Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
ELLA
Sitting on the back steps, I stare out at the lawn, wrapping the blanket tighter around my body.
I'm finally free from Jacob Evans. There isn't a single thing tying us together any longer and I haven't heard from him since he showed up unannounced that one day.
Life has taken such an unexpected turn and has been overflowing with positivity.
The gallery sold all of my paintings last week and they've already said they’re ready for more, whenever I have more pieces available. It's been absolutely crazy to me, having this all happening. The fact that people want my work has almost instilled even more confidence in me.
The only thing missing is Cole. That night at the art show, I was pulled away by someone interested in purchasing a piece and I lost Cole after that.
I caught sight of him walking around with Remi at one point but then after that, he disappeared.
As much as I wanted to reach out to him, I knew I had to wait.
I needed to wait until I could officially close that door to my past.
My phone feels heavy in my hand and I stare for a moment, emotion lodging in my throat as I attempt to swallow it back. A wave of uncertainty and anxiety rolls through the pit of my stomach, but I ignore it.
I ignore it because I want to see him. I want to talk to him.
I want to let him in, completely this time.
Skipping over the messaging app, I tap on the phone icon and slowly type in his name. I watch, excitement lacing through me and I press my finger, lifting the phone to my ear. My heart pounds erratically in my chest and time feels suspended as it rings. And rings.
Disappointment washes over me as it goes to voicemail and I end the call, staring at my phone again. An impulsive thought passes through my brain and I grab ahold of it, typing out a message to him before I get the chance to second guess myself.
Ella
Hey. I know it's getting late, but I wanted to see if you could stop by so we could talk.
My eyes widen, and I read over the message I sent, instantly regretting it. It feels too forward, like I shouldn't have suggested something like that. I should have eased into the conversation instead of jumping in head first.
Inwardly, I cringe, but I don't let myself un-send it.
Instead, I leave it there in his inbox and lock my phone before setting it down on the ground beside me.
Twenty minutes pass before I finally get up, heading back into the house for the night.
Cole never responds and I look at my phone once more before setting it down on the counter as I get a drink.
In an effort to chase away the negative feelings, I head into my art room to find a blank canvas and some jars of paint to lose myself in.
I don't know how long I've been painting for when a soft knock sounds on the glass pane to my right. My eyebrows pull together, confusion and fear pricking my skin. Convincing myself I was hearing things, I direct my attention back to the canvas when there's another tap on the window.
Dread fills the pit of my stomach and I slowly get up from my stool, my footsteps hesitant as I step to the side of the window and peer out through the curtain. It's dark, but I see him immediately as he stands a few feet away with the soft glow from his phone screen illuminating his face.
Relief floods me and my shoulders sag, releasing the nervous breath I was holding.
I lift my hands, attempting to speak nonverbally with him.
Cole moves his hand, like he's pointing to the front of the house.
I nod in understanding, hoping that's what he means as he disappears back around the corner of the house.
Abandoning my painting, I head through the house, my bare feet padding on the wood floors as I walk to the front door. Unlocking the deadbolt, I turn the knob, pulling it open to Cole standing on the front porch, his throat bobbing as our gazes collide.
“Cole,” I breathe his name, my heart pounding against my rib cage. “You came.”
The corners of his mouth lift. “You called.”
My breath catches in my throat and time is momentarily suspended between us.
His eyes search mine, doing a sweeping motion from one eye to the other before he closes the distance between us.
He doesn't stop until he's entering my space, his hand sliding along the side of my face as he tips my head back.
And then his lips crash into mine.
He breathes me in with a tenderness that has my heart crumbling in my chest. He's in tune with my body and his opposite hand finds my waist as he holds me close to him. My hand instinctively lifts to wrap around his neck as his lips move against mine.
He tastes like chocolate and smells like leather and cedar. His scent penetrates my senses and I inhale deeply, finding comfort and solace in the familiarity. I've always been safe with Cole and he's always made sure I knew it.
My hands grip at the back of his neck, holding him close as his tongue slides along the seam of my mouth. Without hesitation, I part my lips, granting him access. He deepens the kiss, his lips melting into mine. I match every movement. Every taste. Every breath.
His leg presses between mine, pushing me back into the house. I take a few steps back, guiding him along with me as the screen door slams shut. Cole moves, pushing his foot against the main door and it closes behind us. Dropping one hand from his head, I reach around, turning the lock on the knob.
“I won't let anyone get you, Ella,” Cole promises as he breaks away from me for a moment. “No one will get to you or Chloe, ever.” He stares down at me, earnest and truthful.
The emotion is evident in his voice and he rolls his lips between his teeth, biting it back before he releases them.
“I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner,” I rasp, my voice low as he backs me farther into the house until we're walking into the laundry room.
“You don't owe me an apology.” He slides his hands down past my ass, grabbing the backs of my thighs as he hauls me into the air. He sets me down on the washer and settles between my legs. “I would have waited however long you needed.”
“I would never ask you to do that.”
He tilts his head to the side. “You would never have to.”
I pull him back to me, his mouth instantly finding mine. My hands reach for his shirt, slowly pushing up the bottom hem as my fingers trail over his back. Cole follows my lead, his hands mimicking mine as he begins to lift my shirt up to my neck.
My arms lift and I break away from him, letting him strip my shirt away. Cold air dances across my naked torso and Cole groans as he watches my nipples harden from the cool temperature.
“Jesus, I've missed you.” He pauses as he reaches behind his neck and pulls his shirt up over his head. “In more ways than this,” he adds with a wink while tossing his shirt onto the counter behind me. “I know we need to talk, but I need you, Ella.”
“I'm yours, Cole.” I pause, letting out a ragged breath.
He abruptly pulls me off the washer so I'm standing flat footed in front of him. His hands find my waist and his eyes search mine once more. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
I'm caught off guard as he spins me around to face the opposite direction.
“Take off the rest of your clothes,” he instructs as I glance over my shoulder at him.
He's already undoing his belt buckle and jeans.
I watch as he pushes them halfway down his legs, dragging his boxer briefs with them.
“If you don't want me to fuck you like this, tell me now.”
Shaking my head at him, I follow his orders and push down my own pants and panties. They pool around my ankles as Cole begins to push me forward until the front of my body is flush on the counter.
His fingers urge my legs apart and he moves them against my pussy. “Fuck, you're so wet already.”
“I've been waiting for you,” I rasp, half panting as he presses his cock against my entrance. “For far too long.”
Shifting my weight, I rock back against him, earning a groan from him as he grabs my ass cheeks and starts to push inside me.
He stretches me, filling me completely in one fluid movement.
The barbells along the underside of his cock rub against my insides, sending a shockwave of pleasure through me.
“Ella, darlin’, I want to fuck you so hard right now, but I don't want to hurt you.”
Excitement washes over me, dancing with the heat in the pit of my stomach. I turn my head to look at him over my shoulder. “You won't hurt me, Cole. I want you to do it.”
“You deserve a proper fucking, don't you?”
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I bite down and nod. God, I want him so badly right now.
Cole slides his hand up to my hair, wrapping it around his fist as he pulls my head back. “Then a proper fucking is what you'll get.”
He slowly inches out, his piercings hitting all the right spots again before he pauses with just the tip inside.
There's a moment of anticipation hanging in the air between us before he slams into me without any warning.
His hips shift and he thrusts into me, pushing me against the edge of the washer.
I cry out in pleasure and I push back against him, meeting every thrust. He releases my hair, sliding both hands to my hips as he starts to fuck me harder. There's a haziness growing along the perimeter of my vision and I'm close to seeing stars as he keeps slamming into me.
Thankfully, Chloe is sound asleep and has her noise machine because I'm in an awfully compromising situation. The last thing I need is for her to find me here with Cole like this.
“You were made to take my cock,” Cole groans, his movements becoming erratic. He reaches for my hand, pulling it down in front of me as he pushes it between my legs. “Play with yourself while I fuck you.”
I inhale sharply, both nervousness and excitement dancing inside of me. “Okay,” I breathe, my voice barely audible as I start to move my fingers against my clit. A low moan escapes me, filling the small room as my legs start to feel weak. “Fuck me harder, Cole.”
He leans forward, his body warm as his lips graze my ear. “That's it,” he groans, thrusting into me harder as he nips at my earlobe. “Make yourself come for me.”
Another moan escapes me until they're cascading from my lips, tangling with his name. Feeling him like this is everything I've wanted. I've missed him and his company, but I've needed this closeness with him. This connection. This wildfire that spreads rampant between us.
He thrusts again and my fingers work against my clit faster until I feel myself clenching around him.
His hands, his mouth, his cock, and his piercings.
All of it combined with my fingers has me catapulting over the edge of ecstasy.
He slides his entire length into me, filling me to the brim as I let out a cry.
Our surroundings faded long ago and my orgasm sucks me under. My legs shake, my pussy tightening around him as he calls out my name. His fingers grip my hips and he murmurs against my ear.
“Oh, fuck, Ella,” he moans, rocking into me as he spills himself deep inside me. My head falls forward against the washer as my orgasm starts to subside, but my body is still riding out the waves. “Jesus Christ. You're mine, El. Mine, mine, mine.”
“Yours,” I breathe, my lungs filling with oxygen as my heart spills over with love.