr. Marco Ferrucci for being such a good sport about inspiring “Marco.” You truly are one of the good ones. I also want to thank Wendy Hamlin for helping me figure out exactly what Starr was up to!
Huge thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my journey, especially rocker Greg Merkle, Rekha Dave, Candice Benson, Frances Rosa, WT, Chip Cavill, Carrie Sutton, Sarah Robson, Renita van Dam-Jacobi, Lee Thomas, Lilly Wilde, Nancy Herkness, Judy Kentrus and all of the wonderful authors in the NJ chapter of Romance Writers of America.
To all the ladies of the Playroom. You mean more to me than words can express.
And, finally, a great big shout out to my mother, family and very supportive friends, especially to the ladies of my walking group – Maddy, Anita, Judi, Shari, Carol and Kathleen.
As always, much love to my #1 fan, my husband.
To everyone who picks up this novel, I hope you fall in love with Cole and Rose. And if you do, please share with your friends and write a review.
For as long as Arell Rivers can remember, she has been lost in a book. During her senior year in college, she picked up a Danielle Steele novel … and instantly was hooked on romance.
Arell started writing her first novel because the characters were screaming at her to do so. The story started coming out in her dreams and attacking her in the shower, so she took to the computer to shut them up. But they kept talking.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Arell has what some may call a “checkered past.” Prior to discovering her passion for writing romance, she practiced law, was a wedding and event planner and even dabbled in marketing. Arell lives with a very supportive husband and two mischievous cats. When not in her writing cave, Arell is found making dinner in the crock pot, working out with Shaun T or hitting the beach.
Arell is a member of the New Jersey chapter of Romance Writers of America.
Want to keep up to date w
ith Arell? Sign up for her newsletter at
http://bit.ly/ArellRiversSignup.
Also connect with her via
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ArellRivers
Twitter: @ArellRivers
Website: www.ArellRivers.com
Email: Arell@ArellRivers.com
No One to Hold (Book #1 in The Hold series)
To Have and To Hold (Book #3 in The Hold series)