Page 57 of Bedding the Biker Next Door

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.”

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