“Oh, gee, do you mean the part where she jumped out the bathroom window because you were waving a gun around after your window got smashed and you blamed her for it? Oh no, I know. It’s the part where she got the stuffing knocked out of her and kidnapped because some guy hated you. Oh shit, no, that’s not it. It’s got to be the thing about you assassinating the bad guys who knocked her around.”
I grimaced. “I don’t have a lot of points in the good-guy column, do I? When you put it like that, I sound downright criminal.”
He shrugged. “Not so much, but honestly, that doesn’t seem to bother her as much as one would expect. I think it’s the total package you’ve got going on. She’s young, Colton. You’re a lot to handle. You’ve got a kid and have been around the world literally and figuratively. I have a feeling Jenna is innocent to the ways of the world. Not innocent in that respect, but she doesn’t have your jadedness—not yet. If you want her, you’re going to need to tell her and make it a good story or she’s going to keep running in the opposite direction.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know if I can. It is weird to think of me being with someone else. It’s been so long.”
“It’s time to move on with your life. Find some happiness. Settle your life so you can really start living again. You’re not going to meet a woman like Jenna again.”
“Probably not, but I don’t think I’m ready for anything serious. I’m barely getting my life back. I can’t rush into this. It isn’t just me I have to think about. Abby is in this as well. I don’t want her to get close to Jenna and then boom, she’s gone one day. She’s already had to deal with that once.”
“You’ve got your life back. You’ve had it back, but you’ve been too blind to see it. Abby already loves her, so there’s no problem there and you know it.”
I took a drink from the coffee mug. “I’ll talk to her, assuming she’ll let me.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” He winked.
“Cara’s only been gone a year,” I said, laying it all out there. “I can’t help but feel like I’m cheating on her or not grieving long enough.”
Kevin reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not. There is no right or wrong amount of time to grieve. You move on when you’re ready. I think you’re ready. You just need to accept it. Once you do that, the old Colton is going to come back. He’ll know what to say and do.”
I smiled. “That Colton has been gone a while. I don’t even remember what it was like to do that first dance.”
“Oh, I think you’re long past the first dance,” he teased.
“It feels so strange to want another woman. Like my brain keeps telling me no, no, no, she’s not Cara, you’re cheating. But my heart, that’s a different story. There’s a connection there and I’ll probably sound like a total asshole, but it’s a different connection than I had with Cara.”
“I don’t think that makes you an asshole,” Kevon said. “If you had that exact same connection with two very different women, that would be weird. Jenna is not Cara. Cara is not Jenna. It’s only reasonable you would connect over different things. That’s not bad. You’ve changed since that first date with Cara. It’s the natural progression of life. You don’t know if you and Cara would have made it the long haul. You know things were a little rocky at times. You were changing, you wanted out of the ring, and she was hesitant. Don’t beat yourself up over this. I want you to be happy.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
I walked into the living room, carrying my coffee cup. I opened the curtains, letting the sun shine in. It had been a few days since I’d been able to comfortably stand in my living room, wearing only my sweats as I stared out the window. It felt freeing.
“Nice neighborhood,” he quipped as he stared at the house across the street.
I laughed. “Eh, it’s nice. Quiet. Different than the busy streets of Boston. I have to say, it took me a few days to get used to how quiet it was out here.”
“Uh oh, lookie there,” Kevin said as Jenna’s car slowly drove past the house before pulling into her own driveway.
I immediately tensed up when I saw her.
“Go,” he said in a quiet voice. “I’ll stay with Abby. This is your chance. You don’t know if you’ll get another one.”
I nodded. “You’re right.”
I dashed down the hall and slid on a shirt before putting on my shoes. I stopped at the bedroom door and turned to go back into my bathroom, brushing my teeth and smoothing my hair down. It’d been a long time since I had an actual head of hair. After I got out of the military, I let it grow, but that didn’t last long. Hair in the ring was a weapon. It had been cut short for most of my life. Now, I had no idea what the hell to do with it.
I was stalling. My hairstyle was not important. I glanced in the mirror, steeling my resolve before heading back into the living room. Kevin was still standing in front of the window, staring outside.
“Good luck,” he said as I headed for the door.
I walked across the yards, actual butterflies in my stomach. I took a deep breath before I gathered the courage to knock on her door. I still had no idea what I was going to say. I felt like a stupid kid with a crush.
Jenna opened the door. I stared at her, drinking in the sight of her. It felt like I hadn’t seen her in forever.
“Hi,” I said, lacking anything suave to say.
She smiled. “Hi.”
“Can we talk?”
She pulled open the door, moving out of the way to let me in. She closed the door behind me, and in a completely unexpected move, she threw herself against me, her arms going around my neck as her lips pressed against mine.
This was far better than talking.
Chapter 34
Jenna
I had told myself this couldn’t happen again, not until we talked. The moment I saw him, all my thoughts about talking vanished. I didn’t want to talk. I wanted him. My mind, body, and soul craved him. The second I saw him, I knew exactly what I wanted. The best way I knew how to tell him was to show him.
He picked me up, holding me close to him as his mouth devoured mine as if he couldn’t get enough. I couldn’t get enough. My hips pressed against his body, my legs tightening around his waist to get closer. I ran my fingers through his hair, loving how silky it felt. Everything about him turned me on. He put me down, my feet touching the floor, but our bodies still melded together.
“I need you,” he whispered.
I nodded my head, taking his hand and leading him down the tiny hall to my bedroom.
My heart was pounding in my chest. It all felt so much more powerful than the last few times we had been together. I reached up and touched his face, my hand stroking over the beard stubble while I looked into his eyes. He did the same. His rough, callused hand stroking over my cheek as if we had only just seen each other for the first time.
His hands dropped to my waist, his body stepping closer as his forehead rested against mine. I took a second to inhale deeply, relishing in the scent of his masculinity a brief moment before the desire took over.
I pressed my lips against his neck, licking before biting and kissing again. It was a trigger. There was a split second where I felt a twinge of fear at the monster I had unleashed as his mouth slammed against mine, his tongue plunging deep as he ground his erection against me. He was frantic, out of control, like a caged animal being released for the first time.
His hands were pushing my shorts down, his fingers scraping over my skin. I followed his lead and pushed his sweats down, freeing his engorged cock. I kicked off my shorts and panties while he did the same. He spun me around, his warm chest pressed against my back. His thighs against the back of mine, pushing my legs forward as he walked to the wall, pressing my body against it. I turned my face to the side, my cheek resting against the wall as he ran his hand down my ass, squeezing and massaging before spreading my legs with his knee. His fingers reached between my legs, h
is long index finger pushing inside me, shocking my body and pulling a strangled cry from my throat.
“I can’t wait,” he groaned.
I nodded, my cheek sliding up and down the wall. “Okay.”
He stepped close to me, guiding himself to my opening before pushing inside.
I moaned, my body adjusting to the invasion in achingly slow increments the deeper he slid inside.
“I’ve been thinking about this for days,” he whispered, his hand moving to my hair, brushing it to the side before kissing my neck.
“Me too,” I said, my breath hitching as his teeth bit down on my neck.
I pushed against him, wanting him all the way inside me. His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me against him as he thrust once and then again. I felt my body begin to quiver. The man could make me come with no effort at all. His powerful dick was magical, touching places that had only been reached by him. It was too good to fight against the release. I knew there’d be more. I could let myself go.
I slapped my palm against the wall before turning to face the wall and driving myself against him.
“Fuck me!” he shouted.
I did it again, screaming out in pleasure. I could cry out without fear of waking a little girl sleeping nearby. The thought made me wild. I wanted to scream out in pleasure and get loud.
He thrust long and hard, slamming my body against the wall.
“Oh God,” I cried out.
“Get loud. Scream baby. I want to hear you fucking screaming my name,” he growled against my ear.
He pounded against me, sliding my body up and down the wall. When the climax broke over me, I gave him what he wanted.
“Colton! Yes, Colton, more!”
His body was like a jackhammer, ramming into my body over and over, keeping me high up in the throes of a beautiful orgasm.
He pulled out, yanked my shirt over my head before removing his and dragging me to the bed. He lifted me around his waist before falling backward with my body straddling his. My legs were weak and shaky as I climbed into place, ready to give him the beautiful gift he had just given me. My hands gripped his pecs for purchase as I rocked hard against him, sucking his cock deep inside my sheath.
His hands reached up to play with my breasts. In the bright light of day, I should have been a little self-conscious, but I wasn’t. Not with him. He made me feel like the sexiest woman alive and I damn sure knew he was the sexiest man alive. I could stay right where I was for the rest of my days and die a happy woman.
“I’m going to make you scream this time,” I said with a smile.
He smiled. “We’ll see.”
“Challenge accepted.”
My body rolled over his, taking long, deep strokes inside as my hands rubbed over his chest in a slow perusal of every scar and every tattoo. His hands dropped to my hips, attempting to make me increase my speed. I slapped them away.
“Uh uh, my turn.”
He gritted his teeth together, sucking in air as I shimmied my hips a bit before releasing his chest and leaning back, my hands resting on his solid thighs. He reached up and tweaked a nipple between his finger and thumb, causing my body to jerk with delight.
I rode him faster, leaning forward to tweak his nipples, pinching and tugging.
He hissed through his teeth. I opened my eyes to see his were squeezed closed. I smiled, knowing I was driving him crazy. I moved faster, rocking my body up and down his, my fingers working his nipples. I felt him tense and went completely still, not moving a muscle.
His eyes popped open. “What the fuck?”
I grinned. “Not yet.”
He growled, shot up in the bed, and tossed me to the side before pushing my shoulders down and mounting me. He drove inside me with so much force, I slid several inches across the bed. I cried out in shock.
“I said not yet!” he growled, fucking me hard and fast.
Our bodies were slapping together, my bed squeaking and hitting the wall, creating an intoxicating rhythm of lust and desire.
“Oh God,” I moaned as an orgasm bloomed through my body, sending white hot slivers of excitement to the tips of my fingers and toes.
He roared over me, his body pumping his release deep inside me. He kept rocking and moving on what had to be the longest orgasm I had ever witnessed before he collapsed face first onto the bed beside me.
I immediately rolled to my side, my hand touching his back. “Are you okay?” I asked, genuinely concerned for him.
He was breathing heavy, his body jerking from time to time.
“Colton?” I said his name.
He turned his face to look at me. “I’m good. Better than good. I think I blew a fuse, but I’m good.”
I giggled. “I made you scream.”
He laughed, rolling to his side and going up on one elbow. His fingers made a trail over my stomach and between my breasts.
“You did. I thought I was going to die in that moment and I was completely okay with it,” he said with a smile, leaning down to kiss me.
I could hear my phone ringing in the living room. “Uh oh. I was supposed to call Rose when I got home. She was worried. I better get that.” I dashed out of the room to find my phone in my purse that had been dropped on the table.
“Hey,” I said, not checking the screen.
“Well, hey there, sexy,” a male voice came through the phone.
I flinched, pulling the phone back to look at the screen. It was a number I didn’t recognize. “Who is this?”
“Oh baby, this is the man who’s going to make you scream while fucking you senseless. I’m going to have you begging for more, and just when you think you’ve had enough, my friend is going to fuck you. Actually, there’s three of us. One of us will fuck your mouth. I’m going to get your sweet pussy and—”
“Stop!” I shouted. “Aaron is that you?”
Colton came out of my room, naked and glaring.
“Oh, see, honey? I knew you were thinking about me too. I’ll come over right now. All three of us will. You can show us just how good you are with that dirty mouth of yours.”
“You scum,” I whispered, his vile words making my stomach churn. “How in the hell did you get my number?”
Colton grabbed the phone out of my hand. “Listen, you little fuckers. I’ve had enough of your shit. You have fucked with the wrong woman and I’m going to make sure you know just how bad you fucked up.”
I stared at him, noticing the vein near his temple throbbing. He was mad. Madder than I had ever seen him.
He handed me the phone. “He hung up. Has he called you before?” he asked, a terrifying look in his eyes.
I shook my head. “No. I have no idea how he got my number.”
“What did he say?” he asked, reaching out to touch my shoulder.
I grimaced. “Nasty stuff that is never going to happen.”
Colton spun on his heel and stomped back to my room. I quickly followed him.
“What are you going to do?” I asked, watching him jerk on his clothes.
I grabbed my own clothes, quickly dressing as well.
“I’m going to teach them a lesson,” he said, his jaw clenched as he pulled on his shirt. “This ends now. They have targeted you and I’m not going to let that happen. I don’t care who their daddies are. I’ve had enough of their harassment. They think they’re big and bad. Wait until Kevin and I show up.”
“Colton, please, it’s okay,” I said, throwing my arms around him. “They’re stupid, immature guys who have nothing better to do than make stupid phone calls. They’re jealous of you. They know I would never give them the time of day. They’ll get tired of it and move on soon enough.”
He was stiff, his arms at his sides. “They’re too old to act like that, and soon enough isn’t soon enough for me. It’s over now.”
“Colton, please?” I asked in a whisper.
He relaxed a little, his arms coming around my waist before he kissed me tenderly on the forehead. “I need t
o do this. I’m tired of someone always ruining the time I have with you. They need to understand I’m not going to put up with it anymore. Besides, they owe me for the new window. I plan to collect.”
He pushed me back and stomped out the door, walking right out the front door. I took a deep breath and shook my head. It was always something. There was some cosmic force out there that really didn’t want us to be together.
The sex was great, but it wasn’t enough to make a relationship work. I didn’t have the energy to keep up with the drama that seemed to plague us when the two of us were together. It was getting old.
Chapter 35
Colton
Violence wasn’t the answer, or so I’d been told. I was feeling very violent after Jenna told me what that piece of shit said to her. The guy needed his head screwed on a little straighter. The things he said were way past the limits of my patience and I was pretty sure any decent member of law enforcement would make Aaron see how dangerously close he was to getting his ass locked up.
Regardless, Kevin and I hashed out what we hoped would be a reasonable solution. I much preferred a few hard, swift kicks to his face, but that wasn’t the best option. Again, their words, not mine. Today, we were supposed to try and have a little discussion about the wrong way and the right way to talk to Jenna and other women in general. I had a feeling we were way too late to have a real impact on the miscreants that had been allowed to live this long without someone telling them how wrong they were.
If their parents didn’t do the teaching, I seriously doubted Kevin and I were going to make any headway.
“You ready to go see Jenna?” I asked Abby, who was quietly playing in her room.
She jumped up. “Yes! I packed my dolls already.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
“I’ll wait here,” Kevin announced from his place on the couch.
“I won’t be gone long.”
He smirked. “Like yesterday?”
I shot him a look. “I’m dropping off Abby.”
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