His hips tilted and he wrapped his arm over her chest, pulling her down firmly on his length. “God, Tomi, I need you somuch.”
His vulnerable tone had her craning her head around to look into his dark, heavy-lidded eyes. Cole leaned down and kissed her lips so tenderly Tomi’s throat closed up. The emotions he made her feel were almostviolent.
She knew from experience there was no getting Cole out of her system. She’d tried, hadn’t she? Years ago, she’d run like a frightened girl from the crushing feelings he’d elicited in her. To love someone this much wasn’t scary—it wasterrifying.
But now, she had a hard time holding on to that fear. He’d driven all the energy out of her, stripped her down bare and laid her out for histaking.
And she loved his sensualdominance.
Her heart squeezed and then seemed to blossom in her chest. Not sure what to think, Tomi rolled with the feelings and wrapped her arm around his neck, drawing him down for a deep kiss. When he lifted his head, a look of fierce possession filled hisfeatures.
She belonged to him. She alwayshad.
18
She’d showered and shaved,and then she’d dressed in the scandalous deep purple corset and thigh highs Cole had left out for her on the bed. He’d even provided black stilettos, which she carefully buckled on her feet, her hands trembling the entiretime.
Something had shifted in him last night, but she wasn’t sure what. All she knew was that she was both frightened and excited at the same time. This morning, he’d all but growled at her to get her ass in the shower and wait for him in thebedroom.
So here she sat, perched on the edge of the bed, waiting to see precisely what Cole Fury had in store. The anticipation made her restless, and after a few moments of silence, she got up and paced the room. He’d asked her to give him three days, and today was the third. Was this some kind of sendoff? Did she want to leavehim?
Hell,no.
But she was so close to losing her heart to him all over again… If it didn’t work out this time, she didn’t think she’d ever get over the pain. What would she do if…no, when…he left on another tour? Would she be able to handle it thistime?
Tomi shook her head, trying to rid herself of the darkthought.
“I don’t think I’ll forget this for the rest of my life,” Cole’s deep voice made her freeze. He stood in the doorway, filling it up as if he ownedit.
Tomi rounded on him, not liking the fact he’d snuck up on her and caught her unaware. “Forgetwhat?”
He grinned at her, a heart-melting, butterflies-in-her-stomach, impossibly handsomegrin.
“I thought purple was your favorite color.” He cocked a blackbrow.
Her irritation vanished, and she propped a hand on her hip. “I never envisioned myself wearing it in quite thisway.”
“That’s a shame.” The appreciation in his gaze started a slow burn on herinsides.
“Do you want to tell me what all this is about?” She gestured to her outfit and waited, trying her best to exude an air of confidence when she felt anythingbut.
Cole’s amused demeanor changed; his smile flattened in a way that made her want to cross the room and cup his cheek in comfort. But she could no more make her legs work now than she could if she were a puppet. His look pinned her in place. Just like always, he’d taken all of her bearings and flipped them upside down. And he hadn’t even said a wordyet…
“I’ve been avoiding this, and I shouldn’t have. It’s been a disservice to us both. But I’m honest enough to admit to you, Tomi, that I wasafraid.”
“Afraid?”
“Yes, I was—I am afraid of losingyou.”
The raw honesty in his voice stole her breath. “I am, too,” shebegan.
Cole held up a hand, and she immediately stoppedtalking.
“Do you remember the conversations we used tohave?”
Tomi’s heart stopped in her chest. For a nanosecond, she thought about pretending she didn’t understand what he was asking, but she couldn’t disrespect Cole like that, not when he’d been so upfront with her. Her voice trembling, she said, “Yes.”
“Do you still feel the sameway?”
