Nurse to Forever Mom

by Susan Carlisle

  His mouth moved away from hers to leave kisses across her cheek. He stopped to nuzzle the dip behind her ear. She tensed then squirmed, giving him easier access. So she liked that. He flicked the tip of his tongue over the spot he’d just kissed and she quivered.

  Stacey, just as he’d suspected, was ultra-responsive. So vitally alive. He’d been dead for too long. This age-old rush of raw desire she sent through him made him feel alive once more. “Like that, do you?”

  “I like everything you do to me,” she murmured against his temple as her hands ran down his chest to his waist. She pulled his shirt from his pants and slipped her hands beneath. They set his skin on fire as they skimmed across his waist around to his back.

  His attention returned to her breasts. He filled his hand with one. Her nipple, pushing against the material of the dress, called to him. He had no intention of disappointing. His mouth covered it. Cody tantalized and teased as Stacey leaned toward him. He had to see her bare flesh, truly touch her.

  Giving her another lingering kiss, he whispered, “Let’s go upstairs.” It was more of a question than a statement. Cody still wasn’t sure she would agree. Stacey had kept him standing on an edge for days now and she might keep him there. What if she overthought what they were doing, like he had the other day? It might kill him to let her go, but he would if that’s what she wanted.

  “There isn’t anything that I’d rather do, but you must understand that I’m still leaving next Sunday. You know that, don’t you? I won’t change my mind.”

  His chest constricted. He didn’t want to think about that now. “I know. Let’s enjoy tonight and worry about later then.”

  Her lips met his before she took his hand and pulled him toward the door. “It just happens I know the way to your room.”

  Cody chuckled. “Yes, you do. You didn’t seem that eager to be there last time.”

  Even in the dim light he could make out her sassy look. “That was actually the problem last time, I was eager to be there.”

  Cody pulled her close and gave her a hot kiss that promised things to come.

  On their way through the kitchen he flipped the light switch off. Stacey tugged on him in her impatience, making him stumble. He couldn’t remember a time when a woman had been this ready for him. His ego soared, as his heart pounded with excitement against his ribs.

  At the stairs, he flipped the light on. Stacey took advantage of the pause to stand on the first step and helped him remove his sweater. She dropped it and took his hand again as they climbed further.

  She stopped again. This time she kissed him. As she did so her hands went to his belt, released it and tugged it free. She let it slip through her hands with a grin and started up once again. At the top, she confronted him once more. Cody caught her hands. “Two can play this game. It’s my turn.”

  Her eyes narrowed as she teased him with an enticing grin. “You think so?”

  His hands went to her shoulders and pushed her sweater off one of them. He placed a kiss on the soft skin he had exposed. It was as smooth as he had dreamed it would be. Stacey shivered. He continued to remove her sweater until her arms were bare. Starting at one shoulder, he kissed down her arm. He continued to love her until he’d sucked each one of her fingers. He then moved his attention to the other side.

  As he slowly released her last digit between his lips Cody glanced at Stacey to see that she had her head back, exposing her long neck. Her eyes were closed. Her breasts stood erect while her nipples peaked against her thin dress. She looked like a goddess in the throes of rapture. Kissing the curve of her neck, he promised himself he would make her look like that as often as he could. Her dazed look met his and he grabbed her hand, leading her into his bedroom. Enough of that game.

  In his bedroom, he left her alone beside the bed long enough to turn on the lamp on his desk. Stacey stood watching him with hooded eyes. He returned to her, bringing her into his arms and giving her a tender kiss as his fingertips lightly brushed the backs of her arms. She trembled. He’d never had a woman respond so profoundly to his touch.

  Her hands moved to the buttons of his shirt. She made slow, tantalizing work of removing a button from its hole. Her fingers were like the best-quality down as they traveled over the skin of his chest again and again. With each touch his manhood jerked. He watched her movements, the efficacy of her fingers and their length, despite her small hand. Even that simple action on her part filled him with awe.

  When the last button came undone she pushed his shirt wider over his chest and studied him with a small smile. The palms of her hands came to rest on his pectorals. She teased the hair there, before she leaned in and placed her lips over his heart.

  He pulled her face up and captured her mouth, unable to resist kissing her. His hands went to her hips and he gathered her dress up until he found her silken panties. Cupping her bottom, he squeezed gently, bringing her against his hard, hot length. Could anything be more perfect than the feel of Stacey against him?

  Finding the bottom edge of her panties, he slowly traced it around to the crevice of her legs. Slipping the tip of a finger under the elastic band, he brushed it over her skin, moving inexorably toward her center.

  Stacey trembled. He loved drawing a reaction from her. Widening her stance a fraction, she offered him access. Unable to resist, he ran his finger over her mound, then slowly slipped between her folds. She stilled, as if anticipating his next move. Cody had no intention of disappointing. He tightened his hold at her waist before his finger entered to find her center wet and waiting.

  Instantly Stacey released a held breath and pressed into his hand, moaning. He pulled away. She groaned in complaint.

  “Panties have to go.” He pulled them down to her knees. She kicked them off and he raised her dress again. He didn’t hesitate to cup her center. Stacey squirmed. Cody’s finger entered her again. Her hands gripped his shoulders while her head fell back as his finger pushed and pulled, teased and titillated her. Her gaze found his, held. Stacey’s green eyes were wide and misty with pleasure. His chest tightened with pride. Soon she shattered, and shivered, having found intense satisfaction.

  He held her as she leaned against him.

  “My, Doctor, you have magical hands,” she muttered against his chest.

  He chuckled low in his throat. “Thank you, but I have other parts that are just as magical. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  * * *

  Stacey, still weak in the knees and holding on to that feeling of floating away, pulled back and met his gaze. “Promises, promises.”

  Cody swept her off her feet and dropped her on the bed with a bounce. “That sassy mouth is going to get you into trouble one day. You’d better be careful who you tease.”

  She grinned. This Cody she could learn to love. No. She wouldn’t let that happen.

  He’d pulled her dress from beneath her and continued until he had it off over her head.

  Standing above her, he studied her. She lay bare to him except for her bra and sandals.

  Bringing a foot up, she unbuckled her shoe. Simmering desire sparkled in his dark eyes. It flared the glowing embers low inside her into roaring flames that only he could extinguish. She dropped the shoe to the floor and started on the other.

  Cody’s look flickered to what she was doing then slowly traveled over her. “You are so sexy. Even more so than I dreamed.”

  He’d been dreaming about her? Shoe discarded, her fingers moved to the clasp of her bra between her breasts.

  “Don’t. Let me.” He came down on one knee beside her. With a nimble flip he had her bra opened.

  At the hiss of his inhaled breath her body went on full alert. Did he actually like what he saw? She dismissed that insecurity when he cupped her naked breast, weighing and caressing it as if it was precious.

  “Perfect,” he breathed, before his lips claimed her nippl
e.

  Stacey involuntarily arched, offering him all.

  Cody’s tongue tugged, curled and enticed her nipple until her core became a tight fist of need. After a soft blow across her damp skin that only made it more sensitive, he moved to the other breast and cherished it in turn.

  Stacey feared she couldn’t take much more. A craving burned in her like a live thing.

  Cody’s lips found hers as his hands explored her body. She pushed at his shirt until there was nothing between them. They touched chest to chest, heated skin to heated skin. Breaking off the kiss, Cody came to a half-seated position and jerked his shirt the rest of the way off. When he returned to her, Stacey’s hand went to the front of his pants and caressed his solid ridge.

  The hot length of him bulged against his zipper. She freed the button from its hole. She had to touch all of his strength. Pushing at his pants, she murmured, “These have to go.”

  He rolled away and kicked off his loafers. While he did that she untangled her arms from her bra. Standing with his back to her, Cody dropped his pants.

  She’d never thought of herself as being a woman who admired a man’s backside but Cody’s was worth admiration. Rounded and firm, it was a perfect specimen above his thick muscled thighs. His was the type that could fill pants or hands just right. He turned, and she gasped. He was all glorious, gorgeous and generous male. Knowing he was hers for the night enhanced his masculine beauty.

  Stacey offered her hand. He took it and she drew him to her. He slowly sank over her until he completely covered her. His mouth found hers for a tender kiss that hinted at barely held restraint.

  Cody pulled back and looked at her, his fingers stroking her cheek. “You are the most amazing person I know.”

  His words flowed soft and sweet as water over rocks in a stream. Helplessly spellbound by his possessive gaze, she felt as though for once she stood out in a crowd. No one had ever said anything like that to her. She would cherish those words forever. She’d always dreamed of being special to someone.

  “I want you so bad I hurt with it,” Cody groaned.

  She slid her hand around the nape of his neck and brought his lips to hers. Nipping the bottom one, she licked the spot soothingly. “I want you too.”

  With a quick movement he rolled away from her. He opened his bedside table drawer, pulled out a small foil package and opened it. Seconds later he was covered and he returned to her. His hands tightened on her waist. He gave her a kiss that started out gentle until he increased the pressure. Meanwhile, his hand skimmed over her hip, following the line of her body to her thigh. He shifted to the side, his hard length pressed against her.

  Blood roared in her ears. She kneaded the muscles of his back with an impatience that made her breaths uneven. He ran his lips along the seam of her mouth with the tip of his tongue as his fingers tangled in her curls. She opened her mouth in welcome as did her legs. Every fiber of her femininity silently begged him to join her.

  Cody adjusted once more, bringing the tip of his manhood to her center. He nudged her begging heat but held in place. She flexed toward him.

  “Shh.” He softly kissed her as his palm brushed her nipple. “Easy. We have all night.” He prodded her entrance.

  She couldn’t bear it. Every nerve in her body was tight with anticipation. Stacey squeezed her eyes shut in order not to beg. Need twisted and throbbed within her.

  “Stacey.” Her name was a barely audible whisper coming from deep within him. “Open your eyes. I want you to know it’s me here with you.”

  “Like I could ever forget,” she moaned, but she opened her eyes.

  His intense gaze held hers without blinking as he deliberately, inch by precious slow inch, sheathed himself inside her to the hilt. He’d done it so gradually she feared she might die before he found home. Cody paused as if savoring the moment, her.

  No one had ever done that before. Others had been so quick that the act had been far more about them than her. Even her ex-fiancé hadn’t taken the time or made the effort to really make love to her. That should have been her first sign he hadn’t been right for her. There was more than sexual passion between her and Cody. They were making an emotional connection. That realization both excited and disturbed her.

  He leisurely arched his hips, pulling away until he almost left her before returning in the same excruciating motion. Stacey wanted to scream, Go faster! but at the same time his actions were so sweet she never wanted them to end. All the while Cody watched her, his dark eyes almost bottomless. His skin was drawn tight across his cheeks as if it took enormous effort to control himself.

  She ran her hands over his chest, shoulders and arms, testing and memorizing the texture of his skin and the muscle mass beneath it. Still he eased in and out of her, making her wiggle with frustration when she feared he might leave her. She bit her bottom lip as the knot of burning need grew. Lifting her hips, she silently pleaded for...what she wasn’t sure.

  Cody’s lips found hers as the tangle of need and want contracted. He increased the pace. She joined him, encouraging him. They participated in a game that was theirs alone. The knot at her center grew, expanded and throbbed. Grasping him, her fingers raked his skin. She cried for him to stop then begged for him to continue. Finally, the twisted white-hot need gave way. Quaking, she soared into heavenly oblivion, keening Cody’s name.

  He remained deep within her while she drifted back to reality. He kissed her on the forehead before he stirred again. He soon shifted into a driving rhythm. Confident she didn’t have it in her to catch up and match his pace, Stacey surprised herself. Wrapping her legs around Cody’s waist, she pulled him to her. In a frantic final shove, Cody groaned his pleasure long and low.

  He fell away from her. One of his hands remained at her waist and a leg was still thrown over hers.

  * * *

  Cody wasn’t new to lovemaking. For heaven’s sake, he’d been married, but he had never experienced anything as soul shaking as what he’d just shared with Stacey. He’d poured everything in him into the act and been rewarded with Stacey’s ego-affirming response. Would he live through another joining? And there would be another.

  When his breathing finally evened out, he rolled to his side, propped his head on an elbow and smiled down at her. He received a grin in return as she caressed his chest.

  “It’s nice to know you keep your promises.” A fingertip followed the line of his hair going south.

  “I told you not to doubt me.”

  “That you did.” Her hand drifted lower.

  Cody placed one of his over hers. “Don’t be teasing me. I’m not as young as I once was. You’ll have to give me a few minutes to recuperate.”

  Stacey pushed his shoulders to the bed and straddled him. Her lips wore a devious smile. “What if I do all the work?”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  STACEY WOKE TO the gray light of day. Rain lightly tapped against Cody’s large bedroom window and the sound of waves crashing were a faint reminder the ocean was near.

  “Good morning.” Cody’s deep raspy sleep-laden voice sent a ripple of desire through her. Could she ever get enough of him?

  She turned so she could see his face and smiled. “Good morning to you too.” It seemed as if it had come quickly. After their night together she was exhausted, while at the same time invigorated. Her nerves still quivered with awareness of the sexy man beside her.

  Cody shifted so that her head rested in the hollow of his shoulder. They were quiet. She watched the rain. When she’d come to Maple Island she would never have thought a morning like this was possible. She’d never felt more complete than when she was with Cody, but that would be over soon. Too soon. Mentally shaking her head, Stacey pushed that thought away. She refused to let anything ruin this moment.

  She moved until she was lying over Cody’s chest. She cupped his sexy stubbled cheek and kissed him t
enderly. “Thanks for last night.” She grinned. “The middle of the night and early this morning.”

  “My pleasure. Anytime.” His kiss wasn’t the frenzied type of the night before; instead it was passionate, as if he wanted to tell her something he couldn’t voice.

  They both drifted off to sleep again in each other’s arms.

  The next time Stacey woke it was to Cody fondling her breast. Instantly desire shot through her. It was still gloomy outside but warm and cozy next to Cody.

  He rolled over her, his lips finding hers. “Mmm...this is a nice way to start a day.”

  She brushed a finger along his extended manhood.

  “Woman, you’re going to kill me.”

  Sometime later they made their way to the bathroom for a shower. It turned into a long one, with her washing him then him her. Before they knew it the water had turned cold.

  Stacey kissed his chest as they dried each other off. “We’d better get going or we’re going to be late for work. My boss is a demanding one.”

  Cody grabbed her butt and pulled her against him, giving her a deep erotic kiss. “You bet he is, but why don’t you ask him if you can come in late today?”

  One thing she had learned about Cody was that he was super-dedicated to his job. He was never late and didn’t miss any time. She looked at him with disbelief. “You actually want to play hooky for a few hours?”

  “I do. I don’t have any surgery scheduled this morning and only paperwork to look forward to. I thought maybe we could have a leisurely breakfast here or at the bakery.”

  Stacey looked at him askance. “So what you’re saying is that spending time with me is preferable to doing paperwork?”

  He stopped her hand from toweling off his chest and looked at her. “Something like that. But the real truth is that I just want more time with you.”

  “What’s happened to the Cody I know?”

  “Possibly you.” His words whispered across her shoulder as he turned her and dried her back.