“Goooo. And don’t call me back until you’ve at least told him you’re ready to see what lovemaking is all about.”
I groan, and she laughs.
“I love you,” she sings.
“Even when I don’t,” I grumble.
“Oh, and Ry. Have fun.” I hear the smile in her tone as she hangs up.
I flop back on the bed.
Just talk to him.
We’ve done plenty of that over the past few months.
I stare at the ceiling, the peacefulness of this place settling around me.
It’s been weeks of nothing but quiet, fresh mountain air. Cole and I have hiked, sat by the fire at night, and talked into the wee hours of the morning, just as we have these past months. I’ve shared with him pieces of my life before Tracker found me, and he’s still here, loving me, just like he said he would be.
When we returned from London, Cole and his agent met with the Stingrays and renegotiated his contract. After next season, he’ll be a free agent. It gives him a year to scope out his next career move and time for us to be together.
Cole is renting a house in Miami, and Jos has taken over Jamie’s room in the townhouse, but complains because I’m never there. I’ve been assisting the FBI, and my days are filled with reviewing files and surveillance, helping them understand and track Nichol’s underground dealings. TJ signed on as well, and we’re only beginning to discover how deep and wide his workings spread.
But through it all, Cole was determined to make sure he could still spend time with Matt, and staying in Miami made that possible. Bit by bit, we’ve watched that little boy come back to life now that he’s living with Track and Hope.
How could I not love this man? I run a hand over my face, knowing how much I want to give all of myself to him, but I’m nervous. Not of him, but of my past, taking from me all that I want this to be.
Cole’s been so incredibly patient. Always backing off and never pushing things further, but now, I want him to, and I guess I need to tell him that.
I curl up and stand, forcing myself to be brave and take back another thing stolen from me so long ago—the ability to give myself to a man I love without fear.
I leave the bedroom and find Cole, shirtless, his joggers low on his waist, focused on his phone.
I take him in. All long, lean muscle and smooth skin. Skin that I know exactly what it feels like. His familiar scent, sounds, and movements. The way his hands and body feel compared to all others. But I want a chance to know all of him.
A sly smile creeps across his mouth, but his eyes remain on his phone. “You’re staring.”
I keep staring at all the gorgeous, humble self-assuredness that makes me feel so safe and secure. He makes me brave.
“No, I’m not.”
He peeks at me from under his long, dark eyelashes, but then his head slowly drags up.
I’m not self-conscious about my body. I just don’t give people access to it, and Cole knows this. I like baggy sweats, but I stand in only his T-shirt.
I bite the corner of my lip. “You’restaring.”
That smile returns. “Yes, I am.”
I look away, trying not to smile, but dammit, I can’t. I take a few steps closer to him. He watches me.
“What are you doing?” I gesture to his phone, but his eyes don’t leave mine.
“They sent out the schedule for next week.”
The Stingrays’s camp starts next week, and we have to be back in Miami. I’m not ready to leave the quietness of this place. The kind of quiet that gives me courage.
I move to him, pulling in a breath. Not because I’m afraid, but because it’s a big deal to regain power over yourself and your body.
