CHAPTER 17

Cole stirred the hot cocoa on the stove and wondered how he was going to explain to Rose what he felt.

Ever since he had left Seth and Fawn’s place, he had tried to think up touchy-feely words, he still didn’t have any.

He poured the cocoa in two mugs and joined Rose in the living room.

“Here.” He said as she took the cup. “Mom’s recipe.”

“Thanks.” She murmured. Cole could sense her agitation about having to spend the night at his place.

“I know you’re mad at me about having to spend the night here?” He said sitting down. The homey scent of cocoa filled the air between them but that didn’t mean the agitation wasn’t palpable.

“Really?” Rose asked cocking her eyebrows. “You think I’m mad because you basically ambushed me to spend the night here after what happened this morning?”

“Look, I know I screwed up this morning. I’ve got the blisters to prove it.” Cole said watching her. He could almost swear he noticed the corners of her mouth tugging into a smile. “But I’ve been thinking you understood me wrong.”

Rose narrowed her eyes and sat forward on the couch. “You basically offered to buy me a house anywhere but here since I’d be affecting the value of your property. Or you just don’t want to see me every time you come here. Either way, I’m not leaving.”

Cole sighed. “I don’t want you too. That’s the thing.”

“What thing?”

“The thing I couldn’t say this morning and I’m still not sure how to. I don’t want you gone, I want you safe. Fawn said I should use touchy-feely words that women like, but I’ve got none of those.”

“Try your regular ones.” Rose said taking a sip of cocoa watching him through the steam that rose from the cup.

“I like you. Not in the let’s have sex kind of way but in a different way. I’ve never liked anyone in that way before.”

“So you don’t want to have sex with me?” Rose’s asked confused, brow furrowed.

“Shit! I’m screwing this up again. At least don’t run out this time until I’ve at least tried to explain myself.”

“Fine, but please try harder.”

Cole stood up and paced the length of the living room. “I liked having sex with you. A lot. The thing is I never want to have sex again with the same woman, with you that’s different. I’d like to have sex with you again.”

Rose nodded slowly encouraging him to go on.

“I’ve never been away on business and sat through meetings wondering what a woman was doing, I’ve never wanted to protect someone and I’ve never wanted to get to know a woman better. All that is different with you.”

When Rose didn’t speak or jump up and run out, Cole sat down again; this time next to her.

He turned, taking her cup and set it down on the table. “I don’t know how to do this. I’ve been avoiding anything close to this for most of my life, and now I find myself in a situation I have no idea how to handle.”

“Cole…” Rose said softly.

“No let me finish…” Cole said even as her hands took his face.

“We can finish this later.” Her voice was hoarse with desire as she moved over him. Her scent drugged him as he felt her soft lips press against his.

For a moment Cole wanted to pull back. Wanted to try placing his emotions in words…but that could wait.

He tugged Rose onto him as he laid back on the couch, weaving his fingers into her soft hair. Her soft curves molded against his hard planes.

Desire stronger than ever before coursed through Cole as he swept into her mouth. She tasted of sweet cocoa and the mystery that was Rose. His hands left her hair to run over her back before ending on her firm behind. He squeezed, wanting to feel more.

The brief action pressed her heated core against his firm length, Rose let out a soft moan pouring fuel on the fire that was already raging in him.

He slipped his fingers into the elastic of her pajama bottom, dragging it down.

Rose gasped as the cool air met her flesh.

Cole grabbed her and flipped her so that she was below. Her eyes wide with surprise, cloudy with desire, focused on him as a sexy smile played on her mouth.

“You’re rough tonight.” She teased as she slipped her hands under his sweatshirt.

Cole loved the feel of her soft hands stroking him. “Tell me to stop, I’m too wound up I’m going to hurt you.”

Rose let out a soft laugh and pulled him closer. “You won’t hurt me, I don’t break that easy.” Her hand closed around his hard length and Cole had only a moment to wonder when she had slipped her hand in his pants before his mind went blank…

She slowly ran her hand up and down, pumping him before teasing the tip of his cock with her nail.

“Easy there…” Cole gasped.

“Why, afraid I’m going to hurt you?” She asked with innocent wide eyes.

Before Rose could say another word, Cole bunched her pajama top in his hands and ripped it open, leaving her exposed.

The sound of fabric tearing ripped through the house just before Cole took a peaked nipple into his mouth.

Rose moaned, but he didn’t stop.

He moved down her body, sucking, licking and nipping until she was quivering.

As he reached her centre she bucked in response to his touch, he merely smiled as he pulled down her pajama bottoms. He lightly flicked his tongue over her sensitive flesh when she gasped.

Knowing she was close, Cole reached for his wallet on the table and withdrew a foil wrapper.

The condom was on in less than five seconds. He pulled the sweatshirt over his head and settled between her thighs, his sweatpants riding his ankles.

Rose’s eyes were wide as he softly nudged her entrance. Cole smiled wickedly as he slowly slid inside, this time would be different.

He rocked her back and forth until her breath came in short gasps. He felt her body start to quiver as the wave built towards release.

Cole kept his pace steady, tonight wasn’t for a quick release, tonight he wanted to show her with his actions rather than his words what she meant to him.

As her body quacked around his, he felt his own start to waver.

They reached the crescent together, bucking and thrusting for more as all thoughts of murderers were swept from their minds.

When the quivers had succeeded and Rose sighed beneath him, Cole’s mind went down unchartered avenues. Avenues he had never considered before. Avenues that included Rose, the Hamptons and possibly something that closely resembled a relationship. The one thing Cole had always avoided.

With Rose, Cole didn’t want to avoid it any longer.