Page 49 of One Kind Soul

And he loved it. So much. Too much.

It was probably stupid of him to do anything that caused him to fall deeper for her, but like most things when it came to Nicole Travers, Christian couldn’t help himself. Every time he was with her felt as if he were exactly where he was supposed to be. As much as he’d wanted this with other women he’d dated, he’d never come close. They’d become friends and that pissed him off, but honestly, he understood. Now he did anyway. Now that he’d experienced what it was like to be with Nicole. He’d never had this intensity with anyone else.

Rising up to rest on his elbow, he watched Nicole sleep. Her face was so peaceful, those big curls so dark against the cream-colored pillowcase. He leaned down and pressed light kisses along her cheek until he felt her smile. Then he backed up and touched the dimple in her cheek with his index finger.

“I like this.”

Her smile grew, deepening the dimple, and she shifted so she was lying on her back. She reached up with one hand and cupped his cheek, her thumb running along his short beard.

“I like this. When it scrapes against my skin . . .” She closed her eyes and hummed. “Perfection.”

“Oh, yeah?” He tugged the blankets so they slowly revealed her breasts. “Like this?” He cut a trail of kisses, making sure to let his chin drag along her flesh, from her collarbone down to between her breasts. He loved when she writhed beneath him, her arms sliding around his back and her fingers massaging under his shoulder blades.

“Exactly like that.” Her voice was breathy and full of need.

“I’ve definitely been missing out on the lazy Sunday morning bit.” He took her left breast into his mouth, swirling his tongue around her nipple which was already taut.

“Me too. I usually work the morning shift at The Nalu on Sundays. Normally I’d be schlepping Bloody Marys and mimosas at this hour. I’d much rather be doing this.” Her arms tightened around him. “I’d much rather be with you.”

Those simple words were music to his ears and he traveled lower down her naked body until he could part her legs and put his mouth to her folds. Her sharp intake of breath followed by the moan pleased him too. He worked her with his mouth and fingers until she came apart, her body shuddering in bliss. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes closed, as her chest rose and fell with her labored breathing.

She was positively radiant.

“Now that’s a good morning.” She sat up and rolled him so he was on his back.

“Let me inside you and it’ll be a great morning.”

Nicole reached to the bedside table, grabbed a condom, and sheathed him. She climbed atop him, taking a few moments to kiss everything within reach then she lowered onto him. When she moved, her sweet ass grinding against his thighs, he knew this wasn’t going to take long. He was half gone from tasting her. Having her surround him like this, take charge like this, made him lose his mind.

Christian gripped her hips, needing something to hold on to as she rode him. Her body undulated atop his and he loved watching her. She was all soft curves, her breasts swaying slightly as she moved. Within minutes, she took him over the edge with her. He let out a half shout, half cry of her name and they both went limp after climaxing, Nicole’s body draping over his. They stayed like that for several long moments, catching their breaths.

Finally Nicole slid off him. She leaned down and kissed him before getting out of bed. She grabbed his T-shirt and put it on. Sitting beside him, she said, “Tell me we can spend the day together, Chrissy. I’d like to give Tessa and Donovan a day alone so they can have a honeymoon day at home.” She traced circles on his chest. “I’d also like to be with you today.”

“Well, you’re in luck.” He sat up. “I’d like to be with you today too. And if you look in the top drawer of that dresser there, you’ll find something we can do over coffee.”

Nicole looked at the dresser, a curious smile on her face. She got up, walked over to it, and opened the top drawer, laughing when she saw what he’d put in there.

“Checkers.” She pulled out the box and turned toward him, hugging the box to her chest. “Can we play outside at the table you made?”

“Sure. We can do anything you want.” Christian got out of bed and came over to her. “If you want to lose this checkers game outside, that’s your choice.”

She shoved him, but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him, his hands massaging her bare ass under his T-shirt.

“You are going down, Chrissy.” She wiggled free of his hold, walked to the bedroom door then paused to look over her shoulder. “At least you’re a sexy loser.”

He pulled on his briefs and chased her down the hallway to the stairs, getting a glimpse of how it could be if the house was finished.

If Nicole was always there.

Dangerous thoughts, but hearing her laughter echo through the house filled him. Filled him in ways he had never felt before.

He caught up to her at the base of the stairs where Nicole sat on the bottom step with the cats meowing at her feet.

“Wow, they make quite a ruckus for such little critters.” She set down the checkers box and picked up Leaf. The cat balanced on her thigh, its paws immediately going to work kneading her lap.

“They’re hungry. I usually feed them earlier than this.” He sat beside her and Pebbles rubbed his fuzzy, gray head along his shin.

“Something keeping you from your normal Sunday routine, Chrissy?”