Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (83 page)

Rini let her head fall back against his shoulder, and relaxed against him as he fought the watermelon in his throat and stroked his son's arm.

He was barely aware of Linda's voice quietly telling the couples to visualize the baby beneath their hands, that they should remember this moment when things got rough during delivery. That this was why they were going through the whole birth ordeal—to be able to sit like this afterward, with their baby in their arms. Cole stared up at the firelight shadows flickering on the ceiling, wishing the moment would never end.

When it did, and Linda instructed the dads to get the pillows for the next exercise, he was able to meet the quiet smiles of acknowledgment from the other men. Affirmations of the emotional experience they had shared, of the love they were feeling. A love for the families they were all becoming.

As he dragged the bag of pillows over to her, Cole thought about Rini and where she fit into his equation of family. Would it be possible to be on the best of terms with her after he had made it clear he wouldn't, couldn't, include her in that equation on more than a superficial level?

Truth be told, right at the moment he didn't much feel like excluding her at all. His lap and chest were still warm from her body heat; his arms still carried the memory of her within their embrace. And he realized, to his sorrow if not exactly his surprise, that he liked her. He liked her a lot. He liked her quiet determination, her serenity in adversity, her little flares of temper, her affectionate nature.

He watched her arrange the pillows in a line on the floor and then lie down on her side next to them, bending her top arm and leg over their soft bulk. It was as close to being on her stomach as a more-than-seven-months-pregnant woman could manage. She turned her head and looked up at him, smiling. Her eyes sparkled in the dim light, and his heart almost broke.

This was his Fire Eyes. The woman he'd gladly lie down with and spend the rest of his life loving. How could this woman and that other woman—the one who'd heartlessly abandoned him and thought about doing the same to their child—be one and the same?

Sadly, he returned her smile, then followed Linda's instructions and took his place behind her. His head shot up at the teacher's next word.

Massage
.

He was expected to give Rini a back rub. He felt his wits slip precariously. It had been bad enough running his hands over her stomach. But at least he'd had the baby to concentrate on. Now there would be nothing but Rini under his hands.

This was not at all what he'd expected from a childbirth class. He remembered countless TV sitcoms depicting the crazy antics of hyperventilating expectant couples.

Linda effectively quashed that image, firmly declaring that Bradley moms did not breathe, they relaxed. She next instructed everyone to visualize the cresting waves of a beautiful ocean and to imagine the waves as contractions. The moms were supposed to float over the pain on a visual cushion of conscious relaxation.
Yeah, right.
His own role in that process would be to watch for and alert Rini to signs of tension, to massage her aching muscles in between contractions and to whisper loving words of encouragement when she didn't think she could go on.

Sounded simple enough. Until he laid his hands on her, and drew a long, shuddering sigh from deep inside her.
Aw, hell.
How could a red-blooded man possibly resist a reaction like that to his touch? It brought to mind the time she'd had an even more potent reaction to him—the first time he'd thrust himself deep inside her. The memory of her sweet physical disintegration coursed through his blood and heated him as nothing else could have.

He gently brushed her hair over her shoulder and leaned into his sensual task. While Linda timed simulated contractions, Rini visualized relaxing through them. In-between, Cole's hands found the sensitive muscles in her back and sides, and his mouth murmured words meant to soothe and reassure. Words that, in his present mood, quickly took on a sensual edge.

Her body warmed under his hands, and a light flush settled on her cheeks. Rather than slow, her heartbeat picked up, the pulse in her graceful neck throbbing erratically. He felt her body arch imperceptibly under his fingers, and a breathless sound came from her throat. Her eyes flew open for a second and she frowned, no doubt reminding herself to concentrate on the exercise.

He took it as a delicious challenge to break down her resolve not to surrender to the spell of his fingers. It didn't take long to melt her resistance into soft moans of pleasure.

God, he wanted her.

Chapter Eight

Rini couldn't bring herself to look at Cole during the ride back home. Her body was on fire. Her mind was horrified. How could she have let this happen? Honest to God, she'd tried to resist him. She'd done everything possible to ignore his sensual caresses, to concentrate on imaginary contractions. But he'd seemed to know exactly where and how to touch her to make her completely forget it was just an exercise.

Every nerve ending still hummed. She glanced down at her breasts—their peaks tight knots of longing at the vivid memory of how good his hands felt on her—wishing those hands would touch her there again. Her body shivered in frustration.

"Cold?" Cole glanced over at her from behind the wheel, his gaze guarded. "I can turn up the heat."

She nearly choked.
No argument there.
"No. I'm plenty warm enough, thanks." But she was just plain dreaming if she thought he had any interest in her beyond the physical. His carefully neutral expression spoke volumes.

She sighed. It was just as well. Any attraction to Cole was undoubtedly just her heart grasping at a last, desperate straw—hoping there was some way she could have this baby without sacrificing both her and her son's futures in the process. But her future wasn't going to be with Cole, and she knew it.

Even if she did believe his story about the women at the powwow, she still didn't want a man who didn't even pretend to love her holding her happiness in his hands. But right now she wasn't totally convinced she didn't want him holding her body in them.

He pulled into the driveway. She struggled out of the car, its low-slung lines reminiscent of the bottomless easy chair in Alexa's living room. Gratefully, Rini accepted his helping hand when he came around.

"I'll bring in the pillows."

"Thanks." She put a hand to her back and stretched her spine. She had to admit, Cole's massage had felt heavenly even on a purely therapeutic level. Her muscles felt more relaxed now than they had in ages. "And thanks for the back rub. It was wonderful."

His grin was suddenly wicked. "My pleasure."

Fumbling for the keys in her purse, she felt her cheeks grow warm.

He hoisted the giant bag of pillows and followed her to the staircase leading up to her garage apartment. "I'll take them upstairs for you."

She hesitated, glancing up the steps. She wasn't sure she wanted Cole up there, even for a moment. The image of him standing in her private space, perhaps wandering around, touching her personal things...well, it was just too intimate. Once that image was branded into her brain, it would be impossible to get rid of.

"Key?"

On the other hand, the thought of hauling the huge bag of pillows up those stairs didn't appeal to her, either. Reluctantly, she handed him her keys and trailed after him, hanging well back. She just wouldn't go in. That way she wouldn't see him in there. Yeah, that would work.

When she made it to the open door at the top of the landing, she couldn't help herself. She peeked in. He was inside the one-room apartment, leaning casually against her bedpost and looking hopelessly sexy in his simple white T-shirt, his thumbs stuck in the pockets of his snug jeans. His gaze sought out her hands as they unconsciously supported her lower back, kneading the muscles with her fingertips.

He jerked his chin at her. "You having back problems?"

Instinctively, she yanked her hands away from her back. "Um. Yeah. Just a little. Something to do with being pregnant, the doctor tells me." She smiled wryly.

His answering smile was warm. Almost sultry. He stretched out a hand to her. "Come here. I'll finish the massage. We hardly got started before it was time to go."

She took a step back, bumping into a baluster. "I don't think…" Immediately, she regretted her choice of words. She half expected him to murmur "Don't think. Just feel"—the fateful words that had started this whole thing nearly eight months ago. "That wouldn't be a very good idea."

He pushed off the bedpost and came toward her, then halted. His eyes darkened to black, reflecting some inner struggle. Suddenly, his expression changed, falling back into the studied neutral it had been in the car. "No. I don't suppose it would."

She bit back a stab of disappointment, telling herself this was the way she wanted it. The way it had to be. "Thank you for coming tonight."

He touched the front of his T-shirt in that seeking gesture he occasionally made. "I enjoyed the class," he said. "Not what I expected, that's for sure."

"I'm sorry about Valerie and Liz."

"Don't worry about it. I think I won them over by the end of class."

Looking away, she ran her hand along the stair railing. "They weren't the only ones," she said softly.

He narrowed his gaze on her, and she could feel the wariness in it, but he remained silent. His eyes fell to the baby in her belly. He stepped closer and reached a tentative hand toward her cheek, but pulled it back before he touched her. "I want to help you any way I can. I'll pay for—"

She shook her head. "No. I'll manage."

Sighing, he drew her into the room, into his arms. "I don't want you to just manage." He tipped up her chin to look into her eyes. "I want to help. This is my baby, too, Rini."

Their lips met before she realized he was going to kiss her. His mouth was soft and warm and gently persuasive. She found herself melting into his embrace, reveling in the strength and comfort she felt there.
If only she could let her guard down and allow herself to lean on him.

He angled his mouth over hers, easing her head to his shoulder as he kissed her. His body snugged up to the side of her stomach, enveloping her in his heat.

Even as her traitorous body surrendered, her mind protested.
Why was he doing this?

Could it be...perhaps he…? His hand moved over her breast and she shivered at his sensual touch.

No! This was still madness.
She had made this same mistake—letting herself be swept away by the sheer virility of this man—one too many times. Kissing him would solve nothing. As tempting as it was, getting physically involved with Colton Lonetree would just be inviting trouble.

She
couldn't
do this to herself again.

"Cole, stop," she whispered. She needed time to think.

"Oh, baby, I want you so much." He covered her mouth with his once again, murmuring, "Please don't tell me no."

Suddenly, footsteps pounded to the top of the stairs and Alexa's voice sang out, "Rini, do you want to—
Oops
."

In a haze of desire and confusion, Rini sought the source of the disturbance and saw Alexa halt in the doorway. She glanced uncertainly at Cole.

"I was just leaving," he mumbled, and before Rini knew what was happening, he'd dropped her arms and moved stiffly past Alexa onto the landing. He gave her a rueful look. "Rini, call me. We need to talk."

Coming slowly to her senses, she shook her head. "No. I don't think so."

He halted. "What are you saying?"

"It would be better if we didn't see each other again until after the baby's born." Better to have a clean break and be done with it. "I'll be pretty busy until then."

He frowned, his expression stormy. "I don't agree, Rini," he said firmly. "I'm going to call."

With that he was down the stairs faster than she could catch her breath.

Alexa's voice broke into her disconcertion. "Sorry, Rin."

A lump caught in Rini's throat. "Don't be. I think you just saved me from myself." Unconsciously, she lifted a finger to her lips and touched them. Realizing what she was doing, she jerked her hand away.

Unconditional love and understanding shone in her sister's eyes. "Forget him. You don't need him, Rin."

"I'm just so afraid." Afraid of what was happening to her life. More afraid of the tempestuous feelings surfacing in her for the man who was the cause of it all.

"I know, hon."

"I don't think I can do this."

"You can do it. You have me, Sis. And Brad and Kenny. You'll always have us."

Rini went into her sister's arms, wishing like hell they were Cole's instead. Hating herself for wishing for thee impossible.

"I love you, Al."

"I love you, too, Rin."

* * *

"So what are you going to do?"

Cole paced in front of Tanya, who sat in his living room armchair watching him wear tracks in his already threadbare rug. He clamped his teeth together, trying in vain not to drown in the deluge of guilt and frustration that flooded over him.