Chapter 17 Cole
COLE
Buttoning up my shirt, I glance at myself in the full-length mirror, making sure I look okay.
Tonight, Oak and I are going out to dinner to celebrate his getting a new job.
I was shocked when he told me about his new position.
I didn’t even know he was looking for a new job.
But I’ve known how much he disliked what he was currently doing.
Earlier today, I stopped at the grocery store and got a cake made for Oak.
I want everything tonight to be perfect.
I have big plans for Oak and me this evening, and I’m hoping to kick it off with a nice dinner.
Snatching my black tie off the dresser, I put it around my neck, swiftly tying it into place.
I got a reservation for us at this Brazilian steakhouse.
Oak and I love the place, but it’s not something we can afford very often.
It has a variety of meats, from steak to chicken to various types of pork.
They have their servers walk through the restaurant offering all the different meats, and you’re able to have as many as you want.
It’s fucking glorious. And the price is also why we’ve only been there a couple times.
But I want to surprise him, and I hope he loves it.
“You almost ready?” Oak questions, leaning against my bedroom doorjamb. His gaze trails from my head to my toes, a shiver running through my body when he licks his lips. “Damn, you look good.”
Looking to see what he’s glancing at, I glance at myself in the mirror.
I look okay. I’m wearing black slacks, a black button-up with a matching tie.
My hair is actually styled, which I don’t like.
Gliding my fingers through the strands, I shake out my hair, smiling when I’m pleased with it. “Thank you. You look amazing, too.”
And he does. Oak always looks good, but when he dresses up, he looks spectacular.
He’s wearing a pair of tan slacks with this deep blue button-up shirt.
It’s weird not to see him in his cut-off shirts, but I love how much he dressed up for our dinner.
He doesn’t even know where we’re going, so his dressing up makes it that bit more special.
Shrugging his shoulders, he smiles. “I wasn’t sure where we were going, but I wanted to look good.”
“Come on, I suspect you’ll like this place.”
I drive us over to the restaurant, Oak bouncing in his seat when we pull into the parking lot. “Oh my god, I don’t think my stomach is ready for this.”
Since the servers bring the food around to you, we’re able to eat quickly after visiting the salad bar. My plate is piled high with meat, and Oak is sitting happily across the table from me. So far, the night is perfect.
“Congratulations on your new job,” I say, raising my glass of water in the air to toast with Oak.
“To my new job.”
We clink our glasses together, then take a sip of our water.
Our conversation is little, both from Oakley stuffing his face full of food and the nerves kicking up in my stomach.
Last night after game night, Oak and I enjoyed one another in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Oak lit up my body with his fingers and his mouth, and tonight I want to ask him to fuck me.
Which is wild to me. We’ve only been doing this for a little while now, but I’m so ready.
After feeling what he could do with his hands, I’m anxious to see what he can pull off with his cock.
I’ve never been this aroused in my entire life.
Every second I’m around Oak, I want to put my hands on him or vice versa.
At first, it was a foreign feeling, craving sex all the time.
But now I’m used to it. If Oak is on my mind, I’m thinking of sex.
And god forbid if he’s next to me, that’s all my mind is on.
Like right this second. Oak has no idea what’s running through my head.
He’s taking a bite of his steak and shoving it into his mouth, and all I can remember is last night when he was eating my ass as though it was his favorite meal. That was an experience in itself.
Oak interrupts my daydream by reaching his hand across the table and laying it on top of mine. “Are you okay?” he asks, looking down at my plate that’s still piled high with food. “You’ve barely touched your food.”
“I’m perfect,” I smile, squeezing his fingers. “I’m so damn proud of you. Knowing what you want in life and going after it. You’re pretty badass.”
Oak’s cheeks turn rosy red, a soft “Thank you” flowing from his lips.
“Have you told your mom?”
“Yeah, I called her earlier today to let her know. There was a ton of shrieking on the other end. You know our moms are always worried about us. Hopefully, this helps them worry a little less.”
Neither of our moms knows I work at Peaches, and to be honest, I’d prefer to keep it that way.
I know they wouldn’t be upset that I’m working there, but they would be worried.
The late-night hours, the creepiness of the night when I have to walk to my car.
My mother would probably be up all night, concerned about whether I made it home.
I don’t want to do that to either of them.
So it’s easier for them not to know where I’m working.
Which means they worry for another reason.
They think I don’t earn much cash. I do make decent money at Peaches, but I know it’s not sustainable.
Eventually, I’ll have to figure out my next move.
But that’s a conversation for down the road. Right now, it’s Oak’s night, and I want to give him all my attention.
“So, when do you officially start?” I ask, taking a small bite of the chicken on my plate.
“Two weeks. I’m nervous, to be honest. This is such a good opportunity for me, and I don’t want to waste it.”
“You’re going to do fucking amazing. I know you will. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I wish you could see yourself the way I do.”
“And which way is that?” he questions, putting his fork down on his plate.
Taking his hand in mine, I smile at him.
“How incredible you are. How fiercely you love those around you. It’s always your nature to care for people, recalling minor points and marking major milestones.
You have the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.
But you’re also so damn hard on yourself.
You think that if you mess up, then everyone is going to view you differently.
But you’re wrong. There is nothing you can do to make me view you in another way.
Hell, you could tell me you’re running away to join the circus, and I would cheer you on, knowing you would be the most kick-ass person in that circus.
Because that’s who you are. Someone who gives one hundred and fifty percent to everything they do and everyone they love.
You, Oakley Albury, are truly one of a kind. ”
“Holy shit,” Oak breathes, wiping a stray tear from his eye. “I wasn’t expecting to cry tonight.”
We both laugh, staring at one another. “My bad, but it’s all true. And I wish you could know that.”
“Thank you. I need to start seeing myself the way you do.”
I nod my head, agreeing with him. “One day you will. I promise. I’ll make sure of it.”
We finish eating all our food, Oak more so than me.
I don’t want to eat too much so that I’m ready for what’s going to happen once we get home.
The entire ride home, Oak is talking my ear off about how excited he is for his new job.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him so animated about something.
I love seeing him this way. How much his hands are moving wildly as he explains a topic, or the smile that hasn’t left his face since he showed up in my bedroom earlier.
His happiness is contagious, and I want to bask in it.
I’m hoping I can keep the smile on his face for even longer.
Walking into the apartment, I rip my shirt over my head, then kick off my shoes, not caring when they hit the wall.
“Uh, so what are you doing?” Oak questions, following me past the kitchen.
“We’re celebrating you all night, and I thought what better way to end the night than to put what we practiced yesterday to use.”
“Wh-what we pr-practiced yesterday?” Oak stutters, coming to a complete stop. “Like going farther than what we did? Fuck,” he whispers the last word, stepping closer to me. “I really want to feel you in that way.”
“You want to fuck me?” I ask bluntly, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him roughly.
Withdrawing slowly, he stares at me with hooded eyes. God, I can only imagine how turned on he is. “Hell yes, I want to fuck you. It’s all I can think about. Are you going to let me inside you, Cole?”
“Yes.” I kiss him one more time before backing away gradually. “I want you to fuck me so good that I remember this night for the rest of my life.”
“I already know I’m going to remember this forever.”
Grabbing his hand, I drag him down the hallway to my bedroom.
We took showers previously, and I’m too impatient to try freshening up again, so we’re heading straight to the bedroom.
I’m so damn ready to do this. Shucking off my briefs, I toss them to the floor, then jump on the bed, waiting for Oakley to undress.
Oak’s hand stills on the second button of his shirt. “I’m nervous.”
“I am too. But I want this, and I want this with you.”
“So do I, Cole. I want this so damn bad.” I watch as he takes a deep breath, then strips out of his clothes. Crawling onto the bed, he hovers over me, drifting his lips across my mouth. “Do we need to use a condom?”
Laughing loudly, I shake my head no. “We probably should have had this discussion before everything else we’ve already done, huh? But I guess better late than never?”
Shrugging lightly, he smiles at me. “I trust you. And I figured if we needed to use one, you would tell me, but then it popped into my head, so I reasoned I would ask. I’m good to go, in case you were wondering.”