“Take off the robe.”

She looks up, sees my face, and lets it slip gently from her shoulders. It pools at her stiletto-clad feet. She’s wearing a black lace corset, tied together snuggly by a half dozen black silk bows. A present I can’t wait to unwrap.

“Turn around.” I want to see how well she followed my directions.

Slowly, she pivots on the ball of her foot and turns. Pale flesh, soft skin covering round hard globes, only a sliver of fabric runs up her sexy ass. Garters hold up sheer stockings. My request, followed to a tee.

I’m instantly hard, my hands groping her breasts as I push up against her ass from behind. “I’m going to fuck you leaning over the footboard. None of it comes off. Not even the shoes.” I growl into her ear, allowing my warm breath to linger before I kiss down her neck.

“You like it?” she whispers.

“What do you think?” I grind my erection further into her ass.

“I’m glad.” She turns in my arms. “But hold that thought. You told me I could decide what we do tonight. I want to take you somewhere first.”

Chapter twenty-seven

Kate

He’s still scowling ten minutes into our drive. “Are you going to pout all night?” I ask.

“No. But I’m going to make you pay for that little stunt later when we get back home.” He flashes me a sinful grin and I cross my legs to quell the ache his threat incites.

“I did exactly as you instructed.”

“You gave me a present, but didn’t let me unwrap it.”

“Good things come to those who wait.” I smile. “Get off at the next exit.”

“I’m going to get off at the next exit and pull you over my knee, you keep playing with me like that.”

“I might like that.”

“Kate …” he warns.

“What? I promise I’ll make it up to you later.”

“I promise you won’t be able to walk when I’m done with you tonight.”

Maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to poke a lion and then take him where we’re headed.

“Left on Alan Street.”

“Where are we going?”

“Umm …” Suddenly I question my choice of destinations for the evening. “To my mother’s house.” He glances to me, then back at the road, then back to me.

“You’re not kidding, are you?”

“Nope.”

I watch his face, curious at the reaction I’ll get. Especially considering I just left him sexually frustrated. At first, his brows knit together and he’s not sure what to make of it. Then he reaches over and takes my hand. And for the first time since the accident and my Dad’s death, I feel like I’m not in this alone anymore.

My grip on our laced fingers tightens as we walk up the driveway at my mom’s house. She has no idea we’re coming, which only seems fair since Cooper had no notice either. That he never complained or asked me why we’re going makes me fall a little deeper for this man.

“Mom?” I let myself in with a key.

“Kate, is that you?”

“Yes, Mom.”

She’s walking to greet me before I can tell her to stay put. “What a nice surprise. And you brought company.” She smiles.

“Why don’t you have your oxygen on, Mom?” I rush to the living room and grab her portable tank. The one she’s supposed to have on at all times.

“It was only off for a few minutes.” Mom rolls her eyes as I wrap the flexible plastic tubing that delivers her air back around her face.

“Well, aren’t you handsome,” she says to Cooper.

He smiles amused and walks to her. “Thank you, Mrs. Monroe. It’s nice to meet you.”

Typical Mom. No filter between her thoughts and her mouth. Although she can sometimes embarrass the hell out of me, it’s one of the things that I love about her most. “Mom, this is Cooper Montgomery. This is my mother, Lena Monroe.”

“Call me Lena,” she smiles at Cooper and he nods. “Are you a friend of Kate’s, Cooper?”

“I am.” Cooper looks at me, squints slightly, then adds. “Boyfriend.”

“Well, I’m glad Kate brought you around then. You must be pretty special. Kate doesn’t bring many men around.” My plan was to show Cooper why I’m doing what I’m doing, so it would be easier for him to understand as I head into the last few weeks of the show. I forgot Mom would alternate between interrogating Cooper and sharing embarrassing stories.

“What do you do for a living, Cooper?”

“Mom,” I politely warn. “We just got here. Why don’t you give Cooper at least ten minutes before you interrogate him? And where’s Kyle?”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all. I make movies. I own a production company.”

“He’s in his room taking a nap. He gets tired after his therapy.” She turns to Cooper. “Are they adult films?”

Cooper chuckles. “No, ma’am. Regular mainstream movies. No adult films.”

“Do you have any children?”

“No children yet.”

“Do you play cards?”

“Once in while with some old friends.”

“Well, don’t play with my daughter. She’s a shark. Just like her father.”

“I could have used that advice a few weeks ago.” Cooper smiles.