Page 66 of Love Me Like You Do

Did shewanthim to kiss her? “Hailey?”

Her hand came up, and she tenderly brushed his hair back from his face.

“Sometimes, I look at you, and I think I’m having a heart attack.”

“That doesn’t sound flattering. What does that even mean?

“You have to know this is different for me. I was crazy about you back then, and I never stopped thinking about you. It’s been years of kicking myself for blowing it. So now, to be with you…for you to want me….”

She gave him a soft smile.

“It hurts.” He caught her wrist and brought her palm flat to his heart. “Do you feel that?”

Though she couldn’t miss the thundering of his heart, she didn’t answer.

“That’s how happy I am. How scared I’ll blow it again. How much it excites me just to have you here in bed with me. Even if you never want more than this, I’m happy.”

“I want more, Cole.” She lifted up and whispered in his ear, her silky hair brushing across his cheek. “I ache for you.”

Fuuck.Rearing up, he toppled her onto her back and claimed that sexy mouth. He breathed in the scent that drove him wild, felt her heart pounding and the press of her hands on his back.

And when he got lost in the taste of her, he was just gone. Gone in the erotic dance of their tongues and the restless shift of her hips. Desire enflamed him, fueled by her breathy moans, and the passion of her kiss. His hand slipped under her thin T-shirt, skimmed her smooth skin, and cupped her bare, plump breast.

Jesus. Sensation exploded in his chest, sending out licks of fire.

She arched into his touch, pressing harder into his palm, and he yanked up her shirt to close his mouth over her nipple. As he licked her into a frenzy, she arched her hips, rocking against his cock, her gasps feeding his need to pleasure her.

He cupped her other breast, his thumb flicking back and forth over the nipple.

“Cole. I can’t…I need…”

“Tell me what you need, and it’s yours.”

She stopped writhing beneath him and gazed into his eyes. After a moment, she broke into a grin. “I believe you.”

All at once, he understood. She’d begged her mom to get an apartment, to put food in her belly, to let her stay in one school system—to give her the basics of life—and the woman had never given it to her.

As long as she’s mine, she’ll never have to beg for anything. Nothing would make him happier than giving her everything she wanted.

And right now, he knew exactly what she needed. Leaving a trail of kisses down her belly, he yanked off her panties and licked into her molten core. Her knees lifted, and her fingers slid into his hair. When his tongue found her hard bud, she cried out, and he circled, moving faster in synch with her hips and in response to the fingers fisting in his hair.

Cupping her ass, he brought her up against his mouth and feasted. The heat and womanly scent of her drove him to palm his hard, aching cock.

“Oh, God. Don’t stop…don’t…oh, my God.” And then her body convulsed while her hands kept him right where she needed him.

As if he’d stop. He loved it. Loved every second of her orgasm.

And when she sighed, when her ass crashed back to the mattress, he stretched out alongside her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Got a condom?”

Hell, yeah. But something in her tone held him back, and he caught the slightest glimmer of fear in her eyes. He figured he knew what it was. Tomorrow, they might find a forever home for the girls. If so, he’d go to Boston, and she’d head to New York.

He wanted her. Always had, always would. But he couldn’t bear to see the regret on her face in the morning. Have her skim past him in the kitchen, avoid looking at him.

“We have a big day tomorrow.” He kissed her on the mouth. “Let’s go to sleep.”

He sensed her reluctance, and he knew how easy it would be to slide into her slick, hot core and pound into her welcoming body until he relieved this unrelenting ache. But he lived by intuition, and he’d listen to it now.

Because tomorrow? All of this might change.