“Cole,” I moaned.
“You have no idea the dreams I’ve had of you.”
“Please more.”
“How many times I’ve wanted to bend you over.”
“Yes!”
“Take you from behind.”
“Don’t stop. Don’t stop.”
“How many times I’ve wanted to come into this fucking room and wake you up with my tongue between your legs; my face buried in that juicy pussy.”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.”
His lips fell against mine, and I wrapped my braced arm around his neck. He rolled his hips slowly, swiveling his rough curls against my swollen clit. He took great care with my body, being kind to my bruises and my wounds, staying away from my casts and still, somehow, making me feel as if he were riding off with me into the sunset. I bit down on his lower lip. Growls filled my mouth as his tongue slipped past my lips. I kissed him so hard our teeth clattered together, causing my pussy to clamp down against his girth.
And the grunt he graced me with shot electricity through my body.
He pulled out and slowly flipped me over, scooting me up the bed. I clamored for the pillows, waiting for the moment when he’d wrap his hand in my hair. It was my favorite move. When he took hold of my body and pounded into me from behind. He pressed my unbruised cheek into the comfort of the pillow, fisting my hair with his hand.
Then, he inched his cock into my pussy until his pelvis sat against my ass.
“You’re fucking beautiful,” he grunted.
“I’m fucking yours.”
“And don’t you forget it, baby.”
He pounded into me, my body jumping against the bed. The headboard knocked against the wall, setting a rhythm Cole took as a challenge. The faster the headboard moved, the faster he fucked me, until I cried out his name and darkness took over my vision. My eyes rolled back as that coil tightened in the pit of my gut. I pressed my good hand against the headboard, pushing myself back into him. The curses that fell from his lips ignited me and stoked the fire in my chest as his cock swelled deep inside my body. I whimpered for him. I felt myself climbing that mountain. Colors sizzled in the blackness of my vision as my toes began to curl.
“Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Fucking hell, Cole. Holy shit.”
“I’ve. Missed. This.”
Skin slapping skin filled the room. His musky scent filled my nostrils. I spiraled into a haze that overtook my entire body, and I didn’t pull out of it until I fell over the edge. Cole released my hair. He planted his hands into the small of my back. I quivered, feeling my pussy massaging him as his fingertips dug into my skin.
“That’s it. That’s it. Cole, oh yes,” I whimpered as I felt him explode deep inside me.
He caught me around my stomach just as I collapsed. He pulled me into him, settling us slowly onto the bed as evidence of our love dripped down my thighs. He settled me against his chest. His fingers threaded softly through my tangled locks. I placed my ear against his heart, listening to it beat rapidly, threatening to burst forth from his body.
“Are you okay?” Cole murmured.
I kissed his skin. “I’m not going to break, okay? I’m fine. You need to understand that.”
“This has been… hard.”
I grinned. “You’ve been hard.”
“Layla.”
“I know, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood.”
He sighed. “I know you’re in pain.”
“Well, being sexually frustrated doesn’t help. I’ve felt like you don’t want me anymore.”
“That’s nowhere near the truth, and you know it.”
“Then, stop treating me with kid gloves. The doctor cleared me, Cole. And if the doctor says it’s okay, then it’s okay. Okay?”
He snickered. “I hear you.”
“Good.”
With the quickest of movements, he scooped me into his arms. Holding me against his chest, he slid off the bed and whisked me away to the bathroom. He sat me on the bathroom counter before running me a bath with rose-scented salts and vanilla-scented bubbles. The aroma was intoxicating. I closed my eyes and reveled in the smells that filled the room. I felt him take my arm brace off, and I opened my eyes, watching as he crouched down.
I smiled as he wrapped my foot cast up in a plastic bag and taped it off, like he’d done so many times before.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
He stood up and kissed me. “Anything for you.”
He gathered me back into his arms and stepped us into the tub. No jets this time. But eventually we’d get there, once my cast was no longer vulnerable to the splashing water. With his arms wrapped around me and his lips pressing mindless kisses against my temple, I sank into him and sighed with content. I closed my eyes again, relishing the feeling of him girding my body in the tub.
I don’t want to go home.
“Then, don’t,” Cole said.
My eyes snapped open. My jaw dropped in shock. He chuckled before kissing my ear. Then, he crooked his finger underneath my chin. He tilted my head back. His eyes came into view. I must’ve had some kind of a look on my face, because he continued laughing before he kissed my lips.
“If you don’t want to go home, then don’t,” he said.
“I—said that out loud?” I asked.
“You did.”
“Shit.”
“Is that what you want?”
I paused. “Is that what you want?”
“I wouldn’t have fought your mother tooth and nail to get you to heal here if I didn’t want you here.”
I held my breath. “So, you’d be okay with me staying?”
He smiled before he captured my lips, sealing a kiss against me as my heart slammed against my sternum.
“Please, Layla. I’m begging you. Move in with me and put us both out of our misery,” he said.
Laughter fell from my lips. “I can never resist a handsome man begging.”
“So, that’s a yes?”
I kissed him again. “That’s a hearty yes, indeed.”
“Good. Because I’m tired of coming up with excuses as to why you haven’t moved out yet.”
“Wait, what?”
“Your mother knows the doctor’s cleared you. I’ve been fielding her questions for a while now.”
My jaw dropped open. “What have you been telling her?”
“That you’d be ready whenever you were ready.”
“Oh, so you’re throwing me under the bus.”
“And now, we don’t have to throw anyone under the bus,” he said, grinning.
“You cheeky little bastard.”
His lips fell back to mine as he picked me up out of the bath and carried me to the bed. He dried me off from head to toe before letting his lips linger against my thighs.
“Cole,” I gasped.
“What? Did you really think I was finished with you?” he asked.
“I really should know you better than—mm—that.”
“Oh, you really, really should, beautiful.”
29
Layla
“All right, class! Today, we’re going to be working on self-portraits.”
The first graders groaned as they filed into my class. I smiled as they slumped into their chairs, ready to start their days with paint and colored pencils.
But first, a small lecture.
“Does anyone know the famous artist who painted the most self-portraits?” I asked.
The students sighed collectively, and I giggled.
“That’s right! Vincent Van Gogh,” I said.
“The sunflowers guy?” a student asked.
“Right, you are. The sunflowers guy. He painted over forty portraits of himself while he was alive. Can you believe that?” I asked.
“Dad takes that many pictures of himself,” another student said.
I giggled again. “Well, today, we’re going to be drawing pictures of each and every one of you. I’m going to pass out little mirrors, and then you�
��re going to draw what you see.”
“Can we use paint?”
“You can use any medium you want. Do you remember what the word ‘medium’ means?”
“It means whatever you wanna use to make stuff with.”
“Exactly. So, if you want to use paint, use paint. If you want to sketch it, sketch it. If you want to use markers, use those,” I said.
“What about cutting pieces of paper?”
“A Picasso among us! I like it. Yes, you can cut pieces of paper and glue them onto another piece of paper,” I said.
The kids quickly perked up as I passed out the plastic mirrorlike devices. As they all got to work making messes and destroying their spots to create their masterpieces, I sat down at my desk. I pulled out my phone and placed an online order with a local bakery, trying to order some sweets Millie might like. I wanted to thank Cole for hiring my mother to do her tutoring. She’d called me last night in an absolute fit of joy over it. She couldn’t stop talking about it. She already had a curriculum for the poor girl. I hadn’t heard my mother that excited about anything in years.
And it got her to stop apologizing about Ace. That required a thank-you in and of itself.
The day flew by, and I grew excited when I got a notification from the bakery that my order was ready for pickup. I kept an eye on the clock. The second my planning period was over, I rushed out of my room, locked the door, and bolted for my car.
I practically salivated over the smell of the bakery’s brownies.
I stopped by my place to pick up Ace, who had gotten stronger as the days progressed. I piled him into the car with his favorite blanket, then made my way for Cole’s place. I pulled into the driveway, and Ace began wagging his tail. I grabbed the baked goods as Ace stumbled out of the car. But when I reached for him to pick him up, he growled and nipped at me, showing his stubborn side as he struggled on three legs to get up onto the porch.
“You’re stubborn as a bull, you know that?” I asked.
I knocked on the door as Ace stood next to me, his tail wagging about. And when Cole opened the door, his eyes widened, and shock ran across his face. Ace bolted into the house, making a beeline for Millie as she laughed and giggled on the living room floor.
“Well, what a surprise,” Cole said.
“Hope we didn’t catch you at a bad time. Here,” I said.
I handed him the box of baked goods, and he grinned.
“What’s all this for?” he asked.
“Celebratory baked goods because you made my mother so incredibly happy the other day. She’s even finally stopped apologizing about things,” I said.
“Well, if we’re celebrating, then we should also celebrate the fact that Millie’s finally opening up to me.”
I paused. “Wait, what?”
“Yep.”
“Like, talking to you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What has she told you?” I whispered.
He smiled. “Why don’t you come in and I’ll tell you all about it.”
He ushered me into the house, and Millie leapt from the floor. She came rushing for me, and I scooped her up, holding her close to my body. I watched as Hope and Ace played around on the floor. He looked like he was damn near about to get trampled by the small puppy. I watched Cole walk into the living room, picking up Ace and saving him from the rambunctious little girl.
And much to my shock, he actually cuddled Ace into his chest.
“Guess what?” Millie asked.
My attention turned back to her. “What’s that?”
“The leaves. They look pretty right now. And I like snow. Can we play in the snow when it snows?”
“Of course we can. I’ll come over and play with you, too. How’s that sound?”
“Really?”
“Really, really.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I sighed. I closed my eyes, just imagining all she’d gone through in her five short years of life. I kissed her cheek, then pulled back enough to gaze into her eyes. And when she smiled at me, my heart came alive.
I loved this little girl more than I could stand.
“I’m so proud of you,” I said.
“And Miss Ginny’s coming over tomorrow!” she exclaimed.
I laughed. “You know Miss Ginny’s my mom, right?”
Millie paused. “Really?”
“Mhm. She’s my mama.”
Her face fell. “I miss my mama.”
I brought her back into my body and felt her sigh heavily. Cole walked over and rubbed my back, trying to get me to relax. My heart broke for the girl.
“Whatever this doctor’s doing, keep her going back,” I murmured.
“Trust me, I am,” Cole said.
“Hey, Millie,” I said.
She sniffled. “Yeah?”
“Do you like brownies?”
She shot up. “Chocolate?”
“Mhm. Chocolate brownies.”
“I love brownies.”
“I brought some with me. Want one?”
She gasped. “Uncle Cole! She brought brownies!”
He chuckled. “I heard that.”
“Can I have a big one?” she asked.
“You can have the biggest one. How does that sound?” I asked.
“Is no one going to ask me how I feel about this?” Cole asked.
“Please, Uncle Cole?” Millie asked.
He sighed. “Fine, fine. Yes. You can have a brownie. But don’t let it ruin your dinner appetite. Okay?”
“Thank you!”
She wiggled out of my arms and dropped to the floor, making me laugh out loud. She made a beeline into the kitchen, where Cole guided me with his hand on the small of my back. He stole a kiss against my shoulder before he made his way for the cabinets. When I cleared my throat, he tossed me a wink that seized my heart.
“Chocolate before dinner. What in the world am I gonna do with the two of you?” Cole asked.
“You can cut it in half, if you want,” Millie said softly.
“Hey there. Good compromising skills. I’m proud of you,” I said.
She wrinkled her nose. “What’s commoprising?”
I giggled. “Compromising is when you only get part of what you want because someone else gets part of what they want.”
“Like when I share some of my macaroni with Hope because she wants some, too?” she asked.
“Like what now?” Cole asked.
I threw my head back in laughter. “Exactly like that, Millie. Exactly. Like. That.”
I looked over and saw Cole shaking his head. I couldn’t stop laughing, either. Millie joined me in my laughter, though I knew she had no idea what I was laughing about. Cole dished up the sweet treats and glasses of milk. Then, the three of us sat down at the kitchen table. Millie was more talkative than ever, telling me all about her doctor’s appointment and how she was looking forward to spending more time with Miss Ginny Mama.
And the way she kept looking at her Uncle Cole warmed my heart.
My conversation faded into the background as the two of them fell into their own little world. Once we were finished, I gathered up the plates, watching as she wiggled into Cole’s lap. He picked her up and danced her around the room. She clung tightly to him, squealing and giggling as he sang terribly into her ear. I rinsed the dishes off and put them in the dishwasher, then dried my hands off. And as I slapped the rag over my shoulder, a thought crossed my mind.
What if I hadn’t accepted that invitation?
For a split second, guilt filled my gut. I’d met Brent—my late fiancé—back in high school. Our first date ever was to his senior prom while I was still a junior. And I could remember, clear as day, the elation and disappointment I felt when he asked. On the one hand, Brent had been cute. Very, very cute. One of the cutest guys in school. And on the other hand… I don’t know.
He wasn’t Cole.
I mean, not that I could’ve gone to Cole’s prom or had him come to mine. There was a sol
id six-year difference in age between the two of us. It wouldn’t have been possible. And yet, even back then, there’d been a shard of disappointment at the fact that Brent hadn’t been Cole. It took me by surprise. How had I not realized that sooner?
This is the life you could’ve had if you had gone with your heart.
The revelation stunned me to my core. But I’d loved Brent with my whole heart. He’d been my college sweetheart. My fiancé. There had been no hesitations in my “yes” when he proposed my senior year of college. Not once had Cole crossed my mind during those years. Not once had I regretted sinking myself into Brent instead of pining after my brother’s best friend.
Think about something else. Anything else.
“Layla?”
Millie’s voice ripped me from my trance. “Yes, sweetheart?”
“You wanna dance?”
Cole held his arm out. “I mean, we’re having tons of fun.”
As a smile crossed my face, I accepted the distraction, pushing the guilty thoughts from my mind as I tossed the wash rag back into the sink.
“I’d love to join you,” I said.
Then, the three of us clung to one another as we danced around the kitchen, laughing, singing, and burning off the sugar we’d all gorged ourselves on.
All the while creating memories I knew I’d never forget.
Epilogue
Layla - Two Months Later
I straightened up Cole’s tie before smoothing my hands over his shoulders. And boy, did it feel good to finally have that brace off. My foot was still booted, but my road rash had finally melted into nothing but soft scars. He ran his fingertips over the side of my face.
“It’s almost done,” he murmured.
“You ready for this?” I asked.
“As weird as it sounds? Yes. I am. I’m ready for a week of quiet. And I know once we get past this, we can have it.”
“I mean, I’d hope so. You moved me in for a reason, so you’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.”
He smiled. “I love it when you remind me of that.”
He gripped my chin and kissed me passionately, sending butterflies off in my stomach. It’d been a crazy few months. But things had somehow found a way to come together, nonetheless. After getting both of my casts off, we celebrated with a night in—popcorn and movies until Millie fell asleep between us—then moving my stuff into his bedroom.
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