Chapter 18

Addison

I sat in a chair in the shadowy corner of Kayla’s studio, trying to catch my breath. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this. How had I talked myself into this?

When I’d seen him, backlight by the lights in the alley with snow swirling around him, I’d been struck by how mesmerizing he was. Colton was the sexiest man I’d ever seen with his clothes on. With them off, he was devastating. And here I was, waiting for him to strip for me.

I couldn’t allow myself to be hypnotized by his hotness. I had to stick to my guns, to stand my ground and let him know the terms under which I’d consider trying something serious with him.

But would he be willing to listen to my demands? Did I even have a right to give him any?

Yes. I had to respect myself. If he wanted me like he said he did, then he’d have to treat me well, like I deserved. Asking him to stop taking money for flashing his smile and a whole lot more wasn’t unreasonable.

And if he wouldn’t agree to stop stripping? If he wanted to keep things casual, keep fucking me while flirting with other women?

No. It was everything or nothing. No gray, only black or white. He wants me, or he doesn’t.

The restroom door opened and out he came, dressed in tiny red shorts and a vest that hugged his muscular chest. As he drew closer, I knew I had to make my move now, before I lost my nerve. Without hesitation, I pulled on the cord of the lamp that stood next to me, flooding the corner with light.

Colton stopped in his tracks, staring at me. I stared back, then willed myself to stand up and face him.

“Addison,” he said, his voice luring me, until I felt like I was sinking into a warm tub. No. Stay strong dammit.

“Colton. You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here.”

He nodded, keeping his face neutral. I took a few steps forward, leaning my head back to stare into his eyes. For a minute I couldn’t say a word, I just looked at him. He was something beyond handsome, almost angelic, but with a ruggedness that made me tremble.

“I wanted to see you.”

The words tumbled out before I could hold them back. But, now that I’d started it, I knew I had to finish. “I should have talked to you that night, when you came back to my place. Should have given you a chance to explain. I apologize for not giving you that chance.”

He looked a little taken aback by my words. Still, I plunged ahead. “But I can’t help wondering if you really wanted that chance. Because two hours later, you were booking this gig.”

“Look, let me explain—”

I cut him off. “There’s no need. I just want to know if you were serious. Do you really think we should be together?”

His eyes were blazing. “Yes.”

“Then you have to know that I can’t accept your career. And I don’t mean at the restaurant. I need to be the only woman you’re being intimate with, and I won’t accept anything less.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but I wasn’t finished. I put my hands on his shoulders, drawing closer. “I don’t care about your past, okay. I just need to know I’m your only immediate future. Can you promise me that? Because if you can’t, I’ll walk.”

I took a breath to continue, but Colton covered my mouth, making my eyes widen in surprise. “Okay, I’ve listened to what you had to say, and now you’re going to listen to me.”

His eyes were so bright, they held me transfixed. “I only took this gig because you threw me out in the cold street and wouldn’t even give me a chance to talk to you. You’d said repeatedly that you were broke, that rent was due and you weren’t sure you’d be able to pay it. When the call came in, I knew I could make some extra money to give you for your expenses. That’s the only reason I took the gig.”

I stood there, staring, and he slowly removed his hand from my mouth. “I’m sorry, Addison,” he said softly. “You deserve better than this. But I will make you this promise: If you give me a chance, I’ll prove myself to you. You and me, together. No one else. I swear it.”

My heart was hammering away in my chest. Was he telling the truth? Or was he saying what I wanted to hear because I’d caught him red-handed? How could I ever be sure?

I wanted him that much was clear. Just being this close to him, close enough to smell him, to feel the heat radiating off his body, was arousing me. I was hopelessly attracted to him. Even if I couldn’t believe him, I wanted to.

“Tomorrow morning I officially quit stripping,” he said, pressing a kiss to my neck. “But tonight, I’ve got one last show.”

Colton took my hand, leading me back to the chair. I sat down, but waved my hands. “You don’t have to—”

“Shh,” he said, bending down to place a single finger against my lips. He took a few steps back and turned away from me, looking at me over his shoulder.

Colton began to sway, but there was no music. For some reason, that made it seem much more intimate. More intense. I realized I was getting wet just from watching the way his muscles worked.

He spun around to face me, muscles rippling, his expression fierce. Gone was the good-time guy he’d been during the last performance I’d seen. This time, he was completely serious. I realized then that for him, too, it was everything or nothing.

He pulled off his hat and tossed it to me. It landed in my lap and I had the strangest urge to sniff it, which I barely resisted. He drew closer, close enough to grind against me, and all the previous awkwardness was gone. It was pure sex, and I wanted it bad enough to beg.

He paused, his eyes locking with mine, and then he ripped open his vest. There, written over the skin above his heart, were the words “To Addison, from Colton, with love.”

My mouth dropped open. “You...you knew I would be here.”

He nodded, a seductive smile sliding across his face.

“But...how?”

“I found out when I called to cancel and Kayla answered the phone.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help myself. “I thought I was setting you up, but you got me instead.”

“Do I?”

I looked at him, confused. “Do you what?”

“Have you? Do I have you, Addison? Because I want you more than I want my next breath.”

His words sent a shock running through me. I nodded. “Yes. You have me.”

Colton pulled me up and into his arms, burning me with a scorching kiss that left me breathless.

He pulled away, cupping my cheek. “I love you, Addison. I’ve never felt this way about someone before. You’re all I need.”

I realized then that I needed him too, more than I thought possible. Looping my arms around his neck, I pulled him close for a sweet kiss that soon became something much deeper.