Holding You

Placing his lips to my ear, Colt spoke. “Thank you.”



Looking into Colt’s eyes, my breathing increased. It was then I realized where I was. In Colt’s arms. Up against his body. Really, really up against his body. How many times had I dreamed of Colt holding me in his arms again?



Too many times. Asshole. Ugh. I hate that he makes my body feel like this.



“Thank you for what?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.



“Saving me from what was probably the worst conversation of my life.”



Stifling my giggle, I couldn’t help but glance at Colt’s lips. He noticed because the bastard licked them.



Oh God. Oh God. Calm yourself, Lauren. Quickly looking away, I tried to focus on something else. Anything else.



“You look beautiful, Lauren.”



Shit. Deep breaths, Lauren. Stay strong.



“Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself,” I said as I continued to scan the dance floor.



“How would you know? You’ve barely looked my way all morning.”



My head snapped to him. “Are you kidding? I’ve been staring at you for the last . . .”



Shit. Shit. Shit. Way to play it cool, Lauren. Hello, world. The Lauren who throws herself at Colt has finally shown up, and she’s looking to get her heart stomped on again by him.



Closing my eyes, I dropped my head to Colt’s chest. I wanted to crawl under a rock.



“Hey, Lauren. Please look at me.”



Colt’s voice was a whisper. A hot sounding whisper. A whisper that I imagined would sound pretty damn amazing in my ear as he made love to me.



Ugh! Stop this, Lauren.



I pulled my head back but didn’t look up. Placing his finger under my chin, Colt lifted my eyes to him. “Lauren . . .”



His eyes fell to my lips as I instinctively licked them. Finally finding my voice, I whispered back, “Colt.”



Colt leaned closer to me, and I felt his hot breath against my lips. I moved my hands to his arms and gripped them tightly. Feeling his muscles flex under my grip, I let out a small moan.



“Tell me what you want me to do, Lauren,” Colt said as our eyes found each other again.



My heart was pounding so loudly, I barely heard his words.



Swallowing hard, I said, “Kiss me.”



When Colt smiled, my entire world lit up. Swiping his lips across mine caused a tingling sensation to rip through my body. Colt slipped his hand behind my neck and pulled me to his lips. The kiss was soft and ultra slow. When he finally slipped his tongue into my mouth, I melted on the spot.



Moaning, I squeezed his arms as Colt pulled me even closer. I was totally lost in the kiss. Never mind the fact that my father and mother were somewhere in the same room as me. Or the fact that my heart was beating so loudly in my ears, I couldn’t hear a thing. I enjoyed every single second of his lips on mine. When Colt finally pulled back, he bit down on my lower lip and sucked it gently before dropping it.



My chest heaved as I attempted to calm my breathing down. Colt kissed me. Holy shit. He finally kissed me.



Leaning my head against his chest, I smiled as Colt rested his chin on top of my head. My blonde hair was pulled up into a French twist with a few strands of curls framing my face. Colt reached up and played with a curl. My body was still trembling from our kiss.



Closing my eyes, I silently prayed Colt wouldn’t break my heart again.



“I’m headed back to A&M shortly, Lauren. Come with me.”



Pulling back, I looked into his eyes. They were filled with passion. My mouth opened but words wouldn’t form. Clearing my throat, I asked, “What are you saying, Colt?”



If there was one thing Colt Mathews could do, and do well, was swoon the hell out of me with his smile. And boy was he swooning me right now. My knees felt weak as Colt flashed me the smile that I had fallen in love with a few years back. That stupid crooked smile I dreamed about every single night.



“I’m asking you to let me make you mine, Lauren.”



Holy mother of God. Play it cool, Lauren. Play. It. Cool. Colt wants to make me his!



Swallowing hard, I asked . . . again, “What are you saying, Colt?”



Colt chuckled. Pulling me closer to him, he moved his lips to my ear. “I’ve been wanting to make you mine for so long, Lauren. I can’t bear to wait any longer.”



My lips parted open. “Me? I . . . um . . . I’ve never . . . ahh . . . what about . . .” For the love of all things good. My mind was swirling with images of Colt making love to me. Colt naked. Colt kissing my body. Colt touching my body. My eyes widened in horror. The one thing I wanted so badly for the last few years I was about to lose because I couldn’t form a damn sentence.