Rescue Me(7)

Her need rose as their kisses intensified, then Cole was on top of her, one thigh pushed between her legs. But Meredith wanted more. She pulled him closer still, entwining her legs with his, and felt with satisfaction that he wanted her too, as evidenced by his rock-hard erection pressing against her. The knowledge set her nerves on fire, and every point of contact between them had her body raging.

Cole trailed hot kisses down her neck while his hands rubbed the length of her sides, grazing her breasts and traveling down her waist to hips bare from where her dress had bunched up. She arched into him as his head dipped lower, teasing the tops of her breasts that were exposed by her low neckline and making her nipples tighten in anticipation.

He buried his hands in her hair as he took her mouth again. Meredith felt dizzy, her world spinning in crazy circles as she opened her eyes to watch the stars. Her belly quivered and blood was roaring in her ears. A man had never caused her to feel like this.

"Cole," she breathed. He pulled back to look at her. Something he saw made him hesitate. She blinked, trying to focus on his face, but it kept floating just outside the edge of her vision. Confused, she closed her eyes again and pulled him back toward her, grinding her hips against him. He ran his hand down her body again and the touch of his fingers on her thigh caused her to moan. Just as she thought he was going to take her right then and there, he pulled away from her and sat up. The sudden movement made her stomach lurch.

His words pierced the fogginess of her brain. "I can't do this."

***





Cole ran his hands across his face and through his hair, causing it to stand on end. This woman was making him lose his mind. God help him, she had him ready to strip her naked right there on the beach. But she was drunk. He hadn't thought so earlier, but it was apparent now.

He looked down at her, the beginning of a smile vanishing when he saw the hurt and embarrassment written all over her face. She sat up abruptly, wrapped her arms around her middle and looked away.

"Meredith, baby, no no no." He took her chin in his hand and tried to turn her back to him, but she wouldn't budge. He put his hands around her waist and in one swift movement had her up and over him, sitting on his lap, her back cradled against his chest and his arms wrapped around her. She was shaking.

"Are you cold?" She shook her head wordlessly. "Let me rephrase that. I can do this." He laughed. "Most assuredly. More than that, I want to do this."

She turned her head up at that, question reflecting in her glassy eyes.

"What I mean is that when we do this for the first time, I want it to be somewhere a little more private." He gestured to the villas and buildings all along the strip of beach and to his surprise she giggled. The sound of it had blood rushing back through his body, making him even harder, and he could tell she knew it too when she wiggled her hips a little against him. He groaned. "You're making me rethink it, though," he bit out.

Despite his playboy reputation, he wouldn't take advantage of her. He could tell she wasn't sober, and for reasons he couldn't quite understand, he didn't want her to have any regrets in the morning. Maybe it was her uninhibited zest for life, the fact that she was unlike any of the women he usually attracted. He wanted her to remember it all. Whatever it was driving his decision, he was going to wait. He just had to make sure there would be another opportunity to see her.

"How long are you here?"

She relaxed against him. "Two weeks."

He smiled into her hair. Perfect. "Then there's no rush."

She turned to look up at him, her lips swollen from his kisses pushing out in a pout he found adorable. "Maybe I don't want to wait. Maybe I want to be a little crazy."

He shook his head gently. "Let's walk." He helped her to her feet and bent down to grab her shoes. They took a few steps and she stumbled, falling against him and letting out a small hiccup. Cole frowned.

"Sorry, just a little light headed," she mumbled, her words beginning to slur.

He was too, but he thought her reasons were more alcohol-induced than his. She was tipsier than he'd thought. "How much have you had to drink?"

She shrugged, and tried to take a few more steps, then grabbed his arm as she started to pitch forward.

"Whoa, baby, hang on to me." He leaned into her, worry creasing his brow. "Are you okay?"

She nodded jerkily, but the movement must have been too much because she lifted her hand to her head and moaned. Not in a good way. "Everything is spinning."

"Come here." He wrapped an arm tightly around her waist and she sagged into him, barely able to walk straight. This was no good. She was worse off than he'd thought. "Where is your room?"

"Hmm?" She lifted bleary eyes to him, her lids drooping closed as her knees buckled.

"Dammit." He swept her up in his arms and cradled her, and she snuggled her head against him. Ignoring the stab in his chest at the sweetness of the movement, he leaned down and kissed her forehead gently, trying to get the information he needed from her. "Meredith, sweetie? I don't know where to take you. Where is your room?"

She didn't respond and her eyes were closed. A moment later he heard her breathing deeply and steadily.

Cole couldn't believe it. She'd passed out on him, and he had no idea what to do with her. He couldn't exactly call the front desk and ask them to identify the woman in his arms. That would reinforce the image he was trying to get away from, so he did the only logical thing he could think of.