Page 49 of Breathe Again

“I care, because I care about those girls. And I’m far more aware of the situation than you think, Collier or not.”

“So, what is it you do, Cole? Let me guess. Tattoo artist,” Luke said, making it sound like the lowest of jobs.

“Yeah, I am. I even own my shop in San Marco.”

“Ah, a Westin then,” Luke interrupted. “Are you close to the royal family? That Pack is so big, I bet they don’t even know you exist.”

I could tell Luke was trying to get a rise out of Cole, testing him. I was certain it was a male ego thing, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to jump in and defend my mate.

“Actually, Cole’s a Beta and on the Westin Pack Council. He’s a very powerful man, Luke. Don’t be an idiot and piss him off.”

Cole smirked at me and I could see my defense of him humored him greatly.

“Impressive. No hard feelings, man. I was just feeling you out. Lizzy and I obviously come from different sides of the track, but unlike the rest of them, she never treated me as such. I’ve always been grateful for that. Hadn’t seen her in years before she stumbled across the distillery those asshats had set up. I had just gotten there to force them to break it down and get it off Collier territory, and I’m glad I arrived when I did. I shudder to think of what those idiots would have done, but while they were giving chase, I was right on their tails and wouldn’t have let anything happen to your girl. I don’t like most Colliers I’ve met, but she’s different, special. Don’t ever forget that,” he told Cole.

Cole wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “I’ve waited a lifetime for her. I’ll never forget that. Thanks for watching after her,” Cole said, and then surprised us both by offering his hand. Luke shook it, then smiled, nodded, and turned to head back towards his home.

We turned to head back to the jailhouse. “Thank you,” I told him after walking a few minutes in silence.

Cole stopped and turned to look at me. “I’ll always be here to support you, Elizabeth, even if I don’t understand your reasons.”

His voice was husky and full of emotions. It made goosebumps stand up on my arms and butterflies set loose in my stomach. I watched him sniff the air, smelling how much he was arousing me. His pupils dilated, and he gave me the smirky half smile I was growing to love.

I was so much more secure with us now, and closed the short gap separating us to rise up on my tippy toes and press a kiss to his lips. I had expected a chaste peck, but I should have known better. Cole grabbed me around the waist and pulled me flush against his chest. My hands instinctively roamed across the hard planes of his abs. He moaned in satisfaction as he kissed me again, deepening it as our tongues swirled together.

“Take me home, Cole,” I told him when I pulled back breathless.

He swooped me up into his arms and ran the entire way back to the prison. I was still laughing at him when we arrived back and realized he had ridden over with Thomas, and I’d come with Lily. It was nearly fifteen miles back to town. Even in our fur that would take longer than I wanted to wait.

He set me down and walked back inside while I tried desperately to think of anywhere nearby we could escape to. My body was on fire, desperate for my mate. I laughed to myself, thinking of how worried I’d been that maybe I wasn’t capable of performing in that way even with him. Wrong! Very, very wrong!

Cole came back out quickly and I still didn’t have a plan, but he grabbed my hand and led me to my brother’s truck, opening the passenger door and helping me up inside before running around to the driver’s side and climbing in. With that smirk I loved he started the engine and drove us home. His hand rubbed my upper thigh, only increasing my arousal. When he finally parked in front of my house, I was trying hard not to pant in anticipation.

I didn’t wait for him to walk around and help me out. The second the truck came to a stop, I jumped out and ran over to his side impatiently waiting for him to climb down. I grabbed his hand this time and dragged him into the house, slamming the door behind him, then pushed him back against the door and pinned him there with my body.

Our tongues quickly began a tango of their own the moment our mouths collided. He reached down and cupped my behind, lifting me and in a flash and reversing our positions. My legs wrapped around his waist and I grinded against him, finding the friction I desperately sought. My body was on fire in new and wondrous ways.

I was so close to that feeling of ecstasy that only Cole could bring me to when he slowed our pace and backed off with a smirk. I was ready to scream in frustration, but from the cocky look on his face, he was already well aware of that fact. I was determined not to give him the satisfaction of vocalizing my need.

He gave me one last chaste kiss on the lips, my legs unwound from him to stand, then took my hand and led me to the bedroom. I sat on the edge of my bed, my body still pulsating. He discarded his shirt, and then the rest of his clothing, tossing it into the corner. My breath hitched. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of seeing his body on full display.

My hands itched to roam across him, memorizing each tattoo that decorated him in a unique way. I wanted to know every story behind each art piece.

Later, he said in my head. First. . .He looked over his shoulder at me with a heated stare as he opened my closet and rummaged through the back of it, pulling out a box. Not just any box,thebox.

My face heated as he set it on the bed beside me. I was excited to explore my sexuality with him in every way possible, but also nervous because nothing in that box had ever brought me satisfaction the way he did.

He opened it and looked through its contents, finding mostly vibrators of various shapes and sizes. He finally pulled out a scarf and held it up. I knew what he was thinking. It was a common prop used in bondage.

“It’s also a great blindfold,” I told him. “My therapist thought maybe removing that sense would help me concentrate on my body and feelings more.”

He nodded in understanding. “And did it?”

I shrugged, feeling so vulnerable. “I couldn’t relax enough for it to help. It made me feel stupid,” I confessed.

There was a twinkle in his eye when he pulled it out the rest of the way and held it up. I sucked in a deep breath, knowing what he was planning to do next. First he leaned down and kissed me until my body started to relax and become responsive. Then he raised his arms and carefully wrapped the silk scarf around my head, covering my eyes fully. The room faded away and my nerves set in. I was left feeling too exposed.

I started to protest, but he stopped me with a kiss. I hadn’t even known he was that close, but it sparked a tiny bit of excitement amidst my nerves.

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