That was when the mischief came back into his eyes as he winked at both women.
“Lucky guess. After all, who doesn’t like caramel?”
“Not worrying about tonight, are you?”
Cole’s lazy deep voice jolted Rachel back to reality. Focusing on her—wow, husband, who was now sitting up in her bed—Hang on, is it now our bed?—Rachel watched him run a hand through his messy blond hair.
“Nope, not at all,” she answered.
“You’re a terrible liar, Mrs. Madison.”
Hearing him say her new name out loud sent a shiver down her spine, and looking at him naked in her bed for the first time made her thighs tighten.
“I’m not lying.”
“Yes, you are. When you lie, you get a frown line here.” He indicated the center of his forehead.
Rachel felt herself doing exactly that.
“It’s okay to be nervous about telling everyone,” he assured her as he moved out of the bed and walked toward her. “These are the people you love and care about.”
Scoffing a little at that, Rachel shook her head while she wrapped her arms around his neck as he encircled her waist.
“These are people who are going to not only give me hell, but they’ll also possibly kick your ass,” she said as seriously as she could.
Rachel felt Cole’s chest shake as she looked up into his laughing eyes.
“I’m glad you find this so amusing, husband.”
“Oh, I like that,” he drawled.
“Yes. I can tell,” Rachel sassed, pushing her clothed hips against his naked ones.
“Say it again.”
“I’m glad you fin—”
Rachel was cut off as he slid his hand into her hair and gripped it tightly, pulling her head back. Her mouth parted slightly on an excited exhale.
Oh yeah, there it is—that undeniable sex factor. God, the man has it in spades.
“Not. That,” he said with a feral smile, enunciating each word.
Swiping her tongue across her parted lips, Rachel smoothed her palms down his back, and as the arm around her waist pulled her closer, she let out a soft squeak.
“Husband,” she said on a sigh.
Lowering his mouth to her ear, he lasciviously demanded, “Again.”
“Husband.” She panted as the hand at her waist moved between her thighs.
“Again.”
Rachel closed her eyes as Cole stroked back and forth against the flimsy yoga material while his fingers in her hair flexed and tightened. She thrust her hips forward, brushing against his naked cock.
As a familiar piece of knowledge asserted itself in her mind, she took the opportunity to have a little fun with him. “My husband is detaining me, thus making me late for work, which is something he once told me shows such a lack of dedication to my final destination.”
Rachel felt sharp teeth nip her earlobe.
He explained, “I only care about your dedication if I’m your final destination.”
Just as she was about to retort, she felt a low moan bubble from her throat as his fingertips began to circle her piercing.
“Cole, I need to go to work, and so do you.”
“I don’t care,” he mumbled against her hair before he took a deep breath in.
“Yes, you do. You told me last night you had to wrap up a few things.”
As Cole’s lips found hers, he kissed her fiercely, sinking his tongue deep inside her mouth. Rachel tried to hold on to her emotions as they swirled and her desire heightened. She did need to go to work, but right now, she didn’t want to go anywhere, except back to bed with her husband.
As he pulled his mouth from hers, he looked down at her with such intensity and love that Rachel found herself tumbling back as she remembered the way he had looked at her this past Saturday morning.
“I, Cole James Madison, ask you, Rachel Catherine Langley, to stand beside me through the toughest battles and harshest critics, namely your brother, and to lie beside me through the calmest of nights. I ask you to continue being the exact person you are today and to never be anyone but the woman who turned me into this impulsive man who stands before you here today.”
Cole squeezed her fingers in his, and his gaze stayed locked onto hers. He was intent on only one thing, and that was the woman in front of him.
“I was not expecting you, and that’s what makes me so sure. Nothing this perfect could be anything other than right. So, Rachel Catherine Langley, will you be my wife?”
Cole could feel his chest rise and fall against the most beautiful breasts he had ever seen, and Rachel—ahh, yes, my wife—was staring up at him, her eyes shining with all the desire and love he craved from her.
“Look, I don’t want you to worry about your brother, okay? I don’t think it’s funny that Mason and Joshua will be upset tonight because I know how that will hurt you. I do find it amusing that you are concerned for my safety.”
Her eyes narrowed quickly, and he was surprised to see the annoyance that flashed into them. The look made him instantly stop what he was doing with his active hand as he released his hold of her hair.
“What’s wrong?”
“You think it’s amusing that I’m worried about you?” she ruminated.
“No, I suppose amusing is the wrong word. I find it endearing but unnecessary. No offense, Rachel, but Mason doesn’t really strike me as the type who fights with his fists. As for Joshua, he pays me, and we have a working contract. I’m far too valuable to him alive, and he needs me on his side, so he wouldn’t beat me up and risk losing my business.”
She remained silent as she stared at him. She was still unconvinced by the looks of it.
“Plus, Joshua knows I am quite adept in martial arts. I could put him down in three seconds flat.”
That’s it. That was obviously what she had either wanted or needed to hear because a huge grin slid across her face.
“Does that mean you’ll come and spar with me at the gym later?” she prompted.
Deciding things were all back on course, Cole made his way to the tiny bathroom connected to her bedroom. When he got to the door, he looked over his shoulder.
“I’d love to spar with you, anytime and anyplace, you choose. Just promise not to damage my pretty face.”
As he continued into the bathroom to take a shower, he was happy to hear Rachel’s carefree laugh.
“Arrogant jerk,” she called out loud enough to ensure he heard her.
Rachel fidgeted nervously with a piece of string hanging from her bright blue sweater that she had paired with black leggings.
It had just turned seven o’clock when Cole pulled his car into the small parking lot behind Exquisite. As he turned off the ignition, he shifted around to look at her, and she could feel the heat of his stare. Taking a deep breath, she glanced his way. She was about to open the car door and get out when he reached across the console and placed his hand on her arm.
“Wait just a minute, please?”
Rachel froze. “What’s wrong? Did you change your mind?”
He gave her a slow easy smile that seemed to warm her from the inside out.
“Never,” he assured as he reached into his navy jacket pocket.
When he pulled out a small ring box, Rachel’s mouth dropped opened at what she knew was inside.
“You know we didn’t have time to buy rings in Lake Forest.”
“Cole, really, you didn’t have to do this.”
Rachel fell quiet as he cupped her cheek with his palm.