Her father wandered in, drawn by the laughter."Since when do we have a physicist in our kitchen?"
"Since your daughter started collecting them," her mother replied, winking at Ashley.
Cole caught her eye across the counter, his smile soft and private.Flour dusted his dark shirt, and there was a smudge of it on his jaw that she was dying to brush away.He looked...happy.Unguarded.He belonged here in her childhood kitchen, making pie with her parents as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Your mother's been telling me about your brief career as a child chef," he said later, cornering her by the sink.His voice dropped low enough for only her to hear."Something about setting pasta on fire?"
"Oh God."She buried her face in his chest, breathing in the mix of snow and pie spices that clung to his shirt."She didn't."
"She did."His laugh rumbled through her."Complete with photographic evidence."
"I was twelve!"
"Mmm."His fingers found her chin, tilting her face up."It's nice here," he said softly."With your family.With you."
Before she could respond, her father's voice carried from the living room."Cole!Ashley mentioned you follow baseball.What do you think about the Yankees' new lineup?"
Cole's eyes lit up.He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before heading toward her father's voice, already launching into an analysis of pitching statistics.
Ashley stayed by the sink, watching him go.Her mother appeared beside her, bumping their shoulders together.
"So," her mother said quietly."That's why you came home."
Ashley nodded, unable to find words for the way her heart felt too big for her chest.
"Good," her mother said simply.Then, with a smirk, "Though I have to say, I didn't expect him to be quite so good at pie crust."
It wasn't until later, in her childhood bedroom, that the gravity of everything truly hit her.Cole moved above her beneath the old quilt, his mouth leaving a trail of fire down her throat that made her bite back desperate sounds.This wasn't the careful, measured lover she remembered - this was something altogether wilder and more dangerous.
She'd loved her husband deeply and had cherished every gentle touch and tender moment.But this Cole...this Cole made her blood sing in ways she'd never known possible.His teeth grazed her shoulder as he flipped her suddenly, the movement drawing a startled gasp that turned into a moan as he entered her from behind.
"Been dying to do this," he breathed against her ear, one hand gripping her hip while the other explored with devastating precision."You have no idea how long I've wanted-"
Her response was lost as he bit down on her shoulder, the perfect mix of pleasure and pain making her clutch the sheets.She pushed back against him, demanding more, drawing a groan from deep in his chest.Every touch was beautiful agony, every movement showing her a side of him she'd never known existed.
When he suddenly withdrew, she whimpered at the loss - only to cry out as his mouth replaced where he'd been.His tongue worked her higher from this position, bringing his fingers to help.She rocked back against his mouth shamelessly, past caring about anything but the pleasure building inside her.
Any embarrassment she might have had melted away under the waves of unadulterated pleasure coursing through her veins like lightning.She reached behind her, fingers tangling in his hair to hold him closer.All she could do was feel, every sensation amplified by the knowledge that this was him, truly him, holding nothing back.
"Don't stop," she gasped, rolling her hips with more urgency."Please, Cole-"
When he finally slid back into her, his movements were harder and deeper than before.She met each thrust, taking him deeper still.One hand tangled in her hair while the other worked between her legs, drawing sounds from her she didn't know she could make.Everything narrowed to this moment - the weight of him against her back, his breath hot on her neck, the perfect rhythm they created together.
Love swelled in her chest, different from but no less powerful than what she remembered.This wasn't about the future anymore.This wasn't about who he might become or what she was trying to prevent.This was about now - about them, about how perfectly they fit together, about the way he claimed her completely, and she let him.
When pleasure finally overtook her, it was more intense than anything she'd ever known.She buried her face in the pillow to muffle her cries as wave after wave crashed through her, taking him with her over the edge.They collapsed together, hearts thundering in sync, his weight anchoring her to this perfect moment.
And God help her, but she loved him even more for it.
CHAPTER32
Ashley woke to a familiar weight across her waist and warm breath against her neck.Sunlight was just beginning to creep through her childhood curtains, painting strips of gold across rumpled sheets and discarded clothes.Cole's arm tightened around her as she stirred, pulling her closer.
"What time is it?"he mumbled into her hair, voice rough with sleep.
She squinted at her bedside clock."Six-thirty."Then, as reality hit: "Oh no, my parents-"
"Are probably already awake."His lips found that sensitive spot behind her ear, making her shiver."Your mom's been in the kitchen for at least twenty minutes.I smell coffee."
