He chuckled. “So polite, but that won’t do. I want you wild and begging.”
With the sneaky stealth she was coming to learn he excelled at, he had his face buried between her legs and his mouth on her, and true to his word, had her wild and begging. She fisted the sheet as a tidal wave roared through her.
“Oh God, Cody.” She gripped the top of his head.
Her body trembled from the force of her orgasm and the wet trail of his tongue as he licked a path up her stomach to her breasts, sucking a nipple into his mouth. As his tongue toyed with her, he clasped their hands together, lacing his fingers with hers, and the intimacy of their palms pressed together brought tears to her eyes. She had once thought she would never love again the way she had loved Reed, but that had been puppy love compared to the soul-deep feelings she had for Cody.
“Ahh.” She tightened her fingers on his when he moved to her other breast. He grunted what sounded like male satisfaction. He should be satisfied, considering he was playing her body with the finesse of a maestro. His strong body covered hers, and he nudged her thighs apart, settling himself between her legs.
She rocked her hips, straining for the touch of his arousal. “Make love to me, Cody. Please.” The last word came out sounding like a whine, and she felt his lips curve against her skin.
“Told you I could make you beg, darlin’.”
“That wasn’t begging. It was a polite inquiry.”
He lifted his head and grinned at her. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.” He let go of her hand and reached into the nightstand drawer, pulling out a condom, tearing it open with his teeth before dangling it in front of her. “Want to put it on me?”
“I do.” She’d never put one on a man before, and as he lifted onto his knees, she took the condom from him. “How do I do this? Roll it on?”
“Exactly.” He covered her hands with his and guided her in sheathing him. When he was covered, he reached down and palmed her, then slipped a finger into her. “Christ, baby, you’re so damn wet for me.”
“Always for you,” she said, falling back onto the mattress.
He stared hard at her for a moment, then took himself in hand and slid into her. When he was buried to the hilt, he stilled, caught her gaze, and held it. “The first time we met, I was in a bad place.” He kissed her. “Even though I didn’t know you, I wanted you. Crazy wanted you.” He kissed her again. “But I didn’t want to bring my crap into your life. Yet, here we are.” Another kiss. “You and me, darlin’. I want you to know that what I’m about to say, I’ve never said to another woman.” He kissed her hard and long. “I love you, Riley. Fucking love you.”
That was the best declaration of love she’d ever received. She kissed him then because it was only fair that she got to initiate at least one kiss.
Much later, both of them sated, he spooned against her back as his hand made lazy explorations over her body. “When do you want to get married, darlin’?”
His question made her smile with pure joy, but her man needed to be taught a lesson. That wasn’t a proper proposal. “When you figure out how to ask that question, I’ll say yes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHRISTMAS EVE
After eating a delicious dinner of prime rib, mashed potatoes, and green beans that he and Riley had cooked together, they had moved to the sofa, enjoying their spiked mocha lattes topped with whipped cream while transfixed by the Christmas tree lights.
“Okay, I admit I was wrong,” Cody said, tucking her closer to his side.
She tilted her head and peered at him as if she’d never seen him before. “Yeah? About what?”
“Two things, actually. First, this latte. It’s better than I expected, but it’s still a girly drink.”
“We’ll just keep it our secret. Wouldn’t want your friends making fun of you.”
Damn, he loved her laugh. “Our friends, and I’m man enough to take whatever they throw my way.”
“You sure are. What else were you wrong about?”
“The Christmas tree lights. I’m liking all the colors.”
She gave a soft sigh. “Thank you.”
He knew why she was thanking him. When they’d gone tree shopping she’d been as excited as a girl getting her first pony. He had even gotten teary eyed when she’d said it would be her first real Christmas since her parents had died. Although his parents had always put white lights on their trees, claiming they were classy and not gaudy like the colored ones, he’d given in to Riley’s every wish—the tallest, fattest tree they could fit in his house, boxes and boxes of colored lights, and more ornaments than he’d ever seen on any Christmas tree, topped off by a pure white angel.