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Me, my heart fluttering a thousand times faster: Done!
Cole: Bro and Mac w/U?
Me: Nope. They love us enough 2 give us nite 2 ourselves.
Cole: Perfect. I’ll turn off alarm & unlock my window.
Gavin winked at me. “So tonight’s the night, huh? Finally gonna get that cherry popped.”
No way. There was just no way he’d gone there. “You are such a pig.”
“Pigs are cute.”
“And filthy.”
“The perfect combination.”
It was impossible to insult someone who never took offense. “Look, I’m not going to discuss my sex life—or lack of one—with you, of all people.”
Undeterred, he said, “Unless you break your neck on the way in, you’re diving into that boy’s bed the second you get there, and we both know it.”
Good glory. He and Nana were a tag team, and I wasn’t sure which one had the better right cross.
“So...you want any tips for taking things from ordinary to extraordinary?” he asked. “I’m something of a sex-pert.”
“Actually, you’re something of a slut-pert.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not even a word.”
I couldn’t judo-chop his airway. He would lose control of the car and crash. “Why don’t I just cut off my ears and give them to you?” I muttered to myself. “It would hurt less than this conversation.”
“Fine. Be that way. Fumble around in the dark. See if I care.”
“You totally shouldn’t care!”
“Well, I do. You’re my cupcake. I happen to think you deserve to be frosted just—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence or I swear I’ll start a douche-bag jar and make you put a fiver in it.”
He grinned at me. “It’d be a douche-purse jar, and you know it.”
Never going to live that down. Nana and her “teen-speak” would haunt me for the rest of my life. “Why don’t you tell me all about your first time, hmm? Was it special? Did you cover your bed in rose petals?”
“It was the most specialest,” he answered, deadpan. “And yes.”
I rolled my eyes again. I rarely left his presence without giving him five good ones. “Whatever. This subject is closed, Barbie, so you can shut it now or lose your tongue.”
He didn’t shut it. Of course. “Barbie? That’s the nickname you pick for me?”
“Hate it?” I asked with a smirk. A girl could only hear “cupcake” so many times before she had to strike back.
“Absolutely love it. I’ve always suspected you want to take me out and play with me.”
See! Impossible!
“Anyway,” he continued, “how are you going to seduce Cole Has All the Luck Holland?”
I snorted. “Are you serious? Like a girl really needs to do anything more than breathe.”
He shook his head and tsked, as if to say I pity you. “Listen up, cupcake. I’m about to drop major pearls of wisdom.”
“Even though I know how rare wisdom-dropping is for you, please, don’t.”
“If I want to get a chick into bed, I say one of two things. ‘I screwed up.’ Or ‘let’s talk about it.’ Boom. Clothes are flying, limbs are tangled and freaky things are happening. But if you say those things to Cole, he’s such a pansy he’ll be over and done in his jeans before the good stuff even starts.”
“Give me a minute to get over my shock that you’re still single.”
“I know, right. You’ll probably need more than a minute, though. It’s a real mind puzzler.”
“Look, some couples care about more than sex.” I thought about the way Cole sometimes looked at me, as if the sun rose and set just for me. “They care about connecting.”
“You’re proving my point for me. They care about connecting...physically.”
“Mentally. Emotionally.”
“Honey buns, only one half of the couple cares about the mental and emotional, and here’s a hint—it’s not the guy. But I digress. You’re just going to jump him, aren’t you? No muss, no fuss—you’ll just tear off his clothes and show him who’s boss.” He wiggled his brows. “Why, Ali Bell, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Question: If I gutted him like a zombie, would anyone actually convict me of a crime?
Answer: No! Everyone would thank me.
“Just...concentrate on the road,” I said.
He obeyed, which made me suspicious of his next move. I studied his profile. He could have been plucked straight out of a magazine. An underwear ad. Hence the nickname I’d given him. He was pretty-boy beautiful, with blond hair and sparkling eyes of green and gold.
“You’re staring,” he said. “Thinking about doing me now? Well, I hate to break it to you, cupcake, but that ship has sailed.”
Third eye-roll. “Trying to figure you out.”
“Although,” he continued, as if I hadn’t spoken, “I could probably be convinced to show you how a real man pleases a woman after Cole screws everything up. You know, as an act of mercy.”
“I’d rather a zombie show me. You will never be a candidate.” Keeping him humble was a service I offered free of charge—and I still wasn’t sure I was getting my money’s worth.
He shrugged. “Your loss.”
“You’re only being so generous—” I nearly choked on the word “—because you don’t like being told no.”
“Or because chicks are like candy, and it’s my mission to taste-test all the different flavors.”
Fourth eye-roll. “Roughly four weeks ago, you claimed you wanted to find true love and become part of a meaningful relationship.”
“Roughly four weeks ago, I was an idiot,” he replied with a shudder.
I shook my head in exasperation. “You’re an STD waiting to happen. You know that, don’t you?”
“Super talented director?” He hiked his shoulders. “Not sure I want to get into the movie business, but okay.”
“Wrong. So totally douchey. And you’re already in deep.”
He flipped me off, and when I laughed, he pressed his finger against my nose. “I take it Cole’s dad has no idea you’ll be staying over and corrupting his son.”
“That’s right.” Just to be contrary, I added, “I’m going to corrupt him so hard.”
Gavin gave a dramatic sigh. “If I didn’t like Cole so much, I’d hate him. That prick always gets the rare, limited-time flavors.” He eased the car to a stop beside the curb and killed the lights.
My mind instantly switched tracks, my heart drumming with excitement. In less than a minute, I would be in Cole’s arms.
“Thanks for the ride, Gavin.”
“Anytime, cupcake. Even if it wasn’t the ride I wanted to give you.”
“Good glory.” I removed one of my gloves and threw it at him.
He caught and kissed it.
An-n-nd there went the fifth eye-roll.
There went another answering grin.
I abandoned the warmth of the car for the frigid chill of the night, my boots crunching in ice as I raced toward the spacious one-story with red brick and white wood trim. In my eagerness, I missed the rock in my path and tripped.
A+, self.
Cole’s window was in back, the first on the left. It was unlocked, just as he’d promised. I scrambled inside as quietly as possible and closed the glass behind me.
Before I could turn around or adjust to the deeper darkness of the room, I was grabbed.
A hard hand clamped over my mouth, silencing my gasp. Another hand wrapped around me, pinning my arms to my sides to prevent my elbows from doing any damage.
“I said five minutes, Miss Bell.” Cole’s low, husky voice caressed me, draining the fight right out of me. “You took eight. Do you know what that means?”
I swallowed a giggle. “I need to buy a watch?”
“You’re finally getting that spanking I’ve been promising you.” His hands fell away, and I spun to face him, keeping my eyes to the floor out of habit.
Usually, when our eyes met for the first time during any given day, we had a vision of our future. We’d caught a glimpse of each other earlier this morning, saving us the hassle now.
I was glad.
What we’d seen... I hadn’t let myself think about it, too afraid I’d break down. Cole, leaning against a tree, crimson streaking his face and chest, soaking his hands, his expression a mix of unequaled pain and immeasurable grief as I walked away from him.
Walked. Away.
There was no reason good enough for that.
How badly was he injured? When would the vision come true? In a few days? Weeks? Months? There had never been any sort of time limit. The only guarantee was that it would happen. We’d never managed to stop one.
Red alert! Red alert! Impending emotional breakdown.
I shoved the worry into the mental box, stretching the sides. It was a fight, but I managed to lock the lid.
Better. For now.
“You can look at me,” he said. “I won’t bite...very hard.”
My gaze moved up, up and linked with his, and suddenly I was trapped by a yearning that had plagued me since the first moment we’d met. For him...for this...for more.
A slow grin lifted the corners of his wicked mouth.
Dude. While Gavin was pretty, Cole was pure, rugged sex appeal. He should totally come with a warning. Possible panty melting. Moonlight spilled over him, illuminating him, and for a few seconds, I thought I heard angels singing. His black hair stood out in adorable spikes, as if he’d plowed his hands through the strands one too many times. Eager to see me, perhaps? His gorgeous violet eyes were framed by lashes so thick and black, he always looked like he’d applied eyeliner.
As for the rest of him...
Good glory! I knew the physique hidden by his clothing. Skin bronzed to perfection. Muscles honed to perfection. A perfect chest covered by the most perfect tattoos. One of his nipples was pierced—meow!—and it was, you guessed it, perfect.
His knuckles feathered over my cheek, the slight touch electrifying me. “I missed you.”
Shivering, I said, “How much?”
“Why? Do you think you missed me more?”
“Sure of it.”
“I will happily prove you wrong. After I see my surprise.”
“Get ready for pure awesomeness.” I lifted my hair and pivoted, revealing my neck.
Silence descended.
I frowned, suddenly nervous. What if he didn’t like it? Ink was permanent.
“Ali.” His voice, so husky and deep, was temptation and silk, stroking over me. “Did I ever tell you all the reasons I love you?”
“No.” I licked my lips and shook my head, gathering the courage to face him. His eyes were heavy-lidded, smoldering.
He liked the tattoo.
“Tell me now,” I commanded softly.
