Angel sat at the kitchen table with Natalie. She checked the clock for the tenth time.

“Will you stop checking the time every minute? He’ll be here soon,” Natalie said, sipping on her coffee.

“I know, I know.” Angel took a deep breath. It had been almost two weeks since she’d last seen him.

“You never really told me much about what happened when you went out there,” Natalie remarked.

Angle looked down at the kitchen table and shrugged. “I wasn’t there that long. I flew in and flew out.”

“Angel.” Her aunt wasn’t buying it. “This is me you’re talking to.”

“What are you asking?”

“Do you still have feelings for him?

Angel looked away. “I don’t know. The man I knew three years ago…” She shook her head. “I’m not sure he’s that man now.”

Natalie nodded, trying to understand. “You know, when you came back from California three years ago and moved in here with me, I never asked you, but I always wondered why you didn’t go home to your father.”

Angel shrugged. “Because of Kathy. I never liked her, and she never liked me.”

“I never did understand why your father married her. She was so different from my sister.”

“I know. She was a bitch and treated him like crap right up until the day he died. And he leaves her everything.”

“Not everything. He left trust funds for your children.”

“Yes. He did love them.”

“He loved you, too.”

Angel shook her head. “He never forgave me. I disgraced him. Coming home pregnant. Refusing to tell him who the father was. That drove him crazy.”

“What drove him crazy was that he couldn’t control you.”

“I suppose.” Angel took a sip of her coffee. “Thank God I had you, Aunt Natalie.” She reached out and covered her hand.

“You remind me of your mother. You look so much like her. I miss her so.” She looked down at their joined hands. “You and those babies living here have been a blessing for me. Since your uncle died, I was so alone. You’ve filled this house with love.”

Angel smiled and looked up, blinking. “Don’t you get me crying.”

Just then they heard the roar of a bike.

Angel jumped up and ran through the house. She opened the front door and ran out onto the walk. She could see his headlight in the fading dusk, coming down the street.

Cole slowed down and made the turn into the driveway of the third house on the right. The only yellow house on the block, she had told him.

Angel met him in the driveway.

He stopped and cut the bike off. He sat on it and pulled his helmet and glasses off.

“Goddamn, that’s a long trip.” He climbed off the bike and stretched.

Angel smiled. “Thank you for coming.”

He nodded and looked past her to the woman walking up to them.

Angel turned and introduced them. “This is my aunt, Natalie. Natalie, this is Cole.”

He held his hand out to her.

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” Cole looked her up and down. He guessed she was somewhere in her early-to-mid forties. Her figure was slim, and her red hair fell to just past her shoulders. She was a knock out, but what Cole noticed most was that she had the same eye color as Angel.

“We’re so glad to have you here. Angel, why don’t you show him his room and let him put his things away? You must be hungry. I have food ready. Come on in.” She turned and walked back in, leaving them alone.

Angel smiled. “If you’re not hungry—”

“No, actually I could eat something.”

“You’re not wearing your cut,” she noted, looking at his long sleeve t-shirt.

“Arizona’s not our territory. Best not to provoke another MC,” he explained.

“Oh.” She nodded. “Come on.”

He grabbed a pack from the back of his bike and followed her in. She led him through the living room and down a hallway to the guest bedroom.

“There’s a bath through there.” She indicated an attached door. “Fresh towels on the rack.”

He laid his pack on the bed. “Okay.”

She nodded toward a tall dresser, on top of which sat a compact stereo system. “I brought that in here for you. You do still listen to music at night, right?”

He smiled. “You remembered.”

“I remember you liked to listen to some old blues station.”

“Gotta have my blues.”

She turned to lead him to the kitchen. “Come on.”

He grabbed her by the hand, stopping her.

She turned back, questioningly.

“How ‘bout a proper hello?” He smiled as he pulled her to him and kissed her softly on the lips. He raised his head and murmured, “Kiss me back, Angel.”

Cole lowered his head again, and this time her mouth opened, and he delved inside with his tongue. Her head fell back, and he pulled her in his arms, pressing her body up against his. He walked her backward until he had her pressed against the wall. His hand reached out blindly, felt for the door and swung it shut. His hands threaded through her hair, tilting her head back. He angled his mouth and kissed her deeply, thoroughly, again and again.

When he raised his head at last, he said, “I’ve thought about that kiss for the last couple of weeks. It’s all I’ve been able to think about.”

“Me, too,” she confessed.

That brought a smile to his face.

She felt breathless and disoriented, like there was no one but the two of them in the entire world. She pushed back against him, trying to regain her breath. Her fingers touched her lips.

He grinned. “You okay?”

She nodded. “Oh yeah.” She turned toward the door. “Come on.” She led him back down the hall and through a dining room to the kitchen.

Natalie was at the stove. She had just pulled a pan out of the oven. She turned, pulling the oven mitts off her hands. “Cole, I bet you could go for a beer. Am I right?”

He smiled. “Yes, ma’am. I’d love one.”

“Help yourself. They’re in the fridge. You just make yourself at home while you’re here, okay?” she said over her shoulder as she reached into the cabinet to get some plates down.

“I’ll get it,” Angel offered.

“I got it,” Cole insisted, smiling and opening the refrigerator door. He pulled out two bottles and handed one to Angel. “You gonna join us, Miss Natalie?”

She turned and looked at him. “Well sure. I’ll have one.”

He smiled, handed her the other one, and reached in to grab another for himself.

“Let’s sit down. Let the roast cool for a minute or two while we drink these,” Natalie proposed. “I made pot roast. I hope you like roast, Cole.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “It smells great.”

“Let’s sit out on the patio. That way Cole can smoke,” Angel suggested and led the way out the French doors. There was a glass table with an umbrella over it and four chairs.

“Well, you had a long ride out here from California, huh?” Natalie asked, taking a seat.

Cole sat between her and Angel. “Yeah, a little over seven hundred miles. I broke it up, though. Rode half yesterday and stopped for the night. Today was mostly crossing the desert. I thought it would never end. I kept thinking if I break down out here, I’m a goner.”

“We laugh, but if you break down crossing the desert and you don’t have water with you, you’re in some serious trouble,” Natalie informed him.

“I believe that,” Cole agreed, lighting a cigarette. He turned to Angel. “You weren’t kidding about the beauty of the mountains around here. I felt like I was in a John Wayne movie or something.”

Angel smiled. “At least it’s not too hot this time of year.”

Cole took a hit off his beer. “Yeah. I hear it can get pretty bad during the summer.”

“Last summer it stayed over a hundred and ten degrees for a month straight,” Natalie said. “You didn’t want to leave the house until the sun went down. It got so hot that even the blacktop parking lot at the Food City got soft. My high heel sunk in it, and I had to take my foot out to pull my shoe loose. You should have seen me, hopping around on one foot, trying not to touch the hot pavement.”

Cole laughed. “You should come to California. We’ve got the cool ocean breezes.”

“That does sound heavenly.” Natalie smiled.

“You’d love it. You should make the trip sometime.” He smiled back.

“Maybe I’ll do that.”

“Well, you’ve always got a place to stay if you come,” Cole offered.

Natalie laughed, taking a drink of her beer. “Don’t be surprised if I take you up on the offer. I just may show up on your doorstep one day.”

“Not a problem,” Cole assured her.

“Did you have any trouble on the drive out here?” Angel asked.

Cole looked over at her. “Trouble?”

“You know, flat tire, a breakdown, whatever.”

“No. No problems.”

Natalie got up. “You two sit, drink your beer. I’m going to go in, check on TJ, and set the table.”

“I can do that.” Angel started to get up.

“Nonsense. You have company.” She turned and walked inside.

Cole turned to Angel. “Your aunt seems like a real sweetheart.”

Angel nodded. “Definitely. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

“So, you live with your aunt?” He nodded toward the house.

“Yes. She took me in when I came back home.”

Cole took a drink of his beer, studying her. “You didn’t go home to your dad?” He frowned.

She shook her head and sipped her beer. “His unmarried, pregnant daughter embarrassed him.”

“Aw, man. I’m sorry,” Cole said, setting his beer down. “I wish I’d known. Really.”

Angel nodded.

“Why didn’t you try to contact me? Let me know?” he asked quietly.

She shrugged. “The way it ended. Or at least the way I thought it ended, I didn’t figure you’d care.”

Cole looked away and shook his head. He took a hit off his cigarette.

“Do you want to go with me to the hospital tonight? Meet your daughter? Visiting hours last another two hours. If we eat now, we’ll have time.”

He looked back at her and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Come on. Let’s go eat.”

They walked inside. Natalie had set the table and was transferring the roast and potatoes to a platter.

“I’m going to go wash up, if you don’t mind,” Cole stated.

“Oh, of course. Go ahead,” Natalie replied.

When he came back, Angel noticed he had also put on a fresh shirt. He took a seat and asked, “Where’s TJ?”

“Oh, he ate earlier. He’s had a bit of a cold. I gave him some cold medicine, and it knocked him right out. He’s been asleep since right before you got here,” Angel explained as she passed him the platter.

He dished up a plateful and passed it to Natalie. Then he dug in.

Angel watched him eat.

“This is very good, ma’am,” he complimented Natalie.

“Well, you don’t be shy about helping yourself to seconds now,” she replied, beaming.

“I don’t usually get home cooking like this.”

“Really?” Natalie asked, sliding a look at Angel.

Just then Angel heard TJ crying and got up to check on him.

Cole turned and watched her leave.

“Angel knows her way around a kitchen, too.”

Cole smiled. “I’m sure she does.”

“She made apple pie for dessert.”

“Did she now? I’ll have to have some.”

Angel walked back in. “He fell back asleep.”

While they ate, Natalie told Cole about the area. Having grown up in Arizona, she knew just about everything there was to know about the state, including its history. Angel was afraid she was boring him, but Cole seemed truly interested. Even asking her questions now and then.

Natalie looked at the clock. “You better hurry if you’re going back up to the hospital tonight.”

“We are,” Angel replied.

Cole wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed it on his plate. “I’m ready when you are.”

She took their plates to the sink.

Cole stood and pushed his chair in. “That was delicious, ma’am. Thank you,” he complimented Natalie.

“Why, you’re welcome, Cole. It does my heart good to see a man eat.”

“Come on. I’ll drive,” Angel said, grabbing her purse off the counter.

“We’ll save the pie for when you get back,” Natalie called after them.

Cole followed Angel out to the driveway. She climbed into an older model SUV. Cole got in the passenger seat. She backed out and headed down the street.

“Not exactly the type of vehicle I pictured you driving,” Cole remarked.

Angel turned to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean considering your job selling high-end imports—”

She cut him off. “I had a company car, but I lost that job.”

He looked over at her. “What? Why?”

“They said I missed too much time off work. They’re probably right. Between Melissa’s treatments, and hospitalizations, and flying out to California—”

“What a bunch of assholes. Your kid’s fucking sick. Don’t they even give a shit?”

“Well—”

Cole continued on, “Can they even do that? Isn’t there some kind of protection against an employer doing that?”

Angel shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t have the time or money to fight them right now. I have to concentrate on Melissa and getting her through this. I can’t deal with anything else.”

“What about your health insurance?” he asked.

“Well, I had to pick up the full premium to continue it. It’s gonna run my savings down pretty quick. Between that and the medical bills that I already owe, I’ll probably have to declare bankruptcy.”

“Damn, baby. That sucks.”

“But this is a happy day,” she said, turning to look at him. “You’re here, and Melissa is going to get her transplant tomorrow.”

He nodded.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital. Angel parked in the parking garage, and they headed toward the skywalk that would take them across the street to the hospital. Cole stopped before they left the open air parking deck.

“Can you give me a minute?” he asked Angel. She turned to look at him. She hoped he wasn’t changing his mind now.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I just don’t like hospitals. Never have.” He lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag off it.

Angel crossed her arms. “You have got to be kidding me?”

He shook his head.

“Your daughter has been through more crap and been so brave about it, and the big bad biker can’t even walk in the building?”

He took a hit off his cigarette. “Thanks for making me feel like a complete jerk.”

“Get over it.”

He looked at her and took another hit off his cigarette.

“We have a saying out here, ‘cowboy up’. Know what it means?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

“Well?”

He tossed the cigarette down. “Yeah. Okay.”

She led the way.

He followed her through the maze of hallways and nurse’s stations, amazed that she could remember where to go. He couldn’t have found the room with a map and a GPS. They took an elevator, and he found himself on the pediatric floor. Everything was painted in bright colors, and there were cartoon drawings on the walls. Angel stopped in front of a door that had pictures of kittens taped to it.

“Ready?” she asked.

He nodded. She opened the door and walked in. He followed behind her, taking in the room. There were two beds in the room. Angel walked to the second bed.

A small, practically bald child turned to look. Cole could see where her hair had started to grow back after the treatments had ended. He understood she was now in remission and was only back in the hospital for the preparatory treatments needed for the transplant. Her head was covered in a blonde, downy softness that reminded him of a baby chick. He watched as her face lit up in a smile when she saw her mommy. Her thin little arms lifted up, reaching for her.

“Hi, baby girl. Mommy’s here,” she said, bending down to hug her tight.

Cole looked around at the IV’s and monitors surrounding the bed.

Just then a nurse came through the door and checked on the other patient in the first bed. Then she came around the curtain that separated the beds.

“She’s had a real good night so far, Ms. Wells. Ate most of her dinner, too.” The nurse checked her IV bag.

“That’s great, Mary. Any nausea?”

“Some, but that’s to be expected. Is this our donor?” Mary asked.

Angel turned to Cole. “Yes. He’s the one.”

“It’s a good day. A real good day,” Mary said. “We’re all real glad you’re here, sir.”

She headed out the door.

Angel sat on the bed next to her daughter. “Melissa, this is a friend of Mommy’s. He came all the way from California just to see you.”

Melissa’s wide eyes looked over at him.

Cole looked at his daughter. “Hi, sweetie.”

She just stared at him.

“I hope you feel better real soon, okay?” he said, reaching down to rub her little hand.

She nodded, and her eyes looked sleepy.

Angel reached down and kissed her forehead. She dropped off to sleep. Angel sat with her, rubbing her hand over the soft hair on top of Melissa’s head.

Cole could see the love she felt. He looked again at the sick little girl lying in the bed. His daughter. His eyes started to fill with tears. He walked out of the room.

There were fifteen more minutes until visiting hours were over, and Angel stayed with Melissa until they were up. Then she stepped quietly out of the room.

Cole was leaning against the wall, just outside the door.

“You okay?” she asked. He looked over at her, and she saw the torment in his eyes. He shook his head.

“I don’t know what I expected. She looks so weak and helpless.”

“The leukemia is in remission from the chemotherapy. That’s why she’s okay to have the transplant now. But part of the conditioning or preparative regime for the transplant is that she has had to go through several days of chemo to make room for new marrow. The dosages are stronger, and they are really kicking her little butt. She’s really weak right now, and it’s also making her irritable and nauseated. The catheter you saw? It’s the central venous line they inserted into a vein in her chest just above her heart to administer her meds and blood, if they need to. Tomorrow the marrow will be infused intravenously just like blood, right there in her room.”

He stared at her, amazed. “How do you do it?”

She shrugged. “I do what I have to. I don’t have a choice. I’m all she’s got.”

“No.” Cole shook his head. “Not anymore.”

Angel lost it then. She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Her face crumpled. He pulled her into his arms.

“Not anymore,” she choked out, her face buried in his chest.

 

***

They drove back to the house. Neither one of them said much on the way. Angel pulled into the drive and parked. She turned the engine off and sat.

Cole looked over at her.

“I just want you to know how much I appreciate you doing this for her,” she said, reaching over and touching his hand.

He looked down at their hands. “Of course. She’s my daughter.”

She nodded. “I know. But there are men who wouldn’t have.”

He raised his eyes to hers. “I’d have done it for you, even if she wasn’t mine.”

She closed her eyes, and then turned and got out.

He followed her inside.

“Come on.” She led him into the kitchen. “Sit.”

He sat. A minute later she set a piece of pie and a glass of milk in front of him.

“Thanks.” He looked up at her.

She got her own and sat next to him.

He took a bite and looked over at her. “Not bad,” he commented.

She smiled, a suspicious look in her eye. “Did Natalie tell you I made this?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t. She did.”

“Hmm. How ‘bout that. Lied straight to my face.” He smiled at her. “Wonder why she did that?” he asked, knowing the answer. “She must think I like pie.” He shoved another forkful in his mouth. “Hmm. Yum.”

Angel rolled her eyes.

“Does she do that with all the men you bring home?”

“All the men?” she repeated.

“You know what I mean. Your dates.” He took another bite of pie.

“Dates? Who has time?”

“Come on. There have to be men coming around you like bees to honey.”

She shrugged. “A few.”

He nodded. “Anyone serious?”

“There was. Not anymore.”

“What happened?” Cole murmured, not liking the troubled expression that had crept into her eyes. And really not liking that there had been someone serious.

“He couldn’t handle it. My having a sick child.”

Cole looked at her and nodded. Then trying to lighten the mood, he grinned and said, “You should have told him to ‘Cowboy up’.”

She laughed and shook her head.

“He was the wrong man for you anyway.” Cole shoved another forkful of pie in his mouth.

Angel huffed out a breath. “How would you know?”

“Because he wasn’t me, babe.” He smiled at her with a mouthful of pie. “Did I tell you this is really good pie?”

 

***

 

That night, Cole lie on the bed in the guestroom, the small bedside lamp burning. It was near midnight, but sleep eluded him. His shirt was off, and his jeans were unzipped. He had opened the sliding glass door that led out to the patio to let some cool night air in. He lay smoking a cigarette, staring at the ceiling, soft music playing on the stereo.

He heard a tap at the door and glanced at it. He put his cigarette out and got up, zipping up his jeans as he crossed to the door. He opened it, and there stood Angel wearing an old football jersey that fell to her thigh. She had her arms crossed over her chest.

Cole leaned against the doorframe and smiled down at her. “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”

“I… I saw your light on. Can I come in?”

“Yeah. Sure,” he said softly and stepped back.

She moved into the room.

He closed the door with a soft click, his eyes studying her. “Cute outfit.”

She looked down. “The jersey? I’ve had it since high school.”

“Dated a football player, huh?”

“Yeah.” She smiled, walking farther into the room. His wallet, keys, helmet, and riding glasses were lying on top of the low dresser, along with the handgun he was never far from. Her hand skimmed over them, lightly touching each item.

He watched her silently.

She turned back to face him. Seeing the questioning look on his face, she searched for something to say. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”

He looked away and blew out a breath, shrugging.

Angel knew he wouldn’t admit it if he was. “You don’t have to be, you know. They’ll put you under. Then after it’s over, you’ll have some soreness in your lower back, some tiredness and—”

He cut her off. “I know. They explained it all to me at the facility in California.”

She nodded. “Good.”

Cole looked at her, wondering if hospital details was why she’d really come to his room. Hoping it wasn’t.

“So, you know you may not be able to ride for a week or two. But we’ll take good care of you until you’re—” She broke off as he approached her slowly.

“You’ll be my own personal nurse?” He smiled. “Does that include sponge baths, darlin’?”

She looked away, unable to meet the look in his eyes. Afraid he would see what his nearness was doing to her. “I hardly think that will be necessary.”

“I guess we’ll just have to see how I do.”

She looked back to the things on the dresser and began to fiddle with them. “I…I just wanted to thank you again for what you’re going to do for us tomorrow.”

“She’s my daughter, too, Angel. You don’t have to thank me for anything. It’s what I’m supposed to do. What I want to do.”

She nodded, looking down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound—”

He slowly closed the distance between them. Stopping just in front of her, so close she had to look up at him. His hand closed over hers, stilling its movement.

Her eyes traveled over his bare chest, his arms hanging at his sides, the jeans unbuttoned showing the line of hair that ran from his navel and disappeared below his belt.

Cole watched her gaze move over him, and a ribbon of desire snaked through him. His hand withdrew from hers, and he made no further move to touch her. She was going to have to make the first move this time. Although considering she had just come to his room dressed in only a football jersey, maybe she was making the first move.

Angel hesitated, looking up at him.

His eyes darkened.

There was so much she didn’t know about him anymore. That girl she’d seen him with, was he with her? Was he with anyone?

He saw the uncertainty in her face. “You don’t need an excuse to come to me. You know that don’t you?”

She looked in his eyes. “Don’t I?” she asked in a whisper.

He shook his head. “No,” he murmured.

Her eyes skimmed over his muscles. My God, but he was beautiful.

He took a deep breath, letting her look her fill. “You gonna touch me with your hands the way you’re touching’ me with those eyes, sweetheart? Cause the anticipation is drivin’ me wild.” He took a step toward her, and she backed up. He followed until her back came up against the wall. He stared intently into her eyes. “Touch me.”

She stared back at him and swallowed. “I…I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”

He watched the rise and fall of her chest as her breath quickened. His gaze moved back to her eyes. She was staring at his chest. “You want to. You know you do. I can see it in the way you’re lookin’ at me, Angel.”

She shook her head. “No, I should go. I—”

He slid his hands up on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her. “Look. See, no hands.” He stared down at her, their mouths just a few inches apart. “I won’t touch you. I promise.”

She turned her head, her nose practically touching his bicep. Her eyes followed along his arm, across his shoulder, up his neck to his eyes. “You’ll keep your hands on the wall?”

He held her gaze and whispered, “I swear.”

“No matter what?”

He grinned. What did she have in mind? “No matter what. Until you say different.”

She took a deep breath and reached up with both hands. She touched his wrists and moved her hands gently over his forearms, his biceps, and then his shoulders. She watched the muscles in his neck move as he swallowed. Her hands caressed his neck, one on either side, sliding up to cup his face.

His eyes slid closed, and he turned his face into the palm of her left hand, touching her the only way he could, rubbing against it, pressing a kiss to the center of her palm. He turned back and looked at her.

He dipped his head down to kiss her mouth, but she pulled back and shook her head. “Uh-uh. I’m in control this time.”

He pulled back and looked into her eyes, waiting.

She leaned in and kissed his neck right below his left ear.

He groaned, and his eyes slid closed. He tilted his head to the side, giving her more access. Her lips were soft, and then her tongue flicked out and touched his skin, and he groaned again. He felt her hands move down over his chest, and his eyes came open, and he looked down, watching her hands move over him. My God, he didn’t realize how difficult this was going to be. He already wanted to pull his hands away from the wall and pull her into his arms, wanted her body pressed up against his.

She bent her head and followed her hands with her lips.

His eyes slid shut again.

Her hands moved slowly down along his sides, and then across his stomach.

He instinctively sucked in as her ticklish touch moved to his navel, and then he opened his eyes and watched as her fingers followed the line of hair that disappeared into his jeans. His eyes connected with hers. He held them as she dropped her hands to his zipper and unzipped it. Then her hands slipped inside and pushed his jeans down. He wore nothing under them. She bent and pushed till they hit the floor. He stepped out of them, kicking them aside. Her hands trailed up his legs, and he sucked in his breath. She stood, her hands running along his bare hips, touching him everywhere but where he wanted her to touch him most.

He looked into her eyes. “You’re killing me, babe. Let me touch you.”

She smiled at him, enjoying the effect she was having on him, glad her touch was able to arouse him this much. She wanted to drive him wild with desire until he wanted her as much as she wanted him. It thrilled her to know the power she welded over him at this moment. “Not yet.”

She saw the muscles in his jaw move.

“Do you have any idea how hard this is?” His palms clenched into fists.

She looked down over his body, and then back into his eyes and smiled. “I can see how hard it is.”

“Yeah, and it’s all for you, sweetheart. Let me give it to you.” He leaned into her and nuzzled her neck, inhaling her intoxicating fragrance.

She shook her head and stepped under his left arm, moving around behind him.

He started to pull his arms from the wall, thinking she’d quit this game.

“Put your hands back. You swore,” she said sharply.

He complied, glancing back over his left shoulder at her. Watching her. He felt her hands moving over his back, and then lower over his ass. She clenched her hands, kneading him. Then she reached around him, running her hands along his pelvic bones and down his inner thighs, teasing him mercilessly, driving him to the brink with wanting. A tremor ran through his arms as he leaned on them, pushing against the wall. “Be careful,” he warned with one eyebrow raised.

She pulled her hands back around to his sides and kissed her way along his back, moving around to his right.

He turned his head to look over his right shoulder, following her with his eyes.

“Or what?” she asked.

“Or you’ll be sorry when I finally get my hands on you, baby doll,” he whispered with a grin.

She ducked under his right arm, standing in front of him again. She slid her hands up his chest, pausing ever so briefly on his nipples. She leaned up and kissed her way up his neck. She whispered in his ear. “How will I be sorry?”

He looked down into her eyes, and then leaned down, bringing his mouth to her ear and whispered, “I’ll tell you how. I’ll bring you to the very edge of an orgasm, baby. And I’ll keep you there, not quite letting you have it. For every minute you make me wait, I swear I’ll make you wait an hour.”

She stared up into his eyes. Did he mean it?

“I keep my promises, Angel.”

The thought thrilled her, and she pulled his head down for a long kiss. When they came up for air, she whispered, “What would you do right now if I let you touch me?”

He leaned down, bringing his mouth to her ear and whispered back, “I’d yank that jersey over your head. I’d spin you around to face the wall, and I’d drive into you, hard, all the way to the hilt, baby.”

Her breathing quickened. “But you won’t do that, will you? That’s not what I want.”

He lifted his head from her ear and looked deep into her eyes. “I could make you want that.”

She saw the smoldering look in his eyes, the desire burning in him. She shook her head. “No,” she panted.

He nodded. “Yes. You know I could.”

She stared up at him, knowing he was right.

He watched her tongue dart out and lick her lips nervously. It was his undoing. “Tell me what you want then, and I’ll give it to you,” he hissed through clenched teeth, his forehead dropping to press against hers. “Whatever you want, baby. I swear.”

“I want it gentle, Cole. I want you to be gentle with me.”

“Then I’ll be gentle. I swear. Fuck, I’ll do whatever you want, baby. Just let me touch you, please.”

“Yes.”

“Yes?” His head came up, and he studied her eyes.

She nodded.

His hands slid from the wall. He was breathing hard now. She’d teased him to the brink. And still he made no move to touch her. Now that she’d released him from his vow, he hesitated.

She looked up at him questioningly. She touched his face with the palm of her hand and leaned up and kissed him softly. Her mouth moved to his neck, just below his ear. “Do you know that kissing you on that spot, right there, really drives me wild?” she whispered, pulling back to look up at him.

He looked down at her with glittering eyes. He couldn’t stop himself from taking her face in his hands and claiming her mouth with his.

Her hands ran over the muscles in his upper arms.

He lifted his head and looked down into her eyes. There was something he had to know first. “Tell me you didn’t come here out of gratitude, that this isn’t some type of payment for tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “I’m here because I can’t stay away. Because I lie in my bed and can’t stop myself from thinking about…” She swallowed. “About your hands on me—”

His kiss cut off her words. It was all he needed to hear. He kissed her with all the pent up need he’d felt since she’d walked back into his life, since he’d first seen her standing there next to that SUV a couple of weeks ago. He broke off long enough to whisper, “You look about sixteen in that jersey.”

She reached up to kiss him again.

“Take it off,” he demanded, his voice husky with need. And then, before she could respond, his hands were reaching for the hem and pulling it up over her head.

She sucked in a breath at suddenly being exposed. She watched his eyes darken with desire as they moved over her.

His eyes came back to hers, and he swallowed. “Turn around.” He couldn’t resist. He had to know. He needed to see if the tattoo was still there.

She slowly turned around.

His gaze dropped to the small of her back. He smiled. “It’s still there. You didn’t remove it or cover it.”

She looked back and shook her head.

He ran his hand over it, his fingers lightly tracing the outline.

Angel’s eyes fell closed at his touch, and her mouth opened slightly.

His eyes followed his fingers. “I’m glad. I wondered. That night in the motel room, it was all I could do to keep from pulling your blouse up to look.” He looked up at her then and saw the effect his touch was having on her. He turned her back around and gathered her to him, tossing the shirt aside. They met chest-to-chest, bare skin to bare skin.

Angel’s hands came down on his shoulders.

He leaned down and kissed her, his hands running over her. He turned and backed her up until her legs hit the bed, and then he pushed her back onto it. He came down on top of her, kissing her deeply.

As she felt his weight on her, she gasped.

Cole felt her suck in a breath as she pulled back from the kiss. He rose slightly and looked into her eyes. He gently brushed the hair back from her face and whispered, “I’ll be gentle, baby. I swear.”

She nodded. “I know. It’s just that…it’s been a while for me.”

“You mean sex?”

She nodded.

“When?” He studied her, waiting for her answer. “When was the last time? Tell me.”

“You,” she whispered.

He sucked in a breath as the joy her answer gave him surged through him. And suddenly this became all about her. Her needs. Her pleasure. Vowing to himself to make her long wait worth the while, he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her softly, trailing kisses down her throat to the valley between her breasts. And then his mouth was climbing to her nipple. Her hands ran over his hair and framed his face, pulling him closer. He sucked on it, and her back arched off the bed. His strong arms slid under her, holding her exposed to his mouth. He took his time, driving her to the brink, over and over.

Angel’s hands tangled into his hair, holding him to her.

He trailed his hand slowly down her belly and between her legs. His fingers slid into her, finding her wet. He rose up and looked at her. “Baby, I’ve missed this.” His hand clenched, practically lifting her up. “This right here.”

She moaned, undulating beneath him.

His thumb brushed softly over her, back and forth, back and forth, and she arched, her hips lifting. “You like that, baby doll? I remember. I remember how you like it.” His fingers worked her for a long time, until she was thrashing.

“Please, Cole.”

“What do you want, baby? You’ve got to tell me. Do you want my mouth?”

“You inside me. Please.”

“Not yet, Angel.”

“Please. I can’t take anymore.”

“Yes, you can. You teased me, now it’s my turn.”

“Cole, please, baby. I need you. It’s been so long.” Her body writhed beneath his touch.

“It has, baby. Way too long.” He took her hand and wrapped it around him. “Feel that, baby? You’ve got me hard as a rock. Once I get inside you, I don’t know how long I’m gonna last.”

“Please, Cole.”

“Okay, baby doll. Okay. I want inside just as bad.” He slid his hand to her inner thigh and spread her wide. His hips came down between them, and it felt like coming home. He slid into her with one deep, wet stroke. “God, Angel. This is where I belong. This is where I’ve always belonged.”

She clutched at his shoulders, wanting to be closer still.

He lifted off her slightly and looked down to where their bodies were joined. He watched as he slid slowly out and back into her.

It was the most erotic thing she’d ever seen. Watching him as he watched them join.

He looked up and caught her. “It’s sexy as fuck, baby, watching your body take me.”

She just nodded, rocking with the movement of his body.

He settled more solidly against her, up on his elbows, his biceps surrounding her. He looked down and brushed the hair back from her face as he rocked against her. “How’s my baby?”

“So good. So, so, good.”

His mouth came down on hers, and he tucked his forearm under her knee and spread her wider, changing the angle, increasing the depth.

Her mouth tore from his. “Oh, God, Cole. Yes.”

His thrusts became harder. Faster.

She met him stroke for stroke, taking what he gave her.

“I know I said I’d be gentle, baby doll, but all I want to do right now is pound into you as hard as I can, as hard as you’ll let me.”

“Yes, Cole. Do it.”

“Is that how you want it, baby? Really want it?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

“I’ll give you everything I’ve got, if you’ll take it. Can you take it, baby?”

“Yes.”

He slammed into her, again and again and again. Over and over until his body was slick with sweat. “Fuck, baby. You feel so Goddamn good.”

Her orgasm exploded, and she clutched at him, groaning.

He felt her body clench around him, and he drove into her, once, twice more, and went rock solid against her as he, too, went off. He collapsed on top of her, his breathing fast and hard.

Her arms wrapped around him, holding him tight, loving the feel of his weight on her. She stroked his back as his breathing settled.

“Nine days,” he whispered, his head still buried against the side of hers.

“What?” she whispered back, confused.

He raised his head and looked at her, repeating, “Nine days.”

She frowned, searching his eyes, knowing that was how long they’d been together when they’d first met. Still, she asked, “Nine days?”

“That’s how long it took for you to get your hooks in me, babe.” He searched her eyes. “And they were in deep. So deep I couldn’t get free if I tried. And I tried. I did try.” His fingers slid into the hair at her temple, his thumb stroked her brow, his eyes moving over her face. “Tried to walk away from you that night.”

“Why?” she asked softly.

His eyes returned to hers. “How could I be what you needed?”

“Cole.”

“Couldn’t do it, babe.”

“You came back that night.”

“I came back, because I had to. I had to, babe. Do you understand?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“You were mine, Angel. But I was yours, too.”

She sucked in a breath.

He stroked her head. “I remember the exact moment it happened.”

“Tell me.”

“It was after the tattoo. That next morning, when I’d thought I’d lost you. Thought you’d never get past it. Thought all we had was gone. I woke up, and you were stroking my head softly. Gently. Lovingly. You were giving me that. You had it in you to give me that, after everything. After I’d let you down so completely, failed you so totally. You still had it in you to give me that. No one has ever shown me that, the love that was in that simple gesture.”

“Cole, please. Stop talking,” she whispered, tears seeping from her eyes, across her temple, into her hair.

His thumb brushed at them. “Can’t, babe. Gotta say it. You gotta know. You had me, in that one moment, in that one gesture. I was yours, completely.”

Her hands slid up to cup his face, and she pulled him down until his mouth settled over hers.