Chapter Twenty-Six
Lucy
It’s been three days since that night in the truck happened with Nash, and I can still feel his lips on mine. He kissed me so deeply it sent my thoughts into a spiral, causing me to think about it nonstop. So I did the only thing I could think of, and called Ember.
“So let me get this straight,” Ember says, swallowing her bite. “You’re living with three of the world's hottest men while they fix your house; they have all shown interest in you; you’ve slept with two of them together and one apart, and one said they would share you no problem?”
She shoves another fry into her mouth before saying, “I just don’t see what the issue is.” She throws her hands up.
“Emberrrr. That is not helpful. I don’t know what I want. What will people say? What will they think?” I say, covering my face with my hands,
“Who cares about others? You already know what I’m going to say about it. So let me ask you this, and do not think about what others will say or think. In your ideal world, what would you want to come from this? To leave the situation and cut ties with them?”
My eyes widen in surprise. That scenario has never crossed my mind. I’m not sure I could live without them in my life at this point. They are more than random acquaintances. I care about them.
“Platonic friendship?”
I scrunch my nose up.
“Friends with benefits situationship?”
I shrug.
“Or would you want to be there with them? All of them together like a big happy family?” She takes another bite and waits for me to reply.
While that would be my first choice, I can’t help when the opinions of other people creep into my head.
Letting out a deep sigh, I give her my honest answer. “I don’t know, Em. There are too many variables. Cole hasn’t said anything, and I’m only going off what Nash has said, and what if I—”
“I’m going to stop you right there.” Ember holds a hand up to her screen to stop me.
“I know you are going to start thinking badly about yourself, and I refuse to let your mind spiral like that again. Listen to me now. You are enough, Lucy. You are worthy of the love people give you. Don’t make me come back there so soon.
I’ve only been gone for a week.” She tilts her head, giving me a soft smile while tears fill my eyes.
“Thank you, Ember. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I do. You’d turn into a hermit and end up with forty-seven cats.”
The comment causes us both to laugh as a knock sounds on my door.
“Come in,” I say, turning my body to the door.
Cole pokes his head into my room. “Are you busy?”
“No, she’s not busy,” Ember yells through the phone.
“What’s up?” I ask with a giggle.
“Do you want to come down to the creek with me? It’s hot, and Ren and Nash are busy.”
I send a hesitant look his way before Ember speaks up again. “She would love to! She needs to get out of her head anyway!”
Shooting a glare at Em through the phone, she stifles a laugh before telling me to call her tomorrow and hanging up.
“So, do you want to?” Cole opens the door further and steps inside. I have to keep my mouth from dropping to the floor when I see he’s only in his swim trunks already. His abs are rock hard, and the V shape peeking out of his bottoms makes my mouth water. I swallow hard and nod my head.
“Yeah, just give me a minute to change.”
I stand from the bed as Cole smirks and turns out of the doorway. I almost trip on my way over to the closet because I’m staring at him.
Get it together, Lucy.
After rummaging through my clothes, I grab my black string bikini and throw it on, covering it up with the t-shirt Ren left on the bed my first night here. I grab some sandals and a towel before meeting Cole.
“Looking good, Rich Girl.” Cole leans his back against the door, arms crossed over his chest as I approach.
“Not too bad yourself, Colson.” I give him a wicked smile, which he returns.
“You guys heading out?” Ren asks, walking up to us.
“You sure you and Nash don’t want to come?” I ask as Cole puts his hand on the door handle.
“Ah, no. We have something to do. But you guys have fun.” Ren smiles and walks towards the living room with a little pep in his step.
“Is he okay?” I ask with a giggle.
“It’s Ren. He’s always okay,” Cole scoffs. “Are you ready?”
I nod my head, and we make our way out of the house and down to the creek.
I lay my towel out and sit on the bank. The water is a beautiful shade of blue here as it creates a deep pool before flowing downstream.
The sun is shining through the tops of the trees as they sway in the warm breeze.
Cole immediately jumps in, splashing me as he does.
I let out a squeal as the cool water hits my skin and Cole’s head pops back up.
“Come on, Rich Girl. I thought you were going to get in with me, not just sit there,” he says as he closes his eyes and begins floating on his back.
I grin to myself as I quietly stand and take my shirt off, dropping it onto my towel. I take a couple of steps closer before I jump in the water next to him screaming, “CANNON BALL!”
The cool water creates goosebumps on my skin as I sink below the surface.
I kick my legs, propelling myself back up.
I look for Cole but don’t see any sign of him.
I spin around in the water searching when I’m suddenly pulled back under by my leg.
I feel Cole’s hand let go and kick to resurface.
I sputter and try to catch my breath when Cole pops up a moment later, laughing.
“You could have killed me!” I yell at him, my voice higher in pitch.
“I like you too much to kill you, Rich Girl.” He gives me a mischievous smile, and I feel a blush spread across my cheeks.
“How do you know I feel the same way?” I say.
Cole cocks his head, and before he has time to react, I splash water at him with my hands.
He shakes the water from his face and rubs his eyes while we both start laughing.
He lunges, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me into his chest as he kicks his feet to keep us above water.
Our faces are inches apart, and the energy has changed between us in a split second. My heart rate picks up.
“I think you do feel the same way as I do. The same as Ren and Nash, too. Why else would you still be here, Rich Girl?” he asks, gazing into my eyes.
“Where else would I go?” My voice is quiet when the words come out.
“Anywhere.” His voice is deep and steady. “The motel, back to the big city with Ember. I think you want to be here because you do like us. You just don’t want to admit it.”
My heart is pounding, and I’m sure he can hear it being this close together. I try to push away from him, but he grips me tighter. I look up at him through my lashes, and his gaze drops to my lips. I push my thighs together as he leans down, his lips barely brushing mine.
“Do you want to leave?” His question is just above a whisper.
“I don’t know what I want.” It’s the truth, and that’s all I can give him right now.
“Give us a chance, Lucy.” He rubs his nose against mine and I inhale sharply to keep a moan from escaping.
“Okay.”
It’s the only thing I say before Cole pushes his lips to mine in a frenzy.
I open my mouth for him before he asks, and his tongue dances with mine.
The kiss is hurried and passionate, like we’ll never have this chance again.
Fire ignites in my lower belly as our kiss continues.
I wrap my legs around his body and feel his hard length against my core.
Moaning into his mouth, I grind myself against him looking for relief for the ache between my legs.
Cole keeps kissing me as he moves us towards the creek bank.
He sets me on the edge and stands up, our mouths still connected.
He hovers over me as he lays me down, sliding his hand from my waist to the top of my bikini bottoms. He pulls the string on the side, releasing the knot. Sliding his hand under the fabric, his fingertips graze my clit and I moan loudly into his mouth.
“So wet for me already,” Cole groans against my neck, sliding his fingers down and pushing two inside me.
He kisses along my jaw and neck, pumping his fingers slowly in and out.
I arch my back when he curls his fingers just right, hitting my G-spot.
He picks up the pace as I moan, feeling heat rush through my body.
It doesn’t take long before I’m yelling his name and coming on his hand.
He gently pulls his fingers out and circles my clit before bringing them to his mouth to suck clean.
“You taste like heaven, Lucy.”
I look at him through hooded eyes and smile. Glancing down to the bulge in his shorts, I reach out for it, but he takes a step back.
“As much as I want my cock in your mouth, Rich Girl, we should head back. They’re probably ready for us.” He gets out of the water and starts drying himself off with his towel.
“What do you mean ‘ready for us’?” I ask, tying my bottoms back together and grabbing my own towel.
He chuckles and says, “You’ll see.”
I glare at him, but I know he won’t say anything else about it.
Grabbing our stuff, we head back towards the house, my mind in a place of its own.
Kissing Cole? Incredible. His hands? Magical.
I can’t help but wonder if this has made my choice of what I want harder or easier.
Cole grabs my hand and holds it the whole way back.
His touch pauses the war going on in my head.
We stop at the front door, and he turns to me, smiling.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?” Confusion laces my voice as he chuckles and turns the handle, leading me inside.