“Cole..., you mean that?” I laughed, and he laughed right back, feathering his lips over mine.
“You just make me feel things I didn’t know existed, Laney. And I have no problem owning up to that. You’re changing me, baby.”
“You’re changing me too,” I confessed. “I went from being terrified to just being afraid.”
He drew the tip of his nose down my temple to my cheek.
“Good. I want you to give yourself to me completely, Laney. And I won’t tire until that happens.”
“It might be a while. That feeling of having half your life ripped away from you is terrifying,” I whispered, because I wanted that too, so badly, but I didn’t want to make any promises. What if this fear of loving and losing never went away completely? It wouldn’t be fair to him to get his hopes up.
“I’ll be here. Do you trust me?”
“Yes. I just don’t trust myself yet.”
“I’ll change that, you’ll see.”
“God, you’re making it impossible for me not to dream.”
He grinned devilishly. “About what?”
“A huge family and a cute house where we’d all gather whenever we want to. Kind of like Skye’s. It seems like something that’s so far away, but you make me want to reach for it.”
“We have all the time in the world.”
“How are you so relaxed about this?”
“Babe, I told you that my nickname isn’t the charmer for nothing. One year ago? Or any time before I met you? I never even thought about the future. I think there’s a time for everything.”
He kissed my right cheek, descending to one corner of my mouth. He licked along my lower lip until I moaned, tugging at his shirt. I felt that lick right between my thighs.
“Did you have dinner?”
“Not really.”
“Put your hands on my shoulders,” he commanded. I didn’t even hesitate to do that, loving the way his strong body felt under my touch. I yelped when he lifted me off the island. He lowered me to the floor and walked me backward toward the couch.
“Hey, aren’t you going to feed me?” I asked.
“I’ve got some leftovers in the fridge. We can have some fun before dinner.” His hands went from my waist to my ass.
“Quick and dirty?” I wiggled my eyebrows.
“Never quick, always dirty.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We tumbled on the comfy couch right next to each other.
“I’m waiting for the dirty part,” I whispered.
“It’s gonna have to wait until after dinner.”
“Then why is your hand on my ass?” I pouted, batting my eyelashes.
“It’s mine,” he said seriously.
Grinning, I kissed the tip of his nose.