Page 78 of Stolen Summer

“Too late. I’m involved.” I walked to the dresser where I’d stashed some of my clothes and pulled out a matching comfy set of shorts and a tank, careful not to get shit all over the clean outfit. My eyes flicked back to Cole.

He didn’t look happy about what I’d said, and his lips pulled down into a wicked frown. “You’re right. I should end this before you get hurt. You should leave.”

My brow arched. “Are you kicking me out?”

Darkness claimed his eyes but not in anger or harshness. It was desire. “No, because selfishly, I want you here.”

My nipples puckered under my shirt. “If we cut the snake’s head off, will she grow two?” I asked, moving to the adjoining bathroom.

I caught Cole’s lips cracking with a touch of amusement before I slipped inside. “Probably.”

Kicking my shorts off, I removed my shirt, leaving the bathroom door open. It wasn’t an invitation, but I also wouldn’t tell him to get out. I was living on the edge. Today was “fuck it” day. Consequences be damned. “Not going to lie, she looks like the kind of girl who would eat her kids,” I said, moving to the shower.

His chuckle reached me. “She would,” he assured, his voice carrying into the bathroom.

The water sputtered out of the showerhead before fully raining down. While I waited for the temp to heat up, I stripped off my undergarments. “What did you ever see in her?” I asked, stepping into the shower. I dunked my head under, relieved to finally get this shit out of my hair.

When he didn’t answer, I assumed he’d left, leaving me to shower.

I was wrong.

He stepped into the shower fully clothed. “I’m still trying to figure it out. It feels like I’ve woken from a bad dream, and for the first time in months, I can see through the haze.”

I kept my gaze on his face. “You could have just said for sex.”

His lips twitched as he lifted a hand, brushing a stray strand of hair that had fallen forward behind my ear. Water soaked his white tee and sweats, molding them to his body.

“What are you doing?” I murmured throatily, his touch doing something to my ability to speak.

He’d only looked at my face until now, and as his eyes made a slow perusal of my wet body, my cheeks burned. It was nothing he hadn’t seen before, but I hated pretending his stare didn’t do wicked things to me inside.

Water beaded over his head as he moved under the shower—moved closer to me. He was too pretty. Too devilish. Too intoxicating for his own good. “Breaking all the rules,” he murmured in return.

And then he took my mouth.

My body ignited the moment his lips touched mine. He tasted like trouble, heartache, and promises neither of us could keep, and yet, I willingly tortured myself, sinking deeper into his kiss.

Water rained over our faces, and I threaded my fingers into his hair before it became completely soaked. His mouth was luscious and sweet, coaxing me to part for him, to let him in deeper.

Addicted, I couldn’t deny him anything.

Our tongues tangled, and in my next breath, Cole had me pinned to the shower wall, his fingers pressing into my hips, holding me captive. Blood pumped harder and faster in my veins, making me lightheaded, or perhaps it was Cole’s lips that had me feeling dizzy.

I wanted to blame the desperate need assaulting me and clawing within me, need suppressed for too long, but I had this sinking suspicion it was Cole. Any other guy wouldn’t have been able to entice such powerful desires.

His kiss seared me to my soul. Why him? Why his lips? Why did every molecule of my body respond to him? It wasn’t just the way he kissed, which was fucking exceptional. His sinful scent unleashed a devilish side of me. His smile made me want to break laws. His body made me want to get to my knees.

I was doomed.

Couldn’t it have been any other guy?

I might have never met Crew, but I didn’t understand Gianna’s obsession with him, not when she had Cole. Why would she give this up? Of course, rational Arie could think of a few reasons just not when his mouth moved over mine, demanding a response I was all too eager to give.

His voice was rough as he said, “Do you have any idea how perfect you are? How utterly tempting? You walk into a room, and I instantly fucking want you.”

“What are you waiting for?” I murmured, my head angling to the side as he dragged his lips just under my ear, his silver hoop cooling my flushed skin.

Steam billowed around us.