Page 21 of Colt’s Betrayal

“I know.”

I look up at him. “Every part of me wants to ask you not to go.” His hands tighten slightly.

“But I won't.”

Something changes in his face.

“Kane and Judge are riding into it. Your brothers are already out there doing whatever they're doing, and if I asked you to stay here with me while they went without you, you'd hate yourself for saying yes.”

“I wouldn't say yes.”

“I know.”

The truth should make the fear worse, but somehow it doesn't. Because this is who he is, and twelve years ago I thought loving Colt meant finding a way to separate the man from everything that frightened me about his life. But there isn't a separate version. There's only Colt.

He crouches in front of me until we're eye level. “Kane thinks your dad may have expected you to pull me off where I'm supposed to be.” Anger sparks through the fear. “My father doesn't get to decide what I am to you.”

“He doesn't.”

“I didn't call you to do my father's dirty work. I did it because I was scared for both of us.”

Colt's hand moves to the back of my neck.

“You have any idea what that does to me? Knowing that some prick made you scared.”

“Probably about the same thing watching you load a gun does to me.”

His mouth curves, although there isn't much humor in it. “I let you walk away once.” I start to answer, but he shakes his head. “I'm not talking about the breakup again. We know what happened. I'm telling you what happens now.”

His thumb moves slowly beneath my ear. “If you decide you don't want this life around you after this, you tell me. If you decide you need space, you tell me that too. But I'm not going to stand there pretending I don't give a shit because I think that's the noble thing to do.” My heart starts beating harder for a reason that has nothing to do with this mess.

“What if I don't want space?”

His eyes darken. “That'd be my preferred option.” I put my hands on his shoulders and push. Colt allows me to move him backward until his legs hit the chair. He sits because I make him, watching me the entire time. This is nothing like earlier. That had been twelve years exploding all at once, both of us trying to get close enough to make up for time with sheer force.

Now I know exactly what I'm doing and I straddle him. His hands settle automatically on my hips, but he doesn't move me. I lean down and kiss him slowly, taking my time with the mouth I've thought about for years. Colt lets me lead for all of thirty seconds before his restraint starts showing in the tension under my hands. I smile against his lips. “Having trouble?”

“You're sitting on my dick.”

“Very observant.” I kiss him again.

His fingers flex against my hips. I take my time opening his belt, then his jeans, and Colt's head falls back against the chair when my hand closes around him.

“Fuck.”

“That seems to be your favorite word.”

“You keep giving me reasons.”

I stroke him slowly until his breathing changes, then stand just long enough to pull off my jeans and underwear. Colt's gaze follows every inch of bare skin. I leave my top on. For some reason that makes this feel dirtier. When I settle over him again, he slides one hand between my thighs. I close my eyes, but Colt's voice stops me.

“No, look at me.”

I do, and the expression on his face nearly undoes every advantage I thought I had. His fingers move with slow certainty, nothing rushed about the way he touches me. He watches each reaction until I'm rocking against his hand and the chair beneath us creaks.

“You planned on being in charge?”

“I was.”