AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He reaches out and brushes his thumb over my jaw. Closing my eyes against his touch, a small hum escapes between my lips. Colt’s thumb stops mid-stroke, causing my eyelids to flutter open. His gaze zeros in on my mouth.
“Let me show you,” he coaxes, pulling his focus from my lips. “Close your eyes.”
There is not an ounce of resistance in my body when it comes to Colt Gibson, so I comply..
“Now, tell me…” He slides his hand down from my cheek to my neck, wrapping his fingers around the back of it. He keeps his thumb planted on the side. He takes a step closer, his heat warming the front of me. His scent takes over my ability to think straight again. Grabbing my hand, he places it on his chest, just like he did when helping me through my panic attack the other day. “What do you feel?”
Huh? Is that a question he expects me to answer? I’m unable to form a solid thought right now, let alone engage in twenty questions.
His voice is closer. His breath on my face. “Answer me, Libby.”
“Lost.”
“You feel lost?”
“Yes.” In the most wonderful way. A way I’ve never known.
“Does that scare you?”
I shake my head. “I’m not scared.” There’s no world that exists in which I would be scared with this man holding me.
“Good.” His hands go to the small of my back, bringing us flush against each other. His face brushes my hair as the deep vibrato of his voice trickles down my spine. “And what do you feel now?”
My heart jackhammers in my chest. Head and stomach swimming, I’m floating. Electricity zaps its way through my body, awakening every part of me. We’re only hugging, but it feels like so much more.
“I feel everything.”
His smile pushes against the side of my face. “Exactly.” Pulling away from me, he grazes his nose against mine, coaxing my eyes open. “You make me feel everything. And the most important thing to me right now is making sure you are safe and cared for. The only way to do that is to have you under the same roof as me. As my wife.”
The weight of his words registers and he straightens back up. “But we’ll have whatever boundaries you need in place. I’m here, eager and willing to take whatever you’re able to give me, but I won’t push you. If you want to be friends, I’ll be your best one. If it’s a monthly haircut, I’ll show up every time with a grateful heart.” His eyes roam my face, as if committing it to memory. As if this might be the last time he sees it. “And if I’m ever lucky enough to have you trust me without a doubt in your mind, just know that I have every intention of making you a lot more than my fake wife.”
I walk back into the apartment with a stupid smile on my face. When I woke up this morning, I never would have guessed my day would turn into this. I went from worrying about facing Colt to him making me feel like I’m the only woman he’s ever wanted.
“What the hell was all of that about?” Blake’s question halts me.
“What was what all about?”
She’s sitting on the couch under a blanket, glass of wine in hand. “You and Colt?”
“I was just telling him goodbye.” I giggle.
“Did you just giggle?”
“So what if I did?” I ask, fighting to keep a straight face.
“Elizabeth Jewel! You love him,” she gasps.
Heat creeps up my neck. “I don’t know.” Love is a big word.
“Bullshit. You’re so in love with your husband!”
“He’s really nice, and he’s hot, and he smells really, really good,” I blurt out.
Blake laughs. “He smells nice?”
“Well… yes.” I sit down on the couch and pull my feet under me.
“Libby,” she says, scooting closer, “You deserve a nice, attractive husband who smells really good.” She sucks in her cheeks to keep from laughing.
