Cora opened her eyes to see the faint glow of dawn. Turning her head, she smiled, seeing Dade sleeping on top of the covers beside her. He was so beautiful in sleep. She grinned, she was sure he wouldn’t like that description.
He had long dark lashes that gave him an innocent appearance in rest. His straight dark hair was falling over his face. Gently she brushed it back from his face and when she looked back, his eyes were open and looking back at her. She smiled. “Hi.” Her throat was dry from sleep.
He smiled. “Morning, gorgeous. How are you feeling now?”
She closed her eyes for a moment, then sighed. “Hungry, but otherwise fine.”
Dade played with a curl that had fallen across her throat to lie on the bed. “You really had me worried this time, honey.”
“Last night was hard,” she whispered, “I don’t think I want to do it again.”
He ran his fingers into her hair and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “That makes two of us. I don’t think I can just stand there and watch you like that again…ever.”
His dark eyes held such concern that her heart began to thud. She moved her head closer on the pillow. “Have I ever mentioned how much I like the caring side of Dade Jones?”
“Other than my drumming I didn’t think there was any part of Dade Jones you liked.”
“Oh, there are a few things I find rather appealing and endearing.”
He propped his head up on his hand and looked down at her. “Feed my ego and tell me, honey.” He played with the ends of her hair as he spoke quietly.
She pursed her lips in thought. “Well, I like it when you pick me up and hold me close, that I always feel safe.”
“You are,” he whispered. “What else?’
“You know I love your drumming. So, let’s see…your eyes.”
“My eyes?”
Cora smiled. “Mmm hmm, I love those dark brooding eyes of yours, they give me the shivers sometimes.”
“Really?” He grinned. “In a good way?’
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Anything else?”
“Times like now. When we talk, without picking at each other. I’ve always loved talking to you.”
“Apparently, everyone does. At any time of day.”
She knew he referred to Steven waking him in the middle of the night. “That’s another thing, you’re always there for everyone. Strong enough to put aside yourself to help others.”
He brushed his hand down over her shoulder molding the silky curls to her then watched them spring back to life. “I’m selfishly hoping the day I need someone else they’ll be there.”
She grinned. “Of course.” She reached up and brushed her hand through his hair. “I love your straight hair, it’s so pretty.”
Dade frowned. “Pretty? Can’t you find a better word than that?”
Cora tried not to laugh. “Okay, pretty but leaning towards seriously sexy.”
“Much better.”
“Thought you’d prefer sexy.” She smiled at him sweetly. “All of you is sexy, but you certainly don’t need me to tell you that.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I’m sure you don’t.”
He winked at her. “Is that all you like then?”
She shook her head. “No. I love your mouth, so appealing and expressive.”
“Appealing?” He studied her with sleepy eyes and smiled. “Appealing enough for this?” He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the mouth and lifted his head to look at her.
“Oh, I think so.”
“Hmm.” He leaned closer to her again and whispered with his lips brushing hers. “Appealing enough for this?” He brushed his mouth more firmly against hers.
She fed her fingers into his hair and held his mouth near to hers. “Better try it again, I’m not sure yet.”
Dade grinned and ran his hand to the back of her head. This time when he kissed her, she opened her mouth to him. Leaning over her he deepened the kiss until his tongue danced with hers. He had to remind himself that she had been so weak the night before. Not that it stopped him from continuing to slowly kiss her, taking in her flavor.
Cora moaned against his mouth and moved closer to him.
He reached down, pulling her tight against his body and heard her moan into his mouth. Lifting his head, he trailed his mouth down her neck, giving them a both a chance to catch their breath. She gripped his hair and held his mouth against her throat.
Working his way back to her mouth, he felt the eagerness of her kiss and it sent a rush flooding through him. He’d had waited so long to be next to this woman. He leaned over her pulling her closer, molding her to him.
“Oh!”
He jolted up to see Leena standing in the open door. He’d forgotten the damn door was wide open.
Leena looked down at her hands. “I was just getting up to use the bathroom, seems that’s one of the pleasures of my condition and I thought I’d see how Cora was.” She smirked and looked down again. “I see you’re feeling better.”
Cora pulled away from Dade and smiled. “Much.”
Leena smiled. “Good. Should I close the door?”
Cora shook her head. “No that’s fine, I’m going to go down to forage in the kitchen shortly.”
Leena sent an apologetic look to Dade then turned and went down the stairs.
Cora looked hesitantly at him and he grinned. “Now you’ve ruined my reputation, Coralee, what will I do?”
She pushed him away and laughed. “I’m pretty sure you managed that on your own a long time ago, Mr. Jones.”
Dade shook his head and pouted. “Nope. I’m a changed man. I keep trying to tell you that.”
Cora studied him for a moment. “That was your demonstration of a changed man?” She smirked.
His jaw dropped. “Woman, you practically seduced me with your eyes, I’ve changed but I’m not a saint” he growled.
“Okay, I might have had a lot to do with that. Maybe.”
His eyebrow shot up. “Maybe?”
She ran her fingers lightly over his lips. “Okay, it was my fault entirely. Now, are you going to come down and help me in the kitchen? I’m going to pass out from hunger soon.”
Dade dropped his face into the pillow. “Oh, that’s playing fair. I finally—finally, actually get a few sweet moments with you and now you’re pleading for food.” He looked up at her and quickly bit her lip lightly. “You’re supposed to be thinking of me, not food.”
Cora laughed and rested her head against his chest. “I was thinking of you completely a few minutes ago, now my body is screaming feed me instead.”
Sighing, Dade sat up. Rubbing his hands over his face he pulled her up right. “Okay, food first and then we’re going to renegotiate.”
“For?”
“Me.” He said helping her to her feet and watching to see if she was steady enough.
“Exactly what you?” She held onto his shoulders for a moment steadying her legs.
He put his arm around her waist and guided her towards the door. “For the chance of making you think about me again.”
Cora stopped and looked at him. “Oh Dade, I will be the first to admit you are way out of my league.”
“I don’t think so, honey, it’s quite the other way around.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Now my stomach is awake. So, we definitely need food.”
She grinned and took the first shaky step down. “Yes.”
Dade watched her tentative steps on the stairs and how shaky she was and silently cursed himself for the earlier moments in her room. Nothing screamed jerk like taking advantage of a weak woman, Jones.
Once in the kitchen, he sat her at the table and put the kettle on then began rummaging around in the fridge. He straightened and looked at her watching him and smiling. “Is that a starving, like feed-me-a-side-of-beef or more of a better-start-light?”
She smiled as he balanced eggs in one hand and bread in the other. “Hmm, I think the second actually now that you mention it, see how that sits before I tackle any cattle.”
“I can make us omelets and toast.” He glanced at his watch. “Considering it’s not quite dawn yet, we could have breakfast again later.”
Cora nodded and then looked at him. “You’re going to cook for me?”
Dade opened the fridge to grab the cheese. “Yeah, I did feed myself before you came back, Cora.” He turned and winked at her. “You just happen to feed me better than I did.”
She smiled and got up to move the kettle off the burner and pour the hot water in the teapot. “This may get added to that earlier list, Dade.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her. “What?”
She sat back down and rested her chin in her hands. “This side of you. I’m liking it.”
Turning with a pan in one hand and cheese in the other, he smiled at her. “Always thought cooking was the way to a man’s heart, not a woman’s.” He frowned. “I learn something new every day.”
Cora shook her head. “No, not the food part, the whole thing.” She motioned around the kitchen. “Us like this.”
He set the pan on the stove and smiled at her as he searched for a bowl. “We can be like this anytime you want.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, although I’m sure you’d be happier if I didn’t invite you over at five a.m. to make omelets with me.”
Dade shook his head. “As long as you put the coffee on, I’ll be there.”
“Is tea good this time? My legs aren’t as steady as I’d like them to be.”
He cracked and egg and nodded. “Just being here with you is good enough for me, Coralee.” He didn’t turn, feeling exposed by admitting it aloud.
Steven walked by the kitchen toward the bathroom and then backed up and looked in the door at them. “Do you crazy people know what time it is?” His voice was no more than a hoarse croak.
Cora smiled at him. “I woke up starving, so Dade is feeding me.”
Steven looked at Dade and tried to focus. “Huh, that’s new.” Then walked toward the bathroom again.
Dade was slicing the cheese while Cora sipped her tea when he came back by and opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water. “Later.” He muttered and left again.
Dade shook his head. “Those two will have exhausted each other within a month.”
Cora stood up and reached around him to take a piece of cheese. “I don’t know about that, Rachel is a very sexual person. Isn’t that every man’s dream?”
He paused for a moment and looked up. “That’s not what I want, well not the only thing I want.” He grinned at her. “It’s a nice bonus, but I’d want to have more in common than just sex.”
She paused in taking a bite. “Hmm.”
Checking the eggs, he turned to watch her sit back down. “Hmm? Meaning?”
“Wasn’t the answer I thought I’d hear from you.”
Leaning back against the counter, he grinned. “Oh, I can see by the surprise on your face what you thought I’d say, woman.”
Cora smirked. “Well it is nice to know you can surprise me.”
He winked. “Give me an hour alone with you, honey, and I’ll show you some surprises.”
“See. There,” she pointed at him. “That’s a Dade answer.” She grinned at his smirking face. “One you set me up for.”
“I’m just enjoying all these smiles I’m getting this morning.”
She looked seriously at him. “I must be weaker than I thought.”
He rolled his eyes. “You can say that all you like, I now have the evidence that there are some things you like about me.”
“Exactly, I was far too weak if I told you all that.”
“I think I like you weak and forgiving, Coralee.”
Cora stood up and wrapped her arms around him resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m just bugging you, Dade. I am enjoying this time with you. And thank you, once again, for looking after me.”
He turned to see Kasey standing in the doorway. She looked half asleep and not much older than twelve with her hair messed and sleepy eyes. He grinned at her. “Yes Kase, we know what time it is and we’re fine. Cora woke up hungry.”
She smiled sleepily at him. “Okay, see you later.” She turned and walked back the way she came.
Cora straightened up and sat back down. “Everyone must have had a late night after I went upstairs.”
Dade turned back to the stove and shrugged. “I don’t know, I only left long enough for Kasey to help you change.”
“You watched over me all night?”
He nodded as he put the bread in the toaster. “I did, I was worried about you.”
Cora watched silently as he put the food on plates. “You’re not only pretty, you’re sweet too.”
Turning with the plates in his hands, he set them down then leaned in front of her. “Let’s keep all that between you and me, okay?”
She crossed her heart. “No one will hear it from me that you’re anything but the chest-beating manly Dade they know.”
He shook his head and turned back to get the toast. “Yeah, like the movie choices not long ago?”
She sobered when he sat down and gave her a curious look. “Well if I didn’t tell them, they’d have really gotten the wrong idea of what we did all that night together.”
Dade paused in drinking his tea and studied her. “Would that have been a bad thing, Cora? If we’d done more than watch movies?” Her hazel eyes searched his face for a silent moment before she looked down at the plate in front of her.
“I don’t want anyone to add me to your list, Dade.”
Setting the cup down, he took her hand. “Coralee, we really need to have a serious discussion soon.” He shrugged before sitting back. “But not here, not now. Let me just relax and enjoy not having to worry about someone trying to kill you for a few days.”
She took a deep breath. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”
He nodded while taking a bite. “Very.”
Cora stood up and rinsed her plate, sighing. “I feel so much steadier now.” She smiled at him. “Thank you.” She glanced at the clock. “I’m going to go have a short nap now that my stomach is happy.”
He set his dishes in the sink. “I’ll go up with you and make sure your legs don’t stop half way.”
She took his hand. “You could stay and have a nap with me. It’s comforting.”
Dade stopped in the door and turned back to her. “You’re sure?”
She nodded and smiled sweetly at him. “Yes, let’s keep up our illusion of getting along for a while, it’s nice.”
Grinning, he and pulled her towards the stairs. Glancing at the couch to see Patrick sleeping soundly, he thought it was probably the first real sleep he’d had too since all this began. He cleared his mind of the thought as he led Coralee back to bed.
He chewed the inside of cheek trying not to grin at that. Coralee back to bed. Too bad it wasn’t in the way he’d hoped for, but it was a start.
Cora backed up against his warm body and pulled his arm around her waist. Resting her head into his shoulder she sighed and closed her eyes, relaxing into sleep.
Dade inhaled the scent of her hair and pulled her back against him tighter. She held his hand between her breasts and he fought to not whimper. Resting his cheek against her head, he smiled and closed his eyes. He had known they would fit perfectly.