Page 11 of Craved By You
“She likes you.” Astrid pointed out the obvious. “She’s pretty, too.”
“You’re pretty.” I pointed out. “And I likeyou.”
Chapter 7
Astrid
“Why me, though?” I completely blew off what Colt had just said and decided I wanted to deep dive into this conversation.
“Astrid, we’ve already had this conversation.” Colt paused so he could take a sip of his Americano. “You didn’t see me for being the lead singer in a band.”
The words blurted out before I could stop them. “Right, but I still saw you for being hot.” I covered my mouth and Colt chuckled at my embarrassment as I tried to take it back. “I didn’t mean-”
Colt reached across the table and took my hand. “Yes, you did,” he said, rubbing his tattooed thumb over my knuckles. “Which is fine.”
“I guess it wasn’t like an ‘Ah, look it’s that hottie from Vore Ritual!’” I smiled, enjoying his touch. The butterflies forming in my stomach again reminded me that I wanted more than just that.
Colt didn’t waste any time. “So, I noticed your screensaver.”
“Oh, my bunny?” I attempted to avoid the actual question.
“Yes, your rope bunny screensaver. Is shibari something that you enjoy doing, too?”
Fuck, I can’t avoid that one.
“Not anymore.” I hesitated as I took a deep sigh. “I used to love getting tied up. Shibari was introduced to me when I was modeling. It was one of the things that I did with some of the photographers. Not only did the photographers get to show off their skills, I got some pretty hot pics.” I smiled as the memories came rushing back in.
“Why did you stop?” ????
“At first, my ex kind of ruined everything for me.” Great, here’s the conversation I wasn’t looking forward to having with anyone, especially not on a first date. “Then once I was able to escape that relationship, I just sort of… It didn’t work out.”
Colt tilted his head and looked toward the door when a new customer walked in. “Because?”
I was getting frustrated.Why can’t he just accept my response, why does there have to be more?
“I’mtoobig to be a rope bunny.” I let out an anxious laugh. “Happy now?” I knew Colt could see the mental gymnastics that our conversation was putting me through.
Colt raised his pierced eyebrow and my heart fluttered. “I’d tie you up. I even have the space to suspend you.” At least he ignored my comment about being too big.
“I wouldn’t be able to do any suspension, everything would crash down.”
Colt jolted forward and grasped my chin. “If I ever hear you say anything negative about what belongs to me again-”
I pulled away. “I don’t belong to you, Colt.”
??“No? Were you waiting for me to ask you to be my girlfriend or something?” His words came out sarcastically. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“Colt, I don’t just rush into relationships like this… I’m a lady.” I leaned back in my chair and he reached down and pulled my feet into his lap.
I had lied. I would one hundred percent rush into something - anything - with him if he just asked. But he provided me with the opportunity to be coy and standoffish instead, which made me feel like I had a bit more control over things.
“So, what did your ex do?”
I felt myself getting annoyed, not at him, but at how much I hated talking about my past. “Wow, you really just keep digging deep, don’t ya buddy?”
He shrugged, taking another sip. “I want to get to know you.”
“Can’t we start with favorite colors or some of the other basics?” I shook my head.
