I settled in and found a good romance story on one of those holiday stations. By the time it was over, I was crying and realized that I had feelings for Colton and had for the year that I’d known him. He’d always been there when I needed a friend, or my car wouldn’t start. He was there for me when Jeff walked out of our wedding. My heart had belonged to Colton all this time. I was just too stubborn to admit it. Jeff did me a favor by walking away. Maybe he could see it before I realized it myself.
I could hear the music thumping from downstairs and wondered what everyone was doing. I bet Colton was barking orders at Emma. I really should have gone down and helped her. ItwasNew Year’s Eve, and the place was rockin last time I was down there. I slipped my foot out from under the sheet and wiggled my toes, examined my ankle, and realized most of the swelling was almost gone. I gingerly stood, pleasantly surprised that it was only slightly sore. I limped slowly down the back stairs until I reached the bottom step and was stopped by a pair of strong arms and warm hands. Colton. His intense chocolate eyes speared into mine.
“What are you doing down here, sweetheart? You’re supposed to be resting with that foot elevated. You could do some real damage!” he began to pull at my pantleg to check my ankle.
I placed my hands over his, halting his progression.
“I’m fine. Really. Most of the swelling is gone. I think all it needed was a little ice!” I took a step and said, “See all good,” and gave him my best smile even though my ankle was sore.
There was no way I was missing bringing in the New Year with my friend, who was currently flirting with some handsome blond-haired guy across the bar. That was Emma for you. She had always had guys flocking to her, even in high school. I, on the other hand, did not. I spent my time studying so that I could graduate at the top of my class. A lot of good it did me. I was working in a bar for minimum wage plus tips because my father’s auto business went under a few years ago and he couldn’t afford to pay for my college.
Colton bent down and lifted the leg of my jeans to examine my ankle again. After pressing on it and checking for bruising, he finally agreed to let me continue work, not without his watchful eye. Each touch and skim of his fingertips sent a ripple of desire straight to my core.
“If I so much as see you limp, I’m carrying you back upstairs. No arguments!” he ordered.Yes sir!He kissed me on the forehead and trailed his fingers along my jawline before he sent me on my way. God; he smelled delicious. Like sandalwood mixed with some kind of spice.
Emma came running over.
“I’m so glad you’re back!” She wrapped me in an enthusiastic hug. She was so excited, waving her arms around. “Guess what? I found my midnight kiss!” she exclaimed, pointing toward the blond she’d been batting her eyelashes at a moment ago.
Slight jealousy wormed its way through me. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy for my best friend. I was, but the fact that she had someone to celebrate the new year with and I didn’t was slightly depressing.
What I wouldn’t give to be wrapped in Colton’s strong arms. His soft but demanding lips taking what he wanted from me. I looked over my shoulder and caught Colton’s suspicious brown eyes on me. He was probably watching to see if I limped, but there was something else there in those dark brown eyes. A look of hunger and desire. For me? Couldn’t be me. I looked around me but there was no one else around. When my eyes met his and the corner of his lip curled into a sexy smile, my sex throbbed.
I checked with all my tables and walked to the bar with my drink orders. Colton rolled his sleeves up to his elbows as I laid my ticket on the bar. When I met his eyes, they weren’t smiling back at me. “I should probably turn you over my knee and spank your ass until it pinks.” He growled. I swallowed hard and my brows furrowed. “Don’t think I didn’t see you wince in pain as you turned to come this way.” Whoa, a little pressure, or was he afraid I was going to sue his bar? Probably the later of the two.
“I’m fine. Really,” I said, trying to placate him for some odd reason. I should probably get my coat and go home. That would serve him right to be short staffed. Then, I thought how unfair it would be to Emma to go without a word. I took my tray of drinks to my tables, but not before giving Colton a scathing look and walking away.
Customers began leaving as the news of a huge snowstorm was moving in, making travel that much more difficult. Emma left with bar guy in his truck. “Are you sure you don’t want a ride? He’s got a four-wheel drive. Shouldn’t be a problem in the snow,” she offered.
“No. I’m good. I’ll help clean up around here and then head home.”
The other customers trickled out, and that left me alone with Colton. I helped Colton clean everything up and stack clean glasses onto the designated rack. As I was hand drying silverware, I said, “I hope my little Toyota makes it home. I’d hate to sleep on the side of the road.”
Colton dropped his dish towel on the wooden bar and looked at me with hooded eyes. He reached out and cupped my cheek, sending a zing of hot desire through my belly.
“You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying here with me.” He brushed a stray hair behind my ear. “You can have the guest bed upstairs.” His thumb slowly grazed my bottom lip. My tongue darted out and licked it. His pupils dilated, and a low growl escaped the back of his throat.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I said.
He leaned in close, and his warm breath fanned my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
“It’s not up for discussion. If something happened to you, I could never forgive myself,” he said. “I need you to stay,” he whispered near my ear.
I sighed, gasped, and gave in, knowing that I would be staying the night with Colton. The guy I’d lusted after for a year. I immediately stopped and thought,Do I have on my granny panties?Then I remembered I had on my black lace boy shorts. Phew! I exhaled the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. What was I thinking? I was nuts! Colton didn’t think of me like that. Half the time he was barking orders at me or watching me to see if I was doing my job, or so it appeared to be. He always had found a way to interfere when male customers talked to me. He seemed to always step in and take over.
Now that the place was closed, I poured myself a jack and coke. Colton came up behind me, caging me in between his strong tanned arms and pressing his front to my back. My body immediately responded to his. I melted into him and relished in the warmth of his body against mine.
“I’ve been thinking of you all night,” he said, his voice husky.
I turned in his arms to face him and when I did, we bumped heads. We both laughed.
“Ouch!” I rubbed my forehead. “I may go to the hospital yet tonight.” I laughed, but it was quickly halted when Colton’s mouth crashed against mine, taking my mouth in a deep soul searing kiss. His breath tasted of peppermint and some type of whiskey.
“I’ve been waiting all night to do that.” He grinned. A cheering crowd from the tv over the bar could be heard.
“Look, the ball just dropped!” I clapped.
“Happy New Year, sweetheart.” Colton ran his nose up the side of my neck, sending shivers down my spine and heat scorching through my veins. Our kiss turned ravenous as Colton kissed his way down my neck and across my collar bone. Before I knew it, I was stripped of my clothes and laid out on the bar for him to feast on. His hungry eyes took in my naked form from my breasts to my pussy. He lifted my sore ankle and gave it a tender kiss before working his way up to the apex of my thighs. My breath caught in my throat when he breathed me in. “You smell like heaven,” he whispered against my sex. He pushed my legs farther apart, opening me completely for him. I gripped his hair as his tongue delved deep inside me, fucking me.
