“Are you kidding?” I asked, coming to stand before her. “I can’t tell you how much this program means to me.”How much you mean to me.
“Thank you.” She dipped her head.
There was so much more I wanted to say, but I didn’t. Because in a few days, I’d go home, and her life would return to normal. Without me.
Chapter Thirteen
Olivia
I pulled a tray of cookies out of the oven and placed them on a rack to cool. Connor reached out to grab one, and I slapped his hand.
“No more cookies,” I chided, completely at ease with this mountain of a man after just a week together. In some ways, it felt as if he’d been here forever, as if this was where he belonged.
“But they’re so good,” he groaned. “Please.” He pouted, batting those beautiful gray eyes at me.
“Nuh-uh.” I shook my head, trying to ignore the way his gray T-shirt clung to the muscles of his chest. Muscles I had explored and licked, yet still couldn’t believe they were real. “You’ve already had two. If you keep eating them, there’ll be none left for the barbecue.”
“So?” He lifted a shoulder.
“So.” I glared at him, placing my hands on my hips. “I’m not going to your boss’s house empty-handed.”
“Technically, Jackson’s not my boss.” He smirked.
“Right,” I scoffed, spinning to move the cookies from the baking sheet to the cooling rack. “He’s just the founder and co-owner of Cole Security. No big deal.”
I wasn’t sure what I was more nervous about—being the outsider at a work event, or the fact that he’d invited me at all. Whether either of us realized it or admitted it, we were letting each other in. And the deeper I got, the harder it was going to be to extricate myself when it came time to say goodbye.
His arms slipped around my waist from behind, his body warm and secure. “It really isn’t a big deal, Olivia. You’ll see—it’s pretty low-key.”
He brushed my hair away from my neck, and I closed my eyes. He leaned in, pulling my back to his front as he pressed a kiss to the delicate skin of my neck. I shivered as he continued his assault, dotting kisses down my neck, my shoulder.
“Connor.” His name came out as more of a sigh.
“Yes, Goody?” He didn’t stop, just continued to leave a trail of kisses that electrified me.
“We have to…” I let out a breathy moan as he slid his hands up over my breasts.
“We have to…?” I could hear the smile in his voice, the amusement mingled with desire. But he was just as affected as I was, and I could feel the hard evidence digging into my backside.
“Just one more,” he said, and I wasn’t sure if he was referring to the cookie or another round of sex. But at this point, I was prepared to give him anything he wanted.
He swept my dress aside as he slid a hand up my leg. I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against his chest. I loved the feel of his hands on my skin, his rough calluses sliding over my smooth, bare legs. I loved the way he surrounded me, made me feel safe.
He toyed with me over my panties, the material already wet with my arousal. I was panting, needy, and I rocked into his hand, silently begging for more. His deep chuckle in my ear was the sexiest thing I’d ever heard, but the slow pace he’d set was infuriating.
“More,” I whispered, pleaded.
He pushed my panties aside, slipping his finger up and down before sliding it inside me. I gasped as he clutched me to him, power and control radiating from his body. I’d never been with someone so…so overwhelming in every sense of the word. He consumed me, body and soul. He made it impossible to think about anything or anyone but him.
“Give it to me, Goody,” he rasped, rocking into me. “Give me everything.”
My legs shook, body clenching as my release barreled toward me. I closed my eyes, powerless to stop it. But he was there, supporting me the entire time, catching me as I floated back down to earth.
He held me a moment then smoothed my dress back down. When I turned to face him, his eyes were hooded. He lifted his hand to his mouth, sucking on the finger that had just been inside me.
“Mm.” He moaned, licking it clean. “Tastes even better than your cookies.”
I shook my head with a laugh, surprised by the fact that his comment didn’t bother me. In fact, it was such a turn-on that I knelt to the floor, feeling emboldened and wanting to return the favor. Wanting to make him feel as good as he’d made me feel.
