Chapter 16
Lauren
“W hat are you doing here?” I asked Cole as I opened my front door later that evening.
I almost hated myself because my heart skittered the moment I saw his handsome face.
He’d literally blown my emotions off, but I still couldn’t seem to get over my instinctive reaction every time I saw him.
Dammit!
He looked so handsome, standing on my doorstep in a black jacket and a pair of jeans, that it took my breath away.
“We need to talk,” he said as he strode through the door like he lived here and did it every single day.
“We don’t,” I said coldly. “I think you said everything you wanted to say this morning.”
I was still mortified that I’d blurted out exactly how much I was attracted to him, and then he’d proceeded to inform me that he wasn’t the man for me.
I’d been humiliated, but that humiliation was giving way to anger right now.
I was flabbergasted when he removed his boots and jacket, as if he planned on staying for a while, and left them near the door.
“I didn’t,” Cole said gruffly as he closed the door. “I didn’t say one damn thing that I really wanted to say.”
“You said enough,” I said as I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. “As soon as you found out that I was really attracted to you and that I was sexually inexperienced, it freaked you out. You already told me that you aren’t the man for me. I don’t think I need to hear anything else.”
“I lied,” he said huskily as he pushed me gently against the door, pinning me in when he rested a hand on each side of me.
“It was complete bullshit. The moment I realized that someone had hurt you and that you were inexperienced, it scared the hell out of me. I didn’t want to be the second guy to let you down.
I can give you all the sensual pleasure you want, angel, but I’m going to suck at romance. ”
My heart was pounding so hard that I could barely take a breath as I looked up at him.
Should I still be mad that Cole had brushed me off earlier?
Should I be angry that he hadn’t been completely truthful with me?
Yeah, I probably should, but the way he was making himself vulnerable right now had my heart in my throat.
I knew he was speaking from his heart right now, and that was something I never thought I’d see from Cole.
I swore that my heart literally skipped a beat when his gaze locked with mine.
The anger had drained from my body the second I’d realized that every word he was uttering was the truth.
I could see it in his gorgeous hazel eyes.
I swallowed hard. “What makes you think I want romance?” I asked softly. “Maybe I just want to use your hot body.”
He shot me a mischievous grin as his eyes roamed over my face. “I’m actually not completely opposed to that idea, but just using each other’s bodies isn’t going to cut it for me, angel.”
“You don’t do relationships and you don’t date,” I reminded him breathlessly.
“I didn’t,” he agreed. “But that was before I met you. I guarantee that I’m going to screw this up, and I guarantee that I’m going to hurt your feelings again in the future. But there’s nothing I want more than to try to be a decent guy for you. Tell me what you want, angel.”
Happiness welled up inside of me as I looked into his eyes, feeling pure joy like I probably hadn’t known for a very long time.
“Right now, I just want you to kiss me,” I said as I snaked my arms around his neck.
Trying to move forward with Cole was probably a huge mistake, but I could no more push this man away than I could stop breathing.
Not when he was like this.
Not when he was telling me that he wanted to explore whatever was happening between the two of us as much as I did.
He complied so quickly that I gasped as his lips came down on mine.
The embrace was hot, raw, and carnal, but there was also a blatant possessiveness in his kiss that made me feel like he was…claiming me.
It was the hottest thing I’d ever experienced.
I was panting by the time he finally stopped kissing me.
“You scare the hell out of me, too,” I said truthfully as I stroked my hand over his jawline.
“I might mess up,” he said as he kissed my forehead. “But I’m always going to try to make you happy, angel. Now tell me that you want the same thing I do.”
I lifted a brow. “That’s a little demanding,” I teased. “You haven’t told me the exact terms of this relationship.”
“No rules except for the fact that we’ll be exclusive,” he said hoarsely.
Seriously? Did he really think that if I had him , I’d be looking anywhere else?
There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that Cole was going to teach me about every sensual pleasure I’d been missing my entire adult life.
If this relationship didn’t work out in the future, at least I’d find out what it was like to be with a man who wanted me as much as I wanted him.
I couldn’t imagine that happening with any other man on the planet.
“I want the same thing,” I said eagerly, probably capitulating far more easily than I should have, but I wasn’t a woman who wanted to play games.
I wanted Cole to know that I trusted him and that I wanted to be with him.
Heat wound down my spine and gathered between my thighs as Cole stroked his hands down my back, his palms finally landing on my ass so he could pull my body tightly into his.
I bit back a moan when I realized that his cock was as hard as a rock.
I wanted Cole so badly that I could hardly think straight.
“You could stay here tonight,” I said longingly.
He nipped my earlobe before he said hoarsely against my ear, “My place, my bed, angel. At least the first time. I’ve pictured you in my bed and screaming my name in ecstasy for so damn long now that my dick can wait a little longer for that particular fantasy to play out.
I think we both know exactly what’s going to happen at some point if you keep coming out to my place. ”
I knew his words were cautioning, but it was the sexiest warning I’d ever gotten in my entire life.
I panted as Cole reached under the long-sleeved T-shirt I was wearing to expertly unclasp my bra.
“Perfect,” he growled as he pushed me against the cool wood of the front door to torment my nipples.
“Cole,” I moaned as he plucked and stroked my pebbled nipples until I could feel every touch on those tight peaks right between my thighs.
When he reached behind me and gripped my ass, my entire world started to spin.
He lifted my body, and I instinctively hopped up and wrapped my legs around his waist.
His body was so hard, and my pussy was soaking wet.
I lifted up and tightened my legs around him. I rubbed my throbbing heat against his six-pack abs and his hips without thinking about what I was doing.
“Fuck!” Cole cursed as he tightened his grip on my jean-clad ass.
“Are you okay?” I asked breathlessly, my entire body pulsating with need. “Did that hurt you?”
“Only in a good way,” he rasped. “Keep going, angel.”
“I didn’t know it was possible to feel this way,” I whispered, my breath heavy as I continued to grind hard against him. “This feels so good, but I need…”
My voice trailed off.
“Christ! I can’t wait to get inside your beautiful body, Lauren, but right now all I want to do is satisfy my woman. I need to make you come.”
“Oh, God,” I whimpered. “I think I really need that, too.”
He captured my lips and kissed me so hard that my toes curled as he lowered my feet to the ground.
He had my jeans undone and his fingers inside my panties before I could take my next breath.
I moaned into his ravenous mouth and wantonly rubbed my pussy against those seeking fingers.
I needed…
I wanted…
And I didn’t give a damn if the entire world came down on my head as long as I got more of what Cole was giving me.
Cole’s fingers teased their way through my slick heat, finally easing two fingers into my channel as though he was testing whether or not I could take them.
He lifted his head. “You’re so fucking wet, angel. And so damn tight.”
Cole zeroed in on my clit, stroking over the engorged bundle of nerves until I thought I was going to lose my mind.
“Please,” I whimpered as I gripped his powerful biceps to keep my body upright.
I was close.
So close…
I could feel my orgasm starting to unfurl inside my belly.
It was so powerful and so overwhelming that my body started to tense.
“Don’t,” Cole demanded as he used his entire palm and his fingers to stimulate me into a massive orgasm. “Don’t back away from it. I’ve got you, angel. Let go.”
Trusting him, I ground down against his palm and his wicked fingers as my core started to clench. “Cole,” I screamed as I clung to him, suddenly realizing that it was actually his firm grip on me that kept my legs from buckling beneath me.
My orgasm rolled over me with a ferocity that I’d never experienced before, but I let myself ride those waves of ecstasy because I knew that Cole had me.
“Easy, sweetheart,” he said soothingly, his fingers finally stilling inside my panties as my breathing and my heart rate started to slow.
My body was still throbbing with what I assumed was post-climactic pleasure as Cole simply held me close to him with one arm tightly wrapped around my waist.
I hadn’t even completely caught my breath when Cole did something so erotic that I found myself swallowing a lump that formed in my throat.
He very deliberately slid his hand from my pussy, lifted it to his mouth, and licked his fingers, taking his time to savor the taste of my juices on his skin.
I blinked, but the sensual sight didn’t go away until Cole was ready to stop relishing the taste of me.
Holy shit!
Had I really just watched that?
He caught my gaze and lifted a brow. “Next time I’m going to be licking the taste of you directly from the source,” he informed me.
I’d heard women talk about oral sex in the past, but I had no idea what that would really feel like.
I tried hard not to picture that in my mind because my body was already overstimulated, but my core spasmed just a little in response.
With Cole, any way that he touched me was going to end up being orgasmic.
Mesmerized, I watched his tongue as he took one more lick from one of his fingers before he focused his attention back on me.
Cole lifted me like I weighed nothing, carried me the short distance to the living room, sat in one of my recliners, and settled me into his lap.
“That was…intense,” I whispered as I wrapped my arms around Cole’s neck.
He shot me a shit-eating grin. “Not nearly as intense as it’s going to get someday in the near future.”
“God, I feel like an idiot, but is this normal?” I asked, embarrassed. “I’ve gotten myself off before, but it never felt like that .”
“It’s supposed to feel just like that ,” Cole assured me as he stroked a lock of hair from my cheek.
I sighed as I laid my head against his shoulder, not quite sure if I found that reassuring or just a little bit scary.