Page 10 of Refuge
“I’ll handle the men,” Cole replied, and was glad to see the relief on her face.
They stood in respective silence with only the noises of everyday activity reaching them. She was the first to look away.
“I guess I need to see if Gemma needs any help,” Leeza said, but before she could walk away, he reached out to her.
“Again, I’m sorry… for everything.” His words were low with sincerity. “If I could do it over again, I would.”
Leeza nodded, and again her chin trembled. He reached out, tilting her face to his, vowing to himself and to her with his honesty-filled eyes that he would make this right.
“I forgive you,” she whispered, her deep chocolate eyes filled with tears, spilling over like a waterfall. His eyes never left hers, even when the wetness landed on his fingers as he gently cupped her face.
Slowly, he leaned toward her, wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms, but he kept it slow. Her lips were close to his, and he could feel her breath against him. For the first time, their lips met, confirming what he already knew. She was his.
* * *
All that was going through her mind at the moment was,Holy shit, Cole Jackson is kissing me.Once the kiss deepened and he pulled her to him, all thoughts escaped her as she got lost in the kiss.
Her body melted into his as if they were one. The feeling of being safe overwhelmed her, making her shiver. She was a pretty tough woman, but being wrapped in Cole’s muscular arms was something she wanted to keep experiencing over and over again.
She’d always felt safe, until that fateful moment in the woods; since then, not so much. The loneliness and fear almost overwhelmed her at times, but all of that was gone for now, and she savored the feeling.
“Hey!” Kile’s voice had them pulling apart. “Oh, damn. Sorry.”
When Cole broke the kiss, Leeza tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her. Instead, he glared over the top of her head at his brother.
“Go the fuck away, Kile,” Cole growled, his deep voice vibrating against her body.
“Eric needs to see you both,” he replied, and she could tell he was trying not to laugh. “But I can tell him you’re both busy playing behind the—”
“How about I have Leeza tell him I’m busy kicking your ass behind the—”
Kile snorted, cutting him off. “Yeah, like he’d believe that.”
Leeza reluctantly pulled herself away from Cole, then turned toward Kile, who had a huge grin on his face. “Why don’t you tell him we’ll be right there and leave it at that, hmmm?”
Kile’s smile widened as he stared at her. “Sounds like a plan.” But instead of walking away, he just stood staring at her.
“Kile.” Cole’s voice was full of warning.
“Leeza. Leeza. Leeza.” Kile shook his head, wearing a teasing grin. “You picked the wrong brother.”
“Kile!” Cole took a step toward his brother, who hurried around the corner.
“Hurry up, or the whole pack is going to know what was going on behind the trailer.” Kile’s voice faded, but they could still hear his laughter.
A grin slipped across Leeza’s lips. She wasn’t embarrassed, but Cole seemed to be, or his face was just red from anger. She couldn’t tell.
“One day I’m going to kill him,” he hissed with a shake of his head.
“It’s what brothers do.” Leeza’s grin faded as she remembered all the teasing she and Riley used to do.
“You miss him.” Cole picked up on her thoughts easily.
“Every single moment of the day,” Leeza said quickly, her words from the heart. She missed her brother so much.
Cole pulled her into his arms again. “Well, you can borrow my brothers any time you want, but honestly, I wouldn’t advise it. Eric is overbearing, and Kile is a dumbass, nothing like Riley.”
Leeza chuckled, then smiled up at him. “Thanks, Cole. In some weird way, that means a lot.”