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Chapter 10
Colt
Iwalked Ember up the few steps to the front door of her apartment building where I gave her a hug and a single tender kiss goodbye. There was no way my body could handle another round of what we had shared in the park.
Once I was back in the taxi, I thought back over the argument we’d had whilst in the park. I found myself grinning at the fact that we’d kind of had our first fight. Of course, we’d immediately made up like any good couple should.
Visions of us a year from now blossomed in my mind. The two of us arguing over something we each thought was important, only for us to fall into bed and make love for hours. I shifted in my seat. Damn.
First of all, this wasn’t going to last years, this was a four-week arrangement and, second, there would be no falling into bed with hot makeup sex—ever. That was part of the stipulation I’d put on my proposition.
At the time that I had made that condition, I was very leery about jumping into bed with her. Who knew if she practiced safe sex or how many partners she’d really had? I couldn’t take the chance of catching some random STD from one of her quick hookups, but damn it to hell, I sure wanted to get that body of hers between the sheets. It was made for sex.
The taxi pulled up in front of my building, and I slipped the driver his fare and climbed out. Henry was helping another tenant into the building, and I nodded a greeting at him as I walked through the door he was already holding open.
“Evening, Dr. Barnes.”
Normally, I would have responded, but my mind was moving down a crooked path, and I was lost somewhere along the way. What was I trying to prove here anyway? Was I trying to make a difference in her life, or mine? Was this some twisted way to get close to a woman without having to seriously commit? And why her? Because she exuded sex, desire, pleasure, and yet looked so sad at the same time?
I dropped my house keys on the small table by the door and went straight out to the balcony, stopping only when I was gripping the cold iron rail under my hands.
Why her? Well, hell if I knew. Maybe it was because she was the most incredibly beautiful woman I had ever seen; or maybe it was those seductive blue eyes that broke through my defenses and put a chink in the hard armor around my heart.
It could be that she didn’t seem to care what others thought of her and that she went for what she wanted, at least in men. It didn’t seem like she was like that in her job. If she was, I doubt she would be working where she worked.
I did know that I loved her laugh. It seemed to come from the depth of her soul. Her eyes would light up and her head would fall back, so she could spread her voice as far as it would go—and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. I’d seen other people glancing at her as the musical sound filled the air. It was contagious.
I’d also noticed the people studying us on the sidewalks. I could imagine the picture we gave everyone. Our blonde hair, athletic builds, and our distinct eye colors would catch many people’s attention.
I had told her that I was going to show her how a man was supposed to treat a woman, but the beast deep inside of me wanted to seduce her and take her to my bed like all those other men had. Was that what this was? An excuse to get her into bed after I’d wined and dined her a bit so I couldn’t be put into that same category as all those other one night stands?
I wasn’t going to let that happen—I didn’t want that to happen. That meant that I needed to keep my lips and hands to myself, especially when we were alone. Another one of those kisses like we shared in the park, and all bets were off. I was only so strong, and I was pretty sure that my desire for her was stronger.
For the next seven days, I saw her every day. Last weekend I had taken her to the art museum on Saturday, and on Sunday we had driven out to the country and done a tour of a winery. After work each night, I had picked her up and taken her out to dinner. We hadn’t hit any fancy places yet, mostly the hole-in-the-wall spots she had told me about the first night.
As the week went by, I found myself looking forward to the next moment I would be with her. She was the most outspoken person I had ever known. To some it might have come off as offensive, but I loved that she spoke her mind, usually with a sense of humor. I craved the sound of her voice, the smile on her lips, and the mischievous look that would come to her eye from time to time when she was trying to tempt me—and tempt me she did. It was getting harder and harder to resist her and her luscious body. That damn belly ring alone about drove me wild every time it peeked out from under a shirt. I was sure she wore cropped shirts just to get to me.
It was Thursday night of the following week and I had just remembered that I’d promised the guys I wouldn’t miss the next game of hoops. I figured it would probably be good for us to have a break anyway. Over the last few days, thoughts of her had consumed me.
I took my cellphone out of my pocket and brought up her contact information to send her a message that I wouldn’t be able to see her due to a previous commitment. She responded that it was fine since she, too, had plans.
What was she planning on doing? Was she going to go out and pick someone up? My mind began to spin as I went into my condo and back to my bedroom. It had been over a week since her last hookup—well, as far as I knew.
My mind wandered in chaotic circles around those thoughts. The same questions banging around in my mind over and over again. She was probably out with her friends, maybe she’d end up at a bar, have a few drinks, and then what would she do? Would she pick up a random guy and bring him back to her place? Maybe go to his? Maybe not even make it to someone’s place, but in the backseat of a car.
By the time I got into the shower, I was wound tight. I didn’t want to think about it, I didn’t want to worry. I had to trust her, right? I leaned my head forward under the water, watching the droplets fall from my forehead. Jesus, what the hell have I done to myself? When had I gotten so attached that the thought of her with someone else, caused pain in my chest?
I tossed and turned all night, dreaming, but not really remembering any of my dreams. When I got to the office the next day, I closed the door and sat with some medical journals to catch up on some reading and to also put aside my errant thoughts. I had two appointments this morning and then a second skin graft surgery right before lunch for a burn victim.
Between my appointments, images of Ember flashed through my mind. Everything from the memories of her leaving the bar with some asshole to the way she had stared up into my face after I kissed her.
By the time I was on my way to the hospital, I was ready to sign myself up for a lobotomy. My mind wasn’t my own today, and I needed to suck that the hell up so I could focus during surgery.
I was scrubbing in when Whitney joined me in the clean room. “You’ve been quiet today, you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answered gruffly and heard her laugh under her breath.
“You are totally not fine. What, things not going well with your not-date girl?”
