Chapter 36 Ambush
Ambush
Cole
“We need to talk,” I say to Liam over the phone.
“Trouble?”
“You want her?” I ask, petting Rex on the couch next to me.
“Nah, I refuse to be someone’s second choice,” Liam says.
I sigh.
“Why are you fretting over her?” he asks.
“I’m not.”
“You are,” he counters. “I’m not, but you are. Just go for it.”
“She said you made yourself an option.”
He laughs. “I did.”
“So, is it a problem if I have her and bring her around. This isn’t like freshman year, Liam.”
“You’re that serious about her?”
I scratch my face. “Before all this, I asked her to be my girlfriend.”
“Yeah, I heard.”
“When do I ask any girl to be my girlfriend?”
He takes a moment to think. “Got it.”
“Got what?”
“I got it, Cole,” he says. “I won’t make shit awkward. I won’t talk to her. I’ll let you guys do your thing. I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Do me a favor,” I say, throwing him on speaker. “Text her right now that you want to see her, and I’m going to do the same.”
He laughs. “Sneaky Cole’s come out to play.”
“I’m serious, man. I don’t want to be played.”
“Yeah. No shit.”
I open up my text message and say, “If what she said was true tonight, then she won’t entertain you, but if she does, then I’m done.”
“Yeah,” he says. “I am… thinking… about you. Come over… tonight. Send.”
I type out a message too, but I don’t send it.
“Any dots popping up yet?”
“No. Did you send yours?”
“Nah I’m going to wait a couple minutes.”
“Oh, we got dots,” he says, and my heart races. “And… they disappeared.”
I rub Rex’s belly now, wondering what she’s going to write back. It’s silent for a minute as we wait. Anxiety fills my chest.
“Okay, here we go,” he says finally, and I inhale. “She said, ‘I don’t know why you’re asking, Liam. I told you it was a one-time thing, and it’s not happening again.’ The end. Happy to hear me get rejected?”
I pet Rex and think. “It’s not like that, Liam. I need to make sure she’s not a liar.”
“She’s a good girl, man. She’s denying me point blank. Shoot your shot. It’s your chance.”
“Yeah, I don’t know.”
“You like her, right?”
I don’t answer.
“That’s how I know you like her. You know what? I’m going to do you a real favor.”
“Don’t, Liam,” I warn. “Don’t do whatever you’re thinking.”
He laughs like he was never going to do anything and was just trying to get a rise out of me. “Then text her right now and do it yourself.”
“You’re seriously chill right now?”
“Yeah, if there’s anyone I’m okay losing to, it’s you, brother.”
I scoff. “Yeah, fucking, right.”
He laughs. “I already got a girl coming over tonight. I knew Trouble was too good for me. You have my stamp of approval.”
I shake my head. “You would.”
“Talk later.”
“Yeah.”
The phone call ends, and I feel a million times lighter. One, because Liam always has my back. Two, she denied him. Three, he’s already moved on.
I hit send on the text and it delivers immediately.
Harper
I roll out of bed, jump to my feet and run over to Maddie. She looks terrified as I crash on her.
“He just texted me!”
Maddie rolls her eyes. “Again?”
“What? No, Cole!”
Her eyes widen as she sits up. She squeals. “Oh! Oh my god. What did he say?”
I inhale and start reading it. “We should talk in person.”
She’s waiting for me to continue. “Wait, that’s it?”
I nod. “That’s it!”
She starts fanning her hands. “Okay, okay. We can work with that. Plan C is out the door, baby. Plan B worked!”
“What do I say?”
“Ask him if he means right now?”
“Yeah,” I say, typing that out on my phone.
Me: Right now?
“Oh, the dots are popping up.”
Cole: Yeah
She squeals. “He’s forgiving you! He’s forgiving you!”
“You think?”
She nods. “You need to wear––”
I groan. “What is it with you and clothes?”
She runs to my dresser and runs back with my lace panties.
“Why are you going through my underwear drawer? Like how do you know I even have those, Maddie!”
She laughs, throwing them at me. “Change into those just in case.”
“There’s no way he’s going to sleep with me.”
She shrugs and in her singsong voice, chirps, “You never know.”
I smile while typing back.
Me: Give me a minute. I have to steal my cousin’s car.
Maddie watches with her eyes gleaming. “This is going to be so good. I know the exact wedding dress for your figure.”
I wave her off with the lace panties in my hand. “Stop planting seeds in my head.”
“They are planted, and I am watering them.”
Cole
I end the call with Sirus who was calling to check on me and race into my bedroom to start cleaning up. I put the dirty clothes in the hamper, make my bed, remove the dog toys, vacuum, and put my hockey bag in the corner.
Then I pull out the playing cards and place it on top of my dresser. I look around, feeling like I should change, but I don’t.
Rex is feeling my energy and running around.
I brush my teeth and look in the mirror at my face. I need to shave, but fuck it. I walk back to the living room and put Netflix on.
Shortly after, a car pulls into the driveway and Rex starts barking. I open the door and Rex darts out to greet Harper.
“Hey, boy. Happy to see me? Come on. I’m happy to see you too.” Her sweet high-pitched voice makes my heart race. Rex darts back in the house, looking to see if she’s following him.
“Hi,” I say.
She smiles. “Hi.”
I step to the side and let her in. I close the door behind us, feeling awkward at the unpredictability of what comes next.
She walks straight towards the couch. “You’re never going to guess what––” Rex won’t stop smelling her, so she pets him. “Rex. Rex!”
He starts jumping around, wagging his tail, trying to lick her face.
“Come on, Rex,” I mutter. “No jumping.”
She laughs when he mishears me and jumps up. She catches his paws. He licks her face a couple times as she pulls away, and then Rex looks over at me.
“Okay, buddy,” I chuckle. “Come on.” I grab him, putting him back on all fours. “Sorry about him.”
She laughs. “It’s okay.”
“He loves you.”
“He’s a good boy.”
“Do you want to go to my room, or should I put him in the room?” I ask, holding him away from her.
“Oh, uh, I don’t care.”
I nod down the hall. “Last door on the right. I’ll be there in a sec.”
She blushes, looking at the ground.
“I’ll be there in a second.”
She walks down the hall as I tell Rex, “Stay, boy,” and then I walk down the hall. Of course, he doesn’t listen, so when I get to the bedroom I have to snap my fingers and block the door to get him out of the bedroom. I finally shut the door and we’re alone.
“I’m sorry about that. I did not think that one through.”
She looks around the room. “I haven’t been in here before.”
“No?” I question.
She shakes her head. “It’s nice.”
I laugh. “You don’t have to be nice, Harper.”
“No, it is. Your blanket looks cozy, and the dresser isn’t from Walmart. It is nice, Cole.”
“Okay,” I tease.
Then… silence.
We watch each other, the tension piling on top of itself. Like a rubber band pulling, stretching.
“Um,” she says, breaking the rubber band. It snaps and suddenly it doesn’t feel tense anymore. “So, Liam texted me. He asked me to come over, and I told him…”
“I know. I talked to him. He’s going to back off now.”
“He is?”
I nod. “That’s what you want, right?”
She nods confidently and then she exhales. “I’m relieved. Thank you.”
I can’t help the smile spreading across. “Thank you? You’re thanking me?”
She walks over to me and nods. “I am.”
I look at her lips. They’re glistening and I smell the mint in her breath. And I have the urge to kiss her, but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.
Harper
He’s looking at me like he wants to kiss me, but he’s hesitating.
“You wanted to talk?” I clear my throat, looking up at him.
He just stares.
“Does this mean you accept my apology?” I ask.
I notice the bob of his throat move. His dark hair falls on his forehead and his eyes aren’t as upset as they were in the parking lot. He’s beautiful like a punch to the heart. Just straight to my chest. I feel it in between my ribs.
“I do.”
I smile up at him, and then I press my lips together.
He grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. His eyes are intense, so I look at his lips. I feel my pulse everywhere in my body. His large hand moves to the back of my neck, and I lean into it, enjoying the feel of his touch.
“Harper,” he breathes.
I open my eyes. “Yes.”
“Still my girlfriend?”
I chew my bottom lip, looking at him. “Yes.”
His lips smash against mine, and I melt into him. He tastes like mint as he works his tongue against mine. He’s such a good kisser, I immediately start seeing stars. He kisses me like his life depends on it, and it feels so good to know that the way I feel is reciprocated.
He backs me to his bed, and I let him. At the last second, I spin his six-foot three body around and make him sit. Now he’s closer to my height, and my neck isn’t breaking.
He smiles against my lips, pulling me closer. I crawl onto his lap when I start hearing a whiny sound. I keep kissing Cole, and then the whining gets louder.
“Rex,” Cole mutters, and I laugh. “Hold on tight.”
I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He stands like I weigh nothing, and I’m impressed by his strength.
He opens the bedroom door and Rex jumps straight inside. “Come here, boy,” Cole calls out, walking down the hall. “Rex, come on, boy.”
Rex falls right into the trap, trots into the bedroom, and Cole shuts the door.
When we’re back in his bedroom, he drops my back on the bed and observes my face.
“Do you have a problem with whiny dogs?” I tease.
He sits up to look at me. “I can let him in here. He’ll hump your leg before I can.”
I burst out laughing. “You want to hump me?” His face turns bright red, so I grab him. “Do you have a condom?”
“We don’t have to.”
“Yeah?”
He nods. “We have time.”
I grin.
“Why do the real thing when I have this leg?” he jokes, touching my right leg.
I inhale from his touch, and then he starts humping my leg. I throw my head back and laugh, trying to scoot away.
“Cole!” I squeal. “What’re you––”
He pulls me towards him and starts on my left leg. I feel his hard dick this time, and I start aching, but to hide it, I’m laughing so hard that tears prick my eyes.
He stops and kisses me. I give him a few kisses back and then I pull away. “Wait.” I wipe my face, breathless. “You missed a spot.”
He watches me with question marks in his eyes.
I nod, tapping between my legs.
His eyes stare at my center for a moment and then flick up to mine. “You mean this?” His whole body hovers over mine as he presses his hips between my legs. A jolt of pleasure courses through me.
I nod quickly as he kisses me. He runs his hands down my body as he presses himself against me. I let out a small moan. He feels so good. I run my hands under his shirt, feeling his firm body.
“Take this off,” I beg.
In one swift motion, it’s off.
“Are you… fricking kidding me?” I scoff, looking at the shape of his body. His broad shoulders, his muscular pecks, and his abs. His V-line is even a muscle. And when I touch it, I tremble.
I take off my shirt to join the club.
He glances down at my chest and says, “Harper.”
I lean back and whisper, “Yeah?”
“I’m giving you one last chance to walk out the door before I make you mine.”
I unclip my bra and toss it aside. “I’m already yours. And I thought you wanted to wait?”
He shakes his head. “Fuck waiting.”
I lean up, touching his chest and tease, “Did you just swear?”
He shuts me up with a kiss. I reach for his sweatpants and start sliding them down.
Good Lord, his butt cheeks are firm and hot and tight.
Then his dick springs out. When I grab it, he moans into my mouth.
When his kisses end on my chest, he twirls his tongue around my nipples, giving them equal attention.
“Shit,” I gasp. “Cole.”
He doesn’t stop, so I start panting.
I sit up and turn around, sticking my ass near his hard cock. “Take my pants off.”
He wraps his arms around me, pulls me off the bed, stands me on my feet, and then drops to his knees.
He kisses my belly, then my hips. I run my fingers through his hair as he unbuttons my jeans, unzips it, and pulls it down.
He pulls it nicely off my legs and then grabs my underwear.
They fall straight to my feet, so I step out of them.
When he stands, he towers over me, and his dick presses against my stomach.
He reaches into his nightstand and grabs a new box of condoms. He opens them and rips one out.
I look at his enlarged dick, feeling the ache between my legs grow. He glides the condom on, and my entire body lights up like a goddamn Christmas tree. I’m so fucking excited. I fall onto the bed, sitting up on my elbows as he crawls over me.
“Are you sure?” he asks.
I nod.
And when he enters me inch by inch, I forget how to breath. He’s stretching me open, and I have to lift my hips to help him.
“You’re so beautiful, Harper,” he moans, grabbing my chin.
I grab his face and kiss him. “You are too.”
And then he’s railing into me with no mercy. Pleasure bursts through my body, and all I feel is him. He sucks on my tits, grabs my ass, and plays with my clit.
Then he pulls out and says, “Turn around.”
My chest flares with excitement. Finally a man to take control, that’ll command me. I do as he says, and he’s plunging into me right away. His dick makes me moan into the pillow.
He grips my ass, groaning about how hot I am.
I sit up on my hands and roll my hair to the side. “Cole?” I whisper.
He stops thrusting and leans down. “Are you okay?”
I nod, pushing my ass against him. “Do you want to pull my hair?”
Without answering, he grabs my hair, bringing my face up to his as he slowly fucks me. “Like this?”
I nod, moaning as he pumps into me harder and harder until my vision is only stars and my body is convulsing around him.
“Keep coming,” he whimpers. “Just like that.”
I hiss between my teeth at my prolonged orgasm and then his mouth is hovering mine as he releases.
He falls to the side of me and says, “That was… You are…”
I smile, curling up to him. “That felt really good. I don’t think I’ve ever orgasmed during sex.”
He looks over at me. “Really?”
I nod, blushing. “That was my first.”
He just watches me, and I want to know what he’s thinking. Then as if I get an answer, he pulls me onto his chest and plays with my hair.
“I wasn’t expecting to do this tonight.”
I laugh. “So much for talking.”
“We did a lot of talking. It’s water under the bridge.”
“Really?” I ask, my chest squeezing tight that he’s not going to stay hung up over the past.
He nods as I snuggle under his chin and run my fingertips across his skin.
Plan B worked, which means I no longer have to do Plan C.