He looked away.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He ground his cigarette out in the ashtray on the table and stood up. “I’m going back to bed.”
She looked up at him.
He stood there, looking back at her. “You comin’?”
She shook her head. “I think I’ll check in on TJ.”
He studied her, and then turned and walked in the house.
***
About an hour later, Angel stood outside Cole’s bedroom door. She hesitated, not sure if this was wrong. What was she doing? If he left and went back to California, it was going to hurt so much more if she let herself become too attached to him. Her head reasoned it all out, all the arguments why she shouldn’t do this. In the end, her heart didn’t care.
She opened the door and stepped inside.
Cole lay face down in the bed, the sheet at his hip exposing his bare back. He came awake and rose up slightly to look at her, blinking sleepily. “Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice raspy with sleep.
She closed the door, leaning back against it.
He watched her closely, coming fully awake. She walked toward him, and he rolled to his side, up on one elbow, his eyes never leaving hers. She stopped at the edge of the bed, and he watched as she raised her hands and began unbuttoning her dress.
It slipped to the floor. She stood before him naked.
He reached for her hand, rolling to his back he pulled her down. She fell across his chest as his hands buried in her hair and pulled her head down, his mouth coming up to capture hers. He kissed her wildly.
Rolling her onto her back, he rested on his elbows, poised above her. His hands still buried in her hair, he looked down at her. “Tell me you’re mine.”
She looked up at him.
“Say it,” he insisted.
She nodded. “Yes.”
It was enough. His mouth descended to hers.