Page 40 of Cole's Command

Chapter Fourteen

Eden

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HER INITIAL SUSPICION waned as the car stopped, replaced with confusion when Cole unfastened his safety belt. “Here?” She glanced around again. “But, there’s nothing here.”

“There will be soon,” he promised as he climbed out of the car and wandered around to open her door for her.

“What are you doing, Cole?” Sighing, she accepted his hand and left the vehicle, though her instincts were screaming about red flags.

She was with a guy she hardly knew. She’d gotten into his vehicle and permitted him to drive her to the literal middle of nowhere. What the hell was she thinking?

“I swear you’re safe.” His palms rose in a gesture of conciliation. “I’m not going to do anything to you, Eden.”

“Reading my mind again?” Shaking her head, she couldn’t help but smile, although the dark glint in his gaze spoke of concerns to come. How Cole was accomplishing the mind-reading, she didn’t know, but there was no doubt he was somehow able to decipher what she was thinking.

“Guilty.” He grinned. “Come on.”

Spinning on his heel, he turned and stalked away, leaving her standing by his shiny Tesla.

“Where are you going?” Grabbing her purse, she sprinted after him.

“I need space to show you,” he called back.

“Jeez.” Clutching her purse to her chest, she chased to keep up with him. “This again.”

She didn’t think he heard her mutter, but couldn’t be sure if he’d read her thoughts. His smirk as he turned gave little away.

“Is this enough space?” Glancing around, she realized that aside from his car, there was only foliage for miles.

“This is good.” Gaze drilling into her, his hands rose to the buttons of his shirt.

“What are you doing?” She knew what it looked like he was doing. It looked like he was undressing, and breathlessly, she watched as he stripped his shirt away.

“I need to remove my clothes.” His lips twitched as, throwing his shirt over his shoulder, his hands lowered to the zipper of his pants. “I apologize for any offense caused.”

“I’m not offended,” she assured him, unsure whether she should keep watching or look away. Her sensibilities commanded her to avert her gaze, but somehow, as he eased his pants down to his ankles and stepped out of his shoes, she couldn’t find the will to comply.

Cole was an incredible physical specimen. Even for a young man who should be in the shape of his life, he was something to behold. Her eyes dragged over his strong, hard lines, heat blossoming in her face as she acknowledged that she was indeed staring, but didn’t care. Strong muscular shoulders caught her attention, her gaze dipping over his strapping chest and hovering over his honed obliques.

Christ! She gulped at the sight of him. I didn’t know men looked like this in real life. Then, remembering that he had probably heard her thought, her blush deepened, forcing her to finally glance away.

“Do you have to strip entirely?”

She cringed as she asked the question, scarcely believing what was playing out. Her day had been relatively normal until Cole had strode into her office, and yet now she was standing in the middle of nowhere with a near-naked Cole—and all in the name of his apparent shifter fetish.

“I’ll leave my underwear on.” His tone suggested that was supposed to be a reassuring vow. “So, there’s no need for embarrassment.”

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