CHAPTER EIGHT
Cody was getting worried. The more he found out about Cat, the more he liked her. And the more he liked her, the more his heart raced toward heart attack levels. Possibly a stroke. Throw in that tight-ass silky blue dress she was wearing that matched her eyes and he was starting to think he should have updated his will before picking her up.
So far, he’d fought back the very real urge to kiss her all night. Their chemistry was never in question. It was everything else he was unsure of. From the moment they’d met, they’d fought. He’d desperately needed to have an actual conversation or two with the woman if he had any chance of getting his brain caught up to where his body was at.
Thankfully, she hadn’t disappointed. He already knew she was funny, but now he also knew other things. Important things. Like how passionate she was about her job. How much she adored her family. Verbal confirmation she absolutely loved Libby. And why she had a thing for cats. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t because of her name.
All this was good and bad. Good because his physical and emotional attraction had now evened out a little, making him feel less like a sex-crazed horndog who’d been thinking with something other than his brain and more like a grown man who thoroughly enjoyed the company of such an amazing woman. But it was also bad. Mainly because after just one date, he felt more for her than he probably should. More than was probably healthy. And that was scary as hell.
As he helped Cat into his truck, he kept hold of her hand as she took her seat. “Come back to my place tonight?”
Yes, it was a bold thing to ask. And yes, technically it was only their first date. But they’d already skipped over a few steps. And the idea of having to wait to touch her again, especially after the night they’d had, was not computing.
She didn’t slap him, so that was a good sign. She also didn’t look surprised or taken back. Another tick. What she did do was consider him for a moment. Biting down on that sexy, plump lower lip of hers.
When she finally replied, her voice had that throaty husk to it. A voice sensual enough to drive a man to the brink of insanity. “What about Dylan?”
He loved that his son was a consideration. If it was possible, it only made him want her more. “He’s over at my folks tonight.”
“Oh.”
That was about the time he realized what that sounded like. Pre-meditated. He was quick to correct that line of thinking. “Not because of this. I swear.” She didn’t look convinced yet, so he continued. “He’s round there every Wednesday night. They pick him up after soccer practice, feed him and then take him to school the next day. Mostly ‘cause I normally work late on Wednesday. That and my parents want to make sure they get their weekly fix. I didn’t plan it ‘cause I was expecting something to happen...if that’s what you’re thinking.”
He really hadn’t. Before he picked her up, he’d even told himself he wasn’t going to sleep with her tonight. That he needed to get to know her better before they went there again. But he hadn’t planned to feel like this. And now all he wanted was to touch her again. Even if it was just to hold her.
“Okay,” she replied, a tiny bit of caution still visible behind the fire in her eyes.
“Okay? Okay you believe me or okay you’ll come over?”
Her smile was back. “Both,” she simply stated.
He wasn’t ready to stop looking at her or touching her yet. He held her gaze a little longer and squeezed her hand a few more times before he dragged himself away. Once he’d rounded the truck and buckled himself in next to her, adrenaline started to spike his blood. Goddamn. He was one lucky son-of-a-bitch.
***
The grand tour of his place didn’t take long. It was on the small side. One day, he hoped to find a piece of land and build on it, but time hadn’t been on his side. Life had always got in the way. Work. Parenting. Some more work. Topped off with good old-fashioned parental guilt.
Taking her straight upstairs felt kind of wrong, so here they were, in the living room, standing next to his ancient leather couch, both looking as awkward as he felt.
“Uh, do you want a coffee or something?”
Original.
“Or something?” Cat playfully lifted an eyebrow.
“Bad at this. Remember?” He reminded her.
“Just as bad. Remember?” she countered.
“Fuck it.” Cody took a step forward into her space and did what he had wanted to do from the moment he’d laid eyes on her tonight: kissed the ever-loving hell out of her.
Fire rose in his belly as he took her mouth like a crazed animal. His hands didn’t leave her face, his thumbs caressing her cheeks as he angled her just the way he wanted her. His tongue ploughed while the rest of his mouth teased. She tasted like wine and chocolate. Sounded just as crazed as him. And smelt like fresh oranges.
Unbelievably, the kiss turned even more urgent as she wrapped her arms around his neck. And he was a goner. In that second, his knees bent, his hands moved to her ass and she was off the ground. Once he’d helped fold her bare legs around him, he reluctantly released her lips.
“I’m making an executive decision, kitten.”
“Sounds serious.” His eyes followed her lips as they quirked up to the side, causing his own to follow suit.
“It is. Very serious. I’m pretty certain I would fail in my hosting duties if I don’t give you a thorough tour of upstairs. More specifically, my bedroom.”
She didn’t miss a beat. “Come to think of it, I have heard that the hosting board of Woodvalley Pines are a tough crowd.”
“The toughest.”, he agreed with a grin.
“You better get to it then. I wouldn’t want you getting into trouble.”
Their playful teasing may have brought a smile to both their faces, but it did nothing to cut through the sexual tension. Cody’s heavy breaths were only getting heavier. He needed to get her upstairs before something exploded. Threatening to light the fuse, Cat's tongue playfully traced his ear, sending shivers right through him and making it really fucking hard to concentrate on walking. Which is what he was trying to do as he made his way back to the hallway and climbed the stairs.
Not much further.
Once they’d finally made it to his room, he placed her straight onto the bed. Following her down, he put all his weight on one hand while his knuckles on the other dragged over her cheek and down the nape of her neck.
Staring down at the goddess before him, his throat felt tight. Raw. But he pushed out words anyway. “Tonight, I want to make good on that promise and hold this beautiful body of yours all night long. That okay with you?”
“That depends,” she whispered, their mouths close, her lips brushing his as she spoke.
“On?”
“What do I get out of it?” He felt her lips curve up against his.
“What do you want, kitten?”
“I have some ideas...the kind that are better if I show you.”
Her delicate fingers began unclasping his belt. Slowly. Warm air fanned his chin as her breathing picked up. But each move she made remained measured. His button was next and then his zip. He stayed still. Hovering above her as she wrenched the black cotton pants and boxers down.
Lifting her legs, she wrapped them around his waist again and tugged. Then she wriggled and readjusted until he was at her center. To which he responded with the most feral growl that had ever ripped right through him.
“I miss the feel of you inside me.” If she carried on like this, he was going to blow. “Take me, Cody. Take me hard. I want to feel you all week.”
Fuck. Me.
This woman was made for him. Custom built. A fucking goddess. One he was about to devour. And then go back for seconds.
***
Cody’s deep and extremely well-earned rest was interrupted at around four. At first, he thought Cat was just fidgeting again. She’d done a lot of that before she’d finally fallen asleep in his arms. This time though, the change in her breathing was what alerted him to the fact something was wrong. That and the trembling.
“Sweetheart?” He moved the hair out of her face, hoping to get a look at her. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
A shake of her head flicked the hair back over her cheeks.
Carefully, he manoeuvred them until they were on their sides. Still close, but he needed to see her. After rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he began assessing. And it didn’t take long for it to click.
Shortness of breath, trembling, beautiful eyes squeezed shut with tears dampening her cheeks. Cat was having a panic attack.
“It’s okay, kitten.” His big hand surrounded one side of her face as he tilted it toward him. “Breathe with me, okay? In...and out. That’s it, sweetheart, you’re doing so well. And again, in...that’s it...and out. Good girl. One more time. Do it with me. Deep breath in...and out.”
He continued to breathe with her, encouraging every deep breath that she took. After a while, the tears subsided. And slowly, he could see her fighting to come back to him.
“That’s it, sweetheart. I’m right here. Come back to me. You’ve got this.”
Her chest was no longer heaving and she’d stopped trembling. But those big blues were wide with worry. And that broke his heart. Instead of holding his gaze, she buried her head back into his chest. He used the opportunity to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight.
“You’re okay.” His lips pressed kisses to the top of her head. “I’ve got you.” More kisses. “Everything’s going to be alright.”
God knows how long they stayed like that. But he didn’t let go. Didn’t push her to talk. Just held her. Her eyes had already told him everything he needed to know.