feet into the blankets for leverage. Brave little girl.
Her almond eyes widened as she impaled herself on my cock. She breathed words I wasn’t meant to hear but strained to understand. Every press upon me trembled her breasts, teasing me with those hard nipples inches from my lips.
I took one in my mouth as she leaned forward, but I held it as her hips struck back. She groaned as I tugged her sensitive little bud as she rode me. I didn’t nip. Didn’t hurt. Didn’t do anything but suckle just to watch her shiver in pleasure.
“God, Cole…” Piper groaned. “You have no idea how good…”
Like hell. I knew exactly how fucking good this felt.
I leaned up, ignoring the screaming pain in my shoulders. Piper was careful when kissing me, avoiding my nose and cheek. I didn’t care. I gripped the back of her neck and pulled her closer. Our tongues met, and she murmured again and again as she moved against me.
Her whimpers turned to whines, and she ground hard against my cock. I recognized that sound now. I hadn’t heard it as often as I would like yet, but that would change.
Everything would change.
This was a woman who deserved a good fuck every night before bed.
No.
Not just a fuck.
Worship. Adoration. Something I did to prove she was the only reason I could see the light in whatever darkness surrounded me.
Her touch gave me hope.
Her kiss soothed my rage.
And her words broke the curse that trapped me in fury, isolation, and fear.
With her, I was more than a beast. I was finally her man.
I touched her—gently, softly, caressing her curves without fear of hurting her. She purred with encouragement and leaned into my hands.
She wanted more. I’d deliver. My hamstrings ached, but the heat of her pussy soothed everything in me. I thrust my hips up, burying my cock deeper inside of her. Faster. Harder. But not fierce. Not harsh. Not with anything to prove or any reason to punish her or myself.
Piper shuddered, and her moan transformed into my name. I watched, enraptured, as her body tensed. She sat up higher only to slam against my cock and take me as deeply as she could.
This woman would destroy me in pleasure.
Her breasts bounced, her head fell back, and every bit of her was exposed to me.
This wasn’t sex—it was so much more.
It was passion. Understanding. A moment without anything to hide or apologies to make or fears conquering our lives. This was a moment of pure ecstasy and vulnerability and honesty.
And I’d never had anything like it before. No intimacy. No trust.
How had I lived for so long without this?
Without her?
The rush of heat clenched everything in me—legs, abs, balls. She arched and cried out for me, her body trembling, shaking, nearly breaking.
And I came deep inside of her.
I buried to the hilt and flooded her. It only made her come harder.
I didn’t let her roll away. I gripped her, sitting up and straining every muscle in my back, shoulder, and abs to hold her close to me.
Her kiss stole my breath, but I’d never take another gasp of air if it meant I could savor her nibbled lips forever.
She wove her hands through my hair and stared at me, still shuddering as my cock emptied more inside her.
I didn’t know what to say. If I could even speak.
I rolled her onto her back, resting at her side. Pulling from her body and losing that connection with her caused me more pain than any of my injuries during the game. I had to keep her close.
Piper tensed, rolling to reach for her clothes and the baby monitor. I didn’t let her go, but I took her hand instead of grasping her wrist.
“Stay,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Sleep here.”
She bit her swollen lip, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. “Are you sure?”
“Stay. Please.”
She rested against the bed. Her fingers brushed my cheek as she kissed me.
“Just say the word, Cole Hawthorne, and I’ll never leave.”
17
Piper
Rose wasn’t in her crib.
I tore through her blankets just in case. Nothing. Not a trace of her.
Not even Mr. Bumpybottom.
Just gone.
I spun, crashing my foot into the crib. My toe immediately throbbed. Good. Now I wouldn’t have to waste time pinching myself to check if I was dreaming.
This was a waking nightmare.
I burst from her room and sprinted through the hall. I knew nothing good would come from me sleeping with Cole all week. His bed was on the other side of the mansion, so