Once Upon a Dare (Risky Business)(57)

She gripped the edge of her seat, her knuckles going white. It was all happening so fast. She couldn’t process. Ten minutes ago she’d been trying to figure out how to wrangle Chloe a pair of gold undies and now this?

“Love?” she whispered, knowing full well he couldn’t hear her, despite the eerie silence that had fallen over the crowd.

Cole jumped down from the runway, landing gracefully as though stage hopping were an everyday occurrence for him. He laid his microphone on the edge of the runway, next to the stiletto-clad foot of a teary-eyed model, and spun to face her. He grasped her hands, wrapping them in his warmth, and pulled her to her feet.

Olivia stood on wobbly knees, praying her legs would hold up. The last thing she needed was a face plant in front of an audience this large. Not exactly how she imaged her Vixen debut. Of course, she hadn’t quite imagined this scenario either, so she was in uncharted waters all around. Still, Cole loved her! And he’d just waxed poetical about her brains! Unable to stop the grin that spread across her face, she basked in the admission, letting the knowledge warm her from the inside out.

“I love you, Olivia. I was so scared to admit it, even to myself, that I drove you away. I don’t deserve a second chance,” he said, squeezing her hands and sending warm fuzzies straight to her heart, melting the frost she’d allowed to accumulate. “But if you give it to me, I’ll prove you made the right choice.”

Cole dropped to one knee, his eyes taking on a glassy sheen. Olivia was tearing up herself. Her pulse thundered in her ears as she fought a losing battle. She was drowning in quicksilver and sinking fast. It was inevitable, she supposed. The man she loved was on his knees begging for forgiveness. And she wanted to forgive him. She truly did. But, could she trust him? She couldn’t bear to be disappointed again. She couldn’t go through that hurt even one more time. She was maxed out on bending; she’d surely break next time.

“Cole, I—”

“Say yes!” someone yelled from deep within the crowd.

“Liv?” Chloe prompted. “I don’t want to rush you here, but if you don’t say yes soon, one of these other ladies is going to snatch that man right up.”

Olivia looked deep into Cole’s gray eyes, searching his soul for the future she so desperately wanted. Beyond the unshed tears she saw compassion, respect, and most importantly, love. Neither of them was perfect, but maybe together they could be. Cole had put himself out there, laying his soul bare in front of hundreds of strangers, finally admitting that he was wrong to interfere with her career, and declaring that he was in love with her. Her brains, as well as her body. Her. So what was she waiting for? Happily ever after was staring her in the eye. She just had to be brave enough to open her heart and take a chance.

“I love you, too,” she declared, her voice strong and sure despite the swell of emotion, “but get off that knee or people are going to get the wrong idea! You’ve got one more chance, Cole Bennett. Make it count.”

He leapt to his feet, sweeping Olivia up in his arms and spinning her around as she crushed her mouth to his. Their lips melded together as if they’d never been apart, reaffirming her decision to give their love a shot. They’d make it work this time. She knew it from her racing heart to her throbbing pelvis, right down to the tips of her curled toes. If she was going to open her heart and take a chance on love—the messy, screwed up, beautiful kind—it had to be with Cole. She couldn’t imagine a future that didn’t include his arms wrapped around her. His tongue slipped between her lips, charging her body like a live wire. She hardly noticed when the audience burst into raucous applause. She was too busy making up for lost time.

“I think they approve,” he laughed breathlessly when the kiss finally ended. “Want to get out of here?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she replied, a hot flush creeping up the back of her neck as she thought about the hundreds of eyes watching them play tonsil hockey. She turned to Chloe.

“Get out of here already,” she said, waving a hand nonchalantly. “I’ll get a cab.”

“Thanks, Chloe. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Cole flashed her one of his smiles and dropped his lips to Olivia’s ear. “I’ve got a car outside.”

“You know,” she whispered, snaking her arm around his waist. “I’ve always wanted to do it in a limo.”

…

When the driver closed the door, giving them total privacy, Cole pulled Olivia onto his lap. Now that he finally had her back in his arms, he wasn’t about to let her go. She straddled him, looking flushed and incredibly sexy, as she ground her hips against him. The friction of the act brought his cock to full attention as it sought release deep within the wet heat of the woman he loved.

“Please tell me it’s laundry day.” He slipped a hand under her flowing skirt. Damn. His fingers skimmed over a pair of barely-there lacy string bikinis. “How attached are you to these?” he asked, tugging on the restrictive undergarments.

“I work for a lingerie company now, remember?” she replied with a grin. “They’re easily replaced.”

“Glad to hear it, because they’ve got to go if I’m going to make that fantasy of yours come true.”

“And what fantasy is that?”

“The one where I make you come in less than twelve blocks.” He reached under her skirt and ripped the thin fabric with one firm tug. His thumb found its way to her center, gently massaging her clit as she pumped her hips against him, head thrown back, hair cascading over her shoulder in golden waves. Damn she was beautiful. And wet. He would never get tired of this, seeing her let go and give herself over to him, to the bond they shared.