Page 145 of The Risk Taker

I know before he says a single word.

“You got in?” I ask, my breath catching in my throat.

He just grins. Big and bright and so fucking pure I feel like something cracks open in my chest. He lets out a disbelieving laugh, and my grin widens.

“Holy shit,” I murmur, cupping his face before kissing him.

I don’t care that everyone’s watching. I grab his face in both hands and kiss him hard. His mouth opens against mine,laughing into the kiss, and I feel his fingers fist the front of my shirt like he needs to hang on.

I pull back just enough to look into those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes of his, our foreheads pressed together. “I fucking knew you would,” I whisper against his lips, and his eyes flutter shut for a second like he’s soaking it in.

Ryan twists around from where he’s sitting on the floor with Isabella, raising his eyebrows. “He got in?”

Nathan glances up and gives a small nod.

Ryan grins. “Hell yeah, man.”

“No fucking way,” Austin says, practically launching himself upright. “Let’s gooo!”

Maisie winces as his knee knocks into her but still laughs. “Congrats, Nathan,” she says with a warm smile. “You deserve it.”

Isabella turns to face her brother, her smile widening. “I’m so happy for you.”

Nathan lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head like he still can’t quite believe it. “Thanks, Izz.”

His fingers tighten around mine just a little, and I glance over at him, my heart so full. His cheeks are slightly pink from the attention he’s getting but he looks so damn happy. “I love you,” he says.

Scratch that. I’ll never get tired of hearing Nathan saythat.

“I love you.” My thumb swipes over his cheek and I pull him into me again, kissing him, needing his lips on mine.

He laughs against my lips, and I feel his hand slide up under my hoodie. Normally, I’m all for it, but considering we’re in front of our friends, I yank his hand away and pull back, shooting him a warning glare.

He just grins, though. And fuck me, watching him smile like that? Watching him feel proud of himself and not hide any part of who he is?

It’s the best fucking thing I’ve ever seen.

We’re both still smiling like idiots when the front door opens.

It creaks a little—probably because Ryan keeps saying he’s going to oil the hinge and never does—and we all snap our heads toward the sound.

Normally, it wouldn’t be weird, since I live with three other guys, two of whom always have their girlfriends here. But it’s almost two in the morning, and everyone who usually hangs out here is accounted for.

So when Cole Ellis shows up in the doorway, we’re all just… silent, blinking like maybe we’re imagining it. Which is fair. Cole doesn’t show up to these nights. He keeps to himself, and we all figured that’s how he preferred it.

Which makes seeing him here feel a little like a glitch in the matrix.

He doesn’t close the door, doesn’t even explain why he’s here. He just looks around until his eyes land on Aurora, and walks across the room, heading straight for her.

Aurora pushes up from her chair. “Uh. What the hell are you?—?”

He doesn’t give her a chance to finish the sentence. Just bends at the waist, scoops her up like she weighs nothing, and hoists her over his shoulder.

“What the fuck,” she squeaks, kicking her feet as she flails against his back. “Cole! Are you actually serious right now? Put me the fuck down!”

He turns back toward the door without a word. She’s still kicking and cursing him out as he walks out.

The room is filled with complete, stunned silence as soon as the door swings shut behind them.