“I thoughtthis woman isn’t afraid of me and can handle my life. Even when I saw you on the steps of my garage, with your injured wrist and scratches on your face, you didn’t look beaten down. Is that woman truly scared of what a man can make her feel?”
“I’m not ready to be owned by feelings.”
“Mia.” He sighed. “You don’t think it’s a one-way street, do you?”
He dropped my hand and placed it on my waist as he pushed me against the door of his room. His lips came down on mine, hungry and dangerous. I no longer cared about anything except Colt.
Colt lifted his head. “You own me. I’m yours for the taking.”
My tongue darted out to sweep across my lips. I could taste him and it only made me greedy for all of him.
We had so much in common and it made us understand one another. When you were marred by grief and loss, touched by darkness, only another person who’d gone through the same thing could understand.
“I’m not gonna force you into anything. Just know that I want you.”
He stared at me and waited. I bit my lip, letting him see my indecision. Was I really going to turn away a man who made me feel alive? Who reminded me that I hadn’t died with Grammie? That life was more than just a shitty job at a bar and forgotten dreams?
I brushed past him and turned the knob of his bedroom door. We stepped into his room and Colt flipped on the light.
A naked woman rested in the middle of Colt’s bed, legs spread, all on display, her hand trailing down her body. I wondered if it was the same woman I’d overheard in the hallway.
“Colt,” she purred. “I’ve been waiting for you.” Her glassy eyes darted to me. “Wanna join us?”
I was about to bolt, but Colt’s grip on my arm stopped me. “Get out,” he snapped at her.
She closed her legs and managed to sit up, shiny brown locks trailing over a breast. She stood, not caring that she was nude. The woman bent over and shimmied into her tight skirt and low-cut tank. Sauntering past us in a wave of perfume, she gave Colt a lingering look before leaving. But the ghost of her presence remained.
“Let go of my arm,” I breathed.
He paused a moment and then released me.
“So that’s what you meant when you said these parties get wild?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Were you planning to—with her, I mean?”
“Seriously,” he barked. “I just got done telling you you’re all I want. You really think I had a backup plan in mind if you told me no?”
Colt took a step toward me so he could reach out and haul my body to his. I felt how much he wanted me, and all my fears of inadequacy faded.
“I’m not going to be one of those women,” I said slowly.
“What are you talking about?”
“I won’t turn a blind eye when her man fucks around. I won’t have it, Colt.”
His smile was slow. “All right, babe. No fucking around. Promise.”
“And I’m not sleeping on those sheets.”
Colt leaned down to kiss me. “There’s a clean set in the bottom dresser drawer.” His hands dropped, and he took a step toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
He looked back at me, his eyes glittering. “To have words.”
I somehow managed to change the sheets even with my bum wrist and then went into Colt’s private bathroom to freshen up. I finger brushed my teeth and gargled with mouthwash. An hour passed and Colt still hadn’t returned. I got up off the bed and went to a dresser drawer to find one of his T-shirts to sleep in. I flipped on a bedside lamp and then turned out the main light. The sounds of the party were muted, but every now and then I could hear someone laugh.