Part 20 (2/2)

”Cole.” She looked up at him. ”It was the most intimate moment we've shared. I felt part of you. And yes, I want to do it again and again. And-”

He interrupted her with a deep chuckle. ”How did I ever spend one day without you?”

”I don't intend for you to spend any more that way,” Tara a.s.sured him, feeling his heart beat beneath her cheek as she cuddled against his chest.

Three days seemed to fly past them as if they were only seconds. On their last night, after sharing a bottle of wine, brie and crackers, they stretched out in front of the fireplace one final time.

”I want this to work out for us, Tara.” Cole's voice was serious. ”I've wanted you for so long. You can't know how much I love you. I promised you I'd try with the little girl and I will, but what if I can't make it work?”

”Cole, if two people love each other, they can find ways to work through things. And I believe we love each other enough to do that. You've let me into your life. We've shared our secrets and realize the love we have is strong enough to withstand anything. You'll never lose me.

The rest we'll just figure out as we go along.” She lifted her face to him. ”I'm in for the long haul, cowboy. You won't be getting rid of me any time soon.”

”Thank G.o.d.” He smiled at her lazily. ”Let me show you how thankful I am.”

He kissed her then. He tasted of wine and the fire and the woods, a strong male essence she wanted to swallow and keep inside of herself forever. She rubbed her hand over the coa.r.s.e stubble on his chin, loving the rough, uneven feel of it against her palm. She unb.u.t.toned his s.h.i.+rt, wanting to feel every inch of him. She buried her fingertips in the crisp mat of hair on his chest, teasing his nipples with the tips of her nails then putting her mouth on them to suckle as he did so often to her.

She felt coc.o.o.ned in a warm place in life, free at last from the guilt and misery that had imprisoned her for so long. Now, she had a future with a man who loved her beyond anything, who made her body sing with pleasure and who brought her sunlight and roses. Right now, she was intent on giving some of that pleasure back to him.

Then it was his turn to feast. He took a long time tasting and kissing her skin. He devoted himself to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, teasing her nipples, working at them, not touching any other part of her.

He felt her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tighten and cupped his palms around the taut mounds. She was so delicious his p.e.n.i.s responded with a will of its own and he had to fight for control.

Tara moved restlessly against him, and Cole slid one hand lower on her body, palming her mound, moving his fingers against her. He used his lips and tongue and fingers expertly, touching all the right places, drawing out each sensation.

She moaned against and he took it as a sign to him that she wanted more.

”Is that good, darlin'?” he asked, his voice raw with desire.

”Yes, yes.” She could hardly speak.

He kissed her navel, swirling his tongue, pulling at it with his lips. And all the while, his fingers worked their magic between her legs. Little feathers of sensation chased up and down her spine and the pulse deep in her center began to thrum again. Her body didn't belong to her anymore. It was his, and he was totally possessing it.

He held her suspended, his tongue tracing patterns everywhere, his fingers tormenting her.

She wanted him inside her, needed his thrusting to help her reach her peak, but he deliberately held her back. When he slid his fingers, wet with her juices, into the cleft of her b.u.t.tocks, she gasped and a little spasm rippled through her.

”Right now,” she panted. ”Please, Cole. Now.”

But he just continued to tantalize her with the tips of his fingers, circling and provoking.

She tried to urge him inside her, but he shook his head.

”Slow, darlin'. Very, very slow. We have all night.”

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax. Her body was turning into one gigantic nerve, humming with antic.i.p.ation.

”Tell me,” he ordered.

”Tell you what?” She couldn't think. Her mind was fogged.

”Tell me,” he commanded, harsher this time, and she knew what he meant.

”I...love...you.”

”Again. Say it again.”

”I love you,” she screamed. What was he doing to her? She could hardly form words, so intense was the desire coursing through her body. ”I love you,” she gasped.

”I love you, too, Tara. You are my life. You're mine. You belong to me. Say it.” His mouth claimed hers in a demanding kiss.

”Yes, yes, yes, I belong to you,” she panted against his lips. ”Always, always. Please, please, please.”

He held her teetering on the edge so long he knew every nerve in her body screamed for relief. She strained for the release that eluded her. Sweat made her skin s.h.i.+ne in the muted light, and she fought to catch her breath. Her entire body trembled and shook with need yet he kept on and on.

He watched her through glittering eyes, captivated by her look of total abandonment, thrilled that the look was for him. Her head arched back, and she pushed against his hand as he used all his skill to draw her o.r.g.a.s.m out as long as he could. Her entire body shuddered and shook.

”Please, please,” she begged again, wanting more, wanting him to fill her.

Then, when he knew she could stand no more, he gave her what she needed and entered her. She convulsed around him, and his climax came almost at once. They both shook from the intensity of it, consumed by the fierce joining of their bodies.

He collapsed on top of her, drained, every bit of breath sucked out of his body. When he could raise his head, he looked into her eyes and was captured by what he saw there. He had always been a man of great s.e.xual appet.i.tes, but for most of his life, what he experienced had been little more than a physical exercise. With Maggie, everything became a perversion. But with Tara, it was a blending of souls as well as bodies. A shared giving. Not even in his dreams had he thought he would find this kind of happiness. He swore he would do his best not to lose it.

”I hate to think of leaving tomorrow,” Tara said. ”This has been incredible.”

”You like it here?” he asked.

”Oh, yes. No wonder Jake sold his house in town. This whole area is magic.”

He leaned down and kissed her. ”I agree. Let's enjoy every minute we have left here.”

Tomorrow, he'd have another surprise for her, and he hoped she'd be as excited as he was.

Chapter Fourteen.

Tara looked through the car window with mixed regret and excitement as they pulled away from the cabin. She felt sure that these few days had really cemented the marriage and turned a bizarre bargain into a real relations.h.i.+p. Too bad, they couldn't have stayed longer, maybe have brought Molly out to be with them. She had a distinct feelings that, in someplace other than that house filled with bitter memories, Cole would be able to find his way back to the little girl.

Closing her eyes and giving herself over to the motion of the car, she jolted upright when she realized they had stopped. She had no idea where they were except they were parked off the road between huge oaks. Nothing looked familiar.

She looked at Cole, confused. ”Where are we?”

”About two miles from Lindsey and Jake.” He grinned at her. ”I told Jake what I wanted and had him scout it out.” He went around and opened the car door for her, then urged her forward until she realized they were standing at the top of a hill. ”Ten acres, with a creek running through it and plenty of s.p.a.ce for a home, a yard, maybe even a couple of horses. You've got a horse farm to the right and a small cattle ranch to the left.” He turned to her, anxiety written on his face. ”What do you think?”

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