“Okay. You’re right. Something happened today. But I’m safe, in one piece, and I’ll tell you, but not while you’re at work. Full disclosure tonight. I promise.”
Foreboding silence ticked like a doomsday countdown. The organ in my chest boom-boom-boomed to the grim rhythm.
Cole was my one. Extraordinary circumstances brought us together. If my fears were confirmed, if Victoria was alive, a thousand and one horrible things could tear us apart. My time with Cole was possibly limited, and I couldn’t end our conversation on a negative note. “Are we having our first fight, Cole?” Dreadful silence. My heart beat faster, louder. “Because if we are, I can’t wait for the makeup sex.”
A huff, followed by a chuckle. I pictured his dimples and sighed, my muscles uncoiling.
“Jesus, Natalie. I’m sorry.”
“Forgiven.”
An engine roared to life, loud music blared then diminished. Cole huffed. “I really have to go. Need to be across town in twenty minutes. I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”
“I like fighting with you, Cole Adams. Talk to you soon.”
“Natalie?”
“Yes.”
“Be naked when I call.”
Another sigh, and I hit End, curling deeper into my down comforter.
I must’ve nodded off because I woke myself up screaming when my nightmare hit too close to home, a hooded figure with blond hair, long sharp nails, and a distorted face dragging me through a dusky, wet forest.
My room was dark, the windows offering no illumination. I fumbled for my phone, searching the rumpled bedding. It buzzed at the same time my fingers came in contact with the cold metal.
“Cole,” came out more a plea than a greeting.
“You naked?”
Shaken by my dream, overwhelmed with need, and desperate to keep Cole as long as possible, I blurted, “I live in Whisper Springs, Idaho in a secure building, but I don’t feel safe, and I don’t wanna play this game with you anymore. Testing fate was a stupid idea.”
No hesitation. “You’ve been crying.”
Fuck fate and fuck Victoria, and girl power could suck it for a while. “Yes. And I—”
“Natalie.” A dark voice cut me off. “I’ll be there in six hours.”
The call ended.
“You’re here.” I jumped, knowing he’d catch me and curled around his big strong body, hooking my ankles behind his perfect ass.
“I’m here.” Cole kissed me long and hard, then spun, backing through my door, one hand supporting my butt, the other pulling his suitcase inside.
God, I loved his strength.
“Did you drive all night?”
“Yes,” was his simple reply.
I peppered his face with kisses of gratitude and didn’t let go until he’d walked me through the hallway, past the kitchen, and into my living room where he sat on the couch with me in his lap, then gave me a lip-lock for the ages, full of heat and tongue and teeth and groans of appreciation.
Deft fingers made their way under my sleep shirt and worked my nipples to tight peaks.
I rolled my hips, his erection nestled in the sweet spot, rubbing the ache, erasing the fear.
Cole cupped my cheeks, gold eyes assessing. “I’ve missed you more than you can imagine.”
That perfect face, those sleepy eyes, that lazy grin. Heaven help me.
“I didn’t text you my address.” I pushed off his lap and took a step back. “How did you know where I live?”
He leaned back, stretching his arms across the back of my sofa, his gray wool coat pulling open to reveal a black thermal that fit like body paint over his well sculpted torso. “I have my ways.”
God, that smirk.
I ditched my shirt and tossed it his way. Another step back, and I stepped out of my pajama pants. “How’d you get past security?”
Cole stared from his seated position, my top hanging half off his shoulder, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. “Can we talk about all of that later?”
I shimmied out of my panties. Those, too, landed in his lap. “Let’s go to bed.” I turned and sauntered toward the hallway. “No sex, but we’re sleeping naked.”
“Is there any other way?” Footsteps fell behind me, and by the time he caught up, he was nothing but skin and sexy grin.
I hit the lights and slid under my sheets. Cole snuggled behind me, melding our bodies, and whispered, “We have so much to talk about.”
“Tomorrow,” I answered, bringing his knuckles to my lips.
He pulled me tighter, and three heartbeats later, soft snores filled my room.
Mr. Sandman must’ve skipped over me entirely because my clock read 5:06 AM, and I still lay awake, tuned in to every creek and groan of the quiet building.
I slipped out of bed and fired up my computer. I hadn’t ruled out Holden as my stalker, though I doubted he would dedicate enough time to finding where I lived. He loved his work, mostly the attention his online presence garnered, but still, I was compelled to check.
Ten minutes into my search, I’d confirmed that Holden was attending a fitness expo in Salt Lake City.
The revelation both relieved and terrified me.
If Holden was not taunting me, then that left one other option.
The worse of the two options.
I crawled back into bed and curled around my sleeping man. The man who would do the right thing and take care of his possibly resurrected wife.
He hadn’t asked me what was wrong, thank you, Jesus, because the truth I had to tell would kill him.
Our view was perfect, the mood somber, my nerves shot.
I hunched over the red Formica table, pretending to read the menu, scrambling for the right words, the correct way to share my suspicions with Cole and possibly slit my own throat.
But I was a coward and selfish, so instead asked, “How is it you’re so put together and on top of things after three hours of sleep?”
He winked at me over the laminated cardboard. “I’m trying real hard to impress a girl.”
“Lucky lady.”
“Morning, kids.
