The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone (best book club books of all time txt) 📕

to overwhelm everything else, silence it. Which, with a very naked Cole standing before her, fisting his dick, was an easy thing to do.

Jesus, he was gorgeous.

Clothed, the man exuded a leashed power and vitality that hummed like a low-level current. But naked, without the restraints of that civility? He nearly rocked her back on her heels with all that visceral sexuality and strength. He was a sleek, formidable beast who’d shaken off domestication, and the way he studied her from underneath those whiskey-colored, hooded eyes... She barely managed the inane urge to bare her neck and let him take her down.

“How do you want it?” He molded his palm to her breast, squeezing. “What’s most comfortable for you?”

He never failed to ask her this question. No matter how hot they burned—and God, did they raze each other to the ground—her comfort was always his priority. How she wished that didn’t squeeze her heart like a vise.

“I want to look at you,” she said, softly repeating the request she’d given him the first time they’d had sex. I need to look into your eyes and know that you’re here with me and only me. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, trapping those too-revealing words inside.

Cole nodded and sank to the couch. Tangling his fingers with hers, he eased her down and over his thighs until she straddled him. Their gazes locked; he guided his cock to her folds before sliding between them, nudging her clit. She gasped at the electric strike of pleasure, her head tipping back on her shoulders. Her hips rolled as if of their own volition, seeking more of that brain-numbing ecstasy. Her breath burst out of her on a ragged whimper, and she didn’t wait for him to notch his erection at her entrance. Needy, hungry, she lifted and sank down on him.

Once more, she gasped at the stretching, the almost-too-much filling of her sex. They’d been together like this so many times over the past few weeks, but he never failed to steal her breath with how he branded her. Completed her. Not just physically. But in a place so deep inside, she feared ever being able to root him out.

“Ride me, baby girl,” Cole ordered, clutching her hips, drawing her off of him, then slowly, so slowly, pushing her back down. His dusky skin drew taut, his mouth pulling into a tight line. “Fuck me and ruin us both.”

Ruined? She leaned forward, parting her lips over the base of his neck and pressing a hot kiss there. Already there. Ruined for any other man. Ruined for any future that didn’t include him. Ruined from the person she’d been before returning to Rose Bend—before falling in love with him.

If only she could wreck him in the same way.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she rose and fell over him. Leisurely, at first, cherishing each drag of his cock over her sensitive, quivering sex. But as her desire spiked, as he hit a place high inside her with each thrust, her pace quickened, roughened. He whispered encouragement and dirty praises against her throat, urged her to take, ride, fuck with the hard grip of his hands. Pushed her closer to the crumbling edge of release as he lowered his head and caught a beaded nipple between his lips and sucked.

“Cole.” His name cracked on the air between them just as she did. Right down the middle.

With a keening cry, she bucked and spasmed, her sex clamping down on his cock as she came, rocking and tumbling like the wildest storm. Beneath her, Cole pounded into her, prolonging the pleasure that threatened to tear her into pieces. Finally, he stiffened, and his flesh throbbed within her. A sob escaped her as she collapsed against his chest. She trembled, and his large body vibrated with those quakes.

Only as they quieted, and she eased off into an exhausted sleep, did she feel the almost phantomlike caress over her belly. Maybe she imagined it. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

Either way, she treasured that fleeting touch. Clasped it to her heart, and as the darkness finally claimed her, so did a trace of hope.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

AS SYDNEY STRODE down the sidewalk toward city hall, she couldn’t hold back the smile curling her lips. Even if it made her look like a grinning idiot. Nope, she honestly didn’t care. She’d completed the grant and forwarded it to Cole, and though he would’ve most likely already seen the email, she wanted to celebrate with him. This grant would make his dream of the community center a reality—and she had full faith that the funding would come through. And her husband definitely would.

Her husband.

God, it still seemed weird saying that, even if only to herself. Weird, new, but...so good.

Smile widening, she approached the front steps of city hall, but paused as her phone rang. Cursing to herself, she hiked the picnic basket containing her lunch for Cole on her hip and reached into her bag for the phone. After some juggling, she removed it from the inside pocket and glanced down at the screen.

And froze.

Daniel.

Her heart thudded. Why would he call her? She’d made it very clear all of their communication needed to take place through their attorneys. Did she answer it? Did she let it go to voice mail? The questions whirled, then, giving her head a hard, short shake, she hit answer and quickly thumbed through to the recording app on her phone.

She’d talk to him, but that didn’t mean she trusted him.

Hitting the red button, she said into the phone, “Daniel.”

“Hello, Sydney. How are you?” he greeted, and her stomach dipped nervously at that modulated tone.

Then anger flashed through her because of the nerves. She was through being intimidated and afraid.

“Fine.” Her fingers tightened around the phone. “But I’m sure this isn’t a casual call. Not that you should be calling me in the first place. Are you with your attorney?”

“No, I just left his office,