Idolatry

Taking a deep breath Win said “it’s short for Winter.”

“Winter Coates?” he said and she could see his lips twitching as he fought not to smile.

“Yes” she said looking away.

“Really?”

“Would I make a name like that up?” she growled.

“No probably not” he said.

Win looked over at him and seeing him struggling to contain himself she said in an angry tone “oh for god sake go ahead and laugh, everyone else does.”

Cole’s laughter bubbled out but quickly he recovered and pulling her into his arms he said “I’m sorry Win.”

“Hmmm” she said folding her arms against her chest not wanting to melt against his hard body. He hadn’t lived up to his side of the deal and she was angry.

“I am sorry” he said “and I have to say, putting your surname aside, I like your first name.”

“I hate it” she snapped.

“I can understand that” he said “but maybe it won’t always be that way. If you had a different surname for instance, you may not. Winter Blake sounds kind of nice.”

Shocked Win just stared at him.

With a grin he kissed her throat and said “just saying.”

Win’s body relaxed against him now. His hint that he may want to marry her some day had banished her anger and as always his kiss had her heart racing. He moved his lips to her mouth and Win unfolded her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

Idolatry

Later, still lying tangled together on her couch Cole said “now do you believe me?”

Win smiled “I guess so” she said.

“You guess so” he said rolling her back beneath him. “Clearly my performance was lacking. We’ll just have to keep trying until you’re convinced.”

Win laughed as he kissed her throat and his hands moved between them. “Okay I believe you” she said.

Cole lifted his head and grinned down at her “good” he said “but we’re still doing this again” and lowering his head, his mouth fused with hers as he set them off on a lesson in their rightness once more.

From that night on, Cole and Win were inseparable. They spent every day together at the office and every night in her bed. In her mind, Win had drawn Cole back to earth, well mostly. She was still a little in awe of him and had trouble believing he wasn’t going to wake up one day and wonder what on earth he was doing with her. But she did her best not to dwell on that.

It was four months later that Cole returned to a question he had asked once before. “Are you ever going to tell me what Win is short for?”

Win sighed. “Why does it matter?”

“Because I like to know things about you” he said with a grin. “I want to know everything about you.”

Win just looked at him.

“Please?” he said

She searched his eyes for a minute and sighed. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to laugh.”

“Okay” he said.

Idolatry

But Win began to panic when he lay over her and dragging her mouth from his she said “Cole I can’t do this.”

He looked down at her. “Okay” he said “but why?”

“Because you aren’t meant for me” she said trying to roll out from under him.

Cole wouldn’t let her move. “Why?” he said holding her in place.

“Because you’re better than me. Is that what you want to hear” she yelled as embarrassment and frusrtration displayed itself as anger and still trying to push him off her. “You’re incredible looking and smart and and I don’t know what…. I just know that I’m none of that.”

“Win stop it” he said.

She wasn't sure if he meant talking or moving. She did both.

“Look at me” he said.

She did.

“I am not better than you. I’m a man, you’re a woman that’s the only difference between us.”

Win bit her lips to stop the tears from spilling over.

“If you don’t want to sleep with me, that’s fine I’m not going to force you, but not for this reason Win. I don’t understand why you put yourself down. You’re a beautiful, intelligent, caring person. Why do you think I like you?”

“That’s just it, I have no idea” she said, her voice breaking as she began to sob.

“Let me show you then” he said lowering his head and kissing her throat. “Let me show you how good we could be together.”

Win closed her eyes and fought to get her breathing under control.

“Please Win” he said between kisses “let me show you that we’re made for each other.”

“Oh god Cole” she said.

He lifted his head for a moment. “No God, just Cole” he said with a wry grin.

Win looked at him and laughed through her tears and when his lips found hers all levity dropped away as more powerful emotions took over.

Going Home

Part 130

Inside the box is a simple but huge diamond pendant on an elegant platinum chain.

Watching her Josh was not sure what to think, she hadn’t said anything and she didn’t look happy. He hadn’t bought her a present like this before so he had no idea what this silence meant and the uncertainty was killing him. He didn’t know what he would do if she didn’t like it. He’d really wanted to get her something special this year to thank her for all she had done to help him rebuild his relationship with his parents. But now he was worried that he had got it wrong.

Swallowing hard to clear the lump in her throat Grace looked at the box again then back into Josh’s eyes and getting up from her seat she moved around to his side of the table.  Taking a seat on his lap she put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

A few minutes later she lifted her head and Josh smiled, “does that mean you like it?”

Grace shook her head “I love it, how could I not, it’s beautiful. Thank you.”

Relieved, Josh said “no worries.”

Holding out the box Grace said “will you put it on for me?”

Josh took the necklace out of the box and Grace turned her head and held her hair out of the way. He fastened the necklace and then bent and kissed her neck. Turning back to face him Grace said “how does it look?”

“Not as good as you” he said with a soft look in his eyes. Then giving her a stern look he added “now will you get up and go eat your breakfast, because if you sit here much longer neither of us will be eating for a while.”

Laughing Grace moved off his lap and sitting back on her chair took the plate Josh handed to her.

Idolatry

During the day Win tried to ignore the electricity leaping between them but Cole didn’t. Whenever she was within reach he would draw her to him. Win wished she could just reach out and touch him in the same way but she couldn’t do it. 

At one point she was standing next to him showing him a report.  He was sitting in his chair pulled up to his desk. She could feel his eyes on her as she showed him the final draft. Straightening when she had finished her explanation, Cole’s eyes moved to the report. Win looked down at the back of his neck. His dark hair just skimmed his collar and she longed to push her fingers into the silky strands. 

Cole must have sensed her regard as he turned his head and searched her eyes. “What?” he said.

“Nothing” she said shaking her head and looking away.

“No, it’s not nothing” he said as if reading her mind and when her eyes came back to meet his, his gaze locked on hers.

“I want to touch you” she admitted in a voice that was not much above a whisper.

“So do it” he said “I want that too.”

“It feels wrong” she said.

“It doesn’t feel wrong to me” he coaxed. “Please?” he added after a pause.

Win lifted her hand and slowly moved it forward placing it on the back of his neck before lifting his hair and scrapping her nails across his scalp.

Cole turned his head back around so he was facing away from her and she felt a shiver pass through him. “I want you to touch me whenever you feel like it Win” he said.

“I’ll try” she said. 

Over the next couple of days Win got better at touching him voluntarily. She was still a little unsure of what was happening between them but she didn’t have the will to stop it now, not even to save herself. Each evening they would have dinner together after work and on Saturday night they went back to her place after they’d eaten. It was the first time they had been alone together except for in the office. After she had let them in they sat down on her couch together. Before long they were kissing and for the first time it went beyond that as hands began to wander.