“You wouldn’t have left the service for me. It was all you’d talked about. It was your dream.” She’d known it and loved him more forit.
“Baby, I would have if it meant making you happy.” Cole held her face in his hands, his gaze so convincing. “I could have been there foryou.”
“Why aren’t youmad?”
If possible, Cole moved in closer, surrounding her with his body. “I understand. I wish you would have told me back then, but at least I understand now.” He kissed down her neck, her shoulder. “I’ve gone insane without you, but I finally have you back, and I don’t intend to lose you again. I love you, Tomi. I neverstopped.”
His words rocked her, took her fear and crushed it. Her entire body trembled with the force of emotions crashing over her. He’d never stopped loving her, even though she’d left him. Even though she’d pretended he meant nothing to her. If a strong man like Cole wasn’t scared to admit to his feelings, then she wouldn’t be either. Tomi tilted her head back and uttered the words she’d been longing to say. “I love youtoo.”
Cole’s mouth was on hers in an instant, devouring her. Tomi let go and gave in to the overwhelming tide of need he’d setfree.
“Tell me now, Tomi,” he breathed out, pulling away, “who owns yourorgasms?”
She answered without hesitation. “You, Cole. It’s always beenyou.”
He ripped his pants open, shoved them down and lifted her into the air. Tomi arched in anticipation, holding the chains binding herwrists.
“Don’t hold back, Tomi. I need all of you.” And then Cole was thrusting inside her, stretching her, driving in to thehilt.
She threw her head back and screamed out her pleasure, waves of intense need gripping her core. Cole held on to her hips, pulling out and slamming in again and again. He was her aphrodisiac. He drove her up and on, her orgasm building with an intensity that should have frightened her, but it didn’t. Not anymore. She trusted Cole to know what sheneeded.
He’d attacked her resistance and taken away her choice, but it was somehow the most freeing thing she’d everexperienced.
“Come for me, Tomi. Give me everything.” Cole gripped her hips and pounded intoher.
“Y-yes, Cole. Yes!” Tomi came apart in his hands. Every inch of her clenching down tight, she exploded. She screamed her pleasure as he drove her over the edge of anything she’d everfelt.
Cole didn’t relent—he plunged into her, hard and fast, riding her orgasm and extending it into one long, unending rollercoaster of ecstasy. Cole filled her, surrounded her, controlled her. He took her with a mindless force, savoring her every last shudder. And when he slammed in the last time, he roared his own pleasure. The violent orgasm drained her and she sagged from the chains, hanging limp in his capable hands. He’d stripped her to her core, laid her open and vulnerable, and plundered hersoul.
She was barely aware of Cole unlatching her restraints or of him carrying her to the bed, his thick length still hard inside her. Cole laid her down, holding himself up enough not to crush her, and kissed her cheeks. Her nose. Herlips.
Tomi closed her eyes against the almost frightening sense of vulnerability pressing in on her. Tears pricked her eyes again. She felt bare, stripped free of her defenses. Her emotions seemed to short circuit. Had she given away toomuch?
“Shhh, let it out, baby.” Cole’s hands caressed her arms and body, soothing her. “You were so perfect for me, Tomi. I couldn’t have asked for more.” Cole drew in a shuddering breath, and Tomi opened her eyes to see the play of sweet, open adoration on his face. “I love you somuch.”
She focused on his words and the way he’d said them…how he hadn’t held back. “I’m scared, Cole. What if something happens to you? Your career is way too deadly. I don’t know if Ican—”
“No, Tomi. I’m not in the SEALs anymore. I retired two yearsago.”
“You-you’re not?” She stutteredout.
“You don’t have to worry, baby. We all got out after our last tour.” Cole’s thumb slid over her nipple, and a spike of pleasure made her arch against him. Cole, still hard, pulsed inside her. “Fuck, you feel good aroundme.”
Cole started to move again, slower this time. “You submitted so beautifully, baby girl. I’m still hard from thinking about it.” His thrusts were gentle and deep this time. “You gave me everything Ineeded.”
Tomi grabbed his shoulders, free to move her hands now. Her nails dug into his muscles and she stared up at him in awe. “You didn’t give me muchchoice.”
His gaze darkened. “You held all the power, Tomi. Not me. You gave me your submission and I accepted it like the gift it was. I’ll treasure that gift always.” Cole slid his hands down her arms, threaded his fingers through hers and lifted her hands, pinning them on the mattress over her head. “Now I want you to take more, Tomi. Take all ofme.”
Cole started to pound into her with teeth-jarring thrusts that tapped her most sensitive nerve endings. Tomi moaned. “I don’t know if I can.” The last one had left her shattered, but Cole wasrelentless.
“You can and you will.” He transferred her two hands to his one. Then he reached between them and lashed her aching nub with his fingers. Up, down, he pressed harder. The sensations took her by surprise, ripping yet another orgasm fromher.
The world faded away and she felt like she was drifting over herself. Cole rolled onto his back and took her with him and she lay draped over his chest, spent and useless. When he pulled out of her, her womb clenched. Empty now, she could feel the tender ache between her legs. But it was her heart that throbbed the hardest. Cole had stripped her down and stolen her defenses. Longing gripped her and Tomi snuggled close, tucking her head into hisshoulder.
“I love you, Tomi. More than you could everknow.”
The honesty in his voice was undeniable, and just like that, Tomi wasn’t worried anymore. Cole wasn’t going to leave. He loved her. He would take care ofher.
