Chapter 22 Eve
TWENTY-TWO
EVE
The night air is balmy and thick with humidity. Cole doesn’t let go of my hand and my heart drums harder with each step.
We reach his Bronco and he still doesn’t break our connection. I’m hesitant to shatter this moment because it feels so good to have his hand wrapped around mine. He’s the first to end the silence, squeezing my hand.
“Did he mean anything?”
He asks so quietly it breaks my heart. I swallow, trying to slow my racing heart.
“No,” I promise. “Nothing at all.”
The tense set of his shoulders eases. “Then tell me this…”
He corrals me until I’m leaning against the car. The loss is palpable when he drops my hand. I swallow when he braces a palm beside me as if he’s forcing himself to stay at arms length.
I hardly dare to breathe. “What is it?”
“Have you ever thought of me as Colin or as my actual self this whole time? You were dancing for me in there, weren’t you? What about when I FaceTimed you and you put on my coaching jacket? Were you thinking about me as the fake AHL player then?”
His stare is piercing, as if he’s able to see right through me. To see how much it affects me to be around him because it’s impossible not to fall more in love with him.
I look away. He doesn’t let me hide the truth from him, drawing my face back.
Cole’s stare bounces between my eyes and his hand moves from cupping my jaw to loosely grasping my neck. My pulse thrums and heat rushes through me. I’ve wanted to feel his touch like this for so long. I can't believe this is real and not a vivid fantasy pulled from my dreams.
“I’m done fighting. Done standing around while other men think they can put their hands on you.”
“Fighting what?”
My voice shakes when I force the question out, giving away how much I’m hoping I’m not imagining the taut band of tension between us stretched to its breaking point.
A muscle in his cheek twitches as he works his jaw.
“All of it, Evie. Every damn thing.” His fiery gaze drops to my mouth. “Wanting you every fucking minute of the day. Telling myself I shouldn’t cross this line more than I already have. Fucking needing you, baby.”
My stomach bottoms out. Is this happening? I’d pinch myself, but I can’t move.
“Cole.” His name is a strangled plea.
He closes his eyes for a moment, drawing me closer by his hold on my throat. “Tell me you’re tired of fighting it, too. I need to hear you admit it so I know I’m not the only one constantly going insane trying not to touch you and show you that you belong with me.”
“Yes. For so long. Please.”
The words are barely out before a groan of relief rumbles in his chest.
“Thank fuck.”
Then his mouth is on mine. It’s exactly what I wished his kiss was like at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Hot and persistent. Dizzying.
I’m drowning in him. He devours my mouth with unwavering intensity. His hands are everywhere—in my hair, cupping my face, dragging down my sides to hold me tight while we make out.
Drunken laughter from somewhere far off in the parking lot filters through the haze of my desire enough to make me tear my mouth from his. Right. We shouldn’t do this in the open.
We’re at the back of the lot. It’s darker, but that won’t provide much cover if anyone comes close.
“Someone could see,” I whisper.
He releases a rough exhale, scanning the area. “I can’t wait.” Rummaging in his pocket, he pulls out his keys and unlocks the Bronco. “Let’s get in the back. It’s roomier and the windows are tinted.”
An electric thrill shoots down my spine. He gives my ass a smack when I climb in, then he follows me and drags me on his lap. With some maneuvering, I straddle him, shuddering at the hard ridge of his erection grinding against me through his jeans.
“Oh, fu—”
He grabs my nape and captures my mouth in another searing kiss before the curse leaves me. I rock my hips with his encouragement. He palms my ass, squeezing it with a groan when I suck on his tongue.
My clit throbs from the perfect friction and I toss my head back with a gasp, chasing my pleasure. A pleased rumble vibrates in his chest. He takes my hips and pulls me down harder on his lap while he kisses my bared throat down to my cleavage.
I seize when my core erupts with ripples of ecstasy.
“Look at you,” he croons. “I can’t wait to see you coming with my cock buried inside you, Evie. For-fucking-real this time.”
I melt into him, seeking another kiss. The urgency between us hasn’t ebbed. It builds back up within moments, both of us exploring what we couldn’t have before. I glide my palms down his chest, then push beneath his shirt to feel his skin.
If I only get to have this tonight, I want to brand it into my mind so I never forget.
“Fuck me like this is the only chance you’ll get,” I say against his lips.
His grip on me flexes and he pulls back. “No.”
“No?” I breathe.
Cole pins me with a smoldering gaze. The way he’s looking at me, as if I’m the most important thing in the world to him, lights me up.
“This isn’t only for one night. That’s not enough. Not even close.”
My heart swells, rising into my throat. “It’s not?”
“Hell no, Evie. As far as I’m concerned, we’ve been together this whole time without this part. Maybe we did it all backwards, but I’m done. I want you—all of you. I want you to be mine.”
I’ve dreamed of hearing those words from him for so long, it feels surreal to have them growled against my mouth before he kisses me, fierce and all-consuming.
He pulls back too soon. I chase him for more, but he remains out of reach.
“Are you mine?”
I shiver at his hot breath ghosting across my lips. “Yes. God, yes. I’ve been yours for years.”
His forehead presses to mine. “Good, because I’m not letting you go.”
My eyes close at the force of my heart dancing with joy. His fingertips trail down my back and he buries his face in my throat.
“Kneel up for me.”
I bite my lip when he reaches beneath my dress to drag my panties down. For a moment, he does nothing but pet my hips. I reach to touch myself. He stops me, gathering my wrists behind me with one hand.
He holds my gaze, bringing his free hand to his mouth to wet two fingers. Then he moves it between my thighs and finds my clit. My head falls back with a bitten-off cry when he pushes a finger inside my pussy.
“Look at me,” he commands.
My attention snaps to him. He adds the second one, smirking when I move to meet his pumping fingers, silently asking for more. He keeps the same pace.
“I need to be inside you so bad it’s killing me. I’m not holding back.”
I stifle a moan. “Good. I don’t want to, either.”
“Later, I’m taking my time. Because I want to relearn you all over again, understand?”
I nod, past talking. “Please, Cole.”
“I know. I’ve got you. I just want to make sure it’s clear that this is only the beginning.”
“Crystal,” I choke.
His dimples pop out with his grin. Pulling his fingers free makes me cry out. He soothes me with a kiss before guiding me to turn around to face the front seat. I kick off my panties, stomach dipping at the sound of his zipper.
The insatiable frenzy that overcame us takes over once more. I’m panting with arousal when he positions his cock at my entrance. We both moan as I sink down his length.
“Fuck,” he grits through his teeth. “Evie.”
“I know.”
We fit together better than I could’ve imagined. I move before he does, hissing at the feel of his cock filling me. His hands find my hips, lifting me before slamming me down.
“You feel like perfection,” he utters reverently.
Neither of us can keep quiet despite our best efforts. I forget that we’re fucking in the parking lot, too swept away in him.
There’s no savoring this or going slow. It’s not long before I’m bouncing, taking each of his sharp thrusts.
“Hold on to something,” he rumbles.
My fingers scrabble for purchase on the headrests in front of us. He fists my dress and shifts his angle, hitting a spot that makes me go slack with pleasure.
“Oh god, don’t stop,” I whimper.
His arm slips around me, fingers seeking my clit and circling. It’s too much. Heat spirals through me, cresting as he drives into me hard.
The orgasm steals my breath as the tight coil unravels in the most delicious way. He drags me against him as I ride it out. He keeps rubbing my clit and pushes his other beneath my sundress to knead my breast.
Euphoria-tinged wonder arrows through me because it’s rare for me to come with a partner without extra stimulation to get there. He’s so focused on me rather than himself, my body unravels easily for him.
“Who’s fucking you?”
“You are,” I manage breathlessly.
“Who?” he demands. “Who’s cock are you making a pretty little mess on with your come?”
“Cole,” I cry.
“Love the way my name sounds on your lips when I’m buried inside your pussy.”
A strangled noise catches in my throat when he holds me against him and fucks me harder. My nails dig into his muscled arm when I clutch it.
“I’m close,” he mutters against my ear.
My pussy clamps around him, unwilling to give this up yet. A harsh breath gusts from him.
“I didn’t put a condom on. If we don’t stop…”
“I know. I want it,” I say. “Come inside me.”
His grip flexes and his thrusts stutter to a stop. “Fuck. I’ve never—are you sure? There hasn’t been anyone else, only you, but what about—?”
“We’re okay.” I twist to look him in the eye. “I’m done putting any barriers between us.”
His forehead bumps my temple and his cock throbs deep inside me. I reach down to feel where our bodies connect.
“I want to feel you come,” I murmur.
He groans, pace speeding up. My mouth falls open in a silent cry, eyes fluttering shut. His arms lock around me.
He goes rigid and I feel the pulse inside me when he fills my pussy with his release. It’s a heady experience, setting off another burst of pleasure that races through me.
We’re both fighting to catch our breath. His palms roam every inch of me.
“Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you by being too rough, did I?”
“No. That was amazing.”
We don’t move right away. His fingers brush between my legs, stroking my sensitive skin stretched around him before he begins to soften.
He draws my hair to the side and kisses my neck. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay.”
I grab my discarded underwear to clean myself with. He smirks, swiping them from me to stuff in his back pocket.
“Saving a souvenir?” I joke.
His tongue slides along his lower lip. “You started it when you hid that first pair in my office. I tore the whole thing apart after hours to find them.”
Laughter bubbles out of me. “You’re the one who told me to go take them off. I thought it was only fair to give them to you.”
He grabs a handful of my hair loosely with a playful growl, drawing me into a kiss. Then he puts his shirt on and gets in the driver’s seat, checking if the coast is clear before I dart from the back to the front.
Shooting me a crooked smile, he puts a hand on my leg before pulling out of the lot. I can’t wipe the matching expression off my face.
We pass the street that leads to my apartment.
I swing my gaze from the window to his profile, marveling once again that this man I’ve dreamt of for so long is mine. I trace his knuckles. My stomach dips when his possessive hold tightens.
“You missed the turn back there.”
“No I didn’t.” His thumb caresses my thigh before he tucks his hand deeper between my legs. “We’re going back to my place. I’m tired of not having you next to me in bed.”