Cole

going.

“Cole—my God.”

He lifted his lips to my ear and murmured, gently as if it were a caress in itself, “Let go. Please, Addison.” He kissed me there. “Let go.”

“But you—”

“You’re not done. Let me do this for you.” A third finger went in, stretching me farther than I had been in so long. His fingers moved together, going deep, sliding back, going in again. He started to speed up.

I was breathing heavily, panting loudly into the room. All I could do was cling to him, my legs and arms straining around him. And then, one last thrust and I soared over the edge. Tremors wracked my body, and Cole held me as I rode each wave. They kept going until finally the last one ebbed, and I was complete. My body was satiated.

But even as I thought that, I knew it wasn’t true. An ache formed, just a tiny one, between my legs. Cole’s fingers were still inside me. I turned so our eyes were inches apart.

I didn’t say anything.

His need sparked in his eyes, and it was deep, more ravenous than mine. His jaw clenched as he swallowed. His free hand flexed and then tightened on my thigh. For the first time, I saw into him like he had been seeing into me.

He waited, letting me regain control of myself. When I had, I gave him a small nod, and he picked me up, whisking me off the counter. He didn’t react to holding me. It was as if I were a doll.

He carried me down the hallway to my bedroom, then placed me on the bed. I sat up and pulled off my dress, then reached behind me to unclasp my bra. Finally I wore only my thong. My eyes traced over his shoulders, down his chest to his abdominals. He was lean, but he was muscled everywhere.

I had thought of him as a weapon before, and I know how true it was. I remembered the first time I saw him. I thought he stalked in a sensual way, like a predator, and my mouth watered once more thinking of how he’d feel inside of me. How he’d feel over me.

I sat up. His gaze went to my breasts, lingering there.

They reacted under his attention. His eyes smoldered, and he moved toward me. He leaned down, and I closed my eyes, knowing he was going to touch me again. The bed dipped under his weight, and then his lips were on my breast.

I gasped again, arching my back.

His mouth opened, taking my nipple inside. As he kissed and caressed me, he helped me move farther up the bed as he joined me.

I opened my eyes and watched as he continued his kisses, switching to my other breast. I writhed beneath him, wanting the feel of his body on mine. I wanted that heaviness, then to feel him entering me—not his fingers. Him. But for now he kept tasting me, touching me, and I continued watching.

What the morning would bring, I didn’t know, but I didn’t want to sleep to meet it. I wanted to be awake. I wanted the feel of Cole over and over again. Unable to hold back anymore, I slid my hands up his body, enjoying the dip and valley between each of his muscles until I wound my hands around his neck and grabbed his jaw. He answered my touch, lifting his head to look at me with wild eyes. He loved this as much as I did. He blinked and focused on me. When he saw what I wanted, the side of his mouth lifted.

He moved over me, bending now so he wasn’t crushing me, and his forehead rested on mine. He pulled out his wallet. Grabbing a condom, he tore the wrapper and then made quick work of his pants and his briefs. He kicked them off, putting the protection on, and reached between my legs. I gasped at his hands on my inner thighs and he paused, looking into my eyes.

I felt his unspoken question, and I nodded. I was ready.

He grabbed my underwear and ripped them. One second later, he slid inside, and my entire body lifted in response. He paused, letting me adjust to him, before he began to move. And then everything changed. Sometime during the night, I claimed him as well.





My alarm was going off.

No.

My phone? Wait. No.

Slowly I came out of sleep. It was the elevator. Why was it ringing at—I twisted under Cole’s arms to see the clock—six in the morning?

Sia.

I bolted upright, but before I could say anything, Cole was out of bed. He pulled on his pants and reached for his shirt. I scrambled to join him.

“Are you expecting anyone?”

I shook my head. Last night—oh, man. I surveyed the bed. We’d pulled the bottom sheet off. I had no thoughts about that, not right now. Reaching for the robe slung over my dresser, I pulled it on as the buzzer kept going.

“Addison.” Cole went to the doorway and paused. He’d left his jeans undone. He asked again, “Are you expecting someone?”

“It could be Sia.”

The frown he’d worn last night when I told him about Gianni’s returned.

“I have a box of—” I stopped talking when I remembered. I’d put some of Liam’s things together and stored them in my closet. It was sentimental stuff. Things I could pull out if I was missing him too much. I stepped into the closet and grabbed Liam’s favorite robe, offering it to Cole. He was dressed, so I don’t know why I was offering a robe.

I didn’t know what I was doing.

His frown deepened. “Whose is that?”

I didn’t think. I answered, “My dead husband’s.” The buzzer sounded again, and I hurried out, pressing the camera. Cole moved behind me and peered over my shoulder. It was Dorian. I hit the accept button and started to ask, “Why is my building manager—”

Cole’s hand touched the small of my back. I stopped talking once again.

“He’s here for me.”

“Oh.” Well, of course. That made sense. I registered that Cole hadn’t put on the robe. He was in his shirt and jeans, barefoot.

The elevator doors started to slide open. Cole glanced down. “Can you give us a minute?”

“Oh.”

I sounded ridiculous. I went to my bedroom, cursing myself. I already knew what I was going to do. I tiptoed to the edge of the hallway, keeping to the side so neither of them could see me.

Their heads were bent together, and I could hear murmuring. I pulled back, just in case they looked over.

“…sure?” Cole’s voice rose a tiny bit.

“I’m sorry.”

Dorian didn’t sound it, though.

Cole grunted. “I’m sure you are.”

“I didn’t tell you to sleep here.”

“Lower your voice.”

Back to murmurings. I waited, but after another thirty seconds of whispered conversation, I knew I wasn’t going to hear anything else. I began edging backward, tiptoeing soundlessly all the way to my bed. I sat. I folded my hands in my lap, and it was then that the events of the previous night began hitting me.

Sex.

Hot sex.

All night long.

We’d only stopped forty—I glanced at the clock again—or so minutes ago. I winced. It was more like thirty minutes.

Raking a hand through my hair, I caught a whiff of my breath and recoiled. No wonder Cole wanted space. Going to the bathroom, I closed the door and started the routine I did every morning. Showered. Brushed my teeth. I was getting ready for the day. It’d be a sluggish one, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep anymore.

I was wrapped in a towel and grabbing my clothes when I heard the elevator doors close.

I waited for the soft sounds of bare feet, but none came.

Suddenly, Cole was in the closet doorway.

I shrieked. “Holy fuck, fuck! Seriously?” My heart lodged itself in the back of my throat. “I just had a heart attack. Make some sound next time, please.”

Cole propped a shoulder against the doorframe and folded his arms over his chest. He smirked, his eyes showing his amusement. “You’re cute when you’re worked up.”

I groaned, ignoring the little flip my stomach did when he teased me. “Whatever. I’ll return the favor and see how you like it.”

The amusement vanished. “You can’t.”

“What?”

“You can’t scare me like that. Ever.”

“Why not?” I clutched my shirt and jeans.

“Because…” He ran a hand over his head. “I’m a trained fighter. I could hurt you. I don’t want to ever hurt you.”

Oh…Oh! “Is that what you do for a living?”

“What?” He looked confused for a moment. “No.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Just don’t scare me like that. I can’t promise I won’t react. I mean it, Addison. I never want to hurt you.”

I could feel a but coming. Not about me, but about him standing there, looking appetizing, and not staying. I sighed. “And you have to go?”

He nodded. “I do. I’d like to see you again. Tonight? We’ll stay for dinner this time.”

I almost smiled. Almost. “No running today?”

“Not today. Seems my little vacation is over. I’ll be gone all day.”

“Okay.” I rubbed at my forehead. “It’s Saturday. I won’t have anything going on tonight.”

The chuckle grew to a soft laugh. He crossed to me and leaned close. I closed my eyes just as his lips touched my lips. That felt nice, nicer than it should’ve. He rested his lips there, then pulled away. I could feel his reluctance.

“Tonight.” He didn’t move all the way back. He gazed down at me.

“Do you know what time?”

“Not yet, but when I do, I’ll call.” He frowned again. “And if you want to make plans, go for it. I can wait to see you another night. I understand.”

“Yeah. Sure.” That wasn’t going to happen. “Me, social creature here.”

The corner of his mouth lifted again. “I’ll see you.”

“Tonight.”

He began walking backward. “Tonight.”

Then he turned the corner. I heard the elevator take him away, and I was back to being alone.





Well.

To say I had things on my mind would be an understatement. There was a complete hurricane in my mind—but no. I’d promised myself last night that I wouldn’t regret anything, and I was sticking to it. I’d just also chosen this time to finally finish the last of my unpacking. Anything that wasn’t put away already got a spot, and was categorized. Then color-coded.

I didn’t regret my night with Cole. It was the opposite.

I kept glancing at my phone. I told myself it wasn’t because of him. This wasn’t high school. This wasn’t a crush, but the fluttering in my stomach didn’t reassure me. The other person I kept expecting to hear from, which was more logical since I’d texted her the night before, was Sia.

She’d stood me up, and it had been crickets since. That wasn’t normal, even when she was enthralled with a new boyfriend. She’d only forgotten me one other time, and the apologies had started immediately, with flowers. I was going to ask for chocolates this time, but evidently I wasn’t going to have the chance.

My phone was silent.

It was a little after noon when I ventured downstairs. My body was exhilarated, but exhausted at the same time, so no exercise for me. I planned to head out for a little exploring. I hadn’t felt like meandering the streets since I’d moved in, and it was past time for that to happen. I was coming back from the mailroom when I saw Dawn peeking through the door. She was watching someone in the lobby, so I cleared my throat.

She didn’t startle, but turned her head. Her eyes went flat. “Oh. It’s you.”

I gave her a look. “I thought we were friendly…ish?”

She looked back, raising up on her tiptoes. “I’m mad at you.”

Huh? “At me?”

“Yeah.” She gave me another dark look. “You.”

“Why?”

“You introduced them.”

“Who—” Sia and Jake. The light bulb clicked on as I heard laughter coming from the lobby. Male laughter. Female laughter. Laughter I recognized. “Sia and Jake are out there?”

“Things were going according to plan until you brought her to the dinner.” Her nose wrinkled. “Thanks a lot for that.”

I blinked. “I had no idea, Dawn. I thought you liked Sia.”

She lifted a stiff shoulder, peering through the door again. “I was seduced by her. Not many understand the frustration when you don’t use a stitch square. The results can be catastrophic. Sia understood.” Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to me. “But I’m on to her. Did you bring her intentionally to take him away?”

I had no words for a moment. “Uh.” I shook my head. “Dawn, you’re a little scary right now.”

“I’m the building’s shut-in. I have a lot of time on my hands.” She looked back for a moment and then announced, “We have to hide.”

“Wha—”

She grabbed my shoulders and pushed me backward, steering me along the way. We were moving fast, then we stopped.

“Wher—”

“Sssh!”

“…I don’t know where it is. I didn’t check it after the game, but I brought it down when we were swimming. I know I did, but I don’t remember having it after that.” Sia’s voice grew clear as she walked past us. “I should stop and see Addison. I have this feeling we were supposed to do something together this weekend.”

“Really?” Jake’s voice wasn’t as clear. They were moving beyond the door. “We could ask her…” They were out of earshot.

I waited, but Dawn never opened the door. I reached for the knob. She grabbed my hand and hissed, “They’re coming back. He’s getting his mail, just like you.”

“Were they out all night?”

She inched forward. I couldn’t see her face. “They were at brunch just now, but I think they stayed at her place.”

“How would you know that?”

“Instagram. Hello? You never post on yours, by the way. You should post more.”

“Duly noted.”

Sia’s voice approached. “…it’s bugging me. I remember having it before we went swimming.”

“I don’t know,” Jake said. “Maybe. We were both buzzed, but it would still be down here. Or Kenneth would’ve given it to us if someone else found it first. It was late when we were down here.”

“I know.” I could hear the confusion in her voice as they walked past again. “Let’s buzz Addison’s place. Maybe she found it and is holding it for me?”

“Maybe.”

So Sia still didn’t remember our plans last night. And they were buzzing my place while I was trapped in a dark closet with Dawn. I started to move forward again, reaching for the door, but she blocked me.

“No. They could come back.”

“Dawn.” I grabbed her arm. Two could play at this. “Either move, or I will move you.”

“Just wait. Okay? They’re going to come back and look for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” she snapped at me.

“And why do you think that?”

“Because you don’t go anywhere, like me. If you’re not in your