My eyes catch on the clock on the nightstand, and I balk.
I should have been up long before now.
Forgetting about the noise, I dart across the hallway to my own bedroom so I can freshen up before heading out to start breakfast, hoping that Cole won’t be too annoyed that I’m late. I mean, it’s totally his fault. He kept me up late with all the kissing.
Warmth spreads through me as I think back to the night before, and my need to go and find him grows uncontrollably.
Assuming he’s in his gym, I turn toward the kitchen, but very quickly come to a grinding halt when I find him there with a towel thrown over his shoulder and a mess everywhere.
“What on earth are you doing?” I blurt in shock.
Cole spins toward me, and I can’t help but burst out laughing when I see the flour smeared across his cheek.
He smiles at me. But it’s not his confident, cocky smile that I’m used to. It’s uncertain and nervous, and I’m pretty sure I fall a little more for him then and there.
“Making breakfast?” I’m not sure it’s meant to come out sounding like a question, but it does.
“Do you need some help?” I ask, moving a little closer.
I may have pulled on a hoodie, but my legs are still almost fully exposed, and Cole’s eyes drop right to them.
“Are you trying to suggest I don’t know what I’m doing?”
“No, not at all,” I say with a smirk. “Just thought I’d offer my services, you know, should you need a hand.”
“Come here,” he says, reaching for me.
The moment I’m in touching distance, he grabs my hand and pulls me into his body, wrapping his arm around my back.
“Hey,” he breathes, gazing down at me as if I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.
“Hi,” I squeak, reaching up and brushing the flour from his cheek.
“Did you sleep well?”
“I did. Too well, it seems. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Because I didn’t need to. I don’t have to be at the arena today. I kept you busy last night; you deserved the rest.”
A smile pulls at my lips as my cheeks heat at the mention of our night.
“Not regretting it, are you?” he asks, trying to sound confident, but I see the flicker of vulnerability in his eyes.
“Nope. Are you?”
“Not in the slightest. It was the best night of my life.”
“Wow,” I laugh. “No pressure on what comes next, then.”
He shakes his head. “There’s no pressure, Whirlwind. We take all this at a pace you’re happy with. As long as I get this, I’m happy.” He squeezes me tighter before lowering his lips to mine.
We stand there in the middle of the chaos he’s created and lose ourselves in each other.
The scent of burning hits my nose, and I quickly pull back.
He frowns.
“Something is burning,” I point out.
