Beautiful Mess(116)

They sat for a minute more, Bri getting more and more nervous, as she wasn’t sure what to do next.

Cole reached over, cupping her cheek with his hand, and Bri’s eyes immediately found his. He remained motionless, gazing intently into her eyes, and Bri felt her nerves, and self-restraint, slip away. Without a word, she flung herself across the remaining space between them and crushed her mouth to his.

Shivers of pleasure raced through her, as she parted his lips with her own and her tongue found his. Cole was urgent and demanding, claiming her with his kisses. Yet, at the same time, he remained hesitant, as if waiting for her permission. Not wanting him to hold back, Bri gripped him tightly, pressing him closer, and kissed him with a passion fueled by everything she felt for him. She had every intention of claiming him, too.

Cole groaned against her, and it nearly undid her. There had always been a powerful attraction between them, but Bri had fought against it, trying to keep it in check, not wanting things to get out of control. But she was tired of fighting. So, she let go. She let go of everything she had been keeping pent up inside her, letting out everything she felt. It was exciting, and liberating, and frightening, and she wanted, needed, more.

She climbed onto Cole’s lap, straddling his hips, needing to be closer to him. He paused, looking at her with eyes full of heat and desire, and something else, something deeper. He gave her a sexy, hungry grin before devouring her lips again.

Bri’s skin tingled as Cole’s hands found her knees and slowly made their way up her bare thighs to her hips. He pulled her closer against him, and it was Bri’s turn to moan. She felt him smile against her lips, obviously enjoying the reaction he was getting out of her, and she couldn’t help smiling back. Cole’s hands continued up her sides and around the back of her shoulders, not allowing a millimeter of space between them. Her hands clenched in his silky hair as his lips moved to her ear and down her neck, kissing, sucking, and nipping all the way down to her shoulder. He then moved along her collarbone, stopping for a minute at the hollow of her throat. Her neck arched back as she clutched him to her. He continued across to her other shoulder and up the other side of her neck. He stopped again at her tattoo, before kissing along her jaw line. Heat and desire raced through her, and suddenly it wasn’t enough. She wanted more of him. She wanted all of him.

She kissed him harder, more hungrily, desperately, wildly than she ever had. She had never felt anything like this before. She was becoming drunk on his kisses, addicted to the heady rush coursing through her. Cole kissed her back just as fiercely, and she was drowning.

Frustrated by the barriers separating them, Bri grabbed Cole’s shirt and yanked it out of his waistband. He quickly disposed of his tie, as she made quick work of the buttons. Bri felt the zipper on her dress unzip, and the top of her dress fell away. They both sat there a moment, their eyes roving over one another, drinking each other in. Their eyes met again, and Cole seemed to hesitate, as if not sure he should continue. Bri placed her hands on his stomach and let them roam all over his abs and chest, delighting in the feel of him. Her lips and tongue traced the lines of his jaw, his neck, his shoulders. Cole shivered and pulled her to him. Their hands explored one another, as Cole had his way with her mouth. The feel of his skin against hers was intoxicating, and she clutched him tighter, never wanting to be separated from him again.

Turning slightly, Cole laid Bri down on the seat. His lips left her mouth, exploring her newly exposed skin. When he started kissing along the top of her bra, Bri thought she was going to melt right there. Her hands roamed over his back, neck, and hair as she enjoyed Cole enjoying her. This was how it was meant to be, how it would always be between them. Why had she ever tried to fight this?

Suddenly, an image of Cole boarding a plane and leaving her behind flashed through her mind. Reality came crashing down on her. That was why she had fought this, because she and Cole wouldn’t always be together. He was moving across the country in a couple months, and who knew if she would even see him again after that. As much as she wanted Cole right now, she didn’t want to share something so special and intimate with him, and then have to say goodbye, for good. She didn’t think she could bear that.

“Cole,” she whispered sadly. “Cole, wait.”

Cole paused, lifting his eyes to her, frozen.

“Okay,” he replied warily, his breathing heavy. “I’m waiting...”

“Cole, I’m sorry... but I can’t...” She wanted to explain, but couldn’t seem to find the words.

He let out a huge breath, disappointment, and something like fear, clouding his eyes. That look on his faced crushed her. Cole dropped his eyes and sat up. He ran his hands through his hair before dropping his head into his hands.