“I only asked about Gordan because I needed to know you’re safe.” Pulling his hands free from his pockets, Colt began moving toward her. “As for my reasons for coming here, I already told you I wanted to apologize.”
“Is that all?”
“I also wanted to talk about us.”
Her breath grew still. “There’s an us?”
A flash of hurt flew past his sullen gaze before he blinked it away.
“I know we had a deal, but this whole pretending like nothing happened . . .” His words fell away with a slow shake of his head. “It’s not really working for me.”
Every nerve ending in Alex’s system came to life, and she couldn’t decide which felt stronger, her hope or her fear.
She hoped his memories of that night had held his thoughts hostage the same way they had hers. But she was also afraid he regretted it so much, his intent was to cut ties with her completely.
“What do you mean?” Alex forced herself to ask.
She held her breath and waited, refusing to acknowledge how much she’d miss him if he wasn’t a part of her life.
“I mean what I said. It’s not working, Al. I can’t be around you and act like I haven’t seen you naked.”
His bluntness left her blushing. “Colt?—”
“I can’t look at you and not think about that night.” He took another slow step. “I can’t see your gorgeous face and not remember the way it felt to hold you.What it felt like tohaveyou.” His gaze darkened with desire and there was a longing there.
The hope Alex felt did its best to grow exponentially larger, but those damn walls around her guarded heart fought to keep it contained.
“I’m sorry you’re having a hard time with it.”
“Are you really going to stand there and tell me you’re not?”
That was exactly what she wanted to do. But it would have been a bold-faced lie.
“It’s late,” Alex blurted. “And I-I have to be at the gallery first thing in the morning, so?—”
“I want you, Alex.” Colt continued closer, not stopping until he was inches away. “I thought one night would be enough, but?—”
“It wasn’t,” she heard herself whisper.
His lips lifted to form a genuine smile. “Not even close. But I need to be clear about something. I didn’t come here tonight looking for a repeat of our one-night stand. Although”—his handsome face twisted—“would it still be considered a one-night stand, since it would be our second time together?”
“Coulter . . .”
“Right. Sorry.” He gave a quick shake of his head. “My point is, I know it’s crazy, and trying to be in an actual relationship with someone like me would be complicated as hell. But I want more, Al. Don’t get me wrong, sex with you was . . . wow.” His wide-eyes blinked. “But amazing sex isn’t enough. Not when it comes to you.”
Alex’s heart leaped into her throat as it forced its way through her crumbling walls. “You want more?”
“Yes.”
“With me?”
Colt reached up and framed her face with his hands. “I want to be with you, Alexandria. As in officiallywithyou. No walks of shame or sneaking around. No hiding from our respective siblings or our friends.”
Alex’s head was spinning, and her vocal cords refused to do their job. “I-I . . .” She swallowed hard. “But y-you?—”
“No buts,” he cut her off. “I just need to know if you feel the same way. If you want to give this—giveus—an actual chance. If you don’t, I’ll respect that and leave here with the promise to never bring it up again. But if you do?—”
“I thought you said no buts.”
