No Second Chances

by Beverley Hollowed

  “Mr Thomas,” he nodded and opened the back door as Cole and Ally approached the car.

  “Good morning, Liam,” Cole replied as he stopped and stepped back to allow Ally into the car first. Ally made eye contact with the man and smiled.

  “Ma’am,” he nodded with the tiniest of smiles.

  “Hi,” she replied shyly, smiling back at the man.

  Ally could feel the Cole’s hand on the small of her back as he guided her into the back of the car.

  “Why didn’t you drive?” Ally whispered when they were both seated in the back of the car and waiting for Liam to climb into the driver’s seat.

  “Because I wouldn’t be able to do this,” he purred as he leaned over and ran his tongue softly along her bottom lip before he sucked it gently into his mouth and bit it softly.

  “I can never get enough of you, Ally,” he gasped as he released her mouth. “You are simply exquisite.”

  Ally could feel her heart bang hard in her chest.

  When Liam slammed the door Ally jumped back from Cole abruptly like she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Cole laughed at Ally, as he reached across her and pulled her seat belt on before he lightly brushed her lips with his.

  As he reached back to put on his seat belt on, Liam reversed the car out on of the driveway and set off on the journey.

  About twenty five minute later, they were pulling over at the curb near the top of Grafton Street. Liam was quickly out of the car and opening Ally car door. Ally took the hand Liam offered as he help her out of the car, Cole climbed out behind her.

  “Where are we going?” Ally said as Cole smiled at her and took her by the hand and started walking along Grafton Street.

  “We need to get you sorted for our date tonight,” he replied he replied, a joyful twinkle in his eye.

  “Then why didn’t you just bring me home?” Ally replied stopping dead in her tracks. She stood and looked at Cole in confusion.

  “I would like to buy you something nice to wear for tonight,” he explained. Ally heart dropped. What did he want to buy her clothes for?

  “What is wrong with my own clothes?” she snapped pulling her hand from his. “I mean obviously not these jeans, but I have acceptable clothes at home. Are you afraid I will embarrass you?”

  “Ally, I want to do something nice for you,” Cole replied completely taken back by her reaction. “I meant no offence. I just thought it might be fun. I swear.”

  Ally looked at him for a moment, unsure of how she should respond. She wanted to believe him, but memories of her father telling her mother she needed to make more of effort and that she had to think about how she looked reflected on him, came flooding in to her mind like a tsunami.

  She closed her eyes and pushed the memories to the back of her mind. Why was she suddenly letting her father affect every part of her life, when she spent so many years refusing to even think about him? But she knew that everything about Cole reminded her of her father and that scared her.

  Cole watched her, feeling unsure what he should do. She looked like she was waging some internal war and he felt like such a shit for upsetting her.

  Why do I keep fucking up with her? he thought to himself. What has happened in this girl’s life that has left her so broken?

  “Ally!” he said and took hold of her hands, tugging them slightly so she tumbled into his arm. “I just wanted to do something nice for you. We don’t have to do this.”

  Ally didn’t reply, instead, she kept her eyes pinched shut. Cole took her by the chin with the tips of fingers and tilted it up so her face was pointed up towards his.

  “Ally, baby,” he whispered and pressed his lips lightly to hers. He didn’t care that they were surrounded by hundreds of Friday afternoon shoppers, who were staring as they passed them by. All that mattered to him right in that moment were him and more importantly Ally. “Open your eyes.”

  Slowly her eyes met his gaze and her breath caught in her throat. His piercing, blue eye locked with hers and her heart almost stopped. She knew right in that moment just how deeply she felt for this man, who had bulldozed his way into her life barely a week ago.

  She knew what she felt but she could not say the word, even to herself. She could not allow herself to be that vulnerable to anyone again, and certainly not so quickly.

  “I am sorry for upsetting you, Ally,” he spoke in a soft voice. “All this is very new to me and I am going to fuck up and I will get it wrong. But all I ask is that you help me. Teach me to be the man that you deserve, because I love you, Ally”.

  Ally pressed her lips to his and when she broke away she gave him the biggest smile she could.

  “I’m sorry too,” she whispered. “Come on. Let’s go get me a "something sexy for our first date.”

  She smiled and quickly took his hand and they continued on down Grafton Street.

  Ally was surprised when Cole led her into one of Dublin’s most famous and most expensive department stores.

  She was even more surprised when a short, attractive brunette, with shoulder length wavy hair, flawless skin, and sexy figure came walking them. Ally was shocked that this woman actually appeared to be eye fucking Cole.

  “Mr Thomas,” she purred as she reached them and held out her hand to Cole, which he took and shook firmly. “How wonderful it is to see you again. It has been far too long.”

  Little Miss Friendly was practically drooling now and Ally noted she held Cole’s hand a little longer than she really need to.

  "Jenna," Cole replied in his usual friendly tone, but his body language seemed to say he was far from comfortable. Ally watched with a twisted joy as Cole twisted his hand free from Little Miss Friendly.

  Cole then completely turned his attention to Ally and gave her a reassuring squeeze along with his heart-stopping gaze. Ally nearly expired when Cole leaned in and planted a sweet, soft kiss on her lips. But as Cole's very public declaration was made, Ally couldn't help but inwardly grin noticing the overly friendly sales associates face drop.

  That’s right bitch. Ally thought wickedly. This amazing God is mine, so back, the fuck, off!

  “Jenna,” Cole said without taking his eyes of Ally. “I would like you introduce Ally, my girlfriend.”

  The word girlfriend hit Ally like a thunder bolt. How had that happened? She had just barely got out of her stifling relationship with Jason, and yet here she was rushing head first into another, with possibly the most annoying, bossy and yet totally adorable man in the world.

  She knew it was way too soon to hear him refer to her as his girlfriend. But right then and there she was glad he was letting Little Miss Shop Assistant know he was taken.

  Cole smiled and gave Ally a playful wink, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “Nice to meet you Ally,” Jenna cooed, her voice overly sweet.

  Ally was impressed the girl managed to maintain her obvious fake smile as she almost choked on the words, her voice not faltering in the slightest.

  “Nice to meet you Gemma,” Ally replied, deliberately getting her girls name wrong, fighting the urge to laugh.

  Cole raised his eye brow as he looked down at Ally. He knew exactly what she had just done and couldn’t help but grin.

  “So how can I help you,” Jenna asked, choosing not to correct Ally over her name.

  “We are going out for the evening,” Cole explained to her. “And we are looking for something as stunning as my beautiful girl is.”

  “What is the event?” Jenna asked, keeping her entire focus on Cole. Ally turned to Cole too.

  “Yeah,” she looked at him questioningly. “Where are we going?”

  Cole just smiled at Ally and kissed her softly.

  “Now that would telling,” he grinned before he turned back to Jenna and add. “We are looking for a cocktail dress. Something that is as elegant and beautiful as Ally. Black tie.”

  “Certainly, Mr Thomas,” Jenna eagerly replied.

  “And
we will need shoes and everything else that goes with it,” he added, smiling brightly at Ally.

  Ally look nervously at the sales assistant and for the first time the girl seemed to offer her a genuine smile.

  “I am sure we have just the right thing for the young lady,” she replied. “If you would like to follow me?”

  She led them to a private dressing room which had its own seating area.

  Cole quickly slumped into one of the armchairs and watched Ally. She shifted nervously from one foot to the other as she waited for Jenna to get things started.

  It amazed him that such a beautiful creature could appear so uncomfortable in her own skin. He knew she had no idea just how truly stunning she really was.

  Her eyes meet his gaze and she smiled at him nervously as he gave her a reassuring wink back.

  “So, Ally,” Jenna said suddenly pulling her attention back to her. “You are a size 10, am I right?”

  “Yes,” was all Ally replied.

  “And your shoe size?” Jenna looked at Ally expectantly. “A five?”

  “Yes,“ Ally confirmed once again.

  “Wonderful,” Jenna replied with a bright smile. “Leave it to me and I will find you the perfect dress.” And with that she was gone.

  “Relax,” Cole said as he reached up and took Ally’s hand, pulled it slightly so she fell into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and nuzzled her neck. “This girl knows what she is doing. I don’t know why you seem so nervous.”

  Ally sighed. She didn’t know why she felt so uncomfortable, but she did. She would have preferred to go to one of the stores she normally shopped in. One where she could slip in anonymously, pick something she was comfortable with, pay for it and leave.

  Before Ally could explain that to Cole, a small blonde, middle age woman walked into the dressing room carrying a tray with two glasses of champagne.

  Cole took one glass and handed it to Ally, before he took the second glass for himself. The lady smiled at them both, then she turned and walked out, leaving them alone again.

  Ally took a large sip of champagne and tried to steady her nerves, deciding just to go with flow.

  Jenna returned a short while later wheeling in a clothing rail of exquisite dresses and several boxes of shoes with labels she's only read about, Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and others.

  Ally nervously eyed the dresses and her heart almost sank. She already knew these dresses were so not her and she quickly glanced in despair at Cole and he gave her a reassuring smile.

  Jenna led Ally into a curtained off area of the dressing room once she had selected a dress for Ally from the collection. Once behind the curtain Ally slipped out of her jeans and jumper. She slid the first dress over her body and she immediately hated it.

  She didn’t really do the girlie thing. She was happier in her jeans and t-shirt. She had some dresses at home but nothing like these. These dresses where frilly and delicate and everything Ally wasn’t. She was never going to pull this off she thought.

  Forty minutes and a dozen or more dresses later, Ally still happened appear from the behind the curtain.

  When Jenna emerged with yet another dress, Cole looked at her hopefully but she once again shook her head.

  “Still nothing?” Cole sighed. He knew Ally was freaking out and he knew he needed to step in. He quickly went to the dresses on the rail and went through them systematically. Suddenly he stopped, when the perfect dress almost jumped out at him. He picked it up and turned to Jenna.

  “This is it!” he smiled then added. “If I may?” He walked to the curtain and pause for a moment.

  Cole pulled back the curtain and slipped in with a sly smile. Ally looking up shocked “Cole” she exclaimed and she instinctive tried to cover herself.

  “What going on?” he asked when he saw the stressed expression on her face.

  “I am really grateful you are doing this,” she explained. “I really am, but these dresses aren’t me. This shop isn’t me. I am never going to pull off. I am not the kind of girl who wears clothes like this. Those women are pretty and delicate and feminine and everything I am not.”

  Cole looked at Ally for a moment but didn’t speak. Then without saying a word he turned and stuck his head outside the curtain.

  “Jenna could you give us a few moments please?” Cole said and the young lady smiled as she walked out of the dressing room.

  Cole turned back to Ally, who was standing in the corner of the changing room, her arms wrapped tightly around her half naked body, as she watch Cole in confusion.

  He reached over and hooked the dress he had chosen on to the clothes hook that was on the wall on one side of the changing room. Then he turned back to Ally and stared at her for a moment, his eye full on so many different things, it confused Ally.

  He moved closer to her very slowly. Ally could feel her pulse quicken and her breath become faster as she recognised the look in his eyes now. There was no mistaken it. Instinctively she pressed herself harder against the wall as the blood coursed through her veins, setting every single nerve ending on fire.

  Cole was now standing in front of her, his body almost flush with her without touching it.

  “Don’t you know how fucking gorgeous you are Ally?” he whispered, his breath a mixture of mint and champagne sweeping across her face, making her stomach knot in its very core with raw desire. “You are breath-taking but you can’t see it.”

  Ally didn’t speak, she couldn’t. She stared deeply into his eyes swallowed hard. She could barely breathe.

  Without saying another word he placed both his hands on her shoulders. Slowly, he dragged the tips of his perfect, long slender fingers down her arms until he reached her wrists. Taking each wrist in his hands, he slowly raised Ally’s arms to the wall above her head and with just one hand pinned them both above there.

  Ally still said nothing, instead she just held Cole’s eyes with hers. Almost desperately, she tried hard to control her breathing.

  Cole allowed his free hand to brush softly down along Ally’s arm and then down to the upper rim of the cup of her bra.

  Slowly he peeled it back and released Ally’s, now puckered nipple. Quickly he sucked it hard into his mouth and she had to fight hard from crying out loudly.

  “Cole we can’t!” she gasped as desire thundered through her like a steamrollers.

  “We can,” he said, as he released her swollen nipple from his mouth and softly kissed along her jaw, slowly making his was to claim her mouth. “And we will.”

  He quickly sealed her mouth pressing his body up against hers, pinning her to the wall. She could feel his hard cock press against her and just the very touch of it made her cry out. God she wanted him so badly.

  “This is how beautiful you are, “he whispered against her lips. “You drive me fucking insane I can’t keep my hands off you. I have never wanted anything more that I want you. I love you”.

  Ally didn’t reply. She didn’t know what to say.

  He held her eyes with his for a moment, and Ally knew what he was waiting for, she knew what he wanted to hear, but she wasn't ready... She was so not ready to say "I love you" in return, not yet

  He dropped his hand and abruptly pushed it inside her panties making her cry out.

  He eyes never left her and his cupped her in his hand, pressing his fingers against her soft folds. Softly he began stroking her back and forward. All the while he still had her hands pinned above her head.

  Suddenly he plunged his fingers inside her and this time she couldn’t hold back the cry that came from her mouth. He quickly claimed her mouth with his and he continued fucking her with his fingers.

  Ally’s hips began to circle, longing for some kind of friction, longing for relief.

  Cole pressed her against her harder, his tongue deeper in her mouth and his fingers deep inside her.

  Ally head was in a spin. She knew this was wrong but she had never felt so alive before.

  “Ally, you are fuc
king amazing,” Cole growled breathlessly. “Don’t you ever forget that? No other woman could make me feel like this.”

  Ally closed her and allowed the wave that was washing over her, take hold of her body.

  “That’s it my beautiful girl,” he purred against her neck. “Come for me.”

  Ally bucked her hips as her orgasm ripped through her body as Cole continued to stroke her, letting her ride out every last bit of her orgasm.

  Finally she slumped against his body as he withdrew his fingers from her. He held her so close to him.

  “Do you trust me, Ally?” Cole whispers as he kissed the top of her head.

  “Yes,” Ally replied without hesitation. And it shocked her that she really did trust him. Probably more than she had ever trusted anyone else.

  “Then turn around,” he said softly to her and he spun her around in his arms until they were both facing the full length mirror in front of them.

  Ally was a little shock to see her breast exposed and her face so flushed but she couldn’t help but stare at herself.

  “You see it don’t you?” he breathed against her ear. “You see how beautiful you are. How I see you. You take my breath away.”

  For the first time ever, Ally felt beautiful. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and watch herself in her lovers arms and she felt an over whelming sense of love.

  Her eyes met Cole’s in the mirrors and for a moment she just stared at him. And he held her eyes too.

  “I love you,” she wanted to say. And she would have honestly meant it. But she was too afraid to say the words out loud. Instead she just smiled shyly at him.

  Cole rewarded her with a heart stopping smile. Then quickly turned her around and slammed his mouth against hers.

  “I fucking love you, Ally Brody” He gasped breathlessly when their mouths finally parted. “I promise I am going to love you for the rest of my life.”

  Chapter 12

  Later that evening, Ally stared at her reflection in the full length mirror. She could barely recognise herself.

  The dress Cole had selected was simply stunning. It was like it was made just for her. It clung to her and emphasised her curvy body perfectly. It was a luxurious black velvet, knee length and strapless. It had a slit up one side that showed a little more of Ally’s leg than she would have ever chosen for herself before but still she loved it. It was simple, elegant and perfect for Ally.