Page 24 of Fall at Once

There was nothing more I wanted now than to grab him, anywhere, everywhere. I couldn’t mentally choose a spot since every inch of his body was perfection.

Dirty replies butted against each other in my brain at his unintentionally loaded statement. Instead, I reassured him that I wasn’t offended as we slowly climbed down, with him going first to keep me steady if I faltered.

The drop to the ground from the lowest branch was moreintimidating on the way down. I hesitated.

“I got you.” He held his arms up to me.

My hands landed on his big shoulders, and he held me above my hips, so close to the underside of my breasts that I inhaled a sharp breath. Our eyes widened at the contact as I slid down his front until my feet were on the ground again.

He took a step back.

I dusted off my hands.

No big deal.

Once they confirmed we were okay, Tate and Pace took off, leaving me alone with Cole. They were on shift soon; they explained after Pace assured me Kenny was okay. He’d drained the tub for me, and the window was now closed and secured.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Cole asked. “You look pale.”

“I’m fine, I think.” My whole body was trembling, from my fingers to my toes, from a mixture of undiluted fear and pure adrenaline. I was not okay. My head spun, and my breathing was choppy; black spots danced before my eyes. “Oh, crap. I’m not fine. Nope.”

My body erupted in tingles from head to toe as he swept me up like a groom would a bride. My arms encircled his neck as he held me close. Our eyes met, and he whispered softly. “I got you. You’re okay…”

I shut my eyes, burying my nose in his neck. I didn’t mean to, but I breathed him in. He was warm and steady and smelled so good, like clean laundry and fresh air.

He carried me through the outdoor entrance to my apartment.I stifled a gasp as he continued carrying me straight up the stairs and to my front door.

His chest was rock hard, nothing but solid muscle. He carried me like I weighed nothing at all. I felt like I was being held against a wall. But walls weren’t warm. Walls didn’t ruffle your hair with their breath as they walked or whispered in your ear, telling you that you would be okay, they wouldn’t let you go, and how brave they thought you were.

I could feel his biceps flex against my waist, and if I wasn’t already swooning from the triple threat of mental exhaustion, worry for Kenny, and lack of food, being this close to Cole would have done it all on its own.

From beneath the backs of my knees, he twisted the doorknob and kicked it shut behind us after he strode through my living room, not stopping until he was at the side of my couch, where he placed me down gently and covered me with the yellow throw blanket I kept on the back.

“Have you eaten anything today?” he demanded. His brow furrowed in concern as he studied my face.

He wasn’t even breathing hard. His stamina was incredible. I imagined what it would be like to go to bed with him and felt myself turning red.

“No, not yet. I was going to grab a late breakfast downstairs. I had just run a bath when Kenny decided to make a break for it. I was halfway up the tree before I thought better of it. Then it was all, in for a penny, in for a pound, you know?”

“Pretty brave of you. Do you realize how high you were?”

“No, and I don’t want to.”

“Fair enough.” He chuckled.

Speaking of Kenny—he let out a plaintive meow, then jumped from the windowsill adjacent to the couch to land in the center of my chest. I let out anoofas he spun around on my boobs before settling down to rest with his head against my neck.

“He owes you a huge apology. Don’t you, Kenny?” Cole moved aside a stack of books and sat on the ottoman in front of the couch. He reached out to scratch beneath Kenny’s chin, grazing the side of my cheek with the backs of his fingers.

I let out a soft hiss as sparks shot between us, and our eyes met and held.

“Yeah, he sure does, but I’m afraid this is the best I’ll get out of him. Too bad he can’t make me a cup of coffee to replace the one I spilled all over the counter, clean up the mess in the bathroom, or anything else useful.”

He laughed softly as Sage and Victor cuddled against my side. “He’s pretty cute. You’re lucky you’re adorable, Kenny.” His tone was something I’d never heard from him before. It was light, filled with humor and warmth. “Are you sure you aren’t a Disney Princess?” he teased. “You resemble Belle right now with all these books everywhere and your pretty brown hair,” he murmured. “Plus, everyone seems to have fallen in love with you since you got here. Natalie talks about you every morning after she gets back from walking with you and Basil.”

My heart fluttered to a crescendo of giddiness that almost overwhelmed me. “That makes me happy to hear. I just adoreher.”

“It’s mutual. I’m glad you’re in town, Madi. She needs positivity and fun so much right now. And I’m?—”

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