Page 52 of Hot For You

She bolted upright on the bed. The sheet fell to her waist. All she wore were black panties and a black bra.

Cody was lying on his side, facing her. The bed sheet draped his hips, his chest bare. Her back had been to him as she slept.

Scratched and bruised, he looked slightly pale, his eyes closed, and her heart squeezed. She reached out and touched his face, her hand shaking. Was he all right?

His flesh was warm beneath her touch. “Wake up, Cody.” Her words came out in a hoarse whisper. She cleared her throat and raised her voice as she shook his shoulder. “Cody. Come on. Wake up.”

Relief flooded her when his eyelids raised and he met her gaze. “Hey, sunshine,” he said in a groggy voice with a faint smile.

She managed a smile, too. “How are you?”

“I’ve been better.” He put his hand over hers where it rested on his cheek. “What about you?”

“Good.” She frowned. “I should have stayed awake and watched out for you.”

“I’m fine.” He squeezed her hand as he scooted up in bed beside her. “I don’t think my concussion is as bad as yours was.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Now how would you know that?”

“I’ve had a couple of concussions before and this one doesn’t seem nearly as bad,” he said.

She relaxed. “I’m so glad.”

He reached up and stroked the side of her face as he looked at her intently. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you. I’m in love with you, Carilyn. You’re a part of me now.”

She stared at him as his words sank in. “You love me?”

“More than you can imagine.” He nodded. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

Her mind whirled. She couldn’t believe what he’d just told her. But she was leaving…

His smile was almost a little sad as he took her face in his palms and leaned close to kiss her. When their lips met it was the sweetest kiss she could ever have imagined.

As he drew away, he looked at her with such love in his eyes that it melted her heart and soul. “Let me show you.” He reached behind her and unfastened her bra and she let him slide the straps down her arms.

She shivered beneath his gaze as he cupped her breasts in his palms. He lightly flicked her nipples with his thumbs and she bit her lower lip. He leaned toward her and kissed her again before taking her into his arms.

“You are so beautiful in so many ways,” he said as he shifted her and laid her on her back, her head resting on his pillow.

She looked up at him, her heart pounding harder. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties and tugged them down, leaving her bared to his gaze.

He shed his boxers and she watched the play of his muscles as he moved. His naked body was so powerful and he had a day’s growth of stubble on his jaws.

One thought dominated her mind. Cody was hers. Hers.

And she belonged to him.

All other thought fled her mind. What mattered was that they were together and they were alive. They both could have died tonight.

“I don’t want to ever be without you.” His words echoed her thoughts.

“I’m here, Cody.” She reached out to him and he took her into his arms.

His big body was so warm and hard against her smaller, softer one. His erection pressed into her belly as he kissed her with loving intensity. He smelled of soap from his shower along with his own masculine scent that drew her even closer to him.

He moved his lips from hers and started pressing kisses to her eyelids, her forehead, her cheeks. His lips were so soft against her skin, his touches so special that it brought tears to her eyes. It was as if she could feel his emotions through his fingertips.

“Why are you crying?” He kissed a tear from the corner of her eye.