Page 78 of Untamed Heart
And there, in the water, he held me until the end, until his end. Until the hot water ran cold and he bundled us up in towels, moving back into my room and dragging the huge, solid wood chest of drawers in front of the door in one easy movement.
‘Once isn’t enough for my girl,’ he said, eyes gleaming as I fell back onto the bed, looking over his body with wonder as he walked back to me.
‘I want to lose count,’ I whispered as he got in with me, knowing, loving that another sleepless night lay ahead.
CHAPTER20
‘We just have to make it through the cookout tonight, then they’ll be packed up and leaving first thing in the morning.’
Cole nodded and I smiled as he tried to tame his mussed-up hair, evidence of the complete lack of sleep he’d promised and very much delivered.
‘And Kyle? How are we gonna deal with that? I mean, I would happily send his ass packing the old-fashioned way, but you choose, beautiful.’
I considered it, craving the satisfaction of seeing Kyle laid out flat on the deck, but the risk of him becoming nasty, getting lawyers involved or finding some other way to ruin Cole and the ranch was too great.
‘Why don’t we just fuck in front of him?’ I suggested, keeping my voice casual, enjoying the sudden surprise, then the grin that sprang up.
His gaze was feral.
‘I love that mouth,’ he said. ‘I love all of it.’
I became still, suddenly aware of how close he’d been to saying the words with a whole other weight of meaning behind them.
We stared at each other in silence as Cole’s face became serious and he opened his mouth to speak—
‘Lottie? You up yet? I could do with a hand in getting all this food prepped for later if you don’t mind? We can take it all down to the lake ready and set up? Looks like a clear night out.’
‘Okay, Lil,’ I shouted back, still holding Cole’s gaze. ‘Be ready in ten.’
The silence returned between us, but I sighed, knowing the day couldn’t be put off any longer.
Before I could move off the bed, he took my hand in his.
‘I don’t want to hide or pretend after this weekend,’ he said, emotion welling in his voice. ‘I want everyone to know how I feel about you; I want to start a life together.’
I wanted to say it. My gut response was begging me to just say it. But not with Kyle and the others around. Not yet.
‘Me too,’ I replied, chickening out. ‘They’ll be sick of seeing and hearing about it soon enough.’
He squeezed my hand before starting to pull his clothes back on, my eyes snagging on his perfect ass.
‘I’ll do my best to avoid Kyle,’ he said, pulling up his jeans and ruining my view. ‘But I’ve never met anyone that needed a beating as much as that asshole.’
I nodded, getting up and pulling on western clothes again, my real clothes.
‘Just think of Lil and the ranch,’ I said, trying to be firm, but crumbling as I watched him tuck himself into his jeans and zip up.
He caught my gaze, smiling as I looked away, trying not to blush.
‘Princess, I’m only ever thinking of you,’ he said, pulling his shirt on. ‘Damn, the way that pretty pink colour lights up under your freckles like that . . .’ I bit my lip and his hands stopped working on his buttons. ‘You trying to make me late?’ he growled, stepping around the bed despite my protestations.
‘I can’t,’ I gasped, half laughing, half refilled with need despite having spent half the night tangled up with him. ‘Lil needs me – she’s going to know you’re missing too if you don’t get down to the barn . . .’
He paused, fingers on his zip, narrowed eyes on my mouth.
‘Then it’s a date, after the cookout. Those lips and my cock.’
I raised my eyebrow, as though considering a deal.
