The Con

by Nicole Marsh

  Chapter 37

  Katie stops in the deadened grass in front of my trailer, her car still idling, as she brings me home from our post-painting celebratory dinner. “Did you want to come inside and hang out?” I ask, excited to spend more time in my new, updated space.

  “Uhm, I can’t tonight. I actually need to get home to work on something for a little while,” she replies evasively.

  “Oh okay,” I respond tamping down the disappointment generated by her refusal. Reminding myself she devoted her entire afternoon to decorating my trailer lessens the blow. She probably needs some time to focus on her own life. My thoughts also briefly touch on her mysterious text conversation that she carried on throughout the day, as I unbuckle my seatbelt. “Well, I’ll see you Monday then,” I say, then add, “Thank you again, for everything.”

  Katie gives me a side hug, then eyes me as we separate. “Hey, you aren’t going anywhere else tonight, right?”

  “Uhm, no,” I respond, startled by her out-of-the-blue question. “I was planning on hanging out here.”

  “Alright, I was just wondering,” she says with a shrug. “See you Monday,” she adds with a smile that’s more toned down than usual.

  Our eyes lock for a second and I speculate as to why she’s suddenly acting so strange, but her clear blue eyes reveal nothing. Shrugging it off, I open the door and exit her hot pink bug. She nods and gives a quick wave, immediately backing onto the dirt road and bumping away before I even make it up my steps.

  “Well that was weird,” I mutter to myself, unlocking my front door. I pause before crossing the threshold, flipping the light switch to admire my new living room.

  It’s crazy how a coat of fresh paint and some new fabric can transform a space.

  Stepping forward, I beeline to my updated couch and plop onto the newly covered cushions. The fabric Katie brought to replace my old, grimy cushions, is a pale yellow with little pink flowers. It looks similar to the fabric covering the banquette for my new table without being an exact match. My eyes flit across the space, captivated by the little details Katie incorporated into one cohesive design that fits me perfectly.

  Finally, I have a real home, that truly feels like mine.

  A grin appears on my lips and I sit in silence, soaking in the space, and enjoying the feeling of belonging. Not because I don’t have money, but because this is where I live, a space I’ve paid for and maintained all on my own.

  A knock on the door interrupts my moment of self-reflection and my brow furrows wondering who it could be. If it’s Derek, I fully intend to slam the door in his face.

  Cautiously, I unlock my new deadbolt and inch open the door, ready to smash it back shut if necessary. Instead my jaw drops and my hand falls from the thin tin. A familiar blonde stands on my steps, a bunch of lilies grasped tightly in his hand. Butterflies run amok in my stomach at the sight of him, but I do my best to contain them as I ask, “Collin? What are you doing here?”

  Collin seems like he’s struggling to find his words, and he shuffles his feet for a second. It’s the first time I’ve seen this confident, sexy guy looking awkward. I think about saying something else to comfort him when he finally replies with, “Can I come in?”

  I nod, wordlessly standing aside to let him pass. His side brushes against me as he enters, causing the butterflies to swoop and dive at an exacerbated pace. I take an extra second to lock the deadbolt, needing the time to gather my wits before facing him.

  When I twirl around to face Collin again, his eyes are wide as he notices the changes to my trailer. As if he can sense my gaze focused on him, he quickly locks his eyes with mine and passes me the flowers. “These are for you.”

  “Thank you,” I reply simply, placing the lilies on the counter behind me.

  “It looks really nice in here,” he drawls. His gaze not leaving mine, emerald eyes searing into my soul. It’s a lesson in self-restraint to keep my feet still and my hands locked against my sides.

  I nod again, silently, his words floating in the air between us unaddressed. We continue staring at each other, and I force the hope blooming in my chest back down. Taking a deep inhale to brace myself for the conversation I’m about to delve into; I need to find out why Collin is here before I break my own heart all over again with unwarranted expectations.

  “What—“

  “‘McKenzie—“

  We both start and stop our sentences at the same time. Collin gestures for me to go first.

  Leaning against the counter, I begin again, “What are you doing here?” I force my tone to remain open and curious, rather than hopeful and desperate.

  Collin releases a deep sigh, he motions to my newly cushioned couch then quirks a brow at me, “May I?”

  I nod and he sits down, lounging back against my couch and fuck me if he doesn’t look like he belongs there for all of eternity. He releases another sigh, the noise pulling me from my reverie, where I imagined walking forward and straddling him; kissing him until neither of us can remember our own names.

  “I came to apologize, McKenzie. What I did on Monday was fucked up and I’m sorry.” He hangs his head, holding the sides with his hands like he’s ashamed of his actions at school. He continues, without glancing up again, his gaze and words aimed at his lap. “I’m not interested in Isabelle, I never have been and it didn’t go any further than a little flirting and placing my arm around her, I swear.”

  As the final words leave his lips, he finally looks up, his pained emerald eyes begging me to believe him. Isabelle stated as much at the SATs, but hearing the words from him provides a strange sort of relief, the feeling flooding my veins.

  “Why did you do it?” I ask, my whispered words lingering in the space between us.

  Collin appears abashed and trains his gaze on his hands in his lap again. I instantly miss the sight of the emerald green orbs. “You hurt me and I wanted to hurt you back. It was all pretty petty and I’m really sorry…” He glances up at me, his tone and eyes beseeching. “Can you forgive me?”

  Can I forgive him? Does that mean… he’s still interested in me?

  I push away from the counter, feeling bolder and more confident. Sitting next to Collin on the couch, I grab his hand and intertwine our fingers. He doesn’t resist my affection or yank from my grasp, which I interpret to mean my assumption is correct.

  “No, I’m sorry. I should’ve been honest with you about the deal I made with Derek. It just never felt like there was a right time and you found out in the shittiest way possible.” My eyes lock with Collin’s, his emerald gaze penetrating my soul with the connection. The heat that’s been missing all week slowly floods my veins making me feel like I’m burning from the inside out. “I should’ve told you the truth, but I was afraid it would push you away. As a result, I waited too long and lost you anyways,” I half-whisper.

  Collin opens his mouth to reply, but I place a single finger over his lips. The movement silences him as intended, and I continue, the words spilling from my lips. “You’re so perfect. I feel like everything good in my life ends up leaving, but I don’t want you to leave… not again. I don’t want to fuck this up because I think I’m falling for you, Collin Franzen.”

  He squeezes my hand and replies, talking past my finger. “Well that’s a relief because I’m definitely falling for you McKenzie Carslyle,” he drawls the words out and the heat simmering between us flares into an inferno. We fall into each other, our mouths clashing in desperation, like it’s been seven years since our last kiss, instead of a mere seven days.

  His teeth and tongue nip and lick at my lips until I open to his onslaught. He uses his kisses to communicate his appreciation, sorrow, and gratitude in that order; confirming he felt the same way without me as I did without him.

  When we finally separate, we’re both panting, my lungs screaming from the lack of oxygen, but the rest of my body aching to get closer to Collin Franzen. I lean forward to resume our kiss, but Collin evades me with a smirk.

&nbs
p; “Before we continue this, I want to make a deal,” he drawls, the words low and sexy.

  I almost agree without thought, purely from the sensual appeal of his tone. With painstaking care, I slowly gather my wits in an effort to formulate a reply. “I think I’m done making deals with dangerous guys,” I quip back.

  “So, you think I’m dangerous?” Collin asks, his face inching closer to mine with each word.

  “Definitely,” I admit. “After one month, you’ve imprinted yourself on my soul. I don’t think I could shake you even if I wanted to, and I don’t want to.”

  Collin chuckles, shaking his head before moving to hover over my lips. “I feel the same way, so maybe you’re dangerous too, McKenzie Carslyle.” He brushes his lips lightly against mine, then pulls back, preventing me from deepening our kiss. “I think this is a deal you’ll like though,” he whispers.

  “Okay, I’m listening,” I reply, staring into an emerald gaze I could never tire of.

  “How about we promise to tell each other the truth moving forward? Even if it’s difficult,” he proposes.

  I put a finger to my chin, tapping lightly like I’m contemplating his words. Collin tilts forward, nipping at the digit with a growl, halting its movement. His silly antics help to relieve some of the tension from our serious conversation. Giggling, I remove my hand and place it in my lap.

  In a somber tone, I agree, “I think I would like to accept your deal, with one amendment.”

  “Go on,” he drawls.

  “I think we need to promise to accept each other’s truth without judgment, even when it’s difficult,” I respond.

  Collin nods slowly, once. Then he repeats the motion again after a few beats, but he remains silent.

  “I think it’s the only way this will work,” I whisper, trying to sway him to my side, not realizing the nod was his answer.

  “Of course, I agree to your amendment,” Collin replies. “Now tell me, when did you become so wise, McKenzie Carslyle?”

  “This deal was your idea.”

  “So maybe I’m the wise one,” he quips with a smirk.

  “Well, oh wise Collin Franzen, how would you like to spend the rest of our night?” My voice becomes a little shy as I add, “Together, right?”

  Collin slips his fingers into mine and gives them a tight squeeze. “Do you want to head back to my house? We can spend the night there. You can stay as long as you want…” He offers.

  I pause, surveying my new, clean walls, the fresh, vibrant curtains, and the succulent that Katie gifted me. Turning to Collin, I confess, “I think I’d like to stay here, if that’s okay. It finally feels like home.”

  His emerald eyes search mine, and whatever he sees causes a warm smile to bloom on his face. “I’d like that very much,” he drawls and tucks my head against his chest, under his chin.

  We sit there for a while, his steady breathing lulling me into a state of calm. This moment, this absolutely perfect moment, imprints itself on my brain. I want a hundred simple moments like this with my guy.

  Collin’s hands brush a soothing, circular motion across my upper biceps and I nestle in further, embracing the peace and warmth that he offers with his silent presence. Soon, his hands start roving upwards, cradling my neck and guiding my face to meet his. He brushes his lips across mine softly, and I release a small, contented sigh.

  The sound emboldens him and he deepens the kiss, his lips searing mine with their ardent passion. In under sixty seconds, he works me into a frenzy. My calm state has fled, my chest heaving with my impassioned breaths as I match his kisses with fervor. Our teeth, tongues, and lips smash together, in a sloppy cadence, desperate to get as close to each other as possible.

  When he finally pulls away, escaping my lips as they pursue his, he stares down at me with a smirk. “I think I could easily spend the rest of my life kissing you,” he drawls.

  “Would you like to see the rest of the updates to my trailer?” I ask with a smirk of my own, offering a hand intent on leading him to my bedroom.

  “I would like that very much, Wise McKenzie,” he drawls, placing his warm palm in mine. He uses the grip to pull me up to my toes as he rises, sweeping me into his arms bridal style, carrying me back towards my bed. My feet never touch the ground as he places me directly onto my mattress.

  He takes a step back, as if he’s taking a mental snapshot of this moment to keep the memory of the day we got back together, forever.

  And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t doing the same.

  Chapter 38

  I wake up sprawled across Collin’s chest, our legs intertwined, and his arms clasped around my waist, holding me in place. My eyes drink in his sleeping form, still wearing his clothes from yesterday. I fight the urge to pinch the skin on my forearm, to ensure I’m not dreaming and imagining the handsome guy laying in my bed. His plump lips relaxed as his chest moves with each deep breath.

  Last night was surreal.

  Never in a million years would I predict that Collin would show up on my porch with flowers, not after the way he dismissed me in the hall on Monday. I’m not complaining; I’m both grateful for his forgiveness and determined to approach this second chance with complete honesty.

  Collin isn’t slipping through my fingers again.

  He lazily lifts one lid and a single emerald eye connects with mine. “Hello, beautiful,” he grumbles, his voice coated in sleep.

  “Hi,” I respond, nerves heightening the pitch of my words.

  Collin tightens his grip, squeezing me closer to his chest and dragging me with him. He scoots up, to rest against the wall behind the bed. As an effect, I end up straddling his lap, my knees pressing into the mattress on either side of his legs, my center covering an erection that grows impossibly harder and thicker by the second.

  His arousal triggers my own, my core flooding with heat as our eyes connect. Maintaining eye contact, I drift forward and close the gap between our mouths, stopping just shy of our lips connecting. Hovering just above him, I grip his sides, rubbing my aching core across his cock.

  Collin groans, sealing his lips to mine in one swift movement. He claims my mouth, taking over as his hands grip my hips, sliding my center across him in a consistent motion. The delicious friction builds, and I yearn to undress.

  As if reading my thoughts, Collin slips his hands underneath my shirt. Tugging it over my head in one smooth movement, breaking our lips apart as it crosses my face. Collin leans back, his heated gaze raking over my torso.

  The look in his eyes causes me to feel like I’m burning alive from the inside out, my blood heating and thrumming against my skin. With increased urgency, I tug at the bottom of Collin’s shirt. Feeding off my desperation, he rips it over his head, then lifts me up and we tear off the rest of our clothing in a frenzy.

  We stare at each other, a million unspoken words pinging back and forth in the connection, until I close my eyes and claim Collin’s lips once more. His hands graze against my back as he pulls me closer, crushing me to his chest. My liquid heat soaks his erection as it prods against me, in a preview of what’s to come.

  I rock against him as our lips compete for dominance. Delicious heat continues to build with each pass of my center against his. Collin’s hands wind to the front of my chest and he cups a breast in each hand, kneading and tweaking as his tongue sweeps across mine. I moan into his mouth, feeling his smug smirk against my lips as he adds to the friction at my core, two fingers sliding against my clit, lubricated by my desire.

  He drives me to the edge and my muscles tense, preparing for the orgasm Collin is orchestrating with his hands and mouth. As my core tightens, his name leaves my lips, pleasure zipping through every cell as my release rips through me.

  Collin lifts me, sliding me slowly onto his cock, each inch filling me, reigniting my desire, and extending the pleasure that had begun to ebb. With steady movements, he grips my hips and guides me as I ride him. His eyes lock on mine and the intensity of his gaze leaves me br
eathless.

  This feels less like sex and more like making love.

  He groans as I tighten my legs around his hips and take control, increasing my tempo. Sliding to the tip of his thick length, then slamming back down, I bring both of us to the edge, our chests rapidly rising and falling as the rest of the world fades away.

  Together, we fall over the edge, giving in to our pleasure.

  My second orgasm rips through me, every inch of my body tightening against Collin as he thrusts into me, groaning his own release. His arms catch my body as I sag against him, feeling weak but sated.

  We stay in bed, wrapped around each other intimately as we gather our breath. Collin pecks my forehead and nuzzles his face against my sweat-drenched neck. His lips lightly graze the skin, as he lays a soft kiss there. “Thank you,” he whispers, so quietly, I almost miss his words.

  “For what?”

  Collin pulls back, his emerald gaze searching mine, then he drawls, “For forgiving me. I’m so sorry.”

  My expression is incredulous as I process his words. “We both have made mistakes, but I think we were made for each other, Collin Franzen,” I finally reply. Laying a soft kiss against his cheek, I whisper, “We have the rest of our lives to prove it to each other.”

  I smile at his soft expression, and heave my body off his, stumbling slightly when my over-pleasured legs touch my bedroom floor. Collin shoots up steadying me, but I slip from his grasp and exit the room.

  Wandering from my bedroom, I enter the bathroom, bringing my phone with me to shoot a text to Katie. While I take care of business, I think of what to say, finally opening my messaging app after I wash my hands. Collin came over yesterday with flowers. We stayed up half the night talking through everything…

  Three dots appear on the screen immediately, showing Katie’s typing a response. Seconds later, my phone dings, alerting me to her message. Yay! I’m glad his plan worked out!! I’m so happy for you two.

  Her words give me pause. Recalling her weirdness from yesterday, it suddenly dawns on me that Collin and Katie were texting the entire time she was at my trailer. It’s probably the reason she was acting so strangely when she dropped me off. She knew Collin was on his way over.