by Karly Morgan
My conflicting emotions were terrifying me. I had plans for my life. Falling in love, getting married, and making babies weren’t in them. Oh…but I could envision all of that with Kolton. Desperately, I shook off the thoughts and focused back on the conversation at hand, thankful Kolton hadn’t dragged me somewhere private to discuss those things and had changed the topic altogether.
“There were a few that wouldn’t let go of the idea that I should be marryin’ Karlene instead of an outsider, but other than that, most seemed happy to see me movin’ on. Even the mayor offered us his congratulations on our upcomin’ nuptials,” he told her, and she looked suspicious.
“I’d think he’d have been pushin’ Karlene on ya instead of wishin’ ya happiness with Carissa,” she said, doubt clouding her voice.
“I expected the same thing and was pleasantly surprised. The fact he did it right in front of Karlene was priceless,” Kolton told her, and I just sat back listening and trying not to focus too hard on his skin warming mine and the tingles making their way up my arm toward my heart. I had to be careful or I really would be falling for this man. Hell, I knew I’d already started.
A buzzer going off in the kitchen filled the air, effectively saving me from the increasing arousal I was experiencing being so close to Kolton and hearing the lazy drawl of his voice as he talked to Bonnie. I’d faded out of the conversation, afraid I’d give away the turmoil inside me. Neither seemed to notice, and if they did, they opted to allow me this moment of being quiet.
Kolton untangled his hand from mine and hopped to his feet, hurrying to turn off the timer and tend to whatever it was making the house smell amazing. Focused on Kolton and Bonnie’s conversation, Bonnie’s demand for grandchildren, and being so close to Kolton, I hadn’t noticed how hungry I’d become and the delectable aroma filling the air around me. Now it was all I could focus on.
Bonnie hadn’t spoken a word in the couple of minutes since Kolton had exited, and I lifted my eyes to find her watching me closely, a knowing sparkle twinkling in her eyes.
“What?” I asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious at her intense perusal.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice the change between you and my Kolt. He practically drooled when he saw ya come down the stairs, and then held your hand after making sure ya sat as closely to him as he could without seating ya directly on his lap. There’s a reason the people in town bought the story the two of ya sold. I didn’t exaggerate the heat that comes off you two when you’re near each other earlier.”
She was entirely too observant for my tastes right then. I didn’t wanna face the feelings for Kolton that were churning through me. They confused me and threw all my plans for the future into chaos.
“Even he’s not fighting the attraction between the two of ya anymore, which thrills me more than ya know. If anyone deserves ta find love and happiness, it’s my son. He’s been through entirely too much in his young life,” Bonnie said, her gaze moving off to a point on the wall as she seemed to lose herself to memories that saddened her.
“What happened between Karlene and Kolton?” I asked impulsively. Something told me she had something to do with Kolton’s initial reaction to me and the intense connection I’d felt as soon as I’d opened my eyes to find him standing over me.
“That’s not my story ta tell, as much as I’d like ta fill ya in. You’ll have ta ask Kolt about that. I’ll warn ya, he’s not gonna wanna talk about it willingly.” Her face had turned grave and her eyes somber as she turned them back toward me. “Tread lightly on that topic and don’t push it. He’ll tell ya when he’s ready, as long as ya have an ear willin’ ta listen.”
“She’s a beautiful girl,” I stated, feeling inadequate compared the woman who’d had Kolton’s heart. There was no way I’d ever compare to her. Other than her snobbish attitude and huge ego, she had everything else going for her. I bet she could do it all: cook, clean, work and take care of a family without batting an eye. What could I offer him? I’d lived a sheltered life, unable to do most of those things.
Doubt edged its way in, and I went back to wondering how much I’d be holding Kolton back by going through with this plan. Maybe I should spare him being tethered to me for the rest of our lives and find somewhere else to hide from my father.
“Don’t go judgin’ a book by its cover, girlie. That woman is rotten ta her core and would drag Kolton down if she ever got her hooks back into him,” Bonnie warned, and goose bumps pimpled my skin from the pure contempt in her voice for the other woman. “I’m trustin’ ya to make sure that doesn’t happen. ‘Specially after I’m gone. Not that he’d take her back anyway, but still. Please trust me when I say she’s no good for him.”
“I just wish I knew what happened between them, what I’m supposed to be protecting him from,” I said, pleading with her to reconsider and help ease the inadequacy I was suddenly feeling compared to the woman who seemed to fit into his world perfectly.
“Your parents didn’t do much ta build your self-esteem and self-confidence, did they?” Bonnie asked with a sad shake of her head. “I know where your mind’s at, and I’m tellin’ ya, Kolton will live a far better, much happier life with ya than he ever would with that no-good, blood-suckin’ slut.”
“Wow…”
“That Karlene is a real piece of work and in no way compares to ya, so stop thinkin’ she’s better than ya are. I wouldn’t have suggested the two of ya gettin’ hitched if I thought she was the better option. I coulda called the little hussy up and figured out a plan ta get them back together if I didn’t fear for how bitter she’d make him in the end,” she continued as if I hadn’t made a sound. “Girl, not only do ya have class, but you’re respectful of yourself and those around ya. Ya care about others, what they think and how they feel. Karlene only cares about Karlene.”
“Why are y’all talkin’ ‘bout that witch?” Kolton asked as he returned to the room with a scowl on his face, wiping his hands on a dish towel.
“Carissa asked about what happened in the past.”
Kolton opened his mouth to object, but Bonnie held her hand up to silence him and finished what she’d been about to say. I could tell this conversation was taking its toll on her and wished I’d never brought it up.
“I told her that’s your story ta tell before makin’ sure she knew what a no-good slut Karlene is.”
“Ya shouldn’t have even said that,” Kolton growled, shooting her a matching glare.
“Now I’m allowed my opinion just the same as I have an ass hole. I may not go runnin’ my mouth about your past like Caleb would, but I am allowed ta voice that whether ya like it or not. I’ve never hidden what I thought about that girl, and I ain’t ‘bout ta start now,” Bonnie declared, putting Kolton in his place, but the strength I’d come to know from her was diminishing quickly.
“Is dinner ready? I’m starving,” I interjected, praying both would allow the subject change to ease the tension growing in the room. I hadn’t intended to start an argument between them and felt horrible that he’d heard the tail end of our discussion.
“Yeah. Just set the Shepherd’s Pie on the table and was comin’ to let y’all know.” He forced a smile as he moved to help his mama get up from the chair and make the trip to the kitchen. I quickly fell into place on Bonnie’s other side, against every one of her weak protests about not needing any help. Kolton and I exchanged a concerned glance over her head, feeling the tremors rippling through Bonnie’s weakened body.
“Did ya take your meds today?” Kolton asked, realizing he hadn’t been here to supervise like he normally was, and I felt even more horrible. He would’ve been if it weren’t for me and my problems landing on his already overloaded doorstep.
“Do I look like a child?” Bonnie snapped irritably, exhaustion creeping into her voice. “I can handle makin’ sure I take my prescriptions without ya hoverin’ like a mother hen. Should just start callin’ ya Goose after Mother Goose.”
“Haha, you’re so funny,”
Kolton replied sarcastically and rolled his eyes where she couldn’t see him. I wondered if she’d told him that before.
“Wasn’t tryin’ ta be funny. Tired of ya babyin’ me. I was the one who changed your diapers and patched up your scrapes,” she reminded him as we got her situated in her chair at the head of the table.
“As if you’d ever let me forget,” Kolton said in a bored tone, which had me stifling a giggle. Listening to them go back and forth, knowing how much they loved each other, made me yearn for that feeling. My parents were always so cold and calculating in everything they did. There was no passion, love, happiness, or comfort to be found in their home. I prayed more than anything I’d have the chance to find what these two shared and experience it for myself.
Their banter continued through dinner, and I joined in a bit, laughing at some of the things Bonnie came up with. She was one hell of a character, and even I’d be hurting when she wasn’t around anymore. I picked up and scraped the dishes the way Kolton had shown me the previous night, while he got her settled in her room for a good night’s rest.
As I began filling the sink, I finally allowed myself to acknowledge that I was eagerly waiting his return.
Chapter Sixteen
Kolton
I watched Carissa move about the kitchen for a few minutes, fear coursing through me at how perfect she looked preparing to wash the dishes. I couldn’t picture another woman other than Mama looking that at home, especially in that room. That was the warning that set off my internal alarms. I was starting to feel more for her than I’d given myself permission to. This was more than just wanting to fuck her senseless until we both got tired of each other. These feelings led to trouble. Add to those feelings the images of Carissa’s rounded belly as she moved around the kitchen—thanks to my Mama’s baby demands—and I felt like a man drowning.
A small smile played across her lips as she was filling the sink, and I wondered what she was thinking about. My heart hoped it was me, while my brain told my heart to shut the hell up. It was worse than having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.
I admired how quickly Carissa picked things up as I observed her easily replicate the process for washing dishes. It was almost as if she’d been doing it for years instead of for the first time in her life. She was a natural in everything she did, even though I could tell she often felt like a fish out of water.
With my thoughts veering off course, I decided it would be best if I helped her finish cleaning and headed off to bed for yet another sleepless night.
“Hey,” I said as I moved farther into the room. She jumped a little as if she’d been lost in thought. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare ya.”
“I was just thinking,” she muttered, going back to scrubbing the casserole dish I’d made the pie in for dinner.
“What were you thinkin’ ‘bout?” I asked, unable to stop myself, even though I knew I should just let it go.
“It was nothing,” she said, her cheeks burning red as she dropped her head so her hair flowed down to hide her face. The ends were dipping into the soapy water, and all I could think about was wrapping that hair in my fists and holding onto it as I pounded into her as deep as I could go.
“It doesn’t look like nothin’,” I commented, moving her hair back to see her better, enjoying its silky feel against my roughened fingertips.
“How’s Bonnie?” she asked, trying to change the subject, but I wasn’t about to let it go so easily.
“Restin’ comfortably. She was exhausted, so she fell asleep easily. Now, tell me what you were thinkin’ about so hard ya didn’t hear me enter the room.”
She let out a small sigh at how I’d managed to answer her question while keeping the conversation focused on her.
“We really should iron out more of the details about how this marriage is going to work, what the boundaries are and so forth,” she said, and I knew that hadn’t been what she’d been so deep in thought over, but she was right, we did need to hash that stuff out. Mama’s earlier words began echoing in my ears, and I wasn’t sure whether I’d like what Carissa had to say.
“Well, I’ll be handlin’ the ranch work, and thanks to you, doin’ online schoolwork to make Mama happy,” I told her, and she threw me a glare over her shoulder, her coloring having returned to its normal pearl-white shade with peach tints along her cheekbones that were elegant and high on her stunning face.
“That’s not what I meant, and finishing your education is good for you,” she retorted, throwing a handful of suds over her shoulder at me. I didn’t realize what she was going to do fast enough and ended up with a face full of soap bubbles.
“Oh. So that’s how ya wanna play? Game on,” I stated, more than willing to do battle with her. I grabbed the sprayer, aimed it, and held down the tab, dousing her good.
“Kolton!” she screeched, throwing her hands up with a plate to block the deluge hitting her and reflecting it back on me at the same time.
When I stopped spraying the water, she seized full advantage and cupped her hands full of more suds and tossed them at me before scrambling backward to try to skirt my reach. The floor was slippery from the water I’d sprayed, and she quickly lost her footing, landing with a loud plop in the puddle of water she’d slid on. I leaned over, grabbed her wrists, and began to pull her up, but when she was about halfway to her feet, she used her weight to flop backward, pulling me right along with her. She rolled out of the way just as I toppled chest-first into the puddle. Luckily, I’d gotten my hands down to protect my face in time.
I narrowed my eyes at her as she giggled helplessly and crab walked to get away. Her wet clothes were glued to her body, leaving not a single thing to my imagination other than the color of the nipples I’d love to be sucking on right about now.
“Where do ya think you’re goin’?” I growled, needing to feel her body under me so desperately it was all I could think of. I’d have to get her back for that little stunt later. “Get back here.”
I wrapped my fingers around her ankle and tugged on it just enough to move her back toward me a bit as I moved on my free hand and knees to hover over her. There was no mistaking the hunger lurking in her eyes as she stared up at me, all thoughts of our play long gone.
“I want you,” I told her, my voice low and overflowing with the need I’d lost control of reining in. “I want to kiss you. Now.”
Staring into her eyes, I gave her a moment to object, but when her tongue darted out, moistening her lips in invitation, I gave in to the temptation I’d managed to resist this long. My mouth slanted over hers, tongue pressing against her lips in its demand for entrance into her delectable mouth. I knew she’d taste as good as she looked, and I wasn’t disappointed when her lips parted immediately, granting me the access I needed more than I’d cared to admit.
One sweep of my tongue in her mouth, and I was lost. She tasted divine, and I couldn’t imagine ever going another day forward without sampling this little slice of heaven as many times I could get her to allow me to.
Her hands snaked up my chest and wound around my neck, tangling in the hair I’d allowed to grow much too long. Her fingers curled, gripping it tightly, pulling me in closer as her tongue met mine stroke for stroke in our exploration of each other.
This kiss, unlike any other I’d ever experienced, had been well worth the wait. No other girl or woman compared to this one. With a firm grasp of her ponytail, I tipped her head to better angle her mouth for me to explore deeper. With a low, throaty moan, she opened her mouth wider for me. I just couldn’t get enough, and she seemed to feel the same.
Her legs came up and wrapped themselves around my waist as she pressed her body up closer against mine as I pressed down harder against her. It took every remaining ounce of control I had left in my body not to dry hump her there on the kitchen floor, but I respected her far too much to degrade her that way. In fact, I had to find a way to stop this before I ended up ripping her clothes off and finishing this balls deep i
nside her.
With a groan, I pulled back, panting. “We have to stop, darlin’.”
“I don’t want to stop,” she told me, lifting her head enough to nip at my chin with her teeth.
“Not like this,” I managed to bite out as she continued nipping along my jawline. “I want our first time together to be in bed where I can properly worship your amazing body, not on the kitchen floor where all the hands have tracked God knows what through. You deserve a lot better than this, darlin’.”
She hummed her disapproval but pulled her head back so it rested against the floor as she gazed up at me, lust still filling those gorgeous eyes of hers. Seeing her stunning hazel eyes flared with lust for me in perfect contrast to her natural hair color made me grateful she’d changed her mind about dying it that awful blonde color. I briefly wondered what had made her change her mind but dismissed the thought when my raging hard-on demanded I get close to her and finish what we’d started.
Unable to stay in my current position without reclaiming her mouth, I rolled over onto my back beside her as we both took a few moments to catch our breath. Not only had I never had a woman’s hair color choice bother me before, I’d never had a kiss affect me like that. It was as if we’d connected on far more than the physical level. I’d felt her soul wrapping itself around mine in an age old dance meant for soulmates and those truly in love.
“We should clean up this mess,” Carissa finally said, pushing herself up to sitting to survey the chaos we’d created. It wasn’t anything the mop and a few towels couldn’t handle.
“Wanna have a cup of coffee when we’re done and try to hash some of this stuff out or do ya think we should call it a night?” I asked as I carefully got to my feet so I didn’t land on my butt all over again. Then I helped Carissa the rest of the way to hers and steadied her before moving toward the closet we kept the cleaning supplies in.