Beautiful Mess(69)

Bri laughed, and felt the echoing rumble in Cole’s chest as he joined her. Feeling suddenly shy, she dropped her gaze.

“I’ve never kissed anyone like that before,” she admitted quietly, unable to stop the flush in her cheeks. “Just you.” She chanced a glance up at Cole through her lashes, hoping he understood what she meant, and that she didn’t sound like an idiot.

He was watching her intently. He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

“I’ve never kissed anyone like that, either,” her replied before lowering his lips to hers again.

Bri’s heart sang as she lost herself in his kisses. After a few minutes though, she pushed him back again.

“No, we can’t start that again.” She had her hands pressed against his chest, and she could feel Cole’s heart pounding beneath her palm, dangerously weakening her resolve. “I don’t think I could stop you again, and there are some things we should probably talk about.” She tried to look and sound stern, but figured it was less than effective when she was staring longingly at Cole’s mouth. A smug grin turned up those sexy-as-hell lips, and snapped her out of her trance. “Stop that,” she swatted at him, trying to sit up. He held her pinned beneath him.

“Is that what you want to do right now? Talk?” He smiled at her devilishly before leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Because what I want to do is much more fun,” he purred before nibbling her earlobe.

A soft moan escaped her, and Bri knew her willpower wouldn’t last much longer.

“No,” she groaned, honestly, “it’s not what I want to do. But it’s what we need to do.”

Cole dropped his head onto her shoulder, and Bri let out a sigh of relief, and disappointment, as he sat up, pulling her with him. He kicked his feet up on the coffee table, and snuggled Bri up against his side.

“Okay, Ambria,” his arm wrapped around her, and he tucked her head under his chin. “What do we need to talk about?”

Bri listened to his heart beat for a few seconds before she gathered up the courage to ask quietly, “What does this mean? For us?”

Cole let out a long breath. “Wow, Bri, way to put me on the spot. I’ve already told you how I feel about you, but you have yet to return the favor. I can’t answer that yet, not until I know how you feel.”

She nodded against his chest. Cole was right. It wasn’t fair of her to make him define their relationship, especially when he didn’t know if she even felt the same way. Taking a deep breath, she decided it was time to do the most frightening thing she could think of... be honest with Cole, and tell him how she felt about him.

“You are all I think about, too,” she admitted quietly, immensely grateful he couldn’t see her face. “Ever since the first day we met. Even when I was angry at you, and trying to ignore you, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I tried to convince myself that it was nothing, that I didn’t really feel anything for you. But deep down I always knew better. I like you, Cole. I care about you. You make me laugh, and when I’m around you I’m happier than I can remember being in a long time. The more I get to know you, the more I want to know. And you’re sexy as hell. It’s like I can’t get enough of you. And as much as I don’t like it, as much as I’ve tried to fight it, you consume me.” Wow, she hadn’t meant to be that honest, but there it was. Once she started, the words seemed to just pour out of her. She couldn’t look at Cole, she was way too embarrassed, but she was glad that it was finally all out in the open. “I think I’m finally ready to stop fighting and take a chance on you. I want to give us a chance.”

Cole sat quietly for a few moments. Bri held her breath, waiting for his reaction. She was too nervous to chance a look at him, to see what he might be thinking. So she sat, her heart pounding, waiting for him to respond. She felt him release a huge breath, and she almost sighed in relief when his arms tightened around her.

“I have to admit,” he kissed the top of her head, “I never thought I’d ever hear you say that.” He let out a sigh. “I want to give us a chance, too, more than anything. But I’m worried things are too complicated for us to work.”

Bri nodded, knowing exactly how he felt. “Are you talking about Serena?” She picked the most obvious of the complications.

“I still don’t want to give her an excuse to ruin your life,” he exhaled sadly. “I broke it off with Serena because I knew that us being together was hurting you, and I didn’t want to hurt you anymore. But the fact is, she doesn’t want me to be with anyone except her. I want to protect you. I don’t want to expose you to the kind of rumors and attacks I know Serena will launch at you.”