Beautiful Mess(115)

“I’ve been waiting all night to get you in my arms,” he murmured in her ear. “And now that you’re here, I have no intention of letting you go.”

A delicious shiver raced through her. “I don’t want to be anywhere else.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

“Ambria, I...”

“What?” She lifted her head to look at him.

Cole gazed at her for a moment, something important on the tip of his tongue. But then he smiled.

“Nothing. Happy Valentine’s Day.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Bri’s heart, and knees, melted.

“Do you need to go sit down?” he teased, noticing her sudden imbalance.

“No, I don’t want to move from this spot all night,” she smiled back at him.

“Good, because tonight is about you and me, and I plan to fully enjoy you all night.”

“I plan to enjoy you, too.” She gazed up into his deep gray eyes. She saw those eyes darken before he dropped his head and nuzzled just below her ear lobe.

“Mmm,” he moaned, “and there is much more of you to enjoy tonight.” Heat flooded Bri’s body as Cole’s lips trailed down her neck and along her shoulder. “Have I told you how much I love it when you wear your hair up?” He sucked on her tattoo, sending tingles rushing through her, not caring in the least that they were in the middle of a crowded gym. And for that moment, Bri didn’t care either. Nothing mattered but Cole, and how he made her feel.

“Oh, no, I’m sorry,” a voice sneered as Bri felt, rather than saw, someone bump into Cole.

Cole pulled back to find Serena and Trey dancing beside them.

“Oh, Cole, it’s you!” Serena smiled brilliantly at him, like she hadn’t just purposely crashed into him. She eyed Bri with total disdain before leaning a little closer to Cole, offering both him and Bri an eyeful of cleavage. “Sorry about the bump. You know what a clumsy dancer Trey is.” She didn’t look sorry at all.

Trey rolled his eyes, but said nothing. Instead he looked Bri up and down appreciatively. Suppressing a shudder, she turned to Serena, refusing to cower to her.

“Looks like you two should go find something else to do then, and leave the dancing to those of us who actually know how,” Bri smirked.

Serena didn’t even acknowledge her, but kept her eyes firmly on Cole.

“You look good tonight, CJ.” Her eyes devoured him like he was an all you can eat dessert buffet. “Save a dance for me?” She put her hand on Cole’s arm, and Bri about smacked her. Cole stiffened.

“No, Serena,” he replied firmly, shrugging off her hand. “I’m all Bri’s tonight.” He smiled warmly at Bri.

Feeling reckless and bold, and wanting so badly to put Serena in her place, Bri wrapped her arms around Cole’s neck.

“Yes, you are,” she agreed, and kissed him. She didn’t stop kissing him when she heard a hiss, and Serena’s heels clicking away. She kissed him deeper then, because she wanted him to know that this wasn’t about Serena.

Cole pulled back, breathless.

“Damn Bri, the way you kiss...,” he shook his head smiling. “If this is what you want to do all night, I am more than happy to oblige.”

Laughing, Bri dropped her head back to his shoulder.

As the night progressed, Cole’s closeness, his perfect face, his hard, hot body, his tantalizing scent, all started wreaking havoc with Bri’s hormones. The way he held her, pressed tightly against him, like he was trying to fuse them into one being, caused her heart to pound and her body to flush with heat. Her skin tingled wherever it touched his, and the need to be closer to him was like a physical ache inside her. She could feel an underlying tension in Cole, too, and realized he was struggling just as much as she was.

Bri’s body and mind battled over what they wanted to do, and what was the responsible thing to do. And for once, her body made the more convincing argument. Gathering her courage, Bri lifted her head and looked into Cole’s eyes.

“Want to get out of here for a while?” she asked.

Cole’s eyes darkened hungrily, and he nodded.

She grabbed his hand and led him out of the gym, stopping only to borrow the keys to Layla’s dad’s car. Layla gave Bri a knowing smile, but didn’t question as she handed Bri the keys. Cole was also silent as he followed her through the parking lot and into the roomy back seat. They sat in awkward silence for a moment.

“Sorry,” Bri blushed nervously. “I just thought a little privacy would be nice, and this was the first place I thought of.”

“No, this is nice.” Cole cleared his throat. “It was definitely feeling a little crowded in there.”