Page 14 of Chasin' Cole

"What about when you got your first horse?" he offers up a fond memory. “You talked about that horse incessantly for weeks. Brock and I started taking bets on how many hours you could go on and on about that horse.”

I chew on my lip. "Howard gave it to me. He knew I was his daughter and he never tried to tell me. He just let herlie. I know they're happy now, but I'm still...I'm still hurt. It doesn’t seem fair. Why do they get to be happy, and I have to…to…"

Cole sits up, pullin' me with him. "Have you talked to them about how you feel?"

I run a hand over my face. "I thought it was my turn to ask a question."

"I just want to make sure you're alright," he lifts his hand, slipping it behind my neck and massaging the tense muscles there. "What they did was horrible. What they all did was. Mary Ellen, Rowdy, Howard, Kenzie. We all got hurt by their sick games over the years. But you don't have to hide your pain because your parents are happy. You're allowed to hurt, Rose. And they have to accept it. I was hurt, too. I got the short end of the stick, too. They all believed Kenzie when she lied about who Emmeline’s father was.”

"Why do you always do that?" My heart thumps and twirls in my chest.

"Do what?" he asks as his thumb runs along my jawline.

"Make everythin' better," I answer.

He lifts his head, planting a tender kiss on my lips. He tastes like sweet tea and summertime. He tastes like the only good thing that came out of my childhood.

Cole Strickland.

I'm fallin' head over heels in love with him. And it's only been two weeks.Two weeks.How has it only been two weeks? Two weeks of stealing kisses in the bed of his truck every night.

I break the kiss and press my forehead to his. "Can we stay right here forever?"

He kisses me again before sayin', "Brock might kill me if we do."

“I’m willin’ to risk your life,” I tease him.

“Why am I not surprised?” he laughs.

"Have you talked to Brock yet?" I know it's a sore subject. One he's tryin' to avoid.

Cole shakes his dark head. "No. I chickened out the other day. We're in a good place. I don't want to ruin it."

"I'll talk to him then," I shrug as his fingers slide through my hair.

"It should come from me, Rose. I'm his best friend," Cole exhales. "Although, I haven't been a great friend to him lately."

This time, it's my turn to comfort him. "You've been a good friend. Besides, we don’t even know where this headin’. Why bother him until we know for sure?” Well, I know where we’re headed. I just need Cole to catch up with me. When he’s ready, of course. I don’t want to scare the man off just yet.

"He won't see it that way when he finds out I've been kissing you," he counters.

I smile in the dark as float my hands up his chest. "We should be doing that instead."

"We should be kissing instead of talking about your brother?" He tilts his head to the side.

"Yes," I nod my head as I inch closer to him. "More kissin'. Less talkin'."

Cole's lips mold to mine as we tuck the Brock conversation to bed for the night. He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth and a jolt of electricity erupts through my body, warmin' the spot between my legs. The same spot that always seems to get sticky anduncomfortableevery time I'm kissin' Cole.

I squeeze my thighs together, trying to alleviate the achy feelin' there. Cole doesn't help the situation as his hands find the backs of my legs. His fingers run up and down them before lifting me and helpin' me straddle his waist. As my shirt rides up, his hands settle along my bare back, caressin’ my warmed skin. Goosebumps and firecrackers burst all over my body from the soft graze of his skin against mine. There’s something magical about bein’ this close to Cole.

I ignore how needy everythin' becomes as I snake my arms around his shoulders and kiss him back. Kiss him the way he's taught me. Cole Strickland has been an excellent instructor. Then again, I’ve been an eager student.

I involuntarily rock my hips against his, attemptin’ to quell the scorchin' heat between my thighs. I moan against his mouth as my hips buck against somethin’ hard in his pants. I do it again and again. Each time, Cole sighs. We keep it up for a few minutes until he stops kissin' me.

"What's wrong?" I stare at him, confused. "Did I do somethin'?"

He takes a minute to catch his breath before he chuckles. "You did nothing wrong. I just...need a minute."

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