Silence (Silence #1)(34)

We dressed in complete silence, both looking at each other. The only sound in the room was the sound of our breathing.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, and stepped closer to me once we had finished getting dressed. I blushed, feeling the heat warm my whole body. His eyes didn’t show any signs of lying. My eyes prickled, and I willed myself not to cry. I didn’t feel beautiful, but knowing Cole thought I was meant everything to me.

He smiled and kissed me softly. “Let’s get this face mud crap over with.”

I broke out in a smile and led him back to reception.

We were led into another room, this time bigger, and not private. Cole glared at me as the three young women looked up at us; their faces were smothered in a dark green paste. I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. Though having enjoyed the diving so much, I did feel back making him go through something he clearly didn’t want to do.

“I thought this was a couple’s thing? As in two people!” Nope, just the massage!

For the whole time we were in that room; Cole either frowned or moaned. When he looked over at me with a grey face that looked like he’d fallen in a cement mixer, I wished I had brought my camera with me. Not that the image would ever leave me.

As soon as our facemasks were off, he stood up.

“Lunch and beer time,” he announced. Beer to restore his masculinity? He’d have to hope that Jasper or Mia were around to get him a beer first. He wrapped his arm around my waist as and we made our way to the outside hotel bar. I smiled, loving the feeling of his skin on mine.



The rest of the week flew by too quickly. I hated how fast the holiday was passing, but I was still having the time of my life. Cole and I hung out at the beach a lot, and I was actually getting a tan. It was a nice change from my usual pasty, ghostly white. We barely saw our parents during the day, except for breakfast and most evenings for dinner. I loved the freedom and couldn’t wait until I was old enough to be able to leave home.

Mia spent most of her time with a girl she had met on the second day. She was on holiday with her family too so they were both happy to have found someone their own age to hand around with. And Jasper, well, we saw him around the hotel occasionally. He would get up at around three in the afternoon and chill by the pool bar, have dinner with us and then go out.

Since the dressing incident in the spa, I grew even more comfortable and confident around Cole. We now both thought nothing of changing in front of each other. Every night he would sneak into my room and sleep in my bed. We would just mess around and kiss until we fell asleep.



After dinner towards the end of the holiday, Cole and I decided just to chill in my room and watch a movie. We were going to the water park again, early in the morning so didn’t want to be out too late. I had enough issues getting up in the mornings!

I climbed on the bed and hovered above him, my hands beside his face. He instantly smiled, wrapped his hand around the back of my head and pulled me down. As his lips captured mine. Slowly, he rolled us so he was above me.

He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “Oakley?” His voice wobbled nervously. “This is probably really late considering everything but…Well, I was wondering if...” He sighed and shook his head, frowning at himself. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Breathe, Oakley! His body tensed.

“Is that a no?”

I shook my head, and he frowned.

“It’s a yes?”

I nodded and kissed him again.

He pulled away and kissed down my neck. I froze for a second; fighting between wanting more and being terrified by how I might react. Cole moaned as he ran his hand down the side of my body and gripped the bottom my top. This was that defining moment where I had to decide if I was going to listen to what I actually wanted, or what I should want.

I loved how he made me feel and how natural being with him was. However, after Frank I shouldn’t want to be intimate with anyone, should I? Would people think that had been my fault if I slept with someone after? Shaking my head lightly, I told myself off. No one else got to decide what I was ready for or what I wanted.

When I didn’t push him away, he pulled it over my head. His lips only left mine for a second while he whipped my top off. My whole body felt like it was on fire. Everywhere he touched made my skin tingle. His hands caressed my stomach and chest with such a gentle touch it almost tickled.

“Maybe we should stop.” He made it sound almost like a question. His eyes were alight with love and excitement, definitely showing that he wanted to continue. I wanted to continue too. It was my decision, and I wasn’t going to let what they had done to me ruin absolutely everything. Putting my fears to one side, I shook my head.

Cole looked nervous.

“Are you sure?” he whispered. His voice was thick with lust. The sound made my stomach clench. I nodded my head and ran my hand through his soft hair. My heart felt like it was going to pop it was beating so fast.

“Are you scared?”

No, not of being with you.

I shook my head, and he chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I’m kinda nervous too.” Why was he nervous? “This is my first time too,” he admitted, biting his lip. His first time? Cole was a virgin! My mouth dropped open. He raised an eyebrow at me. “Not sure if I should be insulted by that look of shock on your face or not.”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of what he said. How could he be a virgin? He’d had a couple of girlfriends before, although they hadn’t lasted very long, but still.