And yet she felt as if it scorched her. Her skin was hypersensitive to his touch. What the hell was wrong with her? She knew there was something horribly wrong with this situation. But she still wantedhim.
“Please, Cole, don’t do this. It’s not right. This isn’tyou.”
“I’ve thought about you nearly every day for the past ten years,” he said, staring into her eyes without looking away. “When I couldn’t sleep at night, your face haunted me. When I dreamed, I felt your touch on me. Every time I passed a damn honeysuckle plant, I was reminded ofyou.”
His words grew harsh, and Tomi sucked in a breath. She used to wear a particular honeysuckle body spray forhim.
Cole continued his onslaught on her senses, her emotions. “Every time I kissed another woman, I closed my eyes and pretended it was you. Alwaysyou.”
Sweet mother, what was she supposed to say to that? He’d thought about her that much? Even though she’d left him in the way shehad?
You’ve thought about him the same way. You know it’strue.
His words were too blunt, too raw to be a lie. And for the first time since she’d seen him in that horrible auction room, Cole’s expression wasn’t blank. It wasburning.
Her knees almost gave out, and no matter how hard she tried, she didn’t feel like she could get enough air into her lungs. She searched his gaze, looking for… Shit, she didn’t know what she was looking for. None of this madesense.
“Please, Tomi. I swear to God I won’t hurt you. Please give me this.” Cole closed his eyes and dropped his forehead to hers, his breathing harsh. Hers was equallyso.
Tomi closed her eyes, wanting him more than she wanted air. Water. Food. If she gave in, what did that make her? “Cole, I’m not a slave. I’m not something to be bought andsold.”
“I don’t want a slave. I wantyou.”
* * *
God,how he wanted her. The aching need he’d suppressed for the past decade came roaring to life, kicking his senses into overdrive. He saw and felt and heard every minute detail about her. Her soft, rapid breathing. Her satiny skin. The way her nipples beaded beneath the fabric of the T-shirt. All the signs of arousal were there. He could feel it rising within her, an unstoppabletide.
“Cole—”
He’d made progress and he couldn’t lose her now. If he couldn’t have her, he’d incinerate on the spot. “I’ve always wanted you, Tomi. Give methis.”
The invisible magnetism between them pulled his lips to hers. His breathing hitched, his abdomen pulling up in tense anticipation, as he feathered his lips across hers. It wasn’t a kiss; it was a gentle questioning. He was asking for her permission. He’d meant every word. He would never take anything from her she didn’t want togive.
Her small fingers came up and covered his. He paused, afraid she was going to rip his hand away from her face. Instead, she pressed his palm between her hand and cheek. He could feel her entire body trembling beneath his touch. “I don’t know if I can do this. It’s not right. Owning someone isn’tright.”
Her voice was so husky. At any moment, she could take off running or shoo him away, but shedidn’t.
That made his knees weak. Dammit, he had to get himself in control. She’d abandoned him. He’d hated her for what she’d done. But you never stopped wanting her. “Just three days. I swear, Tomi, I only want to give youpleasure.”
And to possess her, mind, body, and soul. The dark need had been awakened inside him, and it was all he could do not to pin her against the door and rip off her pants and take her. Instead, he reined in the beast and pressed a light kiss to her nose. Her closed eyelids. Her forehead. Committing the curves of her face tomemory.
Tomi still didn’t speak. He needed to hear her say the words. Was she waiting for him to convince herfurther?
His brother, Carter, had been right. She needed time, a gentle hand, but at the same time Cole could feel her submissive nature reaching out for him to takecontrol.
As slowly as he could manage it, Cole brought his other hand up, cupping her face in his palms, and dipped his head to hers, taking her lips in a gentle but firm kiss. She melted into him, parting for him. Cole didn’t waste a second; he pushed his tongue inside and took possession of her mouth, demanding she give him what hewanted.
Tomi made a soft little moan and her hands went to his forearms, holding him to her, not pushing himaway.
Fuck, she tasted like heaven. Sweeter than he remembered. His dreams didn’t touch herreality.
Cole slanted his head to the side, taking more, going deeper with each sweep of histongue.
He was drowning in her, losing his sense of purpose and the reason behind why he was here. If he didn’t pull back, he’d lose control. Cole gentled the kiss, forcing himself to pull back. He threaded his fingers through hers and pinned her arms to the door next to her head. Then he leaned his straining body into hers, letting her feel exactly how much he neededher.
“Do you feel this, Tomi? Do you feel how I ache for you? It’s not me who’s in control, it’s you. This is what you do to me. Don’t deny methis.”
Her lips chased after his, seeking out his kiss once more, but Cole held himself back. He had to. He had to hear her sayit.
