She thought it would be the perfect place for the new venture. She even thought about connecting the two at the bistro so food and coffee could be available on both sides. She was impressive; he could listen to her forever.
They finished their meals and decided to take their desserts to go. It was getting incredibly too hot in there, and neither could sit comfortably. They had walked to the nearby waterfront eatery since it was a clear, albeit cool, fall night. The benefit was obvious; the cool air allowed them each to breathe and chill their libidinous highs, but the walk, short as it may be, felt like miles.
They made their way back, taking in the romantic ambiance the city provided at night. There were many lit bridges crossing the river, joining its two sides, and crystal clear lights adorning the trees that lined each side of every street. Musicians, with their fedoras turned up for a quick tip, played the light jazzy music that set the mood. Enchanting clear skies were speckled with a sprinkling of glowing stars across its belly with the moon full, casting a stunning glassy reflection off the river that provided the romantically lit path home.
He stopped her just before the hotel to watch the steam roller paddle boat cross the water loaded with party goers, as it passed under a bridge. This night couldn’t get any better…with clothes on, anyway. He held her close, his piercing gaze pulling her in for a kiss to beat all kisses. He landed hard, purposeful, and full of promises he’d yet to make, but fully intended to deliver.
Her arms craned his neck, hands running through his hair, she pressed her chest to his, accepting what he was offering, teasing him with an offer of her own. His hands moved from her ass to her sides where they continued their ascent, clear to her breasts. His thumbs softly caressed her taught nipples through the material barrier. He took credit for their hardened state and the soft throaty moan, despite the cool air.
He had her pinned against the railing at the water’s edge beneath a tree, blocking any onlooker’s view with his large physique. He pulled away slowly, her arms dropping to his waist in disappointment. He cupped her face in his large hands, thumbs stroking her lips to her cheeks, and he stared into her eyes searching for words that would say everything she meant to him.
“I love you too…” she said, hearing every word that he didn’t have to say. She felt his heart in everything he did, and the look he had told a love story that there weren’t enough pages for.
It was one you could only feel, and maybe get a shy glimpse of if you looked hard enough. It was bold, all consuming, and passionate. She did, she loved him, loved him so hard.
“You love me? Because of wine again, or…” He asked with his grin that promised her trouble.
She tilted her head and attempted an offended look and slapped him on his ass. He chuckled at her response, then pulled her in for another kiss. This time, it was soft, slow, and full of forevers. It took her breath away. This time she broke their kiss and tried to regain her balance.
“Not because of the wine, but because I really love you. I loved you the other night…” she said with a laugh referring to her drunken confession. “I think I’ve loved you all along.”
He kissed her forehead and leaned his head to hers. Staring into her eyes, he took in everything she said, reconciling each word. She was his angel, everything want, need, and desire…and she loved him.
“Megan, you have no idea what hearing those words means to me,” he said. Taking a moment, he looked to the night’s sky and gathered his thoughts, trying to prepare the appropriate words to help her feel what he felt. “I knew you were mine the first night at the wedding. You are my dream come true, my beginning and end. You and Jax both. I don’t remember my life before you, and can’t imagine the rest of my life without you.”
He continued to pour his heart out to her, knowing his words were sinking in when the tears collecting in her beautiful golden eyes, finally welled over, streaking her cheeks. His plea to stay, not to run, to let him battle her past with her and protect her was out on the table. He prayed that his words were heard for what they really were, a beautiful overture to trust and rely on him…to stay forever.
“I know something frightens you and that you’ll tell me when you’re ready, but know I will keep you safe, protect you from anything and everything until my last breath. I’ll fight for you forever.” Colton finished his final appeal as sincere as could be, hoping it was enough.
She shook her head, looked down then around her. How did she end up here with this perfect man that was everything every girl dreamed of, yet he wanted a broken, damaged, imperfect her? That small voice in the back of her mind chose that moment to make some noise reminding her of what was out there and waiting for her, hunting her. It was telling her to run and take the danger with her.
She looked up, got caught in his stare, and her heart took over. He said he would protect her, he said he would listen when she was ready, he said forever.
“Colton, I…I have so much to tell you, to share with you. I am so afraid…” She stopped to take back the control she was giving her enemy, unwilling to spoil their amazing night with her dramatic story. How did she tell him everything without compromising anything, their safety specifically?
“Meg, there isn’t anything to be afraid of, together. The only thing that frightens me is a life without you,” he finished with a whisper, words desperate, yet full of reason.
She smiled, her grip on him tightened and she nodded her head again, “Okay,” she said with a breathy laugh. She was ready to fight back and no longer live in the shadows, hiding from everything that wasn’t even there.
“Together, we’ll do it together, and chase our forever!” She declared.
Colton picked her up, and swung her around shouting, “Woohoo!”
His joyful behavior drew smiles and laughs from passersby, as she tossed her head back and laughed at his reaction. She felt like a princess whose fairy tale was finding its happily ever after.
Colton grabbed her hand as he set her down and ran across the street toward the hotel, dodging cars as they went.
***
Standing in front of the elevator waiting for its arrival, they both hoped it was late enough to manage a solo ride to the top floor. As a couple approached they each held their breath until the twosome passed the elevator and on to the lounge. Childlike grins crossed their faces as if they had just gotten away with making out under the high school bleachers.
The numbers above the elevator doors slowly decreased with its descent. Hand in hand, they quickly charged their car, pausing only to let the lone Bell Hop by. Cheeks flushed, breathing heavily with anticipation, they anxiously waited for the doors to close.
Colton reached to the button panel, hitting their floor number first, then the button labeled ‘close door’, rapidly as if it were a video game. As soon as they were closed, and the first bit of motion ensued, he spun Meg around with her back to the wall, next to the panel of buttons. She let out a lusty gasp when he held both of her wrists above her head, and his other hand snaked down her body slowly, purposefully, feeling all of her with seductive intention.
He took her mouth fast and hard while his free hand made play with her breast. She arched her back, pushing her chest to his as if provoking him to increase his touch. His lips trailed her jaw, biting and nipping as he found his way down her neck. His hand traveled south, finding her sweet spot through her dress, her desire obvious from the heat of her body and the sounds she was making.
She felt his length harden against her thigh, pleasing her and assuring her of his intentions. Her breathing became heavier as the pace of his hand increased, and his mouth found her breast.
“Screw it!” Colton shouted, releasing her hands so he could hit the stop button on the elevator, and finish what he started. This late at night, with such a large bank of elevators, surely they had time on their side before it would be needed. She grinned at him, pleased with his idea, hoping it meant a first class finish. Before she could catch her breath, he had her
mouth on his again. He pulled at the top of her dress, exposing her bare breasts, no bra.
“Holy hell!” He said through heavy breaths at the sight of her.
She grabbed the railing, dropping her head back when his mouth found her breasts, picking up where he left off. He reached for the hem of her skirt, pulling it up high enough to reveal another desirable treat. Her barely there lingerie was equal parts kinky and deliciously seductive. Black lace everything
It appeared his temptress did indeed have a bra, of sorts, on after all. It was a cup less corset that matched the delicate pair of frilly lace cheeky panties she was made for. The final touch was a garter that attached to her thigh high stockings with black satin bows holding the two together.
He loved all of her fancy underwear on her, as much as off of her, there was nothing more sexy. He would work around it, for now. Her sexy lace told a story of a woman who already had this night planned and it included this very moment of seduction.
“Baby, you are beautiful. You do love me!” He said, appreciating her finer tastes and the twitch in his pants that they provoked.
Her smile gave her away; she did indeed plan this for him, which earned her a reward. He slid his hand beneath her dainty panties and stroked her heated mound that was more than ready for him, making him smile. He watched her heavy lids drop in ecstasy as her mouth puckered, releasing her breathy sounds.
He increased his pace, making her bite her bottom lip and move against his hand hungry for more. He took her hardened nipple between his teeth bringing her to throaty moans. Unzipping his pants with his free hand, he readied for her release. Her body quaked as she let go and rode the waves of her pleasure as he picked her up and wrapped her around his waist. It was hot, it was primal, it was fast.
He had never experienced such raw and pure pleasure as he made bawdy, hungry love to his girl. Maybe it was being the elevator and the thrill of potentially getting caught, or maybe it was the start of something new. Their declared love and commitment to a forever, transcending limits that were no longer. They leaned against the wall, Megan still in his arms, trying to catch their breath. His face buried in the crook of her neck, he began to chuckle.
“I didn’t see that coming! That was…” He was cut off by a bell ringing, over and over, they quickly adjusted themselves and Colton hit the button to go.
Panic washed over her, fear they were caught, and the humiliation that was to come. She watched Colton just stand there with a wicked grin watching the numbers change as they climbed to each floor.
“Colton, why are you smiling? We just got caught… Got caught… Well, you know!” Megan said while frantically waving her arms at the wall indicating the scene of the “crime”.
He let out a laugh and pulled her in by her waist, planting a kiss on her lips.
“What? What are you doing? Oh my God, stop, we’re caught, don’t make it worse!” She scolded as she pulled her arms between them, landing her hands on his chest pushing him away. He laughed harder and pulled her in tighter.
“Colton!” She shrieked in panic.
“It’s fine, darlin’.” We aren’t in trouble. It’s just the alarm that sounds when an elevator car has been sitting idle too long. It’s so they know when or if there is a problem. We’re moving now, see?” He assured, motioning to the lights above still moving steadily.
She relaxed in his arms, flooded with relief and finally accepted his kiss.
“Are you sure?” She asked hanging on to a final thread of doubt and worry.
“Honey, I’m a fireman, we respond to elevator calls all the time. I know what the bell means, and also when an elevator has cameras” He said with a wink.
“Cameras?!?” She questioned, pushing him away again, searching her surroundings for any form of surveillance.
“Relax!” He chuckled. “We were the only two people watching!”
Her cheeks blushed at his comment and a warm tingle rushed through her at the thought of what that steamy scene must’ve looked like, holy hell, sex in an elevator. Just as her wits returned and her brief humiliation subsided, the doors opened to their floor.
They stepped out, arm in arm, when Dawson walked straight in their path, bucket of ice in hand. He grinned as he walked by. Megan looked everywhere but at him, Colton gave the standard “bro” head nod. Just as their paths cleared, it happened, instant mortification.
“I should have known it was you two.” Dawson hollered back, followed by a hearty laugh.
Epic elevator ride behind them, Colton and Megan spent their last night making their love for one another clear, over and over again, and their commitment to fight for each other undeniable.
Chapter 23
It was their final day in the city before heading home. Before the long drive ahead, they stopped at the mall to gather the last details needed for their upcoming Gala. Megan had not had so many options in one place in so long. She made the best of her time gathering all of the things she wouldn’t have access to in person, until another trip came up.
The men tended to the kids at the family play area within the space, while the ladies did some serious retail damage. Delivering their bags with the guys, they took off for another round, Meg practically sprinting, dragging Sam along behind her.
“Who is this girl, what did you feed her this morning?” Sam teased, winded behind her friend. “Never mind…don’t answer that!” She said with her hands up to deflect any reply.
Colton and Dawson laughed and watched the women hit the next row of stores.
“Meg seems really at home here,” Dawson laughed.
“That she does. I guess it’s true what they say…you can take the girl out of the city, but not the city out of the girl. Or in her case, the mall.” Colton reasoned.
“Well, she seems happy, relaxed even. I take it things are working out?”
“I think so. We talked about everything. She hasn’t let me in entirely, but she said she wants to tell me everything. She loves me, wants to fight for us too,” Colton said smiling. “I’d call that progress.”
“Good! I’m happy for you. Hopefully Coop has some info when we get back, and whatever else is looming will be resolved,” Dawson said, sincerely wishing that would be the case.
“Look at us…a couple of love sick bastards talking about our feelings,” Colton said full of sarcasm while rubbing his friends shoulder.
“Go to hell Sparks!” Dawson bit back, shrugging Colton’s hand off his shoulder.
“Yeah, we’ll need to go shoot some shit in the woods when get back and earn some of our man cred back,” Colton reasoned.
Then a little voice hollered from under the slide, “Twenty-five cents in the bad word jar. Both of you’s!” Caught again by the tutu patrol.
***
Megan and Sam were at their final destination, a bridal shop. The perfect shoes for the Gala were somewhere in this mall, and this was the last store to explore.
“You know what they say, save the best for last,” Sam said, trying to add a little optimism to the bleakness of today’s shoe shopping.
“They’re here, I can feel it! I can almost smell them. Sexy, strappy, mile high, and a touch of glitz!” Megan replied.
Truth was, she was feeling something, and it wasn’t necessarily the shoes, but something unsettling, a roll in her gut, and a shiver down her spine. She looked over her shoulder, over and over finally settling on it just being old nerves.
Being brave, facing her past, and fighting for her man was a new concept, less than twenty-four hours old. It would take getting used to.
“What is it, honey? What do you keep looking at? Afraid Colton will see you surrounded by all of these white dresses? I think he’d marry you right here in the store if he saw you!” Sam laughed.
“Huh? Oh! No, nothing like that. Just this weird feeling, probably just tired, not thinking clearly,” she said with a superficial smile.
“I heard that! Between mall sprints and, uh, the elevator…I’m sure you�
�re pretty exhausted,” Sam teased.
“Oh my God, he told you? It’s not how it seemed! Ahh crap, it is exactly as it seemed, and it was fantastic!” Megan admitted with confidence.
“Whooo, go you! That a girl!” Sam said, high fiving her friend.
“Seriously, we sound like a couple of guys that just scored,” Megan laughed with her friend.
It felt good to have this again. As well as someone to talk to, shop with, and confide in. She missed this, missed her sister. She reached for Sam, giving her a side hug and said, “Thank you for being such a good friend. I meant what I said the other night over wine, you guys are like sisters. How did I get so lucky to find the perfect guy, and the best kind of friends?”
Sam hugged her back and said, “We are pretty awesome, you did get lucky, didn’t you!” Lightening the somberness the mention of her sister brought on. Megan’s loud gasp interrupted the humor. She jumped up and rushed to the wall they had yet to scavenge. There they were, her shoes. They were strappy, high as hell and screaming fabulous glitz.
“They’re perfect!” She whispered, just loud enough for Sam to hear.
“Oooh. You really did smell them, how do you do that?” She questioned while admiring the lovely shoes Meg was drooling over.
They were done, had everything on their lists, including the perfect shoes. But there it was again, that feeling. A chill chased her shoe euphoria right out of her mind. She needed to tell Colton everything, tonight, when they got home. The unease had to be due to guilt, she reasoned. Now that they had an understanding, a chance at a life together, this doubt was just a frigid reminder that she needed to share her past.
***
A text from Sam prompted the guys to gather the littles and shopping bags and meet them at the exit. The ladies likely hit a few more small stores on their way, because the men made it there first with time to spare. An odd push from fate landed the exit right by a fine jewelry store, provoking curiosity in Colton…rings.
Hidden (A McKenzie Ridge Novel Book 2) Page 15