Cole’s lips parted, and his eyes snapped up to mine.
“It took a long time to see that the ocean was beautiful and feel that the sand was soft. It was the only thing that brought me just a little bit of joy, just enough to keep going.”
“Stop,” he whispered.
I pressed my forehead to his. “Never, because you need to know that I was just as messed up over being away from you.”
Tension rolled around his eyes. “Stop. Talking.”
“I thought about you every second of every day.”
“Oakley, I swear to God…”
“Living without you felt like–”
He grabbed my hips and flipped us over, laying me on the bed. His eyes, now angry as hell, bore into mine. “I said stop talking.”
Claiming my mouth, he kissed me, pouring every ounce of fury felt, showing me how badly he was hurting back then.
His hands were everywhere, sliding from my back into my hair, biting into my skin in the most deliciously maddening way.
I didn’t care about not talking in that moment. We hadn’t always needed words, and this time it was his turn to let his actions do the speaking.
So, that evening, I held on and met his desperate kisses and frenzied strokes of his hips.
Chapter 20
Oakley
Ididn’t want the weekend to end. Not only because Cole and I needed more time, but because Dad was being sentenced today.
I’d stayed at Cole’s again last night and we were still using sex as a way to ignore the elephant in the room.
Right now, I was sitting on the living room floor playing Polly Pockets with Leona. I’d had some of them when I was little, but I had no clue where they were now. We’d gotten rid of most of our things when we left England, but some childhood stuff was in Ali’s loft.
Cole was on the sofa watching us. He was smiling but there was a lot of tension in his stiff shoulders. I think we all felt a bit tense.
“Would you like tea?” Leona said, shoving a tiny figure in my face. “Look, Oaley, her hair is like yours.”
“Oh, yeah. But I don’t have a pretty pink dress like hers.”
“You have princess hair.”
“So do you. We should get matching crowns and make your uncle Cole bring us snacks and drinks.”
Her face lit up, mouth popping open. “Un–”
“No,” Cole said, cutting Leona off and playfully scowling at me.
“Are you two ready?” Jenna asked, fiddling with her earrings. “Your Mum’s just arrived.”
I put the toy down and looked at Cole. He stood, offering me his hand.
“It’s not fair,” Leona protested.
“I’ll play with you, sweetheart,” Jenna said. “I’m sorry I can’t be there.”
I waved my hand. “Don’t be, I understand. We’ll call you when we get out.”
