my throat as I reevaluate the merits of my decision. Let’s face it, choices made after midnight are generally questionable by nature. Maybe I haven’t been drinking, but this falls neatly into that category.
I’ve been hesitant to tell Mia what’s been going on with Colton. Mostly because I’ve been too busy denying that I still have feelings for him. If I utter the words out loud, that will make them real. Even now, as he stands inside my apartment at one o’clock in the morning, I’m unsure if I’m ready to take that giant leap.
Whether he realizes it or not, this is the guy who changed everything for me. My life can be broken up into two segments—a before Colton and after Colton. I’m more cautious than I once was. What this guy taught me is that I’m not as bulletproof as I once suspected.
And yet, that’s still not enough to stop me from grabbing his hand when he hesitates in the dining room. A sizzle of awareness shoots through me at the innocuous contact. The energy we always seem to generate is part of the attraction. I’m like a moth to a flickering flame that will ultimately lead to its demise. That knowledge isn’t nearly enough to stop the onslaught of emotions from hurtling to the surface.
Once inside my room, I release his hand, allowing mine to fall back to my side.
He grabs the hem of his shirt and drags it partway up his abdomen before pausing. “Is it okay if I take off my shirt and shorts?”
My mouth dries as I jerk my head into a tight nod.
He yanks the soft cottony material over his head before dropping it carelessly to the floor. The shorts get removed next. Once they are added to the small pile, he stands in front of me wearing nothing more than form-fitting boxers. Even in the shadowy darkness of the room, I’m able to make out the hard ridges and contours of his muscular body.
Unable to help myself, I stand rooted in place, simply drinking him in. Football and a rigorous weightlifting regimen have molded his physique into a thing of beauty. Instead of being bulky like a lineman, he’s long and lean. His body was built for quickness and speed.
As I shake myself out of those thoughts, I realize that he’s studying me with an equal amount of intensity. My muscles tense as air gets trapped in my lungs, making it impossible to breathe.
His gaze is like a physical caress, and my body reacts accordingly. When my nipples tighten, poking through the thin fabric of my tank top, I lift my arms self-consciously to cover them. Before I can fully wrap them around my chest, Colton reaches out, halting the movement. “Don’t. I want to look at you.” There’s a pause as his voice turns rough, sounding as if it’s been scraped from the bottom of the ocean. “I’ve missed this so much.”
Hesitantly, I lower my arms and straighten to my full height, allowing him to look his fill. I’ve never been embarrassed of my body. I’ve spent my entire life in a leotard. I’m used to scathing remarks from teachers. I’ve become almost deaf to the criticism.
But this...
I want Colton to like what he sees. The appreciative gleam filling his eyes tells me that he does.
This time, when he extends his hand, it never occurs to me not to take hold of it. With one tug, he pulls me toward the bed. He climbs in first before turning on his side. Once he’s settled, I crawl in next to him until our bodies are perfectly aligned. His bigger one curling protectively around my smaller one. His arm bands around me, locking me in place. For the first time in what feels like forever, contentment suffuses every fiber of my being.
Now that Colton is holding me in his arms, I realize this is the reason I couldn’t fall asleep. I needed him here with me. Even though I’ve spent all this time fighting against him, trying to break free of the hold he has on me, it turns out that I’ve been battling myself as well. It’s a relief to drop the pretense.
At least for the night.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Colton
Harsh sunlight filters through my eyelids, and I wake with a satisfied stretch. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this well-rested. Like I slept for twenty-four hours straight. As soon as I shift, I realize that I’m not alone. There’s a warm body snuggled