“I’m really happy you’re all back.” And that’s what I come up with?Smooth, Savi. Cole looks down at me and smiles. Well, that is worth the dorky line. My stomach flutters. “I bet you’re all beat.”
“Very.” He downs the rest of his drink.
“Me too.”
“Come on. I’ll walk you upstairs.” We say good night to everyone.
Mark gives me an extra-long, soft hug.
The walk up the stairs is quiet. It isn’t until we are alone that he put his hand on my back. Such a simple act makes me feel so much better. He checks my room, like he always does, and turns on my fireplace. I close the door then join him at the fire, and he stares down at me with that smile that reminds me I’m a woman with needs.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers and tucks my hair behind my ear.
“Thank you for keeping your promise.” I close my eyes, feeling his hand running up my neck.
He cups the back of my head and tilts it to the side so my neck is exposed. “If I get to come home to this,” his hot lips kiss me just under my ear, “I’ll promise you every time.”
My body goes limp as his words sink in.
He presses his lips back down as his tongue twirls in circles, and he chuckles between his kisses. “You have a wild heartbeat.”
“I can’t imagine why,” I breathe. My hands move under his shirt to skim along his stomach. I no longer register the pain in my arms.
His breathing changes, giving me some much-needed courage.
I let my fingers explore. Jesus, this man has zero body fat. I run my fingernails around to his back, and he hisses.
“You’re testing my self-control, here.”
I grin, happy he’s feeling as weak around me as I am around him.
He wraps his arms around my waist and draws me to him. “I don’t want to screw this up with you. I’ve already crossed a line I should never have crossed. Call me weak, but I’m drawn to you, and I’ve never felt this way before.”
I feel like I might burst, but for a good reason this time. “I haven’t either,” I whisper and pull back. “The way I felt when you left, and again when I saw you downstairs—it isn’t something I’ve ever…I mean, I understand you’re risking your reputation being here right now, and I respect, well, not going public with it.”
“Problem is,” he reaches down and lifts me into the air, pulling me against him as I wrap my legs around his waist, “I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
I grin and raise an eyebrow. “Am I, now?”
He nips at my neck playfully then leans in and gives me a long, deep kiss.
My legs tighten around him as my body coils with lust, then he pulls away, leaving me breathless.
“I want you to be.” He looks up at me with his deep, dark eyes.
“I want to be too,” I confess, feeling lightheaded. I lean my head back against the wall as he licks the length of my neck. I moan, tilting my head to the side and squeezing his erection harder between my legs.
He slams his hips into me and growls as he sucks where my collar meets my shoulder.
“Fuck me, Savi.” He groans as he slowly lowers me to the ground and draws my hand to his mouth, kissing it softly. “Get some sleep, baby.”
My insides melt into a pool in my stomach. This man positively has me wrapped around that smile of his. God, am I really ready to start a relationship with someone? Maybe I just need to stop overthinking things and let myself live a little.