Chapter 12
First things first, Cole dug out the sheriff’s card, called and told him everything that had happened since they’d seen him the night before.
Once the door was installed tomorrow, the alarms would be activated and the cameras set to record.
He’d also downloaded a link so he and Maeve could both view the camera at any time on their cell phones.
Maeve kept herself busy in the kitchen with dinner and by the time Cole finished his conversation, Maeve had set the table.
While they ate, Cole rehashed what he’d gone over with the sheriff.
“Do they have any idea yet who did this or why?”
Cole shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. There were no prints left behind on anything. Guess they were smart enough to leave their gloves on while they did whatever they did. Without fingerprints or any security tapes, they have no way to track anything. I only wish someone else along the strip had a camera on the outside, but I already looked.”
“The alley is so dark; would it have picked up anything anyway? I don’t want anybody to break in again but maybe now with our cameras recording, we’ll catch something if they do.”
“My thoughts exactly Maeve. Dinner was great by the way.” Cole rose to clear the table before she could get a chance.
“Don’t bother, the dishes will wait til tomorrow, I’m just wore out tonight. I’ll get you some fresh sheets and a blanket for the couch.” Maeve went straight to the linen closet in the hall. She caught Cole staring at her with a grin. She blushed.
“I suppose I shouldn’t have assumed you’d be staying again tonight. I’m sorry.”
Cole rushed to her before she could shut the door.
“No, you were right to assume. I won’t leave you alone til all this is done.
I do have to go to work tomorrow though so I’ll be getting up pretty early.
I’ll only be a phone call away if you need anything, unless I’m at a fire of course but I’ll leave my buddy Kamryn’s number on the counter. He’s off tomorrow.”
She was extremely grateful and relieved to have him for another night. As she reached for the bedding, she hesitated and couldn’t help but feel like she’d rather have him next to her in her bed instead of the couch but maybe it was too early for that. She was so bad at that kind of stuff.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you to sleep on the couch.”
“No? I could just go home.” Maeve shook her head adamantly.
“I was thinking that maybe you could sleep with me instead, I have a big bed.” She’d left the sheets on the shelf and shut the closet door but was afraid to look at him.
“Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, I don’t want to be alone.”
Cole turned her to face him, his arms sliding over her shoulders to caress her in a loose embrace.
“So, let me get this straight. You want me to sleep in your bed with you?” She nodded.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“I definitely am. The truth is you make me feel safe. If you’d feel better about it, I can sleep under the sheet and you on top and we can put up a pillow divider between us, so I don’t touch you.”
“Oh, believe me Maeve, the last thing I was worried about was you touching me. I’m more concerned what I might not be able to stop myself from doing if I were laying that close to you. And I doubt a row of pillows would be much of a deterrent.” He always knew what to say to embarrass her.
“All I can promise is to be a gentleman as much as is humanly possible.”
The delight she saw in Cole’s beautiful eyes had her cheeks burning an autumn red. He lowered his lips to hers, firing every nerve ending she had in her entire body. She was helpless but to kiss him back and when they finally broke apart a few moments later, both were breathing hard.
“I swear much more of that, and I won’t be able to control myself at all.” Cole took a deep breath and moved away just a step.
Maeve understood. The feelings Cole had awakened inside of her weren’t at all familiar. There was a little unease bubbling inside at how quickly whatever they had going on between them had developed after only a few days. She’d been infatuated for a long while, however.
“We better get some sleep, don’t you think?” She didn’t really want that at all, but she’d panicked.
“Yes, sleep. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
***
Who was he kidding, sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. He wanted to rip the clothes off her body and take her ten ways from Sunday. But would she want that? The way she just kissed him said she wasn’t as shy as he thought. But she was skittish, and he should take things slow.
Watching her walk down the hallway toward her bedroom stirred his southern region. Lying next to her and not touching her was probably going to be the hardest thing he’d have to do yet. He flipped the lights off in the hall and followed her.
“I can set my alarm if you’d like. What time do you have to get up?” He walked up behind Maeve, rubbing her shoulders lightly.
“No, you need your sleep. I have an alarm on my watch but my internal clock normally wakes me up same time every damn day anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive, but thanks anyway. You have to be exhausted after the last few days. I go in really early so by the time you get up and around, I might just be back. That is, if it’s okay to come back here?”
“Of course, it is. I’m a little embarrassed to say I was hoping you’d want to stay.”
“No need to be embarrassed. I do want to be here with you.” He left a trail of kisses along the nape of her neck and down the side of her throat where her pulse beat erratically.
His hands roamed down her arms and around her waist, pushing his fingers under her shirt to rub softly across her stomach.
He was surprised at how responsive she was when she arched back against him, not stopping him from touching.
Good thing too because he couldn’t keep his hands off her.
“I want you so much Maeve, is this okay?” She nodded.
Her hands reached behind her to his legs, wandering up and down the fabric, hesitated near the growing bulge in his pants, then found the top button and undid it.
She then set to undo the others in his button fly jeans.
As if she were trying not to touch any vital parts, she carefully pushed his pants down over his hips before he turned her to face him.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing? We could take it slow?”
“I don’t want to take it slow Cole, I want you now.” She kissed him with force, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth before letting go.
His cock jumped in response, and he pushed her shirt up and over her head.
He’d never heard sweeter words. She desired him as much as he craved her.
He maneuvered his arms around her to unfasten her silk bra.
Black? Good lord. Her face softened as the straps fell from her shoulders and he pulled the cups from her breasts to reveal perfect taut nipples, begging to be sucked.
He moved his head toward his target, but her hands stopped him. She knelt in front of him, slowing tugging his boxer briefs down to his ankles and enveloped his length into her warm mouth.
“Oh, my god, Maeve.” She worked a rhythmic motion back and forth a couple times, but it was his turn to stop her.
“Please Maeve, you need to stop.” She gave him a worried look, standing back up in front of him.
“Oh no, that was great, believe me, but it feels too good, I don’t have that much control. Maybe we can do that later?” She smiled.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
“Trust me, I know the feeling.” He couldn’t say it enough how beautiful she was when she blushed.
“I didn’t think about protection either, I don’t have anything like that here, other than the birth control I’m currently on.”
“No worries, I hope you don’t think I’m overzealous, but I do have one in my wallet.” When she raised her brows, he gave the only explanation he could.
“It’s a guy thing, I guess. I just hope it’s not too old.”
“We can give it a try.”
“Yeah?” Sweet! He didn’t need to be told twice.
He ripped off his shirt and grabbed his wallet from the jeans he’d kicked across the room after she’d pulled them down.
That memory made him shudder. He held up the little blue package in front of him and smiled at her.
Poor girl, she was naked from the waste up. He needed to fix that quickly.