Page 63 of Sneak Attack

“We can’t,” I whispered as he moved even closer and then he was there.

In front of me.

Surrounding me with his scent and that heat of his that just sucked the air straight from my lungs, leaving me breathless.

“You’re scared.” He lifted his hand. My gaze focused on that palm of his moving closer, the calluses at his palms and the strength in those thick fingers and hand as he brushed it over my cheek. “And I get that, too, and more, I get why. But I’ve wanted you back in front of me for seven long years, Eden, so I’ve lost restraint to go slow like you might need.”

I was shaking my head, and his thumb brushed over my cheek, close to the corner of my mouth andohhow much I wanted to dart my tongue out, steal a taste of him.

“Cole,” I whispered again, because he’d turned me speechless.

“I know, Eden. I get it.” He leaned closer and the cushion beneath me shifted from his weight. His head tilted, those dark-blue eyes of his showed a storm brewing right before he brushed his lips over mine.

There was no freezing this time. Not like this morning.

There was only the heated thrill of anticipation and excitement whipping through me at that first taste of him, and just like this morning, it took a moment to sink into it, for my eyes to flutter close and for me torespond.

Andoh,he was so delicious. He tasted of mint and crisp, cold water, and his kiss was firm as he moved his lips over mine. His tongue swiped at mine, teasing me for entrance before retreating, repeating that little game until I was fighting to squirm in my seat, but my hands found their way to his shoulders, where I held on, possibly tugged him closer and a loose growl slipped through his parted lips right as I opened for him.

And then Cole devoured me, sent my body overheating and my core throbbing with just a kiss and a gentle tantalizing brush of his thumb at my cheek. He didn’t move closer, didn’t push the weight of him against me. I wasn’t quite sure if that was a blessing or a curse because I was pretty sure if I did feel the weight of him, I might shatter.

This was so wrong, so not the time. We’d barely stopped sniping at each other, and I was still an internal wreck and there was Marley to consider, Jasper and Selma and his career and oh but dear God.

“Stop overthinking,” he murmured, and screw him for being able to read my thoughts with his eyes closed.

“Shut up,” I whispered right back and this time it was me pressing my mouth to his, me taking the kiss and discovering the taste of him. It was me, whimpering my excitement and pleasure into his mouth while he slipped an arm around me and braced my lower back with his palm.

His phone rang, and then the harsh chime of a bell ringing in the distance had him yanking back and cursing.

He swiped the back of his hand across his mouth and my eyes were barely opening before he was standing, glaring at the front door and then me, and then his phone.

“See? Fucking Selma is a goddamn piece of work.”

Oh no.

I clambered off the sofa and thank goodness I was still wearing the same oversized T-shirt I’d had on this morning, my most comfortable shirt I threw back on after I got back from McLaughlin’s earlier. My shorts barely peeked out from beneath the hem, and as I jumped from the couch, I tugged them down.

Cole’s hand curled over my shoulder. “She’s going to know you’re here from your car, but please,stay here.”

I was already shaking my head, along with my knees. “I should go. She’s going to be pissed and she’s going to think—”

“I don’t give a fuck what she thinks right now. She knows better than to pull this. Just please, wait here.”

I couldn’t leave him. Not to deal with this alone when it was all my fault in the first place. Had I just stayed at Marley’s—

No. I shook my head. I was allowed to have a life, as small or simple as it was. Selma couldn’t dictate that.

“I’ll stay here.”

“Good girl.” He winked, kissed my cheek, and as he stalked toward the front door, my stomach fluttered.

Good girl?

Why in the hell did that feel so good?

The click of the door unlocking echoed followed by Cole’s rumbling voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Let me in.” Selma’s voice was harsh and high-pitched, not nearly as angry as earlier but something else.

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