Page 5 of My Reluctant Valentine

“Thank you,” I managed, trying not to lean into his touch. “For making me feel safe.”

Something flashed in his eyes, too quick to catch. “Always.” His thumb brushed my chin before dropping his hand. “Lock up behind me.”

I watched him leave, already missing his presence. Even the way he checked the hallway before stepping outside made my insides warm. My brother’s friend or not, Cole Sutton was definitely going to be hazardous to my composure.

And hopefully, my virginity.

A seed of an idea started to form.

On an intellectual level, I knew the way I was reacting to him was simply attraction to a good-looking male. But it wasn’t something I’d really felt before. Oh, I’d been curious about sex, but not enough to actually want to try it with someone.

Now, I needed to go change my panties.

There was just something about Cole Sutton that made me want to turn in my good-girl card.

CHAPTER THREE

Cole

Thirty-five years of life. Twelve years of military service. Four years running Elite. I’d survived firefights, explosions, and Jake Hawkins’s infamous cross-country training sessions.

But watching Dr. Ella Hawkins nervously fidget with her coffee cup in the corner booth of Hope Peak’s diner was doing things to my self-control that no combat training had ever prepared me for.

The morning light caught in her dark curls, making the soft waves shine. She’d traded yesterday’s sweater dress for a prim and proper button-up green shirt. No doubt, I thought, to make herself look older and more professional. It did—to a degree. But nothing could take away from the pull of those curves. Curves that had haunted my dreams last night. My hands ached to test their heavy weight. To taste the hard peaks.

My body still throbbed despite taking the longest, coldest shower of my life this morning. I shifted uncomfortably on the vinyl booth, grateful for the table between us.

“You’re staring this time,” she murmured, hiding behind her menu.

“Observing,” I countered. “It’s what security professionals do.”

She lowered the menu just enough to show those big brown eyes, now sparkling with something that looked dangerouslylike mischief. Her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip, and my body jerked in response. “And what are your professional observations, Mr. Sutton?”

“That you’re...” I searched for a word that wouldn’t get me shot by her brother. “Distracting.”

She dropped the menu entirely, revealing that blush that made me want to see how far down it went. A strand of hair fell across her face, and my hands twitched with the need to brush it back. To fist those soft waves while I bent her over the nearest—

“Is that a professional observation?” Her voice had gone breathy, like she could read the filthy direction of my thoughts.

“Nothing professional about the way I want to—” I caught myself, gripping my coffee mug harder. “You should try the pancakes. They’re good here.”

“Change in subject noted.” She bit her lip, and I had to look away before I did something stupid like lean across the table and bite it myself. “Did you know increased heart rate and pupil dilation are physiological indicators of arousal.”

I almost choked on my coffee. What would she say if I showed her more concrete signs of arousal? I put the mug down firmly, the sound too loud even over the hum of the morning breakfast crowd. “Ella.”

“Sorry. Medical terminology is my nervous response.” She tucked that wayward strand behind her ear, drawing attention to the delicate line of her neck. I wanted to press my lips there, feeling her pulse race under my tongue. I wanted to do so many damn things to her curvy body.

“And why are you nervous?” I shouldn’t ask. Shouldn’t encourage this attraction that was already threatening my control.

“Because I...” She sighed heavily before continuing. I braced myself. During just the short time we’d been together, I’dalready learned to expect the unexpected. “Because I have, um, a request.”

“What kind of request?” I forced myself to speak in a normal tone, though my mind offered up a hundred filthy possibilities. “If this is about starting your driving lessons, we can begin this evening.”

“It’s, a, um, different kind of lesson I’d like to learn.” Her fingers traced patterns on her water glass. The innocent gesture shouldn’t have been so erotic, but of course my mind put a dirty spin on it. Of her tracing the vein on my dick as she held it in her hand before taking me into her sweet little mouth.

I rubbed my hand across my face trying to clear my thoughts. “Skiing? I can teach you that.” Tourists were always wanting to learn how to ski. I picked up my coffee to take another drink.

“No, although I would like to learn that.” She waved away her words in the adorable habit I’ve already memorized. “No. I need sex lessons.”

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