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“Let me help,” Cole said. She lifted her chin to tell him that she was capable of putting her son down for a nap, but the anxious look on his face stopped her. A bruise showed on his jaw and temple. He’d been almost superhuman in the parking lot while trying to defend them. She was angry about a lot of things in this situation, but she really had no right to be angry with him, so she bit back the sharp words and went for a compromise.
“We’ll do it together.” She started upstairs with Cole behind her. In the nursery, she struggled with the most mundane tasks. She caught the sticky tab of the diaper on Eddy’s shirt and had to peel it off. After that, she bumped the mobile so hard that it jiggled wildly, upsetting Eddy. Fat tears rolled down his cheeks.
He was overwrought just like she was. The day had been so full of stress that even a child could feel it. She felt a wave of guilt and sympathy for her baby. She couldn’t control the situation they were in, but she hated seeing him hurt by it.
Cole steadied the mobile and switched it on so that soft music played as it gently moved. “That’s better,” his voice soothed as he addressed the baby over her shoulder. “No one wants to see animals leap like that over their bed, do they? We’ll leave that kind of thing for the circus.” He droned on, his tone low and soft, talking about the animals, which captured Eddy’s attention and held it. Kelsey loosened her tight grip on the baby and rubbed circles on his back with her fingertips. Soon the baby’s eyelids grew heavy, and he snuggled against her in sleep.
She deftly transferred him to the crib, relying on muscle memory more than conscious thought. If she let herself, she’d overthink it and clutch Eddy to her, which wouldn’t do either of them any good. Cole brushed his hand over Eddy’s soft hair and stroked a thumb over the baby’s forehead. It was a loving gesture, something a father would do.
She might be confused and frustrated, but she could see the love Cole had for Eddy. She had to blink back sudden tears.
“Come on,” Cole whispered, catching her hand and pulling her into the hall.
“Maybe I should stay with him. What if he wakes up frightened?” She could sit in the rocking chair and watch over Eddy, but Cole was already closing the nursery door.
“He’s fine. Let him sleep,” Cole said as he enfolded her in a hug. Part of her wanted to stay back, to be independent and not lean on him or anyone, but she let herself sink into his warmth and strength. Before she knew it, he was drawing her toward her bedroom.
“Cole, no.” She dug in her heels, forcing him to turn to her. “You’re injured and…”
“I need you, Kels.” His eyes held hers, and she saw again the fear and worry she’d seen in him while at the hospital. He’d been able to tuck it away and deal with the crisis, but it was still there. And he was letting her see it, which surprised her. He’s been a great boyfriend and lover, but in two years of dating, she’d only gotten past the front he showed the world a few times.
“You’re injured. I don’t want to hurt you,” she said.
“You won’t. We’ll take it slow.” He gave her hand a gentle tug. “Please.”
That one little word was her undoing, and she gave in. “Okay, but you let me take the lead.”
“I’m all yours.” It was one of those things people said, but it hung suspended between them. What did Cole mean by it? She decided not to overanalyze it.
She went past him into her bedroom and pulled him in with her before closing the door. He reached for her, but she held up a finger in warning. “Let me.”
He smiled at her. “Is this where you seduce me?”
She worked his T-shirt from his waistband. “Not exactly what I had in mind, but it’ll work.” She lifted his shirt, guiding it up gently so as not to put stress on his fractured ribs. At the hospital, they’d taped his ribcage to support the injury. Still, she caught a slight wince on his face before the shirt was all the way off. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
“It is. I promise.” He seemed to need her, and truth be told, she needed him, too, to get past that awful day. She could lose herself in him, at least for a little while.
“All right, then.” She ran her fingertip down the center of his chest and across his flat abs to the button on his jeans. She flicked it open and lowered the zipper slowly. He closed his eyes and his breath hissed out when she stroked her hand over his erection. She shoved his pants to the floor, kneeling to help him step out of them. His boxers went next.
“You need to be naked, too,” he said, his eyes turning darker.
“We’ll get there. Let’s get you settled on the bed.” She pulled the covers back and arranged the pillows before pointing for him to lie down. When he was on the bed, she issued her command. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” She slipped into the en-suite bathroom where she quickly removed her clothing and put on the red lace bra and thong she’d wanted to wear for him the night before.
“You’re beautiful,” he said when she came out of the bathroom. “And sexy.” He had his hands folded across his chest, looking relaxed, but he was even harder now than when she’d undressed him.
“Glad you think so.”
“I have since the minute I met you.” His response was instant. His gaze traveled down her body and back to her face. The way he looked at her made her feel empowered. Any inhibitions she might have felt fled.
She walked to the bed, putting a little sass in her step, and stopped at the nightstand to get a condom. She tossed it on the bed next to him. “You keep track of that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he grinned at her. “But what are you going to be doing?”
Instead of answering, she climbed onto the bed and straddled him on all fours before placing a kiss on the center of his chest. “You’ll see.” When she flicked her tongue over the flat disk of his nipple, his hand came to her breast, but she batted it away. This was her show.
“I want to touch you, too,” he whispered.
“In time.” Like he had the night before, she started at his lips and made a leisurely exploration of his body, kissing him and nipping at him until he growled at her, which made her laugh.
