“I want to be with her – to treat her like the queen she is – to give her everything she deserves but if you’re not cool with our relationship, then I’ll back off. Our friendship means everything to me, Ty, so just say the word.”
He dropped the rock he had been holding in his fist and looked me in the eye. “Do you mean that? About treating my sister right?”
“Do you think I would do wrong by her?”
Tyler shook his head. “I know you wouldn’t hurt her. If she’s going to be with anyone then why not you? She deserves the best but let’s just be clear, if you ever so much as make her cry, I’m coming after you and I don’t care if you’re a Marine or not, I’m still kicking your ass.”
I had to laugh. “Big talk for a mechanic.” We hugged it out before helping each other up. “So, you’re sure that you’re cool with this?”
“I’m sure,” he said. “Molly has always had a crush on you, and I know it would make her happy if you two were together. I just kind of hit me when you told me what happened. My sister is all grown up now. She should be able to go out and make her own decisions and if that means being with you then I just have to accept that.”
“You won’t regret this,” I said. “I’ll cherish her for the rest of my days.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” answered Tyler. “And I expect to be the best man at your wedding.”
“Who else?” I grinned.
He smiled and clapped my shoulder. “Well, I’ve got to drive out to the city and take care of some business, so I’ll catch up with you later, alright?”
I was quick to read between the lines. Tyler had no business in the city. He was just giving Molly and me some time together and I wasn’t about to let a second go to waste.
Chapter 7 (Molly)
At some point, I had picked myself off the ground and wandered into the kitchen, throwing out both uneaten meals. My stomach was in a knot and I wasn’t sure whether I would ever find my appetite again. Just the thought of not being with Cole when I had been so close was making me sick. Why couldn’t Tyler understand that we were good for each other – that Cole and I was meant to be. Why did he have to get in the way of that?
Needing to distract myself, I went through my list of chores but still, Cole was all I could think about. I kept replaying our night together and how it had felt so perfect to finally be in his arms after waiting so long. I felt cheated. I had gotten enough of a taste to get myself addicted and now I was just supposed to get on with my life without that fix. Already, I was going through withdrawals.
Then, I heard the crunch of wheels against the gravel in the driveway. I thought for sure that it would be Tyler to further rain on my parade but to my surprise, it was Cole. When he got out of his car, my heart skipped a beat. I held my breath, hand already on the doorknob. I opened it before he could knock. “So, what happened?” The question came flying from my lips. “What did Tyler say? Did you manage to convince him that we’d be good together –”
Suddenly, Cole was kissing me. He had my face in his hands as his lips spoke of relief. I melted against him knowing that we had nothing to worry about. Tyler was on our side which meant we were free to follow our hearts, wherever they might lead. Mine fluttered with excitement, beating harder with each passing second. I just couldn’t believe it. I had been terrified of losing the love of my life but now that I knew he was truly mine; I would never let him go.
I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him even closer, our lips fusing with the passion of the moment. It felt like everything had been leading up to this and that we were at the beginning of a beautiful path that could only be taken together.
He pulled away, hands still holding my face. The way he looked at me, it was like I was the most precious thing he had in this world. A shiver went through my spine as he drew nearer, pressing his forehead against me. I immediately found myself getting lost in the depths of his eyes. It was so easy.
“I love you,” he whispered. “Don’t think me crazy for saying it so soon. I just wanted to be honest and –”
Now it was my turn to kiss him. There were tears in my eyes, threatening to come down my cheeks but I just couldn’t help it. I never thought I would hear those words come out of his mouth. I had dreamed about this moment and it had finally happened.
“I love you too,” I answered once I had gotten my fix of his sweet, sweet lips. “And I don’t think you’re crazy at all. When a feeling is this strong, you just know that it's real.”
He smiled and wiped away my tears. “Your brother said that if I ever made you cry that he would kick my ass. Probably with one of those enormous monkey wrenches he has in the garage, too.”
I laughed. “I don’t think that tears of joy count but it can be our little secret.” With that, I finally pulled him into the house and locked the door. “I don’t know about you, but I think it's only fair that we celebrate the official beginning of our relationship. I think there’s some champagne in the cabinet.”
“I have a better idea. Save the champagne for later because right now, you’re mine.” Cole swept me right off my feet and carried me up the stairs in a bridal carry. “Your room’s different, too,” he commented as he laid me down. “I’m glad I don’t have to do you in a room full of boyband posters and a princess bed,” he teased as he kissed the side of my neck, going nice and slow. We weren’t in as much of a fervor as we had been last night. We had gotten the initial impulse out of our systems and now this was about much more than satisfying an itch. Here was where we would show our love for one another.
Cole took off my sweater and threw it aside. His lips went from the side of my neck down to my chest, but he didn’t bother to take off my bra – not yet.
I ran my fingers through his hair and felt myself becoming lightheaded with the scent of him. I breathed him in, legs wrapping around his waist as desire mounted within my core, making every inch of skin hot to the touch.
He nipped at my ear, hands roaming the hills and valleys of my body.
“Are you going to tease me like you did last night?” I asked as I slipped my hands under his shirt, raking my nails along his back.
“Mmm,” he moaned. “I haven’t decided yet.” His fingers tiptoed across my hips and then to my chin, tilting my head slightly so he could kiss me. I don’t know how he was doing it but somehow, every time we kissed, his lips managed to get sweeter and sweeter and I just couldn’t get enough.
He tried to pull away from me, but I held him firm, fingers tangled against his hair as my tongue found entrance into his mouth, tangling with us until we were both fighting for dominance. He pinned me down the wrists and broke off from the kiss with a devilish grin plastered onto his face. “There’s no holding you off, is there?”
“Why would you want to do that when I can rock your whole world?” I countered. “Let me show you exactly what I can do.”
He released me. “Do your worst.”
I matched his grin. There was nothing I liked more than a challenge. “You would like that, wouldn’t you?” I was grinding into him but with both our pants still on, I knew it would be more frustrating than sexually gratifying but I liked the thought of Cole getting hard for me – of his cock straining against his jeans, desperate for release.