Page 25 of Valiant

She tightened her grip on his hand. Hearing him say that much eased her aching heart. It was good to have everything out in the open between them, for better or worse. That way she could accept that he was temporarily in her life, maybe even enjoy it. “I’m not looking for promises,” she said, squeezing his fingers. “Not tonight.”

She hoped he understood what she was saying. That he felt the same need was something she could no longer ignore. Tonight, she wanted him. It might not be smart, and it would hurt when he left again, but she was willing to accept that. She stood, still holding his hand, and gave him a tug to make him rise.

“Come upstairs with me,” she said when they were face to face. “Make love with me, Cole. I don’t want anything but now and us.” It would be enough. It had to be.

His gaze turned hot before he put his arm around her waist and brushed his lips against her cheek. When she gave a little moan, he moved to her mouth, nibbling on her lower lip before deepening the kiss. When he ended the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, they were both breathing heavily.

“I want to do a final check on the house for the night,” he said, his voice low and husky. “I’ll meet you upstairs.”

“I’ll peek at Eddy. Don’t be long.” She pulled back to see his face. “I have plans for you.”

“Yeah? You’ve been thinking about this?” He looked smug, a little pleased with himself.

“So much.” She ran her finger down his chest to the waistband of his shorts. “Does that surprise you?”

“Nope, since I am irresistible,” he said with a grin.

His words made her laugh. He’d always been able to keep her from taking everything too seriously. From the day her father had introduced her and Cole at a Navy Ball that had been true. Her father couldn’t have foreseen the complicated relationship that had developed between them.

“Fair warning, sweetheart.” He cupped her breast, and his thumb stroked over the nipple through the thin fabric of her tank top, making her breath catch in her throat. “I’m going to disrupt your plans. I have some of my own.”

She liked the sound of that. Liked the idea that he’d been thinking about her, too. Not that she was backing down. “I’d like to see you try,” she teased him.

“Five minutes,” he said, taking a step away from her even while his eyes skimmed down her body.

“No longer.” Kelsey went upstairs with a bounce in her step and a fire building low in her belly.

She opened Eddy’s door and was relieved to see the baby sleeping soundly. She carefully closed his door before going across the hall to her room. She had three minutes and stood there debating how to spend them. She could change into sexy lingerie. That might be fun.

She opened a drawer and dug to the back of it to find her red lace bra and matching thong that she hadn’t worn in more than a year. Not since the night of the Navy Ball. That had been an amazing evening. She smiled just thinking about it, since it was the night Eddy was conceived. Bringing their baby into the world had changed the dynamic between her and Cole, but she couldn’t be sorry for it.

She pulled out the bra and was reaching for the panties when Cole’s hands came around her waist from behind. She jumped at the sudden contact since she hadn’t heard him enter the room.

“Just me, sweetheart,” his voice soothed as he pulled her back against him and his lips brushed her neck, moving toward her earlobe.

“I was going to put on something sexy for you,” Kelsey managed to get out, but his mouth and his hot breath were making her wonder why she’d bother.

“I’d just take it off you,” he turned her in his arms, “which could be fun, but not tonight. I don’t want anything between us.” He took the bra from her hand, dropping it to the floor. Before she could do anything, he gathered up the edge of her tank top and lifted it over her head. He was already shirtless so it was instantly skin on warm skin. He took one of her nipples between his fingers, bringing it to a bud. “Different,” he murmured.

“I’ve had a baby.” Her areola had darkened with the pregnancy and her breasts were a little fuller than they’d been.

“Beautiful.” He dipped his head and took the nipple in his mouth, making her moan.

“This wasn’t in my plan,” she whispered. She’d intended to seduce him, but he’d taken the lead. She couldn’t pretend to mind, considering what he was doing to her.

“Should have been.” His lips moved to her other breast. If his hold on her hadn’t been so strong, she might have collapsed to the floor when he sucked on that nipple. It felt so good. He kissed his way back to her lips, capturing them in a kiss that did make her knees sag. “I’ve got you,” he said against her lips. In one fluid motion, he pushed her shorts to the floor and lifted her in his arms to carry her to the bed.

Their bodies broke contact for long enough for him to shed his gym shorts and then he positioned himself on top of her, balancing on his forearms just above her. This was what she wanted. This was what she needed. Being with him felt so right. She’d had a few other lovers in the past, but none of them connected with her like Cole did. He framed her face with his hands, and they looked at each other for a minute. Words weren’t necessary when his eyes locked with hers like that.

Slowly, he closed the few inches separating them and began a devastating kiss. Any idea that she had of seduction disappeared when he shifted down her body, kissing her breasts and the curve of her stomach and her thighs. Gently, he parted her legs, his lips moving across her inner thighs to her center where he lavished attention on her swollen clit. He teased her, bringing her close to the edge then pulling back at the last possible second, until she was almost begging for him to put her out of her misery.

“Inside me,” she whispered, incapable of further speech, grateful when he understood. He didn’t hurry as he moved back up her body. He kissed and caressed, licked her skin and then blew on it, sending shivers through her. At last, they were face to face again.

He reached in the drawer of her bedside table and found the box of condoms that had gone unused since their last lovemaking. He sheathed himself quickly.

“I was planning to be on top,” she said softly as he came back over her.

“It’s not too late for that.” He was trailing hot kisses along her jaw, removing her ability to think and act clearly. She no longer cared about the position so long as they were together.

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