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Beautiful Mess(126)

By:Jennifer Preston


Heat and desire raced between them, building until they didn’t know anything else but each other. Somehow, Bri wasn’t sure how, they were lying on the sand, Cole beneath her as her mouth explored his neck and chest. There was a fire burning inside her that only he could quench. She felt his hands move to the tie at her back, and her heart pounded faster. They were all alone on the beach, and Bri wanted this, so badly. There was no reason to stop, no reason to hold back.

Except one, and her mind made sure she remembered it.

Feeling her heart crash, Bri gently reached back and moved Cole’s hands down. She didn’t stop kissing him, but she slowed her kisses, trying to reduce the tension between them. Finally managing to calm down a bit, she pulled back to look at him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. Bri leaned into his hand and smiled sadly.

“I shouldn’t let things get this far. It’s not fair to you.” She shook her head, dropping her eyes. “I just...”

“Stop,” Cole said gently, but forcefully. Bri lifted her eyes back to his. “I shouldn’t let things get this far, either. I know how you feel about this, and I shouldn’t put you into these kinds of situations.” He paused a moment and smiled. “Although, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t really enjoy these minor lapses in judgment!”

“Me, too,” Bri smiled back at him. “Though, it would be so much easier to control myself if you weren’t so damn sexy.” She kissed him lightly before rolling off him.

“I have news for you, Ambria,” Cole helped her to her feet, then pulled her tightly against him, his face millimeters from hers. “You have me beat in the sexiness department, hands down.” He kissed her deeply, making her insides turn to jelly.

“Maybe,” she murmured. “But you are by far the better kisser.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”

Bri laughed and turned away, heading back up the beach. She heard a tortured groan behind her, and threw a glance back at Cole, who had obviously been enjoying the view as she walked away.

“Ambria, you’re going to be the death of me,” he shook his head, the tortured, longing look still in his eyes. He ran to her side, wrapped his arm tight around her waist, and led her back up the beach.





Bri enjoyed the rest of her week off. On Friday, Layla insisted that they needed a girl’s night, and demanded that Bri spend the night. After doing facials, mani-pedi’s, and eating their weight in pizza and chocolate, Layla set up the air mattress on her bedroom floor for Bri, and the girls got ready for bed.

Bouncing onto her own bed, Layla shot Bri a look.

“So, how are things with Cole going?” she asked innocently.

Seeing right through Layla’s casualness, Bri replied, “Fine.”

“Oh, come on! Things have got to be better than fine,” Layla pushed.

“What? Things are good. What else do you want me to say?”

Heaving a huge sigh, Layla dropped all pretense of indifference.

“You can start by giving me some of those details you’ve been keeping to yourself. Like, is Cole an amazing kisser?” Her eyes sparkled with interest.

Deciding she’d best get Layla off her back, Bri nodded, her cheeks blushing. “Yes, he really is.”

“I knew it! With lips like his, how could he not be.” Layla’s eyes got a dreamy look in them. “I bet that boy knows at least fifty different ways to make a girl moan.”

“Layla!” Bri swatted her with her pillow. “Don’t you have a boyfriend?” she teased. She would love to know what Devon would think about Layla’s fascination with Cole’s kissing prowess.

“Of course,” Layla snapped out of her day dream. “And he is very satisfying, I assure you.”

“Wait! Did you guys finally...?”

“Oh! No, not yet.” Layla’s face flamed a bright red. “I told you, I’m holding out for Chris Carrabba at my wedding, remember?”

“Of course. I think you’re smart for waiting.” Bri smiled encouragingly at her friend.

“Yeah, well, it hasn’t been easy. What about you and Cole? You two seal the deal yet?”

“Wow, Lay, what a romantic way to put it,” Bri quipped. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, we haven’t.”

“Seriously?” Layla was shocked. “You two have some serious chemistry going on. Heck, you can cut the sexual tension between you two with a knife. What’s holding you back?”

“You mean besides the whole I’m not having sex in high school thing? Or the whole I don’t know exactly how I feel about him and don’t want to confuse everything with sex thing?”