Page 39 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

“They were good. You’re still Stanley’s hero, you know. He made a motorcycle out of clay today. I was going to take a picture of it to show you, but then he smashed it with his fist.” She laughed. Not symbolic at all. She cleared her throat and looked up at him. “Don’t worry about packing. I’ll stay until we finish.”

“I can always come back later for any last odds and ends,” he said slowly, as if gauging her mood.

Was that a hint he may return at a later date? Hope filled her for a moment then died quickly when he spoke again. “Still, if we can try to finish, that would be great. But only if you’re up for it. I feel bad asking you to do more work.” His sincere expression made her heart sink.

“No. I want to help, Cole.” She gave him a weak smile. “Feel free to take a rest if you can’t keep up with me.”

He grinned. The heavy mood lifted but not for long. They both picked at their food while trying to find lighter things to talk about. Anything but his mother, this house, or Cole leaving. Once they weren’t pushing rice around their plates anymore, she cleared the dishes. When he still didn’t move from the table, she said, “We should probably get started.”

“All right.” He rose, tossing his paper napkin on the table. “Where should we start? The last of the collectibles?”

“Sure.” She grabbed a box, and they got to work. Unlike the day before, she didn’t ask him questions or tease him. She was determined to be as efficient as possible, and it paid off—within a couple of hours, they were done.

Looking around the house full of furniture and boxes, a wave of melancholy rose into her throat. She wasn’t surprised to be sad—Stella may not have been her mother, but the woman had acted motherly toward her, always making sure she was okay, always baking cookies for Jill’s kids, always proudly talking about her son—

Before she could change her mind, she went with her instincts by grabbing her keys and heading for the door.

This is it, Jill. Just say goodbye, tell him you’ll stay in touch, and get the hell out of there.

At the front door, she turned around and held out her hand. “Well, Cole. It was wonderful meeting you. I’m so glad I was able to help you, and I do wish you the best of luck with all your endeavors.”

Cole stared at her, hands on his hips. “So, that’s it? You sound like you just informed me you won’t be hiring me.”

Jill sagged. “Cole, don’t make this difficult, please. How else am I supposed to say goodbye?”

“With a hug maybe? A long, sweet kiss? A night together, enjoying what we have for just a little while longer? I dunno. Is that stupid of me to think?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest.

“That would only make things harder, Cole, and you know it. I should be going. I have to get things ready for the kids in the morning.” She brought her hand down. If he wasn’t going to take it, then this ending was turning out worse than expected.

“Jill…”

She opened the door but couldn’t bring herself to step outside. She just stood there, wanting to cry. She’d tried to be distant and failed, and she’d tried to let him into her heart and failed. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

“Would you just listen to me, please?” His voice grew husky. “Jill, you’ve been distant ever since I got the phone call about leaving tomorrow.”

Jill whirled around. “Was I supposed to jump for joy? Do cartwheels? You tell me, Cole. How should I have reacted? How should I have felt knowing that in less than twenty-four hours, the man who’s made me laugh and cry, who’s filled my soul, would be leaving? I mean, I got into this knowing you’d be taking off. I’d prepared myself. But even so, it hurts.”

His eyes flared at her words. Something in his face softened, relieved. “Stay.”

“So you can squeeze one more fun time out of me before you go? Is that it?” She knew she was being difficult and unreasonable, but she just couldn’t see the good in dragging this out any further. The pressure behind her eyes was too much, and her hands flew to her face to cover up her tears.

She felt his soft, warm hands covering hers. Gently, he pulled her hands away, exposing her mess of a face. He lifted one of her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “So I can make love to you, Jill,” he whispered against her hand. “Even if it is just one more time. Please stay.”

Feeling his mouth on her skin sparked her desire on top of every other emotion she was feeling. They stood still for a minute, looking into each other’s eyes, until he pulled her close to kiss her. It felt like a hello and goodbye mixed together, slow and sweet, savoring. He touched her lips lightly at first, softly searching, and then deepened the kiss. Behind her, she heard the front door close as he pushed it shut.

Maybe she’d never learn. Maybe this was life, these moments of heartache, and she had to live them whether she liked it or not. Ignoring them was even more difficult.

She slid her hands up his side and broad back, bringing them closer together as he enveloped her in his arms. They kissed, scrambling through the living room and hitting a wall—literally—until she couldn’t take the need anymore and pressed her hips against his.

What was he thinking? Feeling? Had he deliberately used the words “make love” rather than “have sex?” Was he acknowledging he had feelings for her?

She pulled away to look at him, to scan his eyes and read his intentions, but she couldn’t tell. He pulled her back in, dropping his mouth to her neck, and she moaned.

Cole kissed around the neckline of her shirt before pulling it off, then kissed trails around her bra. He traced her skin with his fingers, dropping soft kisses here and there, leading her toward his bedroom, which still had the linens from last night.

As she fell back on the bed, he knelt over her, kissing a line across her stomach, just above her jeans. Aching for him, Jill propped herself up on her elbows and watched as he undid her zipper with his teeth. He pulled the open jeans a bit lower, then grazed her lower stomach with his mouth, his tongue caressing in circles, stopping only to slowly pull her jeans down her legs. His mouth followed, tasting every inch of her. She could hardly hold still and squirmed with desire.

Despite her pleas, whimpers, and moans, Cole took his time, tantalizing and torturing her. After kissing her legs for what felt like an eternity, he finally made his way to her panties, sliding them down partway with his teeth, then kneading through the cloth with his fingers on her sensitive areas. She pushed against his mouth, wanting more. Wanting her clothes off. Wanting him to make love to her for hours.

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