Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Colton Bennett is the devil incarnate, with a sexy smirk that I’m not sure if I want to kiss or punch. I hate him, almost as much as I want him. He infuriates me, yet when I’m alone at night, I dream of his rough hands touching me. I dream of the caress of his deep baritone voice against my bare skin. But my dreams are my secret.
I will never confess those dreams to him.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I level him with a glare. “You’re obsessive,” I accuse sharply.
He raises an eyebrow, giving me a look full of devious intentions. “For you? Yeah, damn right. The more you push me away, the more I want you closer.”
“Really?” I roll my eyes to feign indifference, even though my stomach does a flip. “Tell me something you know about me,” I challenge, ignoring the flutter in my lower belly.
He slowly cocks his head to the side. “Is this some kind of test?”
I know his attraction toward me is real…but his devotion and affection? I doubt them both. My anxiety and broken heart have given me severe trust issues.
I don’t know what’s real or not anymore.
Colton shifts closer, crowding into my personal space. He lowers his head, bringing his face closer to mine. Thud. He presses two fingers under my chin, tilting my head up before he cradles my jaw between his hands. The musky, masculine scent of him assaults my senses, and I inhale, breathing him in. Filling my lungs with his smell.
“I know what you’re afraid of,” Colton rasps, his minty breath fanning over my lips. “Loneliness. You’re afraid of being lonely.”
My lips part with a silent gasp. His thumb brushes along my jaw, and my heart stutters at his tender touch. “Do you want to know what I am afraid of?”
My pulse quickens. “What?” I breathe.
“Living with a bitter heart for the rest of my life,” he confesses, his deep baritone voice lowering with a husky timbre.
Colton caresses my cheeks, before his touch disappears.
And then he’s gone.
My chest tightens. Thud.
The fluttering in my lower belly goes wild. Forget just butterflies, there’s a whole damn zoo in there. My feelings toward Colton have gotten too complicated.
I fear that my heart is at stake.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Colton — 21 years old
Riley grumbles under her breath and limps toward the baking aisle, dragging her right leg behind her. She’s got a big cast on, after taking a nasty fall four days ago. She fractured her bones in two different places in her lower leg. While it’s not severe enough to need metal pins and plates to hold the fragments together, Riley still needs to stay in the cast for at least five weeks.
And she’s really grumpy about that.
I scowl, thinking of the reason behind her fall. Which could have easily been avoided if she had just called me over and asked for help. The upper cabinets in her kitchen had come off the hinges, and she had climbed over the counter to try and fix them herself. Only for her to trip over and fall off. I heard the crash from my apartment and went to check.
I found her on the floor, holding her leg, her face pale, in shock. She didn’t even cry or make a sound of pain when I carried her to my car. To say that my anger had been unrestrained that day is an understatement. But I didn’t have the heart to scold her for being so careless. For recklessly putting herself in danger when I was right next door.
It’s been two years, and she still won’t allow herself to trust me.
But that’s fine, I’m enjoying the hunt. Chasing her gives me a whole new high that no drug is capable of giving. Because once I have her in my arms and under me, I’m going to savor the sweet fucking taste of her on my tongue.
Riley is stubborn, but I am more stubborn than her.
While she’s busy looking at the baking ingredients, I make my way to the other aisles, adding things to the basket that I know she’ll be needing.
Riley meets me at the self-checkout, and when she finally notices the items I’ve got, she gapes at me. “How do you know which tampons I use?” she blurts out in surprise, before her cheeks flush with a deep pinkish color. I like a blushing Riley. There’s something innocent in that look of hers.
I lift a shoulder, half-shrugging.
“That’s kinda creepy, Bennett.”
Is it creepy to notice the littlest things about the girl I care about? It’s not like I’m stalking her. I’m just good at noticing what other people usually don’t.
“I got you your favorite chocolate too.” Mint chocolate and cranberry chocolate.
Her lips twist, almost like she’s holding herself back from making another remark. After the payment is made, I grab the bags and we leave the store. Riley doesn’t argue when I grasp her elbow, helping her walk to my car. I know she hates being vulnerable like this.