There Is No Light in Darkness by Claire Contreras Page B

hotel.”
    “Blake, he’s going to be mad. Cole has enough room. What would we tell him?” he groans.
    “I’ll tell him that I like my privacy or that I’m planning on taking Russell with me. Trust me, he won’t mind letting me stay at a hotel,” I reply with a smile.
    He laughs. “It won’t work. He even said you could bring Russell if you wanted.”
    The cup that I’m washing slips out of my hands, and I grip the sink to steady my weak knees. That doesn’t sound like Cole at all. Maybe he really is happy with Erin. Maybe she’s the one. The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. As I’m trying to swallow past the lump forming in my throat, Aubry starts laughing.
    “I’m just kidding, Blake. He didn’t say that. I wouldn’t put it past him though if it meant having us stay in his house,” Aubry says, looking amused.
    I pick up the dishrag and throw it at his face. “You’re an asshole! I’m going to shower, and then we’ll book our flight and my hotel room. Let me know if you want to join me, so I can book double beds.”
    While I’m in the shower, I hear my phone ring at least three times. I rinse the shampoo out of my hair quickly and dry myself on my way over to it. Cole. Jesus Christ, what the heck does he want now?
    “Aubry!” I scream at the top of my lungs as I wrap the towel tightly around myself.
    I open the door and take a startled step back when I find him standing in front of me with his phone to his ear and a smug look on his face.
    “She’s standing right in front of me, dripping wet with nothing but a tiny white towel on. I’m pretty sure I can see her nipples. Let me take a closer look,” he says into the phone. I hear Cole screaming at him that he’s going to kill him before he hands the phone over to me, snickering. I laugh and take it before I glare at him and close my door.
    “Hey,” I say as I rest the phone on my shoulder.
    “Are you really dripping wet and wearing a tiny white towel?” he asks in a raspy low voice.
    “Yes, I just got out of the shower.”
    “Good,” he exhales into the line. “At least I don’t have this raging hard-on for no reason.”
    My mouth dries and my insides flip as I feel my body reacting to his words. My nipples are hardening and the insides of my legs are pooling with warm anticipation. I let out a low moan and curse myself when I realize he can hear it.
    “Jesus, baby. Don’t make that sound. I’m going to come in my pants,” he groans. I hold in a breath and clench my hands around my towel with my left hand to keep it from falling.
    “Cole,” I warn hastily.
    “Undo your towel,” he orders hoarsely. I don’t know why I am even considering this, but I play along and do as I’m told.
    “Cole, where are you?” I ask breathily.
    “I just got home. I’m about to run up stairs to my room. Hold on,” he says nearly panting.
    As I wait for him to go upstairs, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I can’t believe I’m actually considering this after all this time. Then I remember him picking up the phone the other night, and suddenly I feel like a bucket of ice has been thrown on my libido.
    “Does Erin live with you?” I ask with my eyes screwed shut, as if it’ll make a difference once I hear the answer.
    He exhales harshly. “No. Can we please not talk about her?”
    I stay silent unsure of what to say. I know if we continue what we’re doing, everything between us will change, and the more I think about it, the more I want it to. I don’t want Erin in his life anymore.
    “Baby,” he says hoarsely. “When I stroke myself, like I’m doing now, you’re the one I think about. I see your stormy gray eyes looking into mine, wanting me. I feel your small delicate hands wrap around my dick. I feel your plush pink lips wrap around me and your sweet tongue circle around it.”
    His silky voice makes my eyes flutter closed and my lips part slightly. I’m lying in bed, chest heaving, heart stammering against my