Chapter 116: Chapter 10

LEXI

My breath catches when I see him walk into the club. He has a sexy smirk and enough confidence to get any woman he wants… including me. I’ve never seen him before, and my interest is piqued.

He has to be the sexiest man alive with those broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a look in his eye that is pure predator. Hell, I’ll be your prey.

“White wine for the grad.” Janine places a glass in front of me and takes her seat, swallowing a sip of her own wine.

My eyes follow the sexy man as he approaches the bar and orders a drink. Women are all around him, but not one holds his attention.

“Cheers to us. Four years of crappy teachers, pointless homework assignments, and annoying roommates are officially over,” I proclaim as we clink our glasses and drink.

“So. Anyone get your panties on fire? No more worthless college players for me. I’m finding a man and taking him home.”

I laugh at her craziness, but my attention goes back to the sexy man at the bar.

“Ah, I see we have a winner. Maybe you’ll finally punch that V card of yours.”

I almost choke into my wine glass. Janine has always thought me crazy for waiting.

What can I say, I want love, not just a one-night stand in a cheap, crappy hotel room. I don’t want some guy showing up just for a little fun time then leaving first thing in the morning.

I want exactly the opposite of what my parents were, and probably still are.

“Uh-huh. Mr. Right just so happens to be here in this bar right now.”

Janine looks toward Mr. Sexy. “You never know, Lex. He could be the one.”

I look back toward the bar, but he’s no longer there. I follow Janine’s line of sight until I spot him approaching the dance floor.

He stops just outside of the throng of herded bodies. His eyes scan the dancers but he makes no move to join in the party.

“Go talk to him. I have a man in my sights.” She kisses my cheek. “Call me in the afternoon, I plan on sleeping in. Love ya, babe.”

She takes her wine glass and leaves me sitting alone in the booth that’s too big for one person. There’s no way I’m staying here.

I swallow some liquid courage and take the chance to embarrass myself to the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my life.

I keep my eyes on him to make sure I don’t lose him again. His eyes are like a hawk searching for his meal.

I highly doubt I’m what he’s looking for, but there’s always a chance. I’m not one to boast, but tonight I’m looking pretty hot.

My thick dark hair cascades over my shoulder like a waterfall with fat curls on the ends. Janine did my makeup, so I look like a temptress with my bright light blue eyes.

Eyes that have locked on to his icy ones. He looks me over from head to toe and back again.

I see him watching me and I think I might actually have a chance. His sexy smirk lights his face as I walk past him to the small open table.

That wonderful, amazing scent from the mall hits me hard and I know instantly it’s him. I’ve never smelled anything like it.

I lean against a barstool showing off my long legs.

He takes the bait and approaches my table. “That was a pretty bold move, just walking by me. You could’ve just said hello. You know I saw you.”

I sip my wine in an attempt to settle the butterflies in my stomach. “I could’ve, but then you might have thought of me as a silly flirt. Then where would I be? Besides, these shoes are killing me.”

His eyes follow my legs down to my stilettos then back up. “They’re killing me too. I’m Colton, Cole for short.”

I reach my hand out. “Alexis, but everyone calls me Lex.”

He grasps my hand, his thumb gently rubbing over my knuckles. “Lovely name for a lovely woman.”

His touch sends delicious chills through my body and I’m hooked. I want to know everything there is to know about this guy. He’s just my type.

Strong build in a handsomely tailored suit. His stubble-covered jaw is chiseled and his dimples give him a boyish quality, but he is all man.

“Thank you for the one-liner. I’ve never heard that one before.” I swallow the last of my wine.

“You got me there. May I get you another?”

I don’t want him leaving my side, giving some bimbo the chance to swoop in. “We can go together.”

His sexy smirk reappears on his face. He takes our glasses, then offers me his arm as he escorts me to the bar.

“White wine?” he asks me as the bartender makes his way to us.

I give him a nod and he orders our drinks. “So, Lexi, what are you doing here all alone?”

I accept my new glass and take a sip, then place it on the napkin in front of me. “I wasn’t alone. My friend and I came to celebrate. We just finished our last class of our last year of college. Graduation is next week, we’re finally free.”

Cole holds up his glass. “Cheers to freedom. What’s your field of study?”

I clink my glass with his. “Biology. I plan to study the gray wolf. I find them fascinating.”

His eyes travel down my body, looking over my form-fitting navy blue dress. “What about you, Cole? What brings you here by yourself? Looking for a quick hookup?”

He shrugs his shoulder. “I don’t do hookups. I’m looking for the right woman.”

“That’s good, because I don’t do hookups either. What’s your idea of the right woman?” I ask through my lashes.

“You,” he answers with so much confidence.

Goddess, the intensity of this guy, I bet he could command this whole room. I distract myself by looking around the club.

Janine spots me and gives me a thumbs up. I roll my eyes.

Cole sees where I’m looking. “I assume that’s the friend in the red and black dress?”

I nod with a mhmm. “She seems to be taken care of.”

My eyes snap to his. His eyes blaze as I lose myself in them.

“You want to get out of here?” he asks.

I worry my lip. I know what that leads to. His thumb pulls my lip from my teeth, his touch heating my skin.

“No need to be nervous. I just want to go somewhere else that’s not so loud. I’d like to get to know you a little better. No hookups, remember?”

I like the sound of that. “Sure. My place isn’t too far away.”

He pays the tab, then offers me his arm.

Outside the club, he leads me to a large, but pretty, truck.

The night air is cool.

My skin is damp from the heat of the club, and I can’t help the shiver that racks my body.

Cole places his jacket around my shoulders, then opens the door for me—such the gentleman.

His scent on his jacket fills my nose, relaxing me.

I scoot into my seat and he closes the door behind me.

His scent permeates the cab of the truck, and I start to get a little heady.

I want this scent wrapped around me forever.

He gets into his seat, then lifts my chin to look in my eyes.

“Where to, Lexi?”

My brain snaps back to reality and I give him the directions to my apartment.

Inside the truck, the silence is deafening.

“This is a first for me.” I break the awkward silence.

“What is?”

He asks with a husky voice.

I timidly answer, “Inviting a strange man to my place.”

His hand wraps around mine and I tilt my body toward him.

His smirk shows up again.

“You think I’m strange?”

I roll my eyes with a shake of my head at his corny line.

He softly chuckles.

“I promise not to bite.”

Cole parks in front of my apartment, then I lead him inside.

He looks around and it seems like he approves.

There’s not much to it.

The living room and kitchen are only separated by an island.

There’s a short hall that contains the bathroom, closet, and my bedroom.

It’s not much, but it’s all I need.

“Can I get you some water?” I ask as I return his jacket.

He hangs it on the rack beside the door.

“Yes, thank you.”

I grab two bottles as he looks more closely at my wall art.

He stops in front of my copy of *The Artist’s Garden at Giverny*.

“Impressive. Monet?”

I come out from around the island and hand him his water. His eyes never look away from the painting as he accepts the bottle.

“Yeah. I fell in love with his work during my art history class. This is obviously just a copy, but it’s still beautiful.”

I kick off my shoes and lounge on my sofa with my knees curled under me.

“It is.”

He finally turns away.

He sits on the ottoman and pulls my legs free.

He massages my calves, then moves to my feet.

At first it’s awkward, but it quickly begins to feel so good that I relax and let him continue.

“I know those kinds of shoes are incredibly attractive, but is it really worth the pain?”

I lean back against the pillow.

“I don’t know. They caught your attention.”

He softly chuckles with a smile on his face.

“You caught my attention. You’re incredibly beautiful and smell like heaven and magnolia, but you’re also confident and smart. Two qualities that I’m a sucker for.”

I pull my feet out of his hands and sit up so my face is dangerously close to his.

“You just met me. How do you know I have those qualities?”

His eyes peer into mine.

“I just know.”

He looks down at my lips, then back to my eyes.

His hand rests on my knee, but otherwise he doesn’t move.

I can see I’m playing with fire, but I don’t care if I get burned.

He is seriously the man of my dreams and he’s challenging me.

It’s a game to see who will break first.

I look to his plump lips, then back up.

I see his smirk in my peripheral and I can’t help but return it with my own.

He minutely leans closer and I lay back against my couch and take a drink of water.

I win.

I offer him my bottle since he has yet to open his.

He accepts the drink, then gives it back.

I close it up and set it on the end table.

When I turn back around, he’s hovering over me with his face close to mine.

I didn’t even hear him move.

I look up through my lashes.

His lips are soft as they fall on mine.

His hands are braced on the sofa and he doesn’t lean into the kiss.

His lips part as mine do.

It’s a movie kiss, the kind that are just lips, but still quite pleasant.

Just enough steam to make me sit up and lean in for more.

Okay, he wins this round.

My hand goes to his face as he pulls back.

He stands up and looks around the kitchen.

He says nothing as he walks away to the sink.

He washes his hands, then dries them on a paper towel.

“Garbage can?”

I’m in awe at his restraint.

He wins again.

“Under the sink.”

He tosses the paper towel, then stops at the door.

I get to my feet. I don’t want him to leave.

He surprises me when he removes his tie and hangs it with his jacket.

I relax as he takes off his shoes and socks.

He unbuttons his top button as he walks toward me.

I swallow, afraid of where this is headed.

He untucks his shirt, then drops his hands to his sides.

He chuckles, then takes my waist and brings my body to his.

He sniffs my neck and I close my eyes at the feel of his breath on my skin.

“You don’t have a poker face, Lexi. First you’re scared that I’m going to leave, then you’re afraid that I’m going to take my clothes off. No hookup. We agreed, right?”

I nod my head, then laugh at myself.

“Right.”

He doesn’t let me say another word as he takes my lips again. This time he actually does kiss me.

His hand holds my cheek as he presses harder.

My lips open and he accepts the invite.

His tongue gently explores my mouth.

His breath is warm and sweet.

My tongue greets his with the same gentility.

He pulls away with an extra peck.

He drops his hands, then walks around me to my television.

He finds my remotes, then settles into the sofa.

He pats the sofa beside him and I shake my head.

“If you’re going to get comfortable, I am too. There’s popcorn in the pantry.”

I leave him sitting on my sofa without looking back.

I’m comfortably changed into a pair of modest pajamas with my hair pulled up into a messy bun.

It’s not my best look, but if it doesn’t frighten him away, he’s a keeper.

The microwave beeps just as I plop onto my couch.

Cole looks me over.

“I love the jammies, they’re cute.”

They’re nothing special, just a T-shirt style top with a conversation heart and matching shorts.

I smile to myself. Definitely a keeper.

Cole has a movie queued up on the TV. He hands me a soda, then settles beside me with a bowl of popcorn and a soda of his own.

I notice that he’s taken off his shirt and belt, leaving him in his slacks and a snug undershirt.

“I have a pair of basketball shorts. I stole them from my brother, but I’m sure they’ll fit,” I offer.

He sets the popcorn down and pulls me to my feet.

“As long as they’re clean,” he responds.

I giggle.

“They’re clean, but they might smell girly.”

“Heavenly,” he retorts with a sexy-as-sin smirk.

I grab the shorts and lead him to the bathroom.

When he emerges, he looks like a Greek god, clad in nothing but a thin, almost translucent white undershirt that clings to his thick muscles. His hair is tousled, yet soft-looking.

His silvery blue eyes lock onto mine as his smirk lights up his face.

He takes the seat beside me and slouches into my couch, his feet next to mine on the ottoman.

“Ready when you are,” he says, pulling the popcorn off the table to share as I start the show.

“What are we watching?” I ask before the opening credits begin to roll.

He shushes me.

“Just watch.”

I roll my eyes and reach up to switch off the light.

He reaches over to kill the light on his end, then returns to my side.

I make it about halfway through Inception before my eyelids become too heavy to stay open.