Only You (18 page)

“I know,” she said softly.

“So tell me what you want. I’ll give you anything, just tell me.”

She chewed on her lower lip. “I want to neck.”

“What?”

“I don’t know exactly how, but I’d like to try it . . . with you.”

He laughed. “Well, it’s pretty much what we’ve been doing. Lots of kissing, heavy breathing, touching.” He trailed a hand back down her smooth thigh. “If we were still teenagers, there might be a hickey involved.”

She eased a hand under the hem of his shirt and slid it up his side before exploring his back. “I’ve never had a hickey. Is it hard to do?”

He focused his attention on her neck. He loved the scent of her perfume that clung there. Loved the way she tipped her head back when he kissed her there so he’d have better access. “No, it’s not hard, but you might have trouble explaining it at work tomorrow.”

“I could wear a scarf.”

He skidded a thumb across her throat. “They usually last for several days, and it’s not exactly turtleneck weather.”

“
Mmm.
” She touched his neck. “What if I gave you one?”

“That might be hard since you don’t know how it’s done.”

Her smile was slow and sexy. “I didn’t say I don’t know how. I understand the mechanics. I just haven’t ever had one, or given one.”

“Don’t tell me. You read about it in a book.”

“I’ve read romance novels.”

“So, are you saying you’d like to give me one?”

“Maybe. After we’ve necked for awhile.”

Dear Lord. And she wanted to take things slow. Bypass the cold shower. He’d just pick up a ten-pound bag of ice at the Quik Stop on his way home and sit with it in his lap for the rest of the night.

Still, he said, “Happy to oblige.”

“You won’t mind if people see it?”

He shook his head. “You’ll have a hard time keeping me away from a mirror. Every time I look at it, I’ll think of you and how you gave it to me.”

“So what are we waiting for?”

Josie loved the way Cole was looking at her almost as much as she loved the thought of him being hers. Hers and no one else’s. In education, she’d excelled, always gotten A’s, but in relationships, especially with men, she’d flunked miserably, never even trying. She knew her limitations. She was short with red hair and pale skin. No great beauty. But when Cole looked at her the way he was now, she felt like the most beautiful woman in the world.

They kissed again. Josie explored the expanse of smooth skin beneath his shirt, all she could reach anyway. He was still seated and leaning over her, touching the exposed skin of her legs and arms. She wished she could touch more of him.

She broke the kiss, slid her lips across his face to his ear and asked, “Do you mind if we switch?”

He swirled his tongue along the outer edge of her ear, pushing her to the limit of sanity. “What do you mean?”

“Can I be on top?”

That got his attention. He sat back and looked at her, clearly surprised.

Josie took advantage of the latter. She pressed him back against the opposite arm of the couch and crawled between his legs. “Now I’ve got you where I want you.”

“Honey, you’ve had me where you want me longer than you can imagine.”

“Too bad I didn’t know. I might have taken advantage of you sooner.”

He circled her waist with his hands, hitching her further up against his chest. “Is that what you’re planning? To take advantage of me?”

“Maybe.” She teased a finger down the V created by the opening in his unbuttoned polo shirt. “I bet you’re not used to women taking advantage of you.”

“I could get used to it with you.”

She scraped her teeth across the nearly unperceivable cleft in his chin. The afternoon stubble lining his jaw felt rough against her face. Chill bumps erupted across her body. “Where would you like your hickey?”

“
Mmm.
Surprise me.”

“Let’s see . . .” She slid her hands down his throat and opened his collar further, then used her tongue to trace a line from his ear to the place where his neck blended into his shoulder. She nibbled there. “
Mmm . . .
that’s a nice spot.”

The scent of his cologne clung to all the right places, teasing her nose as she dipped her tongue into the concave V at the base of his throat. A kiss began there that ended at the curve of his neck just below his chin. She stopped to nibble a bit there as well. “That’s a nice spot, too.”

Cole was getting restless beneath her. She smoothed a hand across his chest. “Patience,” she whispered as she began an exploration of the other side of his neck.

“I guess now would be as good a time as any to tell you that patience has never been one of my strengths.”

“Then you know that the only way to gain patience is to have it tested.”

“Anyone ever told you that you’d make a master tormentor?”

She stopped nibbling the spot behind his ear and looked into eyes that had turned navy blue. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to torment you.”

“Don’t stop.”

“Are you sure?”

He slid his hands up under her shirt in back, pulling it up in the process. “Don’t ever stop.”

Josie returned to the place where his neck ended and his shoulder began. “I think I’ll put it here. It’ll be our secret spot. No one will know it’s there but us.” She nibbled and sucked until the spot became red. “Does it hurt?”

“So good . . .” he moaned.

“Do you think that was enough to do it?”

“Might want to work on it a little more, just to be sure.”

She obliged. As she kept working, he ran his hands over her back, her arms, her legs . . . After several moments had passed, she kissed the spot, then looked at him. “Your turn.” She tipped her head to the side, inviting.

Cole sat upright, supporting her back with one hand and guiding her legs around his hips. She sucked in a breath as if she were surprised. Now he had her attention.

He slowly eased her hair back over her shoulder, then hooked a finger under the thin strap of that pretty pink top that had been tempting him for the past half hour or so. “I think this might be in my way.”

“Of giving me a hickey?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

She smiled. “But it’s not anywhere near my neck.”

“Who says hickeys have to be on your neck?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh. Where do you think . . . oh . . .”

He eased the strap down her arm and explored every inch of her shoulder and collarbone with hot, open-mouth kisses. Her skin tasted as good as her kisses. When he was satisfied he’d enjoyed every inch of that shoulder, he worked his way up her neck to her cheek. “I wonder if the other side tastes as good?”

She shrugged the shoulder in question. “Maybe you should find out.”

Cole stared deeply into her eyes as he wrapped the other strap around his finger. “This will have to go.”

She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue and grabbed two hands full of his shirt, pulling him forward. “Of course.”

He captured that tempting tongue while he pulled the other strap down over her shoulder. He didn’t know how that blasted pink top stayed in place, but true to his word, he explored the other shoulder, kissing his way from her lips to her neck, across her shoulder, and back across her collarbone. Josie tipped her head back, exposing her neck to him completely. Her long hair teased the forearm he had pressed to her back. The shirt slipped lower as she arched her back, exposing the creamy upper curves of her breasts.

Cole groaned. More than anything, he wanted to ease that top down to her waist and see her wearing nothing but his class ring and that chain. But he also didn’t want to frighten her by moving too fast. She’d said she wanted to neck. She hadn’t invited anything further. But he was nothing if not human. He was beyond tempted.

“Cole . . .”

He buried his face in her hair and struggled for control. His chest rose and fell rapidly from the effort, making matters worse. His chest brushed her breasts with every breath.

The phone rang shrilly, offering them both a reprieve. When she didn’t move to answer it on the third ring, Cole said, “Shouldn’t you get that?”

She sank her hands in his hair and said, “The machine will pick up in a second. Kiss me again.”

“But—”

The machine picked up as she blew him away with a mind-altering kiss. For a woman who claimed to not have much experience kissing, she sure was a quick learner. She’d just deepened the kiss in amazing fashion when the machine’s jarring “beep” sounded, and Mrs. McKay’s voice filled the entire downstairs.

“Josephine Allen, pick up the phone this instant. This is Harriet McKay. Hello?”

Josie jolted back. A hundred emotions raced across her face and through her eyes. She eased away from him and off the couch. While she was in the kitchen getting the phone, Cole collapsed against the couch cushions, trying to recover.

When she came back into the room, she didn’t rejoin him on the couch. She looked upset, pacing in front of the fireplace. Agitated. She raked a hand through her hair, then crossed her arms. “That was Mrs. McKay.”

He had gotten that, but he said, “What did she want?”

“It’s those reports I was going in to work on. She wants them now.” Josie shifted her weight and pushed her hair back again. “I should, I mean, I need to—”

“Go.” he supplied.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that those reports aren’t anywhere near finished. If I start now, I might be able to get them to her by,” she checked her watch and groaned. “I didn’t realize it was so late.”

Cole stood and stepped in front of her. He rubbed her arms. “Want me to give you a ride?”

She rested her hands against his chest. “I’d rather stay here with you, but I guess that’s not an option.”

“We’ll have plenty more nights to neck.”

Josie smiled. “Do I have a hickey?”

He pushed her hair back over her shoulders and checked the skin exposed above her top. She’d replaced the straps. He ran a finger along one. Josie shivered at his touch. “I had a little trouble deciding on a spot. Maybe next time.”

She moved in closer. “Promise?”

He enfolded her in his arms. “I promise.”

She tugged at his collar. “Let me see yours?”

“How’s it look?”

She grabbed his hands and urged him into the hallway. “See for yourself.”

They stopped in front of a mirror that hung over a hall table. Cole moved his collar aside. There it was.

“How did I do?”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her in for a quick kiss. “It’s perfect, just like you.”

She seemed immensely pleased with his compliment. Confident and sure of herself.

“Let me drive you into town.” He wasn’t ready to leave her.

“Thanks, but I could be there awhile. I think I’ll take my car.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll walk you out.”

They held hands as they retraced their steps to his truck. Rick lifted his head and whined as they approached. She stroked one of his long ears. “Oh, it’s okay. We’ll see each other again real soon. I promise.”

The dog wagged his tail.

“Maybe your daddy will take me to your house next time.”

“Maybe,” Cole agreed.

When he opened the door to his truck, Josie reached behind the seat for the picnic basket and her bag. Cole blocked her access by taking her hands in his. “How ’bout if I bring the basket to you tomorrow?” he suggested. “That way, you won’t have to deal with it now.”

She turned to face him. “Fill it up, and I’ll meet you in Town Square for lunch.”

“Well, I’d have to check my schedule . . .”

She gave him a playful smack on the arm.

Cole laced his fingers with hers. “
Um
, Josie?”

“
Hmm?
”

“Mrs. McKay, did she say anything to upset you?”

A breeze blew his hair across his face. She reached up to push it back. “Don’t fret about Mrs. McKay.”

“I can’t help it.”

“I’m a big girl. I can handle Mrs. McKay.”

“Nah, you’re just a little thing.”

Josie laughed again. “Thanks for this weekend.” She touched the class ring. “For everything.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he warned.

“Would you quit worrying about Mrs. McKay?”

He raked a hand through his hair and looked away. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you over to the library? I could come back and pick you up when you’re finished.” And maybe if he stuck around, he could help run interference with Mrs. McKay.

“There’s no need for you to go to all that trouble. I’ll just drive myself.”

“I don’t mind.”

She touched his face and said, “Kiss me and tell me you’ll see me tomorrow.”

He leaned down and kissed her, slow and sweet and thorough. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her kiss-swollen lips.

She pressed a kiss into his palm. “Tomorrow.”

He just stood there for a moment and watched her walk away. Before she entered the house, she turned and took a step back toward him.

“I almost forgot. Earlier, at the Fort, you said you wanted to tell me something. We never got around to that.”

Cole’s blood ran cold. He’d forgotten, too. Convenient. “No worries. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“You’re sure?”

He just nodded. He hated like crazy watching her walk away again without telling her, but it was not a conversation he wanted to have when he didn’t have all the time he’d need to deal with her reaction.

Rick barked his goodbye. Josie waved before disappearing from view. Cole reluctantly got into his truck.

Mrs. McKay was going to cause trouble for her. He knew it as well as he knew his own name. He couldn’t let that happen. He’d have to figure out a way to make sure that meddling old woman left Josie alone.

Chapter Eleven

Josie hurried to the room she used as her home office, gathered her papers, and stuffed them into her briefcase. Mrs. McKay would be waiting for her at the library. Josie could just imagine it. The woman would probably be standing by the front door, tapping her foot impatiently, wondering why Josie hadn’t magically appeared there immediately after their phone conversation had ended.