Page 93 of Fall at Once

“Will you forgive me for last night?”

“Yes, of course I will.” Her eyes brimmed with tenderness as she ran her hands up my chest to rest on my neck. “And I’m sorry too—for pushing you. I shouldn’t have done that. You weren’t ready.”

“No, it’s okay. You told me what you needed, and I should have taken a breath and done the same. I was just stuck in my head and convinced I couldn’t give it to you. A lot has hit me in thelast few months, and I was overwhelmed. I should have been honest with you about what was happening instead of letting it build up in my mind.”

“I understand. And I know what we have is new. But I’ve never felt this much for someone this fast. It was like I met you, then all at once, I had these out-of-control feelings building up, and I didn’t know how to handle it either.”

“You said you wouldn’t beg for scraps of what you deserve. I want you to know you’ll never have to—not with me.”

“I love that.” Her expression grew serious. “And I want to be that person for you too, Cole.”

“I never should have let you go. I’ll burn my entire life down before I let you leave it again.” I pulled her into my arms, whispering into her ear, “I’m falling in love with you, Madi.”

She tilted her head back to meet my eyes. “I want you, Cole Sutter. I want to be with you more than anything, and I’m falling for you too. Can we get out of here?”

I grabbed her hand and led her through the tables to the exit.

Chapter 30

Madi

We made it to my apartment in a glorious haze of held hands and whispered promises, with the streets of Cozy Creek fading into the distance as we drove through them into our future.

“You got my flowers,” he said after we’d entered my front door. I’d stopped at home to drop them off before going to the fundraiser. I couldn’t leave the peonies behind in Colorado Springs or let them wilt in my mother’s car.

“They’re gorgeous. Peonies have always been my favorite. For as long as I can remember. Thank you.”

His mouth fell open as he stared at me, perplexed. “Say peony but like this, ‘peenie.’ I know it’s weird, but?—”

A quiver surged through my veins, he remembered. “It’s not weird, and I’ll tell you why. As a toddler, I used to sit on Gigi’sporch and watch you and your brothers play with my sisters, pouting because I was too little to join you. Sometimes, you would bring me a peony to cheer me up. My mother told me the story last night. I don’t remember that at all.”

“I don’t either, other than a hazy image of you on Gigi’s porch saying ‘peenie.’” He chuckled. “But it sounds like something I would do.” He traced a finger down my nose and then kissed it. “I never knew I could feel this much so fast for somebody. My heart is full of you, Madi, and I don’t want this feeling ever to stop.”

“I don’t want to lose this. Not ever,” I murmured as I slid his jacket down over his arms.

“I want you. I need you. I’m so fucking happy right now I don’t know what to do with it,” he growled against my mouth.

“Take me to bed,” I murmured.

He backed me into the door. His lips hit mine again, tongue pushing into my mouth, hands roaming everywhere, before tugging at the zipper of my dress until it loosened, then fell to the floor at my feet.

His hands dropped from my face to my waist, sliding lower, gripping my hips, and gliding down to grab me where my ass met my thighs. He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist with my back against the door.

His lips trailed up my neck, and I shivered when he nipped at my ear and kissed my jaw. “How about I fuck you against this door right now?” His voice was like gravel, low, deep, and needy.

He shifted my body to press his hard cock against my center. There was no denying he wanted me, not when I could feel theoverwhelming evidence of it, not when he was kissing me like this and touching me as if he’d die if I turned him away.

My body melted against his as he held me. The only word I could manage to say was, “Yes.”

His lips touched mine like a whisper. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful. You have to know what you’re doing to me. I know you can feel it.” He ground himself against me through his slacks. “Tell me what you’re doing to me, Madi. Tell me what you feel.”

My eyes met his. “Cole. Please.” I was desperate to feel him inside me again.

“I’m right here and never letting you go again. I want you so much. Tell me what you want, and I’ll do anything. Say it.”

“I want—” I ducked my head, too shy to tell him.

He kissed my forehead, letting out a dark chuckle as his lips pressed against my temple, then slid down to my ear.

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