CHAPTER 7
Carol
I step out of my Uber and there’s Colt, standing right in front of the Chicago Western Downtown like he said he’d be.
I can’t believe he called so quickly and I can’t believe I accepted, especially considering it’s already getting late and we both know the reason we’re meeting.
He stands out in a city like this. He’s easily noticeable from a hundred yards away. I would say he looks out of place, but strangely he doesn’t. Somehow it’s him that makes everything else look out of place. It’s hard to describe but that’s Colt in a nutshell…indescribable.
He gives me a wink and offers me his hand. It’s not the kind of wink a boy would give if he knew he was about to “get laid.” It’s so much more than that. It’s not even sexual. It’s like we’re both in on a little secret together. And boy are we ever. If my dad ever found out I was here…well…I couldn’t even imagine.
I take Colt’s hand and we enter the hotel and walk straight to the elevators.
“You brought your suit?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say. “Are you sure it’s not going to be too cold?”
“How could it be with you in there with me?” he asks.
The elevator stops at the top floor. We exit and then take the stairs to the roof.
Oh my god. The hot tub is incredible. There’s a view of the city and although it’s cold outside I can just imagine how perfect it will feel once we get inside that warm bubbly water.
“Looks like the changing room is right over there,” he says. “Go ahead. I’ll be ready when you get back.”
I go into the changing room and think about what he said. He’ll be ready when I get back? Isn’t he going to change too? I guess I’ll find out soon enough.
I slide into my one-piece wishing I hadn’t been pigging out on so much ice cream recently. Wow, city life is making me soft. I’m not back in Santa Fe anymore moving and working and just living the outdoor life. I hadn’t really noticed it until now. I guess it’s just one of those things that gradually sneaks up on you.
I step outside the changing room and the first thing I see is Colt McCoy sitting inside that hot tub with his arms stretched out in both directions and his cowboy hat on.
“You already changed?”
“I put on my suit,” he says.
“Where?” How did he find a spot to change?
“My birthday suit.”
I bury my head in my hands trying to control my giggling. Of course you can take Colt off the ranch, but you can’t take the ranch out of Colt.
I make my way over to the hot tub and slowly dip my toe in. It’s a bit hot, but it feels really, really good.
I get in up to my knees, then my waist, and finally to my neck.
“How does it feel?”
“I needed this,” I say. “I really, really needed this.”
The door to the roof swings open and I immediately feel a bit bummed out. Now we have to share? And Colt’s naked!
But it’s a man in a hotel uniform. Oh no, they probably caught Colt on camera stripping down!
He pulls back what appears to be a white linen napkin and a bucket of ice appears.
“The champagne you ordered, sir,” the man says.
My eyes pop open and my mouth too.
“Thank you kindly,” he says.
The man pours two glasses handing us each one. He sets the bucket down in the snow next to the tub and is quickly through the door again leaving us to ourselves.
“Oh my god! You’ve thought of everything!” I say.
“If you’re gonna go for it, you gotta go all the way right?” he asks. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” I say and I raise my glass to meet his.
Five hours ago Colt was a distant fantasy and now he’s back in my life like a Texas tornado and he’s destroying every notion I ever had about city life. He’s just so confident. He does exactly what he wants when he wants. He doesn’t care what people think…at all.
It’s so refreshing in a world where everyone’s trying to put their best foot forward in an attempt to impress everyone, even if it comes at their own expense.
Colt truly doesn’t care, and being around him and feeling his presence makes me realize when he’s around I don’t have a care in the world either.
Societal pressures and expectations just don’t exist. He’s older, he’s naked, we’re drinking champagne in a hot tub in the winter. Three reasons I shouldn’t be up here with him right now. Oh, and let’s not forget he’s my dad’s best friend.
Maybe I’m naive or maybe he just has that certain charisma that transcends…well…everything. Nothing else matters right now, except enjoying this moment with him.
“Water’s a little warmer over here,” he says as me motions with his head that I might like to slide over his way. He’s got the sexiest of smirks on his face and I can’t resist.
I wait for a few seconds as to not appear too eager, but then I slowly slide over towards him.
“Gets even warmer the closer you get,” he says when I stop a few feet short.
I push my inhibitions aside and slide in under his outstretched arm. It feels right, like I belong here.
He raises his glass and I do the same. He takes a sip and I follow his lead.
I know he’s not trying to get me drunk, he’s just trying to enjoy the good life. He lives in the moment and that moment is right now.
I take a look out across the city but the real view is the one next to me…above and below water. I’m nervous. I’m anticipating a first kiss. Part of me loves the anticipation and another part just wants him to grab my face and do it so I can relax.
I feel his hand against my cheek and my body makes up its mind subconsciously as my head turns towards his. He’s looking at me deeply, like nothing else in the world matters except for me.
Now his thumb runs along my cheek and I reposition myself so my body is more squared up to him.
I put my hand down next to my bottom, knowing when his lips meet mine I’m going to need to brace myself.
“You know how beautiful you are?”
“No,” I say softly. I don’t think I’m anything particularly special.
“To me there’s no one on earth or in the heavens above that’s more beautiful. No one I’d rather be with here tonight.”
I say nothing. I didn’t know a man so rough and rugged could be so sweet and kind.
“The man at the desk said this is the best view in the entire Midwest up here.” He leans in a little closer to me. My lips part and I feel like I’m floating. “He was right about that, but he was wrong about one thing.”
“Oh,” I say.
“He wasn’t looking at you.”
I see Colt’s lips begin to open as he moves toward me.
Whooo! The jets on the hot tub go out and the water goes still.
My eyes had just closed and they open again. My head moves and Colt is left hanging.
I can’t help it as my eyes look at the now still water and I see his huge erection. I’m not sure if that’s all him or if the water is adding some extra length and girth. Either way he is absolutely hung.
The door swings open and a man appears.
“Sorry, guys.”
“No problem,” Colt says. “Can you turn the jets back on?”
“Got some bad news. Electricity just went out on our block. We’re hoping to have the generator up in a few minutes, but we can’t make any guarantees yet.”
“Okay,” Colt says.
“Probably a good idea to exit the tub. That water gets cold awfully quick.”
“Right,” Colt says. He looks over towards a bench where his things are located. We both bust out laughing.
“Let me help you,” I say. “One sec,” Colt says.
“Okay,” I say.
A few seconds later the hotel guy exits through the door.
“Okay,” Colt says. I realize he didn’t want the man to see me in my swimsuit. He wants me all to himself. He’s a throwback. He wants me to be his, and he wants to be mine. Us, only for each other. I like the idea of that. Someone that wants me completely and doesn’t want to share. He doesn’t want attention for himself or for me, unless it’s the other giving it.
I quickly grab Colt’s things and bring them over to him.
“Thank ya, darlin’,” he says.
“My pleasure,” I say.
I go back into the changing room and see a missed call and a message from work.
Need you in the office first thing. Lots of work tomorrow. Going to be a busy holiday weekend.