Page 95 of Coldhearted King

I grab his arm and pull him into my apartment. “What are you doing here, Cole? Not that I’m not happy to see you.”

He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he backs me against the wall and drops his head, his lips brushing against the sensitive spot at the crook of my neck. Goose bumps scatter over my skin, and my nipples harden. Since I’m not wearing a bra, he must be able to feel them pushing against his chest. But for a moment, he just stands there, his fingers curving around my waist, pressing into me, and I run my hands over his biceps, up to his neck, sifting through the hair at the back of his head.

“Are you okay?” I’ve never seen him like this before.

He lets out a breath and steps back. “It was a long trip. Non-stop meetings with investors who want to be stubborn just for the sake of it.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “I’m fucking exhausted.”

And he came here instead of going to his comfortable penthouse? A hot rush of emotion hits me. He wanted to see me. I swallow hard. This is the first time he’s deliberately shown me this side of him. The one that isn’t the unflappable billionaire, focused and in control at all times.

I move closer, cupping his jaw and brushing my thumb over the stubble a day’s worth of travel has given him. “My bed isn’t anywhere near as big or as comfortable as yours.” His brow cocks at that understatement. “But you’re more than welcome to join me in it.”

His eyes sweep over my face. “I’d like that.”

“Okay.” I can’t stop the smile that pulls at my lips.

“Okay,” he repeats. He’s still standing there looking down at me, his gaze fixed on mine, so I reach for his hand, twine my fingers through his, and start toward my bedroom. He follows, but a thought occurs to me, and I look over my shoulder at him.

“Do you need to let Jonathan know?”

He shakes his head. “I sent him home when you buzzed me in.”

He was intending to stay the night here when he got here. He’s come straight from the airport, intending to stay with me. I shouldn’t let something so small mean so much, but I can’t help it. It does. It means a lot.

I don’t wrap myself around him the way I want to. I just nod and continue leading him to my bedroom.

“Is Alex here?” he asks as we reach my door.

“She’s spending the week in LA with Jaxson.”

“So we’re all alone. What a shame,” he drawls, with a crooked smile.

A thrill ricochets through me, but I don’t say anything.

I do a speed check of my bedroom as we enter. Thank god I keep it relatively neat, and there aren’t bras and underwear scattered all over the place. Not that Cole seems bothered by what my bedroom looks like. He stares at my bed, and I know what he’s thinking. I suppress a laugh, dropping his hand and going into the bathroom and returning with a spare toothbrush. “I don’t have any clothes that will fit you.”

“That’s okay.” He’s already unbuttoning his shirt. “I won’t be wearing clothes if I’m in bed with you.”

I watch him strip, my gaze wandering over his broad chest and sculpted abs. He drops his pants and boxer briefs, revealing his already half-hard erection, and my stomach clenches in anticipation. He chuckles as he saunters toward me, letting me look my fill before tipping his head down so that I think he’s about to kiss me. Instead, he takes the toothbrush from my hand, brushes his lips over my forehead and says, “Thanks, kitten.” Then he slaps me on the ass. “Get undressed and get into bed. I’ll join you in a minute.”

I shake my head at his back as he walks into the bathroom. Relaxed Cole is just as intoxicating as intense Cole.

Doing as he said, I strip off my pajamas, then crawl under the covers, waiting for him to get back. On his return, he pauses at the door, head tipped to the side, taking in the shape of me under the blanket. His gaze travels up to my face and his eyes lock on mine with an intensity that steals my breath. I wish I knew what he was thinking, but I can’t read his expression, and before I know it, he’s striding across the room, lifting the covers, and sliding into the bed.

“Roll over,” he says.

I turn so my back is toward him, and he pulls me against his chest, draping his arm over my waist and pinning me to him. I wait with bated breath for his hand to start roaming, but it doesn’t. Instead, he splays it over my stomach and presses a kiss to the top of my head. Barely a handful of seconds later, his breaths deepen and he’s sound asleep.

My thoughts whirl around my head. We’ve never slept together without having sex first. Does this mean he’s feeling the same way I am? Hope blooms in my chest, and I lightly trace my fingers over the back of his hand. It’s too soon to start imagining a future where we might spend more and more nights curled up like this. Unfortunately, my heart isn’t listening to those words of wisdom.

It’s too busy beating in time with his.

* * *

My eyes drift openthe next morning, the numbers on my bedside clock coming into focus. Five-thirty a.m. What woke me so early? I flash back to last night, remembering Cole falling asleep behind me, and the last of the fog clears from my mind. I roll over and look for him, but apart from me, my bed is empty. Did I only dream him being here? Before disappointment can hit too hard, a noise filters through my bedroom door. I sit up, clutching my blanket to my chest.

Another sound reaches me. Is Cole still here and doing something in the kitchen? I climb out of bed and pull my short, silky robe over my naked body, tying it loosely before heading out of the room.

My feet stall, and my heart does a little flutter in my chest. Cole is standing at the counter with his back to me, wearing just his boxer briefs, while the early morning light illuminates his muscular body. Bowls, spoons, and various ingredients are spread on the surrounding countertop, and he’s peering intently at his phone, which is propped against a cookie jar.

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