Chapter Twenty-Four Cole
Addie throws her head back and shouts my name as I lick her into a glorious finish. I’m on my knees in the shower, her leg hooked over my good shoulder and my face buried between her thighs. I’m trying to keep my bandage from getting wet and failing miserably.
We both needed to wash the river water off our bodies, though, and once we were clean, the need to taste her drove me to my knees. I’ll never get enough of her or the throaty, sexy sounds she makes when I pleasure her.
My tongue and fingers bring her back down slowly from the orgasmic high and she slumps against the tiled wall. “I’m not done with you,” I rasp, standing and lifting her up. Her legs wrap around my waist.
“Cole! Your shoulder!”
“Something else needs attention more, baby,” I tell her, the head of my throbbing dick pressing at her slick entrance.
“Out of the shower,” she orders. “And put me down before you hurt yourself!”
I reluctantly comply, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel for us, but I don’t put her down.
After what happened tonight with Warrant and Nyx, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to let her go.
Seeing that limo skid off the edge of the bridge and plummet into the water below has burned itself into my mind.
When she starts to object, I silence her with a deep, passionate kiss and carry her into the bedroom.
I also pluck the waterlogged bandage off my shoulder and toss it in the garbage.
Our mouths never break as I lower her wet body onto the bed.
Her arms are wound around my neck, and I cover her body with mine, settling myself between her thighs, needing to be lodged deep in her sweet pussy.
One or both of us could’ve died tonight, and that’s not something I can just forget.
It’s going to haunt me for a very long time. Probably forever.
When we finally come up for air, I grab a condom from her nightstand, quickly roll it on and then sink home. Because nothing has ever felt like this—familiar, welcoming, comfortable. So damn thrilling, I can’t get enough.
She stretches around me, gripping my cock perfectly, and pulls me deeper. “Cole,” she whimpers, arching up to meet my thrusts.
There’s no going slow and easy. I’m desperate for her, and my control is about to snap.
Reaching down between our bodies, I tease her swollen clit until she’s thrashing beneath me.
The moment her release hits, I pull her leg up around my waist and pick up my pace.
Hard and fast, I pound into her until the world around us falls away and a brilliant explosion launches me beyond space and time.
To a place that is so beautiful and amazing, and only belongs to me and Addie.
Collapsing on top of her, but careful not to crush her, I bury my face in her neck and breathe in her orange blossom scent. “I’m never leaving your bed,” I promise, then softly kiss her neck.
“Does that mean you’ll take some time off work?” she asks, fingers lightly dragging up and down my back.
“Anything for you, Addie.”
I’m not sure how long we lie there, just breathing each other in, but finally I pull out of her warm body and dispose of the condom. Climbing back into bed, I reach for her, but she hesitates, attention on my stitches.
“Dammit, Cole, you broke a couple.”
“Sorry, but you make me lose control.” I drag her into my arms. “I barely feel it, anyway.”
“That’s because the local anesthetic hasn’t worn off yet.”
“Yep, so all good,” I assure her, toying with a lock of her damp, wavy hair.
She turns, looking up at me. “If you don’t take care of yourself, I will.” I arch a brow. “Don’t think I won’t take you to the hospital and make them re-stitch you. And I have no problem calling the station and ensuring Mahoney gives you some much-needed time off.”
A smirk tilts the edge of my lips. Other than my mom, I’ve never had anyone take care of me. And that was when I was little. “Not gonna lie—I enjoy the way you’re fawning over me. Makes me think you care.”
She traces a little heart on my chest with her index finger, right over that furiously beating organ behind my ribs.
“I do care,” she murmurs.
I catch her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. “How much?”
“So much,” she whispers. “More than I ever thought possible.”
My mind whirls. If she’s feeling what I’m feeling, and if she’s ready to tell me, then everything is about to change. “I told you I want to be in your bed, but it’s more than that.” I’ve never felt so vulnerable, but I can’t stop now. “I’d like to be in your life, Addie. Every single day.”
“Really?” She pushes up, palm on my chest, locking gazes with me. “What exactly does that mean, Cole?”
“It means I want to give this a try—you and me—because even though we can drive each other crazy, I love that you challenge me. In fact, I think I love everything about you.”
“I might love everything about you, too,” she says softly, almost shyly. We share a smile. “You have so much integrity. And despite what you think my past might say to the contrary, I think that’s very admirable. It also doesn’t hurt that you’re sexy as hell. And pretty good in bed.”
I chuckle. “Pretty good?”
“Okay, you’re beyond amazing.” She grows serious again. “I think you might be rubbing off on me, too.”
“Yeah? How so?”
“Ever since Knox and Linc fell in love with their other halfs, they’ve been encouraging me to keep things on the up and up.
I get it, but I didn’t truly understand until you.
Damn you, Detective, you make me want to be a better person,” she declares, and we both laugh.
She settles down against my side, snuggling up.
“You do, though. And that really bothered me at first.”
“Why?”
“Because I was scared I’d have to choose—either you and giving up heists, or keeping my mom’s memory alive.
We were always so close, and I miss her like crazy.
Some days are better than others, but it just never gets easier.
That loss is always there no matter how much time passes.
The heists just seemed to help me honor her.
Keep a connection with her. Maybe that sounds silly, but it’s true. ”
“It’s not silly. I understand what you’re saying, more than you know. But I think your mom would want your happiness and well-being above all else. She’s always going to be with you, Addie, because you carry all those memories in your heart. With or without the heists.”
“You think so?” she asks, cobalt eyes completely exposed and unguarded. For the first time, I’m looking at the real Addison, straight at her lovely soul. And, my God, it’s a thing of beauty.
“I know so,” I assure her, cupping her face and pulling her in for a kiss.
For a long moment, our mouths meld together, moving slowly.
It’s a deep, thorough, sexy kiss that somehow feels different.
Deeper maybe? I’ve never felt so connected to another person like this before, and it’s so much more than merely enjoying the taste and feel of each other.
It’s a connection of our hearts and souls.
When it finally ends, Addie studies me closely, a thoughtful look on her face.
“What?”
“Just wondering…”
“Wondering what?” I ask.
She presses her lips together then slides a hand through my too-long hair. I’ve been meaning to get it cut forever, but time is a luxury I never seem to have enough of. I have to admit, I’m glad I didn’t because I love the feel of her fingers running through it.
“I want to know more about you and your family and…” Tilting her head, she adds, “I want to know everything.” She taps a finger against my heart. “I want to know what makes you tick, Cole Vaughn. You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met.”
Although I never talk about what happened when I was nine, I have the overwhelming urge to confide in her. I shrug a shoulder, needing to ease into it if I’m going to share one of my worst memories. “I like to do the right thing,” I say simply.
“I know.” She smiles, but I can’t return it. The darkness of what happened to my father so long ago always pulls me into a place of anger and despair. “What’s wrong?” she whispers, picking up on my shift in mood.
“I grew up in The Bronx, surrounded by good neighbors who worked hard for every dollar they earned. Blue collar folks who sometimes struggled to make ends meet, but who always had each other’s backs. We took care of each other.”
Addie nods, but doesn’t say anything, so I continue.
“My dad worked at a factory and my mom was a cashier at the corner grocery store. They never bought anything extravagant, we never went on vacation—probably why I still don’t—and they saved every dime they could because they believed in hard, honest work.
“One day, my dad came home all excited about this investment opportunity that promised to make him thousands of dollars. Mom was skeptical and advised against it, but Dad only saw dollar signs. A way out of our current lifestyle. He kept talking about finally taking us on a family vacation.”
“He got swindled,” she murmurs knowingly.
The bitter taste of bile crawls up the back of my throat. “My parents lost their entire life savings in one day. The asshole responsible got away scot-free.”
Empathy fills her eyes and she takes my hand in both of hers.
I let out a sigh. “My mom took it amazingly well, like a total champ. Easy come, easy go, she said. But my dad was consumed by guilt and couldn’t forgive himself.
He took it incredibly hard and believed he let us down.
Three weeks after losing their savings, he threw himself off the Throgs Neck Bridge. ”
“Oh, my God, Cole. I’m so sorry.”
“Seeing what he went through those final days lit a fire under me. I wanted to take down the man who caused this, who took my dad away from me. From my mom. But I was nine. What the hell could I do? So, I vowed that when I was old enough, I’d join the police force.
And that’s exactly what I did. My goal for the last twenty-eight years has been to bring down every criminal, swindler and thief that I could. Even you, Addie.”
“And now?”
“And now I’ve broken all my rules. Fallen head over heels in love with one of the world’s wiliest thieves.”
Her eyes widen. “Well, Detective Vaughn, that’s quite a conundrum.”
“Tell me about it. You were at the top of my list, baby. And now… all I want is to be on top of you.”
She chuckles, lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles. “Good, because I like you on top of me. Of course, I like to be on top sometimes, too.”
Then she turns serious again. “I’m terribly sorry about your dad, and I’m not trying to lessen the things I’ve done, but I need you to understand one thing.
My mom always had sayings—Knox dubbed them Angel-isms—and her most important one was to never steal from those who can’t afford to lose what you take.
My crew never strayed from that guidance.
Any of us. I guess even thieves can have a moral code of honor. ”
“I guess so,” I murmur.
Amazing how hearing that simple statement makes me feel better. More grounded. Because without a doubt, I know Addie has a good heart and wouldn’t intentionally hurt someone merely for personal gain.
“You want to know something else?” she asks, and I nod. Because just like her, I want to know everything. “It seems I’ve broken all my rules, too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“There was this really annoying, incredibly persistent and extremely handsome detective chasing after me.”
“Extremely handsome, huh?” I smirk.
“Slightly arrogant, too,” she adds, lips twitching.
“And what happened?”
“I fell in love with him,” she says simply.
My heart thunders, and I pull her up against my chest and press my forehead against hers. “I love you, Addison,” I breathe.
“Love you, too, Cole,” she whispers.
We kiss, sealing our words—our pledge to each other—and then I flip her onto her back. She gasps and I give her a slow smile. “Remind me to call into work tomorrow. Because after I’m through with you, I don’t think either of us will be walking straight.”
She throws her head back and laughs, and it’s the most magical sound I’ve ever heard.
“Promise?” she teases.
“Promise,” I growl.