Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(78)

Cole drops his arm and shoves his hands in his pockets. His gaze darts around us, before looking down at me slightly uncomfortable. Or panicked.

“Are you okay?” I sign, turning my body to face him.

He scratches his head and then takes a deep breath before signing, “Do you want to dance?”

I giggle at the look on his face. He looks like he’s ready to flee from this scene. “Yes.” I hold my hand out to him and he takes it.

Most of the students are dancing close to the stage, so we walk to a spot that’s less populated with swaying bodies. We stop and turn to face each other. I slide my hands up his chest and link them around his neck, making sure my tiny clutch doesn’t press into his skin and then push my body into his. Cole’s arms settle on my waist, his hands pulling me to him, holding me tight.

Crap. He is really tense.

He leans down, aligning his lips to my ear and says, “I can feel the music vibrate beneath my feet. Are you ready to dance?” He lifts his head and beams down at me. I nod.

Cole’s eyes never leave mine as the song ends and the band begins to play the next one. Our movements are not coordinated, but I don’t care. He is here with me. He stepped out of his comfort zone for me.

Being in Cole’s arms, swaying from side to side to the throbbing sounds of the fast song, is everything. I feel safe, cherished.

“Let’s go get a drink,” I tell him as soon as the song ends. I’m not used to wearing heels. My feet are killing me. The tension coiled around his body melts the further we move away from the dance floor and walk toward the bar. Simon is sitting on one of the stools at the corner and Megs is on his lap, laughing at something he tells her.

After grabbing a Coke in a glass for myself and Cole, we head to a deserted spot on the other side of the bar. Cole takes a swig from his glass and then starts to walk me backward without warning, his eyes blazing wickedly. I stumble back until I feel my back hit a stone column behind me. He undoes our masks, grabs the clutch and glass of Coke from my hands and sets them somewhere—I can’t see anything beyond his broad shoulders. He curls his fingers around the nape of my neck, leans down and crashes his mouth on mine. My lips part automatically, welcoming him to claim my mouth like he always does. He doesn’t disappoint. Pushing up on my tiptoes, I dig my fingers into his hair and tug gently, kissing him fiercely and savoring the sweet taste of Coke on his tongue. God, I love his mouth.

We pull back, panting, foreheads pressed to each other’s, our eyes closed.

“Do you want to get out of here?” He asks and my eyes flip open.

Yes, I want to shout, but I end up nodding instead.

He reaches behind his back with his hand, retrieves my clutch and mask and hands them to me. And then lifts a thumb and presses it to my bottom lip. “I love your mouth.”

There goes that tingly feeling in my tummy, sending heat pooling between my legs. “I want to kiss you everywhere.” I blurt out without stopping to think. God, it feels good to say that.

His eyebrows shoot up and his eyes widen. Triumph soars through me as I watch desire flood his features. Finally, he grabs my hand and drags me toward the crowd but I pull back, causing him to stop.

“We have to let Megs and Simon know we are leaving,” I yell above the music but then feel stupid for shouting because he can read my lips perfectly.

He huffs a breath and runs a hand through his hair, looking impatient to pick up where we left off but nods, and we head to the place we last saw them, the bar. My best friend and her boyfriend are dancing a few feet away, locked in their own little world.

After letting them know that we’re leaving, Megs hugs me, and whispers, “Have fun and text me as soon as you get home.”

“Definitely. Oh God. It’s happening, Megs.”

She grabs my shoulders. “You don’t have to do this if you are not ready.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m so ready. I haven’t thought about anything the past few days, other than this. Honestly, I think I’ll die if we don’t do it tonight.”

Megs belts out a laugh. “Well, then. I think you’re good to go.” She drops her hands just as Simon steps towards us and wraps his arm around her chest, pulling her to him.

After our goodbyes, Cole grabs my elbow and literally dashes out of the ball room. I stop at the hotel entrance, slip the heels off, and sling them around my fingers.

“My feet hurt,” I tell him when he casts a questioning look at my bare feet.

Cole beams at me before leaning down and scooping me up in his arms. He strides toward the spot he parked his car, stops and kisses me before carefully standing me on the cool ground.

He looks at his watch and then back at me. “Do you want to come to my house for a little while? We still have about two hours until eleven.”

I bite my lip and smile coyly at him. At least I hope I’m smiling coyly. “I have a better idea. A special place. Can I drive?”

He takes a step forward, pressing my body into the car, his hands gripping my hips. “As long as it is private. I have plans for this tight little body of yours.”

I push my boobs into his chest, making sure he can read my lips. He sucks a deep breath, moves one hand up and wraps his fingers on the nape of my neck. “Call it a birthday gift, February twenty-eight is still a couple of weeks away, but I wanted to give you this gift in advance. So, can I drive?”