Page 34 of Chasin' Cole

His fingertips brush along my bare back, and my skin pebbles beneath his light touch.

"I've never been surer of anythin' in my life," I whisper as his hand finds my spine and his pupils eat up his dark irises. Handsome. He’s so handsome. He’s everythin’ I’ve ever wanted but didn’t know I needed.

Cole walks us back to his bed. It’s slow and purposeful. Every step a steady reminder I want this. I want to be his. In every way possible.

The moment my shins hit the soft mattress, he lifts me up. I wrap my legs around his waist. He stares at me, his eyes dark and soulful, as he takes in the scene, committing everythin’ to memory.

"I love you," I say to him as his charcoal lashes flutter along his cheek, his heartbeat pounds against my chest, and his breath comes out in puffs.

"Not as much as I love you, Rose," he replies.

I don't argue, even though I know it's not true. As much as Cole Strickland loves me, I'll always love him more. We both know it’s true. It’s always the chaser who loves more. It’s fine, though. Maybe someday, he’ll love me as much as I love him.

I reach for the top button on his shirt as he holds me. I undo the first one, then the second. By the time I get to the fourth, he's lowerin' me onto the bed and finishes removin' his shirt himself.

The sunlight streamin' in through the blinds makes his body glow honeyed gold and bronze. His shoulders and strong arms and hard stomach. It’s all glistenin’ as my eyes rake over every curve and crevice. Heat blossoms in my lower abdomen as he moves closer to me. I don’t think it’ll ever be close enough.

My hands glide along his ab muscles, his chest, and his biceps. I memorize every square inch of him like I'm memorizin' my favorite song lyrics. I'm writin' them on my heart and etchin' them into the recesses of my mind. A melody—a lullaby—I'll recall over and over when he's gone.

His hand stays on my stomach as he positions himself on his side next to me. I watch as he props his elbow up on his pillow and rests his chin in his hand. The chords of his throat tighten as he gazes down the length of my body and swallows hard.

"We're still wearin' pants," I smile up at him. "I think we need to take them off for this to work."

"Is that how it works?" he chuckles.

"Pretty sure," I retort.

"Just give me a minute to look at you," he inhales sharply. “I just want to look at you for a while.”

I lay on my back and let his eyes drink in all the parts of me laid bare before him. His fingers start on my stomach as he draws tiny circles, taking his time. He teases me as until he works up enough courage to slide his hand higher. My breasts tighten the closer he gets to them, my nipples hardenin' in anticipation. I know there’s a busy world outside the window, but I’m content to lay here with Cole, ignorin’ all its chaos.

There's a gentleness to his touch, to the way he cups my breast in his hand. The light pressure releases some of the tension in my core and I let out a contented sigh. I could lay here forever. Just the two of us.

Everythingdown therefeels achy, throbbin' and soaked. But I'm not in any hurry to get there. I like the slow pace we're movin' at.

Cole's fingers spread as his hand floats over to the other breast and he squeezes a little harder this time. I feel my back arch off the warm flannel sheet beneath me as he explores my body the same way I did when he crawled into bed beside me.

I reach for my belt buckle, feelin’ too restricted. Cole's hands leave my body as he moves back and lets me work my jeans off my lower body. Then my underwear. He gives me a sheepish smile when I grab his hand and place it on my hip. His touch scorches my skin as I inhale his musky scent. He smells so good. It’s intoxicatin’.

"You're so beautiful, Rose," he murmurs as his lips seek mine. He kisses me once, then twice. His kisses deepen as my core gets hotter, burnin' for him. Only for him. I know I’m goin’ to get burned after this. But I’m not thinking about the charred bits left behind when he leaves. I don’t want to.

He keeps kissin' me as his fingers inch towards my center. I spread my legs, openin' myself up to him. I don't think about tomorrow or the next day. I don't think about next week or next month. Or the next year. I'm just focusin' on us. Right now. In this moment.

I keep my eyes closed tight as his fingers slip through my folds, through the part of me screamin' out for him. Screamin’ to be touched by him.

He moans into our kiss when he feels how wet I am. I try to keep my body from combustin' when his fingers connect with the sensitive bundle of nerves at my center. He traced lazy circles around it while my legs shake, and my stomach explodes with heat. It doesn't take long before I'm comin' apart, something' strong and euphoric ripplin' through my body. I hold onto him as I cry out in ecstasy.

What in God's green earth?

My mouth drops open as I peer up at Cole, hazy and fuzzy. "What...what was that?"

My innocence makes him blush. "I’m assuming that was your first orgasm, Rose."

I hide my face in his shoulder and shake my head. "I…I didn’t know my body could do that."

“You’ve never?”

I shake my head. “I was too busy. Too busy ridin’ horses and muckin’ stalls.”

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