Chapter 33 Cole
THIRTY-THREE
COLE
December
It seems like half of Heston Lake’s residents are at the Lombards’ party when I arrive. Mrs. Lombard has outdone herself with festive decorations. Somehow they’ve doubled since Thanksgiving last week.
“Oh, Cole, honey!” Mrs. Lombard gathers me into a hug, almost crushing the plate of cookies I made with Eve yesterday. “You didn’t have to bring anything.”
“It’s a potluck, isn’t it? Couldn’t come empty handed.” I offer our contribution.
She fusses over me. “Thank you. I’ll find a spot for these.”
David and Theo greet me next. I shake David’s hand and pat Theo’s shoulder.
“They putting you to work?” I joke.
He lifts the tray of Mrs. Lombard’s famous savory pastry turnovers. I don’t know a soul in town who doesn’t love them at parties or hound her for the recipe.
“Are you kidding? I volunteered to carry them when they were ready to go out.” Theo grins at the platter. “First dibs are mine.”
“Go easy on them. We don’t want you slowed down next weekend,” David says.
Theo groans. “I’ve been looking forward to them all day.”
Covering a snort with a cough, I elbow him. Once David leaves, I stand guard while he shovels three into his mouth.
“Just make sure you hit the gym and keep yourself limber,” I mutter.
“Got it, coach. Thanks for doing me a solid.”
Smirking, I nab a brie and caramelized onion turnover for myself. He protests as I saunter away. I bypass the living room when I don’t see Eve, wandering to find her. At last I hear the voice I want most behind me.
“Hey, you. Glad you made it.”
Eve puts a drink in my hand, fingertips lingering. I hook her pinkie with mine and go in for a kiss to her cheek.
“You look great.” Hey, baby. You’re so beautiful. Sneak away with me for a real kiss.
She grants me a wink. My eyes rake over her quickly, not nearly long enough to satisfy me. Her sexy knit dress hugs her curves and half her hair is pulled back in a bow. My lips twitch fondly at her sparkly pink heart lollipop earrings.
“Cole! What’s up, bro?” Benson claps a hand on my shoulder, steering me away from his sister.
I twist in time to see her wry expression while he shows me ten new photos of his daughter. A chuckle shakes my shoulders because they seem to be from the party. We end up in the back room with some of the guys on the Brawling Bandits, Theo, his dad, and some other guys from around town.
“I’m telling you, our rankings for this season? We’ve got this in the bag,” Benson boasts. “Joe, you’ve gotta get out to one of our games so you can drink with us after.”
“For sure. Heard you guys were robbed after getting far last year.”
Benny nods vigorously. “We’re out for revenge this year. Right, Cole?”
“Your D is solid.” Theo cracks up at the round of groans from the innuendo. “But for real, coach. Top shelf skating.”
“Thanks.” I toast him.
“He’s even sharper than he was on our high school team.” Benson jostles me with a hearty laugh.
I shake my head, grinning into a sip of beer. After hanging around long enough to finish it, I wonder where Eve is. I ruffle Theo’s hair on my way from the room.
“Where are you going?” Benson objects.
Tracking down your sister. “Snack run. I’m hungry. I want more of your mom’s pastries before they’re cleared out.”
“Make me a plate, too.”
I flash him a smirk. “Nah, you’re on your own.”
When I locate Eve again, I pause outside the dining room where the food is. She’s laughing with Jess and holding her new niece, making faces at her to get the baby to smile. I watch for a moment, rubbing at my chest.
Eve spots me, lighting up. “Cole! Come here, Gracie always gets the biggest kick out of you.”
I cross the room, reeled in by an invisible line anchoring my heart to her. The baby latches on to my finger when I offer it, gurgling happily. The girls laugh when I pretend it's a hockey stick and narrate Gracie scoring a goal.
“Soon enough you’ll be ready for your first mini stick.”
“Ohh, she’s so enamored by your voice you struck her silent to process,” Eve jokes.
“Nope, that would be poop face. That’s my cue,” Jess says.
“I’ve got her.” Benson swoops in from behind, plucking their daughter from Eve’s arms. He kisses Jess’ temple. “Relax, babe. Enjoy yourself.”
She smiles gratefully, following him. I envy their open affection.
“Alone at last,” Eve teases in an undertone.
“Not as alone as we could be.” I tip my head, indicating her parents' neighbors engrossed in conversation in the corner.
Her hip nudges mine and she bounces her brows. I return it with a secretive smile meant only for her.
She glances at the neighbors before catching my eye. My abdomen clenches when she reaches for the cocktail wieners. Batting her eyes, she gives the tip a tantalizing lick, then closes her lips around it.
“Evie,” I mutter.
“Mm, delicious.” Her eyes gleam, aware of what she’s doing to me. “Want to try it?”
I can’t handle it anymore. My self-control snaps.
When no one’s looking our way, I take her hand. She follows without hesitation. We slip away without drawing attention to ourselves, heading upstairs. I quickly bypass the bedrooms, pulling her into the bathroom at the end of the hall.
Her eyes sparkle when I press her to the door after locking it. “What’s wrong?”
“This.”
My mouth slams against hers. I swallow her gasp, kneading her waist. The kiss is deep, filthy, relentless. It’s tinged with the force of my need for her.
“Is that all?” Her eyes cloud with a dreamy haze.
“No. I need to touch you.” I fist her sweater dress, bunching it at her hip. “You drive me fucking crazy when you wear these.”
Swinging her away from the door, I push the dress to her waist and lift her to the counter.
I groan at the sight of her stockings. “Garters.”
They’re integrated as part of her tights and they’re sexy as fuck on her. My mouth finds hers in another smoldering kiss, swallowing her husky laugh at my reaction. I tug on the sheer material, wrapping the garters around my fingers.
“These protect my thighs from rubbing together,” she murmurs. “They come in other colors, if you like them on me this much.”
“Fuck yes. I’m buying you every single color.”
Kissing my way to her neck, I blindly move her panties aside and run my fingers through her folds. I’ve barely done anything to her, yet she’s ready for me.
“Have you been thinking about sneaking away with me? You’re already wet.”
“Cole,” she chokes.
“I need to touch you.”
Her protests die when I tease her clit, then glide a finger inside her. She parts her lips with a sigh.
“You like that?”
“Yes. More.”
My mouth stretches in a smirk. I kiss her throat.
“My girl gets everything she asks for.”
I add a second, curling them. She holds my arm, pulling on it to get me to fuck her with my fingers.
Christ, I want to drop to my knees and spend hours worshiping her. I want my tongue buried in her pussy until she comes on my face. I want to mark her everywhere, not just the places where no one will see.
Gripping a fistful of her bunched up dress, I use my fingers to make her fall apart. Pumping them in her pussy, pulling free to use her own wetness on her clit, sinking back into her. She’s so responsive to my touch, planting her hands behind her to arch her body, mouth open with a silent cry.
As she gets closer, I whisper encouragement, nuzzling her jaw.
“That’s it. You’re right there, aren’t you? Are you going to come all over my fingers?”
Her chest heaves with a strained gasp, then she bites back a moan. I smile against her cheek, slowing my fingers.
When I step back, I’m burning with the satisfaction of making her feel good.
She’s fucking gorgeous. Cheeks flushed, lips parted, hooded eyes locked on me.
I hold her gaze and lick my fingers clean, savoring her taste.
“All I’ll be able to think about the rest of the night is your come all over my hand and those pretty sounds you tried to smother,” I rasp.
Her lashes flutter and she spreads her legs wider. Heat pulses in my cock.
“Fuck me.”
I inhale sharply. “Here?”
“Yes. Right now. I need you.”
The plea makes me stagger, lightheaded from the rush of blood racing south.
“They’re going to notice if we’re gone too long.”
She whimpers, fingers toying with her glistening pussy. “So be quick. Take me hard and make me feel you inside me all night.”
“Fuck, Evie,” I hiss, threading my fingers in her hair.
My hand covers hers and together we play with her clit until she shudders for me. I help her down from the counter.
“Turn around.”
She leans over, flashing me her divine ass. I slip a finger beneath the garter built into her tights and snap it against her skin with a rumble. She arches with a strangled gasp.
I don’t waste anymore time, getting my cock out, pulling her thong to the side, and lining up. Pushing into her wet heat is fucking heaven every time.
She has trouble controlling her volume when I pull back and begin driving into her again. I cover her mouth to muffle her cries and bring my lips to her ear.
“Scream if you need to. I’ll keep you quiet while you take my cock like the good girl you are.”
Her pussy flutters. I want to make her feel this all night long.
To walk around freshly fucked, knowing she’s all mine. For our eyes to meet across the room and remember what we did while everyone was downstairs.
Biting back a rough noise, I angle her hips the way she likes and give her what she begged me for.
“You’re so fucking wet,” I croon.
She whimpers against my palm and presses back to meet each thrust.
“Touch yourself.”
Her hand moves so fast she almost knocks over a votive. I catch it before it topples over and right it without breaking my pace. I split my attention between watching my cock sinking into her and our reflection in the mirror.
She’s watching us, too. Fingers working her clit.
“Look at you. So gorgeous, baby.”
She stills with a strangled noise, her body squeezing me like a vice as she comes.
I’m so focused on her pleasure, my orgasm blindsides me. I grit my teeth, fucking her as long as I’m able to before my hips falter. Her pussy spasms as I flood it with come. With a ragged breath, I release her mouth and brace my hands on the counter, riding out the aftershocks.
Eve’s still trembling when I pull out. I smooth a palm down her spine, a thread of worry tugging my heartstrings.
“Are you okay?”
She nods languidly. I help her stay on her feet, pulling her against me for support.
“Are you sore? Was I too rough?”
“No, that was amazing,” she breathes. “So good.”
I run the water in the sink and focus on cleaning her with care first, then making quick work of myself. She smiles softly at me in the reflection of the mirror. I kiss her head, then help her pull her dress down and fix her hair.
“Think anyone’s noticed us missing?”
“I think they were all on their way to being drunk and merry, so they won’t be too worried.” She leans against the door. “I’ll go first. Ready?”
“Wait.”
I stare into her eyes, clasping her throat with my hand. I don’t break our gaze as my mouth dips to hers in a sensual kiss. She melts against the door until I catch her with an arm around her waist.
“Okay,” I rasp against her lips. “Now you can go back down to the party.”