“Colt,” Rose groaned, closing her eyes as her head fell back down to the pillow.

At this rate, she’d be lucky if she made it to the clinic before noon. As it was, Colt seemed determined to make sure she never left the bed again.

Colt chuckled darkly as his tongue lapped at her clit, eliciting another breathy moan from her as her fingers gripped the sheets. The man was relentless when there was something he wanted, and he wasn’t above using all the weapons in his arsenal to get his way.

“I love it when you say my name like that,” he murmured against the apex of her thighs, his knuckles brushing against her core.

Rose couldn’t keep her back from bowing off the bed as he entered first one finger, then a second, gently stretching her tightness. His lips closed over her clit once more as he sucked, hard.

The orgasm took Rose by surprise. She cried his name as she came, her hands coming up to tangle themselves in his dark hair as she held on for dear life. It was all she could do to keep herself anchored to the Earth as she shattered.

Rose felt Colt climb up the bed to lie beside her. She managed to crack an eye open to look at him. He was propped up on an elbow, smiling wickedly down at her like a little boy who had just stolen all the cookies from the cookie jar.

“You are evil,” she mumbled, her glare entirely unconvincing as he dipped his head to press a kiss to her lips.

“Which you love about me,” he replied.

He moved to nuzzle her neck, his hand sliding up her bare stomach to fondle her breasts.

She released another moan. “Seriously, Colt, I have to go. I’m already going to be late.”

Colt sighed, removing his wandering hand as he flopped back on the bad.

“You don’t have to go,” he grumbled, sounding like a petulant child. Rose grinned, despite herself. He turned his head to face her, his hazel eyes intense with their earnestness. “People would understand if you needed more time…”

Rose swallowed. It had been two weeks since the ordeal with Jared Chalke. It had been an endless stream of police interrogations, not to mention the media vultures that circled incessantly, going as far as to stake out her rental house and the vet clinic in an attempt to get a scoop from her. She’d been staying with Colt in the mean time, waiting for things to die down.

Rose rolled on to her side to look at him fully. She’d be lying to herself if she said his words didn’t tempt her, but…

“I’ve had enough time. I’m ready for my life to get back to normal.” She leaned in to give him a quick kiss when he still looked unconvinced.

“Uh huh…” he said, unconvinced.

“Besides, you’ll get sick of me by the end of the month at this rate,” she added, playfully reaching up to flick his chin.

He captured her hand with his before she could pull away.

“Never,” he whispered.

His eyes were as solemn as she’d ever seen them as he placed a kiss on the center of her palm. The small act of affection left Rose momentarily breathless.

Taking advantage of her distraction, Colt descended over her, seizing her lips with a toe-curling kiss that Rose couldn’t resist succumbing to. Her arms circled his neck, pulling him down to her as their tongues twined.

Rose swallowed the low moan that emitted from the back of his throat as his hips flexed, his erection rubbing against her lower abdomen.

This man will be the death of me, Rose thought wryly to herself as she broke the kiss and placed a hand on his shoulder to push him back. Colt relented, albeit with a groan of frustration as he fell back on his side of the bed.

God, he was so unbelievably sexy; Rose had to avoid looking at him as she finally got out of the bed, worried that if she didn’t, she’d give in and stay under the covers with him for the rest of the day.

Not that that would be a bad thing…

Rose batted away her traitorous thoughts as she went about getting dressed. All the while, Colt watched her silently from the bed, his arms folded back behind his head as if he were enjoying his favorite show, his eyes undressing her as fast as she could put the clothes on.

Once she’d finished, Rose went back to stand beside him, leaning down to kiss him goodbye.

“I’ll be back before you can even miss me.”

“Not likely,” he grumbled as she pulled away, eyeing his stiff cock for emphasis.

Rose laughed as she turned to leave, but before she could take so much as a step, Colt snagged her wrist, tugging her back to him.

“I love you,” he said softly, giving her a last tender kiss before letting her go.

Rose had to blink several times before she could regain her senses. Every time he said those words, it felt like her heart stopped beating. How had she ever gotten so lucky as to find this man?

“I love you, too,” she replied, just as softly. They traded a final look, loaded with the love and longing they both felt, before Rose willed herself to turn and leave the house.