##Chapter 27: CassidyBook One: Stay Meet me downstairs ASAP with your hockey bag.I stare at the phone in my hand before typing out a response.Are you serious?Just do it.Bossy much?The eye roll emoji pops up on the screen.Fine. I'll be down in 5.I grab my hockey bag from the closet and throw on a navy jacket before heading out the door. Once out on the sidewalk, I find Cole's Mustang idling at the curb in front of the dorm. When he sees me, he pops open the trunk before hopping out of the vehicle as I jog over.He gives me a quick kiss on the lips. Before I can register the gesture, he pulls away, looking strangely hesitant."Ready to go?""Yeah. Why are we heading to the ice rink at nine in the morning?"His expression becomes shuttered, as he holds open the door for me. "You'll see."With our gazes locked, he hunkers down, grabbing the seatbelt before pulling it across my chest and clicking it into place.My brows slide together as I study him. Even though he kissed me in gre
##Chapter 28: CassidyBook One: StayI don't hear from Cole for the rest of the weekend. By Sunday night, I finally break down and shoot him a text. He answers it, but like the car ride to the rink, the distance is palpable. And because I'm unwilling to put myself out there, I don't bother to contact him again. It only confuses me more as to what we are to one another, if anything.I thought for sure he'd be waiting outside the dorms early Monday morning for our usual run, but I failed to see the text he sent late Sunday night saying he wouldn't be able to make it. So, I ran by myself. Instead of being an easy and relaxing job, it just felt lonely.He's pulling away.I can feel it happening.Even if I wanted to fix what's wrong, I wouldn't know how.When he doesn't show for Psychology later that morning, I begin to wonder if something is really wrong with him. For ten solid minutes, I debate the merits of shooting him another text when someone in a back row barks out a laugh. As I swin
##Chapter 29: CassidyBook One: StayThat's a plot twist I did not see coming.Another burst of laughter follows. "Yeah, we're cousins. Our moms are sisters." "Oh." There are so many thoughts crashing through my head."You thought we were something more, huh?"The question is asked slyly, as if she didn't know exactly what I'd been thinking. The smile curving her lips, however, tells a different story."No, I didn't." Of course, I'd thought they were something more. They look ridiculously cute together. She snorts before raising a brow. "Are you sure?" Her voice brims with undisguised humor. The girl is practically chortling.It's not a good look."Okay," I finally reply through stiff lips, "maybe I thought you two had something going on.""You could have just asked him." This time, when her gaze darts to mine, I don't think about the road in front of us. "Or me." I shake my head and focus on the darkness flying past the car. "Maybe I should have."Questioning Cole would have ma
##Chapter 30: CassidyBook One: Stay"Cassidy," he growls, "you have no idea how much I want you." The low scrape of his words arrow straight to my core before exploding on impact.All of the sudden, I feel very powerful."Stay with me tonight."Instead of answering, my lips steal over his as our tongues tangle. "Even if we don't do anything more than this, I just want to hold you in my arms."His words have my heart thawing. Melting from the deep freeze that has encapsulated it for almost a year.Cole isn't like anyone I've met before. He won't hurt me. Not deliberately. If anything, I'll end up hurting him. I'm the one who will try escaping from our intimacy when it becomes more than I can handle.Maybe I don't deserve Cole Mathews, but I want him. I want to hold onto him for as long as I can. I want him to heal the broken pieces inside me.With my lips pressed against his, I whisper, "I want to stay. I want..." my voice trails off. Even though I'm terrified, I force them out. "I wan
##Chapter 31: CassidyBook One: StayMy gaze trails after my fingers as I discover a large tattoo that wraps around his ribcage, and carefully trace the intricate patterns of ink."This is a surprise."He shrugs as something darkens in his eyes.Whatever the reason for this tattoo, it's important."I'd wanted one for a while, but my mom refused to let me get it until I turned eighteen. I think she was holding out hope I would change my mind. I got inked on my birthday. It was a present to myself."I close the distance between us until I trace the tip of my tongue over the dark ink. Another groan falls from his lips."Very sexy," I whisper against his ribs."Then I'll get a couple more," he murmurs as my mouth slides over his flesh.I shake my head. "What I like is that it's so unexpected." Just to prove my words, I lap at him. "A lovely little surprise."He hisses out a sharp breath before shifting. That's when I become aware of the erection nestled between my legs. A whimper escapes f
##Chapter 32: CassidyBook One: StayThese sensations are almost too much to feel within the confines of my own flesh. It's as if something inside me is attempting to claw its way out. And still, he holds my gaze the entire time, watching as I'm forced closer to the precipice. Watching every moment of pleasure as it roars through me.His hands settle on my thighs, pinning me to the bed as he gently sucks my throbbing clit into his mouth. My fingers twist into the covers, fisting the thick material as my back arches.A whimper escapes from my lips as he continues to torment me. The need to pull back from the thick waves of pleasure that pummel my senses pounds through me until I'm squeezing my eyes tightly shut, attempting to escape within myself to regain control. This feeling of coming unhinged is so strange and new. No one has ever played my body as if it were a fine instrument.It's almost too much to bear.His tongue swipes over me once more before disappearing. When the heat of hi
##Chapter 33: CassidyBook One: Stay"Hey, look who decided to pop over for a visit. It's my phantom roommate." Even though these words are muttered, they're still loud enough for me to hear.I hesitate over the threshold before closing the door behind me. My gaze settles on Brooklyn as she sits in the middle of her bed and paints her toenails. Unsure what the issue is, I hover near the exit and wonder if it's too late to retreat.The corners of her lips sink into a frown as she continues to ignore me.With a sigh, I set my leather bag on the floor beside my desk before settling on my twin bed. She doesn't spare me a glance, which only reinforces my suspicions that she's pissed at me.As I comb through my thoughts, I realize I haven't seen or spoken to Brooklyn in a couple of days. I've spent the past few nights with Cole, and have been on the go with class, practice, and tutoring.The last time we spoke, everything was fine. By the look on her face, that's no longer the case.As Brook
##Chapter 34: CassidyBook One: StayWe stay in Friday night and stuff our faces with pepperoni pizza while marathoning reality TV shows. Saturday afternoon is more of the same. I fill Cole in on the situation with Brooklyn and Austin, and he says he'll speak with his friend. Hopefully, get him to back off for a while.Even though I love spending time with Cole, it's nice that we can do our own thing and still be good. After this weekend, I need to carve out more time for Brooklyn.By eight o'clock on Saturday night, my roommate is climbing the walls with the need to escape our dorm and hit one of the fraternity parties that seem to be a constant around here. Since Cole and Austin are throwing a bash of their own, she won't have to worry about running into her ex, which is a relief.Looking to draw as much male attention as possible, Brooklyn chooses a short, black skirt and a low-cut, red shirt that clings to her curves and does amazing things for her boobs. They almost defy gravity w