“I’m fine, Colt.”
“Then tell me what you want, Zoey.” He stares directly into my eyes, not blinking. "What you really want."
The question hangs between us, heavy and real.
He's not just talking about the kiss, or whatever that kiss leads to.
Is he?
He's talking aboutus.
I could deflect. God knows I’ve deflected a thousand times in my life. From Daniel, from myself, from every quiet dream I buried under aprons and school runs and 4 AM alarms.
But I'm the woman who used to be loud, who used to take what she wanted without apology.
So tonight…
Tonight, for once in my life… I take what I want.
I rub my palm over his cock again, feeling him twitch beneath the denim. He hisses a sharp breath above me, and I lean in, pressing my lips to the pulse beating at the base of his throat.
I whisper against his skin, “I want you to take me to the bedroom. I have a surprise for you.”
Colt goes still. “A surprise, huh?”
I grip his cock hard, squeezing through his jeans. “Mmhmm.”
He stands, taking my hand in his, and leads me down the hallway to his bedroom.
At the door, I stop.
“Wait here,” I tell him, squeezing his fingers. “I just need two minutes.”
His eyes search mine, curious, heated. Then he nods and watches me slip into the bathroom and close the door behind me.
My fingers tremble as I peel off my clothes, and the woman in the mirror looks unfamiliar. Flushed cheeks. Bright eyes. Hair a mess from his hands.
Her lips are swollen from his kiss, and I reach into my bag and pull out the black lace lingerie. The set is even more beautiful than I remember. Delicate straps, intricate patterns, satin trim.
I step into the panties, pulling them up over my hips. They fit perfectly, hugging the curve of my ass, the lace dipping low in the front.
The bra is trickier because my hands are shaking. But I manage to fasten it, adjusting the cups, and then…
I look at myself in the mirror.
The lace cuts across my skin, black against the pale tone of my body. It’s daring. Sexy. Maybe a little too much for the mother of a ten year old.
But it's exactly what I wanted five years ago, I just never had the courage to wear it.
Tonight, I have the courage.
I take a deep breath, my fingers curling around the door handle. The lace feels foreign against my skin—daring, delicate, completely unlike me.
Or maybe exactly like the me I used to be.
I pull the door open.
Colt’s leaning against the wall just outside, arms crossed. The moment he sees me, his entire body goes still.
