Bedding The Biker Next Door (22 page)

“Oh, Cole…” Jill said into his shoulder.

Cole took a deep breath and pulled back slightly. “Jill,” he said, looking into her eyes. “I don’t know what the future holds for him and me, if we’ll have any sort of relationship. I mean, my mom did get screwed because she loved him. But I feel like he was strong enough to come to me, to admit his mistakes, to claim me as his…and that’s a start.”

She did nothing to fight the tears in her eyes. She was so happy for him.

Cole stroked her cheek. “He loved my mom and regretted the way things ended between them. I don’t want that, Jill. I want you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Now, the tears were flowing freely down her face.

“But my health. The risks…”

“I don’t care.” He shook her hands in earnest. “We’ll take our chances just like everyone else. But we’ll have love. Everyone has a chance of getting something. Right? It shouldn’t stop us.”

Relief swept through her. “Maybe you’re right.”

“I’m right that no one knows the future. We all have health risks. But not everyone finds true love. Not everyone finds someone like you, Jill Jones. Smash was right—you’re the real deal.”

She giggled and sobbed at the same time. “I’ll spend every chance I get making you happy, Mr. Novak,” she whispered.

“And I’ll do the same for you, Jill.” He pulled her into his lap and kissed her, gently but with real power, taking her breath away, and igniting her passion at the same time. Then he pulled back and growled, “I need you.”

Suddenly, her wild side came back in a hot wind, and she yanked her shirt over her head. “Oh, yeah?” she said, pulling him to her. “Show me!”

Epilogue

“I’m ready, Jill. Are you ready to come again, baby?”

Cole had already given Jill two orgasms, one while he had her clit between his lips and the other while he was pounding her from behind. He wanted to stretch things out even more, make her come all night, but she was so damn sexy, and if he tried to hold back any longer, he would implode.

Jill smiled even as she struggled to catch her breath. They’d been going at it hard and heavy, and with each orgasm, her body had progressed from shimmering with a light, sparkly sheen to gleaming with a more serious sweat. Her hair was stuck to the sides of her face and across her cheeks like she’d just gotten caught out in a storm—and in some ways, she had. Her skin was flushed, her lips bright red and swollen. Cole didn’t think he’d ever seen her look more beautiful.

“I’m ready,” she said.

Cole stood, grinning ear to ear. Grabbing her legs, he pulled her to the edge of the bed, took a pillow, and stuffed it underneath her bottom. He gripped her hips in his hands and used her body to guide himself into her. Once he was inside, he wasted no time. He was on the verge. He began pounding into her, and they gasped and moaned until Jill came again, digging her nails into his arms as she did. The sound of her calling out his name sent him hurtling over the edge, and he let himself finally release.

His body shook as he came. He held Jill tightly, not moving for a few seconds until he was sure he’d squeezed every drop out of his release. Then he rocked back and forth a few times, just to calm himself down before he finally let her go and collapsed on the bed.

“Oh, my God, you’re going to kill me!” He laughed out loud, and it felt good.

She giggled, kissing the side of his face. “See? Even you could go at any moment…from my sheer awesomeness. But what a way to go!”

He pulled her into him and held her against his heart for several minutes, enjoying the sticky feel of their bodies touching.

Jill planted a kiss on his lips. “I need to shower. I’m all gross.”

“But I like you dirty. And I
know
you like me the same way.”

She blushed, bit her lip in temptation to come back to bed, then shook her head with forced resolve. “You stay here and rest. You’re going to have to start packing for your trip soon.”

Cole rolled onto his back and watched her cute little backside disappear into the bathroom. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, enjoying the scent of her—of
them
—that permeated the air. Sometimes he couldn’t believe his love for her, or hers for him.

And they did love each other. They’ve voiced their mutual love last night without reserve. It had been the sweetest moment of Cole’s life.

Several weeks had passed since Jill’s place had been broken into. Work kept Cole busy, but he’d been content with the job, probably enjoying it more than ever simply because he knew when the day was over, his evening would begin with Jill. He’d finally gotten hold of Eric, but his friend’s distant demeanor and refusal to talk about what had happened with Brianne had created a fissure between them Cole wasn’t sure could be mended. Cole had talked to Luke about holding off expanding the business in San Francisco for now—maybe indefinitely—and Luke had been fine with that. He understood that chances like Jill came only once in a lifetime, so he was in no hurry to push him.

“Hey, did you go to sleep on me?”

Cole opened his eyes. Jill was back in the room, wrapped in a towel with her long, wet hair laying against her shoulders and down across her breasts. The sight of her almost had him ready to throw her back onto the bed and go another round, but he forced himself out of bed and went over to the dresser where she stood. With her facing the mirror, he slipped his arms around her from behind and hugged her close, letting his lips touch the side of her face. She smelled so good. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent.

Jill had been completely fine with him putting off his move to San Francisco. Hell, she’d been so relieved, she’d cried when he told her. But she hadn’t been so understanding when he’d told her he was going to skip the Ride Home. She’d insisted he go. She never wanted to be a burden or limit what he could do in his life. At first, he’d resisted, but when she’d asked him point blank if she wasn’t in his life would he want to go, he hadn’t been able to lie. He did want to go on the ride. He just didn’t want to leave her.

Finally, he’d signed on. And truth be told, he had been looking forward to the trip. That had changed the closer it came time to leave.

“What is it?” she said.

“I don’t want to go,” he told her.

“You do, too,” she said with a little smile. “You’re going to have a great time.”

He spun her around to face him. “I’m going to miss you like crazy if I’m away from you for a day. I can’t go two whole weeks without you.”

Laughing, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you, baby, and I love that you feel that way. But I don’t want to change who you are.” She put her hand on his chest. “This guy right here makes me happy. He makes me laugh, he makes me think, he makes me feel. He turns me on, and sometimes he drives me crazy. But given the chance, I wouldn’t change a thing about him, including his love of adventure. That’s who you are, Cole, and those guys are part of you, too.” She winked. “Have fun, explore, and be crazy. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Maybe we should get back in bed and battle over it. I could show you a few reasons why you need me to stay.”

“Of course I need you. I need you to come back, and I believe you will.”

“So was that a yes on going back to bed?” he asked with a grin.

Jill reached back and slapped him on the butt. “Later,” she said. “I promise, I’ll give you a big send off. But first, I have some things to do today.”

With a face that could rival any of her daycare kids’ pouts, he gave her another kiss and headed for the shower. While he stood underneath the spray, he thought about those kids. They were awesome. He’d gotten used to seeing them every day and was going to miss them too…especially Stanley. He couldn’t even think about the little guy without smiling. It was funny how much the kid reminded him of himself when he was little. Stanley had a natural curiosity that would undoubtedly lead him into some trouble as he got older, but with the right kind of support, the kid could also use that curiosity and thirst for knowledge to take him to great heights. Cole even spent some time with Stanley and his dad, Jason, who’d reluctantly accepted Cole was in Jill’s life to stay.

For now, Cole split time staying with Jill and his own apartment, but when the time was right, he was going to ask her to move in with him.

Or more accurately, ask if he could move in with her, since he felt more at home in her place than he ever had at his. He was about ready to place his mom’s house on the market, and he was amazed how the thought of doing so didn’t hurt him anymore. His mom would always be a part of him, and he’d always have great memories to see him through difficult times.

As for his birth father…Cole was going to meet up with the senator in a few weeks. He wasn’t sure what was going to come of it, but he was open to finding out. Mainly because he had Jill and he knew with her by his side, he could withstand anything.

Once he was dried and dressed, he found Jill in the kitchen, going through cabinets and making a grocery list for the week.

“That hinge is loose,” he said, watching her pull open the cabinet where she kept the cereal for the kids.

“Yeah, I guess it is a little,” she said.

“I’ll go get the toolbox and tighten it up,” he told her. “While I’m at it, I can fix that faucet in the bathroom. I noticed it was leaking yesterday when I helped Stanley wash his hands.”

Jill smiled at him. “Okay, Mr. Fix-It,” she said. “I’m going to go shopping after I finish this list. Let me know if there’s anything you still need for your trip.”

“Do you want me to go the store with you?” he asked.

“Nope. You have a sink to fix.” She laughed. “And then you’re going next door to start packing for your trip.”

“Jill…”

She kissed him. “I’ll see you in a bit. Call me if you need anything.”

“I need you,” he said.

“Good, because I need you, too. That’s never going to change.”

He watched her go, loving the way her ass bounced a bit when she did.

When he was done fixing the cabinet and sink, he locked up Jill’s house and got on his bike. Jill was going to be mad at him, but he just couldn’t do it. He had too many things to stick around here for…mainly her. He would go to Liquid Cooled and let the guys know he wasn’t going on the ride. She would be upset for a minute or two, but she’d get over it. She’d understand that he wasn’t giving up what he wanted because of her. He was doing what
he
wanted.

What he wanted was to be with her.

When Cole pushed open the door of Liquid Cooled, he saw Smash, Stitch, and a guy named Dirty Dog who they called D.D., sitting at the counter.

“Hey! There he is!” Smash said, looking at the bartender. “Get him a beer.”

“Nah, I’m okay,” Cole said. “I just came by to tell you I’m not going to be able to make it on the Ride Home this year.”

“What the hell?” Stitch griped.

“I just have too many things to take care of around here.”

“You have to go, man! It’s the trip of a lifetime!” Stitch said. D.D. elbowed the old man. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”

Before either of the other two could say anything, Smash clapped him on the shoulder. “Man, you’re gonna disappoint the hell out of someone if you don’t go.”

“Nah, you guys will have so much fun, you won’t even notice I’m not there.”

“I’m not talking about us guys,” Smash said. “But there’s someone else who was only going because you are. This person has been doing an awful lot to prepare for this trip, too.”

“Well, pass on my apologies, Smash, because I’m not going.”

“You can apologize in person.” Smash looked toward the door that led from the bar to the clubhouse.

Cole glanced over and couldn’t believe his eyes. Jill was there, wearing a pair of dark, tight jeans, black leather riding chaps and black leather boots. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck, and she wore a red and black skull cap on top of her head.

Slowly, Cole moved toward her. “Jill? What’s going on? Why are you wearing that?”

“Why? You don’t like it?” She pouted, her mouth looking luscious layered with bright red lipstick.

“Hell yeah, I do, woman! On you, anything looks hot! But why the chaps?”

“So I don’t hurt my legs. You were supposed to be at home while I made sure I’d packed everything I need on my bike.”

Cole’s head pounded with confusion even as a glimmer of understanding teased him. “What bike?”

“My bike,” she said with a grin. “You want to see it?”

He stood there with his mouth wide open, so she took him by the hand and led him outside. The men at the bar grinned at him as he walked by. Out front, Jill led him over to a Harley that was just slightly smaller than the rest. It was customized and almost brand new.

“You like it?” She bit her lip, her eyes gleaming.

“This is yours?”

“The guys helped me pick it out. They did a lot of customization on it for me here in the clubhouse.” Jill stepped up and put her arms around him. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Surprise! The guys have been giving me lessons and I passed my riding test on the first try. I wanted you to be able to go on your trip, and I was hoping that if you didn’t mind, I could go, too.”

“Of course you can go. You didn’t have to do all of this. You could have ridden with me…”

She stepped back so she could look up at his face. “I love riding on your bike with you, but I also want to ride beside you, share the adventure, see the sights. I hope that’s okay.”

Cole stood there quietly for a few seconds and let it sink in. Jill was going with him. Not only that, but she had done all of this for him—to show him how much she loved him. How amazing was that? Without warning, he scooped her into his arms and held her tight. “Okay? No, it’s not okay. It’s perfect!” He smashed a kiss into her cheek and finally put her down so she could breathe. “What about the kids?”

She smiled. “You know what I love?”

“What?”

“The way you say
the kids
, instead of
work
. It lets me know you really care for them. Liz’s cousin is back in town. She has a degree in early childhood development and she’s going to help Liz while I’m gone.”