The Birthday List(95)

“Oh my god,” I panted as Cole slid out and rolled me to my back. When he slammed back inside, I nearly came undone again.

He pressed his hips hard against mine. “You feel so fucking good.”

I hummed my agreement, closing my eyes to savor the feel of Cole on top of me. He found a new pace in this position. One that never failed to work me back up to another blinding release.

“I’m there, beautiful.”

Speaking was impossible since I could barely breathe, so I just nodded and let go. Wave after wave rushed over my body. Incoherent whimpers escaped my lips at the same time Cole’s roar echoed through the bedroom. His hot release slickened between us as his strokes slowed.

As we both came down, Cole slid out and collapsed by my side. The comforter had long since fallen onto the floor and the sheets were balled up by the footboard.

“I fucking love vacation.”

I giggled and rolled into Cole’s side, tossing a leg over his. “Me too.”

He kissed my hair. “It was nice to see your parents, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little glad they’re gone. I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

It was the week between Christmas and New Year’s and Cole and I were finally back together in his bed. My parents had come to Bozeman for a week, and rather than stay in a hotel, they’d stayed at my house. I hadn’t wanted to leave them alone since I rarely saw them, so I’d stayed there too while Cole had stayed at his place.

The unspoken boundary around my house had kept us apart for seven nights, but we’d dropped my parents off at the airport this morning and immediately come back to his house. With a trail of clothes leading from the door to the bedroom, we’d wasted no time making up for a week of nights apart.

And now we were having a mini-vacation.

We’d both taken two extra days off of work to spend together. Our plan was to barricade ourselves in Cole’s bedroom, other than going to dinner at Brad and Mia’s house. Since Cole had spent actual Christmas Day with me and my family, we were celebrating with his family tonight. Cole’s sister, Evie, and her husband, Zack, would be there so we could all have a nice dinner and exchange gifts.

Then it was back to bed.

“What time do we need to leave?”

Cole looked at his alarm clock. “An hour.”

“Then I’d better get in the shower.”

His hand traveled down my hip to squeeze my bare ass. “Want some company?”

I smiled, loving Cole’s ambition. We’d already had sex three times today, but far be it from me to deny my man a shower.

“Yes, please.”




“So what did Cole get you for Christmas?” Evie asked.

“A whole new set of Williams Sonoma pots and pans for his kitchen.”

“Pots and pans? Oh, brother, no. You don’t buy your girlfriend cookware for your first Christmas together.”

I laughed. “Probably not most girlfriends, but for me, it was the perfect gift. His pots and pans were atrocious and all my good stuff is at the restaurant. Since I’ve laid claim to his kitchen for my recipe experiments, they were just what I wanted.”

She looked at me like I was crazy for not wanting jewelry. “What did you get him?”

“A tool chest for his garage. Your dad actually helped me pick it out.”

Cole had started searching for an old car to restore and I wanted him to be able to work in his own garage this time. That way, when I was in the kitchen with my new gear, he could be in the garage with his.

“Tools.” Evie shook her head. “You guys are the least romantic new couple on the planet.”

I smiled. “Maybe.” Or maybe not. If she had any idea what we’d been doing all day, she’d probably think differently.

But I kept that to myself and took a sip of beer.

Evie and I were sitting at the island in Brad and Mia’s kitchen. Mia had refused to let me help cook, so while Evie and I chatted, Mia was at the sink peeling potatoes. Cole, Brad and Zack had all gone to the basement—with Nazboo at their heels—to get more drinks from Brad’s wet bar.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Evie. At nearly six months pregnant with triplets, she had a beautiful pregnant glow, but she looked ready to topple over when standing.

“Enormous.” She rubbed her belly. “I’m just grateful for every day the doctor doesn’t put me on bed rest.”

“Bed rest won’t be so bad,” Mia said from the sink. “Think of how much fun you’ll have ordering Zack around while you watch TV.”

She laughed. “Good point, Mom. Maybe I should buy a little bell so I can ring for him.”

“What’s this?” Zack appeared at Evie’s side, kissing her temple before splaying his hand on her stomach.

“Oh, nothing.” She grinned into her water glass.

Zack’s hand stayed on her belly as it rubbed slow circles.

The image of Cole’s hand on my pregnant belly popped into my head, and I jerked, surprised for a moment, until a sense of longing chased it away. I wanted his hand on my growing belly. On our baby. I wanted his hand to have a band like Zack’s, something that showed the world he was mine.

“Poppy?”

My head whipped up to Cole. “Yeah?”