Page 203 of Waiting Game

His smile is gentle. “Her payback, whatever it may be, will be worth it if I can have you and not hide you.”

My throat feels full with the sudden storm of tears that’s gathered there. “Truly?”

He grabs my hand and squeezes my fingers. “I knew that week one, Mia.”

“How did you know? We barely?—”

“Sometimes, you know.” He taps his nose.

“Is this because of your romance novel research?”

He bows his head like the pious man he isn’t. “I’m erudite by nature.” Then, he spoils it. “And I know some real kinky shit because of those books. You’re a lucky lady.”

My mouth works as I try to figure out how to respond to that, but in the end, only the truth will suffice: “I know I am.”

My serious tone has him clicking his heels and bringing Thunder to a standstill. Gloria, because she’s a traitor, does the same thing.

Gloria doesn’t seem too happy, though, when he brings his stallion close, but she settles down when Thunder starts nuzzling her nose.

Funny how that same trick works on me.

Cole leans into me, rubbing his nose along mine before bringing our mouths together.

It’s the sweetest, softest, gentlest kiss we’ve ever shared.

Lacking in heat but so full of warmth that it’d make my toes curl if my lower body wasn’t frozen in place thanks to the horse between my thighs.

Still, I sigh into that kiss. Breathe into it and into him.

His lips part and I thrust my tongue against his, stroking but not inciting. Connecting. Letting him feel what he makesmefeel.

Showing, not telling.

Because if ever a man deserved that, it’s him.

CHAPTER 39

MIA

What Your Soul Sings - Massive Attack

“What are you doing?”I ask around a laugh when he stands in front of the bed and starts dancing. My grin hurts it’s so wide, but he begins—there’s no other word for it—boogying.

With his hips swaying, he takes off his jersey and flings it at me. “Put it on, baby.”

“I thought we were reading.” I do as he requests, though, because I know seeing me in it drives him nuts.

Well, nuttier than usual.

“We were. Then I read a hot sex sceneandI saw that reel you did on your great-grandfather had hit two hundred thousand views.”

Chuckling, I murmur, “What’ll I get if it hits a million?”

“Just you wait and see.”

I arch a brow at him as he puts his hands on his belt and whips it out from the loops. “Were you a stripper in a past life?”

“You know it.”

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