I pulled back, breathing hard, my forehead resting against hers. I didn’t want there to be any regrets in the morning.
"Ava?"
Her hands gripped my shirt, twisting into the fabric. Her dark eyes, swirling with that same confusion and anger she’d confessed earlier, stared up at me. “Make me forget, Cole,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “For tonight... just make me forget I was ever angry at you.”
It wasn’t forgiveness. I knew that. But she had opened the door, and I wouldn’t walk past it.
"Come here." I swept her up into my arms and kicked the cabin door shut.
Chapter 7
AVA
I tooka minute to catch my breath... My traitorous heart galloped full speed ahead, building dreams of forever that I thought I had gotten over long ago.
I wanted to ask him what this meant. I wanted to ask for promises. But I was too afraid he’d give them to me, and then break them tomorrow.
"Cole..." I started, my voice trembling.
He frowned and reached up to brush my hair behind my ear, his calloused fingers lingering on my skin. "I’m not going anywhere, Ava. Not this time. I want?—"
I pressed my fingers against his lips, silencing him. "Don't," I whispered. "Don't make promises. Not yet. I can't handle it if you break them." Just make me feel, I pleaded silently. Make me forget the years without you.
His eyes darkened, a mix of frustration and hunger. He pulled my hand from his mouth and kissed my palm hard. "Then let me show you."
We didn’t bother with the light, just reached for each other in the dark as we stumbled toward his bed. Our bodies hadchanged over the years, but mine still remembered his touch. Still responded to him.
This time, though, it was deeper. We were older, more mature, and knew exactly what we wanted. His palm skimmed across my skin, setting fire to my nerve endings. The lingering worry over my stretch marks disappeared when he traced them with his fingers. He didn't just touch them; he mapped them. "I hate that I wasn't there," he gritted out against my skin, his voice rough. "I hate that I missed this."
"You're here now," I gasped, arching into him.
I skated my hands over him, learning the new shape of his muscles. Our lips broke apart and I fumbled with his belt buckle, my hands shaking. He groaned and tore his own shirt off, buttons pinging against the floorboards.
“Impatient,” he murmured against my neck.
“Just hungry,” I breathed, moaning as his lips slid down my throat.
His fingers found my core and stroked against me. My hips rocked, my body desperate for him. “Please.”
He groaned. “I was going to take my time. Savor you.”
“Next time.” I spread my thighs and urged him to fill the space. “I need you now.”
When he slid inside, it felt right. As if our lives had been leading to this moment when we came back together. Six years ago, we weren’t ready for each other and the feelings we had. Now, we were. No wonder I never seriously dated. My heart had always belonged to Cole since I first met him.
We moved as one, our bodies racing toward completion in a way both new and familiar. And as we tumbled over the edge into pleasure, it was like finally coming home.
After, we lay wrapped in each other’s arms, neither willing to let go. He pressed a kiss against the top of my head. I told myselfI’d wake up before Maisie, so she wouldn’t find Cole and I in bed together.
But as sleep tugged at me, a tiny sliver of fear remained. It was easy to be together in the dark.
I just hoped we survived the light of day.
I woke to the sound of Maisie’s giggles, mixed with Cole’s deep laughter. My eyes shot open, and I panicked, sitting up. But I was alone in the bedroom. Had Maisie come in while Cole and I slept?
I jumped out of bed and tugged on my clothes, which were strewn all around the room. My bra had somehow ended up under the bed. I ran my fingers through my messy hair and took a deep breath. Then I opened the door and stepped into the main room of the cabin.
Cole and Maisie stood next to the kitchen table with their backs to me. He heard me approach and glanced over his shoulder, shooting me a grin. “You were supposed to stay in bed. Maisie and I wanted to bring you breakfast.”
