Tomi straightened, planting her fists on her hips and glaring down at him. “You were just testing me, pushing me. Let me tell you something, Clint Fury, I’m not your plaything. You can’t tease me like you would one of your bimbos. And yes, last night was hot as hell, but that’s only because Cole was in control of the whole situation. I lovehim.”
A deep chuckle filled the room, and Tomi spun around to see Cole standing not three feet behind her. He’d pulled on his pants but that was all. His broad expanse of hard, angular, muscle-packed chest was fully displayed for her admiring perusal. Not that she could fully appreciate him with the weary dread growing inside her. “How long have you been standingthere?”
“Long enough to see you put my brother in his place, and what a wonderful sight it was.” Cole opened his arms and Tomi rushed into them, burying her face against hischest.
His slow, steady heartbeat pounded against her cheek, reassuringher.
“I came in here to refill your coffee,” shesaid.
Tomi glanced up to see Cole glaring at his brothers over the top of her head. “And you were cornered by thesetwo.”
“Just a friendly chat,” Tomi said, seeking to divert his attention. The last thing she wanted was to become a problem between Cole and hisbrothers.
However, her attempted diversion failed miserably. Cole’s eyes narrowed even more. “Why don’t you head back to the bedroom, baby girl? I’m going to have a talk with thesetwo.”
Tomi shrugged out of Cole’s arms, her irritation rising. “I already had a talk withthem.”
He finally looked down at her, but it was with concern, not anger. His large hand came up to cup her cheek with a tenderness that made hertremble.
“My intent was to give you pleasure, not make youuncomfortable.”
Tomi sucked in a breath as she frantically tried to make her mind form a logical response. “I’m not in the least bit uncomfortable.” She captured his hand with hers and placed a kiss against his palm. “And I enjoyed everything you did forme.”
She had. Every singlesecond.
Cole’s arm went around her waist and he yanked her against his chest, his eyes taking on that look of complete carnal confidence that made it hard for her to breathe. She could feel the evidence of his arousal pressing against herstomach.
Tomi could feel the twins gaze at her back. Their intense desire whiplashed around the kitchen, leaving a trail of palpable tension in its wake. But Tomi couldn’t tear her gaze away from Cole’s. This man held her heart and hersoul.
His finger sifted through the hair at her temple and she instinctively turned her cheek into his palm. The contrast of his callused hand against her smooth cheek reminded her of when he’d slapped her ass with such fiery pleasure. Electric shocks of heat shot down hercore.
Cole slid his free hand down her waist and cupped her sensitive rear, his firm grip testing her sore skin. The small bite of pain mixed with pleasure sent sparks exploding behind her eyes. She licked her lips inanticipation.
“And did that give you pleasure?” He squeezed once more, letting her know he knew exactly what he was talking about. He’d taught her the eroticism of mixing pain and pleasure. Of her giving up control. Tohim.
Her body pulsed at the thought. “Yes,Cole.”
He responded with a deep growl that vibrated through his chest and into her bones. His other hand left her cheek and squeezed her bottom, forcibly lifting her against him. She gasped and grabbed his shoulders for support. Without giving her time to think, Cole lifted her and wrapped her legs around his waist. The shock of her naked core rubbing against the crisp material of his pants nearly made her comeundone.
Cole’s dark eyes widened a fraction. “Do you ever wearpanties?”
She thought about answering him honestly. What was the point with him around? But her throbbing rear reminded her to keep her sarcastic responses to herself until her tender skin had time to recover. “I wasn’t planning on being out herelong.”
Cole looked past her shoulder and then shifted his gaze back down to her, lifting his eyebrows in question. A mixed riot of emotions crashed through her. She only wanted Cole, but she couldn’t deny it thrilled her to feel Clint and Carter’s intense stares. It was a choice that she didn’t want to make. She looked to the man holding her in his arms. “This is your body,” she said. “Your decision. I trustyou.”
Cole’s nostrils flared and his hard length jumped in response to her words. His black eyes burned her, scorching her from the inside out. He lowered his head to hers and said in a rough voice, “I fucking love you somuch.”
23
His entire body was tense,his control building by the second. All he could think about was holding her, pinning her arms down and taking her hot little body again and again. Cole squeezed the round globes of her perfect ass with anticipation, loving the way her eyes widened at the bite of his fingers into her tender skin. Her lashes drifted lower, the rosy glow growing on her cheeks telegraphing her arousal. She loved what he was doing to her, just like she loved the fact that Clint and Carter werewatching.
He didn’t mind it, because it fulfilled her fantasies, but he’d never let a man other than his brothers admire her, let alone touchher.
The arousal Tomi built in his body demanded release. Cole took her lips in a kiss of possession. A kiss of dominance. A kiss of soul-deep love. Her uninhibited whimpers melted something hard inside his chest. Fuck, he had to tell her the whole truth. She needed to know about the security company, the FBI, and—most of all—the meeting withLuis.
He’d demanded her unquestioning trust and honesty, and all the while he been hiding a sinister plot that had everything to do with her life. He’d excused the lie, telling himself he had to do it to protect her, when in truth it had been about protecting himself. Letting the lie linger was probably the most dangerous thing he could have done. He’d gone ten years without Tomi’s soft, smooth arms around his neck. Without her smiling face. Without her tight little body. And he couldn’t do itagain.
He’d been a goddamn fool to take such arisk.
