Colton Under Fire

by Cindy Dees

  “Deal.”

  He captured her mouth with his, significantly more intensely than before. His head tilted to one side and his tongue tangled with hers as he kissed her passionately. Shocked, she opened her mouth beneath his. She couldn’t remember the last time a man, any man, had really kissed her. Maybe one never had.

  But as Liam’s arms swept around her, dragging her up his body to better fuse their mouths together, and arching her backward over his arm just enough to make the peaks of her breasts rub through her shirt against his bare chest, the man really kissed her.

  And she liked it.

  She amended her assessment. Liam didn’t just kiss her; he made love to her with his mouth. He kissed her cheeks and jaw. He nibbled her earlobe, then swept his tongue along the column of her throat, sending shivers through her whole body. She realized his hands were gently kneading up and down her spine, dissolving tension she hadn’t even realized she was holding there.

  This man melted all her defenses. And any need to push the situation, to control the outcome, to drive this moment to some end goal, evaporated.

  She felt warm and soft and boneless in his arms, and a strange, liquid heat began to form low in her belly. Whoa. She hadn’t actually been attracted to a man in that way since before she’d gotten pregnant with Chloe, something like three years ago. That was a long dry spell. But hoo baby, the drought was apparently over.

  Tentatively, she kissed him back, and his mouth curved into a smile against hers.

  “Welcome to the party, Sloane,” he rasped.

  She smiled back against his sexy lips. “I may be slow on the uptake, but once I get there, I’m the life of the party.”

  “Oh, yeah? This I have to see, Miss Save-the-world-but-don’t-take-care-of-myself.”

  She started indignantly, “I don’t—” She stopped. “Okay. Fine. I do take care of everyone but me. But that doesn’t make me a bad person.”

  “Far from it. But it does mean that every now and then, you should let someone else take care of you.”

  He kissed away the frown that wrinkled her brow as she realized she had no idea what that meant or how to do it.

  As if he’d read her mind, he murmured, “Like tonight, for example. Let me take care of you.”

  She pulled back far enough to look at him. At this range, his eyes were a blend of light green and gray, shot through with silver flecks. His gaze was intent. Waiting.

  Waiting? For what?

  Oh.

  He wasn’t going to proceed any further without permission from her. Huh. So that was what adult consent looked like. Ivan had never bothered to ask. She’d been married to him, and he figured he could take whatever sexual favors he wanted from her as his conjugal right whether she wanted it or not. More often than not she hadn’t wanted it, but it hadn’t been worth fighting over. Better to just close her eyes, think of England and get it over with.

  She realized she’d squeezed her eyes shut like she used to in bed with Ivan. Startled, she opened her eyes to find Liam studying her quizzically.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled.

  “There’s nothing to apologize for. Where’d you go just then?”

  She sighed. “I was thinking how strange it was to actually be asked for permission to continue doing...whatever we’re doing.”

  “A, just how big an ass was your ex? And B, why on earth would I want to do anything to you or with you that you don’t enjoy? The whole point is to give each other pleasure.”

  “Duly noted.”

  Except he didn’t do anything. He just sat there, staring at her.

  “What?” she finally asked.

  “I’ve been waiting twenty years for you, but this is brand-new to you. Plus, you’re the one with the complicated life and who had the big scare earlier.” Reaching out, he gently cupped her chin in one hand. “I’m not making any assumptions about what you do or don’t want to do tonight. If you want me to take you home, I will. If you want me to hold you so you can sleep, that’s fine. If you want more than that, you’re going to have to tell me.”

  She gulped. She might be a bold woman in her professional life, but she couldn’t say the same when it came to romance. She’d seriously dated one man in her life and had married him. Which had, of course, been a colossal mistake. She should have dated around. Learned that there were better men out there than Ivan Durant. She should never have jumped into marriage with the first guy who came along.

  “To be honest, I’m scared to death,” she finally confessed.

  “Of me?” Liam exclaimed. He tensed, clearly planning to put her off his lap.

  “No!” she answered hastily. “Stay where you are,” she added. “I like having you hold me like this.”

  Liam stilled beneath her, but the tension didn’t leave him as he waited for her to say more.

  She appreciated that he didn’t take the idea of sleeping with her lightly. And it meant so much that he didn’t want to take advantage of her vulnerability after her big scare tonight. But...

  She took a deep breath. “I want to be with you tonight, Liam. In that way.”

  “You’re still getting over your divorce. You’ve had a lousy week. You were terrified earlier. I seriously don’t want to be the rebound guy you use and lose. If you’re not ready for a real relationship, I would rather wait.”

  “I’m not sure I even know what a real relationship is,” she admitted.

  “All the more reason to take things slow.”

  “Or,” she replied, “it’s all the more reason for you to show me what a real relationship is like.” She added slowly, “I think I’d like to know.”

  Liam frowned. “Are you sure? Relationships are messy and come with feelings and decisions and possible commitments.”

  She knew plenty about messy. And she knew about hurt feelings and hard decisions, too. Problem was, that deep-seated need for home and family and safety and belonging that she’d always had, the same void that had driven her into marriage with Ivan, still yawned inside her.

  And she had a sneaking suspicion Liam might just be the kind of man to fill it.

  Did she dare try again?

  A few times in her life, moments had loomed in front of Sloane that she knew would shape much of her future to come. Getting her acceptance to law school. Saying yes to Ivan’s marriage proposal. Holding her baby girl in her arms for the first time.

  And now. Straddling Liam’s lap, staring into his gorgeous, honest eyes.

  If she went for it with him, there would be no going back. Her life would be forever changed.

  That soul-deep yearning tugging within her whispered that life would not only be different. It could be better. Richer. This man might just be the answer to all her unfulfilled dreams.

  Of course, if she was wrong, the disappointment would be crushing.

  Did she have the courage to find out?

  Liam’s gaze was steady. Unwavering. He saw her so clearly. He stripped away the extraneous details and went straight to the core of her dilemma. There would be no casual sex between them, no halfway relationship, no friends with benefits arrangement. Being with him would be an all-or-nothing proposition.

  She reached inside her heart, deep into that dark, empty void. In its stillness, she asked herself the question one last time. Did she dare risk everything to find love?

  Chapter 9

  The answer came to her gently, flowing into her heart on a tide of warmth.

  Of all the men in the world she could have chosen to take the leap of faith with, Liam was the one man she would choose.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  “Yes, what?” Liam asked carefully.

  “Yes, I want to be with you. Yes, I understand that this can’t and won’t be a casual fling. Yes, I’m willing to take a chance on a real relationship with you.”

 
Liam stared hard at her, clearly measuring the sincerity of her words. At length, he asked, “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  A smile broke across his handsome face and enveloped his whole being. His eyes lit with shock and exultation and joy that warmed her through.

  He wrapped her in a giant hug and buried his face against her neck for so long that she began to worry that he was having second thoughts about his offer. But then he lifted his head and peppered her face with kisses, murmuring sweet words of praise and adoration all the while.

  Being...worshipped...like this was strange and new. But nice. More than nice. It was awesome.

  Funny thing, she kind of wanted to worship him back. She met him halfway, kissing him in turn, her hands roaming across his chest and shoulders, slipping behind his neck, her fingers sliding into his silky hair.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” she whispered, shocked at the truth of her words.

  “Glad to hear it, baby. The feeling’s mutual, I assure you.”

  She met his gaze shyly, unsure of what to do next. Ivan had always taken the lead between them and dictated what would happen, when and how. He’d been a selfish lover, not interested in her in the least. But Liam seemed to be waiting for her to tell or show him what she wanted.

  “I—”

  Lord. For a lawyer known for her gifted arguments in court, she was having a hard time expressing what she wanted. “I, uh—”

  Liam took pity on her. “You’re cute when you’re at a loss for words.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him, and he laughed aloud.

  “Let me guess,” Liam teased. “You want more, but you’re embarrassed to say so aloud. What you actually want is for me to carry you over to my bed, kiss you some more, and see where things go.”

  “When did you get so smart about women?” she blurted.

  “What do you think I did with my college years when I wasn’t pining for you? I got to know girls and learned how they think.”

  “A ladies’ man, huh?”

  “Oh, I wasn’t sleeping around. I was talking with them. If you want to know a woman, you have to listen to her.”

  “Wow. You may be the first male of the human species to discover that.”

  He dropped a light kiss on the end of her nose. “Aww, c’mon. We’re not all that bad.”

  Sloane rolled her eyes at him. “You have no idea.” Her heart raced as his lips quirked up into a self-deprecating smile. Where had this guy been all her life? Not only did he listen to women, but he knew how to put them at ease, too. He knew when to tease, when to be serious, when to wait and when to act.

  Speaking of which, his body suddenly tensed beneath her.

  “C’mon Sloane. Let’s go where we can both be more comfortable.”

  He stood up, taking her with him as if he didn’t even have to strain to lift her.

  “What do you do to get so strong?” she breathed as he strode across the small room to his bed.

  “I lift weights. Box a little. Run when the weather’s decent. And at this time of year, I try to ski at least once a week.”

  “Well, clearly it’s all paid off.”

  Liam laughed a little as he bent down so she could yank back the comforter. “If I had known I would one day get to use my strength to carry you to my bed, I would be a world-class body builder by now.”

  He laid her down on soft flannel sheets.

  He’d really been carrying a torch for her all these years? That was so sweet. If only she’d known...

  He stretched out beside her, apparently in no hurry to get her naked. For which she was eternally grateful. Ivan had scorned her postbaby body, and she was self-conscious about the stretch marks and more womanly curves. Not that she would trade either one for her precious baby girl.

  Liam propped himself up on his elbow beside her and stared down at her as if he was memorizing the sight of her lying back against his fluffy pillows.

  Desperate to distract him, she asked, “Have you really had a crush on me ever since high school?”

  “Nope. Since fourth grade. When you showed up for the first day of school, third grade it would have been for you, wearing that white lace dress with a pink satin bow in the back, and a matching ribbon in your hair, I was a goner. You looked like some kind of fairy princess. I was sure you were the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen.”

  She recalled the outfit now that he mentioned it, but she was stunned that he remembered it.

  He added huskily, “You still are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

  “Liam. I hate to disappoint you, but I’m really a rather regular person. I can’t possibly live up to the inflated image you seem to have built of me in your mind.”

  He wrinkled his nose at her. “I’m a cop. I deal in facts and see what’s directly in front of me, no judgment, no opinions. I see you, Sloane.”

  “And you still want me?” she blurted.

  “Yes.” His answer was firm. No hesitation.

  How was a girl supposed to resist that? He saw her clearly for who she was, and he hadn’t run screaming. Well, then.

  “Come here, Liam. I think I need you to kiss me some more. And maybe you ought to get rid of some of your clothes.”

  He loomed over her, grinning. “I do know how the mechanics of this goes, thank you.”

  “I wasn’t sure. You were taking so long getting around to it, you know.”

  “I didn’t want to scare you. You’ve had enough of a fright for one evening.”

  “You’re the one who may end up getting a fright,” she retorted.

  He lurched back. “Why do you say that?”

  “I’m not some twenty-two-year-old ski bunny. I’ve had a baby.” She added hesitantly, “And I haven’t done...this...for, well, a really long time.”

  He frowned. “For real?”

  Embarrassment bloomed on her cheeks with fiery heat.

  Liam swore. “I knew your ex was a jerk, but I had no idea just how gigantic a jerk.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. “Any man—” another kiss “—who managed to gain your love and who didn’t worship you for the rest of his life—” a more lingering kiss this time “—and who didn’t make love to you morning, noon and night—” another very long kiss that left her breathless and more turned on than she could believe “—doesn’t deserve to live, let alone to have you.”

  Even though he delivered them quietly, his words were intense. One hundred percent sincere.

  Something unfurled in her heart, like a bud opening into a flower beneath a layer of melting snow. Who knew a heart could actually thaw? Had she really been that completely frozen inside? Apparently so, because the warmth coursing through her was totally unfamiliar.

  She reached for Liam’s zipper, determined to see this strange, wondrous sensation through, possible gigantic mistake or not.

  What would it be like to make love to a man who genuinely wanted her? Who respected her and found her attractive in spite of her many flaws?

  His hands slipped under her sweatshirt and he pushed it over her head, kissing her soundly when her face popped free of the neckline. He laughed at how her hair stood up every which way and took his time smoothing it down with long, languid strokes.

  She arched into him, eager to get rid of the rest of her clothes, but he murmured, “We’re going to take this slow. If, at any time, you don’t like something or change your mind, just let me know. Okay?”

  She placed her palms on either side of his face and gazed deep into his beautiful eyes, letting her gratitude show. “Okay.”

  “Stop that.”

  Startled, she replied, “Stop what?”

  “The gratitude thing. I’m the one on my metaphorical knees here, overwhelmed with thankfulness that you would choose to be with me.”

 
“I guess we’re going to have to agree to have a mutual gratitude society, then. You’re a good man, Liam.”

  He grimaced. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment coming from you.”

  She pulled back to stare up at him. That was a genuinely insightful observation from him. Not many people saw the risk-taker within her. She kept that side of herself carefully hidden beneath everyone else’s expectations of her. She’d been a dutiful daughter, a diligent student, and a devoted wife. Until Ivan had utterly rejected her and the home she’d desperately tried to build for the two of them.

  “I meant it as a compliment.” And she was a little surprised herself to realize she meant that. She said more emphatically, “You are a good man. And I’m coming to realize how rare those are.”

  He smiled broadly. “You don’t know how good I am...yet. But I’m planning to show you.”

  She snickered at him, and commenced kicking off her jeans while he kicked off his. They fell into each other and got hopelessly tangled up, and ended up laughing together while they awkwardly stripped their remaining clothes off each other, bumping knees, and dodging elbows in eye sockets.

  It was exactly what she needed to break the tension of her nerves. Sweet, funny, charming Liam. He’d always been her Liam: she just hadn’t realized it until now. In the same way she hadn’t realized how wonderful—and sexy—a nice guy could be.

  She’d always gone for the dark-souled, dangerous types, and look where that had gotten her. Her life had imploded and she and Chloe had barely made it out. Apparently, she’d needed to grow up before she realized that kind, good men had it all over on selfish, immature bad boys. Emphasis on men, and emphasis on boys.

  As the revelation washed over her, Liam opened his arms to her, and she went to him willingly, joyfully, her heart wide open.

  * * *

  Liam felt the emotional shift when Sloane came to some final decision about him. He didn’t know exactly what she’d figured out, but the last vestiges of her reticence fell away all at once, and suddenly, he had a warm, eager, happy woman in his arms.