Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(23)

I chuckle and hand her the remote. “They have no idea.” I roll my eyes.

“You pick.” She passes it back to me.

“I’m good with anything.” I gently touch her arm and push. It’s not lost on me that I really want to be pulling her into my lap and crushing her lips with mine. Patience is not something I’ve had to practice, since our careers make it possible to have what we want at our fingertips. Until now, that is.

She scrolls through the channels, not finding anything.

“Wait, go back,” Logan says. I didn’t even realize she was paying attention.

Stacy backs through the channels. “There.” Logan grins. Pretty Woman is playing. “I love this movie.”

Satisfied, Stacy sets the remote on the table in front of us. I kick off my shoes and prop my feet up.

I couldn’t care less what movie the girls want to watch, since I doubt I’ll be able to pay much attention anyway. Instead, I’ll be sitting here, breathing in her sweet scent. Mentally arguing with my cock that it’s not time to come out and play. I want it just as bad as he does, maybe more, but I need to spend some time getting to know her better. Figure out a way to convince her that a night together would not be a mistake.

As the sun sets, the house grows dark, with only the TV for light. Gavin has fallen asleep. Tristan goes back and forth from the movie to his phone. Kacen only has eyes for his wife, and her eyes are glued to the screen. Stacy is just as engrossed. She wiggles in her seat, and I let instinct take over. My arm, which has been stretched out on the back of the love seat, drops to her shoulders and I pull her against me. She doesn’t resist like I assumed she would; instead, she looks up from under her lashes, those big green eyes questioning me.

“Relax,” I whisper. She continues to watch me, searching for an ulterior motive. She must find what she’s looking for. Her eyes leave mine and focus back on the movie as she settles against me.

That’s when it hits me—I’ve never done this. I’m twenty-five years old and I’ve never just hung out with a girl. Never just held anyone in my arms for the sake of watching a movie. Well, no one but Mia. I admit that it’s . . . relaxing. No pressure, no pretense—just chilling on the couch, beautiful girl in my arms.





I’m too tired to argue with him. That look, it was like he was trying to tell me not to overthink this. I’m not going to. Instead, I will my body to relax against his. He’s hard, defined, yet soft. The minute his strong arms wrap around me, I sigh. This is a side of Cole I’ve never seen. I know he’s been with women since I’ve known him, but I’ve never once seen him show this type of . . . affection. I guess that’s not a part of the deal—you don’t have to cuddle to get off.

I chance a look around the room and no one is paying us a bit of attention, which has me relaxing further into his embrace. I miss this part of being in a relationship.

I clear my mind of the sexy beast who has his arms around me and focus on the movie. I don’t know how much time goes by before Cole shifts his weight, turning his body toward mine. His strong arms pull me closer, my head now resting against his chest. His heart is beating a steady rhythm, his hand is trailing gently up and down my back, and I find it hard to keep my eyes open.

“Stop,” I hear Cole say in a low but firm voice.

“Cole,” Kacen warns.

“Let her be,” Cole replies.

“Are you sure?” Logan asks.

“I got her. You all go on to bed.”

I know they’re talking about me. I also know I should wake up and put an end to the disagreement, but I just can’t. My body is warm and relaxed, so instead, I nuzzle closer to him before sleep claims me once again.

When I wake again, the house is dark and quiet. I open my eyes and let them adjust to the darkness. I’m lying on top of Cole, his arms clamped tight around me as he sleeps what I assume is peacefully, based on the gentle rise and fall of his chest. I wish I could see him, that I could commit this moment with him and what he looks like to memory. Damn the darkness.

I lie as still as I can, just soaking up his warmth. Pretending this is any other man. Pretending he’s not a famous musician and that we could be on our way to something real. I know it’s dangerous to even contemplate it for a second, but Cole is one of those magnetic personalities. He’s crude one minute and apparently cuddly the next. He’s a lethal combination that I cannot let myself long for. I want it all, and he wants one night.

Coming to my senses, I slowly start to pull away, but his arms tighten.

“I got you,” his deep, raspy, sleep-laced voice cuts into the night.

“We need to go to bed.”

“I’m good here.” He still has his arms gripped like a vice around me.

“Cole, come on,” I plead with him. I would love nothing more than to settle against his chest and fall back to my fantasy of him, or better yet take him up to the guest room and have him crawl in bed behind me. All fantasies that I can’t allow myself to indulge in.

“Cole, let me up.”

“Fine,” he grumbles, but releases me.

I crawl off him and stand beside the love seat. Cole follows suit, his hands resting on my hips. “I’ll guide you,” he says softly.

I nod, even though he can’t see me. Stepping in front of me, he laces his fingers through mine and we begin to slowly move toward the stairs. He knows his way around in the darkness. I could insist that we turn on a light, or hell, even use the light on my cell phone, but instead, I continue pretending that I need him just to feel his hand in mine. Pathetic, I know, but I’m just not ready to let go of the fantasy.