His lips settled on mine, and I let my fingers slide over his muscular shoulders, but instead of the wildly intense kisses I was well versed in, the ones that made me moan into his mouth, he gave me slow, drawn out, and hot. Wide, openmouthed artistry that curled my toes and made me dizzy before he descended into nibbles and nips, licking at my lips before trailing down my neck and moving south.
I got lost in shaky sighs as he worshipped every bit of me with his mouth and hands. The darkness heightened my other senses and I felt everything more. His lips on my skin, his breath on my flesh, the warmth of his strong fingers as they made me pant for him. He worked his slow magic again and again, building over and over, until I thought his thorough madness was going to kill me.
“Colin.” I wasn’t one to beg, but I would if I had to. “Come on.”
“So impatient,” he growled, moving back up my body. And when he hovered over me, I felt light-headed just looking at him. Through the darkness I could see the heavy-lidded desire on his smirking face and it took my breath away.
Because beautiful Colin Beck, with the perfect everything, looked like he’d never wanted anything more than he wanted me at that moment. His hair was sticking up from my hands, his nostrils were flared, his eyes were on fire, and in that moment I knew I was wholly his.
His fingers threaded through mine and he pushed them down, so our adjoined hands were lying on the pillow, one on each side of my head. He lowered his mouth and kissed me, a long, deep kiss that spoke of things more potent than passion.
“Colin.” I exhaled his name and wanted to tell him, but then he slid inside me, clenching his fingers around mine as he moved and destroyed my ability to form coherent words. My fingers grasped his, squeezing, as he proceeded to completely obliterate any remaining doubts I had that I was madly in love with him.
* * *
? ? ?
FIVE A.M.
It was a ridiculous time of day to be awake. Colin wasn’t even stirring yet and he ran at five thirty every day like a psychopath, so it was absurd that I was up. But I was so stoked to start my first day at the magazine that I couldn’t sleep another second.
And I was glad to have a few minutes alone without him.
Every time I’d picked up my phone to text Mr. Wrong Number since our dinner at Fleming’s, I hadn’t really known what to say, and I’d blown it off. We hadn’t been dating or anything, so it seemed oddly egomaniacal to send a bizarre type of breakup text, especially when he’d sort of done that by ghosting me more times than I could count.
But I needed to do it.
I needed to be officially free and clear, because God help me, I was totally in love with Colin. I’d tried to guard my heart and keep it from happening, but it’d been no use. I’d lain in bed for hours last night, trying to explain away my emotions, before finally realizing it was all thoughts and words.
My heart was his.
And God, it seemed like he felt the same. I wasn’t going to say he was wildly in love with me, but there was obviously something between us that he liked because he kept coming back and making me happier with every passing day.
And last night had felt . . . downright magical.
I sat down on a stool and texted Mr. Wrong Number.
Me: I know it’s early, but since you mostly just ghost me I figure it doesn’t matter.
Send.
Me: It was great meeting you and you have no idea how much our texting meant to me in the beginning.
Send.
Wait, did that sound weird, saying in the beginning? I supposed it was too late to worry about it because I’d already sent it.
Me: But I’m seeing someone now and it feels wrong to keep texting you, like I’m having a secret relationship or something.
Send.
Colin’s phone lit up, catching my eye as it charged in the dark kitchen. It was probably a reminder to be perfect or an eat-more-protein notification. He used his phone to über-organize his life, whereas I used mine as just a texting machine.
Me: Good luck with everything, and thanks for being a friend when I didn’t really have any.
Send.
Colin’s phone lit up again.
Me: Thanks for everything.
Send.
Colin’s phone lit up again.
I got up and walked around to where his phone was plugged in. I was sure it was just a weird coincidence, but I texted: Um.
Send.
My ears started ringing, my stomach dropped, and everything got blurry for a second when the notification window popped up on his phone.
Miss Misdial: Um.
Colin
I opened my eyes and reached for her, but she wasn’t there.
Holy God, Olivia Marshall woke up before me? What time was it?