Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 133

A teary giggle escaped the young woman in his arms, and Cole continued, "On the other hand, if you're holding the gun, you'll have some choices to make, and they're not easy..."

When he didn't say more, Livvy drew a shaky breath. "What choices?" she finally whispered against his chest after a moment.

"What to shoot, for one thing," he joked, stroking her back. "Michael was wearing Doc Martens when he lost a bet during our shooting game ages ago, with pellet guns, so I had a tassel for a target. I suppose, though, you could always shoot the bow off Katy's dress."

Livvy's shoulders gave a lurch, and a choked laugh escaped her.

Overwhelmed with relief, Cole kept his left arm around her and gently took her face up to his. Her cornflower blue eyes were still wet with tears, but a smile was trembling on her rosy, bee-stung lips. Teasingly, he continued, "A flimsy skirt isn't much of a challenge for an expert marksman like you. I suppose you could insist that she hold up an earring between her fingers so you could shoot that instead."

The image was so absurd that Olivia had to chuckle.

Without being conscious of what he was doing, Cole moved his thumb from her chin to her lower lip, rubbing lightly against its inviting fullness. He finally realised what he was doing and stopped.

Livvy saw his jaw tighten, he was sure. She drew a shuddering breath, sensing he'd been on the verge of kissing her, and had just decided not to do it. His arms were beginning to loosen around her and his expression was turning aloof. Cole felt she wasn't certain what she was going to say or even what she wanted, but she whispered a single, shaky word, filled with confusion and a plea for understanding with her breathtaking eyes searching his: "Please --"

Cole realised what she was asking for, but he responded with a questioning lift of his dark brows.

"I --" she began, uncomfortably aware of the knowing look in his eyes.

"Yes?" he prompted. Because, damn it, he wanted to hear her say what she wanted -- needed. He wanted to make sure she needed this as much as he did. He could no longer deny the fact that he was incredibly attracted to her, and he was sure she felt the same too.

"I don't -- oh God, never mind," she huffed, not wanting to admit she would have liked to be in his arms.

Chicken.

"Olivia, if you want to be kissed, all you have to do is put your lips on mine."

"What!"

"You heard me."

"Care to try it again?" Cole invited.

The bland amusement in his tone finally made me suspect he was treating this as some sort of twisted game or maybe a challenge, and I looked at him in shock. "Is this a contest?"

"Do you want to make it into one?"

I shook my head. With a mixture of exasperation and sadness, I looked at him and said, "I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"You're totally playing a game," I told him honestly, mentally throwing my hands up in weary despair, "and I don't understand the rules."

"They haven't changed," he informed me. "It's the same normal game -- I kiss you, and," he emphasised meaningfully, "you kiss me."

His blunt criticism of my lack of participation left me caught between total embarrassment and the urge to kick him in the shin, but his arm was tightening around my waist while his other hand was sliding slowly up my back, sensuously stroking my nape.