Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
SIERRA
I stir my coffee as I watch Cole go through a large duffel bag.
The delicious aroma of good brew fills the air. Sitting in the kitchen with him in companionable silence makes it even better.
A girl could get used to winter mornings like this. Just the two of us.
Warmth drifts through me, lingering around my heart. As I watch Cole with his head bent, concentrating on the task, I realize I could stay here forever.
But I feel a storm on the horizon. Hard times are coming.
Don’t they always show up?
I just don’t know what direction the storm is coming from. It’s a tug at the pit of my stomach. But right now as my fingers tingle with the urge to touch his shower-dampened hair, I’m going to ignore that tug.
“You make great coffee,” I say through a smile as I lift the mug again.
“You make great breakfast.” There’s a mischievous spark in his gaze.
The coffee suddenly makes me very hot.
Okay, not the coffee. The memory of Cole’s very talented mouth in some sensitive places.
“Coffee isn’t the only thing you do well.”
He chuckles as he holds up a weird-looking piece of equipment.
“What’s that?”
“Night vision.”
“Sounds fun. Can we play with it?”
This time, the gaze he throws my way is downright destructive. My panties are the victim of a flood of creamy moisture.
“I’m willing to do anything with you,” he says as he watches my face turn red.
Uh hum. I need to change the subject. He’s working. “It was nice of Marshall to bring that gear by.”
“He wanted me to check everything out before we go into the field.”
I stretch and yawn. Raising my arms above my head makes my muscles protest. My body is deliciously sore. It would be even more so, but Cole cut me off at two orgasms last night and one today.
He glances my way as he puts the night vision equipment back into its case. “You feeling okay?”
I snuggle deeper into his flannel shirt, brushing my jaw against the collar. “I’m perfect.”
Things differ vastly from the last time I was in this kitchen. It is amazing how much things can change in twelve hours.
There are still many unanswered questions, but a night wrapped in his arms was a balm to my chaotic mind.
He holds my gaze for a second before he shakes his head, grins, and goes back to his work.
“What?” I ask.
“Just like seeing you in my shirt. In my kitchen.”
“Oh, really?” I tease.
“Suits you.”
Yes, it does. I grin and my heart squeezes as I sip from my mug.
Cole meticulously inspects all the gear in the duffel bag. He tries on everything. Checks the seams, the velcro, the gear loops. Inch by inch. Nothing escapes his attention.
His care with detail speaks volumes about how serious he is about his work.
“What’s all the body armor for?”
“Tactical rescues and protective detail work. Marshall’s company just started a high stakes hostage rescue team and I’m the newest member.”
“Is that what you did in the Air Force?”
His eyes fall back to the thick, black tactical vest in his hands. “Yes, that and other things.”
Something about the tone of his voice bothers me. But I can’t put my finger on what I’m feeling exactly. Since that day in the hospital, I’ve caught glimpses of the ghosts behind his eyes.
But he’s been careful to keep them locked away.
After inspecting his gear, Cole cleans his pistols. Again, he works with the precision of a highly trained military man. I watch until the silence makes me itchy.
Something about the gun stirs my unease.
I could use some air and a walk. “Mind if I go outside? I’m getting cabin fever.”
His eyes rise to mine and I know he’s searching for answers in my body language. “Of course. Just be careful not to fall.”
“Always worrying over me,” I say as I grin cheekily at him. “Aye, aye, General, I’ll be careful. Can I wear one of your coats? I don’t think mine will be up to the task.”
He rises from the table, and I follow him to the coat closet in the mudroom. “It’s Master Sergeant, by the way. Not General.”
“Very well then, Master Sergeant.”
“This should do the job.” He holds a puffy dark blue parka open so I can slip my arms in. The big coat smells like him, and my skin tingles in response. When he steps around to zip me up, he leans down and brushes his lips over mine.
I sigh. He deepens the kiss. Taking his time, Cole slowly drinks from me.
The kiss is so tender; it unfurls something glowing and warm inside of my chest. Everything feels new. Like I’m tasting sunshine for the first time.
I’m fascinated. How can a man so big and hard be so gentle? Cole defies all of my logic.
He angles his head and takes the kiss to the melting point, and my heart jolts like an arrow has struck it.
God, can I fall any harder?
But his eyes are so serious when he steps back. The rapid change causes confusion to take seed in my gut.
“I’ll join you in a few minutes, okay? I just want to finish up what I was working on.”
I nod as he steps back. My knees are rubbery and my insides are glowing warm and bright, even though I can’t read his expression. “I’d like that.”
Cold air and bright light sting my eyes when I walk into the winter wonderland. The breeze is a slap to the face that snaps me back to my senses.
Heavy pillows of white weigh down the trees. The snow comes far above my boots. The flakes cling to my jeans like tiny white hitchhikers.
Everything is pristine, and the air is so quiet.
It’s magical. And unfamiliar.
It all feels so new. Which makes me wonder what my life was like before.
Did I ever frolic in the snow as a kid? Have I ever spent a weekend tucked away in a cabin in the winter with layers of snow piled up outside?
Turning my face up to catch the cold flakes, I try to still my mind and feel the memories instead of searching like I’m digging in an old library.
Nothing surfaces.
But the snow feels delicious.
Whap!
A shower of snow explodes all around me. I first look up, expecting to see a tree branch overhead that’s lost its pile of snow. But the sky is wide open above me.
I whirl around to find Cole smirking.
“Gotcha.”
“You devil!” I scoop up a handful of snow and prepare for battle.
“Good luck, babe.” He pelts me with another snowball before I can even launch my first one.
But something’s wrong. The snow doesn’t stick together well, or I’m doing something wrong. No fair! My only option is to take off for the trees. I need somewhere to hide.
But he’s fast, and my boots suck. I’m sliding all over the place as I scurry across the yard. He pelts me with three more hits that burst into white powder puffs.
I take aim with my only snowball and manage to hit his shoulder. “Take that!”
But before I can duck, he hits me right in the boob.
“Hey! Watch it, buddy, those are delicate.”
He raises a brow. A devilish smile turns up his irresistible lips. “And delicious.”
I take advantage of the distraction and hit him with a double-decker snowball, right in the crotch.
“That’s a low blow.” Obviously, it doesn’t faze him because he’s gathering more snow for the battle.
I’m laughing and running again. Until I tumble to the ground in a puff of white flakes. Snow goes down my coat. Up my sleeves. In my mouth.
God, it feels good. Tears sting my eyes from my laughter.
Free. I feel so free.
Cole moves to stand over me. His eyes are lit with happiness as he lowers to his hands and knees, pinning me to the ground below him.
He brushes at the melting snow on my cheek as he searches my eyes. “I love seeing you happy.”
“I am. It’s so silly. I know things are chaotic, but I am really happy right now.”
His smile falls away as his eyes move slowly over my face. “I am too.”
I slip off the gloves I found in his coat pocket and press my palm to his cheek. “Then why are your eyes so sad?”
After a sigh, he says, “Because I wish it was this simple.”
I blow at the flakes that are landing on my lashes. “Can’t it be?”
He kisses me then, as if he’s done talking. Things get hot and soon the snow isn’t the only thing that’s melting.
Time floats away. Snow forms a layer over us as we forget the world… even if it’s only for now.
When Cole drags me to my feet, I protest. “Hey, I was enjoying myself…” But I stop talking when I see him looking at the tree line with alert eyes.
“Is everything okay?”
“I heard something. I need you to go inside.”
The whip-crack tone of his voice leaves no room for discussion.