“I helped you back to your room last night. I knew you would be feeling like . . . well, how you look this morning, so I brought supplies.” He holds up a tray with two coffees and a bag from the bakery downstairs.
I take the offered bag and peek inside. Fresh doughnuts. Yum!
“Oh, and this.” He reaches into his front pocket and pulls out a small bottle of Advil.
“Gimme.” I hold out my hand for the bottle. Cole Hampton is a lifesaver. Never thought I would be saying that.
He chuckles and hands it over. “Safe to say I made a good decision?”
“Yes. Thank you.” I swallow three pills and chase them with coffee, burning my tongue in the process. “Thanks for stopping by, but I have to pee, shower and scrub my mouth for at least an hour. Make sure the door is locked when you leave,” I call over my shoulder. It’s a bitchy thing to do, but he smells incredible. His tight jeans and that messy bun have him looking all sexy, and I look and feel like death warmed over. The self-conscious part of me kicked in, and in turn bitch mode broke loose. I feel a little guilty, but Cole is a big boy—he can handle it.
To be honest, I’m a little disappointed that this cat and mouse game we’ve been playing has come to an end. He’s seen me at my worst; no way he’s going to continue the pursuit. It’s better off that way, but damn if it’s not fun going back and forth with him. Yesterday was the exception. Usually I’m not so . . . close, and no hands are involved. Dancing so close to him just about had me breaking my resolve.
Stripping down, I start the shower; I need the water nice and hot to break away this funk. I spend several minutes brushing my teeth before submerging myself into the hot spray, moaning at the feel of it against my sore muscles. I must have slept in the same position all night.
I take my time, enjoying the warm water against my skin. Whoever invented the shower was a pure genius.
Stepping out, I wrap my hair in a towel and wrap another around my body.
“That’s a good look for you.”
I scream at the sound of Cole’s voice. Shit! “I thought you were leaving?” I tighten my hold on the towel.
“Why would I do that? I’m glad I didn’t, seeing as how I get to see . . . this.” He points from my head to my toes. “This is definitely not something I would want to miss out on.”
Well, I guess seeing me look like death didn’t deter him. “There’s nothing to see here.”
“Oh, sweets, I beg to differ.”
Gah! This man is so damn frustrating. “You can go now. I survived the shower.”
“Nope, you go on ahead and do your thing. Pretend I’m not even here.” He smirks.
Right. Cole Hampton being within a hundred-mile radius is hard to ignore. Sitting in my hotel room, with me in nothing but a cotton towel? Impossible.
“What are you doing here again?”
“Besides bringing you the hangover cure, I’m your ride home, remember?”
Shit! Now I do. I rode over in the limo with Logan, so Kacen arranged for Cole to take me home since he and Logan would be off on their honeymoon.
“Let me get dressed.”
“Don’t do that on my account. I’ve got nothing but time.”
Still holding the towel, just in case, I quickly grab my clothes and rush into the bathroom, this time locking the door. Not that I think he’ll come busting in or anything. I was naked and he didn’t try, so my guess is that I’m good, but it’s not worth the chance. But Cole is deliciously tempting—all six-foot-four of him. There needs to be safeguards in place.
Restraint. I need a fucking medal or something. I could hear her moan when she stepped into the shower. It took more willpower than I knew I possessed to not bust into the bathroom and take her. I’m out of my element here. I don’t want to treat her like a good time and then toss her—I know she’s better than that. Besides, Kacen’s warning keeps ringing in my damn ears. Fuck! He needs to get out of my head.
I’m sitting here in her hotel room with her while she’s naked. Naked! I never hesitate, but my boy is all up in my head telling me that she’s permanent. That word—permanent. That’s not a word I would associate with women; never has a woman other than my mom or my sister been in that category. Regardless, it doesn’t change the fact that I want her, ache to be inside her, and I have for months. I just need to not do it today. That way, I can be honest when I tell Kace I didn’t fuck her after the wedding. But after today, after we leave this hotel? All bets are off.
I shift in my seat and adjust my cock, which is angry as hell that we’re passing on what he thinks could have been ours today. I’m just as disappointed as he is.
“It will just take me a minute to get packed up.” Stacy’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. Thoughts of her and my cock.
I run my fingers over my eyes. I’m a mess today. I’m sure it’s because I’ve tasted her, and from her surprise at seeing me at her door this morning, she doesn’t remember any of it. Just like I knew she wouldn’t.
“I got nothing but time, sweets.”