Cole turned to her fully and let the rest of it go. “I love you. I didn’t know how to say it because I thought you wanted to go back to Colorado. But I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay.” He paused. “Marry me.”
A tear slipped down her cheek and he held his breath. Then she smiled.
“I love you too. That’s why I came out here. I wanted to tell you I’m not leaving.” Her voice trembled but held. “I called the hospital this morning. I have an interview tomorrow.”
He pulled her in and kissed her, and when the men behind him erupted he laughed against her mouth. He looked up at Callie over Aftyn’s head, and whatever he felt in that moment had nothing to do with the past.
“Goodbye, Callie.”
She held his gaze for a few seconds, something moving across her face before she locked it down. Then she walked out. Her car roared to life and threw snow and gravel in all directions as she left, taking nothing with her but the fading smell of expensive perfume.
Cole swept Aftyn up and carried her across theyard toward the house, her weight easy against his chest.
“Taking the rest of the day,” he called back to the men without turning around. Their laughter followed him all the way to the porch.
He shouldered through the door, crossed the kitchen still warm with the smell of morning coffee, and set her on her feet. His hand found the back of her neck and he kissed her slowly, the way he’d wanted to for longer than he’d let himself admit. Her fingers slid into his hair, and she pulled his Stetson off and dropped it somewhere behind her. He pushed her coat off her shoulders. She got his jacket. The rest of the distance between them closed fast.
He carried her to the bedroom and laid her on the quilt and stood there a moment just looking at her.
“What?” she asked, propping herself up.
“I’m just glad you’re staying.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand resting on her knee. “I told myself it was no strings. I knew that was a lie about two weeks in.” He shook his head. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. Not Callie, not anyone. I won’t again.”
She sat up and put her hand against his jaw, her thumb brushing the stubble there. “I feel the same way.” She smiled, soft and certain. “I have to thank that bull for chasing me, because I don’t know how else I’d have found you.”
Cole laughed quietly. “We would have found each other. I really believe that.”
****
Aftyn blinked against the blur of tears. This was the man she would love for the rest of her life. Sheknew it the way she knew her own heartbeat, without question and without reservation.
“I need you,” he said, his voice rough and low against her cheek.
“I need you too.” Her fingers curled into his shirt. “I’ve been miserable since yesterday just thinking about leaving. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d told me to go.”
His lips pressed to her forehead and stayed there. “You never have to worry about that.”
“Neither do you.” She leaned into him, breathing him in, that particular combination of pine and clean cotton that was entirely his. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He stood and undressed her slowly, boots first, then jeans, then her sweater, until she was in nothing but her blue lace bra and panties. The way he looked at her made the air feel thin. He sat on the edge of the bed, toed off his boots, and stripped off the rest. She watched him, her breath unsteady.
He ran his hands up her legs and her skin came alive under his touch. He reached for his wallet, fingers not quite steady as he rolled on the condom, and she felt the ache in her deepen watching him. He pulled her upright, unclasped her bra and tossed it aside, then pulled her panties down and looked at her like she was something he’d been waiting a long time for.
He crawled over her, settled between her thighs, and kissed her hard. She locked her legs around him and pulled him in and cried out at the force of it.
“Cole.” His name came out and broke against his ear. “Please.”
She felt him shudder against her.
He rolled onto his back without breaking their connection and she moved over him, riding him hard,his hands at her breasts, his mouth finding her nipple before traveling up her neck and taking her mouth with a hunger that matched her own.
She moved harder against him, chasing it, and when it hit her she threw her head back and cried out. Cole groaned against her neck and followed her, his hands gripping her tight, and they stayed like that until their breathing slowed.
He pulled her down onto the mattress and tucked her against his chest, her cheek warm under his chin. Afternoon light came soft through the curtains, laying gold across the pillows.
“I love you,” she murmured.
His hand moved through her hair. “I love you, baby.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, then paused. “I need a shower.”
