I moan and stretch out in the super king-size bed, peel my eyes open, blinking out the early morning sunshine. The birds were melodiously chirping as I snuggle into the soft goose feather pillows and sigh in content. Then, like a tsunami, everything that happened between us the night before hits me all at once and I realise I’m naked in bed…alone again, Cole nowhere to be seen.
I roll onto my back and stare up at the ceiling, all sorts going through my mind. Was he having regrets about us sleeping together last night? What if the reality of us having sex didn’t hold up to the expectation he had built up in his mind? I mean, he seemed really into it, the way he kept whispering how good I felt and the sounds he was making while he climaxed. Oh, shit what if it's awkward now. Ugh, Shayla you idiot. What were you thinking, sleeping with him!
I lean up and look at his side of the bed and notice a note on his pillow. I pick it up and read it. “Starti
“I’ll eagerly accept the kiss but not your money.” He whispers leaning in. I wrap my arms around his neck, draw his lips to mine for a soft, lingering peck on his lips. I pull back a little and look up at him, and he smiles, eyes still closed. “Mm more.” He groans, sealing our lips again and kissing me with so much passion my toes curl.I’m in so much trouble with this boy. After a few minutes of kissing, I walk into the ensuite bathroom to have a quick shower and get dressed.Twenty minutes later, Cole and I joined his parents at the dining table for breakfast. “Good morning.” I greet before taking my seat beside Cole.“Good morning dear, did you sleep well?” Coles father asks, folding up the newspaper he was reading and setting it on the side.Cole and I share a little look, and he smile’s nodding. “We slept very well.”“Have you seen the photos of the two of you
Our foreheads pressed together, panting, Cole looks into my eyes, his slender fingers brushing my hair back away from my face and licks his lips. “What have you done to me, Shayla Hart.”I smile, meeting his adoring gaze, “Whatever you’ve done to me, Cole Hoult.” I pant, and he kisses me deeply sucking my bottom lip gently before he pulls away. His kisses drive me insane. After we clean ourselves up, we continue with our drive to the heart of Nice, and start our day with a stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. Cole had his arm around my shoulder, and I hand mine tucked in the back pocket of his jeans as he told me stories around the architect of the buildings we pass by and I listen with fascination.“The coffee here is amazing, come on.” He says guiding me to this adorable little café by the Riviera where we sat and had the most incredible coffee, and I ordered the best coconut cream cake I have ever eaten in my life.
“Tristan Cole Hoult, are you trying to get me drunk?” Shayla giggles as I pour us another glass of white wine.I shake my head chuckling, “No, not at all.” I declare feigning innocence, and she narrows her eyes at me sceptically. “Besides, a couple of bottles of wine isn’t going to get us that drunk. I don’t think anything will top how drunk we were the night we met.”Shayla groans with a smile shaking her head, “Oh my god, don’t remind me. I was hungover for three days straight. I will never drink that much ever again.” She says, putting her glass down and lays back, staring up at the star-filled sky with a sigh. I couldn’t even tell you what time it was; we’ve been sitting up on the top deck of the yacht just talking and drinking wine and eating a cheese board. I lay down beside Shayla, and we gaze up at the stars together. She looks over at me when I feed her a grape and smiles. “Tel
“We’ll get sick sweetheart,” I whisper between kisses, and she cups my face in her hands and smiles.“I don’t care.” She whispers, kissing me back avidly. There we stood in the pouring rain, completely soaked, kissing passionately without a care in the world about anything else but each other. That moment was definitely worth catching pneumonia for. The flash of lightning, followed by a loud rumble of thunder interrupts our moment. We jump apart, and I take her hand, pulling her inside to the bottom deck just as the boat pulls up to the marina.“You’re shivering,” I say, rubbing her arms and she shakes her head smiling up at me.“So are you.” She breathes panting. I watch her closely as she lifts my t-shirt up and over my head, dropping it on the floor before her cold, trembling fingers rake down my chest and stomach. I press my forehead to hers while she unbuttons my jeans and pushes them down. I
Shayla bites her lip and nods, “Yes, you can, just focus on me.” She whispers, looking into my eyes. I lick my lips and reach over to brush my thumb along her jaw. “You get one kiss, make it count.” She states, staring into my eyes, the warmth she usually has in her eyes when she looks at me disappeared, and she stares at me vacantly.“I’m not going to waste a kiss from you on the likes of her,” I say, pressing my lips to the corner of her mouth. “Let’s get out of here,” I whisper and drop a kiss on her forehead. Shayla nods, and we stand up. I drop some cash on the table, wrap my arm around Shayla’s shoulder, and we leave the café. I can feel Sophie's glare as I pass by her without so much as a glance, focussing all my attention on the one girl who actually deserves it.Just when things were going so great for us, we took a giant step back, and things have been strained between us since we got ba
“Mum, are you sure you feel okay? I can stay longer if you need me?” I argue with my mother, but she shakes her head and waves me off.“No honey, I feel fine now, honestly. You’ve run yourself ragged looking after me as well as working this past week. Go home to your husband.” She says while I pull the blanket over her, so she stays warm.“But Mum—”“Shayla, I’m okay now. Bedside’s, I have Sammy to look after me too. Go home.” I look over at Sam, who nods his head agreeing with her.“Anything changes or she starts to feel worse you call me? You understand?” I tell my older brother, and he nods again with a little smile.“I will, I promise. Mum’s right, you look exhausted Shay, go and get some rest before you get sick too.” He says ruffling my hair like I was a six-year-old. I slap his hand away and punch his shoulder scowling at him, and he chuckle
I brush my fingers over his face printed on the gravestone, “Am I really so unlovable? What is wrong with me? Why does everyone find it so easy just to toss me aside and walk away from me?” I hiccup, shaking my head. “I’m so mad at myself because I knew this would happen, but I didn’t expect it to hurt this much.” I laugh bitterly and wipe away my tears. “I deserve this. I deserve to feel this way because I’m stupid. I should have walked away from him that day, but I couldn’t. I should walk away now, but I can’t because my heart and my pride won’t let me.” I whimper dejectedly closing my eyes. “Oh, Daddy, what am I going to do?” I felt a chill run down my spine when I lay my head on the dirt and sob until I was all cried out. “I miss you so much,” I admit my voice breaking. “Thank you for listening to me, and I know you’re probably very disappointed in me and what a mess I&rsq
“No, that’s okay. I’ll drive myself. I’m not going to be very long. I’ll see you at the office, okay?” I say and smile at him. He looks into my face and blinks. I pull my hand out of his and walk to the front door. I open it and walk out of the apartment. I heave a sigh when he doesn’t follow me and rush to the car to leave as quickly as possible. I don’t even wait for the elevator; I take the stairs.Thirty minutes later, I was sat waiting for Franc at his office. “Miss Hart, Mr Clement, will see you now.” I nod and smile politely at the young receptionist and walk to his office. Franc stands and moves over to me when I walk in and shakes my hand.“Miss Hart, welcome. Please, take a seat.” He greets gesturing to the leather chairs opposite his marble desk. “How can I help you?”I sigh and lick my lips, “Before I tell you the reason I’m here, I need to know if the cli