The roast beef and cheddar tasted like cardboard, but he finished it and the glass of milk. The idea of going back to his big, empty bed depressed Colt. Damn it. He didn’t want to wait. Maybe Sable was still awake. He would sleep much easier if he cleared the air between them right away.
Taking a deep breath, Colt lightly tapped on her door. When she didn’t answer, he knew he should leave her alone. But something made him push on. Slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible, Colt turned the doorknob. He peeked inside, hoping to find her reading or watching television.
The lamp on the end table glowed, the light low.
Sable wasn’t under the covers. She lay on her back, her head turned away from him. Colt smiled. He knew the dresser contained three or four lacy nightgowns. Naturally, Sable left them where they were. Instead, she wore a well-worn Seattle Mariners t-shirt and a pair of men’s boxer shorts.
Seeing her long, smooth legs stretched out on the quilted blanket, Colt decided he preferred her choice. God, she was sexy. Her toned body made his mouth water. The slight swell of her breasts, the curve of her jaw. The short dark cap of glossy hair framed by the white pillowcase.
Sable Ford was the exact opposite of every woman he’d been with. Yet, for some reason, simply looking at her moved him more than all of them combined.
Colt noticed the earphones. No wonder he hadn’t disturbed her. Sable could hear a pin drop in a hurricane. He wondered what kind of music she liked. He sighed. One more thing he didn’t know about her.
He took a blanket from the bureau and lightly draped it over Sable. Beginning tomorrow, he would ask questions. He wanted to know about her childhood. Where had she lived? Any pets? Had she worn braces? What caused the shadows that occasionally crept into her beautiful eyes?
“I’m not sleeping.”
Sable whispered the words, but Colt heard them clearly. He settled the blanket over her shoulders, then lightly brushed her skin with the back of his fingers.
“Are you still mad?”
“No.” Sable opened her eyes. In the dim light, the color looked like rich, warm chocolate. “Are you?”
“No. I’m sorry. I—hey.” He noticed the drying tears. “You’ve been crying.”
Colt watched as Sable did her best to rein in her emotions.
“I’m a little sad.”
“I’ll send every last stitch of clothing back, first thing in the morning.”
Sable’s lips curved. “Not because of that.” She hesitated, her eyes clouding over. “I miss my father.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not right now.”
“Slide over.” Colt lifted the blanket and joined her on the bed.
“Colt. This is a bad idea.” But Sable moved enough to let Colt lie beside her.
“Shh.” Colt removed one of her earbuds. “Relax.”
He put the bud in his ear and settled beside her. Colt didn’t recognize the tune. It was smooth and bluesy. The kind of song that spoke to your soul.
Colt closed his eyes. He didn’t sleep with women. They played. Sex and games. They dozed. But sleep? No.
For the first time in his adult life, he wanted nothing more than the comfort and warmth of a body next to his. Sable’s body.
Colt didn’t touch her. The connection came through the music. However, when Sable slid her hand into his, he felt something stir in his heart. It wasn’t something to worry about or analyze. It—this—felt good. Right.
The notes of the song and the sound of Sable’s breathing lulled him, pushing him closer to sleep. The feel of her hand sent him over the edge.
SABLE TURNED OFF the iPod. She didn’t look at the clock. Her body told her it was an hour or so before dawn. Colt’s chest rose and fell in a steady, easy rhythm. She listened to his breathing, looked at his slightly parted lips, and wondered at having him in her bed.
The circumstances were nothing like she had imagined. She had pictured something more X-rated. They were fully clothed and hadn’t shared as much as a kiss. Did holding hands count as getting to first base? Not in her book.
Women all over the world dreamed of Colton Landis spending the night. Sable would bet almost anything those dreams included a lot more than sleep. But she wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Colt could have taken advantage of her vulnerability. She wouldn’t have objected. One kiss. She would have melted into his arms, happy to feel something other than the heavy sadness that pushed down on her chest. However, instead of seducing, he comforted. Somehow he understood that she didn’t need sex, she needed him.
Gently, Sable removed the earbuds and set the iPod on the end table.
“Hi,” Colt smiled and Sable’s heart turned over.
“Hi.” Without thinking, she brushed the dark, wavy hair from his forehead.
“How did you sleep?”
“Great.”
“Me too.”
“Colt?” Sable met his gaze. The light was at his back but she could see the tenderness in his eyes.
“Hmm?”
Slowly, deliberately. So there could be no doubt of her intent, Sable kissed him.
Colt opened his mouth, his tongue lightly bathing her bottom lip. It was sweet. The kind of kiss shared at the end of a first date. They weren’t in a hurry. There was no desperation. Their hands, the ones that had remained clasped as they slept, prevented their bodies from touching.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” Colt grinned.
“Not for the kiss. Though that was lovely. Thank you for last night. For staying with me.”
“You never have to be alone, Sable.” Colt kissed the corner of her mouth. “I like sleeping with you.”
“This must be a first.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“I would hate to ruin your reputation.” Sable sat up and pulled off her shirt.
“Sable.” Colt swallowed. Her breasts were perfect. Better than he imagined. High and firm. Her hard nipples the color of ripe cherries. It took all his willpower not to reach out. “This isn’t necessary.”
“If it were, I wouldn’t be here.” She smiled, slow and seductive. “You can say no.”
“No, I can’t.”
In one fluid motion, Colt threw off the blanket and pulled her leg over him until she straddled his hips.
“So you like what you see?” she asked. It was a rhetorical question. Colt’s expression, the heat in his blue eyes, told her everything she needed to know.
Colt cupped her breast with his hand, his thumb rubbing the tight bud of her nipple. Sable watched the movement, almost hypnotized. She was a visual person. Imagining his hands on her was exciting. Seeing the reality sent a wave of pleasure shooting through her body.
“So soft,” he murmured. “Every time I touch you, I think of silk. Only better. Infinitely better.”
“Years of copious amounts of lotion. It’s my addiction.”
“I approve.” Colt’s eyes darkened. He ran a finger over her other breast. “I can’t decide which would be sexier. Watching you smooth the cream over your body or doing it myself.”
“Why not both?” She moaned.
“Sounds perfect.” Colt whipped his shirt over his head. He rose until his mouth was even with her breasts. “You are perfect.”
Sable’s head fell back. God, one touch of his tongue and she felt ready to come undone. So much anticipation. Every moment, every look, every brush of his hand. It led to this moment. Endless foreplay.
She had tried to be good. She had meant to resist. The attraction was there before she came to Hollywood. It started months ago with a scorching kiss. She hadn’t expected to see him again, let alone spend every waking moment in his company.
One week of watching Colt. Laughing with him. Teasing and taunting. The world believed they were lovers. Her friends encouraged her to make it true. Even her boss had given her the green light.
Colt made it clear from day one that he wanted her. Considering the bounty of
temptation, Sable’s holdout was admirable. She had done all the right things.
And now she would get her reward.
“I’ve been good.” Her eyes blazed, matching the heat in his. “Now I want to be bad. Be bad with me, Colt.”
Sable’s fingers slid into his thick, soft hair, tugging until his mouth was inches from hers. She paused, a mere second. Sable swore a spark flew, then she stopped thinking and kissed him.
Endless. She never wanted it to stop. Sable didn’t know why Colt made her feel so much more than any other man. Or how he seemed to make time stop. Who cared? She was in his arms. Right now, that was all that mattered.
“I need to taste you, Sable. Every inch. Honey and spice.”
Colt bit the side of her neck and Sable almost shot out of her skin.
“What was that?” she panted.
“You mean this?” Colt found the same spot with his teeth. At the same moment, he slid his hand between her legs.
Sable didn’t know what happened. It wasn’t an orgasm. She knew how those felt. This was something else. There wasn’t a gentle rise. There was no reaching or anticipation. The pleasure crashed over her. Unexpected. Relentless. She stopped breathing. Colors, new and bold, flashed in front of her eyes. Her heart pounded, almost bursting from her chest.
At any second, she felt she would break into a million pieces. Somehow, Colt’s strong arms held her together.
“I have you,” Colt crooned. “I won’t let you go. Ride it out, Sable. I’m with you all the way.”
Colt’s words, knowing he meant them, allowed Sable to free fall the rest of the way. Arms wide. There was no danger. He was her safety net.
When Sable opened her eyes, she was surprised to find herself on her back. She didn’t remember moving.
“There you are.” Colt leaned over her, his smile warm. He caressed her cheek with the lightest of touches.
“Did I pass out?” The possibility was real—and a bit embarrassing.
“No.” Colt brushed his lips over hers. “Zoned out would be a better way of putting it.”
“I’m sorry.” Sable settled onto the mattress. She sighed. She was no longer flying, but at least, her landing pad was soft. “I don’t know what happened.”
“Do you want the biological or emotional answer.”
Colt’s grin contained a touch of self-satisfaction, mixed with pure male arrogance. All things considered, Sable supposed he was entitled.
“That was a new one for me.”
“Your first orgasm?”
God, now his smile bordered on King of the World territory. He deserved some credit, but there were limits.
“No, Tarzan. This isn’t Jane’s first rodeo.” Sable smiled then laughed. He got her. His sense of humor was as sexy as the rest of him. “I like sex. I get great pleasure from it. But that wasn’t a normal orgasm.”
“Want my opinion?”
“Please.”
Colt settled next to her, his head resting on the pillow. Sable turned so they faced each other.
“You’re carrying around a lot of emotion.” He gently tapped her temple. “Eventually, something has to give.”
“I cried.” And that almost never happened.
“Did you sob?”
“Colt.” Sable shook her head. Honestly. Cry. Sob. What was the difference?
“There’s a big difference.”
“When was the last time you did either?” She added quickly, “Not on screen.”
“Never,” Colt admitted. “You won’t want to hear this, but men and women aren’t the same.”
Sable grasped his erection. The thin cloth of his pajama bottoms couldn’t mask the heat or the size. “No kidding.”
“Careful,” Colt warned, but he didn’t move her hand. “I plan on using that.”
“When?” Slowly, with a teasing touch, she measured his length.
“Soon,” he groaned. “Very soon. Don’t change the subject.”
“I prefer to think of it as shifting down, and a little to the right.”
“It’s okay to cry, Sable. I would if I were on the outs with my parents.”
Sable swallowed. It wasn’t easy. A lump formed in her throat. It happened every time she thought about her father.
“Things are fine with my mother.” Nothing ever changed with her. Unfortunately. “Dad and I haven’t spoken in almost two years.”
“Are you close?”
Tears formed in her eyes. Damn it.
“He’s my hero.”
Colt gathered her close. His strong arms comforted her in a way she hadn’t known possible. It wasn’t sexual. It went beyond friendly. It was deeper. Sable wanted to hold on—and be held—forever.
“Does it have to do with why you left the Army?”
“He doesn’t care why. As far as Dad is concerned, I betrayed the trust of my fellow soldiers and my country.”
“Jesus.” Colt rubbed her back. “Betrayed? That’s harsh.”
“I entered the service intending to make it my career. Dad decided I would be the first female head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”
“And what did you want?”
“I was ambitious.” She still was. “I wanted to be the best soldier possible. I never said it but, deep down, I shared Dad’s dream.”
“What happened?”
“Not tonight, Colt. Please?” Sable pushed his t-shirt up, kissing his chest. Then the top of his gorgeous abs. “It’s an ugly story. I don’t want it to taint something so beautiful.”
“When you put it like that.” Colt hesitated. “You will tell me? Soon?”
“Yes,” Sable promised.
“I’m a good listener.” Colt grinned. Her teasing lover was back. “I’m an even better lover.”
“How can I accuse you of bragging when I’ve already experienced your skills?”
“Could have been an anomaly.” Colt took her lower lip between his teeth, biting just enough to send shivers down her spine. “You need multiple orgasms before you can truly judge.”
“Multiple?” She thought it was an urban myth. Like Bigfoot or politicians who kept their campaign promises.
“Let me show you.”
“But it’s your turn.”
“Don’t worry about me. If I’m as good as I claim, and I am, neither of us will have any reason to complain.” He took her hands, carrying them to the headboard. “Hold on.”
“But—”
“Relax,” he whispered. Colt licked the curve of her ear. “Let me take control. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Sable grabbed a metal bar in each hand. There it was again. Trust. Did she only believe in Colt when it was easy? Or could she let him in when she was at her most vulnerable? Naked—physically and emotionally.
It was time to find out.
“I love your breasts.” Colt flicked her nipple with his finger and grinned when she gasped.
“That hurt.”
“Did it?” A second later his mouth covered the bud, easing the sting. “Pleasure and pain. A little of one, a lot of the other.”
Sable had to admit, Colt knew how to walk that razor’s edge between one and the other.
“No whips or paddles.”
“You’ve been reading some naughty books.”
“Maybe.”
“Close your eyes.” While he verbally teased, Colt continued to play with her body. Sable followed his command. If she couldn’t see him, she couldn’t anticipate his next move. It heightened her other senses. The sound of his breathing. The barely there feel of his hand brushing against her stomach. And taste. Colt kissed her. Long and deep. She wanted more. More kissing. More touching. More everything.
“What did you think?”
“Hmm?” Sable tried to focus. “Oh. The books? Hot but not my thing.”
“Better on paper than in reality?”
“Yes.”
Colt nudged her knees. The mattress shifted under his weight. Sable smiled. She didn’t need her eyes to know his n
ext move.
“Lift your hips.” Colt removed her shorts in the blink of an eye. “So pretty. Wet. Just for me. And what do we have here?”
She smiled. Colt found her tattoo.
“Like it?” she asked. She moaned when he ran his finger over the Army Ranger’s insignia. The spot at the top of her inner thigh was extremely sensitive. Especially when she was already sexually stimulated.
“Who did it?”
“A sweet man in Atlanta. He and his boyfriend have the hottest parlor in the city. I was on leave before my first tour overseas. A few shots of tequila and it seemed like a good idea.”
“Why here?” Colt kissed the spot.
“Mmm.” Sable licked her lips. “It isn’t for anyone but me.”
“And your lovers.”
There weren’t many of those. And fewer who had seen her from Colt’s current location. She didn’t think that bit of information was any of his business.
“I should have known,” she teased. “All talk and no action.”
That got him going. Sable arched her back. God, his mouth! How could anything that good be legal?
“I hit a sweet spot,” Colt declared with satisfaction. “Again?”
“Please.”
“Since you asked so nicely.”
Colt lowered his head and Sable screamed. Loud and long. When his fingers joined the party, Sable wondered if she would survive the onslaught. Death by orgasm? What a way to go.
However, she had a strong heart and a stronger will to live. If only to find out what delight he would throw at her next.
“Are you keeping track?” Colt asked, kissing his way up her body. “Three. I count three orgasms.”
“Nobody likes a braggart.” Unless he had a magic tongue. And supernatural fingers.
“Want me to stop?”
“It wouldn’t be fair.”
Sable rotated her hips. Colt’s erection lay in an interesting spot. Just below her belly button. She appreciated the hardness and the heat. She knew from her earlier exploration that the size was impressive. However, it wasn’t doing either of them any good in its current location.
“Basic biology tells me you have that thing pointed at the wrong hole.”
Colt sputtered, then broke out laughing.
Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) Page 10