Chapter 13
thirteen
The firm nod Ms. Reston gave Chance when he walked into their third class warmed him more than any smile ever could.
“I’m winning her over,” he whispered to Cordy. “She respects me now.”
He scribbled Cordy’s name on the tag and handed it to her. Chance didn’t trust himself to put it on her. After he’d told her the entire family history and she’d hugged him, they’d become… closer. Like, closer closer.
She touched him; he touched her. Little glancing brushes as he made dinner and then as she helped clean up. A pat of her hand on his as they drove over. Nothing sexy—although Cordy was always sexy—but just plain nice.
Touches like that had never happened to Chance before. His time with women always had a focus. Each move of his was meant to make her happy, satisfied, sated. He was always expected to perform, to live up to his reputation, not to give random cuddles.
With Cordy things were different. She didn’t expect any kind of performance from him. Telling her about his father had been… well, initially, it had been tough; he wouldn’t lie. Nothing about that story was easy to tell. It had damn near killed him.
Chance had never laid the entire thing out like that all at once. His brothers already knew everything, and there was no one else he’d needed to explain it to—not that anyone else would want to hear it.
Except Cordy had.
After he’d let it all out, he’d felt… better. Cordy knew everything—there was nothing left to hide. She understood why he was the way he was and hadn’t said any crap about how the right person for him would come along, or that he needed therapy, or that the idea of the men in the family being cursed by love was ridiculous.
And she hadn’t run away screaming.
And she was still here with him.
Christ, she’d even hugged him. Chance couldn’t remember the last time anyone had done that. Maybe Ruby when she and Quint had announced their engagement? Whenever his last hug had been, it had been nothing like the one he’d shared with Cordy.
That hug was dangerous. So was the kiss he’d given her in the truck. So was what he was planning after this class.
Chance craved it all anyway.
He took her elbow as she put on her name tag, guiding her to their table. An elbow was safe enough to touch. She didn’t need the help, but Chance felt better with his hand on her, making sure she was okay.
He did need to keep his touches friendly, almost distant. People were already gossiping enough about Cordy.
Speaking of gossips, Jaycee was coming around their table to hug Cordy. Surprise flickered over Cordy’s face before she returned the embrace.
She did that a lot, Chance had noticed. Like she was shocked someone would be nice to her when she wasn’t serving them. It messed with his head each time.
“I heard you moved,” Jaycee said. “That’s awful what Glenn did. You quit there, didn’t you?”
Cordy blinked at her. “You heard I’d moved?”
Chance hid his smile. That was the other thing that surprised her—how fast news spread in a small town. He kept trying to tell her.
“Yeah,” Jaycee said, “someone told me Justin was coming back, and everyone knows he’s way too lazy to find a place or a job on his own. So I knew he would take your job and your apartment. And then Gareth’s friend Jim saw the Kessal trucks in front of the Swing Inn with all those boxes, and he told us, and I figured you were moving out and in with Chance.” Jaycee finally took a breath. “Right?”
She looked at Chance and raised an eyebrow. He tried to look as innocent as a lamb.
“Yes.” Cordy seemed shell-shocked. “Wow, this town is good at spreading news.” She made it sound like a high crime. “I am staying with Chance. At least until I find a permanent place.”
“What about your job? I mean, everyone knows Justin will screw up again, move out again, and the bartending position will be open, but what about until then?”
“Um…”
Chance angled himself so that he was between Jaycee and Cordy. “We’ll figure that out when we get to it.”
Cordy put her hand on his arm in gratitude. “It all happened so fast,” she said apologetically to Jaycee. “I’m glad Chance had space for me. And the baby will have a nursery.”
“Oh my goodness!” Jaycee squealed and pulled Cordy into yet another hug.
Cordy’s gaze met his over Jaycee’s shoulder, and she gave him a wry smile. He smiled back, pleased that they seemed to be friends. Cordy needed more friends.
“You’ll have to tell me all about it,” Jaycee said. “We’ll get together for coffee this week.”
At the front of the room, Ms. Reston clapped her hands to call the class to order. “Second to last class,” she boomed. “Let’s get to it. We have so much left to cover.”
People scrambled to their seats. Chance held out a chair for Cordy and handed her backpack to her once she was settled.
Cordy immediately whipped out her notebook and pen. She put down every single one of Ms. Reston’s words like they were coming straight from heaven itself.
Chance understood why she did it, even if he didn’t think it was necessary. Ms. Reston was good, but nothing was earth-shattering. Just plain old common sense. Maybe he’d been to too many cow births to be impressed. Not that he’d ever say so, especially not to Ms. Reston.
“Today, we’ll do some squats,” Ms. Reston said. “It’s one of the best positions to help get baby down and those hips opened up.” She pointed to Chance and Cordy. “Would you two be willing to be my demo couple? You can say no.” But her tone said they really couldn’t.
Cordy went wide-eyed.
“You can refuse,” Chance whispered to her. “Or I can tell her no.”
He didn’t put his hand on the small of her back, too aware of Jaycee staring at them.
Cordy gave a quick nod. “Of course, we’d be happy to.”
Chance gave her a hand up, telling himself he’d help any pregnant lady. Except he wouldn’t get turned on by anyone but Cordy in this situation. She unfolded from the chair in a quick, graceful move that made him imagine her pressed against him.
Chance took a deep breath and prayed for strength.
“All right.” Ms. Reston dropped like a football player, her butt almost touching the floor. “Let’s get as deep as we can.”
Oh boy. If Cordy did that, Chance wouldn’t be able to help himself. A woman as hot as Cordy couldn’t stick her ass out like that and not expect a man to want to take hold and squeeze.
Sweat broke out on his skin. He wasn’t a man who resisted his urges. In fact, he was famous for diving into them and swimming around like Scrooge McDuck.
Be good, he warned himself. This is important to Cordy.
“Here.” Chance put a hand at her waist and the small of her back. Maybe it was too intimate, those two spots, but he also had to make sure she’d be safe. He had to catch her if she wobbled. “I’ve got you. Go slow.”
Cordy looked over her shoulder at him. Her expression was a touch raw, like she wasn’t sure what would happen.
But then she let herself go down. He went with her.
Slow, like he’d asked, so slow it tortured him. He was mindful of the pressure of his hands, letting her know he was with her, but also letting her set the pace.
When things got wobbly about halfway down, Cordy leaned into his hold. Chance tightened his grip, helping her through, supporting her the whole way. His hand burned where it touched her.
All the while, their gazes held. Cordy’s expression shifted from wary to open and wondering. She did it gradually, like the sun rising over the mountains, and the effect was just as beautiful.
Chance’s chest was tight. His entire body was tight, waiting, held by those wintergreen eyes.
“Very nice.”
Ms. Reston’s voice cut through the moment. Cordy sucked in a breath, and Chance made himself look at the floor. The safe, non-sexy floor.
“But you’ll need to hold this position,” Ms. Reston said. “This is the best way to open your pelvis, especially during contractions. So how long can you stay like this?”
Cordy gave him a worried look. Chance flexed his hands, reminding her he was right there.
“I won’t let you fall,” he said to her. “I’d never do that.”
“I think I can do it for a while,” Cordy told Ms. Reston, sounding confident. “Start timing me.”
“All right.” Ms. Reston looked at the clock.
Chance kept his focus on Cordy, willing her to be strong. To show everyone she could do anything she put her mind to.
After the first minute, the others started urging her on. After the second minute, people started whistling and clapping.
Cordy’s breathing had quickened, her pulse fluttering at the base of her throat, but she was smiling at Chance.
He did his fair share of squatting day in and day out, but even his legs were tingling by that point. But he wouldn’t tap out before she did, and Cordy looked like she could go all night.
“Three minutes,” Ms. Reston said with a fair amount of disbelief.
“You doing okay?” Chance asked Cordy.
She gave a quick laugh. “Nope. My thighs are burning. I’m going to be sore tomorrow. But I’m not ready to give up.”
That made him look at those thighs, long and strong and oh so strokable.
Take it easy, cowboy .
“Good girl,” he murmured to her. A flush spread over her cheeks and stole down her neck to paint her upper chest. Christ, but she had a pretty blush.
The seconds continued to tick by. Finally, Cordy released a gusty sigh.
Chance immediately understood what that meant and caught her full weight in his arms right as her legs gave out.
His arm came around her waist, right under the soft swells of her breasts. Her ass rubbed against his cock, which had been half-hard the entire time.
But most of all, he felt the trembling in her muscles, exhausted from the effort she’d put out. Because Cordy always gave it her all when it came to her baby.
His heart felt like it was trembling, too.
The entire room busted out cheering, even Ms. Reston. Chance realized they’d put on quite the show.
Cordy was laughing as Chance straightened them both up. She turned in his arms, hooking her hands behind his neck. Her body pressed against him, and his every nerve lit up. If they weren’t in front of an entire classroom, he’d have kissed her until she was begging and breathless.
“You did it,” he said to her. “Almost four full minutes.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” She leaned into him, and he had to bite back a groan before he embarrassed them both.
“You’d have been fine,” he said gruffly. “I was just spotting you.”
“No.” Her green eyes were earnest. “I’m serious. I needed you, and you were there.”
Those words and their meaning sank into him. Made dark, unnamable feelings swirl in his chest. Made him want things he knew he couldn’t have, not a man like him with a woman like her.
But all he said was, “Anytime.” And meant it with every fiber of his being.
They returned to the house late, so late Cordy fell asleep on the ride home.
She jerked awake when the truck stopped, her body realizing before her brain something was up.
“Oh.” She blinked and rubbed her mouth. “Oh, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’s okay.” The cab was dark, but Chance’s voice was warm and rough. “You were tired.”
“My thighs are already aching.” She laughed to herself. A four-minute squat? What had she been thinking? “I can’t believe I did that.”
“I can. You’re strong as hell.”
She was… and she wasn’t. In the beginning, Cordy had wanted to prove to Ms. Reston and the entire class that she could do it, that she was capable, that she would be the best at labor squats, dammit. It was her usual approach.
Chance might help her, but Cordy wouldn’t lean on him. She would prove she could do it herself. At least, that was what she’d thought at first.
But when her legs had started to tremble, and she had the urge to quit, she’d found herself focusing on Chance’s eyes, how deep and varied the brown was. Looking at him made the burn in her legs manageable.
So when she wanted to give up, she focused on him. How steadily he watched her, how firm his hands were on her, how much he believed in her. It gave her a fresh surge of strength each time.
When she finally ended up collapsing, she’d pushed her body well beyond what she’d thought were her limits. She’d pay for it tomorrow, but she was glad she had.
But Cordy couldn’t have done it without him. That was true about a lot of things lately.
Cordy was strong, but she was stronger with him. Too bad she’d learned today exactly why she couldn’t rely on his partnership forever. Not that she was looking for anything lasting—her parents had taught her the danger of wishing for something permanent.
Still, something fundamental had shifted between them. Cordy felt like they were looking at each other straight on for the first time. Seeing each other’s flaws, yes, but also the good. Accepting each other as they were.
She reached out and ran her fingers along his jaw. “You’re pretty strong, too, holding me that entire time. I saw some ladies ogling you.”
“Were they?” He leaned closer. “I only had eyes for you.”
It was a line, but it worked. He meant it, and she knew that because she’d been watching him as hard as he’d been watching her.
She leaped at him, fusing her mouth to his, hoping she wasn’t miscalculating and that he was about to reject her again.
He sighed into her mouth like a man coming home from a hard day’s work. Which was sweet but not quite the reaction she’d hoped for.
So she slicked her tongue into his mouth to give him a hint.
Chance groaned, then grabbed the back of her neck, gripping her tightly. His hand said you’re not getting away , not that she wanted to. He kissed her back with a hunger that shocked her. Lips, tongue, teeth, all of him eager and greedy.
He wanted her, as much as she wanted him. He’d said as much, but this kiss proved it.
After Cordy was well and truly lost in their kiss, Chance pulled back and set his forehead against hers. He never let go of her neck.
“Hold on,” he said into her mouth. There was a thread of laughter there. “This truck is no place for this. For what I want to do with you.”
Cordy’s breath caught in her throat. It sounded so perfect and hot and exactly what she wanted.
“Are you going to leave me hanging this time?” It came out starker than she’d intended.
“No.” He pulled back to meet her square in the eye. “That was a shitty thing for me to say last night. I’m sorry.” He smiled. “In my small defense, I’m no good at being good. I’ve got no practice at it.”
That wasn’t true. Yes, what he’d done that night had been kind of mean, but most of the time, he was the opposite of that. So good and kind sometimes it made her wish…
Cordy sucked in a sharp breath. No, she knew better than to go down that road. “As long as you don’t do it again.”
“I’ll give you as many orgasms as you can stand.” His dark gaze burned into hers. “I swear it.”
That made her insides melt into pure lava. “Oh God, just take me inside.”
Chance scooped her up and carried her into the house like a bride. Cordy’s heart squeezed even though she warned it not to. She felt safe, secure, so protected.
And turned on, too. Chance was strong and assured, his arms taut and his steps quick, the perfect fantasy come to life.
Iggy lifted his head when they came in, from his usual spot on the couch. Cordy waved hello to him.
“I’d be mad he’s on the couch,” Chance said, “but I already know he’s not about to move. He won’t be scratching at the door, will he?”
Cordy shook her head. “He’ll be good. Now that you’ve given him bacon, he’ll probably be devoted to you forever.”
“I never gave him any bacon.” Chance slammed her bedroom door shut with his foot. “The butthead stole it.”
At the click of the latch, the atmosphere shifted. There was no more lightness, no more laughter. The deep heat in Chance’s expression made Cordy’s skin ache.
She’d left her bedside lamp on, and the soft light carved shadows into Chance’s face. He looked different—hungry, unrelenting. There was nothing easy about this man now.
She shivered with anticipation.
He set her down on the bed, then braced his arms on either side of her. The way he loomed over her set her pulse skidding through her.
“We’re setting some ground rules.” His voice was gravelly. “This is all about you each time.”
The implication there would be other times made her mouth go dry.
“I don’t take my clothes off,” Chance said. “Ever. So don’t ask.”
She was about to protest when the flash of vulnerability in his eyes stopped her. Chance was trying to be noble again. He wasn’t very smooth about it—like with the vibrator remark—but he was trying.
What was she supposed to say? No, I wouldn’t like to be worshipped by a man with your talents? What he was suggesting was a good boundary to keep both of them safe.
“Okay,” she said slowly. “But can I kiss you?”
If he said no to that, she’d rethink this. It would feel too transactional, like she had hired him to be her stud.
“Oh God, yes.” That came out of him in a rush.
She fisted her hands into his shirt and pulled his mouth down to hers. Chance cupped her face as he kissed her, hungry and searching. His tongue slicked along hers, and their teeth clicked together, but his fingers were gentle on her jaw.
It was a kiss to get lost in, going deeper and deeper but never ending. The need low in her belly gathered into a swollen ache.
“What do you like?” Chance asked.
Cordy didn’t understand. “What?” He was doing so well, didn’t he already just know?
“I’m not a mind reader.” He kissed along her jaw until he was breathing into her ear. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
Oh. Her eyes went wide. She could see his superpower now, clear as day. It wasn’t that he instinctually knew how to please any woman—it was that he asked them, no, compelled them, to tell him their fantasies in that voice that promised it would be safe and he would make those fantasies real.
She had to take a moment to think. To gather up what she might want tonight and set aside what they could try some other time.
“Gentle doesn’t work for me,” she said. Best to get the general stuff down. “Not that I want to be spanked or anything.” She wet her lips. “I, um, I like having my hair pulled.”
“Good, because I love pulling hair.” His fingers found the hem of her T-shirt. “Can I undress you?”
“Yes.”
“Keep going.” Chance slid her shirt up, his knuckles dragging across her skin.
“Well...” Cordy lay full on her back, trying to concentrate. What he was doing right now was amazing, and she wasn’t even naked.
“Hold up.” He pulled her upright. “You can’t lie on your back like that. Remember?”
Right. Because she was pregnant and lying on her back was one more forbidden thing, although she still didn’t understand why.
Chance helped her scoot up the bed until she was propped up by the headboard. Then he took off her clothes with quick skill.
Oh boy, now she was completely naked and on display. Cordy tucked her legs up and tried to figure out what to do with her arms. It was awkward, being nude in front of someone else in this position, and then there was her belly, big and round and very much there between them.
“Um.” She pushed her feet away from her, then pulled them back in. Normally she didn’t feel strange about her body—she was pretty damn confident, to be honest—but she was also really pregnant. It changed things.
“Hey.” Chance slid his hand to the back of her neck. The imprint of his fingers made her toes curl. “It’s just you and me. You are the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, no matter how you’re sitting. If you’re uncomfortable, we can try whatever position you want. I just can’t let you lay flat on your back.” He put his forehead to hers. “So tell me what you want.”
“I feel like I’m on display,” she admitted. “And not in a good way.”
“You like to have something to hide behind.”
Chance didn’t make it sound like something bad, but she stiffened anyway. Was that true? Did she hide behind things, like the bar at work or her independence in her personal life?
Cordy wet her lips. She probably did.
“You don’t have to hide with me,” Chance said. “But maybe we could try this, make you feel a little better.”
He grabbed the throw at the end of the bed and carefully draped it over her middle, not quite hiding her belly but not leaving her so exposed. She could set her arms over the blanket, which gave them something to do.
“Good?” he rumbled as he tucked the blanket around her.
It was. The blanket wasn’t hiding anything, but it put enough space between them. Made her feel less strange about being totally naked while he was totally clothed.
In answer, she lifted her knees and let them fall apart. Cool air kissed her pussy lips, reminding her how wet she already was.
“Christ.” He sounded like he was choking. “You’re so gorgeous.” He leaned over her, his hands finding her rib cage. “Tell me if you’re too sensitive.”
When he cupped her breast, she understood. Her boobs had been tender ever since she got pregnant, but when he touched her, she arched up off the pillows in shock. Her entire body lit up with pleasure.
“Wow,” she gasped out. “That’s… that’s a lot.”
“So more sensitive. Way more.” The curve of his mouth showed he was pleased. “I’m going to be as careful as you need. But as rough as you want.”
He gathered up her hair in one fist and pulled. Her head went back, her neck bared to him. Cordy pulsed with helpless excitement.
“You said you had a vibrator. Where is it?”
She reached for the bedside drawer. “Here.”
“Close at hand, I see.” Without letting go of her hair, Chance took it out. “That’s your vibrator?” He looked it up and down. “I was expecting the little egg thing or something like it.” He swung it through the air. “You could knock someone out with this.”
Her face was burning. “It’s… That’s the Magic Wand. That’s just how it looks.”
“Oh no, I like it.” His smile went dark. “I love it. This is a vibrator that means business. I’ve got to step up my game if this is what you’re used to.”
He gave her hair a tug. She moaned as that simple pull echoed throughout her body.
“Is that what you want?” Chance had never sounded so gravelly. “You want me to use this on you?”
“Yes.” She arched up, the blanket slipping down. She didn’t even care.
“Then that’s what you’ll get.” Chance kissed her, deep and hungry. With her hair clamped in his grip, she was pinned for him.
He passed the vibrator over the hood of her clit in slow strokes, keeping time with the thrust of his tongue in her mouth. Even though his touch with the vibrator was light, his hand on her hair remained tight. She was completely at his mercy, but so tenderly it made her want to shake out of her skin.
The sweet pressure built in her lower back, along her thighs, tingled in the wet folds he was teasing. She was close, so close…
Her orgasm hit her hard, hard enough to steal her breath. Months and months of frustrated desire poured out of her, almost too much to bear.
Chance let go of her hair and tossed the vibrator aside. He gathered her to him with a soft touch, his murmurs gentle in her ear. Somehow, he knew she was too overloaded with sensation to take anything more at the moment. It was all she could do to catch her breath.
“You sleep in pajamas?” he asked after what felt like a long time.
Cordy realized then he was still dressed. And she was stark naked—the blanket had fallen away at some point. And she was half-asleep.
Good Lord, that was some climax. It felt like she’d been waiting years to do that.
“Yeah,” she mumbled. She vaguely gestured toward her dresser. It seemed like too much work to do anything more.
Somehow, Chance got her into her pajamas and under the covers. He stroked her hair as she struggled to stay awake. There was something she felt like she needed to ask him.
Will you stay? That was it, but she couldn’t ask that.
When she woke up again, it was dark. She was tucked tightly in, and Chance was gone.