All She Ever Wanted - Barbara Freethy [93]
"Why? Because you know I'm right? Emily would have wanted you to be happy."
"And you think I'd be happy with you? Like I said, you always did think highly of yourself."
"I think you'd be happier than you are right now."
"You don't know anything about my life, Madison. Now, either get on the bike or stay here. I don't much care either way."
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
"I have something to do."
She saw something flash through his eyes and her instincts told her what it was. "You know, don't you? You figured it out while we were talking. You know who Emily was in love with. Tell me, Dylan."
"I don't know anything," he denied.
"You're lying."
He shrugged. "Are you coming or not?"
Madison watched Dylan put on his helmet and knew that he wouldn't think twice about leaving her on this remote hillside. "Fine," she said, strapping on her own helmet. She'd make him tell her what he'd remembered, or she'd figure it out herself. In the meantime, she had a lot to think about. She couldn't wait to tell Natalie what she'd learned.
* * *
"You're torturing me," Natalie said, as Cole's fingers played with the front clasp of her bra. They'd made it to his bedroom in record time, but after stripping off her shirt, Cole had slowed things down considerably.
He smiled wickedly as he pressed a teasing kiss against the corner of her mouth. "You really need to learn some patience, Natalie."
She didn't care about patience. She wanted his fingers on her bare skin. Then she wanted his mouth to follow suit. But Cole seemed more interested in tracing a line along the edge of her bra, one fingertip grazing her skin like a branding iron. She knew there was only one way to get him to hurry. Her hand dropped to the snap on his jeans. Unlike him, she got it open right away, along with the zipper. She heard him suck in a breath of air as her fingers dipped lower, teasing him as he was teasing her.
"You're not playing fair," he muttered.
"Who cares about fair? I want what I want. So do it already."
"I love it when you talk sexy." He unhooked her bra and pulled the edges apart, freeing her breasts to his gaze, his touch. His thumb circled one nipple, then the other. She closed her eyes as his mouth moved down the side of her neck, the valley of her breasts, finally closing over her nipple. Her breast swelled as he sucked and licked, igniting the sparks that had barely died down from their last encounter. He reached for the button of her slacks and pulled it open, his hands pushing her pants down until she was left standing in only her skimpy bikinis. Breathing hard, she pushed him away and said, "Your turn."
Cole didn't hesitate, taking off his jeans and his boxers in one fell swoop. A pile of sand from their beach adventure followed suit, and they both laughed. But the tension returned as Natalie let herself look at him. Her breath quickened, and her heart began to thud against her chest. He really was a beautifully made man.
"Your turn, Natalie." He put a thumb through the band of her panties and pushed them down her legs. She kicked them off, then tried to cover herself, feeling self-conscious.
He pulled her hands away, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Let me look at you in the light." He shook his head, something like awe flashing in his eyes. "Beautiful."
She blushed from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She could feel the warmth sweeping across her body as his gaze made the same journey. "Let's lie down," she said, pulling him toward the bed.
"I thought you'd never ask."
Natalie laid down on her back, wishing this was all happening a lot faster. It was easier not to think, not to worry when he was touching her, kissing her, making her forget her own name.
Cole turned on his side, letting his hand move lazily up and down her leg while he studied her mouth and her breasts.
"Could we get on with it?" she said.
He smiled. "More sexy talk. Wherever did you learn it, Natalie?"
"I don't do this very often. I don't know the protocol."
He leaned over and kissed her on the mouth, a long, wet