Page 190 of Hard Pass

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Dublin

The house is quiet when I hear the door open.

I glance at the clock. It’s definitely later than I expected him, but he probably got hung up at the facility.

I’m in my room—my playroom, as Cole started calling it once he realized I’d claimed the space as mine. Papers spread out, laptop open, notes I’m pretending I can still do something with even though everything about this case is slipping through my fingers.

I hear his keys hit the bowl.

There’s no “hey” called down the hallway to see where I am. No curse under his breath because he probably forgot his wallet in his console again. Just silence.

Something’s wrong.

I’m already on my feet when he appears in the doorway, and whatever I was expecting, it wasn’t this.

He looks wrecked. And not in the bone-tired way he has after a hard game. This is worse, like something inside him just got torn out and he’s trying to act like it didn’t.

“Hey,” I say softly, concern in my voice.

His eyes find mine and . . . God, the agony in them steals the rest of my words.

He doesn’t say anything or even try. Instead, he crosses the room in three strides, grabs me, and pulls me into him almost as if he needs to make sure I’m real.

Air rushes out of my lungs as I wrap my arms around him and hold on.

“I need you, Dub,” he says into my hair.

Not want.

Need.

Acute need that sounds jagged around the edges with an unfiltered desperation.

My heart twists and head races over what could possibly be wrong, but I don’t ask. I simply run my hands up his back and pull him in tighter. “I’m here. Take what you need. I’m all yours.”

He exhales. It’s drawn out and shaky as he presses his face into my neck like he’s trying to disappear into me.

Questions race through my head, fast and relentless, but I don’t ask them.

Whatever this is, it’s bigger than answers, so I just hold him and let him take what he needs.

He slides his hands up my back, then down again, restless like he doesn’t quite know where to put them. Like he doesn’t know what to do with whatever is warring inside him.

I lean back, run my hands down both his cheeks and meet the absolute ruin in his eyes. “I love you, Cole,” I say as I brush my lips against his. “I’m yours.”

He turns his face into my palm, eyes fluttering closed, before he nods.

With his hand in mine, I lead him down the hall, past the kitchen, up the stairs, and into the bedroom. He follows without hesitation, like I’m the only thing tethering him right now.

When we enter the bedroom, I turn back to find him already watching me with eyes dark. Yearning.

I pull my pajama tank over my head and toss it to the side as the chilled air moves over my breasts. I push down my shorts and step out of them so I’m standing here as exposed as he is, just in a different way.

His eyes drink me in.

“Cole?”