Alexis (The Love Family Series Book 6) (4 page)

Chapter 7

Cole barely spoke in the car on the way to his house. Obviously he needed a minute to register in his mind exactly what had just happened. Cole glanced in the passenger seat for a split second before focusing back on the road. He had no idea what to make of Alexis Marie Love. Nowhere in his background check had he turned up that she could play jacked-up games with the weather. He silently wondered exactly what else she was capable of.

“Say something or quit looking at me,” Alexis said in a tone that was all her. Half pissy, half demanding, and 100 percent sexy as hell.

“I’m not even going to ask what changed your mind. I’m just glad you did.”

She shot her gaze to him. “I told you; I can take care of myself. You just wouldn’t believe me.”

He nodded as he turned into his drive. “Don’t take this the wrong way, honey…” He reached over and grabbed her hand, stunning her for the brief second he needed. “I want you now more than I did yesterday.”

“Oh for the love of God.” She slipped her hand free. “I’m not staying with you so we can have an orgy.”

“That’s not what you told your brothers. I believe the term was…hot monkey sex.”

“We’re not doing that either.”

Cole held in his smile. He could smell her arousal. He knew the talk about sex was turning her on, even if she wouldn’t admit it. He parked in front of his house and killed the ignition. He sat silently contemplating his next words. The sex talk turned her on, but what she thought she wanted was something completely different. She wanted nice, something she said he would never be. He turned to her and softened his gaze.

“I can’t promise nice, but I can promise to tone down my demands.”

“What’s the catch?” she asked automatically, assuming he’d have one. What did that say about him?

“No catch, no kiss. I don’t expect anything from you, and I want to apologize for how pushy I was last night. Believe it or not, my mother did teach me better. That’s just how I get when I’m worried.” He searched her eyes. “And I was legitimately worried about you. I’m sorry if I came off as an overbearing ass. That was never my intention. You just bring that out in me, but I promise to try and keep a better handle on it. For you.”

“Oh no, no, no.” She flipped her seatbelt off and yanked her door handle. “We are not playing this game. You are not going to, all of a sudden, be nice to me. Are you trying to screw with my mind?” She slid out and slammed the door.

Cole’s lips twitched as he unbuckled and got out, grabbing her bags from the backseat. He saw the flicker in her eyes. She was angry because he was being nice. Was there no winning with her? Did he need to find a middle ground? Was there even a middle ground? Hell, did she even know what she wanted? Now that last question was something for him to ponder. Maybe they could figure it out together.

Cole walked up to the front entrance, shoved his key into the lock, and opened the door, letting her walk in first. He shut it behind him, bolted everything back, and reset the alarm.

“There is a panic button in each room. I’ll show you where they’re located.”

“Okay,” she said, turning in place while lifting her gaze to the chandelier in the middle of the foyer. “This isn’t what I expected.”

“I get that a lot,” he said and headed for the stairs. “My room is the safest in the house, so you’ll be sleeping in there.”

“With you?” she asked.

He glanced back at her and grinned. “Only if you invite me to stay.”

She rolled her eyes in answer.

“I didn’t think so.” He continued up the stairs and to the last room on the left. He used his boot to push the door open and walked inside, setting her bags down next to the wall. “As you can see, I wasn’t expecting company.”

He moved to grab the shirts lying on the bed and tossed them in the hamper on the other side of the room.

“Is this the master?”

“Yeah.” He smiled and walked to the double doors. “I bought the house because of the view.”

She walked to his side, and he noticed the hitch in her voice. “You’ve got a view of the entire valley. The mountain, the lake, and the caves. I’ve never seen them all before. Not like this. This is stunning.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He gestured to the telescope that was set up. “It’s amazing how much you can see with that telescope.”

She hesitated. “Do you watch me?”

“I’ve checked in on you a time or two to make sure you were okay.”

She turned to him. “Have you seen me in the lake when I swim at night?”

“If you’re wondering if I’ve seen you naked, swimming at night, then yes. I have.”

She gave a slow nod. “That explains how you knew about the thunder and the lightning.”

“I’m not a perv or a Peeping Tom, Alexis. I worry about you being alone in your house. Which, I found out today, has been a waste of time.”

“Thanks.” She gave him a small smile. “I appreciate that you watched out for me, even though it was a waste of time. I’m not sure any of our other neighbors would do that.”

Cole pointed to the house across the way. “Old Man Rogers watches you when you swim. He sits with a cup of coffee out on his deck and watches you the entire time until you get out of the water. Only then does he go back inside. I guess he’s afraid you’re going to drown.”

“You’re very observant.”

“It pays to know who lives around you and their routines. That way you can notice when something isn’t right.”

“Why is this the safest room in the house? What makes it so special?”

“There are only two houses on the Island that have my nifty little feature, and from what I hear, one of them got pretty shot up a few months back.”

“You have a safe room,” she said as more of a statement than a question.

“I do.” He grinned, walked her to the closet, and pushed back his clothes to reveal the electronic pad on the wall. “The combination in 9-1-8.”

“What does that stand for?”

“It was my locker number in high school.” He chuckled.

“Are you telling me you didn’t come out of your mother’s womb already Special Forces trained?”

Cole chuckled. He liked this softer side of Alexis just as much as he liked her fire. “I probably did, but then she dropped me on my head.”

Her lips twitched, and Cole would do anything to see it again. “You made a joke. I thought you only knew sexual innuendos.”

“I’m a man of many talents.”

“So I gather.”

He stepped out of the closet and back into the room. “There is a bathroom through that door. I’ll make sure you have fresh towels. All of the windows in the place are bulletproof.”

“I thought you were expecting a change when you came here. Did you expect trouble to follow?”

“One can never be too prepared. I didn’t expect it, but I was going to be ready for it.”

She gave a slow shake of her head and followed him back out into the hall. “I’ll be staying in the room next to yours. We share a door, so if you ever get scared, all you have to do is yell.”

“Good to know.”

He pointed out the other guest bedrooms as they passed on their way back to descend the stairs. He turned when they hit the bottom floor, where he pointed out his study, the library, and his weight room. Alexis’ face lit up at the sight of his wall-to-wall bookcase, yet she remained quiet.

“This is the kitchen. I keep it stocked, so if there is something you want and I don’t have it, let me know and I’ll make sure to keep it on hand.”

“Okay.”

He walked through the huge pantry to a door in the back. “Are you ready for this?”

“Is it your sex dungeon?”

Cole chuckled and winked. “Not quite, but close.”

He opened the door, flicked the light on, and proceeded down the stairs to the wine cellar. “This is nice, but kind of a letdown.”

She sounded disappointed.

“Wait for it.” He grinned as he walked to the empty wine shelf and yanked on it, revealing the hole in the wall.

“Is that the sex dungeon?”

He grabbed two flashlights, handed her one, and proceeded down the steep stairs. He waited until her feet touched the rock and then flicked his light on. She followed.

“Is this…”

The excitement in her voice made him smile.

“Part of the caves. If you follow it, you’ll come to a false wall I installed that looks like the cave on the other side. There’s a panel on the wall. It’s the same number as the safe room. You flick it and then follow the cave system. It will take you out to the caves that you’re so fond of.”

“No way. How did I not know about this?”

“You’re the only person, besides me, who does know about it. I built the wall and installed the panel myself.”

“You are a man of many talents.” She turned to face him. “If no one else knows about this, then why are you trusting me with your secret?”

“It’s only fair. I know yours, and now you know mine.”

Alexis placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you for that.”

Cole cleared his throat and led her back to the stairs, letting her go up first. Every fiber of his being had wanted to kiss her, just from her simple, small gesture. But he’d held back this time, even in the confines of the small dark space.

Cole pushed the wine cellar shelf back into place. When he turned, Alexis was right behind him. She cupped his neck and pressed her lips to his.

The move momentarily shocked him, but he quickly recovered and rested his hands on her waist, drawing her body into his. He’d never get enough of her taste, of the way she felt against him. It was just a taste, but it was a starting point that he gladly accepted.

His mouth moved against hers, and he slid his tongue between her lips. She opened for him, drawing him in. His hand went to her hair, and he tilted her head, deepening and giving in to her demand. She tasted of chocolate and coffee, and he devoured her as she took from him.

His other hand held her back, pressing her into his chest, hoping to God she didn’t come to her senses and pull away. Her free hand rested against the fabric of his shirt, clutching the material between her fingers and driving up his desire to see how far he could take this.

Cole backed her against the shelf and positioned his knee between her thighs. He swallowed her moan as he caressed the part of her he so desperately wanted to touch. He lifted her hands against the wood, holding them in place before he left her lips, kissing and caressing a path down her neck and back up to her ear. He nibbled on the flesh and increased the pressure of his leg.

“Can I touch you?” he whispered into her ear.

“Yes,” she said on an exhale.

Cole positioned her arms, holding both of hers in one then grabbed the hem of her shirt, lifted it above the swells of her breast, and yanked her bra down. He licked the tender flesh and sucked it into his mouth, and she moaned again as he sucked first one nipple and then the other. His fingers trailed a path down her stomach to her jeans, and he made quick haste of releasing the button and unzipping them. His fingers delved beneath her panties and down her warm skin until he found the gold he’d been seeking.

His jeans painfully tightened as he slipped a finger inside her channel.

“Oh God, yes,” she said, leaning her head back against the wood.

“One day I’m going to taste you there,” he said as he slipped a finger inside her. She moaned again, and he tweaked her nipple between his teeth, gently scraping before he released it.

She creamed instantly on his hand as he stroked her. She liked it a little rough. That could be explored. He moved back up to her mouth and claimed her lips as he worked another finger inside of her and quickened the pace.

She moved her hips against his hand, demanding and wanting more. He continued his assault, knowing exactly how to take her over the edge.

“Do you want to come, baby?” he asked in a whisper against her lips.

“Yes.” She was quick to answer. “Please.”

His favorite word, one he knew would be few and far between for her. “Is this the only time you’re going to let me touch you?”

“No,” she answered, moving her hips faster against his fingers.

“Alexis.” He leaned his head against hers, afraid to ask her for anymore, lest she say no.

“Please, Cole. I’ll do anything.”

“Anything?” he asked. His fingers slowed, and she opened her hooded eyes.

“Anything,” she answered with lust-filled eyes.

“You won’t be sleeping alone tonight.”

She gave a slow shake of her head.

“Say it, Alexis. Tell me you understand.”

His cock pressed painfully against his zipper. He knew the minute her words left her lips, there would be no stopping him. No quenching his thirst. “Baby, please.” He asked in a less demanding way. “I can and will make you feel things you’ve never felt before. All you have to do is say the words.”

He worked his fingers quicker, picking up where he’d slowed. Her head lolled back again as he pressed into her body. “Are you sleeping alone tonight?”