“You have saved me,” I whisper. “You freed me from a life that wasn’t mine. You made me stronger. Every kiss, every time you hold me, you remind me I’m not broken. You give me something to fight for. And I’ll never stop being grateful for that.”
I lean in and kiss him.
His lips curve slightly against mine, and I feel his smile before I taste it. I rake my fingers through his hair, deepening the kiss, craving more. My tongue sweeps against his, and I let out a soft moan, silently begging him not to stop. He answers with a low sound in his throat, one hand tangling in my hair as he pulls me closer. The connection is instant. It’s like a flame reigniting, like gravity has finally found its center.
As he starts to pull away, I tighten my grip, forcing his mouth back to mine. He groans, his tongue sliding against mine in a slow, deliberate rhythm that makes my toes curl. I trail one hand down his chest and lower, finding the hard ridge straining against his jeans. I stroke him through the denim, and he moans, the sound vibrating between us.
His hand cups my breast, firm and hot, and his other hand clutches my neck.
I arch into him, needing more. So I yank at his shirt, pulling him down with me as I lie back on the bed. He hovers above me, holding his weight on his arms, careful not to crush me.
But I don’t want careful.
I want him.
All of him.
“Colt, please,” I murmur against his mouth, wrapping my leg around his waist, dragging him down.
He hesitates, eyes searching mine.
“I need to feel you,” I whisper.
With a groan, he kisses me again and slowly lowers his body onto mine. His weight, the heat, it unlocks something in me, something desperate and alive. Primal.
I grind against him, chasing the friction, needing it.
He kisses me harder, deeper, and the tension in my body coils tight. But then, instinctively, I move my right leg and pain shoots through it, sharp and instant. I flinch with a cry.
Colt jerks back immediately. “Shit! What happened?” he asks, voice rough, eyes scanning me like I might break.
“No, no, don’t stop,” I breathe, reaching for him. “It was just a cramp. I’m fine.”
He leans in to kiss me again, but another cramp hits, and I let out a groan.
Colt pulls back completely, moving to the edge of the bed. “No. That’s enough,” he snaps, frustration bleeding through his worry. “Where did it hurt?”
I stare at him, stunned. “Colt, I said I’m fine. It was just a cramp. Please…” I reach for him again, but he ducks away, adjusting the obvious bulge in his jeans, jaw tight as he exhales sharply.
“I’m fine,” I repeat, breathless and aching. “Please, just kiss me…”
His lips press into a flat line as he shakes his head. “I can’t, baby. I’m sorry, but I can’t risk hurting you. I let that go too far. We both know we’ve got weeks to wait, and I shouldn’t have even let it get to that point. I love you, but Iwon’thurt you.”
He doesn’t wait for my reply—just rolls off the bed and disappears into the closet.
I flop my head back on the pillow with a dramatic sigh. “Great. Just great.”
I finally get some love from Colt, and my stupid leg has to go and ruin it all. Sure, we couldn’t have gone all the way, but we could have made out for hours. I would have taken that and savored every second.
Now? Now I’m stuck here with throbbing…everywhere.And Colt won’t even look at me sideways, let alone kiss me properly.
I huff and cross my arms like a petulant teenager, trying and failing to ignore the ache still pulsing between my legs.
He walks out of the closet, holding one of his tank tops and a pair of boxer shorts.
Translation—all chances of intimacy have officially died a slow, painful death.
But then, he leans down, that coy little smirk tugging at his lips. “I’m sorry, baby. I just… I can’t. You’re not fully healed, and that leg cramp proved it. But I promise, the moment you’re fighting fit, I’m going to do way more than make out with you.” He helps me sit up, and I huff, frustrated beyond belief. I know I’m sulking, but I can’t stop. Getting a taste of him only to have it snatched away is torture.
