Counting On Cole (Wilde Ways #8) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,31

was what a good bodyguard would do. A thorough one. He believed in being thorough.

“Or, reason two, you’re the lover from her past who came back, took one look at her, and realized you couldn’t let her go again. You grabbed her, held on tight, and you moved in with her because you wanted to fuck her constantly.”

Cole didn’t speak.

Chase’s gaze flickered over Cole’s shoulder. “I, of course,” his voice was smooth as silk, “know which option is correct, but we need to make sure the kidnappers see the narrative that works for us. We need them to change their thinking. Because an obsessed boyfriend is much easier to handle than a dedicated bodyguard. An obsessed boyfriend can be caught off-guard. An obsessed boyfriend can be taken down. He’s not a threat.”

Cole’s breathing was nice and slow. But the muscles in his body were rock hard with tension. “You think I need to start acting like her boyfriend.”

Chase smiled at him. “Give the man the biggest cookie in the world. Yeah, I do. I think you need to change the narrative here, ASAP. We need to pull the attackers in, and I know you aren’t about to leave her undefended while that happens—”

“No, not even for a second.”

“So we have to make sure that they stop seeing you as a threat. You look tough, but you need to look besotted.”

Cole’s eyebrows flew up. “What the fuck does that even mean?”

“Uh, it means infatuated, that you are basically emotionally drunk on the woman.” Chase sighed. “Dude, try picking up a romance novel sometime. It will change your life and increase your vocabulary.”

“You want me to act…besotted.” Just so they were clear.

“We don’t know exactly where our audience is, but yes, you need to act that way. All the time. Look at her like you can’t wait to strip her naked. Look at her like you want to pull her into the nearest bedroom and never let go. Look at her like the sun rises and sets behind her. Look at her like she is the most important thing in your entire life.”

Evie’s laughter rang out behind him. It was light and sweet, and it had been so long since Cole heard that sound—

His head whipped toward her.

A faint smile pulled at his lips.

“Yeah,” Chase coughed. “Basically, look at her that way. I think you’ve got it.”

Cole’s smile froze.

“Are you ready to change up the play? Because even our Wilde techs are hitting the wall on this case. We need to shake things up, and we need to do it now.” A pause. “Are you ready to stop being the bodyguard and become the boyfriend?”

Like that was going to be some kind of hardship. Pretending to be wrapped up in Evie? Hell, yes, he could manage that one. In his sleep. “I’m ready.”

“That’s a wrap!” Leo called out excitedly. “We’ve got it! Time to clear this studio.”

There were sighs of relief. Laughter. The dancers and Evie hugged each other. Her smile—though tired—still lit her face.

“No time like the present to start setting that scene,” Chase advised.

Cole was already striding toward her. As he closed in, Evie’s eyes widened.

He caught her hands. Pulled her against him.

“Cole?”

“I need to kiss you,” he rasped.

“Um, okay. But I am really sweaty—”

“No, sweetheart, you are really fucking hot.”

He took her mouth. Her lips were parted, and he thrust his tongue right into her mouth. He kissed her and he savored her, and he damn well worshipped her mouth. She tasted like his favorite treat. She smelled like vanilla cream.

He pulled her body closer to his. Kissed her harder. Hotter. Wilder.

Her hands dug into his arms as she held him just as tightly. Her body pressed to his, and he could feel the thrust of her nipples against his chest. He would love nothing more than to take those nipples into his mouth. To lick and suck them until she was moaning his name. Then he could strip off those teeny-tiny shorts of hers. Slide his fingers between her legs. See if she was wet for him. God, he wanted her wet. Then he could replace his fingers with his mouth. He could lick her until she came for him. The first time. The second time that she came, he wanted his dick buried so deep in her that—

Someone was clapping.

His head lifted. His heart thundered.

The clapping died away.

“That was so hot,” Leo praised as he strode past them. The other dancers were smiling. “So much for being