Chapter 48 The Point of No Return #2
Liam starts rubbing my back, and I respond to his touch like my body has a mind of its own.
"Cole," I whisper. "Don’t hate me."
He shakes his head, kissing me softly, and whispers, "If you want him too... then I'm fine with it. I'm tired of fighting."
He kisses me again, and then Liam grabs my chin and turns my face to him. His kiss feels different—painful in its intensity. The taste of him sends memories flashing through my brain, and suddenly I'm straddling him.
"This is the Trouble I want."
I lean down and kiss him harder, missing the way he kisses. He sucks on my lips, bites my bottom lip.
Cole is right behind me, grabbing my hair until I'm looking up at him. "There's no going back, Harper. Are you sure?"
I nod.
"I knew you always wanted him," Cole says, and there's pain in his voice mixed with resignation. Then he pulls his shirt over his head.
I watch as Liam pulls his shirt off, and I'm left panting.
"I bet she's soaking," Liam says.
Cole pulls off the blanket and unbuttons my jeans. "Let's find out."
In a flash, I feel hands and mouths working over my entire body. I feel alive, desired, and liberated.
"Cole," I moan as he pulls my hair.
Liam comes in and kisses my neck, nipping my skin.
"Liam," I sigh, grabbing him. His blue-green eyes bore into mine as he kisses the back of my hand.
"Trouble," he murmurs back.
"Harper," Cole's voice seems pleading. When I look at him, he says, "Are you okay?"
"What?" I breathe as Liam's hands slide between my legs.
"Harper?" Cole says again, more insistent.
I blink my eyes open and I'm inside Maddie's bedroom.
Maddie’s bedroom?
I look around, confused as hell.
What the hell's happening?
"Harper?"
I blink at Cole and try to catch my breath.
Shit, that was all a dream?
That was a fucking dream!
"How long was I asleep?" I groan, feeling a heavy headache coming on.
Maddie says from beside the bed, "You've been out for like an hour. I figured you needed it."
"I've been sleeping in your bed for an hour?" I say, unable to keep my eyes open. They feel so heavy. I groan. “Uggghhhhh.”
My eyes close and I remember every vivid detail, every touch, and every feeling. Liam touching me, kissing me. I sit up quickly, wanting to shake the feeling. I turn to Cole who’s right next to me. I look around the room for Liam, panic rising in my chest. Thank God he's not here.
I leap my arms around Cole, and the emotion in my chest overfills, making me cry into his shoulders.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," he soothes, rubbing my back.
"Cole," I say, grabbing onto him desperately.
He stands, picking me up with him. Through my blurry vision, I see Maddie and Sirus exchange glances before quietly leaving the room.
"I got you," Cole whispers.
"I love you so much," I start to sob. "I don't know… I don’t know what I'd do without you."
"I know, Harp. Me too."
"I didn't mean what I said," I say as he sets me down on the edge of the bed. "About the date. About any of it."
He grabs my face gently, his thumbs wiping away my tears. "It's okay, Harper."
I shake my head frantically, terrified by the dream I just had. It felt so real, so vivid. In it, I decided I wanted them both and they were okay with it. But in reality, that's not what I want. I'm a one-man-woman, and I would never give this up. I would never risk what Cole and I have.
I throw my arms around him and cry harder.
"What's wrong, Harp?" he asks, concern heavy in his voice.
I just shake my head, unable to explain the dream I just had. "I thought I lost you."
"You're not losing me."
I kiss him hard, desperate to feel something real, something that proves this is reality and not another dream. He grabs the back of my head and kisses me back with equal intensity.
"I want you, Cole," I cry between kisses. "I want you forever... I want to marry you, have kids with you... I want—"
He kisses me in response, his tongue working against mine, silencing my desperate words. When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine.
"Harper, breathe," he says softly. "Just breathe."
I try, but my lungs feel tight. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for what I said. I would never—"
"I know." His hands frame my face, forcing me to look at him. "I know, baby. It's okay."
"It's not okay. I told you I'd go on a date with Liam. I said it to hurt you, and I—"
"You were angry. You had every right to be angry." His voice is steady, calm, everything I'm not right now. "I should have told you about our past a long time ago. I should have been honest instead of letting Liam ambush you with it."
"But I—"
"Harper." He kisses me again, softer this time. "Stop. We're okay. We're going to be okay."
I nod, but I can still feel the phantom sensations from the dream. Liam's hands on me. The way it felt to be between them. The way my body responded.
"What was the dream about?" Cole asks quietly.
My face flushes hot. "It doesn't matter."
He studies my face, and I can see him piecing it together. His jaw tightens slightly. "Was Liam in it?"
I can't lie to him. Not after everything. "Yes."
He's quiet for a moment. "Was I in it?"
"Yes."
"Together?"
I nod, shame burning through me.
He exhales slowly, processing. "Did you... want it? In the dream?"
"I don't know. Maybe. But it was just a dream, Cole. It wasn't real. And I don't—" My voice breaks. "I don't want that in real life. I only want you."
"Are you sure?" he asks, and there's so much vulnerability in the question it makes my chest ache. "Because if you're not, if there's any part of you that's still wondering about him—"
"I'm sure." I grab his face now, making him look at me. "I'm sure, Cole. That dream scared the shit out of me because I realized what I could lose. You. Us. Everything we've built. And for what? Sex? I don’t value that. I want something real, Cole. I don't want Liam. I want you."
He searches my face for a long moment, then pulls me into his arms. We stay like that, holding each other, until my breathing finally steadies.
"I texted Liam," he admits quietly. "After you fell asleep. Told him the date was off. That you were with me and staying with me."
"What did he say?"
"He didn't respond."
I pull back to look at him. "Do you think he'll leave us alone now?"
"I don't know. But I told him if he contacts you again, he and I are done. Not just as friends, but as teammates. I'll go to Coach if I have to."
"Cole—"
"I mean it, Harper. I'm done letting him come between us. I'm done fighting for you while he tries to tear us apart. You're mine. And if he can't accept that, then he can fuck off."
The possessiveness in his voice should maybe bother me, but instead, it makes me feel safe. Chosen. Wanted.
"I'm yours," I whisper. "Only yours."
He kisses me again, and this time it feels like a promise. Like we're both committing to choosing each other, no matter what.
A knock on the door interrupts us. Maddie pokes her head in. "Everything okay?"
I nod, wiping my face. "Yeah. I'm sorry for freaking out."
"Don't be sorry." She comes in and sits on the bed beside us. "So... no date?"
"No date," I confirm. "That was stupid. I was angry and hurt and I said it to hurt him back, but I didn't mean it."
"Good." She looks relieved. "Looks like the nap helped you come to your sense."
I manage a weak laugh. "I came to my senses. Or... my subconscious did it for me."
Cole stands, pulling me up with him. "We should go home."
Home. Our home. The word settles something in my chest.
"Yeah," I agree. "Let's go home."
Maddie hugs me tight before we leave. "If you need me, call. Anytime. I don't care if it's three in the morning."
"I know. Thank you."
Sirus gives Cole a bro hug at the door. "You two good?"
"We're good," Cole confirms.
In the truck on the way back to our place, Cole reaches over and takes my hand. I look at him and grin, glad to not have another boyfriend. I shake the feeling. I can’t believe my mind went there and put me through that torture.
“I would never have a threesome,” I announce.
“Good,” Cole says as he looks at me.
“When we get home, can you make me an omelet?”
He nods. “I’ll make you whatever you want.”
When we get home, Rex nearly tackles me with excitement. I sink to the floor and let him lick my face, laughing.
"So excited. Who’s a happy boy? I missed you too, Rex," I tell him.
Cole watches us with a soft smile. "Don’t feed him any of your omelet. His farts are killer.”
I laugh, hugging him. “I love you, Rex.”
As if he understands me, he licks my cheek like he loves me too.
I stand and walk over to Cole, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I was serious about marriage and babies.”
He chuckles. “Me too.”
He spins and lifts me off the ground. “Let’s start now.”
I squeal as he runs down to our bedroom. “Cole! Cole!” I laugh. “Our food’s not going to cook itself.”
He drops me on the bed and says, “My girlfriend needs attention right now. It can wait.”
He lays me back like I’m something precious and says, “Let’s finish what we started in the shower earlier, shall we?”
I nod, stripping off my clothes. He nearly falls over removing his shoes, and I laugh as he catches himself on the dresser.
When he plunges into me, I moan his name as he kisses me everywhere.
“You’re so beautiful,” he moans, pumping into me. “You’re all mine.”