Chapter 15
Perfect was a theme I was getting used to, or at
least trying to. It wasn’t entirely hard. Not when Colton excelled at making me
feel like I was perfect.
A month had passed since the night Charles came through that
front door. He was still in the county jail and from what I’d learned, I
doubted there would be a trial where I would have to testify. Charles would
plead guilty to murder and attempted murder. He would go away for a long time.
Unless Isaiah got ahold of him.
But that wasn’t something I was going to focus on. Every
once in a while, I had…nightmares. Sometimes Colton was there to ease those
troubling memories. Other nights, it was up to me to get through them, and I
did.
I couldn’t believe how much could change in a short time.
While Colton had a role to play when it came to the changes
I was making, the feeling of self-worth and confidence had to come from within.
Yeah, the external stuff helped, but using a guy’s attention to build your
confidence wasn’t something that would last long. It would be dependent upon
him, a strength that could be flimsy.
The strength needed to come from me.
And the best way I could gain back the stronger part of me
was through actually experiencing life.
I wasn’t working myself to the bone any longer. Meaning
after I put in a normal eight-hour shift, I forced myself to stop. Who knew how
much extra time existed when you weren’t avoiding…well, avoiding actually living?
I visited the museums in the city with Jillian, something I
hadn’t actually done in years, and I even started going out with Roxy, Colton’s
younger brother’s girlfriend. Through her, she introduced me to Calla, who was
dating Jax, and to Katie, a very…odd stripper who apparently had gone to the
same high school as Roxy and I.
For the first time in years, I had a circle of girlfriends,
and I had forgotten how incredibly important that was. When Kevin had died and
I’d left New York City, it was like I’d closed a door on the life that had
existed with him, including all our mutual friends. It seemed a little late
now, four years later, to try to rebuild those bridges, but it was something
I’d thought about a lot and wanted to try.
And like Katie had said last Sunday, while the four of us
had breakfast at IHOP, “What’s the worst thing that could happen? They ignore
you or think you’re some crazy cat lady reaching out to them?”
I was also thinking about taking cooking lessons. That was
something else I’d forgotten that I’d loved—baking and all things food related.
Colton was a hundred percent behind the idea, mainly because I think he just
wanted to eat the food.
Speaking of the devil…
Colton reached around me, his finger aiming for the homemade
peanut butter icing. I smacked his hand away. “Don’t even think about it.”
“I just want a little taste.” He looped his arms around my
waist.
I grinned as I placed the plastic lid over the chocolate
cake. “You’re going to have to wait.”
“I can wait for the cake, but…” He lowered his mouth to my
neck, placing a kiss against my pulse. “But there’s another taste of something
I’m not sure I’m going to be able to wait for.”
My stomach hollowed in response. All he had to do was make
an innuendo and my blood heated. Colton was that good. “We’re going to
be late.”
“It’s Jax’s BBQ, not a wedding reception.” His hands slid
across my belly and then down my hips. He kissed the space just behind my ear.
I bit down on my lip
as I leaned back into him, feeling his arousal pressing against my lower back.
He was insatiable.
I loved it.
“We really should try to be on time,” I said as I tilted my
head to the side, giving him more access.
With his hands on my hips, he turned me around in his
embrace. “We can be late.”
Colton kissed me as he slid his hands down, gathering up the
skirt of my dress and skating his fingers on the bare skin of my thighs. When
he reached my panties and effectively slid them down my legs, every nerve
ending took notice. He helped me step out of them.
We were so going to be late.
Our kisses quickly turned frantic, his tongue plunging in
and out of my mouth, and our hands were greedy. One of his on my breast,
teasing the aching tip through the thin material, his other firmly planted on
my ass. I squeezed him through his jeans, loving the way his hips moved against
my palm and the deep groan he made against my lips.
He broke the kiss and turned me back around. A fine shiver
curled its way down my spine as he brushed my hair aside, then he placed his
hand on the center of my back, bending me over slightly.
“Hold on to the counter,” he all but growled. I heard the
tinny sound of his zipper.
Oh my goodness.
I did just exactly what he said and when he lifted my skirt
again, I felt him against my behind, so hot and hard.
His hand slipped around and delved deep between my thighs,
and his fingers immediately went to work, testing my readiness. And he didn’t
have to test that out. I was already ready.
With one hand on my hip, holding me in place, he entered me
from behind in a long, deep thrust. I cried out, gripping the edge of the
counter. “Oh God, Colton…”
“I love hearing you say my name like that.” He started
moving, his strokes slow and steady. My inner muscles began to clench around
him. “Fuck, you feel so good.”
“So do you,” I breathed.
His thrusts became harder and faster, and I came within
moments, screaming his name as it powered through me. He gripped my hips now
with both hands and I was drawn up onto the tips of my toes. When he came, he
shouted my name as his arm circled around me, sealing my body tight to his, and
damn if that didn’t almost make me come again.
I could barely move when Colton turned me around, holding me
on weak legs. I draped my arm over his shoulder. His warm breath danced over my
lips. “Now I really want some of that cake.”
I laughed as I let my head drop to his shoulder. “I’m never
going to look at cake the same again.”
Roxy clasped her hands together under her chin. “Oh
my God, I just want to shove my face in it.”
“Please don’t do that,” Calla said as she passed us by, her
long blonde hair swinging from a ponytail.
“I have something you can shove your face in.” Reece walked
up behind Roxy, tugging on her purple streak.
“Please don’t do that in my house,” Jax replied, appearing
in the backyard, a fresh case of beer in his hands.
“We’re not in your house.” Reece sat in the lawn chair,
dragging Roxy down in his lap.
Jax flipped him off.
“Just pointing it out, buddy.” Reece grinned.
My chocolate cake with peanut butter icing had gone over
well, but the scent of hamburgers being grilled had my tummy all kinds of
happy.
Colton draped his arm over my shoulders as he lifted the
mouth of his bottle to his lips. When he lowered the bottle, he dipped his head
and pressed his lips to my temple.
“You guys are so freaking adorable,” Roxy said, splayed over
Reece like he was her own personal chair.
“I know.” Colton grinned.
I laughed as I rolled my eyes. “He’s incredibly modest.”
Reece snorted. “Don’t I know.”
Calla headed past us. “I’m going to grab the plates and
stuff. Anyone need anything?”
“I’ll help,” I volunteered, breaking away from Colton. Or at
least trying to. He was like an octopus. I only got so far before his arm
dragged me back.
He smiled down at me, revealing that one dimple. “You’re
forgetting something.”
There was no stopping the smile when I stretched up and
kissed him. Someone, probably Reece, catcalled. When I settled back on my feet
and turned around, Colton smacked my ass.
“So freaking adorable!” Roxy yelled this time.
Face turning about five shades of red, I hurried in to catch
up with Calla. She held the door open as we headed in. “You guys are adorable,”
she said as she headed for where all the condiments and plates were placed on
the counter.
“Thanks.” My smile was probably going to split my face in
two.
She grabbed a large tray. Sunlight from the window above the
sink reflected off her scarred cheek. The first time I’d seen her, I couldn’t
help but notice the thin slice that traveled the length of her face, but now it
was something I barely registered. Calla was stunning nonetheless, and it was
so obvious that she and Jax were deeply in love.
My stomach tumbled in a pleasant way. Love? God, it was
something I’d been thinking about a lot lately. There wasn’t a part of me that
doubted how much I cared about Colton. I was fully embracing my insta-love and
hugging it close.
“Are you going to be here next weekend?” I asked as I
gathered up the napkins and plastic spoons.
Calla was splitting her time between Shepherdstown and
Plymouth Meeting until January, when she would move up here full time. “No, but
Jax is coming down next weekend.”
“That’s good. I love how you guys do the long distance
thing.”
“Me too. It’s working, but I can’t wait until I don’t have
to dread him going home or me leaving.” She grabbed the now loaded up tray as I
reached for the million and one bottles. Who seriously needed so many versions
of mustard? The doorbell rang, and Calla sighed as she started to put the tray
down. “It’s probably Katie.”
“I’ll get it,” I offered since I didn’t have my hands full.
“Thanks.” She smiled, turning to the backdoor. “Hurry back
out. Those three guys can eat about a dozen hamburgers between them.”
“Wow.”
Calla laughed. “Yep.”
My sandals smacked off the hardwood floors as I made my way
to the front of the house. Wondering what kind of outfit Katie would be
wearing, I opened the door, prepared for something pink and sparkling.
The black, silk sleeved tank dress so did not belong to
Katie.
Standing on the front porch was the last person I was
expecting to see. It was Nicole, Colton’s ex-fiancée.