Beautiful Mess(72)

“Damn, girl!” His eyes took her in head to toe. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep things on a “friendship only” level with you looking like that!” He smiled at her appreciatively.

Bri smirked and slid into the water next to him.

“Well, if you’re lucky, you won’t have to,” she whispered before dunking him under the water.

They spent the next hour playing with the boys in the pool. Then Bri pulled her brothers out, got them in the tub, and ready for bed. She made them a frozen pizza for dinner, which she knew Summer would disapprove of, and it was time to say goodnight.

“But, we don’t want to go to bed,” Logan whined.

“Yeah, we want to… play with Cole,” Liam managed to protest through a huge yawn.

“Tell you what,” Cole looked at the boys. “If you two go to bed for your sister, and stay in bed, I’ll get you tickets to my basketball game next Friday. Does that sound like a deal?”

“For reals?” Liam asked excitedly.

“You promise, promise?” Logan eyed Cole seriously.

“I promise promise. But only if you two squirts stay in bed and go right to sleep.”

“Okay!”

“Goodnight, Cole!”

Liam and Logan gave Cole a hug, before running off to bed.

“I’ll go tuck them in, and then I’m going to change real fast. Why don’t you get changed and then find us a movie to watch or something. There’s a pizza in the oven for us, too, and feel free to grab you a drink.”

After putting the boys to bed, Bri changed out of her suit and into a pair of yoga pants and a tank top. She walked out to find Cole waiting for her in the kitchen. He immediately crossed to her and pulled her into his arms.

“Mmm, I’ve missed you,” he whispered.

“I’ve missed you more,” she replied before finding his lips.

Breathless, she pulled back. “Ready for dinner?”

“If you are dinner, I am going to be the happiest man alive!” Cole grinned.

Bri just shook her head, and dished them both up some pizza. They ate in the den, snuggled up on the couch, while they watched TV. When they were done, Bri took the dishes back to the kitchen. When she returned, Cole was watching her intently, and her heart picked up. She switched off the main overhead light, and turned on a small side lamp, giving the room a dim glow. She sat back down next to Cole, and he turned off the TV.

They sat staring at each other for a moment, Bri’s pulse pounding.

Cole lifted his hand to stroke her hair, and then cupped her neck with his hand. “Ambria,” he breathed her name, before his lips descended on hers. He kissed her slowly, savoring her. His hands explored the curve of her neck, her shoulders, her arms, down her waist, and rested on her hips. With a slight lift, he pulled her onto his lap. Bri trailed her hands up his chest and into his hair as their kissing intensified. Cole let out a deep moan as he laid her back and trailed kisses down her neck. He laid over her, and it was Bri’s turn to moan as he kissed along the neck of her tank top, up the other side of her neck, to her ear.

“Ambria,” he whispered, and Bri loved the sound of her name on his lips. “Will you do something for me?”

“Mmm, depends on what it is,” she whispered back, threading her fingers into his dark hair.

“Will you tell me about your tattoo?” Cole sucked on the delicate skin right behind her ear. A shiver of pleasure raced through her.

“Um, right now?” Bri asked, not wanting him to stop.

“Right now.”

“Really?” She pulled back to look at him. “You’ve got me right where you want me, and this is what you ask?”

“Well, if I asked you to get naked, would you?”

“No!” She couldn’t help blushing.

“Then, yes, I want you to tell me about your tattoo.” He sat up, pulling her with him. “And just so you know, we’ll get back to the whole naked thing later,” he teased, before kissing her quickly. “Alright baby, whenever you’re ready.” He sat back and looked at her expectantly.

“You know, I never actually agreed to tell you anything,” Bri looked at him dubiously.

“Bri, I have waited for you to be ready to tell me for months. I have been as patient as I can. I know this is a big deal for you, but if you can’t let me in, I don’t see much hope for us.”

She sat silently for a moment. Cole was right. If she couldn’t be open and honest with him, what kind of relationship could they have. He had begun to open up to her, it was only fair that she do the same.

“I got it when I was fourteen,” she began quietly. “I guess you could call it the final act of my juvenile delinquent phase.”