Page 269 of One More Kiss

Colton is all I need to make me happy. If only I could tell him that. I shift in his lap, trying to crawl back into my spot, but his hands drop to my waist, holding me in place.

I glance from his hands to his face. The last time I saw him this nervous was the night of the NFL draft. “Are you okay?”

Colton shakes his head, his fingers flexing around my waist. He licks his lips and glances over my shoulder before searching my eyes. Now he has me freaked out. Something is definitely wrong.

“That night at the party after the playoff game when you kissed me,” he begins. “I was an idiot. I thought you regretted it. You avoided me, and then when I came over you acted like nothing happened, but now I know I was wrong.”

My heart is pounding in my chest and I’m terrified to believe any of this is real. “I thought you were avoiding me. You pushed me away and brought me home. I was so embarrassed after that I could barely face you.”

Colton releases a breath, his hands skimming up my sides. “What a mess we made of that night. You’d been drinking, and I didn’t think you realized what you were doing. Believe me, if it had been any other time, I would have reciprocated.”

I lean closer until our lips are only inches apart. “How about now?”

Colton closes the distance and presses his lips to mine, his fingers threading through my hair. I part my lips, and he deepens the kiss. His tongue tangling with mine, I shift on his lap until I’m straddling him.

His lips leave mine, and I groan in frustration, rocking my hips against him. He chuckles and brushes his thumb along my jaw. His eyes are dark with desire as he studies me. “We’ve wasted so much time and I plan to make up for it.” He kisses a path to my ear where he whispers, “Starting with tonight.”

I clench my thighs, his words sending a shock of pleasure straight to my core. Holy hell, this man is hot. And if he brings the intensity he has on the football field into the bedroom, I fear I may not ever leave my bed.

Even though I’ve waited what seems like a lifetime for this, I can’t let my emotions cloud my judgment. It’s all or none for me. My heart wouldn’t survive less.

“Are we really doing this? Because I can’t risk losing you, Colton. I need to know that you’re sure, that there isn’t a doubt in your mind that we should be together.”

Colton’s gaze softens as he searches my eyes. “I love you, Skye. You captured my heart that first day you walked on the field, with your head held high and the challenge in your eyes for anyone who thought you didn’t belong there. You’ve been my rock through all of the ups and downs in my career. The person I share my fears and triumphs with.”

He brushes his thumb across my lip, a gentle smile curling his lips. “You’re my everything, Skye.”

I swear I stop breathing. All of the air has been vacuumed from my lungs. I’ve loved this man for so long and now I can’t find my voice to tell him. I don’t even realize I’m crying again until Colton wipes my tears.

“Say it again,” I whisper.

“I love you, Skye.”

Cupping his face, the stubble on his cheeks scratches my palms. I study him, marveling at the fact that he is all mine. This man who can make me see the light on my darkest days. Who has seen me at my worst and never judged me.

After all this time, I finally say the words that mean more than just our friendship. “I love you.”

Colton kisses me again. Drinking me in like a man starved for water. My hands slip into his hair, my nails scraping against his scalp. I grind my hips, searching for release from the building pressure.

A growl rumbles from Colton and he breaks the kiss. He reaches between us and adjusts his pants. “If you keep rubbing on me like that, I’ll be finished before we’ve even gotten started.”

I laugh and wiggle in his lap because what fun would it be if I didn’t torture him. Colton growls again and swats my ass. Nipping his lip, I hop off his lap and sway my hips as I head toward my bedroom.

Glancing over my shoulder, I say, “Just so you know, illegal use of the hands won’t get you a penalty with me.”

Colton’s eyes widen and he bolts off the couch. I squeal and race down the hall. Just as I cross the threshold to my room, his arms band around my waist, and he lifts me off the floor. Spinning me, he backs me up to the bed. When my knees hit the mattress, I fall back, Colton following me down.

With his arms braced on either side of my head, his eyes darken with desire. “Do you know how hard it was to keep my hands off of you all these years? How many times I stopped myself from telling you how I really felt? If it wasn’t for Allie sending me that video, I would never have known.”

He grips the hem of my shirt and lifts it, pressing kisses to my stomach before hovering over my bra. His breath hot through the thin cotton. He has me so worked up that I almost forget what he just told me.

I lift up on my elbows, trying to push Colton off, but he sucks my nipple through my bra, and I gasp, closing my eyes.

Focus, Skye. Think with your head and not your vagina right now.

“What video, Colton?”

He switches his attention to my other nipple and circles it with his tongue. My poor nipples have been neglected for too long. If they could talk, they would be singing Colton’s praises.

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