Page 128 of Colt

“Yes. No.” I shake my head. “Just, I’ve never been…like that.”

Colton goes still. “What d’you mean?”

“You’re really good at that, Colt. Sex. And making me feel like a million bucks.”

The skin at the edges of his eyes crinkles. “My job here is done. Except, wait, I really hope we’re not done⁠—”

“Of course we’re not done.” I press a finger to his lips. “I just didn’t know it could be like that. Like, it could be this good with someone I’ve known for all of, what⁠—”

“Thirty days.” He rocks his hips, beginning to ease out of me. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

I laugh again, if only so I don’t burst into tears all over again. “You’re still inside me, and you’re already asking me out again?”

“Yes.” He says the word so matter-of-factly. Like us going on another date—spending more time together—is a given. “Come over for dinner. LEGO building optional.”

“I’m sorry, but I have plans.”

His turn to laugh. “No, you don’t.”

“You know me so well already.”

“I’d like to know more.”

“Do you have a death wish?” The unspoken thought hangs between us: This is ending. We’re playing with fire.

Also, sex like the kind we just had—athletic, intense, wrenching—takes a lot out of you.

“Long as I get to die with you, I’m all right.” He pulls all the way out.

There’s a pinch between my legs. Just uncomfortable enough to make me wince.

“Sore?” There’s a deep, deep divot in his forehead now, like the fact that I’m in pain seriously bothers him.

I shake my head. “I’ll be okay.”

“Tell me where your Advil is.”

“I can⁠—”

“Nope.” Kissing my cheek, he rolls onto his back. “I got it. You stay put, yeah? I’ll clean us up.”

There’s a washcloth and a glass of ice-cold water involved. A quick trip to the bathroom for me. Two Advil placed right in the palm of my hand. A frown when he sees the beginnings of beard burn on my breasts.

“I’ll help you change the sheets after we’re done,” he says, climbing back into bed beside me. He doesn’t bother to slide under the covers. He just lies there, his naked body on full display.

My soul must leave my body because suddenly I’m levitating, floating around the room like a dumbstruck balloon. “We’re not actually done?”

He folds his arm behind his head on the pillow and looks at me. “You’re outta your damn mind if you think I got a sitter for one measly round of sex.”

I sip my water. “I was that good, huh?”

“Honey.” He puts his hand on my naked thigh underneath the covers. “You don’t need the ego boost⁠—”

“Ha.” But I do. I really, really do.

“I’m gonna give it to you, though, because it’s well deserved. I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to sleep after this it was so good. Not just the sex but the date.” His voice softens. “I needed this. Thank you.”

I swallow, hard. “I did too.”