“You can still be upset with me while I hold you,” he said.
I squeezed the pill bottle in my hand. “Okay.”
“I’ll be right there,” he said, and we hung up.
I climbed out of bed to disarm the alarm and unlock the door so he wouldn’t have to. By the time I was twisting the deadbolt, he was on the other side of the door. I opened it and gestured for him to come in. After I locked up and rearmed the alarm, he took my hand and led me back to the bedroom. He watched me take the medicine Dr. Bolton had prescribed and we got comfortable in the bed, facing each other.
“Your voice matters,” he said. “I’m sorry we didn’t talk to you.”
“Do you not feel comfortable being intimate with me because I’m a mess?” I asked.
“I don’t think you’re a mess and I have never thought that. As for sex, I’m ready to take that step when you are. I—we just didn’t want you to feel pressured to take that step with us on top of everything you’re dealing with.”
“I love that you tried to put my well-being first. I really do. I can’t even describe how wonderful it is to have that, but that doesn’t mean you get to decide what you think is best for me and expect me to be alright with it without talking to me first.”
He nodded.
“As for our relationship, don’t ever leave me out of those conversations again.”
“It won’t happen again,” he said and tucked my hair behind my ear. “You already sound and look so much better.”
“I feel a little bit better. I’m hoping I’ll feel a lot better when I wake up tomorrow,” I said, snuggling into my pillow.
He scooted closer. “Can I kiss you goodnight?”
I smiled a little. “Yes.”
Closing the space between us, he gave me a sweet and quick kiss. “Goodnight,” he whispered.
“Goodnight,” I whispered back.
I woke up the next morning and smiled. I hadn’t dreamt and I felt fully rested. Overjoyed, I rolled over and climbed on top of Colt. He let out a groan. “Wake up,” I said and peppered his face with kisses.
He caught me by the back of my neck to hold me in place. His lips captured mine before he flipped us. The back of my head hit the pillow and he held himself over me. Breaking our kiss, he said, “That was a good way to wake up.”
I beamed up at him. “I didn’t have a nightmare and I slept all night.”
“That’s great, babe.” Smiling down at me, he pushed a strand of hair away from my face. “I love it when you smile.”
I reached up and grabbed the back of his neck. “Do you want to give me another reason to smile?”
His brows rose. “What?”
“Kiss me,” I said, pulling him close.
He leaned the rest of the way and the moment our lips touched, a consuming heat took over. Our tongues danced and he groaned as I nipped at his bottom lip. I ran my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp as his mouth traveled to my neck. His tongue slid over that sweet spot under my ear and my thighs squeezed around his hips, which caused his pelvis to get closer to mine. I could feel that he was hard. I smoothed my hand down his bare chest and cupped him through his shorts.
He hissed. “Babe, if you touch me there, I can’t guarantee I’ll be good.”
“I don’t want you to be good,” I said and swallowed nervously. “I—I want you.”
He lifted his head from my neck and stared down at me, eyes searching mine. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I said with confidence and pointed to my nightstand. “I have condoms in there.”
He looked surprised.
My cheeks became hot. “I’ve been ready to take this step with you for a while.” I might have been a virgin, but I knew the risks with sex and I wanted to be safe. Making an appointment to get on birth control was on my list of things to do today.
Colt reached into my nightstand and grabbed a condom. He tossed it on the bed next to us and sat back on his haunches. He flicked his fingers toward him. “Come here.” I sat up and he grabbed the bottom of my shirt. “Arms up,” he ordered and I did as told. He carefully lifted my shirt up and over my head. He tossed it aside as his gaze dropped to my breasts and an intense desire filled his eyes.
Feeling shy, I had the urge to cover up, but I resisted. With a pounding heart, I let him look.
He hooked his fingers into the bands of my sleep shorts and underwear. “Lift your hips, babe.”