He doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. I just enjoy having him to myself like this.
We’re heading to the Fractured Compass to celebrate with the team. I’m not going to get him alone again for quite some time.
Dragging my eyes from where he’s white-knuckling the wheel, I run my gaze up his exposed muscular forearm to where his rolled shirt sleeve rests just above his elbow. I keep going, taking in the way the fabric stretches across his bicep and shoulder before getting to his profile.
His square jaw is covered in a couple of days’ worth of scruff, his lips are full, and his eyes are fully focused on the road ahead.
“See something you like?” he deadpans.
My breath catches, and I cough.
“Shit. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I was just…lost in my own head.”
“Penny for your thoughts,” he says, turning his burning eyes on me.
I smile and look away, feeling too seen under his intense gaze.
“Ah, those kinds of thoughts,” he teases.
“What? No. I just…” His hand squeezes my thigh in silent reassurance that I don’t need to finish that thought.
He knows.
He gets it.
“You know, I could just take this right and we could go home,” he rasps.
Home.
It’s weird. At no point did I mean for Cole’s apartment to become that, but somewhere along the way, it has. It’s home. It’s a place I love being and a place I crave to go back to when I’m away. Even more so if he’s going to be there.
“We can’t. They’re all expecting us,” I say, despite wanting to say the very opposite.
“Hmm,” he mumbles, taking the left instead.
“Just a couple of drinks, then?”
A smile twitches at my lips as nerves race through me.
“Y-yeah, okay.”
He squeezes my thigh again as he drives us to the bar and parks as close as he can. The second he removes his hand from my thigh, coldness engulfs my body, and I regret not taking him up on his offer of just going home.
“Stay here,” he demands as soon as he kills the car before climbing out and marching around the hood to open my door for me.
He holds his hand out, and despite not needing any assistance, I slide my palm against his.
Heat rushes up my arm as his fingers wrap around my hand, holding tight.
My feet hit the ground, and he tugs me until we’re standing with barely an inch between us.
He gazes down at me with an expression that he seems to reserve only for me.
“Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?” he says softy.
I shake my head, a smile playing on my lips.
