Chapter Nine
River
It’s official: the universe hates me. That’s the only explanation for why, after the most humiliating encounter of my life, I’m now stuck walking side-by-side with Colby Burke, whose protective energy is practically smothering me.
He’s insisting on walking me to my room like I’m some delicate flower that might wilt at the first hint of danger. In a perfect world, I would tell him to get lost. But he doesn’t look like he’s taking no for an answer, so I don’t bother wasting my breath.
Sharing a house with your boss is the worst.
My body is still tingling from the encounter with Christian, and I can’t decide whether it’s because of the adrenaline or the way Colby looked when he’d laid the guy out flat.
It was hot. Really fucking hot.
The protective glint in his eye, the way his muscles flexed, the testosterone rolling off him. It’s all so sexy, even if it should terrify me.
Maybe I’ve seen one too many romance movies, but there’s something hot about the alpha male protecting the innocent maiden. Not that I’m an innocent maiden. But a girl can fantasize, can’t she?
We stop outside my door, and Colby clears his throat. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You’re gonna do it anyway, aren’t you?”
He gives me that cocky grin, the one that’s so sexy it should be illegal. “Do you mind if I come in? Just for a minute. I want to make sure you’re all right.”
“Why would you think I’m not all right?”
“Because, after what happened at the bar, you’d have to be crazy not to be a little shaken up.”
I roll my eyes. “You really know how to flatter a girl, don’t you?”
“Darlin’, you have no idea.”
“So, that’s why you’re here? You think I’m not all right and need some TLC?”
“Something like that.”
“Colby, I’m fine. Really. You don’t have to—”
“River.”
I sigh. “Okay, fine. Come in.”
Colby waits for me to open the door, and then he steps inside and does a quick sweep of the room.
“I’m not gonna get mugged,” I grumble, shutting the door behind me.
“You never know, darlin’. There’s a lot of bad guys out there.”
“So I’ve heard, but do you really think they’d be stupid enough to break into your house and hide out in the bedroom of your very dangerous cowgirl?”
The laugh that Colby lets out is deep and rumbly, and it makes the butterflies in my stomach flutter. “No, I guess not.”
“Then relax, big guy. There are no bad guys lurking in the shadows.”
I toss my bag onto the bed and move over to the dresser, where I plug my phone into the charger.
When I turn around, Colby is maybe two inches away from me, so close, I can feel his breath against my face.
His cheek is starting to bruise from where Christian clocked him, and a faint cut runs across his bottom lip.
“Let me get a look at your lip.”
“I’m fine, darlin’. Don’t worry about me.”
“Shut up, and let me look.”
He shakes his head but doesn’t say anything.
“Hold still.” I reach up and touch the corner of his mouth, inspecting the wound.
Colby winces and sucks in a sharp breath.
“Does that hurt?”
“Like a bitch.”
“It’s already starting to swell. You should ice it.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I’ve had worse.”
“That’s not really a good thing, Colby.”
“Maybe not. But it’s part of life on the ranch.”
“I’ll grab you some ice.” I go to move past him, but he stops me with a hand on my hip.
He doesn’t say a word, and my breath won’t leave my lungs. It’s trapped inside me, burning a hole in my chest, and my heart is trying to escape.
I swallow past the knot in my throat and try to look away, but he reaches up and puts a finger under my chin, tilting my face back up. His hazel eyes hold mine captive, and I’m powerless to move.
“Colby,” I whisper.
“Shh.”
He lowers his head and brushes his lips against mine, softly, gently, as if he’s afraid of spooking me. When I don’t protest, he slides a hand into my hair and cups the back of my neck.
It’s a chaste kiss, all things considered. There’s no tongue or groping, and it lasts less than five seconds, but it’s still the most passionate kiss I’ve ever had. It’s sweet and soft, and when Colby pulls away, he takes my breath with him.
“Good night, darlin’.”
Before I can respond, he’s gone, disappearing out the door and down the hall. I stare after him, stunned.
Did that really just happen?
The ghost of his lips is still on mine, and his scent lingers in the room. It wasn’t a dream. He was here, and he kissed me like I’m the most precious thing in the world.
I bring my fingers to my lips, tracing them. My body is buzzing, and there’s no way in hell I’m going to get a wink of sleep now.
With a frustrated sigh, I shimmy out of my jeans and tear my t-shirt over my head, and then I pad into the bathroom and turn on the shower. As the water warms up, I stare at myself in the mirror, taking stock of the woman who looks back at me.
My cheeks are flushed, and my lips are swollen, red and plump. There’s a light in my eyes that I haven’t seen in a long time. I look...excited. And happy. And I don’t want to think too hard about what that means, because if I do, it’ll probably scare the shit out of me.
The steam is billowing around me, clouding the mirror, but now, I have other ideas. Ones that involve a certain hot-as-hell rancher and his big, calloused hands.
Before I can talk myself out of it, I turn the water back off and walk right through the bedroom and into the hallway in nothing but my bra and panties. Colby’s bedroom door is ten steps away. Nine. Eight. Seven.
When I’m six steps away, the door opens, and Colby steps out. He freezes when he sees me standing there, and his pupils dilate.
“River.” My name comes out strangled, and his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows.
“Colby.”
He blinks a few times, like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.
“What are you doing out here? Are you all right?”
But I don’t answer. Instead, I saunter toward him, drawing out each step, letting my hips sway. He doesn’t say a word, and he doesn’t move, not until I’m right in front of him.
I rise on my toes and put my hand on the back of his neck, pulling his mouth to mine. This kiss is nothing like the one he gave me.
This is all-consuming and desperate, and it makes the butterflies in my stomach go wild. Colby slides his hands around my waist, and he hauls me up against him, crushing our bodies together.
The need burning through me is unlike anything I’ve ever felt, and all I know is, I want this man, and I’m going to have him. Tonight.
Our tongues slide together, and his taste fills my mouth. It’s sweet, like whiskey and something distinctly Colby.
I press my breasts against his chest, and his hardness rubs against my belly. My nipples tighten, and desire pools in my panties. When Colby’s hand slides into my hair, a thrill runs down my spine. The way he kisses me is so sensual, and it makes my heart stutter.
No man has ever made me feel this way, not even close. I’ve kissed plenty of guys before, but not one of them can compare to the feeling of Colby’s lips on mine.
He’s backing up, pulling me with him, and it’s only when the door shuts behind us that I realize we’re in his room. We stumble across the floor and fall onto the bed, our lips never breaking contact.
I’m on top of him, straddling his waist, and his erection presses against my center. The pressure is delicious, and I grind my hips, trying to get more. Colby moans and grips my hips, guiding me back and forth.
His fingers drift over the swell of my breasts, and my nipples ache. I pull my mouth away, gasping, and he moves lower, trailing kisses along my collarbone and down my chest as I work at the buttons on his shirt.
My hands tremble as I fumble with the last button and push the material off his shoulders, tossing it onto the floor. His muscles flex and ripple, and I can’t tear my eyes away. He’s gorgeous, and I can’t believe this is happening.
His lips return to mine, and he unhooks the clasp of my bra, freeing my breasts. When his mouth closes around a nipple, my eyes nearly roll back in my head. He sucks and licks, and I’m pretty sure my heart stops beating.
I have to scoot off him long enough to undo his jeans, and he lifts his hips, helping me tug them down. He’s not wearing anything underneath, and when his erection springs free, a shot of desire zips through me.
Colby kicks his jeans the rest of the way off, and his hands glide up the sides of my legs, leaving goosebumps in their wake. His fingers dip under the elastic waistband, and he slowly peels my panties down.
His gaze is hot and possessive, and when he sees the apex between my thighs, his hazel eyes go dark. Before I can blink, he’s lifting me up and rolling us around until I’m on my back, and he’s on top, settling between my thighs.
Anticipation coils deep inside me, and every inch of my body is alive. Our eyes meet, and there’s something so intimate about the moment. I’ve never had a guy look at me the way Colby does, like I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, like he could look at me forever and never tire of it.
He holds eye contact as he positions himself and presses the tip of his erection inside me. He goes slow, so slow I think I might burst into flames. Every inch of him is deliciously thick, and by the time he’s fully seated inside me, my heart is threatening to pound right out of my chest.
When he starts to move, I see stars. His hips rock back and forth, and every time he thrusts forward, pleasure ripples through me. Colby’s hand is buried in my hair, and his other is clutching the pillow. His face is only a few inches from mine, and his ragged breaths puff against my lips.
I wrap my legs around his waist, trying to get him deeper, and when he thrusts harder, we both groan.
His mouth finds mine again, and he kisses me, devouring me with his lips and tongue.
Every stroke sends sparks dancing across my skin, and it’s not long before I feel that familiar tug deep in my belly.
Colby must feel it too, because he shifts his position, changing the angle. When he slides in again, his pubic bone rubs against my clit, and my entire body shudders.
“Oh, God,” I moan, tearing my lips from his. “Don’t stop. Please.”
Colby’s hips move faster, and his breathing is labored. I’m panting and digging my nails into his back, and my climax is building, a wave gathering strength, getting ready to crash.
Colby buries his face in my neck and thrusts again, hitting the spot that makes my eyes roll back. I’m right there, hanging on the edge.
“Colby!”
My body explodes, and white-hot heat sears through me. Wave after wave crashes over me, and the world goes fuzzy around the edges.
Colby is still moving, his hips rocking faster and faster, and then his entire body goes rigid. With one final thrust, he finds his own release, and his cock jerks inside me.
When the tremors finally subside, we collapse in a tangled heap, a sweaty, satisfied heap. Colby’s forehead is pressed to mine, and our chests are rising and falling in tandem. He doesn’t pull out, and I don’t want him to. I love the feeling of him inside me.
We lay there like that for a while, basking in the afterglow, and the silence isn’t awkward, which surprises me. It’s comfortable, and the longer we stay like this, the closer I want to be.
But deep down, I know it’s just the endorphins. In the morning, when the sun rises and the spell is broken, Colby will realize what a mistake he’s made, and everything will change.