on my lips. “But I don’t kiss drunk girls.”
“Let’s make a deal?” I bargain. “How about when I say stuff out loud, and it’s clear I meant to think them, why don’t you be a gentleman and keep your mouth shut?”
“Deal,” he agrees. “Now get in my truck.”
He’s so damn bossy. It makes me wonder how bossy he would be in bed. Like would he smack my ass to get my attention or maybe wrap his sexy fingers around my throat?
“Jesus, Soph. Just get in the damn truck.” He groans when I look over my shoulder at him.
“Did I—”
“Just get in the damn truck.”
Chapter 9
Colton
She’s asleep before I can even get back in my truck after securing her car. She doesn’t stir when I call one of the guys at the station to grab her car from the park, or when we swing by the station to drop off her keys.
She’s snoring softly at the last red light in town, and sawing logs by the time I pull up in my driveway.
Taking her home will be something I already regret, but some of the things in my past I initially saw as a mistake have turned into some of the best things about my life. I’m crossing my fingers that tonight will end up being one of those things as well.
“No regrets,” I mutter to myself as I climb out of my truck and walk around to open the passenger side door.
She jolts when I scoop her up in my arms, but she settles back into my embrace quickly. The flowery scent of her skin was once something I looked forward to, but it’s a whole other story this close. Especially after realizing as I walk her inside my house that it’s concentrated more on the spot under her ear than near her shoulder. I now crave the ambrosia covering her skin. God, what this woman is doing to me.
The lights in the house are still on. I was moments from heading to bed when I got her text, but hadn’t made it as far as turning the television off and shutting everything down. I contemplate letting her sleep on the couch, but that’s not something I’m going to want to explain in the morning, so like a fool, I carry her to my own damn bed.
I make excuses in my head as I carry her down the hallway, but the simple truth is, I want her in my bed. I want the scent of her skin on my sheets. I want to close my eyes tonight with thoughts of her in my space, the intimacy of it will live inside my brain for eternity.
“I wanted to kiss you,” she whispers, her eyes still closed when I settle her on the mattress.
“I know, baby.” God, I want that, too.
I grind my back teeth together. She’s supposed to be speaking her truths out loud, not me.
“Where am I?” Her words are soft, filled with sleepiness, and she probably won’t remember them in the morning. I can only pray she doesn’t wake up with regret for calling me.
“You’re at my house, Sophia. I’m going to leave the bathroom light on in case you need to get up. I’m going to lock the bedroom door from the inside, so you’ll have to call out for me if you need me.”
“Thank y—”
She doesn’t even get the second word out completely before her body relaxes entirely into my sheets. I tug the comforter up around her shoulders after tugging off her boots. I don’t remove another stitch of clothing. I tuck her sock-covered feet under the blanket and leave the room, locking her inside like I promised.
Grabbing blankets and a spare pillow out of the hall closet, I head back to the living room, turning out lights and checking locks on the way.
This isn’t even close to how I pictured my night going, and I’m glad I was too lazy to get off the couch and grab the bottle of whiskey I had been salivating over after getting home from eating dinner. I mean, I would’ve found a way to get to Sophia safely, but I’m just glad I was able to manage it without witnesses. The gossip at a police station is worse than the nurse’s station at a hospital, and that’s saying something. Those hens cackle incessantly.
I spend the first ten minutes on the couch regretting my decision to purchase a sectional that curves because sleeping in a u-shape isn’t fun. After conceding