“It’s been incredible so far. I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the night turns out.”
“Yes, likewise. We have someschmoozingwe must do, but I’m glad we were able to connect. I’ll be bouncing around all night but if you need anything just shout.”
“I will. Thank you.” The man on her arm, Sebastian’s father, gives me a polite smile and curt nod. He hasn’t said a word, but it’s clear he’s more reserved than his wife. Fine by me, considering he gives me the same heartfelt looks his wife offers.
Bess steps in front of Colson and I take a step back, giving her the space she needs to greet her nephew. She wraps her arms around his torso for a hug, his arms drowning her small figure beneath him. Then she pulls back and pats the side of his cheek two times. I pretend that I don’t hear the, “She’s delightful,” comment she says to him before moving away to give Sebastian the same hug.
Colson looks at me after she moves on, really looks at me, like he’s memorizing all the features on my face and the way my dress curves against my body where the fabric is loose. My cheeks flush under his stare and not for the first time tonight,I wish he’d inhale the space between us and press his mouth to mine.
His hand moves to clasp mine, gripping gently as he says, “I want to show you something before Aunt Bess climbs on the stage and steals our attention all night.”
Around us, more and more people filter in. Pretty soon, everyone will be taking their seats.
“Follow me,” is all he says before tugging me away. I give Sebastian a quick glance as I go, mouthing out an apology for leaving him alone at the table. He waves me off, and I know he’ll be alright. Sebastian always is. He’s the epitome of kindness and can start up conversations with just about anyone.
My attention draws back to Colson when he leads me down a hall adjacent to the ballroom. A few people come and go, mostly women. Looking in the direction they walk from, it’s clear they’re coming from the bathroom. I don’t have a lot of time to think about that before I’m being spun around, Colson’s hands on my waist as he flattens my back against the wall.
My breathing stops, hitching in my lungs as I take in his tall frame towering over me. “What are?—”
“Stop talking.”
“What?”
“Stop talking, Violet. I can’t keep looking at you in that dress without stealing a private moment with you in it.”
Well, okay then.
His hand comes up to my neck, grasping like he has in the past, his fingers tickling my nape. His thumb lines up with the column of my neck. I swallow against it, his other hand resting on my waist, fastening me to the wall.
“I love the way you look. Not just tonight, but every day,” he admits, dipping down to press his mouth to my cheek. He peppers three kisses along the edge of my jaw, and it’s everything.
Everything.
I don’t care that we shouldn’t be doing this out in the open. The space around us fades into nothingness and like it always has been between us, we’re alone. In the little haven we’ve created, in the connection that ignited the first day we met.
His nose moves down the side of my neck and back up until his lips are a feather on my ear. “What was I doing, thinking I’d be able to stay away from you?”
You weren’t thinking at all.
“I wanted this mouth when I saw you in your bathroom,” he admits, brushing the pad of his thumb along my bottom lip. “I wanted to scoop you up in that elevator. Feel what it’d be like to have your legs wrapped around my waist as we descended.” He tightens his hand on my neck. It’s minimal, but it entices that needy ache in my core that’s become my best friend. “I can’t help but be greedy with you because I don’t know how the rest of the night is going to go. I don’t know how I’m going to feel when my aunt takes that stage and people who have kicked addiction to the curb share their stories.”
“It’s okay, Colson,” I whisper after finding my voice. “You’re allowed to be selfish when it comes to me. You always are.”
“Promise me that. Promise that no matter what happens you’ll always be you and I’ll always be me.”
He pulls back, but he’s still so close. Less than an inch and his lips could touch mine. A tiny tug and I could take what I’ve wanted all night.
Sealing that promise between us, he sucks in a heady breath before slanting his mouth over mine. There’s no other reason behind the way our mouths mingle except knowing it’s what we want. I’m not saving him from a bad situation. I’m not trying to lessen the anger taking over his mind and soul.
It’s just him being him.
And me being me.
Getting lost in our connection.
In the feel of one another.
In the safety of this space we’ve constructed.
