While the machine gurgled and spluttered, I stared out the window at the bird sitting atop the Magnolia tree and mystomach churned. Cole mightn’t have thought much about his word choice, but I was certainly giving it some thought. He didn’t kick women out after they’d spent the night in his bed. I couldn’t help but wonder if that happened often. The moment the idea crossed my mind I wanted to slap myself. I didn’t know why it hurt, but it did. I guess it was a good thing I hadn’t slept with Cole. The last thing I wanted to be was just another notch on this cowboy’s bedpost.
The coffee finished, and I was just starting the second cup when Cole appeared looking refreshed and ready to tackle whatever the day would bring.
I brought my mug to my lips and took a sip. It was hot and strong and was the wake-up call I needed.
Cole prowled toward me and my heart pounded.
When he took the mug from my hands, I almost whimpered. It was cruel to give me my coffee and then take it away. I watched as he set it aside and turned back to me, determination wrinkling his brow. When his huge hands grasped my hips, I gasped, and Cole chuckled before he lifted me off my feet and set me back down on the counter.
“What are you …?” I didn’t even get to finish my question.
“Clearing something up before your imagination has a chance to run away with you,” Cole declared as he took my hands.
Sitting on the counter, I was the same height as him and met his eyes. The man obviously wanted to say something and was adamant I heard him.
“O-Okay,” I stuttered as nerves fluttered in my belly.
“Firstly, I’m a gentleman in every room in this house except one. I treat women with respect just like my mama taught me.”
“Okay.”
“Secondly, the last woman to spend the night in my bed, was not in this house. No woman has ever even spent the night in this house. None until you, Grace Hamilton.”
I swallowed deeply. “How long have you lived here?” I managed to ask, my voice timid.
A grin cracked Cole’s seriousness. “Two years,” he answered.
“Oh.”
“And lastly, the only reason you didn’t spend the night in my bed was because you looked so peaceful asleep in my arms I didn’t want to wake you. But let me be real clear here, Grace. Next time, you’ll be in my bed, and it won’t be as peaceful,” Cole promised with a growl before sealing his promise with a bruising kiss.
It was a kiss that left me breathless and curled my toes. With my face cupped in his hands, Cole kissed like a starved man. But it wasn’t enough. I slid closer to him, needing more.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured against my neck as he trailed wet kisses down the column of my throat.
I tilted my head back, giving him more room. A moment ago, I was determined not to be another notch and now I wanted to whittle that bedpost down to a toothpick. I wrapped my legs around his waist pulling him against me, gasping when I felt his hardness pressed against my hot center. Suddenly, coffee wasn’t the focus of my morning.
“C-C-Cole,” I panted as he skated his hand down my side and along my rib cage setting every nerve ending alight.
“Yeah, sweetheart,” he drawled, pulling back and looking at me with dark eyes.
“I have a question.”
“Shoot.”
“You said you were a gentleman in every room in this house except one …”
Cole didn’t answer. Instead, he picked me up like I weighed nothing at all, tossed me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry, and headed out of the kitchen.
“Where are you taking me?” I giggled only to get a slap on the ass that flooded my panties.
“You’ll see,” Cole said, his words laced with promise.
A few short strides later and with all the blood rushing to my head from being upside down, Cole came to a stop.
Another slap landed on my ass, surprising me. “Showing you,” Cole growled and kicked open the door.
Chapter eight
