Falling Fast
Page 36

“Terrified,” I whisper back, taking another sip of wine. “Two days ago, he brought all my stuff upstairs from the room I had been staying in when I got here, and told me to unpack. He had cleaned out some drawers for me and made room in his closet.”
“He’s not messing around.”
“He’s not,” I agree, biting my lip. “It’s all happening so fast. Do you think it’s too fast?” It’s the same question I’ve been asking myself for the last week.
“Does it feel right?” she asks back, and I don’t even have to think about my answer.
“Yes.”
“Then it doesn’t matter how fast or slow you’re going.”
God, I love my best friend, and I miss her.
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too, which is why I’m planning a trip to come see you in a couple of weeks.”
“Really?”
“Really. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay for too long this time, but I figure I can always come back. Maybe over the summer for a few weeks?”
“You can always come back, and you know you’re welcome anytime,” I say, looking forward to introducing her to Colton and his family, maybe even Tide and Olivia.
“How’s your grandma?”
On that question, pain hits my chest and radiates through me, making my stomach twist. “Not good. She’s back to being withdrawn. She’s… I don’t know. She’s just not herself, or the self she was when I first got here.”
“What are the doctors saying?” she asks, sounding worried.
“Nothing new, that it’s the progression of the disease.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” I set my wine glass on the ground at my feet so I can run my fingers through the fur on top of Loki’s head.
“What’s going on with the arson investigation and the house?”
“I haven’t heard from the detective again since the last time we spoke. Colton and Tide helped me get everything from Grandma’s house that I could salvage, and I’ve slowly been going through it all, but there’s a lot of stuff. I also contacted her insurance company a week ago, and they told me they are still looking into the claim and doing an investigation of their own.”
“Hopefully they’ll get that all sorted out soon.”
“I hope so,” I let out a breath. “Grandma’s insurance is covering her right now, but I don’t know if that will last long term. If it doesn’t, I’m going to have to find a way to pay for her to stay at the nursing home until I can sell the house for her.”
“Let me know if you need me to help you out.”
“It should be okay. Except to pay for school, I still haven’t touched the little bit of money my dad left me. If I need to, I’ll use that.”
“Still, you know you can ask me and I’ll give you whatever I can.”
“Thank you.”
“That’s what best friends are for.”
“So when do I get to be the one to save you?” I joke.
“You got suspended for beating up Nick Krouger when we were eight when he put gum in my hair. I think we’re even.”
“I enjoyed beating him up,” I mutter, and she laughs. It’s not a lie. I did enjoy it. He was a bully; he picked on everyone all the time. And after I punched him in the nose, he stopped doing that and actually became a good friend.
“Speaking of beating people up, how are things with Colton’s ex?”
“She’s been quiet. I don’t know if her dad talking to her worked, but she hasn’t been around again.” I say leaving out the fact that her friends did come by the bar when Colton’s friend Evan was in town with his girlfriend June.
“That’s good.”
“It is. Hopefully it stays that way,” I sigh.
“I hate to let you go, but I need to get to sleep, I have court in the morning at eight, but I need to be up by five to go over a few things before I head into the city.”
“Get some sleep.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Call me soon. Don’t wait so long next time.”
“I won’t,” I promise, hanging up when she does. Dropping my cell phone into my lap, I bend over and place my face close to Loki’s. “You get to meet my best friend soon,” I tell him, burying both my hands in the fur on either side of his head, and he lets out a huff then his ears perk up.
Hearing the purr of a motorcycle engine getting closer, I lift my head and watch Colton pull up and park in front of the house. I knew he would be a sight to behold on his bike, but I had no idea just how turned on I would get seeing him straddle the seat, put on his black helmet, and start the engine this morning. When I saw all that, I wanted to run out the door after him and make him come back inside to take care of me. It was even hotter than when he came to get his keys in the middle of the night before the fire happened.
As Loki takes off down the steps to greet Colton, I pick up my wine glass and walk over to the railing. I lean against it, smiling as he takes off his helmet and puts it on the seat behind him before running his hand through his hair.
“How was work?” I ask, and his eyes come to me then heat as they travel over his T-shirt I have on, and my bare legs.
“Good.” He dismounts and comes toward the house, his eyes never leaving mine, even as he pets Loki. “I like coming home to find you in nothing but my shirt, standing on the porch and drinking wine,” he says, climbing the steps and right to me, wrapping his hand around my hip and touching his mouth to mine.
“I also have on socks,” I inform him when he leans back, and he smiles, dropping his eyes to my feet.
“I see.” His hand skates up my naked outer thigh and over my hip, then under the edge of the panties I have on. “Were you waiting out here for me to get home?” he asks, skimming his fingers along the edge of fabric, across my stomach, and down over my pubic bone. “You’re wet.”
Latching onto his shoulders I dig my nails into his leather jacket. “I came out here to call Nat,” I reply breathlessly, and his fingers slip between my legs as my head falls back to my shoulders.
“Look at me, baby.” Lifting my head, I hold his gaze as he circles my clit with his thumb. “Were you waiting for me to get home?” he asks again, and I nod. I was waiting for him to get home. I wanted to see him again on his bike, but this time I wanted to be able to have him after I saw him.
“Colton.” My hips jerk and my head falls back again as his thumb circles faster.
“Look at me, baby,” he repeats, and I do. As he wraps his hand around the back of my knee and pulls my leg up around his jean-covered hip, the material scrapes against the sensitive skin of my inner thigh and two thick fingers slide inside me. “I love how wet you get for me.” He kisses the shell of my ear. “The sounds you make.” He nips it. “The way you feel so fucking soft and sweet in my arms.”
“Oh, God,” I pant, sliding my hands up to his neck and turning my face toward his. “Please kiss me,” I beg. His mouth lands on mine and his tongue slips between my parted lips.
The moment his taste hits my tongue, I come apart at the seams right there, out in the open. Even though it’s not dark out and there is not a cloud in sight, the stars dance and lightning strikes, making my entire being light up from the inside out. I moan against his tongue and tighten my hold on his hair to keep myself from losing him. Picking me up with his hand behind my other knee, I wrap my legs around his hips as he carries me inside. I help him out of his jacket, and it drops to the stairs on the way up. Then his shirt and mine join it along the way.
“Lose the panties,” he growls as he drops me to the bed. Shimmying out of my panties, I watch him kick off his boots and then remove his jeans. The moment he’s naked in front of me, his hand wraps around his cock and he starts to stroke. I whimper at the sight of him, and my core tightens in anticipation. I can’t get enough of him. I know I never will. “Come here.” He crooks his finger at me, and I get up on my knees and move toward him.