Dread fills the pit of my stomach and I slowly get up from my stool, my footsteps hesitant as I step to the side of the window and peer out through the curtain. It's dark, but I see him immediately as he stands a few feet away with the soft glow from his phone screen illuminating his face.
Relief floods me and my shoulders sag, releasing the nervous breath I was holding. I lift my hands, attempting to speak nonverbally with him. Cole moves his hand, like he's pointing to the front of the house. I nod in understanding, hoping that's what he means as he disappears back around the corner of the house.
Abandoning my painting, I head through the house, my bare feet padding on the wood floors as I walk to the front door. Unlocking the deadbolt, I turn the knob, pulling it open to Cole standing on the front porch, his throat bobbing as our gazes collide.
“Cole,” I breathe his name, my heart pounding against my rib cage. “You came.”
The corners of his mouth lift. “You called.”
My breath catches in my throat and time is momentarily suspended between us. His eyes search mine, doing a sweeping motion from one eye to the other before he closes the distance between us. He doesn't stop until he's entering my space, his hand sliding along the side of my face as he tips my head back.
And then his lips crash into mine.
He breathes me in with a tenderness that has my heart crumbling in my chest. He's in tune with my body and his opposite hand finds my waist as he holds me close to him. My hand instinctively lifts to wrap around his neck as his lips move against mine.
He tastes like chocolate and smells like leather and cedar. His scent penetrates my senses and I inhale deeply, finding comfort and solace in the familiarity. I've always been safe with Cole and he's always made sure I knew it.
My hands grip at the back of his neck, holding him close as his tongue slides along the seam of my mouth. Without hesitation, I part my lips, granting him access. He deepens the kiss, his lips melting into mine. I match every movement. Every taste. Every breath.
His leg presses between mine, pushing me back into the house. I take a few steps back, guiding him along with me as the screen door slams shut. Cole moves, pushing his foot against the main door and it closes behind us. Dropping one hand from his head, I reach around, turning the lock on the knob.
“I won't let anyone get you, Ella,” Cole promises as he breaks away from me for a moment. “No one will get to you or Chloe, ever.” He stares down at me, earnest and truthful.
The emotion is evident in his voice and he rolls his lips between his teeth, biting it back before he releases them.
“I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner,” I rasp, my voice low as he backs me farther into the house until we're walking into the laundry room.
“You don't owe me an apology.” He slides his hands down past my ass, grabbing the backs of my thighs as he hauls me into the air. He sets me down on the washer and settles between my legs. “I would have waited however long you needed.”
“I would never ask you to do that.”
He tilts his head to the side. “You would never have to.”
I pull him back to me, his mouth instantly finding mine. My hands reach for his shirt, slowly pushing up the bottom hem as my fingers trail over his back. Cole follows my lead, his hands mimicking mine as he begins to lift my shirt up to my neck.
My arms lift and I break away from him, letting him strip my shirt away. Cold air dances across my naked torso and Cole groans as he watches my nipples harden from the cool temperature.
“Jesus, I've missed you.” He pauses as he reaches behind his neck and pulls his shirt up over his head. “In more ways than this,” he adds with a wink while tossing his shirt onto the counter behind me. “I know we need to talk, but I need you, Ella.”
“I'm yours, Cole.” I pause, letting out a ragged breath.
He abruptly pulls me off the washer so I'm standing flat footed in front of him. His hands find my waist and his eyes search mine once more. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
I'm caught off guard as he spins me around to face the opposite direction. “Take off the rest of your clothes,” he instructs as I glance over my shoulder at him. He's already undoing his belt buckle and jeans. I watch as he pushes them halfway down his legs, dragging his boxer briefs with them. “If you don't want me to fuck you like this, tell me now.”
Shaking my head at him, I follow his orders and push down my own pants and panties. They pool around my ankles as Cole begins to push me forward until the front of my body is flush on the counter.
His fingers urge my legs apart and he moves them against my pussy. “Fuck, you're so wet already.”
“I've been waiting for you,” I rasp, half panting as he presses his cock against my entrance. “For far too long.”
Shifting my weight, I rock back against him, earning a groan from him as he grabs my ass cheeks and starts to push inside me. He stretches me, filling me completely in one fluid movement. The barbells along the underside of his cock rub against my insides, sending a shockwave of pleasure through me.
“Ella, darlin’, I want to fuck you so hard right now, but I don't want to hurt you.”
Excitement washes over me, dancing with the heat in the pit of my stomach. I turn my head to look at him over my shoulder. “You won't hurt me, Cole. I want you to do it.”
