She could hardly believe her eyes. There was a huge swimming pool surrounded by a rooftop garden. The pool alone was almost bigger than her entire apartment. Renting it would be one thing--one amazing thing--but owning this penthouse suite?

No way.

She was too busy gaping--and wondering just how Cole had enough money for a place like this--to notice him returning from the kitchen.

He pressed a cold glass into her hands. "Drink that."

The liquid was sweet and sugary, just what she needed after a day of too much champagne and too little food. She drank until it was empty.

"Thank you."

"You looked pale."

She had? Was that why he'd been frowning? Because he was worried about her, rather than angry that she'd put a halt to having sex up against the door?

"I play football. It pays well."

Here she'd thought she was playing it cool, but he'd obviously read the question in her eyes.

Because she had the exact opposite of a poker face.

"I don't know much about football," she admitted.

"I guessed that," he said with another one of those heart-thumping grins.

"I'm a quick learner, though."

Heat reflected back at her from his dark eyes. "I'm glad to hear that. Very glad."

A couple of sentences shouldn't be able to melt her insides, should they? Sure, when he was touching her, of course she melted. But just words--and that tone of voice--were doing just as good a job of arousing her as his kisses and caresses had.

His voice was gruff as he asked, "What about you?"

"I teach first grade."

"That's perfect."

It was?

"My sweet little schoolteacher."

His response struck her as strange, but she couldn't figure out exactly why. Especially when he was still looking at her like he wanted to lick her all over, head to toe.

Her body was responding to that look with intense arousal. But at the same time, the more physically aroused she become, the more it seemed her brain--and heart--were fighting that desire. Back in the club, even before he'd proposed, Cole had made it perfectly clear that they were going to spend the night together. Obviously, now that they were husband and wife, it was a slam dunk.

Still, it seemed that there was a difference between knowing something was going to happen and actually being there when it happened.

And there was definitely a difference between deciding she was going to be brave and actually being brave.

His eyes, still dark with desire, were fixed on her and she felt as if he saw all the way into her soul. It was too much, too soon. She tried to walk inside, but he grabbed her before she could take more than a step, and pulled her against him.

"You don't need to run from me, Anna."

Her breath was rising and falling too fast. "I don't want to run, but I don't know how to do anything else."

His mouth found hers and she tried to lose herself in his kiss the way she'd been lost in all the others, but panic was riding her too hard now to be able to let go. His hands moved down her back, rubbing, massaging from shoulder to hips, but instead of relaxing, she only tensed up more.

He lifted his head and she immediately said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"No apologies."

Grateful that he wasn't pressuring her into anything--even though she was now his lawfully wedded wife--she said, "I want--"

Oh God, she was such a novice at all of this that she didn't even know how to get the words out.

"You want to sleep with me."

Thankful that he clearly didn't have the same problem, she nodded.

"But something is holding you back?"

Again, she nodded.

"How many lovers have you had, Anna?"

She flushed at his question. "Two," she said in a voice that was barely more than a whisper. "But being with them wasn't like being with you."

The words were out before she realized they were coming and her flush flamed even brighter.

"You're special to me, too," he said softly against her lips and this time when he kissed her, she was able to sink into it a little more. "I want to give you pleasure, Anna, more pleasure than you've ever known. Will you let me do that for you?"

His heated words shot through her veins like a drug. "I want to, Cole." And she did. God, how she did. "But what if I freak out again?"

"Will you trust me to make sure that doesn't happen?"

She had no reason to trust him, now when she didn't know any more about him than his name and profession. And yet, there was something in his eyes, in the way he'd touched her so far tonight, in the way he'd kissed her, that had her feeling cherished.

Adored.

No one had ever made her feel that way before. Not just the sexual part, which was way off any chart she'd ever had, but the safety part.

Cole made her feel protected.

"What we've had so far tonight is only the beginning. There's so much more, sweet Anna. Let me show you how good I can make you feel."

She couldn't hold back a shiver at his words. His arms were still around her, light enough that she could walk away at any moment, but she didn't want to go. His erection throbbed hard and thick against her belly even through his pants, and she wanted what he promised.

Badly.

But now she knew for sure that she couldn't do it on her own. Not without him helping her. Guiding her. Leading her.

Not without trusting him.

She'd thought a quickie wedding would be the craziest thing she'd ever done, but now she knew she was wrong.

Sleeping with Cole, trusting him enough to give her body over to him, letting him learn what gave her pleasure--learning it for herself--was far crazier.

"I'll trust you, Cole."

The relief that flashed across his features was quickly replaced with a darker, deeper desire than she'd seen yet.

He was halfway to kissing her when she found herself saying, "But please, don't betray my trust. Please don't hurt me."

He stilled a breath away from her mouth. "I don't want to hurt you, Anna."

Her brain tried to tell her it wasn't the promise she was looking for, but before she could fully hold onto the warning, he was picking her up again and kissing her as he carried her back inside.

Into his bedroom.

Chapter Five

Cole didn't throw her on the bed, didn't crawl over her and keep kissing her. Instead, he set her on her feet again and said, "Turn around."

Anna's eyes flashed a combination of desire and that uncertainty she couldn't shake at his command. But she did it.

"Good girl," he said as he slid her zipper down and pushed her dress off her shoulders to the floor.