Page 122 of Shelter
He’d asked me to stay the whole weekend. Did he still want that?
Did I?
I suddenly needed to find my clothes. A speedy getaway might be imminent, and that required clothes.
Cole gave a satisfied sigh that tickled my ear. Half his body was still draped possessively over me. An arm over my chest. A leg bridging my hips. Even through my armor of doubt, it felt nice.
Wonderful, really.
I brought a hand to his bronze, sculpted shoulder that lay across me and let my fingertips slide back and forth over the hills and valleys of his muscles. Even if my fears were valid and I did, indeed, wind up in a million separate pieces after all of this, I wasn’t going to regret tonight.
“Mmmm…” The sound came from deep in his chest, vibrating through mine as it did.
In spite of myself, I smiled. No, I wouldn’t regret knowing this part of him. The memory of him above me… the look of raw and conquered beauty as he came inside me… the way he’d whispered my name a half a dozen times, kissing me as he came down… I’d never forget. These moments would join my trove of Cole memories that kept him as the owner of my heart.
I wouldn’t regret the memories, but I knew I’d pay a heavy price for them.
At that thought, a sigh of my own escaped me. Cole drew back from the hollow of my neck, narrowing his half-lidded eyes. And then he frowned.
“What is it?”
I shook my head. “Nothing,” I croaked.
His left brow rose a fraction. Cole cleared his throat and spoke softly. “You’ve always been a terrible liar.”
I swallowed. It was the truth. With Mama, lies of omission had often been the best I could manage. Even now.
Cole rolled back just enough to prop his head on his arm and study me. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong?”
What I wanted was to hide from those piercing blue eyes. Since we were lying on top of his bedspread, I didn’t even have a corner of the bedsheet as my ally.
“Not really,” I admitted. My hands drifted up to cover my chest.
Cole’s focus sharpened. “Did I hurt you?” With a look of alarm, he scanned my body, his hand dropping gently to my waist. “I-I… Elise, I’m so sorry. I was too fast. I should have—”
“Cole—” Still covering myself with one arm, I caught his wrist before he could actually check me further for signs of injury. “I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me.” I released him and folded both arms across my chest again.
“You sure?” Concern filled his gaze.
I’d wanted him as much as he’d wanted me. Perhaps more. He’d stirred in me a potent, aching hunger, one he’d expertly fed. But at no moment had it hurt.
Blushing, I whispered. “Very sure.”
A flare of heat seared in his eyes, but he seemed to master it, the concern never leaving him. He gave a slow nod. “But you’re still afraid I will.” His voice was gentle but tinged with regret. “Hurt you, I mean.”
I held my breath. I didn’t want to offend him or hand him any more guilt than he already carried. But he was right.
“Never that way,” I offered.
Cole’s eyes travelled down my length, coming back to my arms still crossed tightly over my chest. He sighed.
“It’s so ironic.”
I blinked. “What is?”
He rolled away from me and sat up, giving me his back. He seemed to be doing up his pants.
For a moment, my heart plunged. Where was he going? Was he about to escort me to the door?
