Chapter 4 Ridiculous but tempting offer

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Summer’s POV

“Come in,” Cole said, flipping on the lights in the kitchen.

“Slippers,” Cole said, nudging a pair towards me. Blue.

I took them.

“Thanks.”

I slipped out of my sneakers, sliding into them and wondered if Regina also liked blue like I did.

“They were new,” I noted, glancing up.

“Were these Regina’s?”

Cole shook his head as he moved to the kitchen.

“Regina had never been here,” he answered.

“Oh.”

I scratched my neck, a bit surprised since he had gotten the place for months now.

He returned with a drink and handed it over to me.

I took it without thinking then paused.

“This is…?”

“Raspberry lemonade,” he said casually.

It was my favourite.

I stared at him.

“How did you…”

“You bought it every time I picked you up from school.”

I laughed in a breathless and silly way.

Of course, that was it.

I sank onto a stool at the small dining table and wrapped my hands around the glass.

“So… what can I do to help for real?”

Cole leaned against the counter, thinking.

“You being here is enough, Summer,” he answered.

Confusion flickered through me.

“How does that help?”

He smiled faintly and I noticed he was calling me by my name for the first time and not calling me ‘kid’.

In fact, he hadn’t called me that tonight.

“Maybe a glass of wine will make it even better,” he muttered as he grabbed a wine bottle from the rack.

“Drink with me,” he added, settling in the stool beside me.

“And tell me all about that ex of yours.”

I stiffened slightly, pushing the lemonade to give space for the glass he placed before me.

“Why… why would you want to hear about Theo?”

He rested his chin on his hand, staring closely at me that I could see the pores on his face.

My skin prickled.

“He cheated on you,” Cole said, pouring into the glass.

“I want to know how you got over it.”

That kind of made sense.

I took a sip of wine for courage. It was sweet but it burned my throat.

“I already told you he cheated and…” I trailed off, a bit embarrassed.

“I think I could guess why he would do that because every time he tried to get close to me… it just felt weird. Like my body was rejecting him.”

I paused, surprised I was saying this to Cole of all people.

“You mean… like kiss you?” he interjected.

I nodded, feeling like he was enjoying this.

My heart stuttered at our closeness and this strange conversation.

“Yeah. I felt uncomfortable each time,” I admitted softly.

Or maybe because Theo wasn’t the one I always imagined in my head every night before going to bed.

I was so busy not looking at Cole that I didn’t see him move.

One second his hand was on the counter and the next, it was on my jaw, tilting my face up.

And then, my mouth was full of him.

The whole world stopped.

His lips were warm, firm, tasting like wine and something that was just him.

He gave a gentle pressure, not soft or asking. It was a question and an answer all at once.

My brain went white and every nerve I had lit up like a power line.

My arm flew to his shirt, fisting the fabric because if I didn’t hold on to something, I might have dissolved.

He pulled back an inch. His thumb brushed my cheek.

“Did that feel weird?” he asked quietly.

But my mind was blank.

My heart was also racing too fast.

What was happening?

Cole leaned in again.

“Wait… what are you doing?” I pressed my hand on his chest, stopping him.

“I thought this would be a better way to make me feel better,” he murmured.

“What are you talking about?” I whispered, my lips trembling.

Did he want to cheat on Regina with me to make it even?

“It can also help you to know if your ex boyfriend was the problem… or if it was you,” he hovered, waiting for my permission.

The offer was ridiculous but still tempting to me.

Cole’s eyes were on my mouth.

It was like getting the chance to fulfil all my fantasy about him.

Even if it was just once.

And… he was the one offering.

I slid my hand up his arm, over his shoulder and nodded.

His lips met mine again and it was like the first one was just a warning.

This was a storm.

His mouth slanted over mine, deep like we were both trying to figure out something we shouldn’t.

A sound I didn’t recognize tore from my throat.

He groaned into my mouth and stood, pulling me up with him.

My hips hit the edge of the table.

He lifted me in one smooth move and set me on top of it.

The wood was cold against my thighs, but his hands were hot on my waist with his body between my legs.

We broke apart, gasping for air. Both of us were shaking.

I looked at him.

His hair was messy from my fingers and lips red from mine.

My green eyes stared back at me.

I wanted him, all of him.

I had no idea my feelings were this strong and I felt terrified a little.

But instead of pulling away, I launched myself at him, wrapping my legs around his waist and arms around his neck.

He caught me like he was expecting it.

His hands gripped my thighs as he turned, walking us towards the hallway, resuming our kiss.

Bedroom.

The word flashed in my mind and I didn’t care.

…

I woke up the next morning in Cole’s bed.

The sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, warm against my skin.

I took a moment to relish last night and turned my head to him.

Cole was asleep next to me, his face relaxed with one arm thrown over his eyes.

Just like I had imagined it.

I closed my eyes tightly, still unable to believe that we had slept together.

I had dreamed about this since I was fifteen, but the reality was better than my dream.

My heart was so full it hurt and I couldn’t help but grin like an idiot.

The doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts.

I shot up, my heart fell into my throat as I clutched the sheet to my chest.

“Who could that be? Mia? Or Regina? Or his parents?” I thought in a panic.

If someone saw me here like this then…

Cole stirred beside me, frowning.

“You are up,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

The doorbell rang again and he frowned deeper.

I bit my lips, realizing we were so, so screwed.