Page 63 of Shelter
“I don’t think I can ever thank you enough,” he said softly. The look he wore was both vulnerable and captivating. It pulled tight at something inside me.
Just come back,I wanted to tell him. But I tamed my response. “I’m glad I could help.”
Cole smiled at me but shook his head. “No. I owe you big. I’ve owed you for years.” His smile turned pensive. “A phone and a website aren’t nearly enough. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
I didn’t miss my opportunity. “Well, I can think of a way.”
Cole’s eyes bugged, and I realized too late how it sounded.
“Not that!”
The thumb at my lips became a palm over my mouth, and Cole’s eyes bugged wider. “Shh!” Horrified, I shot my gaze to the upstairs windows. I hadn’t shouted, but the words had come out loud against night’s silence.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered against his hand. Waking his father now would be disastrous, and I’d never want to cause trouble for Cole or his family. But when I turned my eyes back to him, I found Cole shaking with suppressed laughter.
“Your face…” Silent laughter choked out of him. “You’re cute when you’re mad, but your“Oh shit”face is priceless.”
My worry and regret vanished, and I raised brow while he continued to laugh.
“Oh, and here comes cute again,” he chuckled, wiping his eyes.
In spite of myself, I had to admit hearing him say I was cute left me weightless. Still, I narrowed my eyes at him. “I thought we were talking about you repaying me for years of loyalty and assistance?”
Cole cleared his throat and tried to look serious, but he was failing miserably. “Yeah, and then you hinted that you may or may not accept certain favors—”
“I did not.” I spoke through gritted teeth, setting him off all over again.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to make him laugh again. I so did. Cole almost never laughed, but when he did, it was like watching a shooting star streak across the sky. I wasn’t about to take my eyes off it, and it made me want to make a wish.
His chest danced against my hand. Those gorgeous swimmer’s shoulders hunched, bringing him closer. Cole’s laughter was a full-body experience even for me.
He filled his spasming lungs as though fighting for breath. “Elise…” He said my name on the exhale, and, I swear, the sound of it never seemed so satisfying. Because he sounded completely content.
I realized I was smiling just watching him, smiling so big my face hurt with it.
Cole’s eyes held mine as his body stilled. “Elise.” And this time, I felt the five letters of my name grip me in my middle like a hand. He was so close, and he looked right into me. I could see such intensity in his gaze, but I saw hesitation, too.
I didn’t want hesitation to win, so I kissed him. And he let me.
Oh God, did he let me.
I wrapped my arms around him as his hips pressed into mine. Before I knew it, I was on my back with Cole on top of me.
And. Nothing. In. My. Entire. Life. Had. Felt. Better.
His weight was delicious. The way he swallowed my kisses as if he was starved for them drove me wild. I wanted to touch him everywhere. I wanted him to touchmeeverywhere. I opened my knees, and gravity did me the honor of laying him against me in just the right spot. When we made contact, his moan vibrated off his tongue and onto mine, and I echoed my response. I could feel him there, pressed against me, his desire undeniable.
The knowledge that Cole Whitehurst could feelthat wayabout me blew my mind. How? Why? Since when? Now that I’d admitted to myself that I liked him — that I wanted him — it seemed like I’d always longed for him.
And I had. Always.
I ran my hands down his sides, aiming for the bottom of his sweater. I wanted again to feel the ridged stomach he’d teased me with just hours before. But as soon as my right hand breached his clothes, his left caught me by the wrist.
Cole broke the seal of our mouths and drew back, panting, his eyes closed. “Wait…”
At his lone word, I don’t think I’d ever felt such frustration. “No.”
His eyes flew open, his frown automatic. “No?”
