Endless minutes pass while I just look at him, and my eyelids become heavy as well. After having to stifle a yawn, I carefully try to free my fingers from his grip.
A quiet growl comes from Cole’s throat before he moves to the middle of the bed. "Come here. You can sleep next to me."
All at once, I’m wide awake again.
He wants me to lie down with him? Why? Wouldn’t that be terribly inappropriate? And doIeven want that?
Those and a dozen other questions run through my head while my stomach does somersaults. But at least I know the answer to the last one.
My body acts on its own and slips under the covers, where it is warm and cozy. Facing Cole, I lie there and wait, but he says nothing more and remains still. His expression is soft as our hands rest between us, and I wonder what I’m doing here. It’s hard for me to form a thought, though, as everything in me is focused on Cole and his deep, slow breaths. My own breath stops the moment he lets go of my hand, wraps his arm aroundmy back, and gently pulls me close until his chin is resting on my head and my face is buried in the crook of his neck.
The heat of his body sets me ablaze as he tilts his head until I feel his lips on my hair. "You smell so good," he whispers, whereupon I close my eyes.
While reading my books, I have often wondered what it would feel like to lie in someone’s arms. The strangest sensations were described there, and although they all seemed good, I could never imagine what it would be like. There was even a time I believed it had to be scary to be that close to a man.
But this…
Nothing is scary about lying in Cole’s bed. Even his touch and the weight of his arm soothe me rather than frighten me. His breath grazes my scalp and sends ripples of warmth through my body again and again, making it nearly impossible for me to keep my thoughts together.
"Sophie?"
His raspy voice makes me want to snuggle even closer, but I resist the urge.
"Hmm?"
"You looked absolutely beautiful tonight."
NINETEEN
COLE
I can feel her body before I’m fully awake. And I can hear the lowtap-tap-tap-tapof fingertips drumming on wood. Neither of those make me want to open my eyes, but I know it’s inevitable to face both.
When I lift my eyelids, my gaze immediately lands on Sophie. She’s fast asleep, curled up next to me, her body nestled against my chest.
A blink and a slight turn of my head later, I see Jules sitting at the table. She has her chin propped up in one hand while she makes this fucking annoying noise with the other, staring at me meaningfully.
I groan and close my eyes for a moment before carefully rolling away from Sophie and sitting up on the edge of the bed, burying my face in my hands. "Fuck," I mutter, regretting having drunk so damn much.
"I’m eager to hear your explanation."
Jules’s voice nearly makes my head explode, causing me to grimace. "Shut up."
She makes an indignant sound. "I won’t. So? How is it that I wake up to find Sophie next to you? Did you guys?—"
I lift my head so abruptly that it makes her pause. "Have you lost your fucking mind?" I growl and stand. "I didn’t touch her. You really should know me better."
She contorts her face before relenting. "You’re right. I’m sorry. But I’d still like to know why she’s in your bed."
I rub my hands over my face again, then head for the coffee machine to turn it on. "She couldn’t sleep, so I offered to let her lie beside me."
"Uh-huh," Jules says, raising a brow. "And that was the only reason you did it? That she couldn’t sleep?"
"What kind of stupid question is that?" I quietly snap and turn to her after deciding not to make myself a coffee because the machine might wake Sophie. "I was wasted. How the fuck am I supposed to know what I was thinking?"
Jules returns my gaze without batting an eyelash. Then she shakes her head slowly, tilting it a little while doing so. "You’re really an idiot, Cole Walker. I’ve never come across someone as slow on the uptake as you."
"I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I beg you toshut. The fuck. Up.I can’t deal with this right now." Without giving her the chance to say more, I snatch my cigarettes and dash outside.
