Rescue Me(32)

"Make sure it's late morning," Cole interjected.

Katrina laughed again and rose to collect her things. "I'm free at ten, after yoga." And she was gone.

"Hey, you," Cole said dropping to the floor in front of her, his eyes focusing on her chest as she continued to lean forward in her stretch.

She lifted up slowly, the movement somehow sensual as his eyes trailed down to where her legs were still splayed in center splits. Her mouth went dry, but she managed to croak out a greeting.

She licked her lips, watching as his eyes lifted to her mouth. "So why exactly might it need to be late morning?"

"I thought you might want to come by for room service later. And if you happen to stay longer and get very little sleep, I thought you'd appreciate the chance to sleep in."

Oh. Yes, please. This fling thing was going to work out quite nicely.

"Let's dance," she said.

They took their places and started the music. The air was different this time. Instead of pent-up desire fueling them, they were able to use their newly explored awareness to push them forward. Meredith let go and let the music fill her body, mind, and soul, and she threw herself into the dance with abandon.

When he pulled her against his chest this time, her eyes never left his and the animal heat she saw there brought her even deeper into her fantasy world. It was just the two of them in the room, expressing every physical desire and letting it consume them. She never knew dancing could be like that.

Cole wrapped his arms around her waist and she rolled back until she could see the room upside down. It had to be her favorite part of the dance. As she rose slowly, arching her neck, he breathed warm air onto her skin, creating a trail of goosebumps in its path.

By the time the song was over she was ready to take him back to his room without wasting another second, but she knew they needed to make use of their time in the studio. She'd have to learn how to curb these insane all-consuming desires if she was going to function outside of the bed for the next week. If it were up to her, they would crawl under the sheets and not emerge for days.

An hour later, dripping with sweat, they called it a day.

"I think I need another shower," she said, out of breath.

Cole pulled out his wallet and handed her a key card. "Here. I have to run by the front desk for my schedule tomorrow, but go ahead to my room. You can shower there. I won't be long."

She was about to object that she could just use her own shower, plus she needed new clothes, but he drew her against him and the words died in her throat as he kissed her hungrily, his mouth full of promise about what the evening would hold. She may not need the clothes after all. "Maybe I'll wait for you to join me in the shower," she said once he finally released her mouth from where he held it captive.

He winked at her then headed out the door.

She waited a moment longer to gather her wits. That man had the ability to make her lose her mind. Gathering her things in her dance bag, she made a beeline for his villa.

***





Cole caught himself whistling as he walked through the tropical path to the main building. Even though he had been hesitant about getting involved with Meredith, and their agreement had a finite date on it, he was enjoying himself. It was a nice change to really get to take his time to find all the ways to make a woman come apart under his touch.

He opened the door to the office and walked toward the activities desk, but stopped when he heard voices coming from behind a cracked door. It sounded like Brandon and Katrina. Knowing he should keep going, he couldn't stop himself from listening for a moment. Just to be sure. Even though they were both adults and had mutually agreed to their arrangement, Meredith and Cole both knew it was wise to keep it under wraps from Brandon. He would just get bent out of shape. He treated Meredith like a child and Cole saw that now.

Glancing around to make sure no one else was in the office, he stepped closer to the door and listened.

"I'm sorry, Katrina, I just can't agree to that. It's not meant to be." Brandon's voice had an edge to it.

"Just give me a chance to prove it to you. It's a great idea. It could only bring good things in the future." She sounded angry but determined.

"No. That's my final answer. And please don't bring this up again."

Cole moved away quickly and continued on to the activities desk where his schedule was posted. What were they talking about? It hadn't sounded like it had anything to do with him or Meredith, but he couldn't be sure. They had definitely been arguing.

He snapped a picture of his schedule with his phone and was just turning to leave when the office door opened and Katrina came out, looking more upset than he'd ever seen her. She stopped in her tracks when she saw him and he grew suspicious. Giving him a small smile, she started to head out in front of him, but he placed a hand on her arm and she turned to him cautiously.

"Yes?" She lifted her brows and made a point of looking at the clock on the wall as if to indicate she was in a hurry.

"Look, I don't know what all Meredith told you earlier," he said, keeping his voice low. "But we don't want anyone else to know about it." He tilted his head pointedly toward Brandon's office.

Katrina had the nerve to look offended. "You don't have to tell me that. Meredith is my friend and I would never go behind her back about something." But the guilt in her eyes made him not so sure.