I sighed. “Honestly, I’m exhausted. IfI’m going to work tonight I’d better rest today,” I told him. Between myhospital stay and sleeping in so many unfamiliar places the last few nights, Ihadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in close to a week.
He was quiet for a moment and I couldtell he was biting his tongue about my plan to go to work. Instead he nodded.“Okay, to bed with you then,” he said gently.
“Would you lay with me for just alittle bit?” I asked while meeting his tender gaze.
“Sure,” he agreed with a small smile.
I gingerly removed my clothes, slippedinto a long nightshirt that was soft on my skin, and I crawled under thecovers. It was just after noon, but I had no doubt I could sleep the day away.Cole crawled in beside me after removing his T-shirt and jeans. I immediatelyrolled on my good side toward his reassuring warmth. He smelled so good, anddespite my exhaustion and throbbing side I felt the familiar tingle between mylegs as his hand stroked my hip. I felt his firm body beneath my fingers, and Iallowed my hand to wander from his chest down to his washboard abs, then to histhigh, teasing him slightly. I heard his quick intake of breath and I smiled tomyself as my cheek lay pressed against his chest. There was no mistaking the swellthat immediately filled his boxer briefs. I felt wetness between my legs at thesight and I reached out to stroke him.
“I thought you were tired,” his deepvoice rasped.
“Notthattired.”
“Fuck. Thank God,” he hissed throughclenched teeth as I began to stroke him. He wrapped his hand around the back ofmy head, pulling my lips to his. His tongue met mine and the kiss went wild,all traces of subtlety gone. It had been several days since we’d been togetherand the forced abstinence was clear in his kiss. He growled into my mouth as mygrip got firmer around him. He pulled my hand away, moving over me, his mouthcovering my nipple over my nightshirt.
I arched off the bed sighing inpleasure as he sucked me further into his mouth. He moved down my body slidingmy panties down my legs and tossing them to the floor. Then his mouth was onme, and he licked and sucked until I was crying out his name.
“Cole,” I called, my voice ragged. “Ineed you inside me,” I begged desperately.
He lifted his head and his intensegaze met mine. Something passed between us in that moment. His gaze was filledwith a promise, not only of the moments to come but of something far more. Icouldn’t say how I knew that, I just did, and the knowledge of it nearly movedme to tears.
“Now, please,” I called again.
He moved up over me, careful not totouch or rub against my bad side and slowly guided himself inside of me.
“You feel so good, baby,” he groaned.
“Harder,” I demanded raggedly as heglided in and out.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he replied,his own voice hoarse.
“You won’t,” I assured him, wrappingmy legs around him, pulling him into me.
Any trace of self-control he’d beenholding onto was quickly abandoned as he slammed into me, eliciting a noisefrom my throat that I didn’t even recognize. It was only moments before I felta wave of ecstasy that rose up and crashed back down, sending such forcefulshocks through my body that a single sob escaped.
“Fuck,” I heard him gasp before hefollowed close behind me, collapsing onto my good side, his breath warm on myneck. “Okay?” he asked, his voice ragged.
“Yeah,” I breathed, still trying tocome back fully to my senses.
He rolled off of me and pulled metoward him, tucking me into his side. Being tucked close to Cole where I feltso safe and protected, I was able to forget my troubles momentarily and justbreathe him in. How I ever thought I could do without this was beyond me. Hestroked my hair as we lay not speaking and I felt myself begin to drift off.
When I woke up it was dark outside andI bolted upright in a panic. I’d completely over slept. It was nearly six o’clock--I should have been out the door already.
“Shit,” I hissed pulling on my jeansand whirling around the room looking for my shirt.
Cole came to lean in the doorway, hisarms crossed over his broad chest.
“I’m late,” I exclaimed unnecessarily.“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I demanded, finding my work shirt in a heap nearmy suitcase.
“Because you needed to sleep. I calledyour boss, he agreed that you need at least another night off to recuperate,”he explained calmly.
“What? You called Pete?” I demandedwhile still topless, holding my shirt in my hand. “Why did you do that? I toldyou that I need to work!” I said feeling somewhat desperate. My bills werepiling up. I didn’t have the luxury of an extra night to recuperate.
“And I told you to take more time,” hereplied, his eyes doing a body sweep. “You need to change your bandage,” headded calmly.
“Fuck my bandage. I’m going to work,”I huffed, trying to hide my wince as I pulled my shirt a bit too roughly overmy body.
“For Christ’s sake you’re going toreopen your fucking wounds. Would you please relax?” he growled.
