“Cole?”

I heard him approach and then his heat hit me seconds before he touched me. He caressed the skin revealed by the high cut of the underwear and then trailed his fingertips down and under them. They slid inside me and I gasped, pushing back against the wonderful intrusion.

“You’re soaked,” he said hoarsely.

I moaned and pressed my hands against the wall to push harder against the thrust of his fingers. “Cole, please.”

He slipped them out of me and grasped my hips. The coarse roughness of a denim-covered erection rubbed against my bottom. “Is this what you want?”

There went my control. But I didn’t feel too badly about that, because I knew Cole was seconds away from losing his grasp on his. “Yes,” I whimpered.

The only sounds in the room were heavy breathing and the sound of a zipper. And then the shuffle of his jeans falling to his ankles, followed by the crinkle of a condom wrapper. My inner thighs trembled.

His large hands caressed my bottom, shifting to grab hold of my slender hips. “Spread your legs.”

I felt another deep flip in my belly and I did as I was told.

“Oh God!” I threw my head back, my hands slipping on the wall as Cole thrust into me. His hips stilled, but he slid in deeper as he leaned over to readjust my hands on the wall. I bowed my head, my hair falling around my face, and I stared at the floor, aware of nothing but the feel of him surrounding me, pulsing inside me. Callused hands coasted down my arms and around my ribs and gently pushed up my bra.

Cool air tightened my already pebbled nipples, and my breasts swelled into Cole’s hands as he cupped me.

He kissed my shoulder, brushing his thumbs over my nipples.

He pulled back and then glided in, sparking heat and sensation down all my limbs.

I trembled, holding on for dear life as he pumped in and out of me in increasingly hurried strokes. Sharp arousal shot down my belly as Cole pinched and played with my nipples.

“Come for me, Shannon,” he groaned, his hips jerking harder against me.

I braced my legs and steadied my hands on the wall and I moved back into his thrusts.

“Fuck.” He moved one hand to my hip, his fingers bruising the skin there as he increased the speed of his strokes.

It was coming. The tension inside me hit its breaking point and I froze.

“Yes, yes,” he grunted, sliding his hand up my spine. “Come, Shannon, come.”

On cue the tension split apart and I cried out in release as my sex convulsed around his cock.

“Oh, oh . . . oh . . .” Cole stilled. “F-f-fuck.” He shuddered against me as he came.

I slumped against the wall, panting for breath, and Cole pressed in on me, his hands now on the wall beside me. His heavy breaths puffed against my back as he leaned his forehead on my shoulder.

“I guess that means you liked the underwear,” I murmured drowsily.

His body shook with gentle laughter. “Good guess.”

I realized then that yes, Cole might have more confidence in us as a couple, in our ability to pursue a relationship, but that didn’t mean he was taking control from me. If anything we were both at the mercy of each other. That, I could deal with. I think I could deal with anything as long as we were always on equal footing.

CHAPTER 18

“Y our next appointment has arrived.”

Cole looked up from the folios on his desk. He smiled at the sight of me clinging to the doorframe. “Don’t run off.” He gestured for me to come inside.

“What is it?” My eyes were drawn to his artwork as I strode into his workroom.

“I want to ask you something.” He startled me by hauling me into his arms.

I gripped at his biceps and laughed in surprise. “What are you doing?”

Cole’s green eyes glittered. “Kissing you.” And then he was.

Reluctantly I pulled back. “We can’t do that here,” I admonished. “You have a very busy schedule, Cole Walker.”

His answer was to run his nose along my jaw and squeeze my waist. “I know,” he groaned. “But I can’t get the taste of you off my tongue. It’s driving me nuts.”

I giggled and pushed him away. “Then stop kissing me.”

With a wolfish grin Cole shook his head. “Not a fucking chance.”

Pleased, I smiled. “Then at least have some willpower. Come on, your client awaits.”

I had to stifle my laughter as he followed me with a comical, petulant twist to his lips. Out in the studio I led him to the waiting area where a tall, slender brunette with lip and eyebrow piercings was waiting for him. She lit up at the sight of Cole and I determinedly squashed my annoyance at her hungry eyes.

“This is Renee. Renee, this is Cole.”

“Hi, Renee.” Cole held out his hand congenially as the young woman stood up to shake it.

“Well, hello there,” she flirted.

I tensed.

At this point I’d usually return to behind my desk and let Cole get on with it, but I was too busy being nosy as well as trying to lock down my possessiveness.

Cole ignored her flirtation, keeping his face perfectly blank. “Do you have any idea what you’re after or would you like to look through my portfolio?”

Renee pulled out a folded-up piece of paper and handed it to him. I craned my neck to have a look as Cole unfolded it. A flamingo. Renee shrugged at Cole’s curious look. “My friend drew it for me. I’ve got a thing for Alice in Wonderland and I thought this was a subtle way to go.” She took a step closer and slid a hand provocatively over her stomach and hipbone. “I want it on my hip. Right here.”