The Victor – The Freemasons #1

“Cole, I’m sorry.”

Fuck it. I need this drink.

He lifted his glass and downed the contents in one swallow. He carefully placed his empty glass back on the bar and swiveled again so that he brushed her knees with his. “What exactly are you sorry about, Ava? Sorry for walking out when I was hurting as much as you? Sorry for not being by my side while I buried my father? Or sorry for asking me for a divorce when I’m about to face a roomful of people? I’d really like to know.”

Her eyes had widened with every word he spoke. In the muted light of the bar he could almost convince himself he could see remorse in her eyes. But she’d known exactly what was happening at this hotel tonight. She’d known what she planned to say to him.

“I, uh, I,” she stopped and took a sip of her drink. “I thought it was time.”

“Really?” he drawled. “You thought it was time. After six months of avoiding my calls, not answering my emails, you decided tonight was the night.”

“Okay, so maybe tonight wasn’t the best place to talk to you.”

“You think?”

“No need to be a smart ass, Cole.”

He laughed harshly. “Did you honestly think I would be all sweetness and light about this?”

“I’d hoped you would’ve been more reasonable about things.”

“Baby, I stopped being reasonable,” he flicked back his shirt cuff and looked at his watch. “About five hours ago.”

In the back of his mind Cole knew he was being the asshole she called him. He never let his emotions get the better of him. He had a reputation for his cool head in uncomfortable situations. Tonight, after her request for a divorce, he relinquished his normal ironclad control over his emotions and let them run free.

“Fine. I’ll call your office and make an appointment like you asked me to.” Ava stood to go. Her leg knocked his and heat shot through him. His body stirred to life at her touch. He couldn’t let her go without tasting her again.

Cole reached out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist, halting her departure.

“What?” she demanded. “You got what you wanted.”

“No I haven’t.” Cole stood and tugged her until she was flush against him. His body relished having Ava close again. Without thinking what he was doing, he placed his hands on either side of her face, tilting her head up.

“Cole?” she whispered, as he closed the gap and took possession of her slightly parted lips.

At the first touch and taste of her, recollections he’d pushed deep into the far recesses of his mind came forward, reminding him of what they’d once shared. As Ava opened her mouth beneath his, everything around him fadedAll he concentrated on was the woman in his arms.

His wife.

She tasted sweet. A hint of strawberry from her lip balm and a lingering tartness from the slice of lemon in her club soda mingled together to entice him. He pulled her closer. Her body fit perfectly against his. He sunk his fingers into her silky tresses, remembering how her hair had felt brushing his skin as they’d made love. She moaned and his body responded immediately.

He’d fooled himself into thinking he could be happy without her in his life. How wrong he’d been. Holding her again only reinforced how much he wanted her. He wanted to drag her upstairs and take her over and over again. It had been too long since they’d shared a bed. Would Ava be open to spending the night with him if he suggested it? It seemed so. It was probably the worst thing for them to do after not seeing each other for so long. But it also could be the right thing too.

No.

He needed to think with his head, not his dick.

Cole pulled his lips away from Ava’s, keeping his arms loosely around her waist. Plans needed to be made. But before he started planning, he had something to say to Ava.

“Divorce is not an option.”