“Wow. You’re already inviting yourself over, huh? This escalated quickly,” I teased. I was a bit panicky at the thought of having him over, though. I’d never asked anyone to my New York apartment. But Cole made me feel so at ease that it was surreal.
“I’d invite you to mine, but you have another shift tomorrow, and you have to be here at five thirty. You said you live close to the hospital. My place is further away.”
He remembered I had a shift tomorrow! I felt so special.
“Well, when you put it like that, how can I say no?” I said.
He winked. “I was counting on you saying that. Let’s go. Is it in walking distance or do you want me to call an Uber?”
“We can walk.” We headed up a small street behind the hospital. “So... you’ve really been grouchy this whole week, huh?”
“I’m an honest man. I might use subterfuge, but never lie. I can call my sister right now if you want. She’ll give you all the proof you need.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Not really necessary. I was at Isabelle’s yesterday, and Josie was there too. She confirmed it.” I glanced at him and continued, “She only had good things to say. Dylan and Ian, on the other hand...”
“Those two. Don’t believe everything they say.”
“I guess we’re back to you working that first impression, huh? Or well, second.”
He brought his hand to the middle of my back, his mouth to my ear. “I’m on it. As soon as we’re alone.”
“Why do we need to be alone?”
He pulled back just a notch. “For now, trust me.”
“I don’t know. I might need more details.” I was trying to tease him, but honestly, I was already breathless.
“Rome wasn’t enough proof?”
“I might need some reminders.”
“You’ll get them... as soon as we’re alone.” I felt his exhale on my lips, and my knees weakened a little. We’d barely spent a few minutes together, and I was already completely wrapped up in him. His eyes were just molten hot, and so was his body language.
We bought burgers and fries from a food truck next to my building. My apartment seemed even smaller with Cole inside it. I hadn’t finished doing the laundry, and the mess made the space even smaller. I placed the bag with food on the chair by the entrance.
Cole was behind me. I felt his hand at the side of my waist, pulling me against his back.
“So my apartment is pretty small.” It felt so good to have Cole here. He fit right in with that charming smile.
“I just want to spend time with you, Laney. I don’t care about where or how.”
His hot breath on my ear, and the possessive grip on my waist was too much. I let out a low sound—a whimper. Instinctively, I covered his hand with mine, pressing his fingers against my waist. I just needed to touch him... more than that, I needed him to touch me.
The next second, he whirled me around and claimed my mouth. Feeling his lips against mine was exhilarating. I whimpered again at the first touch of his tongue. Heat coiled through me slowly, from my toes up my body, until it was unbearable. I fisted his shirt. He deepened the kiss, walking me backward until I felt the edge of some furniture against my ass. Cole lifted me up on it the next second. Now I was slightly towering over him. I loved this new angle. I placed my hands on his neck for leverage. He smelled amazing. He hadn’t worn any cologne in Rome, but now he did: it was a mix of cypress and lemon.
Cole’s fingers skimmed my upper thighs and came to rest on my hips. He slipped one thumb under my shirt. My skin broke out in goose bumps. I moaned against his mouth, pressing my knees at the sides of his torso. When he feathered his fingers down my thighs, I moaned again.
“Fuck, I love kissing you,” he whispered against my mouth. I curled my hands in the collar of his shirt, swallowing hard. I’d missed kissing him too. Cole took a step back, watching me intently. I blushed.
“You look pretty up there. Thoroughly kissed.”
“Look at me. A few minutes with you, and I’m already being kissed up against my shoe cabinet. I don’t even remember how I got here.”
I placed my hands on his cheeks, smiling against his lips. I felt so light, as if Cole’s kiss had set something inside me free. He was pulling me out of my shell. I wasn’t even sure how it was happening, but I wanted to continue down this road. It felt even more right than before that he was here in my apartment. I jumped back down, smoothing my palms down my skirt. My stomach rumbled.
“Let’s eat,” Cole said.
I yawned as we entered the living room. There was a real danger I might fall asleep the second I sat down.