Page 84 of Imperfect Cadence

“Can I help you?” My tone came out icy and detached, and I took some small satisfaction from witnessing Colt visibly flinch. “Finally ready to get divorced? Finally gonna return my grandma’s ring?” I spat, the words bitter on my tongue.

Colt’s face crumbled, and it dawned on me that he had almost seemed… hopeful. He blinked up at me, those big brown eyes shining with unshed emotions, and I had to fight against the pang of regret not to take the words back.

“I-If that’s what you want,” he stuttered, dropping his gaze to the floor. Probably to try to hide what he felt. Typical Colt.

“No,” I practically growled, my conviction catching him off guard as his head snapped back up. I clenched my fists at my sides, barely clinging to my composure. “You don’t fucking get to do that. After everything you’ve done to me, you don’t get to waltz into my home uninvited and act like the victim here.”

“She didn’t tell you then?” Colt’s whisper was so soft it almost escaped my notice.

His subdued response did nothing to quell my anger. The Colt I knew would have lashed out, hurling venomous words in retaliation. Turns out, I was itching for a fight. For years, I had pushed down these emotions, chastising myself for the stupid mistake I made when I was young and dumb. But truthfully, Colt was just as culpable for our demise as I was. He had turned his back on me when I tried to give him an explanation, rejecting me time and time again. I’d poured my heart out to him through countless letters, voicemails, texts. Groveled in any way I knew how. And he couldn’t even give me the benefit of the doubt enough to tell me that he didn’t accept my apologies.

Wait, who didn’t tell me what?

“Let me guess, your fancy shmancy assistant forgot to call and inform me you were stopping by. I’m guessing it’s a special occasion if you felt the need to deliver the paperwork in person this time. What gives? Found yourself a new man that wants to lock you down, and you’re trying to avoid the awkward moment when he finds out that you already are?”

I was being a dick. I knew that. I was being unfair, too. We didn’t owe each other anything anymore, and if he had moved on, he didn’t deserve to be berated about it just because I couldn’t seem to let go. Still, I couldn’t stop myself.

Colt stood there, his arms crossed, a crease forming between the dark lines of his brows as he listened to my bitter tirade.

“Oh silly me,” I continued, my hateful words dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe you’re here to see what you’re going to get in the split, as if you don’t have enough money. Can’t leave me for good until you take my last shred of dignity, huh?” I felt the edges of my sanity fraying, my words becoming nonsensical. It was just too fucking much.

We had endured too much. I had endured too much. A sharp stab of pain shot up my chest and lodged itself in my throat, making it difficult to breathe. I could feel myself teetering on the edge of a complete breakdown, one that would shatter me irreparably.

Colt scoffed.

“What’s so funny,” I growled, his reaction only fueling my anger. My feet carried me closer to him almost involuntarily until I was pressed up against him, pinning Colt to the front door.

I caught a whiff of his scent and my body reacted instinctively to the familiar notes of smoked wood. Fuck me. How did he still smell the same after all this time? Just like he did the first time we kissed at the falls. The memory of his firm but compact body contoured to mine, holding onto me with such passion and trust, a stark contrast to our current situation, and my cock throbbed in response.

“Nothing,” he seethed, refusing to back down from my intimidation tactics. He allowed me to mold my body to his, and I knew he could feel my erection jutting into his chest. “I just I can’t believe Violet begged me to come all the way here to check on you, and instead of the depressed shell of a person she convinced me you were, you’re still just a fucking asshole.”

Surprisingly, I didn’t even flinch at the mention of him speaking to Violet. I tucked that piece of information away for later, because it turns out I had zero self-control. Colt had unwittingly provided the ammunition I had been waiting for, finally sparking the fight that had been simmering between us much longer than we were even together.

I pressed my palms against either side of his head, the solid wood grain of the front door grounding me. Leaning forward, almost folding in half, I brought my lips down to graze the shell of his heavily adorned ear. A smirk played at the corner of my mouth as I remembered just how small Colt felt in my arms. “Pot meet kettle, asshole,” I whispered.

My breath tickled the strands of his silky, dark bangs, and I didn’t miss the shiver that ran down his body. Interesting.

But then, catching himself reacting to me, he straightened his spine and shoved at my chest. It had all the impact of a tiny kitten swiping at its owner, only serving to remind me how adorable he looked when he was pissed.

Shit. No, not adorable. Colt didn’t deserve to be thought of that way anymore.

I stared down at him with a wolfish grin. “You’ll have to try harder than that,” I taunted, baiting him. Then, I couldn’t resist adding with a smirk, “Princess.”

That did it. “Fuck you!” he shouted, raising a hand to slap me. I caught his wrist before he made contact with my face and pulled him towards me until our bodies were flush once more, except now I could feel that he was equally as turned on.

Our eyes locked, both of us panting, though not from exertion. Electricity crackled between us, and his pupils dilated. I watched his gaze flick up to settle on my mouth. It was all the invitation I needed.

Needing the last word, I responded to his insult. “With pleasure.” Then, I lunged.

Our lips collided, and I lifted Colt up to my level, trapping him between the door and my body. His legs instinctively wrapped around my waist as his mouth opened for me, welcoming my tongue into its warm depths.

Our lips and tongues moved with an almost frantic urgency, as if afraid the other would vanish if we slowed down. Colt began to roll his body against mine, grinding against my lower stomach. I tried to pull him even closer, though every plane of his body already touched mine. It wasn’t until I started to feel light-headed that I reluctantly pulled away, both of us gasping for air.

Colt took the break as an invitation to tilt my head to the side, kissing his way down the edge of my stubbled jaw, periodically pausing to suck on the delicate skin there, marking me for all to see. A low moan escaped my lips, and I swear my dick had never been harder. He felt so fucking perfect in my arms, and yet, I couldn’t shake my conflicted feelings. Part of me wanted to savor these kisses, unable to recall the last time anything had felt this good. But I was also terrified that if we slowed down, even for a second, one or both of us would come to our senses and put an end to this madness.

In the end, Colt made the decision for me. “Take me to bed, Gray.”

I took a step backward, and my leg nearly buckled under me. The pain must have crossed my face because Colt immediately hopped down and silently made his way toward my bedroom. I was left to limp my way there alone, grateful for the lack of an audience at that moment.

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