21. Naomi

For the first time,writing was difficult. I'd slotted Colder so firmly into the teacher role that I hadn't allowed myself to believe we could be more.

In such a few short days.

Was it just infatuation for both of us?

It had to be because we were getting caught up with the lessons. Somehow that had led to us sharing truths neither of us would usually give so easily to a new person.

It had to be.

I pulled the pencil out of one of my space buns and flipped open my notebook to a new page. Just because my hormones were on a parallel track with my research and the charming man next door didn't mean I could lose momentum with my book.

My severance period was a short one, so I had to make this count.

My phone rumbled in my pocket. I pulled it out to put it on focus mode when I saw the text from Colder.

Colder:

Inspiration.

Then a link for a music playlist came through. I grinned and pulled my headphones out of my drawer. I was learning that music was one of the many pieces of Colder that I adored. I wasn't the type of writer to generally use music, but as I scanned the list, my heart turned over in my chest.

They were instrumental scores from movies.

The first song was a slow build that urged me forward in my chair. I opened my word document, and the rich and powerful surge of notes filled my head, and I found my fingers racing over the keys as the words tumbled out.

This man knew exactly how to open so many of my internal locks.

I chased the scenes that had been log jammed in my brain for years. The day's trivia with the shit talking between the two teams morphed into an after-battle celebration in my story. I'd already had the rich imagery with the hall in the castle, the food, the revelry, but now I could see the interaction between the male characters. Then the tone difference between women and of course, when all of us had leaned into the competition—I used it all.

Now the scene came alive.

I lost hours to the pages. Finally, my writing culminated with a scene between Kiera and Novak. The life and death of the fight translated to a need to live in the moment.

They finally got their first love scene in my book.

I was so revved after getting the first draft of it down I couldn't wait to show Iona. It felt like I was finally clicking with everything.

I took my laptop back out to the living room where she was hidden under blankets with an array of cups on the coffee table in front of her. Plus, her vitamin water as well as a few other bottles of regular and a sleeve of...

"Are those Thin Mints?"

Iona snatched the cookies under the blanket. "You saw nothing."

"Mean." I pushed her feet to make room on the end of the couch. "Can you read something?"

Instantly, she sat up. "Of course I can. You've been very stingy with sharing lately."

"I know." I set the laptop in front of her. "Just this scene. It's…sexy."

She raised the top, tapping keys to make the screen come alive again. "Hell yeah."

"It's just a rough draft. I'll make it better."

"Shh." She held up a finger. "I'm reading." She shooed me. "Go get ready to see your boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend." I flushed. "Besides, how did you know we had a date?"

She just shot me a look with an arched brow.

"Right. Never mind." I peered under the blanket. "Can I just have one cookie?"

"Fine." She pushed them at me. "Only because I'm getting the goods here finally. Go get prettied up and I'll read." She scrunched down on the couch with her blanket wrapped around her shoulders and head. "Go away."

"It's not that long."

"Whatever. I'm reading the hot stuff then I'll find the updates. I mean, I know it's all good, but I need the smut. I haven't had a good dicking in months, man."

I snickered and stole three cookies before standing. My nerves were shot from sharing, so might as well go take a quick shower and find something cute to wear, anyway.

"Can I raid the suitcase?"

She waved me off.

With seduction in mind, I wanted to wear something a little sexier than my usual. I stopped in at Iona's room and found the case full of lingerie. It took some digging to find something in my size. Iona always made it look so easy when she picked out things for me.

Finally, I landed on a periwinkle thong with a matching racing back bra that should make the girls look especially perky. I went down the hall and peeked at Iona, who was still engrossed with my book.

Thank God.

But I couldn't think about that right now or the Thin Mints would make a reappearance. I pinned up my hair and took a quick shower, taking extra care with a sugar scrub Iona left in the bathroom.

It was a bit spicier than my usual scent, but my skin was so soft that I didn't care. I made a mental note to look for it in something more my scent because I liked it so much. Hopefully, Colder would agree.

After I put on a little makeup, I tucked a towel around me and hurried into my room to dress. Since I'd been full on writer mode lately, I opted to change things up with a cute dress. This was officially hitting date status, considering he was making me dinner.

I checked my phone to see another text from Colder telling me the door was open for me. I shoved my phone into my bag with fifteen minutes to spare as I hurried down the hall to the living room.

Iona's face was illuminated by the laptop screen and the television was now off.

"So…"

She looked up from the screen and gave me the widest smile. "So good. Like super hot. Whatever lessons you're getting from McBartender O'Hottie, keep it up. Whew!"

I laughed. "Really?"

She nodded and gestured to the coffee table where a large glass of wine had replaced all the other forms of hydration. "I needed a little alcohol, and if I was a smoker, I'd be in trouble. You go, girl."

"You're not just saying that?"

"Um, no. Now go have fun. And I'm reading this whole damn thing while you go get laid, you lucky duck. I can't wait to read all the new stuff you added. I can already see some of it."

I rushed over to her and hugged her. "You're the best hype woman a girl could ever have."

"Damn right. Remember that when you make your millions on this book."

I laid my head on her shoulder for a second. "That's a nice dream." Illogical, since I knew just how terrible the publishing world could be, but it was a lovely dream. And right now, I was willing to live in that dream world a little longer.

I stood up and headed for the closet for my shoes.

"Nay?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "Yeah?"

"I'm really serious. You need to try and publish this thing. If not a publishing house, you do it yourself. It needs to be out there."

I nibbled on my lower lip. "I'm beginning to believe it."

"Good. Now go get your world rocked." Her attention was back on the screen as she scrunched herself down on the couch to get comfortable. "Heels this time," she said absently.

She was right, since it was a date after all.

I grabbed my nude-colored stilettos and I stepped into them before slipping out the door.

As I got to Colder's door, I tugged at my dress, making sure it showed off my best assets. That bra was ingenious and made my boobs look pretty amazing in this dress. Frankie Ramos to the rescue for making this girl look cute half naked.

I'd have to send her a thank you card.

Dear Frankie, thanks for getting me laid.

I swallowed a laugh as I tried the doorknob. Sure enough, it was open.

"Colder?" I peeked in and my little purse slid down my arm as I stood there in shock. I barely caught it before it hit the floor. I set it on the little table just inside the door. Music was playing and the room was golden and soft with candles on every surface. On the coffee table, the end tables, all along the top of his bookcase that sectioned off the living room from his bedroom space.

More of the battery kind were all over the bookcase and led me deeper into the room. A few were grouped on the floor and as I walked around the bookcase, I saw more were clustered in the skinny window as well as around the bedside tables. He had to have a bought out a store.

For me.

I swallowed down a lump in my throat as he came out of the kitchen. He had a red apron on over a black button-down shirt and dark washed jeans.

He wasn't kidding when he'd gone all in with our version of a date.

His gaze raked over me, hot with need and still that sweet Colder I'd first gotten hooked on at the bookstore. "You look amazing."

"Thanks." I played with the ends of my hair. It was a little curly thanks to the space buns, and I'd left it as a tumble of wildness around my shoulders. "I can't believe you did all this."

"Of course. You're worth way more, but this was what I could do on short notice."

Honestly, I couldn't remember the last time anyone had taken the time to cook me dinner, or do anything so romantic—no, make that ever. No one had ever treated me this special. "Whatever it is, it smells really good."

He wiped his hands on the towel tucked into the strings of the apron. "We have some time before dinner. My brother walked me through the sauce."

I laughed. "Sauce?"

"Yeah, just a red sauce. I'm not that great of a cook. He definitely got all that talent in the family. But I can handle spaghetti and meatballs."

"And I can handle eating it."

He laughed as he untied the apron and pulled it over his head. He stopped at his stereo and swapped the music out for something more acoustic flavored before he moved to me and pulled me into his arms.

There wasn't much room in the space, but he settled us into a soft, sweet sway. "How did your writing go?"

"Really good. That playlist was just what I needed. I don't know how you always know what I need," I murmured into his chest.

He laced his fingers along my lower back. "You make it easy. How often do I meet a girl who loves a lot of the same things as I do?"

"I don't know, how often?" I peered up at him.

"Not often, Naomi." He lowered his mouth to mine. His kisses tasted of mint and a hint of the sweet sauce that he must have just sampled.

We swayed and danced for a little while. Our movements were unhurried and easy in a way I'd never known.

Ruining me for any other man.

When the raspy voice of James Arthur pumped through the speakers, he gently traced his fingers up along my back to my neck where my dress tied. "Hungry?"

"Not for food."

With a grin, he tugged the tie free. "Me neither."

The straps slid down my arms and pooled between us as his silvery eyes glowed in the golden light. His touch was easy and teasing as he traced the lines of my bra and around the curve of my breast without touching my nipple, which was already painfully tight.

Slowly, he drew lazy circles along my midsection before pushing my dress off my hips to pool around my feet. He drew me deeper into the bedroom part of his apartment and sat on the edge of the bed. His big hand slid around my waist to tug me between his legs.

"Did you wear this for me?"

The deep timber of his voice made me shiver as I nodded.

He followed the high stretch of periwinkle fabric as it hugged my hip and nestled between my cheeks. He made a little twirling gesture and I swallowed down the nerves as I turned, allowing him to see just how much flesh I was showing back there.

I wasn't exactly a thong girl, but it made me feel sexy and I knew he'd like it.

I'd never been the girl to dress for a man. I didn't even know the first thing about doing it, to be honest, but with him, it was easy.

Well, I'd dressed for him with a little help from Iona, but still, everything with him felt huge and overwhelming—yet safe at the same time.

Was it only because of the lessons and how he knew how to pull out those things inside of me that I'd never known were hiding? Or were they just for him all along?

Overthinking it all fell away as he leaned forward and pressed kisses along my spine and over the curve of my ass.

He peeled the thong down until it fell to my ankles. "Step out, Naomi."

I looked over my shoulder at him as he eased my legs open and drew his knees together until I had no choice but to straddle him. He eased me back along his body. I could feel how hard he was already, and I squirmed against his thickness.

Lightly, he trailed his fingers along the sensitive skin of my inner thigh and deliberately avoided my center. Instead, he made lazy tracks over my belly and ribs before he cupped my breasts. "Relax against me."

Was this a lesson? I thought this was just us. But maybe the lines were blurring.

He eased my hair over my other shoulder and kissed the skin he'd revealed. "I knew you'd be beautiful in candlelight, but not this beautiful." His hands went back to my breasts as he lightly cupped me, then he stroked his thumbs over each nipple.

I couldn't help but grind against him with each almost touch. So soft they were little more than whispers of sensation.

He was leisurely.

Patient in a way I couldn't fathom as he explored every inch of me. Breasts, shoulders, neck, belly, legs…everything but where I needed him most.

The heavy, syrupy music washed over me until I was nearly crazy with need. He tugged at my earlobe with his teeth.

I tugged his hands up to my breasts to cover them. "You're driving me crazy. Aren't you crazy?"

"Can't you feel how hard I am?"

"Yes, but…"

"But I know it's going to be so good when I do get inside you. Do you have any idea how good it feels when your pussy tightens around me?"

"No."

His touch roughened a little on my breasts as he plucked at my nipples through the satin. "Warm, soft, so wet and hot at the same time. There's nothing like it. Only thing that compares is that treacherous mouth of yours." He slid one hand up to my neck and held me still against him. "When you took me so goddamn deep into your throat in the elevator…" He groaned against my ear. "I can feel your pulse speeding up. Do you like this?"

I swallowed against his palm on my neck. His fingers were firm, but not too tight as his thumb brushed lightly along the underside of my jaw.

I'd read about this in books. How could I not with all the super sexy books I'd read with Iona? Knowing the reality of it was far different.

His other hand slid down over my belly and finally, he slipped between my thighs. "Oh, so fucking wet."

Of course I was wet. He'd been teasing me for ages.

"Tonight isn't about lessons, but I'm tempted to see if you want one."

I stilled. "It's about us tonight," I said thickly. But I couldn't help wanting to know what he was thinking. I ached to ask him where he was headed.

"How about a short one?" He nipped at my shoulder. "Maybe we'll just call this extra credit. If you want to." His hand eased on my neck as he slowly stroked me until I was quaking. "It takes trust, even at the first level of breath play."

"And you'll stop if it's too much?"

He stilled between my thighs.

I drew in a slow breath to calm myself. Research was one thing, but I wanted this. Naomi, not the character I could write at a later date. It wouldn't even fit in the dragon world of my current books, but the curiosity that lived in me was as consuming as Colder's touch.

"Learning with you is more than just research," I said quietly.

He groaned and opened his legs a little to widen my legs, as well. Even with my heels, I barely could touch the floor with my toes. "When you come apart for me, there's nothing more exciting, Naomi. Regardless if we call it a lesson or not. It's more to me too."

I lifted my fingers to cover his on my neck. "I want to know…with you."

The song on his playlist slid into a low, throbbing bass that added to the soft glow of the room. To the moment.

To the man who was showing me so much.

His fingers strummed my clit in time with my heartbeat, which felt like it was lining up with the music. I rested my head against his chest as he stretched me wider with his legs and his long, achingly talented fingers.

Ever so slowly, his hand tightened under mine on my throat. The pressure of it amplified each stroke between my legs. I could feel my pulse echoing in my body and in my pussy as the glow of the room sparkled and my eyes teared a little.

He released my neck and I arched against him.

He dipped inside of me, groaning as my body vised around his two fingers. He pulsed inside of me, the palm of his hand adding to the friction. Then his hand tightened on my neck again just as I was going up, just as the release was coming at me like a golden wave.

The glow of the room shimmered and darkened as I was suspended on the edge. Him holding me open, owning my body, owning my orgasm.

Owning the time of it.

I leaned into it and when he released my neck, the flood of everything coalesced into a gasp that set off a chain reaction of release unlike anything I'd ever experienced.

He held me wide and demanded more as he stroked my clit. Rather than holding me at my neck, his hand slid down to my waist. He held me against him as I arched up and his name left me on a guttural cry.

"That's it. God, you're so fucking gorgeous."

I lifted my arm to grip onto anything, finding his shoulder, then his neck as I tangled my fingers into his hair. "Colder."

"I'm here." He kissed my neck before he situated me sideways on his lap.

I curled into him as I came down and my breathing evened. I laughed a little. "I'm the one who's mostly naked again. Why is that?"

He chuckled. "Because I want to give you everything."

I glanced up at him. Before I could ask what that meant, he covered my mouth with his and there were no more words between us. For once in my life, I certainly didn't have them to give.

Instead, I'd just have to show him.