I tentatively smile back. We are both quiet as I reach for his hand and begin to clean it. The entire time I have to bite my tongue so I don’t bombard him with a line of questioning. I tell myself to ease into it slowly. But I never listen, even to myself.
“How long have you been in love with Delilah?” I say, sounding real pissy even to my own ears. A small part of me is hoping I was wrong, that he doesn’t harbor some long-time love for Delilah.
Colton’s eyes soften as they meet mine. “I’ve loved Delilah since we were kids.” My heart drops in my chest at his confirmation. I release his hand and begin to turn away from him. I can feel my eyes filling with tears. I’m such an idiot. I am definitely my mother’s daughter. My mask slips back into place on its own.
“I have some work to do so I would appreciate it if you could show me to the room that I’ll be staying in.”
Colton looks at me with a confused expression on his stupid handsome face, that smile dropping away.
“I put your things in your room.” I can feel him move behind me.
“That’s the master.” I know because I snooped around. He left me here. What else was a girl to do? I might have cracked open a few drawers too. There were no signs of a crazy serial killer. Unless being a tidy man is one of them.
“Like I said. I put you where you’ll be staying.” Fine. If he wants to give me his bed I’m not going to fight him on it. In fact, I need to get away from him as fast as I can. I go to take off toward his bedroom, but his hands land on my hips, keeping me in place.
“Sugar,” he drawls. His mouth is so close to my ear it makes the hair next to it tickle me softly.
“I’m not your sugar.” I answer back, fighting to keep my tone as cool as he always keeps his. I’ve always thought I was good at reading people. A skill I picked up early in life to protect myself. Somehow I can’t get a read on Colt, though. The one person I am starting to think I really need it on.
“I’m the only one’s sugar you’re ever going to be.” This time there isn’t a drawl to his tone. I turn around to look at him.
“That’s rich coming from a man who already has a sugar.” I yell the last part. Mad at having to say he has a sugar. Mad that the stupid word sugar is so cute and I was liking it secretly. Now I’m going to have to hate it somehow.
I turn, trying to storm off, but the hold he has on my hips doesn’t let up.
“Let go.” I stare up at him. He pulls me more into him. His hard cock presses against me.
“No.” He says that one word. Simple and to the point. It should piss me off more, but like everything that concerns him, I tend to have the wrong reaction. Well, I tell myself it’s the wrong reaction. My temper actually cools. He’s not backing down, nor is he letting me get away.
The two things that always work for me. I either walk out or make someone else get pissed and they walk out. Neither will work on him.
He knows my game.
8
Colton
She tries to hide the unshed tears brimming in her bright blue eyes. I really am at a loss now. I have no idea what I’ve done in the past few seconds to hurt her, but knowing I did twists my stomach into knots. A feeling of unease settles over me. I can handle her being worked up but having her visibly upset isn’t a look I like. Those tears are going to haunt my dreams and cause me many sleepless nights.
I thought I had her there for a moment. One thing was sure, I’m not letting her storm off pretending to be pissed at me when really she is about to cry. Me calling her sugar really seemed to send her over the edge. She didn’t say anything the first time I called her by that name, but this time she’s become upset by it. I myself don’t know where the term came from. It slipped right out of my mouth when talking to her. I think because I know she’s sweet to her core even though she tries to act otherwise. She can try and hide it all she wants, but I can see the real her.
Even when she was mad today she put it aside to tend to my hand. I could see the compassion in her eyes. She cared if I was okay. Everything else was forgotten. She might be a city girl but she was made for a life out here. She has a backbone and wouldn’t take shit, but right there under it all is a sweet woman. She acted like a momma bear when she got a look at my hand. I just have to show her she was made to be here with me. If I fail then I guess I’ll figure out how to live in the city because there is not a chance in hell that I am spending another day without her.