***
I’ve designated Tuesday as ‘laundry day,’ or I’ll literally skip laundry until I find myself with no clean panties. At least it’s something to do.
After my shift at the salon, I toss my clothes in the machine and reach for the bottle of detergent on the shelf. I’d been worried about what I’d find this morning after my unknown caller—AKA—Slade. Thankfully, my car was spotless, and Colt had decided it was safe for me to drive.
I can already feel the stirrings of restlessness creeping up on me. This whole staying in and not going out to bars and parties is driving me nuts. I’m itchin’ to get out there, and Friday can’t come soon enough. I’m looking forward to going out and having a good time with those closest to me.
My thoughts shift to Colt.
The man is stubborn, but I think I’m beginning to wear him down. I’ll tell him about my phone call last night, and then I’ll see what I can do to loosen him up. My lips curve upwards as I close the lid on the washing machine. I can’t wait to feel him inside me again, and there’s no doubt in my mind that it’ll happen—and soon. I know his weakness now, and I plan to take full advantage of it. As long as I make the first move, he can’t seem to deny what his body wants.
“Quinn?”
I release a startled yelp and spin around, coming face to face with Colt—who’s standing in the open doorway. I’d been so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn’t heard him come home.
He frowns and steps further into the small room. “Did something happen today?” he asks, assuming my jumpiness must have to do with Slade.
The devious side of me takes over. I quickly move around him and shove the door closed before facing him once more, deliberately blocking the exit.
Colt’s eyes shift from the door to my face, and his eyes narrow with a hint of suspicion.
“He called last night, and I turned off my phone,” I inform him.
His expression clears as his focus shifts back to Slade. “Did he leave a voicemail?”
I shake my head.
“So nothing else happened today?” he prods, studying me.
“Nope.” I grin provocatively. “Though I’ve been very distracted. I keep thinking about your dick.”
Colt backs a step away and draws in a deep breath before slowly exhaling, clearly trying to pull together some restraint so that he doesn’t give into me.
Today, I find it kind of adorable. I move closer to him and slip my arms around his neck, which is quite a stretch considering my lack of height. I press my body fully against his and look up into his hazel eyes. “I’ve been fantasizing about you,” I murmur.
He releases a low, rumbly groan that vibrates throughout my entire body, making my lower belly ache. “This has to stop, Quinn.”
“Make me,” I dare before my lips press against his.
The second my lips touch his, he caves. His lips cover mine, and our tongues dance together as I run my hands over his chest while he cups my ass. All I want to do is make him feel good, so I tear my lips from his and drop down to my knees in front of him, my hands quickly unbuttoning his jeans and pulling down the zipper.
Colt’s making no move to stop me, and I lick my lips and push his briefs and jeans down to mid-thigh, releasing his swollen length.
The door behind me suddenly opens. “Hey Quinn, did you—” Gabe’s voice cuts off as a thunderous silence fills the small room.
My eyes dart to Colt’s, and the guilt and self-condemnation in his gaze sends a sliver of pain through my heart. I quickly scramble to my feet, my heart thudding with alarm as Colt yanks up his jeans. No one was supposed to find out until I’d had a chance to prove to Colt that he’s the man for me. Damn it.
I turn to face Gabe, who’s standing in the doorway, his hand still gripping the doorknob. His expression is stunned, but anger is quickly taking over. “What the fuck are you thinking?” he fumes at Colt, his eyes focused over my shoulder.
I know exactly what is running through Gabe’s mind, and it’s not good. Colt’s track record with women is terrible, and we all know where Colt stands on relationships. I’m the very last person he should be casually fucking.
Colt is silent behind me.
Gabe takes a threatening step forward, and I quickly dart in front of him, putting a hand against his chest to stop him. “Don’t,” I plead. Colt doesn’t take shit from anyone, but right now, Gabe caught us in the act of doing something that Colt believes is wrong. He won’t defend himself against Gabe—so that leaves me to try to salvage the situation.
Gabe ignores me, his angry eyes still locked on Colt. “You’ve crossed a line that should have never been crossed, Colt.”
“Hey,” I snap, swatting his chest to gain his attention. He reluctantly drags his gaze to me, and his expression twists into concern. “Don’t look at me like that. I did this. Me, not Colt. I’m the one who seduced him.”
“You’re going through—”
“Who the fuck cares what I’m going through. That has nothing to do with Colt and me. Gabe, we are consenting adults. Our choices are our own,” I say calmly.
Gabe’s eyes jerk back to Colt. “She’s our sister. Our sister,” he repeats.
“Not by blood, and you know it,” I cut in.
Disgust flashes across Gabe’s face, his eyes still on Colt. “Are you really just going to stand there and allow her to defend your ass?”
“Enough.” I give Gabe a good shove, and because Gabe would never physically maneuver me out of his way, he allows me to push against his chest as I back him into the hall. “Cool down before you say anything further that you might regret,” I advise.
His jaw clenches, and as his eyes focus on mine, I can see that he’s beginning to calm. Without a word, he turns and strides away, his shoulders tense and his back rigid.
I turn back to the laundry room and find Colt in the doorway. His expression is cold as ice, and his hard eyes are focused entirely on me. “Don’t ever fucking do that again, Quinn. Stay away from me. I mean it.”
His words cut deep, but I refuse to back down. “You’re a coward.”
The look he gives me would make a grown man shrivel. I love him too much to allow him to push me away, so I straighten my spine. “” With that said, I turn and walk away, hoping that for once, what I’d said will stir something inside him.