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  I roll my eyes. “Tell her I’m making more French toast. That way you all can eat, and Harry can tell us why he’s such a grumpy ass after a night out at a woman’s house.”

  “I didn’t say we went to her house,” Harry says as he grabs a mug.

  “If you had been at your house, you would have changed,” Allison says.

  “Yeah, well, not everything is what you think it is.”

  “Dammit, Harry, now I want to know more about your date and that almost never happens.”

  “Except when you tried to set him up with EJ,” I offer.

  “Date From Hell,” Harry mutters in the same tone that EJ uses when she speaks of the date.

  “Still,” Allison says.

  “I’ll tell you what, Allison,” Harry says.

  “What?” she asks just a little too sweetly. I know that tone and Harry should too, but he’s a little full of himself today.

  “I’ll tell you about what happened last night if you can tell me how long you’ve been in love with Ed.”

  I glance over my shoulder. I know the answer to this, but I can see the flush to her cheeks. Harry knows she doesn’t want to admit to her teenage crush.

  She opens her mouth to start a new round of arguments and I turn back around, the feeling of happiness filling my entire world. I listen to the siblings argue, a smile curving my lips as I start the batter for the toast. It might not have been my plan to spend the morning with my two best friends and the woman I love, but damn if it doesn’t just feel right.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Hours after we finish breakfast, I wake up in bed. I’d been so sleepy after we made love again, I passed out. Looking at the shadows in my room, I’m pretty sure it’s after five in the evening. I sit up and realize I’m still naked. I can’t fight the grin that curves my lips, or the feeling of joy that fills me. I’ve turned into some kind of sex maniac, but I’m pretty sure Ed is okay with that.

  Speaking of Ed, I look around and notice that his shirt is still on the floor where he tossed it when we returned to the bedroom. I lean over the side of the bed to grab it and fight back a groan. There are muscles that ache I’m not sure I’ve ever used before. After pulling on his shirt, I go in search of Ed.

  I find him in the kitchen again. I have a feeling that is going to be something that will happen a lot. And that thought has my heart bursting. The man does look good in my kitchen.

  He’s working on frosting, from the looks of it. I lean up against the doorjamb and watch him. I don’t think I could ever find him more attractive, but right now, with the sun streaming through the window, a smear of chocolate on his jeans…he’s perfect. Just damned perfect.

  “Are you going to keep staring at me?” he asks with a smile kicking up one side of his mouth.

  “If I want to,” I sass back.

  He glances up at me, his eyes dancing. “Sorry, I woke up and wanted to let you rest a little bit, so I came in here.”

  “I’m not complaining. What kind of frosting are you making?” His eyebrows rise up and I roll my eyes. “I’m not good at baking, but I know the smell of frosting.”

  He finishes whipping the concoction, then sets it on the counter. “Buttercream with a little Grand Marnier in it.”

  I walk over to him; he watches my every move. His eyes warm as I get closer. The hum of need courses through my body. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see that look on his face and not want to jump his bones. Still, I want these quiet moments along with all the insanity that seems to make me lose my mind.

  “You look good in my shirt.” His voice deepens over the words, his arousal easy to hear. It’s down to the overwhelming insanity that seems to grip both of us on a regular basis.

  “Thank you. May I?” I ask, nodding towards the bowl of frosting.

  He nods, and I dip two fingers into the frosting. He’s watching me, his gaze locked on my fingers as I bring them up to my mouth. The scent of orange and sugar first hit my senses before I lick the frosting from my fingers. I hum, unable to fight the pure pleasure that winds its way through me. Sugar, orange, and another element. Something that is almost primal, that speaks to a part of me I don’t truly understand. Ed. I realize now that every time I taste one of his creations, there is a part of him in it that I can taste. I know it’s crazy, but I feel it in my soul.

  Without asking permission, I move to get another bite of frosting.

  “Nope,” Ed says pulling the bowl away from me. Then, he leans down, picks me up, practically throwing me over his shoulder. He walks out of the kitchen and down the hallway to my bedroom.

  “Ed, what are you up to?”

  “If you think I am going to embarrass myself by watching you lick frosting off your fingers, you have another think coming.”

  “Embarrass yourself?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got a hair trigger when it comes to you. If I come in my pants, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  Before I can process that comment, he drops me on the bed just like earlier. It surprises a giggle out of me, that insanity is winding its way through me. It makes me crazy, but it also makes me so damned happy. For a second or two, he stares at me like before.

  “What?”

  He shakes his head.

  “Ed, tell me.”

  “Your happiness makes you the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  I can feel my face flush. “Ed…”

  I don’t know what else to say to him. Not right now, not while he’s staring at me as if I am the most precious thing in the world.

  “You are.” I open my mouth to say something funny, anything; because I’ll cry happy tears otherwise. “Why would you think you aren’t?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. Men have never talked to me like that.”

  “Assholes. Well, that shit’s over. Now you get the Ed treatment.”

  I smile. “What’s that?”

  “Well, you got a taste of it this morning but now we have this frosting.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me as a sinful smile curves his lips. Did I say I was hot before? I wasn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever been this hot in my life.

  “Yeah?” I smile. “And just what does that mean?”

  He settles one knee on the mattress. “It means that I can find out just what frosting tastes like when I lick it off you.”

  Jesus. How have I not come just from talking to him? I have no idea.

  “And,” he says cocking his head to the side, “I think I have to ask for my shirt back.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  He nods. “Give it up, Sunshine.”

  I don’t hesitate to pull the shirt off me and throwing it off the side of the bed. I let my gaze travel down his body. The tattoos scare a lot of stupid women away—thank God—but how has a piece of man meat like this been by himself for almost two years? He might be in his mid-thirties, but he’s even sexier than when I first met him. Sculpted muscles, a few scars here and there from his time in the service, and those abs. I let my attention drift lower, Lordy. The outline of his cock is easy to see, and I reach for him, but he smacks my hand away.

  “Nope. Frosting first.”

  I pout. “Why can’t I use frosting?”

  He closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath. “Good lord.” He opens his eyes and looks down at me. “You might just kill me.”

  I bite my lower lip and fight another smile. Joy fills me as he sets the frosting on the bedside table. After dipping a finger into the bowl, he leans closer and kisses me. It shouldn’t make me almost melt but it does. See, sexy…all Ed. Just the simple act has my heart turning over. He pulls back from the kiss before I’m ready for him to leave. Of course, he has other things on his mind. Mainly the frosting. He presses his frosting-covered finger over my nipple. As he smears it around, he raises his gaze to lock it with mine.

  “I’ve always wanted to taste frosted Sunshine.”

  I can’t look away from him as he bends his head and licks the hardened tip, encircling it with
his tongue. His eyes drift closed as he sucks my nipple into his mouth completely. God. Liquid heat fills my pussy while he continues to lick and suck frosting from my nipple. My clit begs for attention, but he does nothing else than tease my nipple, before grabbing some more frosting for my other nipple. Every little lick and nip increase the need now pulsing through me.

  He slides a frosting-covered digit down my stomach, before pressing the flat of his tongue against my flesh as he eats it up. As he inches closer to my mound, I can feel my clit throb in time with my heart.

  “Now,” he says, the gravelly voice causing my body heat to rise by about a bazillion degrees—and yes, I know that’s insane, but right now, this is about me, so suck it. “That frosting is yummy, but not as yummy as pure, aroused Allison.”

  He settles between my legs and slips his hands beneath my rear end. He lifts me up, draws in a deep breath and his eyes slide closed again. “I wish I could bottle this up. I’d be a millionaire.”

  Before I can say anything about that, he lowers his mouth to my sex. His tongue traces my slit before it slips between the folds. He uses his nose to press against my clit, and I can’t fight the moan that rises up out of my throat. It’s loud, especially in my quiet house. He sighs against me, the puff of air adding another element to his efforts. The soft touch of his beard against my inner thighs and against my pussy is enough to make me come. Add to that the talented mouth and…good lord…I’m amazed I haven’t lost it completely. I teeter on the edge, ready to fall, when he pulls away. I growl—actually growl—and he smiles down at me. I open my mouth to complain, but he flips me over on my stomach. The move is so fast, I can’t seem to wrap my mind around it. It’s kind of hard to think when all my brain cells have abandoned me in hopes of an orgasm.

  I push up on my elbows, as he reaches over and grabs some more frosting. His fingers skim down my spine. His mouth follows. I need to come. The frustration now pounds through me and I want—no need—to come. I have no way to accomplish that. He has my hips anchored down with his hands now as he licks down my back. I collapse on the bed, my head in the pillows, but it doesn’t help much with muffling the volume of my moans.

  Then, I feel his teeth graze over one butt cheek before he moves again for frosting. Another smear and more licking. I might just die right here on my bed. I don’t know how I can deal with the need currently beating through my blood, my body begging for relief. It’s then that I realize I’ve been doing just that by repeating please over and over.

  “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll take care of you,” he says as he moves away for a second. I hear him undress before my brain computes what’s happening. I open my eyes and look at him. Damn, the man is a piece of work. His cock bobs up against his stomach, hard and wet with a little precum. I want a taste, a little nip at his essence.

  I reach out and press my thumb against the tip and bring it back to my mouth. Salty, sweet, Ed. God. I close my eyes and moan.

  “Woman, I am barely holding it together,” he says, which pulls a laugh from me. When the bed dips, I open my eyes as he crawls back up on it with me. The crinkle of foil tells me he grabbed a condom. I hate having it between us, since I’d enjoyed our time without one. Still, I know it’s for the best, and the thought evaporates as he takes hold of my hips, pulls them off the mattress, and enters me to the hilt in one, hard thrust. We moan together as he holds us there, immobile for a few seconds. I can feel my clit pulsing, his cock throbbing, and Jesus, I just need to come. I struggle to my knees as he starts to move. His fingers dig into my flesh and he continues to thrust in and out of me. I’m close, ready to come, but it feels as if it is just out of reach.

  As his rhythm increases, he slips his hand around to press against my clit. “Come with me, Allison. Come on, baby.”

  I can’t deny his request. He thrusts into me and I scream as I tumble over into pleasure and my orgasm racks my body. Ecstasy sparks through every inch of my soul with my first release rolling over into another one. Ed groans and drives into me once more, riding my orgasm, and gives up to his needs. He holds himself still inside of me as he shudders.

  Moments later, he collapses on the bed beside me. I still have my face buried in the pillows and he’s facing up.

  “I think I might need some rest after that one, Sunshine.”

  “I might be dead,” I say, joking but only a little. Right now, I’m so drained I don’t want to move for the rest of the day.

  He chuckles, the warm sound making my heart dance. “I hope not, because I would not want to explain to your mother that I sexed you to death.”

  I laugh and move my head so I can see him. His eyes are closed, but there is no denying the smile on his lips. “I only ask one thing from you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I get to use the frosting next time.”

  He opens his eyes and looks at me. “Anything you want, Sunshine. I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” I say, my heart now filled to bursting. No matter how we figure this all out, we will figure it out together. He leans over and gives me a kiss, then slips out of bed. He removes the condom and tosses it in the trash before he rejoins me on the bed.

  “Nap,” he says, as he pulls the blanket up over us. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me close to him, letting me settle my head on his chest. “Then we go for a ride.”

  That sounds fantastic to me, so I do. As I drift off to sleep, I feel his lips against the top of my head.

  Nothing could be better than Ed Cooper in my bed.

  Epilogue

  Three months later

  I’m trying my best to keep my head on straight, but today is special. It’s three months—minus one—to the day since I told Allison I loved her. And it’s time. Because I can’t wait any longer. This woman is my entire world and I want to make it official.

  I’m in our backyard. Yeah, I moved in about a week after her staycation. Didn’t wait to be asked. Just told her I would move in. She agreed, and while we have had a few bumps here and there, we definitely know we belong together.

  Allison is on her way home. She knows I’m up to something, since I gave her a Saturday splurge fest complete with a day at the spa with her friends. Still, I have a feeling she has no idea what I am up to now. I have the backyard ready to go as the sun starts to descend over the Texas sky, but I have kept everything under wraps. Thanks to Savannah and EJ, I have the entire backyard decorated. Little fairy lights crisscross over the back porch, and I have candles on the table. I’m not that good with enchiladas, so I had Savannah make some up and they are ready to put in the oven.

  EJ: Hey, GJ, dropping your woman off. You are one lucky man.

  Yes, all of her friends call me Ginger Jesus or refer to me as GJ. I was annoyed and more than a little embarrassed at first. Now, though, I realize it is their way of accepting me.

  Me: Don’t I know it.

  EJ: :winky face:

  I hurry back into the house just as she is coming through the door. Sweet baby Jesus. The woman would be gorgeous to me no matter what she wears—although, I prefer her to be naked—but this dress takes my breath away. It’s one of those kinds that tie behind her neck, leaving her back bare and dipping low enough to give me a great view of her cleavage. Her hair is softly curled into waves that make her look as if she has been sexed up. Her makeup is subtle, just a little here and there, except for the red lipstick. She looks like a pinup from the fifties.

  “Ed?”

  I shake my head and try to get my brain to work.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks.

  “I just can’t…” I draw in a deep breath, count backwards from ten, then do it three more times before I can continue. “You take my breath away.”

  Her expression clears as she walks towards me. “Thank you. You should see my lingerie.”

  I’m trying to hold it together and not lose it and rip that dress off her and have my way with her on the floor. She’s not making it any easier. I can do this. I can hold m
y body in check until I get through everything I want to say.

  She giggles. “Your expression is priceless.”

  I shake my head as I walk over to her. I cup her face, rubbing my thumb over her cheek. I’m careful not to mess up any of her makeup. That’s for later. Right now, I want her to know just how much she means to me.

  “Oh, no. What’s wrong?”

  I shake my head. “Nothing.”

  “There’s something, Ed. Tell me.”

  A lump rises in my throat, and it takes every bit of my will to swallow it. “I love you.”

  Her expression softens. “I love you too, Ed.”

  “Be mine.”

  She blinks, confusion now clouding her eyes.

  “I am yours.”

  I roll my eyes. “I’m doing this all wrong.”

  She smiles. “You never do anything wrong. Well, except when you put my purple sweater in the dryer.”

  I frown. “Just,” I sigh.

  “What? Spit it out.”

  I take her hand and pull her through the kitchen.

  “Oh, are those Savannah’s cheese enchiladas?”

  “Yes.”

  But I don’t stop. I pull her through the back door until we are on the tiny patio with all the candles. The sun is starting to set, and it was actually one of those rare cool summer days and the night is coming to life around us.

  “Oh, Ed, this is so pretty,” she says looking at the table. She looks at me. “Thank you.”

  “It’s our three-month anniversary.”

  She nods. “I know.”

  For the first time in my adult life, my palms sweat. She is the one thing I need in my life and asking her this question scares the hell out me. Facing down the Taliban in a battle was never this frightening.

  Allison watches me, waiting, anticipation stamped on her features.

  “I saw your father today.”

  She nods and smiles. “That’s nice.”

  I draw in another big breath and release it as I have her sit down.

  “Three months ago, I told you that you were mine.”