“Yea, I’d like that. And we’ll see if you can keep your hands off me. I’m not gonna take it easy on you because I love when you touch me.” She leaned forward to kiss him tenderly. His hand on her neck tightened, holding her to him as he tilted his head. He bit down on her lip and pulled back a bit before releasing it.
“I’ll pick you up at seven?” He asked before stepping back. Gwen reached up and adjusted his tie just a bit. “You are so incredibly beautiful.” He reached out and brushed her cheek softly before they separated from each other a normal distance.
“Yea, 7 sounds great.” She tried not to blush. Here she’d just had sex with him and he was still calling her beautiful. She smiled as the elevator bell dinged and slid open on the first floor. Gwen stepped out of the elevator as two men in suits stepped on and greeted Cole. She smiled as the two men engaged him in a conversation about work. But he locked eyes with her for a moment before the doors closed.
Chapter 30
When Cole showed up at their apartment right at seven, McKayla greeted him at the door. She was wearing a plain black t-shirt dress.
“Boy, you do clean up nicely.” McKayla stepped back from the door, giving him enough room to enter. “She should be out in just a minute.”
“Thanks.” Cole stepped inside as she shut and locked the door. He’d decided to wear black slacks and a dark green sweater that showed off how muscular he was. Before he could take another step, Gwen was walking down the hall. She had on a dark purple mid-thigh length strapless dress. A thick strap of beading wrapped around her waist and loose free flowing layers fell around her thighs. She had on a pair of plain black 4 inch leather pumps. Her hair fell over her shoulders in loose spiral curls and her makeup was very lightly applied. As soon as she saw him, a big smile spread across her face.
“Good timing.” Gwen said to him before stepping to McKayla. She pulled McKayla into a tight embrace, sliding her fingers into her hair and giving her a slow lingering kiss. She pulled back from the kiss with a smile. “We shouldn’t be late.”
“Have fun.” McKayla said softly, skimming her hand over Gwen’s shoulder before stepping back completely from her. “So, where are you going?”
“That is for me to know and Gwen to find out.” Cole smiled wickedly as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “But don’t worry, I’ll have her home at a decent hour.”
“I’d expect no less from a gentleman such as yourself.” McKayla winked at him as Gwen rolled her eyes at them. She picked up the tiny black clutch purse she’d put by the door earlier.
“Don’t wait up.” Gwen slipped her hand into the elbow Cole offered when she stepped to his side.
“Oh, I won’t. I trust Cole here to take care of my girl.” McKayla gave a little wave before they stepped out of the apartment. McKayla locked the door behind them.
“I hope I’m dressed appropriately. I had to guess how fancy or not the place we are going is.” Gwen gestured down at her dress. Cole looked down at her dress then back to up to her face.
“I think you look absolutely lovely.” He said before pulling her to him and planting a kiss on her soft pink lips. “It’s one of your own, isn’t it? I can always tell when it’s one of your designs.”
“It is.” Gwen couldn’t hold back the proud smile that slid onto her face. Nothing pleased her more than hearing that her designs were unique enough to pick out from other designers.
“It’s beautiful and you look beautiful in it.” Cole slid his hand into hers before leading her down the stairs. Outside a black town car was waiting for them. The driver held open the door for them. “Thanks, Doug.” Cole said as he helped Gwen into the backseat before sliding in next to her. “I hope you are ready for a very yummy meal followed with a bit of excitement.”
“Oh, excitement. You sure know how to pique a girl’s interest.” Gwen laughed softly as he took her hand into his. She looked at his large palm that rested on her knee. Their fingers threaded together. It was a different sight to her. She was used to seeing her own fingers laced with McKayla’s delicate feminine fingers instead of these large very manly fingers. It sparked something inside her having his hand in hers, but it also calmed and comforted her. This was her first real date since… Well, since ever. Her and McKayla had been friends for years before they’d become girlfriends and their dates always seemed just like two really good friends going out to do things by the time they’d started going on them.
“Well, wouldn’t want to give too much away and then you’ll get bored on me.” Cole squeezed her hand as the car moved through the busy New York streets. She just laughed at him.
“I don’t bore as easily as you assume. McKayla has somehow or another kept me around for more years than I care to count.” Gwen locked her eyes with those beautiful green eyes of his for a moment. “Just takes the right person, I guess.”
“Sounds like a challenge. Well, I accept.” Cole murmured before leaning down to press his lips softly against hers. “You are a challenge I think is well worth stepping up for.”
“Oh, I see. I’m a challenge to be conquered before you move on to the next one.” Gwen raised an eyebrow at him as a smiled tugged at her lips.
“I said nothing about moving on. I think you are the ultimate challenge. You are the challenge of a life time. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman like you. You are incredibly headstrong, stubborn and hard to understand while being more beautiful, passionate, intelligent and tender than any woman I have ever met. Trust me, I have met many women and you are the only one that has ever captured me from the first moment you tripped over your own feet.” Cole slid closer on the seat to her, sliding an arm around her shoulder to keep her close to his side. Gwen tried her best to keep his words from slipping past her defenses. It didn’t work, he wormed his way right into her heart, but then again, he’d already snuck in there on her. Now it was more than obvious to her that he wasn’t the man that had broken her heart. Instead he was a man trying to win her over and take care of her. “You don’t have to believe me. That’s okay. I know that I screwed up before and I will pay the price. I have no problem doing what I have to, I will prove to you I am here for you. I am human and make mistakes but I need you in my life. You have me so wrapped around your finger it is kinda pathetic.”
“You are kinda pathetic.” Gwen looked at his strong handsome face. She fought to keep a smile off her face. “Yeah, I can totally see that.”
“See. There you go, throwing compliments my way.” Cole laughed. Her sarcasm made him laugh. She would always keep him on his toes. He vowed that now that he had her in his life, he would do what he had to keep her happy and in his life. He was a dominate man who didn’t accept anything but perfection from others but this little lady had wormed her way into his life and heart when he hadn’t been expecting it.
Pretty sure neither of them had expected to meet the person that would turn their whole life on its axis on the subway on their way to work and school. Yet, they had.
Life seemed to be finally be positive for both of them. Things had finally started to look good for their relationship.
That is, until they stepped out of the town car and Gwen froze. A gasp ripped from her throat. Her eyes flashed up to meet Cole’s for a moment. She looked forward again to the man standing in front of the restaurant. Those cold deadly eyes were staring at them.
“Do you know that man?” Cole asked as his hand slid to her hip. Gwen could barely force herself to take her eyes off him and look back to Cole at her side. Her face was pale white, her mouth was so dry she could barely push the single word past her lips.
“Yes.”
THE END
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Yearning Devotion Page 18
