Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
COLE
I’m still worried.
Sierra leans her shoulder against me and curls her feet beneath her on the couch. I tuck her in and pull the gray and red plaid throw blanket over her.
I can’t stop myself from pressing my nose into her hair. Drawing in the tasty smell of sweet cocoa and the fresh scent of evergreen sap that lingers on her.
She twines her fingers with mine. The heat from her touch filters up my arm and lodges firmly in the middle of my chest. Like a candle flame.
In a soft voice, she says, “The tree looks amazing.”
Pulling my eyes from our locked hands, I focus on our tree. We’re cast in the warm glow of Christmas lights that twinkle like stars in the darkened living room.
It’s romantic as all get out. And the tree looks like we are pros.
You’d have thought we’d been doing this for years if you didn’t know the real story. “It’s pretty damn good.”
“I think it gets a ten.”
I chuckle. “So does your cocoa. And the appetizers you made are a close second.”
The tree might be good—the food and drink might be amazing—but having her curled against me is even better.
If only I could bottle this moment up and save it forever.
And ignore the gnawing feeling in my gut.
I press my lips to the cusp of her ear. “Hey, I have something for you.”
“Really? What would you have for me… let me guess. Is it inside those Levis?”
I laugh more deeply. “Actually, it is.”
She groans. “I knew that’s what it was. You’re predictable.”
Reaching into my pocket, I wrap my fingers around the silver bracelet. “Am I?”
I fold the gift I gave her months ago into her hand. “You might not remember this, but I gave it to you. I saw it at your apartment when we were getting your things.”
She blinks, and a flurry of emotions crosses her face. Her eyes rise to mine, and in a soft voice, she says, “It’s beautiful. I love it.”
My throat feels too tight when I try to speak. “Let me put it on for you. I got you a new phone too.”
The tiny clasp is hard to work with my broad fingertips, but I manage to hook it, the way I did that night, long ago.
She sighs happily and leans against me again.
My gut twists into a knot. Foreboding is a bitch to swallow.
That and guilt for not being straight up with Sierra about our rocky past.
I’m a selfish bastard.
It feels like the sand is slipping out of our hourglass and the bottom’s going to drop out any minute.
Am I an ass for letting this farce go as far as it has?
Sierra rubs a hand across the fine hairs on my forearm. Traces her fingers slowly along the muscles. She always liked my forearms. I always liked her touch on my skin. “You’re thinking about leaving for the training exercise, aren’t you?”
“Acquire the skill of mind-reading when you lost your memory?”
I am thinking about the training. How I don’t want to miss a second of time with her because we’re riding the hands of a ticking clock.
She shrugs her slender shoulder against my ribs and it reminds me just how small she is. Like a little sparrow. “Maybe I’m more tuned into you than you think.”
I let a long strand of her hair slip between my fingers. It glides over my skin like fine silk. “You always had a way of seeing through me.”
She turns to sit cross-legged on the couch, looking at me.
The determination on her face says we’re about to go head to head. “I know you’re worried about leaving me. And I appreciate your concern. But I’m really fine to spend a night alone. It’s one night, Cole. I mean, where else would I go?”
I consider that for a few seconds, as I have for the last couple of days. “You could stay at my parents' place.”
A challenging light brightens her eyes. “Or I could just call them if anything comes up.”
I close my eyes. Shit. “You love to debate.”
“Do I?”
When I open my eyes, a sly grin is tipping up the corner of her pretty mouth.
Vixen.
I grab her and flip her under me before she can move. “Yes, you do. Just like you like to have sex.”
She nips at my lower lip. “I’m beginning to like this person that I am.”
“How’s your back feeling?”
Smiling, she wiggles against me. “All lights are go.”
Cupping her ass in my hand, I press my growing erection against her. My jeans barely restrain the beast. She makes me hard with a look, so when she says naughty, playful words, I’m sprung in seconds.
I groan as I press against the vee of her legs. “Good, because I’m ready to feel you beneath me.”
Her hands go to my jeans. With determination, she starts pulling the button. “Show me what you can do, big guy.”
“Careful there. I’ve got a serious case of greedy lust going on these days. All I want to do is make your body mine.”
She goes still beneath me.
Heat sweeps up her neck, coloring her cheeks a sexy shade of pink, like roses in springtime. Her voice comes out in the husky whisper I remember so well, the one that makes my cock stand at attention. “Then do.”
But her words don’t just jack my testosterone, they crack my chest open.
Make her mine.
There’s no more talk. Half our clothes are still on when I thrust myself inside of her as raging desire crackles below my skin.
Her fingernails bite into my back as she arches into my strokes.
So good. So hot.
Heaven above, all I want is to stay buried deep inside of her forever.
I want her here forever.
On my couch, sitting with me as the Christmas lights burn and Bing Crosby sings about a White Christmas.
I dip my head to the cord of her neck. The skin goose-bumps beneath my mouth as I murmur her name there. “Sierra, beautiful Sierra.”
When I pull back and thrust hard into her, she cries out. Her sweet whimpers fill the room, drowning out Bing’s voice.
I could die right now and go a very happy man.
She shouts out, “Ah! Please…”
Waves of pleasure twist her body as her climax builds. I’m on the same fast-moving train.
The uncontrollable need to claim her drives me wild.
Desperate. Hungry.
Her cries fall off suddenly as a spasm takes over her body. Her knees crush against my sides as her chest arches upward, thrusting her hard nipples against me.
“That’s it, babe.” I slam into her. “Come, Sierra. Give it to me. Fucking come all over me.”
She cries out as she holds my gaze. “Cole. Ah!”
Wrapping her long red hair around my hands, I turn her mouth up to mine. Our tongues mimic the thrusting of my cock.
When my orgasm comes, I growl like the animal that she turns me into. She captures the sound, licking, sucking, and nipping at me. Just as ravenous for me as I am for her.
Fuck.
I love her.
Our eyes hold as we catch our breath. Her body pulses around me. I’m dizzy with emotion.
With shaky arms, I lower myself down and curl her into me. My heart’s pounding. Everything inside my chest is on fire.
Hold on to it, a voice whispers in the back of my mind.
I groan and press my face into her hair.
I’m trying. Dammit. I’m trying.
And when I think I can’t get any more lost, Sierra brushes her fingers over my scruff and whispers, “I’m yours, Cole.”