by Colt, Shyla
“You’ll like Gina. She’s real personable, just like Paul.”
“I’m excited to meet your friends. Though, I can’t say when I’ll get to return the favor. I’m sort of starting from the ground up out here. Maybe I’ll have some visitors soon.”
“That’d be nice,” he said. “Have you told them about me?”
“Oh yes, my best friend, D and my sister, Calli, know all about the sexy, musically inclined man next door who I gently persuaded to date me.”
“Is that how you see me?”
She gave him a sly once-over that made his blood boil. “That’s the PG version.”
He chuckled at her sauciness and knocked on the door.
Paul answered a minute later. “Hey, guys, come on in.” He welcomed them inside the foyer, issued a quick hug to Julian and kissed the back of Colette’s hand. “It’s lovely to see you again, Colette. I thought I saw sparks going off between you two when we first met. It’s good to see I wasn’t wrong.”
“Not one to beat around the bush, are you?” Colette asked.
“Nope.”
They both laughed and he relaxed. Tonight would be fun.
“Stop flirting with my girlfriend and tell us where Gina is. We need her to keep you in line.”
“Come on. She’s waiting for us in the backyard. We have beer, water and lemonade on ice…we weren’t sure what you’d prefer, Colette. The meat is marinating and ready to be grilled whenever we’re ready for it. We also have potato salad, baked beans and watermelon in the fridge to go with it.”
“Sounds delicious,” she said.
Paul led them through the house and out onto the spacious green lawn that stretched out before them. The sandstone patio had a natural design that was broken up by the monstrous silver grill that sat up against the wall. Twenty feet away, the sound of the waterfall attached to the alcove designed to look like a rock formation greeted their ears.
Gina, who was sitting at the black wrought iron table, stood to greet them. “You must be Colette! It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Gina.”
“Hi.” Colette shook her hand. “You have an amazing house.”
“Thank you. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Lemonade would be great.” She followed Gina over to the far corner where the bright red cooler sat.
Paul turned to Julian with a smile. “I didn’t want to say this in front of your girl, but I am so happy for you, brother.” He patted his back. “This has been a long time coming.”
“I’ll be the first to admit I thought this day might never come. It feels good.” He glanced over to where the two girls were alternating between conversation and sips of lemonade.
“Well, they seem to be getting along well,” Paul noted.
“Yeah, Col is easy to get along with.”
“Col, huh?” Paul smiled. “How long have you two been together?”
Julian cleared his throat. “About three and half months.”
“Why did you keep this from me for so long?”
“I wanted to see if it was actually going somewhere first. I’ve never been able to say, ‘This is my girlfriend.’ It’s uncharted waters.” He shrugged. “It sounds stupid when I say it out loud.”
“No, it doesn’t. I get it, Jay. Just make sure she does too. Last thing a woman wants is to feel like she’s a secret.”
Julian smiled. Paul had been there through thick and thin. He was coming from a place of love with his questions. It made him feel good.
“She understands.”
“Good.” Paul nodded. “Why don’t we head over to join them?”
They rejoined the girls, taking their seats beside their significant others.
* * * *
I feel official. She’d never thought Julian felt ashamed of her, but as the months ticked down and they continued to stay confined to their houses, she felt disheartened. If he wasn’t willing to take her around his friends, he definitely wasn’t going to be willing to give up his talent, possibly his career, for her.
She hated the timetable. Every day it seemed to close in on her a little more. She peered over at him. How would she let him go if he said no? She turned to stare out the window, eager to get her mind off the negative path it had traveled.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Colette studied her reflection in the mirror. Her light pink dress was cinched at the waist by a wide brown belt, which she paired with light brown knee-high boots. The perfect ensemble for a night in, around a fondue pot with chocolate, champagne and strawberries. It was the thought of showing Julian the naughty bits she wore underneath that made her belly tighten. He won’t know what hit him. The black lace baby-doll with the sheer black underwear was the tamest outfit she’d purchased. She wanted to start off innocent and work her way up.
Her hand trembled as doubts threatened to swallow her whole. They’d been moving along so well. He didn’t flinch at her touch on his skin or act as if she’d disappear at any moment. What if pushing for more set them back to start? The butterflies in her stomach turned to boulders. It’s been five months. It’s time. Each time they kissed, the words “I love you” struggled to climb their way out of her mouth. She needed to know where they stood. But just in case it all went to hell afterward, she wanted this one night with him to be as close as two people could get.
With one last fluff of her large curls, she turned on her heel and headed into the living room. What felt like hours later, the doorbell rang, signaling her lover’s arrival. She hurried to answer the door and grinned.
Dressed in a pair of loose-fitting jeans with a white button-down and a gray skinny tie underneath a khaki trench coat and his favorite pair of gray Converse, he was sexy quirkiness personified.
“Come in, handsome.”
He stepped inside and pulled her into him for a hug.
“You look great,” she whispered into his neck.
“Thanks, so do you.”
“Tonight, I thought we could do something a little decadent and satisfy that sweet tooth of yours.”
“This is sounding better and better.”
They moved apart. Still holding hands, she led him into the kitchen. She gestured to the counter that held the fondue pot as they entered the room.
“It smells delicious.”
“That’s the Belgian chocolate.”
“You are a goddess.”
Not quite, but you have no idea how close you are to being right.
He bent down and nipped her lips. His tongue swept across them, teasing her, before it plunged inside. Even after all this time, he explored her as though it was still their first kiss.
Colette moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her body to his.
“I think you may be the sweetest thing in this room,” he whispered against her lips. He then delivered another drugging kiss. Their heads tilted and his fingers threaded through her hair. Julian pulled the strands taut. The pleasurable pain made her gasp. Her nipples stiffened and her core was as slick as a Slip ’N Slide. They parted for air and she clutched at his shirt, taking shaky breaths as she recovered.
“I think we should get back to the fondue while we still can,” he said, his voice husky as if he’d just tossed back a shot of whiskey.
She smoothed down her messy hair and gave a sheepish grin. “The champagne is in the fridge, beside the strawberries, if you want to get them out.”
“Done.”
Colette watched him move around her house with ease. The familiarity made her smile. It wasn’t difficult to imagine this was their home together. She got out a large plate and two glasses while he set the strawberries on the counter and popped the cork on the champagne. He poured them both a healthy glass. She took a sip. The clear liquid tickled her nose and throat as it slid down to rest in her belly. “Have you ever done this before?” she asked.
“No.”
“Me either, so we’ll both be in the same boat.” Colette set her glass on the counter. “Ready?”
He nodded
and they both picked up the long-stemmed metal forks.
“Ladies first,” Julian prompted.
“So chivalrous.” She placed the strawberry on the end of her fork and dipped it into the milk chocolate, then pulled it up and allowed the chocolate to harden a bit before she placed it on the plate.
“Nicely done, Col.”
Warmth spread through her body at the sound of his pet name. She never tired of hearing it. “Thank you.”
A comfortable silence fell as they focused on coating the plump, deep red berries in rich chocolate. After they finished, the two grabbed their items and headed into the living room. They sat down on the couch and she peered at him from beneath her lashes. Could he tell her heart was racing and she was nervous as hell?
“What?” he asked, turning to face her. “You’re staring.”
“I want to try something, but you have to trust me. Close your eyes?”
“Okay.”
He complied and she rose onto her knees. He frowned, but she smoothed it away with her fingers. “Relax.” She massaged his temples, placing tiny kisses on his face as the tension left his body.
He relaxed back into the cushions of the couch.
She nipped at his neck and he shivered. Moving away, she grabbed one of the strawberries. Colette dipped the tip into her glass of champagne and brought it back to his lips, tracing their outline with the red berry. “Open up and take a bite, sweetheart.”
He opened his mouth and bit down. Juices ran down his lips, onto his chin and she lapped them up with her tongue.
“Mhmm.”
“Is it good?”
He nodded and swallowed. “It’s delicious.”
“Hmm, I think I need a taste for myself.” Colette bent down and slipped her tongue into his mouth.
They parried tongues, each battling for dominance as she moved to sit on his lap, her legs spread wide. The rough denim caressed her through her thin panties, providing some friction, but nowhere near enough. This was the dance they continued to do, always stalling out before she found completion with his thickness buried inside her. Not tonight. “I want you.”
“Colette?”
“I want to see all of you and you to see all of me.”
“It’s not the same.” He shook his head.
“It is in every way that matters. I want to experience that final level of intimacy. There’s nothing about you that doesn’t turn me on.” She unknotted his tie and had the top three buttons of his shirt undone before he could protest.
“Col…I—”
“Shhh, just feel.” She eased her hand into his shirt and caressed his chest. The burns must have been more intense here. His skin felt more warped, the scars more raised and defined.
His shoulders were ramrod straight and his fists were clenched as he stared off into the distance.
“Julian, look at me.”
He brought his gaze up to clash with hers.
She wanted to weep at the fear and embarrassment she saw. “Don’t take your eyes from mine.” She tweaked his nipple and he gasped.
His eyes darkened with passion.
“Do you like that?”
“Yes.”
Colette unbuttoned the rest of his shirt. “Can we take this off?”
“Yes.” His voice sounded tight and strained, but he hadn’t said no.
He sat up, helping her shrug off the crisp white cotton and her pulse pounded an erratic rhythm in the hollow of her throat. This is going to happen! She explored the expanse of skin exposed, learning the texture and sensitive spots. “Close your eyes again, and let go.” She kneaded the last dregs of stiffness from his shoulders. “It’s me, Julian.”
He opened his mouth to protest and she struck. Sucking his upper lip into her mouth, she proceeded to kiss him into submission. His hands came up to tangle in her hair and they lost themselves in the lovemaking of their mouths.
Desperate for air, she pulled up and sucked oxygen into her lungs. “Bedroom?”
“Yes.”
His passion-roughened voice went straight to her panties. Hot liquid soaked through the damp material to run onto her upper thighs. She slid off his lap and he stood up behind her. Colette grasped his hand and tugged him toward the stairs, ignoring his laughter as it followed them through the hallways.
“Sit on the bed.” She lit the candles she’d placed strategically around the room and came to stand in front of him. “Are you ready?”
* * * *
“Yes.” And he was. Somehow, Col had managed to turn apprehension into anticipation. She didn’t care about his raised scars or discolored skin. She just wanted him. A lump formed in his throat, trapping all the things he wanted to say. Fuck, I don’t want to cry.
He’d have to show her instead. From the start, she’d set the tone for their relationship, pursuing and reassuring him until he found his footing. Tonight it was his turn to take charge.
Illuminated by candles and the moonlight that filtered through the window, she looked like some sort of fairy come to life. Her hair spilled down her back in loose spirals and her dark skin seemed to catch the light, giving off an almost ethereal glow that highlighted her delicate features.
He stood and caressed her face with the back of his hand. She leaned into his touch and his heart swelled. He enjoyed being with Col, but he hadn’t wanted to love her. Love made you vulnerable to the worst kind of heartache there is. He was thinking now—he was already screwed.
Julian moved his hands down to the top button of her dress and pulled the pearl buttons through the slits, one by one. As she returned the favor to his pants, their gazes locked. He pulled back to step out of his pants and she shrugged off her dress, making his jaw drop.
The swell of her round globes teased him from the sweetheart bodice of the black baby-doll she wore. A nearly see-through G-string peeked out from underneath the flowing black material. He fell to his knees and licked a path over her panties. Her heat scorched him.
“Julian!”
Her nails dug into his hair and he sucked her swollen nub into his mouth. The cloth was soaked with her juices and the mesh material coupled with the salty sweet taste of her made his dick throb. He trailed his hands trailed up her thighs, then eased one inside her panties.
“You’re so hot and wet.” He rubbed his thumb over her swollen button, once, twice and pushed a digit inside her welcoming channel. “And tight.”
She gripped his hair as he slid in and out of her tight entrance, continuing his gentle assault on her clit as he increased the speed, working in tandem with the thrusts of her hips. He added another finger. Her thighs quivered and her grip tightened. His scalp tingled, but he knew she was on the verge. Hell, so was he. Pre-cum dampened his black boxers and his cock twitched in response to her moans. “That’s it, Colette. I want to feel you come all over my fingers.”
“God, Julian. I’m so close.” Her head fell back.
He sucked her button into his mouth, pushing her over. Her high-pitched squeal had him fighting back his own orgasm. There was nothing that pleased him more than bringing this woman to her peak. Her nectar ran down his fingers and onto his wrist. Julian released her clit to lick up every drop. He supported her until her trembles subsided and stood. He moved her to the bed and laid her down. “I think it’s time to take this off,” he said, tugging the straps of her G-string.
“I could say the same for you,” she whispered. “This is so not how I imagined this going.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Very good, Mr. Sorrow, very good.”
He pulled the thin scrap of material off her hips and down her legs, then flung it off the bed.
“Don’t forget to keep it even.”
He smirked at her taunt, rolled onto his back and shimmied out of his boxers. He took his rock-hard length in his hand and gave it a few strokes.
“Uh-uh, no cheating,” she said.
He growled playfully at her taunts and rolled over to pin her body
to the bed.
“I like this new side of you,” she said.
“Me too.”
“I’d like it more if you were inside of me.”
“I know better than to keep my lady waiting.”
She opened her legs wide and grasped him, guiding him home into her blistering heat.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered. She gripped him like a glove and when she flexed her muscles, he had to close his eyes and think of cold showers. He trembled as he pulled out and pressed back in up to his balls. They wouldn’t go fast, not this time.
“Open your eyes, Julian.”
He forced his heavy lids open. His heart pounded in his ears and he fell into her large brown eyes. The world narrowed to the feel of her sheath, the nails digging into his back and the gasps of pleasures that filled the air.
“Oh my God, Julian.” She lifted her hips, rocking up to meet every surge forward. The slow pace became a beautiful torture. Each thrust took him deeper inside. She placed her feet against the bed for more leverage.
“I can’t last much longer. It’s been too long.” He reached down between them to rub her engorged nub and swore when she spasmed. “Shit.”
“Oh—Ohhh ...”
He growled long and low and exploded. Light burst behind his eyes and he collapsed on top of her. After a few minutes, he pulled out to lie on the bed beside her and moved her body close. He stroked the sweat-slicked hair back from her face and breathed in their combined scents.
“That was amazing,” she whispered.
“It’s all because of you.” He rolled onto his side. “You turned it into something beautiful. God, I owe you so much, Colette. Since you’ve been in my life, everything has changed for the better. It’s like you were my reward for the horrible things that happened in my life.” He propped himself up on his elbow and twined their fingers together. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
“It was never a choice, Julian. From the minute I first saw you, it was like lightning struck and I had to get to know you.” She traced his face with her fingertips and leaned in to kiss him. “Thank you for letting me in.”
He had to be the luckiest man in the world. “I know you’ve urged me to get out there more, so I wanted you to be the first to know, Rocco accepted the contract.”