As expected, it hits almost at my knees, while the sleeves fall past my elbows.
The skin on my legs is red and angry, but until I get my toiletries from my suitcase, I don’t have anything to soothe them.
The scent of breakfast wafts through the closed door, beckoning my rumbling stomach back into the living area, but the sight waiting for me stops me in my tracks.
Maybe it’s how little I’ve dated, or maybe it’s the way I grew up in a world where women were raised to be subservient, but nothing could have prepared me to see Colten in the kitchen.
He moves around like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s shucked his jacket, and his sleeves have been pushed up, uncovering his tattooed forearms.
“You gonna come in for breakfast or spend the rest of the morning checking me out?” He smirks, finally looking up from the stove to meet my eyes.
How am I possibly supposed to survive living with the man I can never allow myself to have?
FIFTEEN
COLTEN
The blush that spreads across her cheeks and throat at being caught has my cock hardening behind my zipper.
But it’s the way my shirt looks wrapped around her that has my brain malfunctioning.
I’ve seen Lexi in skintight dresses that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, and I’ve seen her in ballgowns that made her look every bit like the princess she is. I’ve seen her in sweats with her hair messy and glammed up until she barely looks like the Lexi I’ve been obsessed with for as long as I can remember.
But she’s never looked quite as beautiful as she does freshly showered, wearing nothing but my shirt.
I clutch onto the edge of the counter to stop myself from going to her, from throwing her over my shoulder, marching us into the bedroom, and having my way with her.
She moves from the doorway, padding across the room until she reaches the counter and carefully pulls herself up onto one of the stools. Her brow dips, pain lancing her face as she gets herself situated, but she doesn’t make a sound.
“Are your ribs bothering you?”
She nods. “A little. They’re just bruised.”
I should have had a doctor look at her. In my urgency to get her out of that house and into my space, I neglected to have an actual medical professional look her over, and that’s unacceptable.
I sucked a stuttered breath into my lungs, forcing my body to remain calm despite the frustration running through every muscle.
She’s been mine for a matter of hours, and I’m already failing.
“Colten?” Lexi says softly, and I flick my eyes up to meet hers. “I’m fine. Just a little sore. I’ll be good as new in a few days.”
I nod stiffly and carefully pile the last of the pancakes onto the plate before placing it in front of her.
I turn to the fridge and retrieve the ice cream from the freezer, sliding it across the counter along with the syrup.
Lexi stares at the plate for long seconds before bursting into a fit of giggles.
Did I do something wrong?
I frown, looking over the items in front of her to identify what it is that has elicited such a reaction.
“Colt.” She giggles, her hand pressed over her mouth. “How many people are we sharing these pancakes with?”
“Just us,” I reply, every bit as confused as I was a moment ago.
“There are twenty pancakes here,” she points out.
I flick my eyes down to the stack as understanding finally dawns on me, a chuckle tumbling from my chest. Now that I look at it, it is far too much food for just the two of us, but I had to distract myself while she was showering.
