“I’m not sexy Cor,” I whispered.
She snorted. “You’re walking sex. Especially looking like that. Now who do you want to go to? Matt?” She shook her head. “No probably weird? Theo eh?” She was typing on her phone again.
I looked at myself and studied myself for a moment. “Colton,” I answered softly.
Corey looked at me in surprise. “Colton? I dunno Ari, he’s a bit cold don’t you think?”
“No. He’s fire,” my gaze didn’t waver and I saw understanding settle on Corey.
“Ah. I see. It was Colton?” I knew what she was asking.
I nodded. “It will always be Colton,” I admitted. Her smile was gentle.
“Ok – let’s hope he doesn’t react badly. I didn’t think to brief him,” she murmured. “I’ll go out, you follow,” she stopped. Her eyes were soft. “You can do this Ari, you’re sex on legs. No guy is going to take this from you. If you chicken out, it’s ok, we’ll all leave. He can’t stop all of us,” she pulled me into a quick hug and then muttering about dicks and jerks she was out of the bathroom.
I turned back to the mirror. My eyes were shining. Could I do this? Was it necessary? My eyes hardened as I remembered the way he had spoken about me. Yes. I was going to hit him where it hurt, just like Corey had said. I would hurt him where it hurt most, his ego. And I would strike that blow with Colton. My mother’s words had haunted me ever since that night, but I was done listening to her ghostly voice. I wasn’t a tramp and I wasn’t worthless.
I strolled out and headed down the hallway. I got a few appreciative looks and whistles as I passed. He wasn’t in the kitchen. So much for not leaving me, I scoffed.
I entered the main room. All the windows were open, some of the pungent smoke had dispersed. I spotted Colton immediately, he was leaning casually against the wall, one leg cocked up resting on it, a bottle of beer dangling from his hand. He was surveying the room lazily. Seemingly not a care in the world. Theo and Matt were beside him chatting softly to each other. Connor was perched on the corner of a couch, Corey pulled up tight in his embrace, sitting on his knee.
They all looked perfectly relaxed. I spotted Jay. He was at the opposite side of the room. His eyes were on Colton. Jay was drinking and just staring at him. He had some guys round him, he spotted me. The triumphant grin that broke out on his face made my temper surge.
I smiled at him. I would rather throat punch him. I walked over, I added a swing to my hips which I had never in my life tried before, but it seemed to work. Jay ran his eyes over the length of me appreciatively. Obviously appreciating my time spent in the bathroom.
He took a step forward. Perfect. I smiled at him and as he reached out a hand to touch me, I brushed past him.
I walked up to Colton, my heart was pounding but due to the people in the room, I smiled at him. His eyes were dark and quickly ran over me, he straightened and put the bottle down. I couldn’t let my nerves get the better of me, I stepped right up into him, leaving no space. Reaching up, I wrapped my hands round his neck and pulled slightly. I didn’t need to pull hard, his lips were on me. I felt his arms come around me and tighten. His lips were as demanding as before and as always, I gave in to him, his tongue swept in and I melted.
It had been so long since he’d kissed me, but it felt like yesterday. I ran my hands through his hair, his hand was under my shirt on my bare back. I arched into him. I felt his answering groan, his hands traced down my ass and he hoisted me up and I wrapped my legs round him. His hands were under my shirt again and running up my back.
I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. He was everywhere.
Slowly, he pulled away, his eyes were dark and heavy with desire. I remembered where I was and flushed. He quickly kissed me again as I slid down his hard body. He turned me in his arms. I looked out over the room. Jay was white with fury. Gerry and someone else were on either side of him holding him back.
Colton moved my hair to the side and leaned down and kissed my neck. My eyes closed and I backed into him. All of him. His arm was wrapped round my waist and he pulled me in to him. My ass ground into him all by itself. He nipped at my neck.
“I think it’s time we left,” he said softly to me, as he stared across to Jay. Jay was still glaring at him. His eyes flicked to me. I couldn’t help it. Safe in Colton’s arms, I winked.
Matt saw and started chuckling. Corey stood, looking every bit the goddess she was. Connor rose with her.
“You fucking played me?” Jay demanded of me. He tried to step forward, but his friends’ grips were tight. “All this time? You were playing me?” His eyes were hard, he was furious.
I leaned forward, Colton wasn’t loosening that grip anytime soon. “All fucking day,” I bit out. “You’re nothing but a scumbag dick,” Colton’s arms tightened.
The room was silent. I hadn’t even noticed the music was off.
Jay scoffed. “What the fuck are you talking about? I nailed you.” The sneer on his face was ugly.
“Oh Jay,” I shook my head in mock pity, “you went to your friend to slip drugs into my drink because you couldn’t get me into bed.”
Jay flushed as he glared angrily at his friend. Everyone knew that bruised face had been pummelled by Colton for that reason.
“You never had me, and as you can see,” I turned my face up to Colton who placed a quick kiss on my lips, I looked back at Jay, “you never will.”
I moved forward and Colton let me. I reached back for his hand with my head held high.
Jay turned his attention to Colton. “You let her act like that with anyone? I never had her pegged for a whore, or you for sharing.” Colton’s hand gripped mine tightly, but he kept his relaxed composure. I stiffened at the terminology, the echo of my mother in my head still, but Colton let out a low laugh.
“You just don’t get it do you?” Colton said to Jay. “We needed to know how deeply involved you were, now we know. Thanks to Ari. Your attempts to get me to fight you? Calling her a whore? Please,” Colton shook his head mockingly, “don’t be pathetic. Your friends are watching.” Tugging my hand, he pulled me into him. I looked up at him and he smiled at me, he dipped his head for another quick kiss. Well it was meant to be quick, I caught his head and maybe kept him in the kiss longer than intended. When I released him, we left.
Unaided. Unscathed. Triumphant.
We made it to my car before my legs gave way. Colton caught me and with his arm round me, I leaned against the front of my car. I noticed the two SUVs. My head rested on Cole’s chest.
He kissed the top of my head.
I looked up and Matt pulled me out of Colton’s arms and wrapped his arms round me. Then it was Theo.
“You have got to stop killing me Bit,” Matt growled.
I nodded, I felt the lump in my throat. “I know, I’m sorry,” I reached out and he grabbed my hand.
“You played that well.” I jumped at the sound of the voice. Tattoo Neck. I was pushed behind Colton in an instant. Matt and Theo were on either side of me, Connor pushed Corey behind him.
He stood in the shadows, smoking a cigarette.
“What do you want?” Colton demanded softly.
“Making sure your girl was ok,” Aaron shrugged and flicked the cigarette away. He stood straight. His eyes ran over me. I stepped forward. Colton protested but I slipped my hand into his.
“You told Colton where I was?” I asked.
Tattoo Neck nodded.
“Why?”
He studied me. Then he winked. “Be careful Arielle, let your boys take care of you,” he nodded to Colton and turned to walk away.
“Aaron!” I called. He stopped, he didn’t turn all the way but he turned his head a little. I took another step forward, Colton’s hand tensed slightly but he gave me the freedom to move forward.
“Thank you.”
Another nod.
“I don’t understand why,” I confessed.
Aaron turned back to me, he was still half hidden in the sh
adows – but I could see he wasn’t looking at me – his eyes were on Colton. “I told you, I don’t like being played. You fight fair, you win fair,” Aaron came out of the shadows, he looked straight at me. I almost stepped back into the safety of Colton’s arms. “My brother wasn’t fighting fair with you, I evened the odds.”
I swallowed hard. The alternatives of what could have happened had he not thought that, wasn’t worth thinking about.
Aaron’s eyes snapped back to Colton, “Game’s even now, you come across our way again, I won’t be looking to even the odds.”
I looked at Colton quickly and saw him nod in acknowledgment, I turned back just as Aaron disappeared into the shadows.
“Let’s go home,” Connor sighed. He headed to one of the SUVs, Corey following after sending me a huge smile. I think she was proud of me.
Matt and Theo headed to the other one, I hesitated at my car.
“I’ll ride with you,” Colton murmured. I nodded. Why was I suddenly nervous?
“We’ll follow,” Colton said softly to Matt. Matt looked at him for a long minute and then he nodded.
I smiled at Matt as I slipped into the driver’s seat.
Colton got in and I waited until the two SUVs had taken off, then I followed. We drove in silence for about ten minutes until Colton started laughing softly.
“Why are you laughing?”
“His face was an absolute picture,” he chuckled.
I coughed out a laugh. Colton leaned over and took my hand and twined his fingers through mine.
“I need to touch you, ok?”
I glanced at him quickly and nodded. His grip tightened slightly and I squeezed his hand in return. My mothers’ words from that night had always been in the back of my head when I thought about Colton, but I wasn’t her. I was never going to be her. I cared for Colton, he was all I wanted and my situation with Connor was long finished. I was fed up hiding what I felt and who I wanted to be with.
It was dark and the SUV in front was pulling away.
“Can we stop for a minute Ari?” Colton asked me softly. I glanced at him again and then spotting a pull-off, I slowed and bumped off the asphalt and onto the gravel, bringing us to a stop.
He took off his belt and got out of the car. Frowning, I followed him out. He was at my side by the time I was out of the car. With no hesitation, I was in his arms and his lips were on mine.
The taste of him was intoxicating. His hands were not shy in their exploration and I was not hesitant in letting my own hands slip under his shirt and do some exploring themselves. I tugged his shirt up more. I needed more.
His lips were warm and soft as velvet as he trailed kisses down my neck. I arched into him more, pulling him closer.
He nipped my collarbone and I groaned.
“Ok, we need to stop, or I’m going to bend you over this car,” he muttered and pulled away. I followed him, my own lips seeking his throat.
“I’m really bendy,” I whispered huskily into his neck. He grabbed my hair and plunged his tongue into my mouth. Breathlessly, I returned his kisses. I felt him undo the top button of my jeans and then his warm hand was in my jeans, cupping my ass.
“Colton,” I groaned again.
A car whizzing past pulled us both back to our senses. He stood back, I tried to fix my clothes.
“Can we go to your place?” His voice was husky, his eyes dark with lust.
I nodded. I have no recollection of the drive to my apartment. He was touching me the whole way. I think I may have broken a few speed limits. Finally, I parked and we got out.
We didn’t get to the foot of the stairwell, before I was pressed up against the wall, legs wrapped tightly around him. His hand was under my shirt, cupping my breast and I was more than ok with that.
“Fuck Ari, you’re driving me insane, I can’t think straight,” he whispered to me, drawing back slightly.
“I need you,” I said softly. He tipped his head back and looked at me. His eyes searching mine. I tightened my legs pulling him into me, showing him right where I needed him.
“Are you sure?”
“I need you,” I repeated. He was carrying me up the stairs. I slid down his front to open the door. As we went in Colton locked it behind him, he turned and kissed me again, then he picked me up, carrying me to the bedroom.
He placed me on the bed and I looked up at him as he took off his shirt. I sat up and stroked my hand down his chest, running my fingers over his taut muscles. I stood, he lifted my arms and with one swift movement, both tops were gone and I was in my bra.
He was kissing me again and bit by bit we were naked in front of each other.
“Are you sure?” He asked me. I looked up at him, I knew I wasn’t holding anything back. Everything I felt about him, was in the look I gave him.
He groaned as he kissed me in answer. We were on the bed and we were finally complete.
I woke the next morning with a sleepy smile as I stretched. Last night had been amazing, I ached all over. We’d eventually fallen asleep and then sometime during the night, Colton had woken me and that second time it had been soft and tender but just as good. Oh, so good.
I rolled over and frowned. The bed was empty. I reached my hand out, his side was cold. Had he been gone long? Panic rose in me. Why would he leave me? Oh my God he left me?
I sat up and decided to get my phone, he would have texted at least. I pulled the sheet with me, wrapping myself in it as I went, walking over last night’s discarded clothes. Was he ashamed? Did he regret it?
I was trying to fight the rising panic just as I entered my hall when my front door opened. He walked through the door balancing two coffees and a pastry bag. He smiled when he saw me, but then he stopped and frowned when he finally saw me.
“You ok?” His eyes were full of concern. Quickly he stooped and set the coffee and bag on the floor. He was to me in seconds, wrapping his arms round me.
“What is it, are you ok?”
I felt silly. I stood back. “I thought you had left me,” I admitted.
“No Ari, I’m here. I was getting my caffeine junkie her fix, then I was going to wake her up, nice and slow.” I felt his smile as he kissed my shoulder. He tugged at the sheet, I tightened my grip. “I like this look. It suits you,” he whispered as he kissed his way to my mouth.
“What about the coffee?” I protested as he walked me backwards.
“Screw the coffee,” he murmured as he finally pulled the sheet free.
“We have to go to the house at some point.” Colton said to me. I was on my side and he was curled round me. I sighed, I didn’t want to. The house meant Connor. “Dad and I sat and talked to Connor after you left on Wednesday,” he chuckled, “then Mary Ellen got him. Guess who our new co-signer for the trust fund is?”
I grinned. “Mary Ellen?”
“Yeah. She spoke bluntly to him,” Colton exhaled heavily, “he’s going to go to anger management therapy,” Colton said softly.
I half-turned and looked at him. “Will he be ok with that?” Colton nodded and I turned back around away from him again.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. I turned back to look at him.
‘What for?”
He dipped his head to kiss me. “I should have had you in my arms from the moment I knew you were here. It fucking killed me to be so close to you and not touch you,” he stroked his hand along my arm. “But he’s so volatile and fragile, I couldn’t Ari. You know that don’t you? He’s my brother, I couldn’t be the reason he did something stupid again.” He was so beautiful, I smiled softly at him. Of course, I understood what had held him back, it all made sense now and even if it didn’t, lying here in his arms, nothing else mattered.
“It’s ok, we’re together now, none of the rest of it matters anymore,” I turned back so my back was to him once again.
“We are but, we need to go to the house to see him. To let him see us,” Colton persisted.
“I don’t want to, I like it here,”
I replied. I wiggled back against him. He growled low. His arms tightening around me.
“Damnit Ari, don’t. Haven’t you had enough?” he joked as he nipped my ear. I turned onto to my back to face him. He adjusted so he was propped up beside me, looking down.
I trailed a finger down his jaw line. “I’ll never have enough of you,” I admitted. He closed his eyes briefly and then he dipped for a kiss. The kiss deepened. I ran my hand down his chest, Colton above me.
He dipped his head to kiss me again. I arched up, pulling him down on top of me.
“Ok, you win,” he said as he peppered me with his kisses. “We’ll go later.”
“Much later,” I agreed as he claimed me once more.
When I woke up later that afternoon, he was dressed and at the edge of the bed. I groaned and hid my face. Colton laughed at me.
“We need to go and see him,” he tickled my foot. I yelped.
“C’mon Ari, it’s Con,” he said softy. I stilled. When Connor had been here all those weeks ago; when he was asking me to give him permission to tell Colton I was here, he had said the same thing. I sighed. Brothers. It was my own fault.
Grumbling I got up. His eyes ran the length of me and I saw his desire. I grinned. “Stay away from me, you’ll just make it worse,” I cautioned as he rose from the bed and took a step towards me.
“Colton,” I warned again backing away. His head lowered and he looked at me from under his stupidly long lashes. Then with a wicked grin he pounced. I ran like a mad person and just got to the bathroom before he grabbed me. I closed the door and then remembered the door didn’t lock.
I jumped into the shower as he opened the door. I turned the shower on, in the hopes that it would deter him. He grinned as he reached over his head and pulled his t-shirt off and started unbuckling his jeans.
God damn that was a fine sight.
Later. Much later. When we were both dressed, we made it out of the house. I had never been so relaxed in my life. Nor could I stop smiling.
The drive over was quick. When we were in front of the house, I felt nervous.
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