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Chapter 15
Carly
Pulling into the driveway, I notice a black Chevrolet Silverado is parked to the side. I put the Camaro in park and shut the engine off. My hands tremble as I reach for the door latch.
Colton is sitting on the porch swing, with his head in his hands. He’s still in his mining stripes, covered in coal, black from the soot that he’s been crawling through all day. Seeing him like this causes my heart to falter. My heart slows down to a snail’s pace as I feel the earth stand still. Walking toward him, my heart, the beat of a staccato, pounds slowly against the walls of my chest, desperate for an escape to the one and only man it has ever belonged to.
I sit beside him and pull his hand into my lap, weaving our fingers together. Colton keeps his head down and his eyes closed tight. I grasp his chiseled chin and pull his face toward me, willing him to open his eyes for me. He opens his eyes, and I wish he hadn’t. I’m exposed to the world of anguish that Colton is living in. His deep brown eyes are marred with red vessels and tears vying for their release.
I take a deep breath, stand, and pull on his strong hand to follow me. Living with my own heartache has been insufferable, but seeing Colton broken, reaching out for the healing that he so desperately needs is my complete undoing. I have to be strong for the both of us. We’re both gambling on love, gambling on each other.
I lead him inside, away from the brisk fall air. I climb the stairs to my bedroom to change my clothes, and Colton follows behind me. I place my phone on the charging dock, then grab some comfy sweatpants and a tank top from my closet. I go to the bathroom to change, leaving Colton standing alone and distant in the doorway. As I’m changing, I hear soft music echoing from my room. My heart constricts, slamming against my chest, as nerves rattle deep in my stomach. Pinching my eyes closed, I take a deep breath before stepping back into the bedroom.
I open the door and immediately hear “Fall into Me” by Brantley Gilbert. He grasps my wrists between fingers and pulls me tightly to him, wrapping his arms around my waist as he begins to turn me slowly to the rhythm of the song. He runs his nose up the crook of my neck and through my hair as he hums the tune quietly. Taking deep inhales, he begins to nibble lightly on my ear as deep, rattling groans escape him. The music continues to play, as we tangle ourselves in the others embrace, swaying to the rhythm.
Snuggled tightly to his chest, Colton tips my chin so he can peer down into my eyes, seeing my heart and hearing what I can’t say with words. “Let me be your love song, Carly Jo,” Colton’s deep, husky voice is barely a whisper. Slowly, he leans in and takes my bottom lip between his, gently teasing with soft licks. He grips my hair and tips my head back, softly working his way down my neck and across my collarbone. He runs his fingers under the hem of my tank top and gently massages the small of my back as he trails sweet kisses down my shoulder. Inching my shirt up slowly, Colton grazes the hem of my bra, before he quickly pulls my shirt over my head, leaving me vulnerable and exposed. I immediately want to cross my arms over chest, but I shake those thoughts as I remember this is Colton. He’s the same man I gave my innocence to so many years ago.
Sensing my anxiety, Colton rubs soothing circles across my back as he continually kisses the crook of my neck. Completely carried away by his affectionate conquest, I give in to temptation and begin to love him back.
Rubbing my hands up the hard muscles of his back, I pull his shirt loose from his pants, then work my way back to the front to unbutton them. Surprised by this, Colton becomes even more excited and kisses me deeper, harsher. He pulls his work shirt off and rips the white undershirt away quickly, desperate not to break contact with me.
I trail my fingers up Colton’s tight bare chest, and my knees grow weak, trembling with fear and passion. Colton continues to sway me to the music, which he has on repeat as he hums softly. “Fall into me, Carly Jo. I’ll catch you and hold onto you forever,” Colton croons between hums.
My trembling knees fail me, and I stumble, but Colton grasps me tightly then lays me back on the bed. A wide smile spreads across his gorgeous tan face. The wall around my heart cracks at his smile. His eyes glisten with love as he gazes deep into my soul, searching to find the love for him that has always been there.
Pushing my legs open with his knee, Colton presses both of his palms flat on the bed around my head, caging me under him as he slowly lays against me. I quiver at the close contact as I tighten my arms around his neck and pull him close to me, never wanting to let him go.
“I’ve waited too damn long to have you back in my arms again, baby. No matter what hell we’ve been through, we can only go on together. I’d give my last breath just to hold you in my arms.”
I run my fingers through his thick black hair and pull his lips down to mine. With one simple kiss, I breathe into him, “I’ve missed you, Colton.” Colton’s lips come crashing down on mine as his soft, sweet kisses turn to raw, heated passion, ravaging me like a beast gnawing at his prey. His hands caress me wildly, exploring every inch of my heated flesh. I tug at his thick hair as he continues to kiss, lick, and tease me. He feathers kisses down my chest and gently trails his fingers beneath the cup of my bra, then glances at me for approval. Arching my head back at his sensual touch, Colton takes my movement as approval. I raise up as he rips at the bra and leaves it in shreds around my back, exposing my now chilled breast. A devious grin spreads across Colton’s face as he leans down and tenderly kisses my breast, while grasping the other tightly in his palm. He gently thrusts his hips into mine, pressing his hardness into me. A tiny whimper escapes my dry throat as a fiery spark ignites in my core. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him closer to me, begging for more of his touch. Slowly, I trail my tongue along his jaw, carefully sprinkling small, delicate kisses along his throat. Colton peers down at me behind dark hooded eyes, filled with lust and want.
“Darlin’, I can’t stop myself from touchin’ you,” Colton whispers before dipping his soft tongue deep between my lips. “But I’ll stop if this is too much, too fast.” He continues to kiss me, willing me to let him love me. I dig my nails deep into his hardened shoulders, and I plead with Colton not to stop. Together, we kiss, touch, and caress madly.
I raise from the bed, and Colton strips away my sweats and panties, slowly, his hands an erratic tremble. I watch intently, my eyes wide with fear, excitement, and love. He laces his finger through mine as he pulls me toward him, motioning for me to undress him as he just undressed me. Anxiety creeps through my chest, and my nerves stand on end, but I fight back the emotion. With shaky hands, I unbutton his pants and slowly glide them down his long, muscular thighs, letting them crumple to the floor. My hands immediately trail up his chest, tracing lines over the tribal tattoo that splays from the top of his shoulder and down his lean, cut side. He wraps my tiny wrists in his rough hands and guides me back down onto the bed, gently, before letting his hungry eyes peer over my bare skin. He slides his boxer briefs down his legs, springing free his hardened erection. Never letting his eyes escape mine, Colton slides his hand up my thigh, softly caressing me, finding his way to my aching core.
He senses my fear and presses his forehead to mine and softly whispers, “You were made for me, darlin’. Feel how you fit in my arms, by my side? A damn perfect fit. Because you’re mine. For always.” Skin to skin, I feel so connected to Colton. It’s a euphoric feeling that I’ve never felt before. Colton kisses me lustfully, as his fingers continue to tease my delicate clit.
He clutches the nape of my neck with his left hand and kisses me deeply while he fills me with his length. Wincing from the pain, I allow a tiny whimper to escape. Colton notices, but his momentum never fades, as he wraps his right arm tightly around my waist, cradling me tight, as he slowly rocks our bodies together in a fluid movement. Flesh to flesh, the sensation of Colton and me connected like this is so overwhelming, nothing like I ever encountered with him when we were younger.
Tears fall freely from my eyes, desperate for their escape of the overwhelming emotions I’m feeling. He kisses soft, delicate kisses over my collarbone as he continues to rock us together. Colton kisses gently up my neck, to my face, kissing away the tears. He is so aware of my every emotion, careful to tend to me fully.
His pace heightens as he thrusts deeper and stronger, frazzling my core to a level I never experienced before. With a husky tone, Colton moans deeply against my ear, before releasing a gut-ripping growl. Tangled in each other’s arms, we come spiraling down together from the most euphoric, intense, sensation I have ever felt in my life.
Colton’s weight crashes down on me- dirty, hot, and sticky. Together we lay in a warm embrace, quietly enjoying the solace of each other’s arms.
COLTON
Pulling into the driveway at Carly Jo’s house, I hang my head in defeat, seeing that she ain’t home. I put the truck in park and tap the steering wheel nervously, fighting with myself over fighting for Carly Jo. The dark clouds that hang heavy in the sky remind me of my heavy heart.
After battling the relentless demons, I remind myself that I’m Colton Weston, and I always get what I want if I fight hard enough for it. Fight … that’s what I decide to do. I promise myself that I will not give up on Carly Jo. I’ll fight ’til my last dying breath.
Lightning crashes and thunder rumbles in the sky. Growing anxious from sitting in the truck, I feel like I’m struggling for air. I climb out of the truck and lace my fingers together at the back of my head to open my lungs as I draw in a deep, fresh breath of air. Tiny droplets of rain hit me, so I go sit on the front porch swing and wait, impatiently.
It feels like I wait an eternity, and I’ve damn near reached a brink of madness when I hear the deep rumble of a V8 engine pull into the driveway. With my head in my hands, I notice my palms instantly begin to sweat from my frayed nerves. I can’t bear to look up and into her eyes.
As she pulls my hand into her lap, her touch sends an earth-tilting jolt through my veins. I wince my eyes shut and fight back the tears that threaten to spring free. Carly Jo tugs on my chin, and I slowly open my heavy eyes and look at her. The look on her face causes my heart to constrict. She stands and pulls me inside the house.
She climbs the stairs to her bedroom, and I follow. I lean against the doorjamb with my arm over my head and watch her grab a change of clothes from her closet, then walk into the bathroom, her eyes never meeting mine. When I hear the door shut, I look around the room, nervous to invade her privacy. On the nightstand, her phone is lit up on the charging station, and I wonder what she’s been listening to. It’s still unlocked, so I look through her playlist. Music always spoke volumes for Carly Jo’s emotions. My heart falters at the list of gut-wrenching music she’s been playing. I scroll through the thousands of songs and find one that’s perfect. A song that will let Carly Jo know that she’s safe with me, and I’ll never hurt her again. A song that will tell her that I’m playing for keeps, in this for eternity. Pressing play, I turn the volume to a soft level and wait by the door for Carly Jo to exit.
