Chapter Text
He was leaning against the door of his truck, hands in his pockets and a small smile playing at his lips. Since you'd started working at a restaurant in Silver Falls, Cole had got into a habit of picking you up after the late shifts. And boy, after hours of running to and from the kitchen, a restful drive home was more than welcome. Especially when Cole Walter was behind the wheel.
"Hey hey" he says, as you half-skip with joy out of the restaurant doors.
"Thank GOD that is over" you exclaim, heaving an enormous sigh of relief. As you approach him, he instinctively reaches out to you, placing his hands on the small of your hips before pulling you in close.
"Not gonna get in before a kiss, are you New York?" He questions, playfully tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
You smile up at him, kissing him quickly before pulling away again.
"You know, I'd rather not have a make-out session in front of my manager?" You reply, half laughing, half embarrassed, as he leans in for one more.
He grins then, "well shit, we'd better save that for later."
This earns him an eye roll, before you swerve past to open the truck door.
So far the "Cole Walter boyfriend experience", as your best friend Grace had so eloquently described it, has been pretty smooth sailing. You'd only been properly dating for a month or so, but you know you'd felt for Cole a long time before that. Most probably upon first sight, as much as you hate to admit it. Moving up to Colorado from New York had been quite the adjustment; falling for the walking cliché bad-boy older brother hadn't made it any easier. But in the last few months, you'd finally felt as though the dust had settled. Feelings has been sorted through and established, for the first time ever, the Walter ranch was starting to feel like home.
The drive home was peaceful, it always is. Even though you were both still new to the whole boyfriend and girlfriend thing, something you'd come to realise about Cole was that you didn't have to try to be something you aren't. If you're tired from hours of hard work, and don't feel like talking, there was no real pressure to. With previous boys, you'd always felt like you had to fill the silence.
His hand rests on the gear stick, his eyes are focused ahead on the road. You take a moment to properly look at him, this is something you still aren't quite used to. Before, it had always been stolen glances, cut short by a fear of being found out. Now you can just look at him, observe every detail of his face, body with no fear. Gawping at gorgeous Cole Walter had become your new favourite hobby. Sensing your eyes on him, his hand moves from the gear stick to your hand, and his fingers interlock with yours.
"How was your shift?"
You shrug. "Same old, same old...thanks for picking me up."
He smiles, "anything for you New York." His tone is nonchalant, but you know he's not joking. It makes your heart skip a beat. A year of knowing him, and he still make you feel like you're floating.
"This month has felt like a dream" you say, absent mindedly looking out at the window.
"A good dream or a bad dream?" He jokes, and you smile, turning to face him.
"A total nightmare."
His hand moves down to your thigh, drawing circles on the fabric of your jeans. Warmth builds under his touch, you can feel your heart rate increasing and you vision fog. He seems unaware of the effect he has on you as he drives, your hand moves to cover his and he stops.
"What?" He asks, concerned and genuinely wondering why you've paused his hand movement.
You tilt your head back on the seat, still facing him.
"I can't concentrate on anything when you do that." There's a daring undertone in your confession, an admittal that his fingers have the power to utterly and completely undo you.
He pauses, surprised by your honesty.
"Do you like the feeling of not being able to concentrate on anything? He asks in a lowered tone. Aware of what he's asking, aware of the meaning behind it, your heart beats even faster. The air in the truck has shifted from something relaxed to charged. His eyes remain on the road but the question burns in the air.
"Yes." You reply, biting your lip, another confession. His breath hitches slightly, and for the first time he peels his eyes away from windscreen and looks at you.
"Jackie..." he says, clearly choosing his words carefully. You guys hadn't really broached this topic yet. You knew that kissing him was the most electric thing you'd ever experienced; you'd had restless nights wondering how it would feel if he was in the bed next to you. But it was all unchartered territory. And now, out of nowhere, a voyage into the unknown had began.
"Jackie, if you like the feeling, you know I can help you to...feel it...more often...and a lot more strongly".
Warmth, everywhere, your body felt on fire. You smile at the thought, his hand is still on your thigh.
"I know. I'm just...nervous. I haven't don't anything before."
He nods, and then in one smooth motion pulls the car over. He turns to face you, taking your hands in his.
"I only ever want to do what you feel okay with." He says, sincerely. "And we don't have to do anything. I just want you to know that...I know why you're nervous but...I only want to make you feel good. That's all it's about." He's searching in your eyes as he speaks, you can tell he's nervous too.
"Cole," you start, squeezing his hands. "I have no doubt that you can make me feel allllll sorts of things" you laugh a little. "I'm more worried that on my end of things...well I'm just not very, um, in the know?"
His hand moves to cup your jaw, and you lean into the movement, so tender, so soft.
"Don't worry about that, I can teach you. We can take it as slow as you would like."
You nod, feeling relieved that "it" had been addressed. You move forward to kiss him, long, slow and deep. This new found bravery of yours changes something about the way he responds. More confidence, more of an understanding that perhaps he needs to take the lead.
You break away, for a breath. Your foreheads are touching, your hand is midway through his hair.
"Did Catherine know you were coming to pick me up?" You ask and he shakes his head.
"They were both asleep when I left".
You smile, your hand reaches to unclip your seat belt. And as if he's read your mind, his hands move to help lift you onto his lap. One major advantage of the truck is that it's spacious. Your mouth finds his again, and he leans back slightly as you kiss him. His lips move down to the nape of your neck, his hands stay secure on your hips. And almost without thinking, your body moves against his, a slow grinding motion that makes him groan. His fingers graze the bottom of your shirt, and then slowly, his hands move beneath it, touching the warm skin of your stomach. They lower, ever so slightly and a current of electricity shoots through you. He's studying your expression, careful not to cross the line. But you want him to, you want his hands on you, they feel so good.
"Cole," you say looking at him. His eyes are shining with desire. "Touch me, please just...just touch me."
With the green light given, his fingers work to unbutton the top of your jeans. In the darkness of the late evening, fireworks explode in your sky. You feel a depth, an intensity you had never been able to reach yourself, an all-consuming desire that makes waves roll through your body. All under his touch, you find an ocean of new discoveries.
When he's done, your whole body has melted into him, your head on his shoulder, your breath heavy. He pulls your face up to his and kisses you.
"How was that?"
You can't quite believe he's asking, surely the cries of his name gave the game away?
"You really have to ask?" You laugh, the question taking you back into some semblance of reality.
"Hey, I'm always open to feedback." He winks and you laugh again, pushing yourself off his lap and back onto the seat next to you.
"My only feedback is that we need a change of location. A bed, ideally."
His eyes widen, "well damn New York, I'll keep that in mind". And with that, he readjusts himself and starts the truck engine back up.