Page 39 of A Not So Merry Ex-Mas

“I love you, Ladybug. So very much.”

I take a deep, shaky breath as his words shake me to my core.

I cup his face with my hands and stare into his eyes. The emotions staring back at me are all over the map—doubt, uncertainty, love, and insecurity that I’ve never known Cole to have. A smile curves up my lips as I drop my gaze to his mouth.

I see a corner of his lip quirk, and I lean into him. I take a deep breath and inch my body closer to his. He cups my face with both hands, and I feel him dry any remaining wetness on my cheeks with his thumbs.

When I’m hovering over his mouth, I feel him let out a shaky breath.

“I love you, too,” I say softly against his lips right before I touch mine to his.

Every nerve ending in my body fires to life at the contact and I feel him groan against me. I move my hand from his face to the back of his head and lace my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

I feel him snake his arm around my back and pull my body flush against him. The warmth of him permeatesevery ounce of me, and I let myself surrender to the moment.

Cole pulls back and I let out a small protest. I feel a smile form on his mouth before he presses his lips firmly against mine. One of his hands slides up my face and the touch makes my heart skip. Every touch makes me feel loved and cherished. He softly runs his hand over my head and cups the back of my neck. I feel the corner of my lip lift as he continues to slow the pace.

The tenderness coming from him leaves me lightheaded.

He leans his forehead against mine, and we both work to slow our breathing. I close my eyes and bask in the moment.

I still can’t fully grasp what the man sitting across from me was willing to do to be with me. I hear a click, and Cole pulls away. When I open my eyes, I see a glow from the kitchen shining in the hallway.

I bring my eyes back to Cole and find him watching me. Heat creeps up my face as I suddenly feel shy. I have always loved and hated how he seems to be able to see into every nook and cranny of my being.

“Looks like we have the power back.” I bite my bottom lip.

“It would appear so,” he says without taking his eyes off me. His lopsided grin leaves my heart racing.

He moves his hand through my hair again, and I lean into his touch. My lips spread into a wide grin, and a giggle escapes me.

“What was that for?” Cole presses his lips gently to mine, before pulling back and gently kissing my forehead. His hand pushes my hair behind my ear.

I feel my body flush and my stomach swoop as I look into the eyes of the man I’ve loved for so long. So long, I can’t imagine not loving him. I let out a breath, press my lips together, and gently shake my head back and forth.

“Bug,” he chuckles. “You’re killing me. What is going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

“I’m just happy.” I let out a sigh and tilt my head as I let my feelings for him shine in my eyes. “I forgot how it feels to be happy.”

His eyes soften, and I feel my insides turn to goo, like chocolate that’s been sitting in a warm car on the dash for an entire day.

“I hope I can make you feel this way for the rest of your life.” My eyebrows shoot up past my hairline, and he throws back his head and laughs at the shock evident on my face. He cups my face with his hand andgently shuts my jaw before kissing me. “Don’t worry. I’m not asking you to marry me…yet.”

He winks at me right before he gets off the couch and heads to the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?” He says as if he didn’t just completely rock my world.

I shake my head up and down, take a deep breath, and laugh. With this man, my life will never be boring.

He may not have asked me to marry him—yet—but there is no way I will be saying no when he does.

Chapter Eighteen

Cole

If someone had toldme two days ago I would be sitting on the couch with Noelle tucked by my side, I would’ve called them a liar. Not that it wasn’t what I had dreamed of—I just didn’t think it would be possible. And yet here we are.

She snuggles her face against my chest and wraps her arms a bit tighter around me, causing every part of me to melt just a little. I adjust my grip and pull her closer, leaning my face on her head and giving her a kiss. Her scent envelopes me, and I breathe her in as my body relaxes with slow, easy breaths. I could stay in this position for the rest of my life.

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