CHAPTER THIRTY Ginger
CHAPTER THIRTY
Ginger
“ A re you ready to leave now?” Cole asks rather gruffly, cutting in while I’m mid-conversation with Ethan an hour after dinner. I’ve known his wife for years and it’s nice to see a friendly face besides Cole’s family. Talking to him is also a welcome distraction from practically drooling all over Cole as he works the room, shaking people’s hands, engaging in deep conversation about the county he cares so much about. There’s seriously nothing this man does that isn’t attractive and I’m having a harder time thinking straight around him every day.
“I’m wrecked and Mama is leaving with Mabel now,” he continues, his jaw set. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he looks a little pissed off. But despite that, he’s never looked more incredible than he does tonight. His black uniform suit is molded to the hard lines of his body, and brings everything that happened between us last night to the forefront of my mind for the thousandth time today. I’ve never wanted him more but, as much as I’d like to throw myself into this fire, some small part of me is still so afraid to lose the connection we have. The connection we’ve had for years.
“Sure,” I say to Cole. ‘I’m ready to go when you are.’
“Sure was nice to see you, Ginger.” Ethan leans in to say goodbye.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Cole cuts in from beside me. “Cole Ashby.”
He sticks his hand out.
“Hey yeah, congrats, Sheriff. I came out tonight to witness my old coworker be sworn in as one of your new deputies. Shawn Muller.”
Cole nods. “Well that’s mighty nice of you to come all the way from …?”
I don’t miss the cool edge to his tone.
“I work in Greenview County,” Ethan answers, mentioning a correction center in the next county, “but we live in Lakeview Heights.”
“And how do you two know each other?” Cole asks not so casually, pointing back and forth between me and Ethan.
Is he jealous ?
I look him in the eye. “Ethan’s son Jesse is in my class. He’s one of my favorite students, and Ethan’s wife is my EA this year.” Looking pointedly at Cole, I raise an eyebrow. He instantly seems to relax. “Their daughter volunteers in the summer for Nash at Olympia for his day camps.”
“Oh, I see, very cool. Nice of you to come out,” Cole says to Ethan, a little more genuine this time. I secretly grin as they continue a few minutes of small talk. Too late, you are totally busted, buddy.
“Drive safe, and good to meet you,” Cole adds before shuffling us over to say goodbye to his family. I smirk the whole way, internally dying a slow death at the idea of Cole being jealous of another man talking to me. Pretty rich considering I spent most of my teen years being secretly envious of every single girl he brought to the ranch. My, how the tables have turned.
I watch the lights of the town twinkle out the window of Cole’s truck on our drive back to his place. Laurel Creek is quiet at night during the week and the silence has been almost deafening since we left the banquet hall a few minutes ago.
“Look, I know you didn’t expect Mabel to spring it on you that I come tonight and it’s probably not easy to act like we aren’t harboring this whole marriage secret from your family,” I say as we turn into Cole’s neighborhood. He hasn’t said a word during the ride home and, instead, has spent the journey tapping his fingers against the wheel to “House Fire” by Tyler Childers. His jaw practically looks like it’s going to pop a tendon.
“And I don’t know why you’re so cranky, but if you want some space I can go to my own apartment,” I offer. “I don’t want to hang out with Sheriff McGrumperson all night.”
I stifle a laugh and, when he doesn’t answer, continue to ramble. After all, it’s what I do best.
“And I know it’s been a weird few weeks. First a wedding, a new housemate, then the scary boat experience, and add in a pretty intense, although rather short, makeout session—”
“Ginger, fuck. Just. Stop ,” Cole grunts, keeping his gaze on the quiet streets.
Something about his tone rubs me up the wrong way.
“Stop what ? Look, I know this isn’t easy, Cole. I know we’re asking a lot of each other, but all you did tonight was look at me like I’ve pissed you off. Doesn’t make a fake wife feel very fake wanted.”
I force a laugh, struggling to lighten the mood as I stare out of the window. The words aren’t even out of my mouth before a low, threatening growl rumbles from Cole’s chest.
“ Fuck —” he snarls, swerving into his driveway. The truck comes to an abrupt stop, and before I even register what is happening my seatbelt is unbuckled and I’m hoisted into his lap. The action tears my dress at the slit on my thigh, which makes Cole’s breath hitch as he looks down to see the damage.
Our eyes meet for one split second before his lips are on mine. Consuming me, leaving me breathless and panting for air. His sunroof is open slightly, but his street is dark and quiet around us. The only sound is our hurried breath.
His hands cover every part of me, sliding up under my dress and squeezing my ass as he kisses me. I moan into his lips. His fingers slide under the lace of my thong and I lose all cognitive function. I moan again and give in completely, rocking against him, pulling him closer, finding he’s already hard in his dress pants.
Cole groans into my mouth before speaking. “I’m not pissed off that I had to bring you, or that I’m keeping anything from my family. I’m pissed off that I can’t fucking control anything when I’m with you. I’m pissed off that I’ve spent years forcing myself not to give into the way you drive me crazy.”
“Cole …” I breathe out.
“What, Ginger?” he asks, a dark undertone to his words. “Go ahead. Do it. Make some more jokes. Avoid the truth and tell me to stop.”
His hands creep up my ribcage just under my breasts as he kisses and nibbles my bottom lip. I mewl into him with every little tug.
“Tell me again that this is all fake .” He says the last word like it’s poison on his tongue as he grabs my palm and slides it over his hardened cock. My memory is hazy of our night in Vegas, but this time my mind is clear and I know exactly what line we’re crossing.
I whimper involuntarily at the sheer size of him. So big, so solid.
“Come on, Ginger … Show me that bratty side you like to push me with,” he snarls as his thumbs slide even higher, ghosting my hardened nipples through the satin of my dress.
“I want you but I …” I trail off as he loses patience and pulls the top of my dress down, freeing my aching breasts. He wraps his hot lips around a nipple and finds the other between his finger and thumb. A groan leaves him and vibrates through me. His eyes meet mine, looking up at me as his wavy hair dusts his forehead. My insides churn with desire as his teeth graze my nipple.
“Tell me you don’t want me the way I want you and I’ll stop,” he challenges.
“Of course I want you, but we’re … we’ve always been—”
Cole pulls my bottom lip between his teeth again, biting just enough to make me gasp in pleasure. “If you even think about saying this can’t happen because we’ve always been friends, I might fucking blow a gasket here, Ginger.” He slides his hand down my center and swiftly pushes my already wet thong aside. His fingers are instantly soaked.
“Do you drip down your thighs like this for all your friends?” He pinches my clit, causing my eyes to roll back. “I don’t think you do, because this mess, baby?”
He smirks as he slides a finger up and down through my dripping slit. Fuck that feels good.
“It’s all for me,” he says deeply.
“I’ve been telling myself … it’s just the uniform,” I say in a whisper.
Cole chuckles into my lips.
“You can lie to yourself all you want, but the only way I’m letting you come tonight is if you admit the truth and tell me this soaking cunt is all mine ,” he commands, his dark tone a shot directly to my core as he pushes one finger into me, then two.
I cave. “Yes, Cole, it’s all for you.”
“It’s about time you admitted it.” His mouth trails along my jaw in ragged kisses, then up to my lips. Any shred of inhibition I have flies right out the window as he whispers into them.
“Ready to find out just how real this is?”