Page 35 of Unbreakable Bonds (The Boston Romance #2)

COLE

Six days, five hours, and twenty-three minutes have passed since I last saw her. The address Emma slipped me this morning burns in my pocket like a lifeline. When she'd handed me the note during breakfast at their place, her words echoed what I already knew: "She misses you both."

My fingers drum against the steering wheel as I navigate through the suburban streets.

Each turn brings me closer to Alex, and my heart pounds harder with every mile.

These past days have been torture—reaching for my phone a hundred times to call her, only to remember she asked for space.

The nights have been worse, plagued by dreams where she walks away for good.

The GPS chirps, announcing another turn, and I ease off the gas. What if she doesn't want to see me? What if I'm making everything worse by showing up? But then I remember Emma's knowing smile, the way she'd squeezed my arm and whispered, "Go get her."

A familiar ache spreads through my chest as I think of Samantha's face lighting up at the mention of Alex's name this morning. My daughter misses her too—probably as much as I do, though for entirely different reasons.

Movement on the sidewalk catches my eye, and my foot slams the brake pedal. Alex. But she's not alone. My blood turns to ice as I watch an unknown man’s hands wrap around hers, his smile too intimate.

Before I can think it through, I'm out of the car, moving on pure instinct. Her eyes widen as I approach, surprise and something else—hope?—flashing across her face.

"Cole? What are you doing here?"

My gaze fixes on where the guys hands still hold hers, and possessive rage burns through my veins. "Protecting what's mine. So keep your goddamn paws to yourself."

The man simply raises a brow before sending me a mocking grin and replying, "Who the hell are you to tell me if I can or can't touch Queenie? Do you see her complaining? No. So, mind your own damn business."

Queenie? Who the fuck is this guy?

I'm so close to wiping that cocky smirk off his face. "Alex is my business. And I know she hates it when dipshits like you touch her. So last warning. Keep your hands to yourself."

The guy takes a step back and crosses his arms. "Her name is Alisha, not Alex.

That's more of a man's name," he says with a snarl.

"And for your information. We have known each other for years.

" His lips curl into a pompous smirk again.

"And as long as Queenie doesn't tell me to stop touching her, I will keep touching her.

" He places his hand on her back, and when this action makes Alisha flinch for a split second, it's enough for me.

I launch forward, and as soon as my fingers claw into his shirt, I pull him up until my face is inches from his. "I told you. Don't touch her, you jackass."

"Cole. Let Steven go. Right. Now."

From the corner of my eyes, I catch her pissed off face.

I try to ignore it, but then I remember our first encounter and how she doesn't like anyone fighting her battles without her permission.

Mentally grumbling, I let the schmuck go.

But not without shoving him back. The guy stumbles, and when he finds his balance, he irons his now wrinkled shirt with his palms.

"Alisha, please tell that bull to go back to his den."

I cock a brow at him. "That's always better than being a dickless rooster."

Alex rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

When the asshole opens his mouth, she interferes.

"Don't." He closes his mouth, and we both watch how she sends us both a warning glare.

"You two goddamn peacocks need to calm the fuck down and listen.

" We both blink at her words. "First," she starts, flicking a finger between us.

"Nobody touches me... without my permission.

" She makes this statement, while lifting her chin and looking us straight in the eyes.

Fuck, I love this sassy, confident attitude of hers.

"Queenie, I'm sorry, but come on. This man comes barging in like a bull and attacks me when I did nothing wrong. You can't be mad at me."

"Shithead," I mutter under my breath. She gives me a warning glare before turning her attention to Steven.

"Steven, thank you for the walk. I've really loved catching up with you, but I need to talk to him." She nods her head my way.

"Are you serious? You're sending me away?"

"Yes, I am."

He opens and closes his mouth. "Fine. But if you need me, you know where to find me. And don't forget to call me, so I can take you out to dinner."

I grind my teeth. As he walks away, my attention lands on Alex, who has her back towards me.

My eyes wander over her backside. Damn, she looks smoking hot.

The thin, dark blue fabric hugs her ass perfectly, and the elastic band accentuates her hourglass figure.

But when she spins and faces me, I'm gawking at her front side.

This view is equally flawless.

"Hey, Alex..."

She rubs the bridge of her nose and meets my gaze. "You haven't answered my question? What are you doing here? How did you know where I was?"

"Huh? What do you mean? You told Emma to give me this," I reply, pulling out the note from the back pocket of my pants.

She takes it, and moments later, she looks up into the sky, while muttering, "You sneaky pregnant meddler." She brushes her hand over her arm and meets my gaze. "I didn't tell her to give you the address."

"What?" My eyes penetrate hers, but when I realize she's sincere, it hits me. Emma lied to me. She didn't want me to come.

Straightaway I remember my nightmares where she walks away with another man.

Guess they were intended to prepare and warn me about this.

She's moving on. She doesn't need me anymore.

An onset of nausea twists through my intestines while my chest feels like it's getting gift wrapped in barbed wire.

Needing to get out of here before I break, I turn and move.

"Cole? Where are you going?"

I don't reply, but when I'm close to my car, she grabs and yanks on my arm. Her touch makes me halt my movement for a moment, and she takes this opportunity to pass me. With her back against the driver's door, she shouts, "Wait!"

"Move, Alex."

"No! Not until you talk to me."

I scratch the back of my neck. "What is there to say?

You asked for space, and I'm clearly invading it.

" A soft breeze brings her unique but delicious fruity scent into my nose, and my body reacts fiercely.

I grind my teeth, trying to focus on anything except Alex blocking my car door.

Wanting her to move, I blurt out my other thoughts.

"It's clear you don't need me anymore, since you were having the time of your life with that asshat. "

"Cole, that guy is my old neighbor, who I haven't seen for seven years. He came over and asked me to go on a walk. That's all. Nothing is going on between him and me."

"Yeah, right. He touched you."

"Yes, he did," she responds without showing any emotions.

"Did you kiss him?" My chest burns as if it's soaking in acid, and my jaw muscles cramp by the pressure I place on them while I await her answer.

"Of course I didn't kiss Steven. Why the hell would I want to do that when all I want and have thought about these past days is you? You stupid fool."

She missed me too?

"You know what? Forget it," she says when I haven't reacted to her confession. "I'm going to catch up to Steven and tell him to book a restaurant," she rants on. "He's a doctor in the emergency room, so if that lunatic of a stalker beats me up again, he will be able to put my body back together."

She swings the car door open and yells, "Get in the goddamn car and leave me alone. I don't need you." Her words pull me out of my trance, and I slam the car door shut and press her against it.

"Oh, no you don't. You're—"

I grab her chin, and in one movement, my lips are on hers. The softness of her mouth is like a balm to my aching soul, but when she doesn't react, I lift my head and spill my truth.

"I missed you too, Alex."

She blinks. "What did you miss about me?" she whispers, now gazing at my shirt.

The vulnerable tone in her voice tells me this is the time to open up.

I grab a strand of her blonde hair that found its way out of her ponytail and play with it.

Slowly her jade depths come up, and when they meet mine, I answer, "I missed everything about you.

I missed seeing your beautiful face, your laugh, and your witty, sassy remarks.

But mostly, I've missed having you near me and being able to touch and hold you in my arms."

She wets her lips, and I touch them with my thumb. "I've ripped up our contract."

Her pupils dilate. "Why did you do that?"

"Because I don't want you for only six months. I want you indefinitely, Alex."

Her breath halts, and I enjoy the moment of confusion washing over her beautiful features as her brain is processing the information.

For a moment, every muscle of her body freezes.

But then, a grin transforms her static facial features, and it soon stretches from one side to the other, showing every single tooth.

"These last six days I've dreamt about you saying goodbye and walking off with another man.

And it's driving me up the wall because I want to be the only one touching and kissing you.

What I feel for you, I've never felt for any woman.

.. You're the first person I told about my past." I cup her face between my palms. "I never meant to hurt you, Alex.

But my demons got triggered and rose to the surface after our amazing shower moment.

I tried to control them, but then you mentioned the room, and it became too much, and I snapped. I'm sorry, I—"

She presses a finger on my lips.

"I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have pushed you into talking. You've opened up so much already. So, apology accepted. Now fucking kiss the hell out of me, Walker."

Our mouths crash together, and our tongues start their hungry but perfect duet.

Her lips are delicate and warm, and when she moans in my mouth, I let go of her face and take hold of her delicious ass.

The fingers of one of her hands dives into my hair while her other brushes over my beard.

My mouth leaves hers for a moment to attack that sweet spot below her ear.

She lets out a sultry moan that makes my pants tight in a second, and as if she knows what is going down south, she cups my dick through my pants and massages it.

I press my crotch harder against her palm but pull away before shooting my load.

"Jesus. If we don't stop now, I will remove your jumpsuit and take you here on the public road."

"I don't mind a bit of kinkiness."

I growl and cup her sweetness through her clothing.

"Okay, take me to where you're staying, because I can't wait to pound this naughty pussy of yours.

" I bend my head and whisper in her ear, "I'm going to fuck you until you scream my name so loud that your dickhead of a neighbor will know that you are mine.

Hell, this whole town will know you're getting laid. "

Like a sexy kitten, she scratches her nails on the nape of my neck before placing her forehead against mine.

"God, that sounds like heaven. But I don't think my parents would appreciate seeing or hearing their daughter getting laid in their house." She giggles when she sees my raised eyebrows and slack mouth.

"Y-Your parents?"

She nods as she brushes her hand over my chest while gazing at me with her sparkling green orbs. "Guess Emma didn't mention that I'm staying with my parents. So… what do you say? Want to meet my parents?"