Page 9 of Forbidden Flame

He swallowed. “I only showed up to support my cousins. I didn’t intend to bid on anyone. I wasn’t looking for anything. I’m busy with the farm and Heath’s contracting business.”

I liked that I was unexpected. That he hadn’t intended to want me, but he did.

“I didn’t want one of those other guys to get you. And I wanted to know if that connection we had so many years ago was still there.”

“So you said. What do you think now?”

He chuckled, the sound reverberating through my body. “We have chemistry in spades.”

“But neither of us wants or needs a relationship.” I hated to point it out, but it was true.

“We weren’t looking for anything, but—”he lifted his hips so that his dick ground against my core—“feel where we are?”

Heat rushed through my body as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Uh-huh.”

“I don’t want to rush things, but at the same time, I want to do what feels good.” His voice was low and rumbled through my chest.

“Me too.” I felt a little breathless and needy.

“Let’s get to know each other, maybe eat, and then see what happens.”

He wasn’t saying no, and I respected him even more for wanting to get to know me before we took things further. He was the sweetest one-night stand I could have ordered for myself.

“I said I wanted to take care of you, and I will.” He was so earnest; I believed him.

I nipped his lower lip. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“You’re a vixen,” he said, his voice rough.

I shook my head. “Not usually.”

“I like that. You’re only wild for me.” His eyes were dark.

The answering tingles in my body agreed with him. “Only for you.”

This would be our little secret. We’d have our fun and go our separate ways. There was no other option. It would be one night I’d remember forever. When I was alone in my bed, I’d come back to this evening and replay it in my head while I touched myself.

There was no doubt in my mind that nothing would ever compare to Cole.

My stomach rumbled, and a second later, Cole chuckled as he lifted me clear of the water, carrying me to the blankets. He carefully lowered me to the ground, then grabbed some towels to wrap around me.

I only shivered for a second from the chilly night air. “The towels are warm.”

“Marley thought of everything. There’s a warmer for the towels.”

I used the towel to cover myself while I slipped on my panties, bra, and my dress. If I were braver, I’d stay naked under the blanket.

Cole pulled on a T-shirt, then grabbed my bikini from the water, rung out the excess water, and placed it on the warmer. “In case you want to go in again.”

I was positive I would. I settled on the blankets and began pulling food out of the picnic basket. “Fried chicken, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, and fruit.”

“This reminds me of eating dinner at the Monroes’ on Friday nights. They usually brought home a bucket of fried chicken. It would be gone within minutes.” His voice was filled with affection as he spoke.

“You love them.”

Cole nodded. “I spent a lot of time here as a kid. I always wished I was one of the brothers.”

“What was your family like?” I was curious about him, why he stayed at the Monroes’ over the years.

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