17. Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Brynn
N ope. Nope. This is not happening. I am not getting that tingly sensation in my lady bits. My body is betraying me. I just need a session with my battery-operated boyfriend. Colt is not who I want, it has just been a while. A long while. Silicone is my friend.
These feelings have nothing to do with the tanned, chiseled cowboy with the nicest ass I have ever seen. His thick thighs in those jeans are not why I am getting hot and bothered. This is just what happens when you haven't had sex in a really long time. I would probably find anyone attractive at this moment in time. It is definitely not just Colt. No way.
Get your shit together .
"Are you coming?" Colt stands by the passenger door to his old red pickup.
"God I surely hope so," I mumble to myself.
Colt's eyebrows raise. Oh great, not only is he a hot-as-sin cowboy, but apparently has the hearing range of a bat. "Be right there," I say as I close the door to his cottage.
Colt holds the passenger door open and closes it after I am safely positioned in the truck. "Thanks for driving me back to the main house."
"No problem. I would probably get fired if you got mauled by a bobcat."
My lips twitch. Maybe he isn't all that bad. NO! Stop it. My libido has gone rogue. We dislike him. "Well, if that were to happen, I would be one less headache for my brothers," I scoff.
"Don't do that," Colt says harshly.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't imply you are a headache or burden to your family. From what I can tell, they would do anything to make you happy."
"Is that so?"
"Yup. It's obvious how much they love and care for you."
"Hmm," I say, contemplating what he said.
"I mean it. They would do anything to keep you happy. Even if that is being sad themselves that you never come to visit."
"I don't think they are sad about that. I'm the annoying little sister no one wants around," I state as I pick at my thumbnail.
"You're wrong."
"Because you are always right? "
"Well, it is my name," he says with a chuckle.
"What?"
"My last name is Wright." He pulls up the driveway to the main house. The lights are off and it sends a shiver down my spine. "Are you cold?" Colt asks, as he hops out of the truck to open my door.
"Thanks," I say, totally ignoring his question. "Goodnight, Colt."
"Sweet dreams, Firecracker."
I make my way inside. As soon as I close the front door, I turn on the flashlight app on my phone. I hate being in pitch black places. It gives me anxiety. I have worked on it with my therapist, and I know it is an irrational feeling, but I can't help it.
My nerves are fried from tonight anyway. I tiptoe down the hallway to check on dad. He is sleeping peacefully in his bed. I am glad there is a nightlight in his room in case he needs to get up in the middle of the night.
I climb the stairs and pay extra attention not to step on the squeaky ones. A childhood full of running up and down these stairs taught me which ones to avoid, and which ones to be sure I made my brothers always hit. For them to claim to be so much smarter than I was, they always got caught when trying to sneak out. I swear my dad messed with the wood on the stairs so it would serve as an alarm system in our teenage years.
I flip the light on in the hallway and open the door to my room. It is completely dark, since I don't have a nightlight. I turn on the bedroom light and notice an outfit on my bed that wasn't there when I left earlier.
I see there are jeans, in my size and length, shorts that won't be indecent and a few solid color t-shirts. I pull my phone out to text Whitney.
Brynn: Thanks for the clothes.
Whitney: What clothes?
Brynn: The ones you left on my bed.
Whitney: I didn't leave any clothes on your bed.
Brynn: Oh, I just assumed it was you.
Whitney: Maybe Blake. Seems like something he would do so you don't show your ass anymore.
Brynn: Facts.
Whitney: Are you just getting back to your room?
Brynn: Yes.
Whitney: Care to elaborate?
Brynn: Nope. Goodnight Whit.
Whitney: Goodnight. But this conversation isn't over.
Blake must have picked me up some clothes from downtown this morning. I decide to sleep in my current outfit. I smell like Colt, and I am wearing his clothes. I might like that a little too much. I crawl into the nice cool sheets and do my breathing exercises as I calm my body and mind.
I wake with a scream. I am sweating, my heart is racing, and I feel like I could throw up. It was just a nightmare . You are safe, you are in your apartment, you are safe. Except, I am not in my apartment. I am in Cedar Creek, on the ranch.
"Firecracker?" I hear a deep voice come from behind my closed door.
Oh shit. What is he doing at my door ?
"Can I come in?"
I swipe the sweat from my face and try to tame my hair. "Um, I guess so."
Colt enters the room wearing a pair of worn in jeans and a light gray cotton t-shirt that hugs all his muscles. The way those jeans are sculpted to his thick thighs, and the way I know his ass will look phenomenal when he turns around has my entire body heating.
"Are you okay?" He asks as he looks around the room. My sheets and blankets are askew, probably from my thrashing. "We heard screaming, and I came to check on you."
I drag my hand down my face. "Screaming?"
Colt nods. "Yeah. Are you good?"
"It was just a nightmare, all good," I say, embarrassed.
"Are you sure? I don't want to leave unless you are one hundred percent sure you are okay."
"I promise, I'm fine," I say as I get out of the bed and onto my feet. "I'm going to go take a shower."
Colt is staring at me. Not blinking, not moving, just staring right at me. Self-consciously, I look down and notice I am no longer wearing pants. I must have taken the sweatpants off during the night.
I realize I am only wearing a t-shirt. Colt's. "Colt?" I ask, crossing my arms across my chest. I can feel the soft fabric against my hardened nipples.
Colt gives my body one thorough sweep. I see the heat flare to life in his eyes. His tongue peeks out and runs along his bottom lip. It is the sexiest thing I have ever seen. Instantly, I feel the deep pull in my lower half. My veins are filled with electricity. I feel like a livewire, ready to combust at any moment .
I clear my throat as Colt still scans my body. He shifts and I notice him adjusting himself. That should not be hot, but it is. God help me, I am so hot I am about to start panting. "Drool much?" I ask teasingly.
"I would do so much more," he whispers as he lifts an arm to squeeze the back of his neck. The movement makes every sculpted muscle and tendon contract. This man's arm porn is magnificent.
Whitney shoves the door open, "Is everyone okay up here?" She looks at us, a knowing smile on her face. "I'll just leave you two alone."
"I'm fine. It was just a nightmare," I say, trying to find my voice after Colt made my mouth go dry.
Whitney stops. "Are you having nightmares again?" She whispers as she looks to me, then Colt.
"No. I haven't. I haven't had one in a long time," I whisper.
"So, this all stems from seeing dick face?" She asks calmly.
"No. Yes. Maybe. I don't know. But I'm fine." I try not to let my voice waver.
"Brynn," Whitney says patiently. "You are not fine. You haven't been since you arrived in Cedar Creek."
I glare at my best friend. "I'm going to shower." I walk past Colt and Whitney as I make a beeline for the bathroom across the hall .
I can hear Whitney and Colt's faint voices as I turn on the shower. I don't need my family to realize how fucked up I am. Staying gone is the only way to hide my true self.