AllFreeNovel
Share Us
17
Cole
I could feel her breathing evening out as she lay on my chest. I didn’t want the moment to end. She feels so warm and soft pressed against me. Her hair tangled with mine, I wondered if we might be stuck together in knots. I am for it; I don’t mind the idea of being stuck here together, but I also don’t want an angry Marcus to walk in on us like this without talking to him first.
“Baby, I don’t know what time Marcus is coming home. He was still out when I got coffee, but this isn’t exactly how we should talk to him about us.”
“Us, huh?” she says with a big toothy smile and a lift of her chin to look up at me.
“Yeah. Remember those million things I really wanted to say last night, before you seduced me and rocked my fucking world?”
She giggles and those gorgeous green eyes spark just for me.
“That’s not exactly what I remember but I’m following.” Rolling over I push her back against the mattress with my body. I brush the hair back from her face running my knuckle over her soft cheek just to keep touching her. I wait a minute trying to pull my words together suddenly very nervous. I clear my throat.
“I don’t do relationships very well, and I never say the right things. Including now, I’m sure, but…” I take a deep breath and watch as her eyes whirl with light and dark greens. “I’m trying to say that I really want to be with you. I love being your friend, but I want more. I’m scared to death to fail you and not add up to being much of a boyfriend, but I promise you right here and now I will give it everything I’ve got if it means I can be with you. Spend every day and every night by your side. You, Lyla, make me want to be a better man, and I just hope you’ll give me the chance to show you.”
“Holy fuck, Cole.” She has tears in her eyes just waiting to spill down.
“Damn it.” I sigh and shake my head and go to get up knowing I already fucked this up because of course I did. But before I can move far, her hand grabs my cheek and I brace myself as I look her in the eyes.
“No, stop. Look…” She swallows hard and looks away for a few beats before continuing. “That was by far the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me, but I don’t deserve all that. You don’t have to try to be anyone other than you because I like you just the way you are, and I’m not someone who will ever want to change you. I’ve never even been in a serious relationship, so chances are it’s going to be me not saying or doing the right thing here. Are you sure you want to be with a hot mess like me?”
“Without a doubt I want you. No way you’re getting away from me now,” I say with a big shit-eating grin, over the moon happy to hear she has no expectations. Which I should have known because Lyla isn’t like any other woman in this world. She’s strong and tough and understanding beyond belief. The perfect match for me. Which is also terrifying, but I feel it in my bones that it will be worth it.
“Say you want me back, Lyla, and I’m yours.”
The tears finally make their way down the sides of her temple and onto the pillow, and she whispers the words I will remember for the rest of my life.
“You are mine, Cole.”
