Page 45 of Wrecked
Cole shoved his fingers in his hair. Shit.
Climbing out of Piper’s bed, he stared down at her sleeping form for several minutes. So still, so damn beautiful.
Jesus. What am I doing?
He was walking a tightrope with Piper. Keeping his emotions in check around her was near impossible. She made him feel off balance. The only way he got through each day was by the sheer strength of his will, by maintaining the control he’d lost that day and hanging on with everything he had. It was slipping around her. Little by little.
He knew he should stop, stop it now. But he couldn’t. It was too late. If she answered the door tomorrow night when he knocked, he would have her again. And he’d keep coming back until she finally told him no.
Tearing his gaze from her, he went to the bathroom and washed his face with cool water, then climbed back in Piper’s bed, pulling her close and staring up at the ceiling. He wasn’t going back to sleep. Not tonight.
Shit. He needed to keep a lockdown on his feelings for her. It was his only option.
If he didn’t, he might not ever be able to let her go…
Fuck.
Chapter Fourteen
Cole had put in a few hours at work but made himself leave at five. It was Sunday for God’s sake, and he sure as hell had somewhere else he’d much rather be. Someone he’d much rather be with. Especially after how busy he’d been Saturday.
By the time he’d finished work last night it had been after midnight. Piper’s place had been dark, and as much as he’d wanted to go to her, he’d made himself go to his own place. Waking her again would’ve been an asshole move. The week had passed in a blur, a blur of working late, and hot nights spent with Piper.
One night they’d curled up on the couch together and watched TV. They talked, teased, and made out for hours. He’d loved every damn minute of it. Another they’d gone out, grabbed a movie, Piper’s choice this time. They’d held hands through the whole thing. He’d loved that just as much.
She’d given him a key, and he’d used it, too, without a second thought. He’d stripped and climbed under the covers with her, and she’d rolled toward him, pressing those lush, warm curves against him. Offering herself to him without hesitation or restraint, all sleep rumpled and smelling like strawberries, tasting like minty toothpaste. Addictive. The woman was all he thought about when he wasn’t with her, and all he could focus on when he was.
Not once had she asked for more. Which was both a relief and a knife to the gut.
That’s what you want. No strings. No risk. No emotions getting involved.
Climbing out of his car, he palmed his keys—and managed to fool himself as far as the foot of the stairs. Looking up to his empty apartment, he cursed under his breath, gave up, and headed across the parking lot to Piper’s cottage.
Who was he kidding? One night apart and he craved her like a starving man. What was he going to do? Sit in his apartment alone, wishing he was with her, wishing he could touch her, hear her voice.
Screw it. Why fight it when he could have all of those things?
She wouldn’t turn him away. He knew that much. She’d welcome him with that shy smile and give him everything he damn well needed. More.
His cock stirred as he took the stairs to the front door, the anticipation he always felt when he came to her intensifying. He didn’t bother knocking, that would just waste time, and right then he had no patience.
Using his key, he pushed the door open. “Baby, it’s just me.” He stepped through the door, but instead of Piper standing there to greet him, he came face to face with Reid Parker, Rusty’s man.
Fuck.
The guy crossed his tattooed arms, head tilting to the side—and fucking grinned. “Sorry, it’s just little old me. Pipe’s out back.”
He’d been so desperate to get to Piper, so caught up in his own thoughts, he hadn’t even noticed their cars out front. There was no use denying it. It was obvious why he was here. Why the hell else would he be calling her baby after using a key to get into her house? “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep this to yourself. What Piper and I do is no one else’s business.”
“Ah, you haven’t told big brother yet?”
Cole stared him down. “No.”
His grin got wider. “Good luck with that.” Then he tilted his chin toward the backyard. “Speaking of your good buddy, he was just about to head over and get you. Grub’s up.”
“What’s going on?”
Reid shrugged. “Girls wanted to fire up the grill, have a get-together. You were on the guest list.”
