Chapter 12
COLT them or us.
“I think we’ve got everything,” I say. “Just come back and have a wine with us.”
Chelsea exhales a long breath. “You read my mind. Okay, I’ll see you girls soon.”
As she leaves, Harlow says, “I’m gonna go see if Griff needs a hand with the meat.”
“I’m feeling a little like Harlow,” I say to Madison after Harlow exits the kitchen. “Like, holy fuck, four kids under the age of five is a lot to handle when two parents are around. Doing it alone for a whole week is like a special kind of torture.”
“Did I hear Colt say he wants another child?”
“Yeah, he thinks he does.”
She laughs. “Thinks?”
“Well, when he discovers that another child may send me over the edge and into the land of ‘I’m never fucking you ever again in case you put another baby in me’, I’m pretty sure he’ll realise how wrong all his thoughts were.”
“What is it with men who want kids running around everywhere?” she says. “J tried to push me for another one too.”
“You were smart. You stopped at three.”
“Honey, I couldn’t chance another girl. I’m already dying a little on the inside over what three teenage girls are going to be like to live with. J seems oblivious to what’s ahead for him. I kinda can’t wait to watch the realisation hit.”
The sound of bikes distracts us for a moment, and my stomach flutters to life in the way it always does, without fail, whenever Colt returns from a run.
Hell, it flutters like this when he returns from the supermarket after being away from me for only an hour.
Seven years after finding him, I still can’t get enough of this man.
“Right,” Madison says, and I know by the look in her eyes that she’s as excited to see J as I am to see Colt. “These salads are good to go. Do you wanna sort out the plates and cutlery while I get the other food out?”
“Sounds good,” I agree and move into action. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can spend time with our men.
It takes us ten minutes and then we’re done.
I’m on my way out to find Colt when I run into him in the hallway.
Those eyes of his track my every step his way, first meeting mine before greedily making their way down my body. They still haven’t found their way back to my face when I reach him.
“You missed my ass, didn’t you?” I say as I move into him.
His hand goes straight to my ass and his lips find mine as he says, “I missed every-fucking-thing.” He then takes all the time in the world with my mouth, showing me exactly how much he missed every-fucking-thing.
I’m breathless when I come up for air.
Breathless with desire and breathless with love.
God how I’ve missed him this week.
Looping my hands around his neck, I say, “I don’t think I’m gonna allow you to go on a run ever again.”
He lifts a brow and hits me with an amused expression. He doesn’t respond to that, though. Instead, he says, “The kids with your mum tonight?”
I let my sexy smile loose on him. “The kids are with my mum all weekend, Mr Caveman.”
His grip on my ass tightens as heat fills his eyes. “Fuck, they might be the best fucking words I’ve heard all week.”
“I’ve got big plans for you. I hope you saved some energy for me.”
He dips his mouth to my ear. “Baby, you’re wearing a skirt. I’ve got all the energy in the world for you.”
We’re interrupted when Scott calls out, “Colt! Need you for a bit, brother.”
Colt lifts his chin at Scott before smacking my ass and saying, “We’re not staying long tonight.”
I smile as I move out of his embrace. “I didn’t plan on it.”
It’s my turn to track his every step as he strides towards Scott.
I thought Colt’s body was perfection the day I met him.
It turns out it was almost perfection. He’s added some more muscle over the last seven years.
Not a lot, but enough to make a difference, and I am here for it.
He’ll turn forty next year, and as far as I’m concerned, he’s only improving with age.
My phone sounds with a text as I make my way into the clubhouse bar.
Mum
Darling, I know I told you I’d go with you to that market next weekend, but your father just told me he’s coming to town.
Me
He just came to town three days ago. His visits are getting closer and closer together.
Mum
I know, darling. I’m sorry to let you down.
Me
You better watch out, Mum. Soon, you two will be living together again.
Mum
I’m beginning to think that wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Me
OMG this is not something you tell your daughter via text!
Mum
Well you brought it up. Not me.
Mum
Oh darling, I have to go. Branson just discovered my special box in my bedroom.
Me
Jesus, Mum. I thought your special box was stored up high out of sight.
Mum
It usually is, but you know how your father is. He likes to play with the things in that box and well, I’ve just continued playing with them after he left.
Me
Gah. STOP! Go and put your box away! And we will finish this conversation about you and Dad later.
“You look like you could do with this,” Sophia says, drawing my attention from my phone.
I take the drink she’s holding out for me. “Is it gin?”
She smiles. “Of course. I can’t remember the last time you drank anything else.”
“Ah, that would have been at my thirty-first birthday. God, that hangover took days to recover from.” I’d mixed God knows what drinks that night.
The worst part had been that Knox was one at the time, and it’s a true fact that hangovers don’t go well with one-year-olds.
Hell, they don’t go well with any kids. I’ve done my best to avoid those kinds of hangovers since then, so I never mix my drinks anymore.
“I remember,” she says. “I also remember Colt looking after you for days. That man has patience like I don’t see often.”
“Yeah, he does,” I say as I recall those few days of hell. Colt went above and beyond for that hangover, not complaining once that I’d drunk far too much.
Another text comes through on my phone and Sophia leaves me so I can check it.
Morticia
Five back yet?
Me
Yeah, he just got back.
Morticia
And here you are texting. It seems he’s lost his touch.
Me
That man will never lose his touch. He’s with the guys.
Morticia
So I just got a text from your mum.
Me
Oh God, I did too. Branson found her special box.
Morticia
La, la, la, la, la. I’ve covered my ears. You know I never discuss your mother’s special box.
Me
If I have to hear about it, you do too.
Morticia
Seriously, the woman is 61. Are special boxes still needed at that age?
Me
LOL. I fucking hope so, Lil. I mean, if I had a special box, I’d plan on using the items in it until I couldn’t work them anymore.
Morticia
Okay, so let’s move on to why she texted me. I cannot continue with the current conversation. She told me she’s made me a special sculpture.
Me
Yes, she has.
Morticia
Is it a dick? You know I’m not about those dick sculptures.
Me
My lips are sealed.
Morticia
Ah, no, besties don’t get to do that.
Me
This one does.
Morticia
Fine, I’ll ask Colt.
Me
Colt knows what’s good for him. He won’t tell you either.
Morticia
Oh I see, this is how we’re playing things now. You know I have access to people who can get shit done just like you can, right? They’ll help me dig for the information I’m after.
Me
Oh my darling, you have so much to learn about how I operate. No one’s digging for information for you.
Morticia
Why do you suddenly sound freakishly like your mother?
Me
What? How?
Morticia
You just called me darling. Henceforth, you shall be known as Fern2.
Me
Henceforth?
Morticia
Yes, henceforth. You like it?
Me
Jesus, Lil, you and your big words.
Morticia
You’re getting off track, Fern2. Soon you’ll have your own special box. OMG, tell me there’s no haemorrhoid cream in your fridge.
I glance up and catch sight of Colt coming into the bar.
Me
I think I’ll keep you guessing, my darling. I’ve gotta run. I’ve got a date with a man who’s going to rip my skirt off me later.
Morticia
Just tell your mother no dick sculptures. The only dick in my place is the one in my bed with me.
Me
Love you, Lil xx
“That Lil?” Colt says as he settles his ass on the stool next to me.
I meet his gaze. “Yes. Mum told her about the sculpture she made her. She’s convinced it’s a dick.”
He chuckles. “I wish it was, just so I could see the look on her face when Fern gives it to her.”
I smile. “You are an evil man, Mr Caveman.”
He reaches for my stool and pulls me closer. “How hungry are you?”
Because I’ve been with this man for seven years, and because I know how his heart beats and his mind works, I know exactly where he’s going with this. Placing my hand on his thigh, I slide it up his leg towards his dick, and say, “I could skip eating tonight.”
Jerking his chin, he says, “You need to get your ass on the back of my bike.”
I lean into him and brush my lips across his. “I like it when you go on these runs.”
“I thought you were never allowing me to go on a run ever again.”
“I’m a woman. We’re allowed mixed emotions.”
“Ain’t that the fucking truth.”
I slide off my stool and loop my arms around his neck. “We’re gonna need doughnuts for this.”
His lips spread out in the sexiest smile known to mankind as his hands curve over my ass in the way I live for. “You know I’ve always got you covered, beautiful.”
“You got me some already?”
“I picked them up on the way here.”
And just like that, Colt rights my world.
It’s been a long, hard week without him here, and I’m in no hurry to do it again.
But we will do it again because that’s club life.
And I’m good with that. Colt makes it so I’m always good with that.
This man always knows the exact right thing to say or do to keep my world spinning in all the right ways.
Sometimes it’s as simple as getting doughnuts on the way home; sometimes it involves him taking charge when I’m sick; sometimes it’s him putting his foot down and telling me I need time with my girls because he can see how stretched I am; and sometimes it’s him sending the kids to Mum’s for the night, putting Pretty Woman and then Die Hard on, and pulling me into his arms on the couch.
But always, it’s him knowing what I need and then doing whatever it takes to give me that.