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We walked in silence, the tension between Stone and Cole still palpable. Cole’s cabin was small, rustic and practical and cozy; it suited Cole perfectly.
Once we were inside, Cole pulled out a bottle of whiskey from a hidden cabinet and poured us each a glass. Stone took his without a word, then settled into an armchair by the fire.
Cole sat down on the couch next to me, his thigh pressing against mine. I could feel the heat coming off him, and I wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch him.
"So," Cole said, breaking the silence. "What did you want to talk about, Amelia?"
I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself. "I wanted to talk about us."
"Mm?" Stone tilted his glass, looking as if he were barely paying attention. But I knew better.
"I know you all think there must be some kind of King bond that makes me feel the fated mate connection with you all," I said. "But I feel it with Cole, too. And I'm not willing to give up on Cole."
Cole quirked an eyebrow at me, as if he hadn't known that was an option on the table.
Stone sat forward, placing his glass on the table. There was tension lined in his shoulders. "I can't control everything. If fate has tangled you two together, so be it. But you need to wait for the right time."
"Fate tangled you two together, too," I said.
"Mm." Stone made another of those noncommittal sounds and rose. Looking down at us, he warned, “I know I can’t keep you two apart forever. But I won’t give you my blessing now.”
I let out a short laugh. “I’m not asking for your blessing. I’m telling you.”
Stone’s icy blue eyes bore into mine for a second. Then he moved to the kitchen and there was a clink as he set his glass in the sink. He was comfortable in Cole's home. Then he passed through the living room toward the door. "Good night."
The door closed behind him quietly.
Cole exhaled. "That went fine."
I hated it when Stone was angry--I hated when anyone was angry with me, because it created a knot of panic in my chest--but I nodded.
Cole moved closer, taking the glass from my hand. He looked at me with concern. "Are you alright?"
I nodded, but my throat was dry, and my heart pounded in my chest. The intimacy of the situation was overwhelming, and I looked up at him with a mix of desire and anxiety. "I think I just need a moment."
Cole nodded and set his glass aside. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I leaned into him, feeling his warmth and strength. His scent, a mix of woodsmoke and musk, filled my nostrils.
We stood there for a long moment, and a sense of peace washed over me. This was where I was meant to be, in his arms.
Eventually, Cole released me and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Ready to head back to the house?"
He was sweet, giving me an escape. Cole had different sides; I'd been attracted to the implacable man who had pinned me earlier today and I was attracted to the tender version here.
"No," I said. "I'm not."
I leaned in and kissed him.
I wasn’t betraying Stone. I’d made myself clear.
His lips were soft and warm, and the kiss was gentle at first, but soon it deepened, becoming more urgent. He pulled me closer to him, and I could feel his breath on my skin.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, moaning softly as he deepened the kiss even further. His hands slid across my back, holding me tightly against him.
His tongue tangled with mine, sending sparks of pleasure through me. I moaned into his mouth, reveling in the sensation of his strong hands on my skin.
We broke the kiss reluctantly, both of us panting. "Amelia," Cole said, his voice hoarse with desire. "I want you so much."
"I want you too.” My hands were already sliding up under his shirt, my fingernails tracing the hard edges of his abs.
