19. Madi

Chapter 19

Madi

We finally reached my apartment, and I could barely contain myself.

His hand was on my waist.

His eyes roved over my body.

The thought of kissing him again.

All of it made me want to run straight up the stairs so we could be alone. It was electric.

I was wrapped up in him in a way I never was with anyone else in my life—ever.

My head swam with the overwhelming, palpable chemistry sparking between us. I wanted him more than anything.

He backed me against my door, put his hand on the frame above me, and buried his face in the crook of my neck, breathing me in as he peppered kisses up the length of my throat.

His lips seared a path across my jaw to nibble on my earlobe, then whispered, “My god, you’re stunning. I love how pretty you look when I make you blush.”

“Cole…”

His hands went to my waist, and my knees weakened when his mouth met mine. Then I trembled as he kissed the tip of my nose, forehead, and each cheek.

“Is this our second date, or are we sticking to fundraiser business?” His whispered question had a hint of a dare in it.

“I can’t even think right now, Cole. About anything other than how you’re making me feel.”

He pulled back, and I sighed and dropped my cheek against his chest.

“I’ve never felt anything like this.” The racing beat of his heart confirmed his confession as he locked his arms around me. “Not in my entire life.”

“Let’s go in.” I came to my senses and dug in my pocket for my keys.

Once we crossed the threshold, Victor glared at us with sleepy eyes from the wing chair by the fireplace as if we had woken him up. Sage and Kenny were asleep, curled up in the window seat.

“Would you like a drink? Or something to eat. Or anything?” I asked inanely. All I could think about was kissing him again.

“No, thank you. All I want is you. How about we update last year’s fundraiser theme, call it done, and you let me kiss you some more?”

“This idea has a lot of merit.” I ran my hands up his chest, then threw my arms around his neck. “What was the theme?”

His lips tipped up at the corner. “A harvest dinner and a non-ironic bonfire, which I was completely against, but I got outvoted.”

“Unbelievable. You allowed a bonfire? You? Mr. Fires Are Not for Fun, Cole Sutter.”

“They’re not for fun. I’m against it one hundred percent. But I figured we’d be okay with the entire Cozy Creek Fire Brigade in attendance. Just that once.”

“Well, I love it. Bonfire for the win—we can roast marshmallows, and I know a perfect recipe for a s’mores cocktail. We’ll have dinner, dancing, and the bachelor auction. And we can serve steak Diane⁠—”

“Steak Diane?” He stared at me, then burst out laughing. “Funny, Madi. No.”

“A veto for steak Diane? How about chicken brochettes flambé? Lobster à l’Américaine? Coq au vin?”

“Oh, you’re fucking hilarious, aren’t you?”

“Baked Alaska for dessert.” I waved a finger in the air. “Or maybe bananas Foster. Don’t say no.”

“Do you want to mess with me, or do you want me to kiss you? And a side note: I didn’t realize you were such a foodie, or maybe you’re an undercover firebug? But we have time to discuss that later. Now, what’ll it be? Kiss or keep messing with me? Or should we order the sushi and have dinner?”

“I want you to kiss me. But you should know that messing with you is an unexpected pleasure. You get this adorable little smirk, and it makes me want to kiss you right here.”

I placed my lips near the corner of his mouth, where, when he was clean-shaven, I could see the cutest little dimple. I touched the tip of my tongue to it so he’d know exactly what I was referring to.

“I first spotted it during our Tres Chicas lunch meeting, but I managed to hold myself back.”

He grabbed my waist and hauled me against his chest. “I wanted to kiss you then, too.”

“Why didn’t you?” I breathed.

“So many reasons that aren’t important right now.” He hesitated, eyes on mine as he bit his lip. Doubt briefly replaced his smoldering look. “Just look at you. You’re so damn beautiful, Madi.”

My only response was the rapid thud of my pulse. As if he heard it, he lowered his face to mine and kissed me again.

His palm went to my throat as our lips met, wrapping around to hold me still as he gently stroked my jaw with his thumb.

My hands went to his waist to hold myself up because what had started as a brief touch of our lips quickly deepened and went wild.

“I want you,” he whispered, his breath hot against my cheek. “So much.”

“I want you too, Cole. Let’s go to the couch. Sushi can wait. Everything can wait. I need you.”

He swept me, weightless, into his arms to carry me through the living room. He sat on the couch and settled me on his lap with my knees bent on either side of his thighs.

His hands explored the length of my back, my hips, then up to my breasts. My nipples hardened beneath his touch, and I let out a gasp.

“Is this okay?”

“Yes. It’s my favorite.”

His eyes shot to mine in the dim light. “Yeah?”

Using his thumbs, he stroked me softly and then gave my nipples a little pinch.

“Mm-hmm…” Involuntarily, my back arched, and I ground myself down on his lap.

“You’re sensitive here,” he observed. He then tested that theory by pinching a bit harder.

Mindlessly, I nodded as he cupped my breasts and rubbed circles around my nipples.

“You could make me come just like this,” I whispered, lips parted, eyes at half-mast as I drifted along in the waves of pleasure he was giving me.

“I want to see. Arms up.” His hands went down to the hem of my sweater, tugging lightly as his eyes met mine.

My eyes burned into his as he lifted it over my head and tossed it to the coffee table. “You too, Cole. I want to see you.”

He leaned forward and tugged his shirt over his head with his hand behind his neck, letting it fall somewhere behind the back of the couch.

“Oh! Your tattoos!” I not quite shouted. “Let me see.”

With a chuckle, he raised his arm to let it rest on the couch and leaned back. On the left side of his ribcage were two tattoos—a mountain range on top and a line of spiky pine trees below.

“The kids drew them. The Rockies are Natalie’s, and the trees are Evan’s. They’re from our backyard along the fence line. You’ll see whenever you come over.”

“Oh, Cole.” My heart fluttered as I traced a fingertip along the craggy outlined form of the Rocky Mountains, smiling when a trail of goose bumps followed the path of my finger.

“Enough of my tattoos. It’s my turn now. Come here.” His hands touched my waist, warming my skin as he kissed a trail down my chest. “What’s this?” He dropped a kiss between my breasts as he unhooked my bra.

A few sprinkles scattered from the cups and landed between us.

“Oh, that.” I looked down at my chest and let out a small giggle. Beneath my bra, my chest was streaked with melted food dye from sprinkles and colored sugar, like a swirly faded rainbow tattoo. “We had a sprinkle fight. What turned into a couple of handfuls of sprinkles and dyed sugar crystals tossed around in the kitchen ended up as a bucketful being dumped over my head. I guess some went down my sweater.”

“Damn. Why is this so sexy?” He licked up the underside of my breast, taking my nipple into his mouth with a hard pull.

I drew in a sharp breath. “Cole. Yes…”

“You taste like candy.” He sucked harder. My core clenched as I rocked against his hardness. “So fucking sweet.”

“Don’t stop. Please…”

“More?”

“Yes. More. Harder.” He sucked harder while pinching and rolling the other nipple between his finger and thumb. It was debatable which felt better.

With a pop, he pulled away. “You have the prettiest breasts I’ve ever seen.”

“Are you a boob man, Cole?” I panted, grinding my hips against his now hard cock and wishing we were naked. I wanted to feel him inside me.

“No, I’m your man, Madi. And you are beautiful. Everywhere.” His eyes were hazy with pleasure as he looked up at me.

My heart unfurled its broken wings and flew around in my rib cage before settling back into place with a shuddering boom.

“Let’s go to my bedroom. I can’t do this with the cats watching us.”

“Anything you want.”

He slipped his hands beneath my thighs and stood.

“Over there.” I gestured to the door down the hall on the left as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

He walked us to my room, threw the door open, and let me slide down his body before gently pushing the door shut.