it.”
“Yeah, I remember.” She dropped her gaze to his lips, her body humming at the thought of those on any part of her tonight. “Any reason you’re bringin’ that up right now while you’re standin’ on my front step? You wouldn’t be anglin’ for an invite in, would you?”
“I’m not anglin’ for anything, firecracker.” He placed his hand on her hip beneath her jacket, his thumb tucked under her sweater, brushing maddeningly against her skin. “I’m sayin’ I wanna come inside. I’m sayin’ I wanna strip you naked and fuck you over the arm of that couch. I’m sayin’ I want you to sit on my face until you come all over my tongue and I can still taste you in the mornin’.” He ducked his head into the crook of her neck, sweeping his lips against her sensitive skin, flicking his tongue out to lick at her pulse point. “I’m sayin’ I wanna hear you scream my name inside these walls.”
She swallowed hard, her clit throbbing from his words alone as she tilted her head and allowed him more access. “That’s…that’s an awful lot to live up to in one night.”
“Maybe, but you’ve been with me enough times that you know I’ll make good on every single promise.” He kissed a path up her neck and along her jaw until their lips brushed with his every word. “What do you say, firecracker? You gonna invite me in?”
Instead of answering with words, she gripped his coat and tugged him inside, shutting the door behind them. Cole might not be hers for forever, but, just like the snow, she intended to enjoy whatever time they had together while it lasted.
Chapter Twelve
Cole woke up the following morning and blinked into the unfamiliar room. It took him a moment to realize he was in Sadie’s bed. Instinctively, he reached out, searching for her, but her side was cold.
It’d been so long since he’d done this whole morning-after thing. In fact, he’d…never done it. He and Amber had been high school sweethearts, so there’d never been an awkward morning after. And since his divorce, he’d never put himself in any situations where he might get attached—like staying the night with someone. He had no idea what had come over him last night to make him stay.
But…no. That wasn’t true. He knew exactly what had come over him. Sadie. She’d wormed her way inside, despite all the ways he’d held himself apart and closed himself off. And now what the fuck was he supposed to do?
He threw off the covers and climbed out of bed, uncaring of his nakedness as he collected his articles of clothing they’d strewn across the cottage the night before. He’d done to her exactly what he told her he would. He’d fucked her over the arm of the couch, his chest pressed to her back as he’d swirled his finger around her clit with one hand, cupping her breast with the other. She’d shaken in his arms, her body clenching around him as she’d begged for more. Begged for him.
After, he’d fallen into her bed and hauled her up his body until her dripping pussy had been directly over his mouth, and he’d devoured her. Guided her hips against his face when she’d been apprehensive, until she’d settled into it, gripping the headboard as she’d rocked against him, bringing herself to her own release.
“Fuck,” he mumbled, scrubbing a hand over his face as he diligently ignored his erection that seemed to be ever-present with thoughts of Sadie.
While there was no doubt he’d wanted to do all of those things to her, he couldn’t deny that he’d said them to hide his need to be with her last night. He’d done so in order to distance himself from what he was powerless to stop from happening between them. A hell of a lot of good that had done him.
Each time they’d slept together, he’d fallen a little bit more for her. How could he not? Sadie was gorgeous and intelligent, selfless and loyal, kind and funny. He loved that she wasn’t afraid to put him in his place. Loved that she challenged him every second she was in his presence. Wasn’t timid or shy about giving it as good as she got—at least, not with him.
There certainly wasn’t anything timid or shy about their attraction to each other. He’d never, in all of his thirty-three years, experienced this kind of explosive chemistry. It was intoxicating and had to be why she