Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(7)

The newlyweds are wearing matching grins as they wait for Cole’s reaction. I admit that I’m a little curious as to what he will say as well. I don’t have to wait long.

“No shit?” he asks. A slow smile tips his lips before he steps forward and wraps them both in a hug. “Congratulations, guys. You are naming him after me, right?”

Not at all the reaction I suspected. For some reason, I didn’t see the “playboy” Cole Hampton being happy for his friend and fellow bandmate. I expected him to spout some bullshit about the upcoming tour or something to that effect.

Feeling a little off balance from those last two shots, I step back to lean against the bar and stumble. Cole is there, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me toward him. “I got you, sweets,” he murmurs, his hot breath hitting my ear.

His scent surrounds me. “You smell good.”

I can feel the vibration of his chest as he pulls me against him. “And you’re cute when you’re drunk.”

“Not drunk,” I mumble into his chest. Not that he can hear me.

“I think those last two shots did her in,” Logan says.

“I got her. You guys go ahead,” Cole tells them as he wraps me tighter in his arms.

I attempt to pull away from him, but his hold is firm. He’s warm and comfortable and smells good enough to eat. I don’t put up much of a fight. Definitely the alcohol.

The three of them are talking—about me, I’m sure, but I just can’t seem to make myself care what they’re saying. I’m going to lean here against his solid chest. Let him wrap those strong arms around me, and relish the feeling. Drunk or not, this is something I’ve thought about since I first met him, but would never let my guard down long enough to allow happen.

Tonight, I’m breaking all the damn rules. I’m going to soak up this feeling for just a few more minutes. At least I can blame it on the alcohol.





“Take your wife upstairs and ravish her. I got this one.” I give Stacy’s hip a gentle squeeze.

“Cole,” Kacen practically growls my name.

“Dial in the inner caveman there, Daddy. I told you I got her. I’ll make sure that she gets to her room safe and sound.” I smirk at him because he’s making this too damn easy.

I want to f*ck her. This is common knowledge—I don’t hide my feelings from anyone, especially her. However, I want her to remember it. I want to ruin her for other men. She has me wound tight, and yeah . . . she’s gonna need to be sober for what I have planned.

“Dammit!” Kacen exclaims.

Logan darts her eyes back and forth between the three of us. She doesn’t seem to be as concerned for her friend as she is for her husband; she’s more worried about Kacen and the words that are flying from his mouth.

“I f*cking told you, C.”

“You’re right, you did, and I heard every f*cking word.”

“Babe, he’ll take care of her,” Logan tries to calm him.

Logan has always been that way. No matter the rumors she’s heard about us, she’s always taken our side. Not just because of Kacen, but because that’s the kind of person she is. She knows I would never take advantage of a drunken girl, ever. I may like to play around, but I’m not an *.

“Listen to your wife, Kace. I give you my word.” Tonight. All bets are off when she sobers up.

He stares at me for what seems like hours, even though it’s only a few seconds at the most. He must find what he’s looking for, because he nods and laces his fingers through Logan’s. Without further argument, he guides them out of the ballroom.

I glance down at Stacy; her eyes are closed, and she looks so damn peaceful.

Beautiful.

“All right, you. Let’s get you up to your room. Can you walk?” I have no idea if she’s even awake. I don’t get a reply, so without losing my grip on her, so she doesn’t fall, I very carefully pull away from her and lift her into my arms. I scan the room and see that Tristan is still on the dance floor, all wrapped up in Logan’s cousin. I think her name is Lauren. My eyes roaming around the room, I find Gavin sitting next to Cassidy. They both seem to be lost in thought as they watch the remaining guests. My boys are good; time to get this damsel in distress up to her room.

I manage to hit the Call button for the elevator without dropping her. When the car finally arrives, I again work to hit her floor—well, our floor. Kace rented the whole damn thing, along with the honeymoon suite. I rest my back against the wall of the elevator and watch as the numbers climbs. Looking down to the beautiful mess in my arms, I can’t help but smile. This is not how I wanted this night to end, but I have to admit that getting to see her like this, so relaxed, is a nice change from what I usually get. She always seems on her guard around me. I tell myself it’s because she feels this sexual energy between us, but really I can’t be sure that’s what it is. A man can hope.

Reaching our floor, I realize I don’t have a key to her room. Shit! I stand there in the middle of the hall, not sure of my next move. I guess I’m going to have to set her down so I can call downstairs. From the looks of this slinky dress she has on, there is nowhere to hide a key card. I spot a bench just down the hall and head that way. I try to carefully place her on it, but her grip around my neck is tight.