Page 6 of Seduction in the Mountains

Oh, sweet, sexy hell.

Chapter 3

Miranda

Iskidtoadead stop as Cole's deep blue eyes lock onto mine. The kitchen door swings back and smacks me forward, launching me straight to the counter in front of Cole with an unattractive "Ooof!"

He reaches out quickly, pulling my upper body toward him to keep me from smacking my head on the counter. Bringing me straight to eye level with his amused grin.

Before I can stop myself, I inhale his scent. He smells like earth and spiciness, transporting me back to a college dorm room, my hands gripping plaid flannel sheets carrying the same scent. His skin on mine, sweaty and hot. And perfect.

"Thank you," I whisper. My already hot and bothered panties would burst into flames if humanly possible.

The air is charged between us as I take deeper breaths than necessary and try not to look at his lips. Unsuccessfully, I might add.

I finally disengage myself and he lets me go. He's wearing jeans and a T-shirt, displaying a thick cord of muscles trailing up to yummy biceps. I want to lick him, and the thought of finding out if his ab day is as strong as his arm day makes me weak at the knees. I steady myself, reaching out to the counter in front of me.

"Hi, Cole," I say breathily, like I want to fuck him. So, there's that.

Cole flashes me a sexy grin. "You remember me?"

"Of course. We hung out in college." Immediately, I know it came out too nonchalant. Like he was the janitor I saw around the building occasionally.

"Hung out in college?" he repeats, eyes narrowing.

I bite my lip to keep an unbidden smile at bay.

"By 'hung out'"—he uses air quotes—"do you mean went on a date and had incredible sex? More than once that night, if memory serves. And my memory of our night together is cemented in stone. Partly because of that move you did with your finger." He winks, and I blush, knowing exactly what move he means. "But mainly because the next morning, I woke up to find you gone. So gone that you ghosted me andeveryonewe knew, cleaned out your art studio, and withdrew from college overnight?"

My blush deepens and my heart is about to burst at knowing he remembered our night together.

"Wow," I say, all breathy again and a little pleased with myself. And because I'm a monster, "Incredible sex, huh?"

His eyebrow lifts. "It wasn't?"

Instead of responding, I turn and busy myself by the register so he can't see my face. His footsteps heighten my anticipation as he comes around the counter, and I turn to see his eyes hooded with lust. He stalks me backward, my heart racing. Desire pings through my body, zipping around like it's trying to find a spot to land. And then it does. Right between my legs.

I brace myself on the counter as he backs me against it. Placing one large hand on the small of my back, he positions his hips against mine.

Cole eyes my mouth for what feels like an eternity, his body hot against mine as I try to control my breathing. I've given up attempting logic. Hell, forming words at this point is asking too much. All the blood in my body has been in the southern region since this morning anyway, so let's feed the beast. Now I want him to kiss me. Desperately.

And the way his gaze stays locked on my lips as my tongue darts out to wet them makes me think a kiss is in my near future.

Cole lifts his blue eyes to mine, flitting across my face like he's trying to memorize me. "Nowhere to run," he growls.

"Who's running?" I don't recognize the sassy sex voice coming from me, but fuck, yes.Go me!

Chuckling softly, his whole face lights up with the smile I remember like yesterday, and my heart squeezes. Placing my palm against his cheek, he nuzzles into it like he needs my touch as much as I need his. My mind races back to all the nights with mutual friends, eyeing him across the table or ensuring I sat close to him on whatever couch we were inevitably hanging out on.

All the carefree college nights before my whole world changed.

Tamping those thoughts down, I look up at him through my lashes. I'm not that young girl anymore. I know how to ask for what I want now. And what I want now is hot sex in my coffee shop.

His fingers run lightly over my back, leaving little streaks of heat like lava through the soft cotton of my shirt. My nipples harden to tight points, aching from the light touch of the fabric. I rub my chest against him, trying to get some friction, and he smiles.

He leans down to my ear, tickling my neck with his breath, sending a shudder over my body. "If you don't want me to kiss you, you better say something right now." Pulling back to look me in the eye but still so close to giving me what I want, he continues. "No disappearing this time, little ghost. If I kiss you, I'm not letting you go."

Too late to process what he said, I close the distance. My mouth is on his, kissing him like he's headed off to war, and I might never see him again. He fights for control, his tongue licking into my mouth, and he groans.

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