I turned back to Cole, surprised by how much I meant it when I said, “I don’t want to do either. I’d much rather be hugged up with a surgeon nigga from my job.”
We both laughed, but after another glance at Jeremiah, I never thought of him again. I didn’t feel regret or loss or even curiosity. I felt relief. He’d found someone who wanted what he could give. And I’d found someone who gave without me having to ask, who showed up when it mattered, who looked at me like I was everything he’d wished for.
Cole tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, then dropped a kiss there. “You good?”
“I’m perfect,” I said, leaning in for a longer, deeper kiss.
After the show, we ended up back at his place. We liked my condo, but he had so much more room. And he had Ms. Patricia, who, after learning that I existed, started leaving meals for two and decadent desserts for us to enjoy.
Cole unlocked the door and pulled me inside, his hands already reaching for me. “I’ve been waiting all night to get you alone,” he said against my mouth.
“You had me alone at dinner.”
“Not alone enough.”
He walked me backward to the stairs, kissing me between steps, his hands mapping the curves of my body through the dress. He pulled me up the steps and to the bedroom, where he turned on one lamp, filling the room with low golden light.
He shrugged out of his jacket, tossed it over a chair. “Let me know if you’ve got somewhere to be. I plan to take my time with you.”
“I’m all yours,” I replied.
“Yeah? For how long?”
“How long do you want me?”
“That is actually a perfect question to ask.”
He undressed me slowly, his hands reverent, his mouth following the path of each revealed inch of skin. When I was finally naked, he looked at me like I was something so precious. The look in his eyes made me want to cry.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. “So made just for me.”
“Cole—”
“Let me—I had this all planned out,” he said. “Let me say it. You’re beautiful and brilliant and stubborn and funny. You consume me in the best possible way. I’m so fucking in love with you, Harper. I need you to know that.”
I pulled him down to the bed, needing him closer. He stripped quickly, then covered my body with his. When he finally pushed inside me, I sucked in a breath, my eyes closed. He just felt so good. So right.
“You okay?” he asked, his hips stilling.
“I am…” My eyes opened. Then I realized they were brimming with tears. “I’m more than okay.”
He moved slowly, building rhythm and searing heat. Our fingers intertwined, his forehead pressed to mine, our bodies moving in sync.
“Baby,” he groaned, shuddering. “Why do you feel so good right now?”
I wrapped my legs around his hips, pulling him closer, drawing him deeper. “Do not ever stop, Cole.”
He shifted his angle and suddenly, he was hitting a pleasure center that made me cry out. The orgasm unfurled slow and devastating, flames licking through my body, consuming me in waves that built and built until I was on fire. When it finally crashed over me, I screamed his name, my fingers digging into his shoulders for dear life.
Cole followed seconds later, a low moan tearing from his throat as he buried himself deep.
“Stay,” he said when he caught his breath. Still inside me, still on top of me, my limbs still tight around him.
“I was planning on it,” I said. I was tired of pretending I wanted to get up and go home right after sex anyway.
“No, I mean…stay. With me. Let’s do this. For serious, for real, forever. I meant what I said, Harper. I’m in love with you.”
I tried to speak, but nothing came out except a whimper. Or a squeak. Cole laughed and kissed me again, slow and deep, his hands on my face like he needed to hold me in place.
