Chapter Twenty-Seven
She blinked a few more times, but the vision was real. Col stood in her doorway, filling the frame with his presence, the broad chest mere inches away, the muscled arms near enough to touch. His hazel eyes were now looking into her own, and filled with yearning.
“Col?” Lily said his name again, and he jerked as if waking from a trance. “What are you doing here?” Her voice was husky, as she searched his face for clues, answers, anything to make sense of his being here.
He lifted one hand to rub his neck. Lily watched as the movement stretched his tee shirt across his pectorals. “I am compelled to see you, Katie Cooper, but I wish not to disturb. If it is your will that I leave, I will do so with my apologies.”
He started to turn, almost as if he anticipated that she would tell him to go, and readying himself for it. Without thinking, she quickly reached out, her hand making contact with the hard muscle of his forearm.
She felt him move, as she did, once skin met skin, the contact sending tremors through them both.
“No,” Lily said, her voice barely a whisper. “Stay.”
It was one word, but the force of her desire surprised her.
He was here now, and his nearness reawakened the longing that she had for him. There was a watchfulness in his eyes, and her fingers closed gently on his arm, pulling him towards her as she stepped back. “Come inside.”
There was something disarming that this large man — someone whom to her seemed normally filled with self-assuredness — was now moving tentatively. As if he was mistrustful that this was not a dream, apprehensive that she would rescind her invitation at any moment. She marveled at her power over him, yet was herself helpless with the desire that swept through her.
The door closed behind him, and she watched silently as Col looked around and took in the simple furnishings, the relative lack of personal effects, save Mr. Calabash by her pillow where she had left him. The room, which had felt so empty and spacious before, was now barely able to contain his presence, the ceilings seemed lower, the bare walls closer in, the furniture smaller.
But all she cared about was closing the distance between the two of them. Her hand was still on his arm, and she slid her fingers down, feeling the skin, the cords of his muscles, under her tips. So much power there, contained in one man. He turned his eyes towards her, and she searched his face, to try to see what he was thinking.
The air between them lay thick, heavy with promise. He raised his free hand, to her jawline, stroking it gently as she pushed her face towards its heat, its touch. His thumb slid along her lower lip, and she caught the thick pad of its tip with her teeth. His breath hitched, and she tilted her head back, inviting his kiss.
Col’s head descended on hers, and his hands moved to fold her into him. She leaned into his embrace, parting her lips for his kiss, his tongue dancing with hers.
Her body blossomed, as it did for no other. She spread her fingers over the thick muscles of his back, pulling herself into him as she had never wanted any man before.
He had moved his mouth onto her neck, his hands spreading on her waist, moving upwards over the linen of her overdress. She could feel the weight of his hand on the curve of her breast, and she arched herself further against him.
“Col,” she breathed. He stilled.
“Is this…is this not slow?”
Her lips curved up. “It’stooslow,” she said cheekily, and sighed as he moved his mouth over the soft curve of her breast, where it was revealed by the chemise.
“Isthis…too slow?” Col murmured, an answering smile in his voice.
“Yes,” she breathed, and he mouthed the aching tip of her breast over the chemise, sending a tremor throughout her body.
She moaned and her fingers curled into his back.
* * *
Col felt her stiffened peak through the thin fabric of her chemise, and the shivers that rocked through her body as he gently teased it with his teeth. He was in sync with her, his senses picking up the quickened pace of her breaths and heartbeat, the scent of arousal that now underlay the night blooming flowers, her soft tugs pulling him closer.
He wanted to remove the barrier of the cloth, and with his fingers he gently lowered the side of her clothing. The fabric slid to reveal a creamy shoulder, the slight trembling of her body. He watched her carefully, attuned to her every reaction. She moved her hand up — he froze. He would only go as far as she allowed.
But her hand completed moving the other strap down, over her arms, baring the rosy-peaked breasts to him.
He took a deep breath, her eyes on him, questioning.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Katie Cooper.” Col said in wonderment, and he could feel her muscles loosening with his words.
“Just for tonight,” she breathed, “please, Col, just for tonight, call me Lily.”
“Lily,” he said, his voice thickened with desire. “As you wish. Lily.” The syllables rolled easily on his tongue.Lily.The name suited the fragrance that emanated from her, along with her arousal. It matched her beauty, unfurling in front of him, as she let the chemise and overskirt pool around her feet. She stood naked before him, the rosy tips of her breasts, the feminine curves of her body, the soft curls over her sex, all bared to his worshipful gaze. He was stunned by the power of her allure.
