Page 73 of Crazy for You
I could see his mind working hard, as if trying to find the next thing to say.
“You could never take advantage of me or my emotions. Not when I want you,” I added.
He rushed toward me, captured my face in his hands, and kissed me like I was the only one who could give him his next breath.
The ground seemed to shake beneath me as his tongue dove into my mouth, insistently and possessively. I gripped his arms, hoping I didn’t pass out from the sheer passion that was pouring out of him. If I’d been unsure of how he felt before, I wasn’t anymore.
“Fuck, Skyler.” He toyed with my bottom lip. “I have to stop. If I don’t, we won’t come up for air.”
“Who needs air?” He was the conduit to breathing life back into me, the person who I had no doubt could dim the anguish and suffering gripping me.
Our gazes tangled for a split second before I jumped into his arms.
He caught me, grabbing my butt as I locked my fingers around his neck. Then it was my turn to show him how much I wanted him.
“I’m crazy for you, Skyler.” The husky timbre of his voice slid over me like silk.
“Then let go. I’m yours, Colton Caldwell.”
He growled as our mouths collided—hungry, frantic, rough, soft, hard, sloppy—and I loved every minute of what he was doing to my heart, body, and soul.
I didn’t know how long we were glued to each other, but I pouted when Nan drove up.
“I should go. I have a meeting with the football coach to see if I can get back on the team. I’ll see you tomorrow?” He nodded at Nan, who was carrying a bag of Chinese food.
“You can stay for dinner,” Nan said to Colton.
I didn’t want him to leave, but considering how intense that kiss was, we needed a break. Otherwise, Nan might find us in a compromising position in my bedroom after dinner, and that wasn’t the way I wanted to start my new relationship with her.
29
The deck lights lined the perimeter around the railings, providing a soft glow to an otherwise eerie night. A drizzle fell as I stared out the sliding glass door in the kitchen. Sleep had escaped me, but I wasn’t surprised. My mind was more awake than ever. Dad had only been gone for seven hours, and the weight of his passing felt like a boulder on my chest. If Dad wasn’t in my thoughts, then Colton was. I believed Colton was the reason my soul was still intact.
The creak of the stairs made me flinch. Nan probably couldn’t sleep, either.
I hugged myself as I watched the branches sway in the distance.
She sidled up to me, gently touched my arm, and let out a soft sigh. “A storm is coming.”
As if she’d willed the gods, the wind lifted the leaves and errant pinecones off the deck and tossed them around.
“I can’t stay here,” I mumbled. I felt like a storm was brewing inside me, turbulent, wild, and destructive. “It’s too painful.”
I wished Colton was with me. When I’d been securely cocooned in his arms, the pain had dulled. But I didn’t expect him to be at my side in the middle of the night. He wasn’t home yet, anyway. He was probably hanging with Grady after the meeting with the football coach. I imagined they were playing pool or kicking back. If Colton had been next door, I would’ve been nestled in his arms.
Nan tucked her hands into the pockets of her robe. “Maybe you should spend the weekend at Georgia’s. I’m sure she needs you as much as you need her. It will take your mind off things.”
Georgia had texted when she’d gotten home from the hospital. I knew she was worried about me. “I don’t want to leave you.” Nan was mourning too.
She snagged me into her side. “I’ll be okay.”
I lay my head on her shoulder, watching the wind wreak havoc on the trees outside.
“Try to enjoy the weekend with your bestie. When Monday rolls around, we’ll talk about school.”
It sounded odd to hear the word “school.” I hadn’t thought about classes or teachers or grades. Since Dad had been admitted, everything had become one big blur. “Don’t we have to talk about the funeral?”
“We have plenty of time for that next week. Right now, we both need some time to mourn.”
