I managed to fold my six-foot-four self into the back of our Suburban. Gavin likes to drive, Tristan called shotgun, and Kacen, of course, wanted to sit with his wife. Not that I’m complaining; I’m not going to make the pregnant girl climb into the back, of course. So here I sit, with Stacy squished beside me. I couldn’t have planned it better if I’d tried. The radio is up, so each of us are having our own conversations.
“You’re all scrunched.” She giggles
I rub my thumb across her knuckles; I can’t be this close to her and not be touching her. She never resists anymore.
“I’m not complaining. I’m scrunched with you.”
“I guess you think that’s a good thing?”
“I do. So tell me, what do you want to do the next couple of days?”
“Cole, it’s your time off. You’ve been working nonstop. Go out, have some fun.”
Here we go. Not exactly how I wanted to have this conversation, but it needs to finally happen. I slouch in the seat and pull her close to me. She’s facing away from me, but my arms are wrapped around her. My lips next to her ear, I start to talk.
“Stacy, I want to be your more. I want to try this with you. I haven’t touched—hell, looked at another woman in months. You consume me. I want you to be my girl. I want to give this a go, see if we can make this work.” I kiss the top of her head.
She doesn’t respond for a long time. Finally, she looks up at me, those green eyes putting me under her spell. “This is real to me, Cole.”
Fuck! This is not where or how I wanted to do this. I move to sit up and she does the same; her back against the seat, I lean over and block us from the view of our friends. I gently cup her face, feeling her soft skin. “Baby, I’ve never been more real about anything in my life. I want this. I want you. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but whatever it is, being in a relationship, all of that, I want it with you.”
She bites down on her lip and her eyes fill with tears. I’m just about to take it all back, to tell her we can do what we’ve been doing, anything to stop her tears. Until she nods.
“Baby?”
“Okay,” she whispers, as if she’s still uncertain. “Don’t break my heart, Cole.”
Never.
Leaning in, I kiss her, just a soft touch of my lips to hers. I feel tears on my lips.
“Don’t cry, sweets. We’re going to rock this. You and me, okay?”
“Okay,” she says again.
Fuck, I sound like I’m giving her a fucking pep talk before a damn basketball game. She’s going to dump my dumb ass before we get started.
“We’ll take it as fast or as slow as you want, but I want you to be mine. Above all else, I need to know that you’re mine.” I know with all that I am that we will make this work. Failing her, these feelings I have for her, is not an option.
“Okay,” she repeats. This time, a slow smile graces her lips.
She’s mine. That was easier than I thought, but then again, I’ve been showing her every fucking day that she’s all I see.
We pull into the hotel and the paparazzi are ready and waiting. Someone tipped them off, and I’m sure it was Brian fucking Wilson, none other than the CEO of Stone Records.
“Fucking Brian,” Kacen seethes. He’s pissed too.
We want a few nights to just be us. Most of the time, people will leave us alone if we don’t roll in a huge entourage. Unless someone tips them off. We’ve had a feeling it’s been Brian for a while now. It all traces back to him. Jones wouldn’t do that; he’s one of the good guys.
“Stacy, I need you to stay close to me. The valet will take care of the car and our bags, so just grab your purse and stay close.”
She nods. I climb over her and get out first, wanting to shield her from them as much as possible. Not because I want to hide her, but because I just got her to agree to try this with me. I don’t need them digging into her life and scaring her away before I have a chance to convince her that we’re good together.
Once I’m out, I reach in for her hand. The others are already inside. When she steps out, I wrap my arms around her and she buries her head in my chest.
“Cole, over here.”
“Who’s the girl?”
“Is she your girlfriend?”
“Cole, can we get a picture.”
I ignore every single one of them. All I want to do is get Stacy inside. Everyone else is waiting for us just inside the door. Security is keeping the paparazzi out.
“You all right, sweets?” I kiss her temple.
“Yeah.” She smiles up at me.
“What did we miss?” Logan asks.
I look down at the stunning woman in my arms and smirk. She gives a small nod; she knows what I’m asking.
I kiss her temple one more time before facing our friends, my family. These three guys and Logan are my extended family, and I’m bursting with both anxiety and excitement to tell them.
“I convinced this one”—I pull her to my chest—“to be my girl.”
I expect a chorus of “No shit.” Or “What are you thinking?” for Stacy. Instead, we’re met with knowing smiles.
“Finally, you both realize it. I thought we were going to have to dumb it down for the two of you.” Gavin says.
“What?” Stacy asks.
“Stacy, we all could see it. You two don’t take your eyes off each other. We were just letting you come to the conclusion on your own. Although, Gavin’s right. We thought we were going to have to point it out,” Logan tells us.
Stacy giggles beside me and I want to bottle the sound.
A hotel attendant approaches us. “Mrs. Hampton?” He looks at Stacy, because well, everyone knows Kace and Logan are married.
She used my name. I want to beat on my chest like a fucking caveman. It sounds pretty fucking fantastic too.
Stacy Hampton.
Mrs. Cole Hampton
I like it.
“You used my name,” I say next to her ear.
Looking over her shoulder at me, she smiles. “You told me to.”
“Here are your keys, ma’am. As we discussed on the phone, I already checked you in. The valet will handle your car and deliver your bags. . . . Uh, we might not know whose go where.” The girl looks scared that we’re going to rip her head off.
“No problem. Just drop them off in any of the rooms and we can sort it out from there,” Stacy tells her.
“Yes, ma’am. Take the elevator to the top floor. All the suites on that floor are yours.” She hands her room cards.
In the elevator, Stacy hands everyone a key but me, and I don’t question her. I assume she wants to talk about this revelation in the car before we go our separate ways. If I had my way, I would never leave her side. My room can set empty for all I care.
That’s a first for me.
The elevator ride is quiet. I think everyone is just excited for a full-sized bed and a good night’s sleep that doesn’t have anything to do with a noisy, bumpy interstate.
We reach the top floor and scatter our separate ways. I follow Stacy to what I assume is her room. She inserts the card and I follow her inside.
Once the door closes, she turns to face me. She’s biting her lip and looks worried about something. My heart drops instantly—she’s changed her mind. I knew I wanted this, being more with her. It’s not until this moment that I realize that I want it—not just to give her what she wants, but for me too.
I want her.
I step forward and wrap my arms around her. “What’s wrong?”
“I didn’t get you a room,” she says. She sounds worried.
“No problem, I can call down and get it fixed or room with one of the guys.” I would offer to stay with her, because that’s where I want to be, but she looks too worried for that. I don’t want to push her for fear of her telling me to hit the road. I’ll try to rationalize my need to be next to her another time.
“No, I did it on purpose. I thought you could stay with me.”
Hell fucking yes! I pick her up and swing her around. “Good choice, beautiful,” I say as my lips cover hers.
All too soon, she’s breaking the kiss. “Cole, put me down.” She laughs.
“Wrap your legs around me,” I tell her before kissing her again.
For weeks, I’ve been this softer version of myself. I knew then, even though I wouldn’t have admitted it, that this is how I wanted to end up. Her in my arms. I’ve enjoyed actually taking the time to get to know her, but she agreed to be mine. It’s now my mission to prove to her that taking a chance on me—on us—was the right decision.
“Cole,” she breathes as I trail kisses down her neck.
“You want this,” I rasp.
“Yes.”
It’s great that she isn’t fighting me on it, but it wasn’t a question. I can feel her heat. I know she wants this, wants me. And I plan to deliver.
When I grip her ass, she breaks the kiss and buries her head in my neck. In two strides, I have her pressed against the wall, my body molded against hers.
“I need those lips, sweets,” I rasp in her ear.
Without hesitation, her lips cover mine as she works her hands up to my hair and removes the tie. She immediately grabs on as she deepens the kiss. She’s sweet, like honey.
Hands still on her ass, I pull her against me. She gasps when she feels my hard cock against her heat. I lean in to kiss her again, but stop when she rotates her hips against mine.
Fuck me.
“Stacy.” Her name is the only word I can get past my lips as she rolls her hips again.
“More,” she pants.
More.
I quickly walk us to the bed, setting her on the edge. She keeps her legs wrapped around my waist and I lean over her, my arms resting on either side of her head. When she lifts her hips, I fight against the moan sitting in the back of my throat.
Placing all my weight on one hand, careful not to crush her, the other gently grips her chin, making her look at me. “I need to hear you say it.”
She smirks. “It.”
“Smartass.” I grin as I lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth.
“What do you want to hear Cole? That I’ve fought my attraction to you for months? That I’m willing to throw away my idea of dating and future for a chance to be with you? Do you want me to tell you that the reward of feeling you inside me is worth the risk of a broken heart?” She cups my face. “Or maybe you want me to tell you that I’m wet for you? That you’re driving me crazy and I want you inside me? Is that what you want to hear?” Her voice is softer now.
“All of the above,” I say against her lips.
“Cole.” My name is a whisper from her lips. Pulling back, my eyes meet hers. “Don’t break me.”
My heart is pounding against my chest. Break her? I want to fucking cherish her. But Kace is the one with the words, not me. How do I make her understand?
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her. Her emerald eyes are shining bright.
I watch as her face turns a light shade of pink. “It,” she says with a soft smile.
I nod once. I know what she wants. Standing to my full height, I pull my shirt over my head and toss it across the room. Stacy sits up and does the same. I want to be the one stripping her, but I’m man enough to admit that if I do, this is going to be over before it starts.
I don’t take my eyes off her as she reaches behind her back and removes her bra. Sliding one strap off then the other, she slowly lets it fall before tossing it behind her. Lying back against the bed, she unbuttons her jeans, lifts her hips, and shimmies them down her thighs, along with her thong. I take over from there, pulling them down her legs and tossing them to the side.
“Your turn.”
Sitting up, her hands immediately begin to unbutton my jeans. Slowly, she lowers the zipper, and then I step away from her and kick them off. I went commando today, so my cock stands proud . . . for her.
My eyes find hers and she’s licking her lips. I send up a silent prayer that I won’t embarrass myself.
Without a word, she turns and climbs up on the bed. She settles on her back, right in the middle. Stepping forward, I take her in. Her long locks are spread out on the pillow, emerald eyes filled with heat, pink pouty lips, and a body any man would die to be able to worship.
“I’ve waited so long for this,” I say. My voice is husky against the desire that’s coursing through me.
I need to be inside her.
As I start to climb on the bed, I remember—protection.
I stalk away to find my jeans.
“Cole?”
I dig around until I find my wallet and pull out the condom. I raise it in the air and show her what I’m doing; she relaxes back into the soft mattress. At least it looks soft, but then again, maybe it’s just her. Stacy makes anything look soft. Just look at what she’s done to me.
In two long strides, I’m back at the bed. I crawl on from the bottom, taking in the beauty before me, pause only long enough to rip open the condom and quickly roll it on. I continue on until I’m nestled between her thighs.
“Why did you stop?” she asks breathlessly.
I haven’t even touched her yet. “I need to make sure you’re ready for me.”
“I’m good,” she assures me.
“You sure?” I quirk a brow.
Her answer is to raise her hips and search for me, and I have to fight like hell not to slide inside her. I pull my hips back and rest my weight on one arm; the other’s searching out the answer. Sure enough, I find her soaked.
“Told you.” She smirks.
I don’t even try to hold in the laugh that escapes my lips. “That you did,” I say, placing my weight on both elbows on either side of her head. Reaching up, I smooth the hair away from her face. “You good?” I ask as I rub my cock against her center.
“Not yet,” she pants. “But I will be.” She runs her fingers through my hair and pulls me closer, pressing her lips against mine.
I get lost in the kiss, in the duel of my tongue with hers. I drink in the taste of her. I want to kiss every inch of her ivory skin.
Next time.
There will most certainly be a next time, and that’s when I will devour every fucking inch of her. Right now, I need to be inside her.
Again, she raises her hips, and that’s when it happens. I slide home.
Home.
I freeze.
She feels like heaven. She feels like home. It hits me like a lightning bolt—this is more for me because I’m falling in love with her.
Hell, I think I might already love her.