Page 99 of The Single Dad

“I—I’m on birth control,” I say quietly. “The pill. I’m clean, and I’m not sleeping with anyone else. So if you aren’t either, then we don’t have to…”

My voice trails off. I feel unaccountably nervous as silence fills the space between us. We laid down the ground rules when we first started sleeping together, making sure it wouldn’t interfere with my work taking care of Archie, but we never discussed whether the arrangement would be exclusive or not.

Maybe it shouldn’t bother me either way, since I have no real claim on Cole’s heart or anything. Since this isn’t a real relationship. But the thought of him with another woman makes something painful twist in my chest.

“Never mind.” I shake my head and glance away, cursing myself inwardly for even bringing this up. “We can just—”

“Riley.”

Cole’s voice is low and full of gravel, and something in his tone makes my gaze snap back to meet his.

“I’m not sleeping with anyone else.” He drops the condom on the bedspread, an expression I can’t quite identify crossing over his features as he trails his fingertips lightly along the side of my face. “Why would I want anyone else when I have you?”

I swallow hard, fighting to tame the rush of butterflies that take off in my stomach. It would be so easy—terrifyingly easy—to let myself read too much into those words, so instead, I just focus on what I need most right now.

Him.

“I want to feel you bare,” I whisper. “Nothing between us.”

He lets out a groan that seems to come from somewhere deep inside him, resting his forehead against mine for a moment before he draws back. Then he shakes his head, a smile playing at the edges of his lips.

“I hope you know what you’re asking for, angel. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve fucked a woman without a condom? I can barely hold back with you already. With nothing between us, I’ll be lucky if I last a minute.”

I grin, tilting my hips so that his cock slips inside me just half an inch and relishing the way his body tenses in response. “I don’t care how long it lasts. I just want to feel you come inside me. I want to feel all of it.”

He nips at my bottom lip, pressing his hips forward so that he slides in another inch. “Yeah? You want me to make a mess of that sweet little pussy?”

“Yes.” The word is a breathy whimper as I wrap my legs around his waist, lifting my hips to meet his next shallow thrust. “Please.”

Cole’s nostrils flare with a harsh exhale, and I don’t know if it’s the plea in my voice or the feel of me clenching around him, but something in him seems to snap. His hips drive forward, burying his cock to the hilt so fast that I cry out softly at the sudden feeling of fullness.

It’s perfect.

It’s everything.

“Cole!” I gasp, my nails digging into his shoulders as I cling to him. I can’t seem to make myself form any more words than that, but he nods as if I said something bigger than just his name.

“I know,” he grits out. “Fuck, Riley.”

His lips find mine again, his tongue plunging into my mouth like he’s trying to lay claim to it as he draws almost all the way out and then slides in again. I shudder beneath him, overwhelmed by how good it feels, how different, with no barrier between us.

I can tell that despite Cole’s warning, he wants to make it last. His strokes are measured and long, drawing out almost completely each time and then slamming back in so hard that the bed rocks beneath us. His breathing is ragged, just like mine, and he reaches down to hook one of my legs under the knee, pressing it up toward my chest to make the angle even deeper and more intense.

My skin is damp, residual heat from the shower and the exertion of sex making a light sheen of sweat cover my body. Cole’s hair is still a bit wet, messy and unkempt in a way that I love, and I run my fingers through it as he leans down and kisses me again.

“You feel so fucking good,” he rasps as our kiss breaks. “Never felt anything as good as this. You’re so fucking tight. So wet for me. Gonna make you even wetter. Gonna fill your pussy up.”

He sounds almost drunk with arousal, and I nod. “Please. Please. Please.”

It’s almost a chant, like I’ve been reduced to single-syllable words only. My head tips back, my eyelids starting to flutter closed, but Cole shakes his head.

“Eyes on me,” he demands. “Look at me. Let me see you.”

He wraps his hand around my throat just under my jaw as he speaks, and I suck in a breath. It’s a loose grip, not tight enough to cut off my air, but the feel of him gripping my throat like this makes my clit throb. I feel owned by him, seen by him, like there’s not a single part of me that I could hide in this moment.

I can’t hide the desire in my eyes, or the emotions churning just below the surface.

I can’t hide the wild racing of my pulse as it throbs against his palm.

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