He padded over to the large window that faced the mountain and started to pull the shade down, but I stopped him.
“I want to see the storm.”
Cole chuckled as he turned back to me. “Whatever you want.” He left the window and came to stand before me. “What now?”
“I don’t know. I think we’re supposed to kiss like crazy and then tear each other’s clothes off.”
He put his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels. “I didn’t think I’d be this nervous.”
“I haven’t been with anyone since I was married.” I’d only ever been with one man, my husband. Should I tell him that? I sank into the easy chair and clasped my hands together. “I’m not experienced, really.” My husband had said my prudishness caused him to stray.
He knelt by the chair and placed his hands on my knees.
“Do we get undressed and get into bed together?” I giggled, nervous. “That’s what married people do. We did, at least.”
“Then by all means, let’s not do that.” He smoothed my hair away from my neck and kissed me under my earlobe. I shivered when his hands moved up my legs. He raised his head to look into my eyes. Another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by thunder. He scooted me closer to him, then wrapped my legs around his waist. The muscles in his thighs tensed against my own. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of this moment?”
“I can imagine,” I said.
He placed his hands on either side of my face. “The way I feel about you—I don’t know how to say what’s in my heart without sounding like an idiot.”
“You could never sound like an idiot.”
Another lightning bolt lit up the room. Suddenly, nerves got the best of me. My heart was beating so loud and fast I couldn’t hear the thunder. I had to show him my imperfect body. The scar from my C-section, stretch marks on my butt, and the extra five pounds that lived on my belly. My breasts that sagged slightly from nursing a baby.
“What is it?” Cole asked gently. “Have you changed your mind? If so, that’s perfectly fine. I’ll wait however long you need.”
“No, I’m ready. It’s not that. My body isn’t like it was when I was young.”
“No, you’re better.” He stood and pulled me to my feet. “I’ll go first.” With quick movements, he took off his pants and shirt and stood before me wearing only boxers.
I giggled. “Are those cats on your shorts?”
“I have a pair with dogs too. Otherwise Duke would be jealous.”
I swallowed as I took him in. God had done well, and Cole’s active lifestyle had done his work justice. His wide shoulders and trim, muscular stomach were like the front of a man’s underwear box. I ached with desire.
“Your turn,” he said.
I lifted the shirt up over my head. Thank God for dim lighting, I thought, only to be thwarted by another streak of lightning. Too late now. The shirt was off.
He drew in a quick breath. “You’re as beautiful as I imagined you were under those clothes. Come here. I want to show you exactly how beautiful I think you are.”
Nerves forgotten, I did as he asked.
16
Cole
I woke to the sun shining through the windows. For a second, I wondered why I’d left the shades open, and then I remembered. Carlie. She was here in my bed. We’d been up a good portion of the night as the storm raged.
Feeling the weight of her in my bed, I turned over to look at her. Curled up on one side like Moonshine, she breathed steadily. Still asleep. I glanced at the clock. The hour was close to nine. I never slept this late. Duke and Moonshine had already risen and were probably downstairs wondering where their breakfast was.
As quietly as I could, I slipped from the bed and used the bathroom, then brushed my teeth. Carlie was still asleep, so I left her and went downstairs to care for my roommates and start a pot of coffee. Duke and Moonshine were sitting by their food dishes in the laundry room. Moonshine swayed slightly as if to demonstrate that she suffered from low blood sugar. I chuckled to myself and made a quick decision that today would be a wet food day.
“Since I’m so late,” I said, “you can have a special treat.”
I received a purr and a wag for my efforts.
A few minutes later, they were happily eating and the coffee was brewing. I took a quick glance at my email on the tablet I kept in the kitchen. There was nothing that couldn’t wait until after Carlie left.
I went out and did my chores, including feeding the chickens and letting the horses out to the meadow. After collecting eggs, I headed back inside to fix breakfast.
I remembered Carlie’s clothes were still in the dryer. She would want them for today. I grabbed them and hustled upstairs to leave them for her. As I opened the bedroom door, I heard the shower come on. I left the clothes on the top of the dresser and went back downstairs. She might not like me hanging around while she readied herself for the day. It has been so long since I lived with another person that I was out of practice.
Would it feel awkward in the morning light? After the intimacy of our time in the dark, I certainly hoped not. But this was all happening fast. I kept expecting her to run like a frightened colt. However, Carlie Webster did not frighten easily, and I loved her for it.
I’d feed her a good breakfast before she left for her mother’s. From
