“Come here, babe,” he requestedquietly, still straddling his bike.
I went to him. When I was in reachingdistance, his arm snaked around my waist and pulled me flush against him. “You’vegot the sweetest mouth,” he murmured, pressing his lips to mine. I made a low noisein my throat and the kiss took on a life of its own. His tongue slid into mymouth sending tingles down my spine and legs, and his hand slid into my hairpulling gently. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and gave him everythingI had with a kind of abandon I didn’t know was in me.
“Shit, I have to go now,” he growledpulling free of me, his eyes shouldering.
I nodded, feeling slightly shaky on myfeet.
“Sleep well,” he said, starting thebike up again as I backed away.
“You, too.” I smiled and watched him ashe roared off down my street.
Apparently the sidewalk had turned toair as I walked to my apartment. My limbs seemed to move independently from therest of my body as I turned off the alarm and began to get ready for bed. I’dnever felt so completely blissed out in my entire life. I fell asleep smiling,something I’d never done before. I still had my hesitations about Cole andthere was still so much to consider, but in that moment after such a greatnight, all I could think about was how happy he made me.
Chapter Five
I woke up to the alarm clanging loudlythroughout our apartment. It took me a moment to place it before ice slidthrough my veins. I prayed it was just Kat forgetting the code, but deep down Iknew differently. I grabbed the baseball bat I kept underneath the bed andopened my bedroom door hesitantly. Kat was doing the same, and I gave her awide-eyed look. Clearly someone else had triggered the alarm. The front doorstood wide open and my heart hammered loudly in my veins. I took a quick visualsweep of the apartment. Whoever had tried to get in, the alarm must have scaredthem off. I went over and turned it off, my hands shaking so much that it tookme a couple of tries.
“We have to call the police, Scar,”Kat whispered behind me, her eyes wide.
“I know,” I sighed in resignation.
“I’ll put my name on the statement,”she said, trying to assure me.
“They’ll still want mine, too. It’s okay.It’s inevitable,” I sighed. Plus I had to face the fact that the person I’dbeen avoiding all this time and the break-ins were probably related anyway. Thethought was not a comforting one.
The police showed up fifteen minuteslater, two cars and three officers. It felt overwhelming to have so muchattention, and I shivered in my shorts andcami,wishing I’d thought to put on a robe.
I was dumbfounded when Cole stalkedinto the apartment as the police were finishing up our statements. He eyed mefor a moment before disappearing into my room and returning with my robe. Igratefully pulled it around myself and looked up at him beyond relieved, if notsurprised to see him.
“What are you doing here?” I askedquietly.
“We’ll talk later,” he replied firmly,turning to one of the officers to ask for details. Their conversation was justa blur of sound to me as I tried to make sense of everything that washappening.
I realized with a jolt that I shouldjust leave town. As much as it pained me, I was bringing nothing but troublefor Kat and now for Cole.
“I’mstayin’,”Cole said firmly once the police had taken their reports and pulled away intheir cars. The apartment felt eerily quiet with all the commotion over.
I saw Kat sag with relief at Cole’sdecree and I nodded, grateful to have his presence as well.
“What do we do about the door?” Iasked, looking at the now splintered front door.
He looked down at the baseball bat bymy feet and took it over to the door wedging it underneath the handle forcingit closed. “Anyone opens it, the alarm will sound, but I doubt anyone woulddare with my bike parked out front,” he said confidently.
He was probably right. And I couldn’tdeny that I was relieved to have someone else take care of things for a change.I hadn’t known Cole long but I already trusted him, something beyond rare forme.
“Bed, babe,” he said softly, taking inmy frazzled state.
I nodded before turning to Kat. “I’mso sorry Kat,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with emotion.
“Don’t you ever say you’resorry.This isnot your fault. I won’t ever accept that type of apology. Got it?” shedemanded. Kat had already done so much for me and now I was bringing my shitdirectly to her door. There was no way I couldn’t be sorry, but I knew her wellenough to bite my tongue.
I nodded without speaking and headedoff to my room. I heard Cole speak to her for a few moments as I crawled backunderneath the covers, but I couldn’t hear what they said. He entered the roommoments later, ditching his jacket, shirt, and jeans--leaving him in nothingbut boxers. I was too upset to appreciate the view, which was unfortunate.
He crawled into bed and didn’thesitate pulling me against him.
“How did you know?” I asked quietly,resting my head on his firm chest. His skin was warm and he smelled amazing. Mysenses were rapidly returning it seemed.
“Wes did a drive by,” he explained.“Why didn’t you call?” he demanded lightly.
