“I just want brainless violence and lots of cheesy action.”
“Are you trying to tell me your IQ isn’t setting the world on fire?”
She elbowed him in the gut and he let out a yelp. He wrapped both arms around her, trapping hers against her body, and then he grinned triumphantly at her.
“If I didn’t have an injury, I’d totally kick your ass right now, Coletrane.”
“Yeah, yeah, all bark and no bite.”
His mouth hovered precariously close to hers, so close she could feel the warmth of his breath over her lips. She glanced up, meeting his gaze, wondering if he was thinking the same thing she was thinking.
“I’m going to kiss you, P.J.”
Evidently he was.
“I was hoping you would,” she whispered.
His mouth covered hers, warm and sweet. He relaxed his grip on her arms and slid one hand up to her face to cup her cheek as he deepened his kiss.
His tongue delved over hers, salty from the popcorn, with a hint of butter and the sweetness of the cola. His fingers dug into her hair, around to the back of her head and then down to her nape.
“Make love to me, Cole.”
He pulled back in surprise, his eyes narrowing with concern.
“I don’t want to push you into anything, P.J. It’s probably better if we wait until you’re ready.”
“I’m ready,” she said, plunging ahead recklessly. “I want this. I want you.”
He stared at her a long moment as if he couldn’t make up his mind. She pulled him down into another long kiss, this time making sure she was the aggressor.
When he broke away this time, his breaths came in ragged bursts. His chest heaved and it was clear he was battling his urge to give in.
“I distinctly remember you saying you were going to take me home and make me feel all better,” she said.
“Christ, P.J. Are you sure? This is too important. I don’t want to fuck this up.”
She stroked her hand over his jaw. “Please.”
It was the please that seemed to do it. He pushed himself up from the couch and then reached down, sliding his arms underneath her, and plucked her from the cushions.
He strode toward his bedroom and shouldered the door open.
“Get the light,” he directed.
She swiped her hand along the wall until she found the switch and then flipped it up, flooding the room with light. He carried her to the bed and gently set her down.
“We have to be careful,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt your leg. Let me take off your pants first.”
Her leg was the last thing she was thinking of. She wanted him close. Wanted to replace the memory of Nelson and Brumley with Cole. Just Cole. He’d chase away her demons. She was sure of that.
He carefully slid her sweats down over her hips and down her legs, taking care not to bump her wound. His fingers grazed her skin, setting fire to her senses. A thousand chill bumps danced across her thighs and midriff when he let his hands glide back up her bare legs and then under her T-shirt.
He pulled upward, baring more of her, and she lifted her arms over her head, a signal that it was okay for him to take the shirt too.
Now left in only her bra and panties, she trembled as shadows lurked in her mind. She forced her attention to Cole, refusing to allow anything to ruin this moment. But even so, a chill settled over her.
Her scars were there for him to see, and they were still raw looking. Ugly. Marks put there by other men.
“Tell me what you want, P.J. You’re calling the shots here. Tell me how to please you.”
“I’m cold,” she whispered. “Make me warm, Cole. Please take away the cold.”
He stripped out of his clothing and carefully lowered his body to hers. He stroked her hair away from her face and kissed her, long and leisurely.
He broke from her mouth and pressed a tender line from her lips down her jawline and to the sensitive flesh beneath her ear. More goose bumps broke out, but this time she didn’t feel the same chill she had before.
His warmth bled into her, soothing away her fears and giving her soul deep comfort.
Holding her tightly to him, he rolled so they were resting on their sides. His hand smoothed down her arm all the way to her fingertips and then on to her hip before slowly gliding upward again, this time going underneath her arm, over the curve