Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

Evan Carmichael spoke once more. “She’s special. Don’t hurt her.”

Before Cole could tell the man to mind his own business, Erin’s name was announced as the recipient of the Rising Star award.

From the way she sucked in a startled breath beside him, she was floored by the news.

“Congratulations,” Cole whispered as she turned to him, her eyes wide.

“I had no idea!” She glanced over his shoulder. “Evan?”

“You earned it,” he assured her.

From the podium, the speaker continued to list her credits and accolades. She sat on a number of young lawyer committees for the state bar association and she had a record number of prosecutorial wins to her credit. But what seemed to sway the votes in her favor was the establishment of a pro bono office in downtown Serendipity, where, among other things, poor and often abused women obtained divorce settlements and property owners caught in the recent recession found legal help in an attempt to retain their homes. And to staff said office, she’d recruited attorneys from all facets of the law and coaxed them to donate their hours. For free.

No wonder she’d insisted she not miss her weekly night there. She wasn’t just a volunteer; she’d founded the thing. It was her baby. Another reason Carmichael saw her as a political asset. Family connections aside, Erin Marsden was indeed special. Cole had merely sensed it in her giving nature. Tonight had shown him concrete proof.

A few minutes later, they called her to the podium; a round of applause followed, and Erin stepped up to thank the audience and accept her award. As she spoke, a lump formed in Cole’s throat. And stayed there.

He hadn’t planned on having children, but he was, and he couldn’t ask for a better mother to his son or daughter, a better role model, or a finer woman than this one. He wasn’t sure what to do with the feelings rolling through him and was grateful when she stepped down from the podium, rejoining him at the table.

He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m really proud of you.”

Her eyes sparkled with pleasure. “I don’t know what to say. There are so many worthy candidates. I didn’t even think—”

“Don’t. Just enjoy.” Before he could say anything more, the speech portion of the evening drew to a close, and Erin was surrounded by colleagues who came to the table to issue their congratulations.

He let her have her moment in the spotlight, in awe of the easy way she had with people, the genuine pleasure she took in helping others, and just everything about her.

By the time they pulled back up to her condo, Erin was still floating. The award was such a proud moment for her, a validation of all the hard work she’d put into her career over the last five years. To have Cole by her side was icing on a very special cake, and she looked forward to continuing the celebration in private.

Once they were back upstairs in her room, Cole picked her up and laid her down on the bed. “Do you have any idea how proud I was to be the one by your side tonight?”

“No, why don’t you tell me?”

“Beyond.” He kissed her hard on the lips. “Zipper?” he asked.

“Right side.”

His fingers went unerringly to the fastening and he unzipped, then peeled her out of the dress, his gaze never leaving hers. Bra came next. A flick of his fingers undid the front clasp, sliding the cups open and the straps down her arms. She was more than eager to maneuver herself to make his life easy, and soon she lay before him in nothing but her strappy high-heeled sandals.

He bent his head and pulled one of her sensitive nipples into his mouth, taking his time to pleasure her with his tongue. With every long lick, she moaned. With each tiny nibble she arched her back, pushing her breast farther into his eager mouth, wanting mo

re of the fiery darts of pleasure shooting through her body and centering at her very core.

Without releasing her breast, he used his hands to cup and mold its twin, rolling the peak between his thumb and forefinger, until she cried out, unable to stand the dual sensations on both breasts.

“Shh. I’ve got you,” he promised. But instead of release, he merely switched sides, tugging her other nipple with his teeth, while working her damp other breast with his large hands.

She writhed beneath him, lifting her hips, silently begging him to touch her where she needed relief the most. Without her having to ask, he slid his hand down her belly, taking deliberate care to lay his hand over the swell where her child lay, a move that never failed to touch her deeply.

He lifted his head and she stared into his handsome face, knowing full well she was dangerously close to losing her heart to this man, if she hadn’t already. And there was nothing she could do about it except pray with everything she had that he’d be there to catch her when she fell.

He finally cupped her mound in his large hand, applying pressure with his palm and delicious friction with his finger, spreading her moisture over and around her sensitive flesh.

“You are always so wet for me,” he said, his voice laced with approval.

His husky tone and the obvious satisfaction he took from her body had her wanting him even more. She bent her knees and whimpered out loud. “What are you waiting for?”

He spread her legs and eased himself between them. “I’m drawing out your pleasure. And mine,” he said, dipping his head for a too-leisurely taste before settling in to bring her to heights she’d only imagined. While he worked her clit with his mouth, licking the hardened bud with the tip, he slid one long finger inside her.