Rose let him lead her into his apartment. She’d been here already for dinner, but she’d stuck to the kitchen and dining room table.

This time she went with him to the bedroom area, separated from the rest by a partial wall. It was mostly done in white, except the floors and the bed frame, which were both dark. The fresh linens on the bed looked inviting.

Colt released her hand as they approached the bed. He turned around and sat down on it with a little smile.

This was my idea, she reminded herself when she started feeling nervous. It goes however far I want it to go.

Rose bit her lip and toed off her boots, looking directly at Colt as she did it. He took off his boots too, and then beckoned for her to come closer.

She walked over to the bed, heart thumping. She looked down at him, saw desire burning bright in his eyes, but he made no movement toward her.

It was all her show.

She brushed her hands down over her jeans and t-shirt, then pushed him back, straddling him. The instant her hips touched his, she sighed.

It felt so good, to touch someone like this, to be touched. She leaned down for a kiss, hard and demanding. His hand twisted in her hair as their tongues clashed, and she felt that same electric current running through her body.

She took his other hand and placed it on her breast, reveling at the sensation. He kissed her as he cupped her breast and pinched the nipple.

She groaned at that, and started unbuttoning his shirt. As she spread her hands across his muscular chest, she rocked her hips a little.

He caught her motion, moaning, and turned the rocking into a slow grind. She loved it. The fact that his erection was pressed against her turned her on.

“Take your shirt off,” he whispered.

She pulled up the hem of her shirt and tugged it off, breathing hard. He kissed the tops of both of her breasts, slowly pulled off her bra.

“I like…” she started, then blushed.

“What?” he said, pausing as he cupped her breasts.

“I like you taking charge, when I’m on top,” she said, embarrassed.

He growled, looking her in the eye before leaning upward to kiss her pert nipple. He ground her hips against his while he took her nipple into his mouth, making a low, carnal sound.

Chills raced up her spine. “Ahhh,” she gasped.

She was on overload, her hips and thighs flaring with a dangerous heat, while his wet, hot mouth worked on her breast. She was growing increasingly damp between her thighs, heated and slick and wet.

It was good, but she wanted more.

“Take your clothes off,” she ordered, moving to strip her jeans off.

She watched as he fluidly removed his clothes, muscles rippling the whole time. He shoved down his pants and boxers, letting his manhood spring free.

It was beautiful in its way, long and thick and veined, standing free from his body. She blushed when she realized that she eyed his cock with something very much like hunger.

When he was naked, she pushed him back down on the bed and climbed on top of him once more.

She kissed him as she brought their hips into contact. They both moaned as her slickness brushed his cock, tantalizing them both.

He looked up at her with dark eyes, grabbing her hips to guide her all the way down until his shaft lay right against her slit. He smiled at her small gasp of appreciation, then started moving her hips so that his cock slid up and down her lips, the head hitting her clit every time it came down.

The first time she was merely surprised. The fourth she was breathless. By the seventh time that her hips moved, she was panting. She was soaking wet, so needy that she found her voice.

“Please, Colt… please…” she begged.

“You want more?” he said against her ear.

“God, yes.”

“Get ready to ride, then.”

He stopped moving her hips, fisting his cock so it stood up straight. She was too needy to be hesitant about things. She quickly took him in, rocking back and forth. Her slickness helped things, although she wasn’t used to anything nearly so big.

She felt perfectly stretched, filled almost to completion. He touched all the places she wanted him to without thought, grinding against her.

He groaned as his hands came up to grasp her hips again. “Fuck, Rose.”

As soon as she took the entire length of him, sighing with pleasure, he started to move. He pulled out, then slid himself back in again.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Colt.”

She held herself still as he began to move in earnest, thrusting up into her. She threw her head back, beginning to move in time with each stroke.

He was so good, so big. He hit all the spots inside her that were sensitive, and in just the right way, making her moan.

He moved one hand from her hip to her breast, tweaking a nipple. The added stimulation was just enough to put her in sensory overload again. She let her eyes close, enjoying the pure ecstasy of it all.

She opened her eyes as she approached that precipice once more, watching him. He was gorgeous, all dark hair and flashing dark eyes, his muscular body shining with sweat.

She looked down at him, feeling her innermost muscles begin to flutter. He stared back at her, thrusting up inside her intently.

“I’m going to… I’m going…” she said, barely holding back.

“Come for me,” he growled, his words nothing short of a demand.

She let go, her orgasm rippling outward. She clenched his cock harder than she thought possible and closed her eyes, crying out.

The pleasure went on and on, the peak higher than she could have ever known.

She heard his matching groan as they reached their releases simultaneously, coming as one. He pumped a few times before releasing his seed, his body saying more than ten thousand words could’ve.

He kissed her hard, rocking gently. She struggled to catch her breath, enjoying this postcoital closeness.

He eventually pulled her off, ever so gently, and lay her down beside him. He kissed her brow, which made her grin.

They lay together in silence, their breathing harsh. She curled against him, her spirits flying free. She had done it, been with another man. Not just out of spite for Jared, but…

Because she genuinely liked Colt. She thought he was funny, and wise. Not to mention the fact that he was hot enough to melt steel beams.

He’d also been so understanding about her needs, without asking a single question. He didn’t demand to know anything, even when she’d freaked out on him for apparently no reason.

Colt had set her soul free, and he didn’t even know it. It was time to tell him.

“Colt?” she said after several long moments had passed, pulling back so she could look at him.

“Hmm?” He cracked open an eye, looking at her. “Are you still awake?”

“Can I tell you something?” she asked, hating how weak her voice sounded.

He turned on his side, facing her, his brow furrowing at her tone. “Anything.”

Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Maybe the timing was bad, but she feared that if she didn’t tell him now, she might never again work up the nerve.

“I was raped,” she said quietly, her eyes looking past him. “That’s why… why I’m weird about sex.”

It came out in a rush, like the floodgates being opened. She felt his whole body tense up, like he was preparing for a fight. Colt’s face shifted several times, from surprise to concern to rage and back again.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said at last. His voice strained a little, like he was struggling to keep himself under control, “Is the… the assailant… anyone I know?”

She frowned. Naming names wasn’t a part of her plan, but of course he’d want to know. From the way he asked the question, she suspected he already knew the answer.

“It was Jared Chalke,” she said slowly.

“Motherfucker,” he shouted, startling her as he bolted up in the bed. “I’ll fucking kill him!”

He moved to get out of the bed, ready to beat Jared to a pulp. Only she couldn’t let him do that, because Jared had the sheriff and his father’s money on his side. Jared was vindictive, and he’d be glad to go after a guy like Colt.

“You can’t retaliate,” she warned him. “He has the sheriff on his side. You have to promise me.”

He looked at her incredulously. “I can take care of myself.”

“I’m confiding in you!” she pleaded, brows drawing down. “I’m trusting you not to publicly shame me, Colt.”

His expression was immediately contrite.

“I’m sorry,” he said, settling back down and hugging her close. “I just… I can’t believe somebody would…”

She felt his body tensing again. “Shhh. It’s in the past. I just wanted to tell you because… you know. I like you.”

He kissed her then, hard and demanding. When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless. He nestled her into his side, head resting on his chest.

“I think I like you, too,” he said. She could feel the words rumbling from his chest.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She let her eyes drift shut, feeling safe in his arms.