Piper melted backward, his thumb caressing just under her breast. She stuttered out a sigh, closing her eyes, thankful he couldn’t see her face, but he could still hear her, and she tightened her throat. No way was she letting the next sound escape as he caressed her hip.
“Tell me,” he said, hands creeping ever farther from the innocently affectionate places. Everything in her mind went quiet at the brush of his fingers over the top of her thigh. His rising chest against her back was slow and warm, and she let her head tip and rest against him.
Behind her closed eyelids, there was only darkness, not a rolling list of tasks and worries. And instead of a jittery need togo-go-gopumping in her veins, her heart thumped curiously—it was finally thumpingfor her.
“Piper…” He drew out her name in warning just as he drew fingers away from her most sensitive spots.
“Yes,” she answered, eyes flying open. Had that really been her voice? So sure? Sodemanding?
And then his hands were off of her completely. “Go upstairs.”
Piper couldn’t move, as if the loss of his touch had allowed every worry to flow back into her. Was it selfish to ask him for this? Did he really want to? What was she even asking for?
“Go. Up. Stairs.” The punctuation of each word struck the back of her ear with his breath, and her eyes flew open. She didn’t turn to him, didn’t say a word, just slipped out from between his body and the sink, and she left the kitchen behind.
22
Probably Not What They Meant By A-Milking
Piper did exactly as Kol said—she didn’t double-check they had the ingredients for a full breakfast, didn’t fuss over the coats left on the banister, she just went upstairs. Her footsteps were soft and measured, tights slippery on the hardwoods, hand skimming the banister. She was aware of Kol behind her, following close enough to feel but not to touch.
The hall upstairs was quiet, and her bedroom even quieter. She stood in its middle, softening her gaze and taking a deep breath. The door clicked shut behind her, and Piper jerked out of the trance she’d begun to settle into, her feet tapping, hands flexing.
“Stand still.”
She balled her fists and planted her feet firmly on the ground, straightening her back.
Kol made a sound of displeasure, and she felt it all the way into her bones. Her shoulders sank.
“Better,” he said, and then he was there, hands on her hips again though no press of his front to her back. “Breathe.”
She was breathing, wasn’t she? Piper checked, but, no, she had been holding it, so she started up again.
“Deeper.” One of his hands slid up to the middle of her belly. “Move my hand.”
She filled her stomach with an inhale and then let it out with a shudder.
“Good. I don’t want you overthinking this time,”—his body lingered closer behind her—“but are you still sure?”
Piper nodded without hesitation, lips parted and mouth dry. Fingers skimmed along the hem of her sweater, and then it was slowly peeled upward over her head. The air was cool against her bare skin, but then Kol pressed himself to her back as he tossed away her top, warm hands returning to her lower ribs.
His touch roved over her skin, but no laughter poured out of her this time, just a quiet sigh as her eyes fluttered closed once again. Kol’s fingers crawled up over one of her covered breasts, and his thumb circled her nipple already at attention. She cursed the fabric between them. Wait—was she supposed to tell him he could take her bra off? Or was she supposed to take it off herself?
“Relax,” Kol whispered as if he could hear the voice in her mind.
The reach of his other hand was scratching at the top of her thigh, and she blinked her eyes open to see he was slowly gathering up her skirt. Her knee started bouncing.
“Stop?” He released her and froze.
“No, no, no…” she heard herself mumbling as she leaned into him completely, bringing up a hand to his and pressing it back to her chest.
Kol chuckled, deep and rumbling, but she didn’t care how eager she knew that was—if he wanted her to relax, he had to be touching her, it was the only way. As he cupped her breast again, his other hand slid up under her skirt. More layers.Damn it.
“Spread your legs for me.”
Piper inched her thighs apart.
“More,” he growled, and she felt his foot between hers, giving one of them a nudge. She gasped, quick to resettle her feet much wider, and then her legs shook as his fingers dipped between her thighs. His touch was light, the relief she wanted blunted by her tights.
