Page 16 of Forbidden Flame

“It’s the truth.” If she was my girl, I’d say it so much; she’d believe it.

“You make me feel beautiful.”

I lowered my lips to her. “Then I’ve done my job.”

Then we were lost to the sensation of my cock moving inside her, the brush of our bodies against each other, and the delicious friction.

This time when she went over, I let go with her. I lowered my weight over her body and felt the thumping of her heart.

“I don’t want to let you go.”

“But we have to,” she said as she tightened her arms around me.

How could I feel so much after one night?

We lay like that for a while. Neither of us was in a hurry to move. Although I sensed that she needed to be home tonight for her daughter, I couldn’t bring myself to make the first move.

Chapter 4

Daphne

The air was cool, and my back was stiff. There was a heavy weight on my chest, pressing me into the hard ground. I wasn’t in my bed. I sat up, dislodging the pressure on my chest. The blanket fell away, and the air drifted over my bare skin causing me to shiver.

“Come back,” Cole mumbled.

I looked down at him. His eyes were closed, and his bare chest was inviting. I wanted to sink over him and take him inside of me, imprinting on his heart, but I needed to get home. “What time is it?”

I scrambled to find the phone I hadn’t worried about the entire night. My dad was watching Izzy, but if she got sick or needed me… I fumbled with my cell, eventually putting in the security code and searching for messages.

Teddy had texted to be careful and call if I needed anything. But there was nothing else. It was two in the morning.

“Cole, I need to go home.”

He rolled to his side. “I don’t want to get up.”

“I don’t either. I’m worried that Izzy might wake up and need me.”

“I’m moving.” Cole hauled himself to his feet and put on his clothes. I did the same.

“I’ll clean up tomorrow. Let’s get you home.”

“I feel bad leaving it like this.”

“Marley wouldn’t want you to clean up with your daughter at home.”

“You’re right.”

We finished gathering our things, and Cole turned off the heaters. We headed toward the truck. It seemed closer than it had getting here. With every step, I felt the lightness of the evening giving way to the harsh reality of my life.

Izzy would be awake early and wanting to go all day. I had orders to fulfill with the holidays rapidly approaching.

Cole reached over and took my hand. “Stop thinking so hard over there.”

“It’s difficult to let everything go.”

“We managed to for a few hours.” At his truck, he pulled me against him. “Thank you for the night. It was the best first date ever.”

I couldn’t help but notice he’d referred to the evening as a date when I’d been telling myself it was a one-night stand.

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