AllFreeNovel
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“You’re missing out.” Blake plops down in the seat next to me. “The wings are fire.” The sauce is already covering her fingers, and she doesn’t have a care in the world. What I wouldn't give to be more like my best friend.
Colt sits next to me, handing me my water. A loud buzzer snaps my attention to the court and I see the players get ready for the game and I lean forward to get a better view. I have no idea what anything means in basketball, but it’s fun to watch. Blake, on the other hand, props her feet up and starts scrolling through her phone. It’s obvious she would rather be anywhere but here. But she’s taking one for the team, knowing I’d rather be anywhere Jett can’t find me.
“Tell me something about yourself,” Colt says, putting an elbow on the shared armrest. I pull my arm back, needing to keep my head clear of the fog that consumes me when he is this close.
“What do you want to know?” I ask.
“Everything.” The small smile he’s giving causes massive things to happen inside my chest.
“Um…” I try to think of something to make me seem interesting, but there really isn’t anything. “I’m twenty-six. I work at the salon with Blake. I’m an only child… that about sums it up.”
Colt studies me for a minute. “I have a hard time believing those three statements sum up who you are.”
“I’m not all that interesting,” I say, popping a shoulder.
He grabs my chin between his fingers and turns my face toward him. My breath catches and his eyes go to my mouth and the words from last week echo in my mind. “I find you very interesting,” he confesses, but doesn’t let go of my face. No, this man just keeps on looking at me. His eyes focus on mine. “You’re beautiful, Libs.”
Heat creeps up my neck and between my thighs instantly. My gaze drops to his full lips and I resist the urge to pounce on him. Nobody has ever been so blatant with their thoughts about me. Sure, I’ve been called nice things, but the Colt Gibson effect is different. He leaves no room for doubt. His words are liquid gold, both in value and how they pour over me.
He strokes his thumb gently across my cheek where my bruise is hidden. The pressure is enough to remind me that its there, but not enough to hurt. “If he tries to do this again, you tell me.” It’s not a question, and he doesn’t wait for a response.
Colt gives my chin a slight squeeze before letting go and facing forward again, interlacing our fingers in the process. I can’t help but notice the blanket of security I feel from the simple gesture. It’s not something I’ve ever experienced, and I want to give in and soak up the first slice of comfort I’ve felt in years. Jett himself never brought me comfort. The stability of the life we had built did, but his touch never did anything to me in the way that Colt’s does.
Deciding to be brave and seize the moment, I scoot closer in my seat and lay my head on Colt’s arm. His muscles tense for only a moment before completely relaxing and he starts rubbing lazy circles on my hand with his thumb.
Blake and I stand in the hallway outside the locker rooms waiting for number seven to come out. Tyson has to be one of the last ones in there with the amount of players that have already exited. He's taking his sweet ass time, though. Colt went to the restroom after the first thirty minutes passed.
“I swear he’s worse than a girl,” Blake huffs.
“I take offense to that.” Arms folded, I nudge her with my elbow.
She shoots me a smile. “You’re the exception, Libby. You wake up gorgeous and slap some mascara on. It’s actually pretty annoying,” she says, bumping me back. A giggle escapes me, but it's cut short by the ringing coming from my pocket. Pulling it out, I decline the call as soon as I see my mom’s name on the screen. It’s the third time she’s called me in two days and I have no desire to speak to her. Maybe ever again.
Tucking it away, I look up just in time to see a mammoth of a man exit the locker room. His dark skin is still wet from what I assume is the shower he just took. He has a duffle bag hanging from his hand and he’s not moving. Instead, his eyes are roaming down my body. It sends shivers down my arms, but not the good kind. The smile spreading across his face makes my stomach churn.
“Move along, fuck-wad,” Blake demands with her eyebrows arched.
Barely shifting his focus from me, he whines, “Come on, B, let a guy live a little.”
“It’s not going to happen, Trey. Go find someone else to entertain your tiny dick.” My eyes go wide at her accusation. This man is five times her size, and from the look he’s giving, he isn’t used to being told no. But Blake has never been one to be intimidated. But anyone other than her mom.
Finally finding my face with his hollow eyes, he shakes his head. “Don’t listen to her, there ain’t nothing small about me.” He winks and his voice settles in the pit of my stomach. There is something off about this guy. I open my mouth to let him know I’m not interested, but snap it shut when he stalks toward me. His presence eats up the entire hallway and my ability to form words.
“Not a chance.” Colt steps between us with the tips of all five fingers landing on the guy’s chest.
“And who the hell are you?”
“I’m the guy who isn’t okay with sharing.” He lowers his hand and puts both of them in his pockets. “Now I need you to back the fuck up and get on with your night somewhere else.”
Holy shit.
Trey sizes him up for a moment, but Colt doesn’t waver, using every inch of his height to match the guy nose to nose. Letting out a quick laugh, Trey puts his hands up. “Alright man, no biggie, she’s all yours.” And he walks away, shaking his head.
“You okay?” He asks, turning toward me and taking inventory. Tucking my lips in to hide my smile, I nod. Colt being protective has unlocked a new level of sexy I didn't know existed.
“Well, look at you, Gibson,” Blake chimes in. “Here I thought you were all quiet and reserved.”
Keeping his focus on me, his eyes twinkle with something that has my insides tingling. “I guess something about this one just brings out my wild side.”
