“So now I get to slap you around, huh?”
“Only if that’s what you like.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
Now it was her time to throw back her head on a laugh. “We might need to ease into that.”
Reclaiming her in his arms, he pulled her close to his side. “We have all the time in the world.”
Sighing, she rested her head on the crook of his shoulder. She knew better than most that time was fleeting, but there was no need to point that out right now. In this moment, she wanted to focus on nothing but the good and exciting.
And boy was Cody exciting. Her body still hummed from the things he did to her. Her toes curled, and she ran her foot up and down his leg.
He groaned and swooped both arms around her, shifting so his long, lean frame pinned her to the mattress. “You’re insatiable.”
“Tonight I am.”
He kissed her hard, his hand teasing her flesh as it moved up and down her torso. “I should set my alarm before we head into the next round.”
She arched her back, every inch of her begging him for more. “Why, so you can time us?”
Chuckling, his warm breath tickled her ear. “Trust me, I have no desire to see how long this takes. But it’s late and you’re wearing me out. I don’t want to fall asleep and have poor Ollie walk in on something in the morning that could traumatize him. I can get up early and head to the couch before he wakes.”
His consideration for her son unlocked another level of happiness and she smoothed her palm against the side of his face. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”
“Not in so many words, but you’ve said so in other ways.”
She kissed the smirk off his face. “I have a few more ways still to show you. You better set that alarm because once I’m done with you, you won’t have the energy for anything else.”
He messed with his clock then stalked over her like a hunter zeroing in for the kill.
A thrill shot through her. Giggling, she opened her arms wide as he dove toward her. She closed her eyes and let go of every thought clogging her brain, letting the man she was falling head over heels for take her to places she’d never been.
17
Daybreak streamed into the bedroom, rousing Cody before the screech of his alarm woke him. He reached over to fiddle with the clock, ensuring Katherine could get more sleep. He stared down at her, and longing constricted his throat.
Strands of messy hair were tossed over his pillow. The relaxed lines of her face made her look so peaceful. A light blush stained her cheeks, and her mouth was open just enough to let little breaths tickle the side of his neck.
He had to get up, because if he spent one more second in bed, he’d kiss her senseless. Just the thought flared the desire deep in his gut. Gritting his teeth, he kept himself in check and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stood and found his joggers on the floor. He yanked them on then padded out to the living room.
A low growl sounded from the guest room. He hurried down the hall and popped his head in the room. Bailey stood at the end of the bed, her tail wagging like crazy. If Ollie woke without the dog in his room he wouldn’t like it, but Bailey always had to pee first thing in the morning.
“Come on, girl. Be quick.”
Bailey leapt onto the floor then dashed toward the back door.
Cody followed, letting her outside before she had an accident on the floor. He stood at the back door while she did her business, the cold, crisp air doing more to wake him than a cup of coffee. He breathed it in. The scent of the dew clinging to the grass better than any flowers.
“Mommy?” Ollie’s voice floated down the hall and outside to Bailey’s ears.
Bailey ran in and led the way back to the guest room.
“Morning, bud,” Cody said, crossing the threshold. The curtain was pulled over the window and kept out the morning sun. “Your mom’s still sleeping. Can I help you with anything?”
Ollie yawned and scooted up in the bed to a sitting position. “I’m hungry.”
“I can fix that. Want to hop in the wheelchair or try the crutches?”
Ollie scrunched up his nose. “I’m too tired for crutches, but maybe after breakfast.”
