“That does sound nice.”
I let Cole lead me into the bathroom off his room and stared at the round silver bathtub.
“Were you planning on having orgies in here?” I teased.
Cole snort. “I wanted to be able to lie down comfortably.”
“You and how many other people?”
He swatted playfully at my chest, and I giggled.
“This tub is obnoxious. Zach and I don’t even have a tub back at school. Just a shower, and it’s the worst. There’s never enough hot water, and the pressure is terrible.”
Cole pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. “You’re here now, baby. You can take a shower every single day without worrying about hot water and all the baths you want.”
“That sounds nice,” I admitted.
Zach came from money, and it wasn’t like my parents didn’t offer to help, so we could have afforded a nicer place, a bigger one, and offered often, but I didn’t want to take advantage of my best friend or my parents. He already paid all the bills and never took any money from me, no matter how hard I tried to pay my way.
Cole cupped my cheek with his big, calloused palm. “Do you want to take a bath?”
“Yes, please.” I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch. Being near him calmed me. Made me feel almost normal. Almost. “Will you join me?” I peeked at him from under my lashes. “I think it would make it much more enjoyable.”
Cole grinned. “Yeah, baby, I will. Now strip off your clothes.”
THIS HAD TO BE THEnicest bath I had ever taken. The water was perfect. Not too hot, nor too cold. It was just right, or whatever Goldilocks said. Cole had added some bubble bath that smelled suspiciously like cranberries, and I wondered where he had gotten it or who had given it to him. My first thought wasFiona, but I was too out of it to ask him. I sat between his legs, my back to his front, while Cole casually carded his fingers through my hair. I could feel myself slipping into sleep.
“You feeling better?” he murmured. He dragged a finger down my cheek to tilt my head up.
I gave a lazy nod. “Much, thank you.” My lids were too heavy to open. This bubble bath could be crack, and I wouldn’t have cared. My body felt loose, my brain calm, and my heart full. I felt content for the first time in a long time.
“Good, baby. I only want to make you happy.”
“You do. You always have, Casanova.”
Cole hummed softly. “Are you really going to move back home?” His voice trembled slightly. “Because I really want that. I want to make a life with you. One that we should have started five years ago.”
“Cole.” My eyes flew open. “Hey, what’s this?” I twisted my torso so that I could touch the wetness on his face. “Why are you crying?”
He shook his head. “I’m happy. I promise.” His blue eyes shimmered with fresh tears. “I fucking missed you so much, Reed. I begged for you to come back to me. I cried and pleaded with whoever would listen. And now you’re here. Just like I wanted.”
“I’m sorry.” I slid up onto his lap to straddle his thick thighs, thankful for his crazy-huge ass tub. “I shouldn’t have left you like that. I should have stayed and talked to you. We could have figured something else out. One that gave you everything.”
“I only wanted you,” Cole whispered.
My vision blurred. “I only wanted you, too.”
Cole leaned forward to brush his lips over mine. “I’m not going to let you go again. I hope you know that. If you run, I’m going to follow you and drag you back to my bed. And tie you up so you can’t leave.”
“Promises, promises.” I squealed with laughter when he tickled my sides, his big fingers dragging over my skin. “These are nice.” I touched one of the brightly colored tattoos on his chest.
Cole pulled me closer. “You like them?”
“I do. I think they’re sexy as fuck. My big hockey player.” I chased his mouth as he pulled back. “What, no kiss?”
Cole’s eyes darkened. “I want to do more than kiss you. I want to touch you, kiss you all over, make you come screaming my name. I dreamed about being able to be inside you again. You’re the only one who’s ever made me feel like sex was that good. It wasn’t like that with—”
“Don’t say her name.” I pressed a finger to his lips. “We’re not going to go there anymore. That’s your past, and we’re the future. You and me, Cole Whitaker.”