I grab my bag and walk toward the door with him close behind me. I know it was the world’s stupidest move. I’m reckless for no reason, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’ve been before. “Yes, it sounds stupid, but honestly, the walk felt nice. I needed to clear my head.”
“Stupid is not the word I’d use, Savannah,” he grits out.
I turn, feeling tired. “Where’s Cole?”
He studies my face while moving past me to open the door. “Should I even ask what’s going on?”
“No,” I sigh, “not yet.” I admit, feeling like I owe him that.
“Office was the last place I saw him.”
“Thanks, Keith.” I drop my bag, remove my coat and boots, and replace them with my flats and hurry that way.
I knock and wait. “Yeah.” His voice sounds tired. I open the door and find my Cole hunched over his laptop typing away in a black t-shirt and jeans. Just the way I love him. “What in God’s name does anyone want from me at one a.m.?” he mutters without looking up.
“I didn’t want to sleep alone tonight,” I say softly, and his head snaps up. His face goes from stressed to relieved.
“Hey.” His smile draws me toward him. I crawl on his lap and get him to wrap his arms around me. “How did you get here?”
“You seem stressed, Cole, what’s wrong?”
“Work. Sometimes I think I need to pass some of it off, but I don’t. I’m my own worst enemy.” I rub my fingers over the stubble along his jaw, stealing his body heat. “You smell good.” He takes a deep breath then lets out a long sigh. “You have no idea how much I needed this.” I lean up to kiss his neck, letting him know I do. “Answer me, Savannah.” I know he won’t let it go.
“Cab, then hiked it in the rest of the way.” His body turns to stone. “I feel by now I should at least be on the guest list. Rambo out there, who has seen me at least a dozen times, wouldn’t let me pass. Pointed his big old gun at me until I finally called Keith to get me through. Honestly, Cole, I need some kind of special pass.”
“You took a cab and hiked it here?” I don’t have to look at him to know how pissed he is. The vibrating hand on my back is enough to alert me. “Just tell me why.”
I shift off his lap and stand in front of his desk, sorting out what I should say. I go to open my mouth to tell him everything, but I can’t. My nerves get the best of me. He’s watching every movement I make, calculating it, trying to read me. I drop my head and hold back my pesky tears.
Cole
Cole can see something’s bothering her, but he decides not to push. He’s not sure if Frank has called her yet, and if not, he won’t be the one to bring it up. The idea of her walking along the dark mountain road makes him want to punch a hole in the cabby’s face. Who the hell leaves a woman on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere? He’s not sure why Savannah does what she does. Sometimes he thinks she may not have any regard for her own safety, which scares the hell out of him.
“I just wanted to see you,” she nearly sobs, twisting his heart. “I didn’t want to bother someone to come and get me. It was my choice to move there. You’ve been so busy, and I’ve been feeling a little…” She rubs her stomach. If she’s still sick, he’s going to call Dr. Rice. If there’s something going on, he needs to know now. York’s face creeps into his mind and makes him uneasy. “I didn’t really know what I was doing until I was at the gate. I know it was stupid, but…” Tears start to flow, but she doesn’t try to hide them. She looks so tired and small as she breaks down.
“Hey,” he stands in front of her, “it’s okay, baby. You’re here and safe, and that’s all that matters.” He kisses her head as she sags into him. “Why don’t you go have a hot bath, and I’ll join you in a few? I just need to send off a few emails and I’ll be done.” She nods as she steps away, looking paler than normal. “Can I get you anything?”
“No.” She tries a smile. “I just wanted to sleep here tonight with you.”
He loves her words. She has no idea what that means to him, that she feels safe in his home. “Okay. I’ll be up soon.”
After thirty minutes of writing endless emails that he could quite possibly do right into the morning, he finally turns off the screen. He can’t concentrate knowing she’s here. He closes up his office and heads for the stairs. He hears the guys laughing downstairs; the poker game must be going well. He’s sure Mark is wiping them clean. Tonight, they play for money, so Mark’s wallet will be that much thicker tomorrow.
He finds Savannah tucked into a little ball on his side of the bed. Her body is curled around his pillow. Her hair is pulled up with a pin stuck through the bun, and the loose pieces are still damp on the ends. He strips and joins her from the other side, forming his body to curve to hers. Her skin is warm and smells of his soap. He kisses her shoulder and along her neck, then his hand travels down her side and slips between her legs, where he finds her ready. She stirs with a little moan. Hell, even when she’s asleep, she wants him. He parts her legs and nudges himself up and glides in with ease.
“Mmm, Cole,” she whispers, still half out of it. She tries to turn, but he stops her.
“Sleep, baby, I just need to be in you.” He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to control himself. She’s so warm. The moment he’s inside of her, nothing matters but her and him. He lies back down, positioning himself so he can stay inside of her as he drifts off.
Something soft brings him out of a dead sleep. Holy shit, it’s hot, wet…it feels amazing. A moan fills the room. His eyes are so heavy he can’t open them, so instead, he reaches out and grabs a fistful of her hair. Her hum vibrating down her tongue makes him buck his hips, pushing deeper. She sucks long and hard, then swirls around him like a cyclone. Three repetitions of that, and he’s jetting down the back of her throat. She doesn’t pull away, just continues until he’s finished.
Still trying to catch his breath, she climbs up next to him and tucks herself into his side.
“What was that?”
“Shh,” she whispers. “Go back to sleep.”
He grins, still euphoric from what she just did. “You’re never leaving this bed. You know that, right?”