***
The holiday was flying past too quickly. I hated how close we were to leaving, but I was still having the time of my life. Cole and I hung out at the beach a lot, and I was actually getting a tan. It was a nice change from my usual pasty, ghostly white. We barely saw our parents during the day, except for breakfast most morning and every evening for dinner.
I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to leave home.
Mia spent most of her time with a girl she had met on the second day. They’d go out every night and look for ‘hotties’ apparently. Neither one of them found a holiday romance, and I suspected Mia wasn’t up for it because she was still holding onto Chris. But she was having a good time.
And Jasper, well, we saw him around the hotel occasionally. He would get up at around three in the afternoon and chill by the pool bar, have dinner with us and then go out all night. I overheard him tell Cole that he’d only woke up in his room a few times. Gross.
Since the dressing incident in the spa, I grew even more comfortable and confident around Cole. We now both thought nothing of changing in front of each other. Every night he would sneak into my room and sleep in my bed. We would just mess around and kiss until we fell asleep. He didn’t try to touch me intimately, and I loved him for that. Although, while caught up in the moment, I’d wanted him to so many times.
He made me burn for something I knew would be amazing with him. I wanted to take things further, and I was getting more confident with letting him know that.
After dinner, Cole and I decided to chill in my room and watch a movie. We were going to the water park again early in the morning, so we didn’t want to be out too late. My parents were off with David and Jenna in town for dinner and a show. Jasper was doing his usual, and Mia was out in town with Hazel.
I climbed on the bed and hovered above him, my hands beside his face. He instantly smiled, wrapped his hand around the back of my head and pulled me down. His lips captured mine in a kiss that made my toes curl. Slowly, he rolled us so he was on top.
He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “Oakley?” His voice wobbled nervously. “This is probably really late considering everything but…well, I was wondering if…” He sighed and shook his head, frowning at himself. “Shit, I’m such a twat. Will you be my girlfriend?”
My mouth fell open. Breathe, Oakley!
His body tensed. “Err, is that a no?”
I shook my head, and he frowned.
“It’s a yes?”
I nodded and kissed him. That was the biggest and easiest yes I’d ever said. He pulled away and kissed down my neck. I froze for a second; fighting between wanting more and being terrified by how I might react.
Cole moaned as he ran his hand down the side of my body and gripped the bottom of my top. This was that defining moment where I had to decide if I was going to listen to what I actually wanted or what I thought I should want.
No more putting my life on hold. We weren’t doing anything wrong, and I wanted this.
I loved how he made me feel and how natural being with him was.
This is my choice. No one else’s.
When I didn’t push him away, he pulled my top over my head. His lips only left mine for a second while he whipped my top off. My whole body felt like it was on fire. Everywhere he touched made my skin tingle. His hands caressed my stomach and chest with such a gentle touch it almost tickled.
He groaned, and his eyes smouldered. “Maybe we should stop…” He made it sound like a question, a question he knew the answer to. Putting the last of my fears to one side, I shook my head, and Cole looked nervous.
My decision to be with him wasn’t an easy one, but I loved him and trusted him. This was about us, no one else.
“Are you sure?” he whispered. His voice was thick with lust it made my stomach clench. I nodded and ran my hand through his soft hair.
“Are you scared?”
No, not of being with you.
I shook my head, and he chuckled.
“Don’t worry, I’m kinda nervous, too.” Why was he nervous? “This isn’t just your first time,” he admitted, biting his lip. Cole was a virgin. My eyes widened, and he raised an eyebrow at me. “Not sure if I should be insulted by your surprise or not.”
I shook my head, trying to make sense of what he said. How could he be a virgin? He’d had a couple of girlfriends before, although they hadn’t lasted very long, but still...
“It took so long for me to even consider there might even be a tiny chance that you liked me the same way I liked you. I’ve never slept with anyone because… because I’ve only ever wanted you,” he whispered.
Oh.
Wow.
I felt a warm tear roll down the side of my face, which Cole wiped away with his thumb. He smiled and added, “I love you, Oakley. Always have. Always will.” Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath as warmth spread through my chest.
I felt a gentle pressure on my lips, and I kissed him back, showing him how much I loved him, too.
19
Cole