Chapter 16 Nora #2
My head snapped up from where I was staring at my toes, wondering if they were bleeding or broken under the layer of leather. Had I heard him correctly?
He’d be taking on the project? If that were true, then that meant we’d have to work together. Suddenly, my attempt to get space from him seemed futile.
“Okay, if you want, let’s get started. I don’t know if you need the whole crew here. I think just you and Tyler would work for this meeting.” Rae eyed the other twelve or so men who were scrolling their phones, waiting.
Colson nodded. “Sorry it was a bit last-minute. We’re shuffling leadership a bit.” He turned his head toward the group of workers and said, “You guys go grab some coffee or some grub. We’ll go over everything in about thirty.”
Once they were gone, Tyler and Rae led the way to the farthest corner of the space.
When I followed, I could feel Colson behind me.
Slowing our steps, his chest brushed my back as his hand grabbed my left ass cheek and squeezed.
Tyler and Rae spoke about the architecture of the building while Colson whispered in my ear, “I want you at my house tonight, wearing this skirt.”
I inhaled a sharp breath, trying not to react, but the fire in my core was fast and primal. The mere idea of being with him tonight, of going to his house and letting him touch me…hold me was so tempting. But we couldn’t keep doing this…blurring the lines.
If he didn’t want more with me, then he’d have to survive with less.
“Okay, Nora, go ahead and start painting a verbal picture for them.” Rae paced to the side, tucking her clipboard in close to her chest.
Stepping away from Colson felt like chipping a piece of rock. I didn’t even know why. I felt so settled nestled into his chest, when I had to leave, I didn’t like what it did to me.
“So, in this space, it’s pretty self-explanatory.” I indicated the space with my hands and held up the plans as everyone followed along with me.
I tried to share the vision I had that went along with the plans each person had a copy of, but as I explained every detail, my words faltered. Because through every single explanation, Colson’s eyes never left mine.
He never once looked down at his papers, or at his phone. And every time I seemed to accidentally look at his lips, he’d smirk as if he knew how flummoxed he was making me. The entire situation was infuriating.
Why was he here, anyway? Dad could have at least spearheaded his company projects until he sold it, which from what I understood might be soon.
Mom had mentioned they were considering selling it to a California based company that had offered quite a bit of money to keep the name and even all the employees.
I’d have to call them tonight to figure out what was going on.
Finally, we were done with the walkthrough, and Colson was busy asking Rae questions about the timeline and budget when I made my way toward the exit.
I pulled my coat on and turned to lean against the wall while I waited for Rae.
I used the time to devour Colson’s broad shoulders and muscled back, which were visible through his shirt.
It made me think about how they felt under my fingers while he fucked me the other night.
I didn’t like the way it felt when I looked at him because when my eyes landed on any part of him, whether it be his strong hands, his calloused fingers, or the way his hair looked after a shower…all of him looked like he belonged to me. Like he was already mine.
“Nora?”
I blinked, and Rae came into focus.
“All done?” I bent down, reaching for my laptop bag while trying to recover from zoning out.
Rae nodded. “Yeah, but I think we need to talk about the flooring. Colson mentioned a few things about the cost. I didn’t know the supplier had changed recently.
” She rubbed her forehead and let out a sigh.
I knew this was probably weighing on her pretty heavily, Rae had gone from helping the town boost business with storefront aesthetics and vendor fairs and now she was in charge of the entire renovation on the community center.
It was a big undertaking, that plus a wedding.
I wasn’t sure how much more she could take on.
“Let’s go brainstorm. It’ll be okay.” I tried to reassure her by rubbing her arm through her coat.
“I am so glad the holidays are coming up.” She pushed open the door and headed out into the frosty air.
“I’m taking the whole week off, because Davis surprised me with a trip.
I wanted to spend our first Christmas at his house with all the snow and everything, but after the blizzard last week, I’m over the cold. ”
I couldn’t believe Christmas was already a week away. I hadn’t even asked about plans or what my parents were doing. They had packed up all their stuff, so maybe they’d want to come to my house. I needed to talk to them, which meant my little fun fest with Colson wouldn’t be happening.
“That does sound amazing.” I muttered distractedly and stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “You know what, I forgot something inside, where are we going for this session?”
Rae paused and hitched her bag higher on her shoulder. “Uh…diner? I want pie.”
“Okay, head there, I’ll meet you in a few.”
I turned, my toes gave out a painful squeeze in my boots as I ran up the steps and tried to locate Colson. He was on the phone, asking his crew to head back. I took the opportunity to step closer and put my hand on his arm. As soon as he was off the phone, he twisted.
“I—” I opened my mouth, but he was suddenly moving.
Darting his eyes around the space, seeing that Tyler was on the phone off to the side, he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward one of the classrooms that still had a few load-bearing walls up.
Pushing my back up against the wall, his hands landed on either side of my head.
“Did you come in here to cancel tonight?” he asked, searching my face.
His blue eyes were so intense, so full of something that I was too scared to consider real.
Swallowing, I tipped my head back. “I have to—”
He didn’t let me finish. His lips landed on mine, hungry and desperate.
My hands were up, gripping his shirt as he cradled my jaw, savagely invading my mouth with his tongue and sucking it into his. I was breathless, kissing him, trying not to get lost in him, while knowing it was no use.
His hand traveled down and around me, groping my ass while he let out a gruff sound.
“If you don’t come to my house tonight, I will come to yours. Either way, you’re letting me peel this skirt off your body…”
I tried to catch my breath as his mouth moved down my neck and to the tops of my breasts. “I have to call my parents tonight.”
“Call them from my house after you soak your feet. I can tell you’re uncomfortable in those boots. They’re sexy as fuck, but I know they hurt your toes.”
His tub did sound amazing…
He nipped at my ear. “I know you want to. Come on, have a sleepover with me.”
“I think”—I blinked, hating that I was the one that had to confess this—“it’s starting to confuse me, Colson, I—”
“There’s nothing to be confused about. I want you in my bed tonight.”
His lips moved to my neck, where he began kissing and sucking, teasing.
“Fine.” I pushed at his chest. “I’ll come over.”
“Good.” He gave me one more quick kiss and then pushed away from the wall.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
I watched him go and shook my head. I needed to get a backbone because without it my heart was completely exposed, and I was going to end up hurt.