by Aliyah Burke
He was up the steps in seconds. “Aspen, what was he doing out here with you?” His hand grabbed her upper arm and held her where he wanted her.
Narrowing her eyes, Aspen gritted her teeth and asked again, “Are you coming inside?”
“Yes.”
“Good, then let go of my arm. And at least act like a gentleman.” When he did, she moved inside the warm house, Colt and his dogs followed.
As soon as he shut the door behind him, he demanded, “Tell me.”
“Look, I have known Julian longer than I have known you. We were in kindergarten together. I don’t owe you any explanations about what I do. We aren’t a couple.” Colt stepped toward her. “No, listen to me. I like getting to know you, Colt. But I am not jumping into anything with you.”
“Baby,” he ground out as his jacket was tossed off to the side. “Just the thought of another man with you makes me crazy. I want to date you, how many ways do I need to say it? I—” His cell phone rang. “Larkin,” he barked into the phone.
All color drained from his face within the next five seconds. “I’m on my way.” Snapping the phone shut, he looked at Aspen in a mixture of horror, anger, and fear.
“Colt, what happened?” Aspen asked, holding his arm.
“Lizzy is in the hospital. I have to get going.” A blankness settled over his face that sent dread flowing through her body.
“What happened?”
Reaching for his recently-discarded jacket and putting it back on, Colt answered, “Something with the baby. Shit, I have to take my dogs home.”
“No, Colt. Go be with your sister. I’ll take care of your dogs. I can take them back to your home.”
“I don’t want to leave that on you.”
“Go! There is nothing more important than family.” Aspen shoved him toward the door. “Call me as soon as you hear anything.”
He kissed her quick and hard before saying, “Thank you.” Then he was gone, running to his Jeep and driving off in a flurry of snow.
* * * *
Aspen shut the door and leaned against it. Valor and Duchess lay there on her couch looking at her. “Well, guys, I guess it’s just us now.” Valor wagged his tail but remained where he was.
For the rest of the day, she kept the dogs at her house. She took them out, hoping that they would stay with her. Her fears were unwarranted—the dogs stuck to her like glue.
She was outside when her cell phone went off. “Hello?”
“Aspen?” Colt’s voice reached her.
“Colt. How’s your sister?”
“I don’t have long, Aspen. Can you do me a favor?”
“Don’t have long…Colt, what is going on?”
“Listen, Aspen. Can you come down to the county jail and bail me out?”
Jail? “What the hell is going on?” Aspen demanded.
A male voice interrupted her, “Time’s up, Larkin. Let’s get moving.” Click.
Shutting her phone, Aspen stared at it as if it had bitten her. Whistling for the dogs, she took them inside the house. Picking up her jacket, she slipped her arms into it and looked down at the two dogs watching her.
What the hell am I going to do with them? “Okay, look here. I have to go get your daddy from jail. So I need you two to stay here and be good. I’ll bring you something to eat when I come back. Okay? Stay.” She put down a big bowl with some water in it and reiterated. “Stay.” Then she left.
Walking into the jailhouse, Aspen glanced around nervously. She had enough of jails when she was in college. Too much bailing out of friends and such. Squaring her shoulders, she strode to the front desk.
“Can I help you?” the desk sergeant asked her.
“Um, yes. I’m here to bail out Colt Larkin.”
The man smirked. “You’re here to bail out Larkin? Wow, he wasn’t lying when he said he was getting someone to get him out.”
“How much is it?”
“Let me look.” The overweight man shuffled through some papers. “Three-fifty.”
“Three hundred and fifty?” Aspen clarified.
“Yes, ma’am.” He looked at her like she was going to be shocked.
“Okay.” Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the cash. Counting out the proper amount, Aspen handed it to the man. “Can you go get him, please? I would like to get going.”
“I will have someone bring him up. Let me write up your receipt.” The man picked up the phone and pressed a button. “Larkin’s been paid for.” Then he hung up and took out a receipt booklet. Ripping off a copy for Aspen, he handed it to her and said, “Here you go. He will be right up.”
The men in booking began catcalling to her as she waited uncomfortably for Colt to appear. A door opened and Aspen looked up to see Colt walking through the doorway, his large body filling up the small space.
She stood and heard the silence fall as his eyes found her among the chaos. Striding over toward her, Aspen was in his arms before she could blink. His lips were gentle as they brushed against hers. “Thank you,” he murmured before capturing her mouth again, this time for a much longer, much more in-depth kiss.
“All right, you two. Break it up, this isn’t a hotel,” one officer intruded.
Separating their mouths, Colt looked at the man and grinned. “Can you blame me?”
“Get out of here, Larkin.” The officer shook his finger at him. “I don’t want to see you here again.”
“Then keep that bastard away from my sister,” he growled in response.
“Colt,” Aspen whispered. “Can we go please?”
“Right away, baby.” He led her out the door, ignoring the calls she was getting from the men there.
“Where’s your Jeep?” Her question was low and quiet.
“At the hospital.”
“Okay, I’ll take you there.” She unlocked her car and climbed behind the wheel.
Colt climbed in and took in the luxury of her vehicle. “Nice car.”
Starting it, Aspen just looked at him before concentrating on the road. The ride to the hospital was done in silence. Pulling into the parking lot, Aspen put the car in neutral and gazed at the man in her car. She could see the bruise on the side of his cheek.
“What?” he wondered.
“I need the key to your house. I have to get some food for your dogs. Is there anything you want me to bring you while you stay with your sister?” Aspen had called her mother, who had heard that Lizzy had to have an emergency C-section and they weren’t sure she was going to make it. Apparently she had taken a bad fall and was in critical condition, combined with having placenta previae.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what I did to get put in jail?”
“Colt, your sister needs you right now. So you need to be with her. I will have plenty of time later on to get my questions answered. Now, give me your key and I will be by later with some clothes for you.”
At that moment, Colt was one hundred percent positive that he loved the woman beside him. Pulling his keys out of his pocket, he dropped them in her hands. “Bring me whatever. Just make sure I can shave.”
“Will do. Now, get.” Aspen leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. “I’ll see you in a while.”
Colt got out of the car and touched his cheek where she had kissed him. Waving he headed off inside the hospital as Aspen drove away.
Parking her car in front of his house, Aspen climbed out and walked up the steps to his two-story home. Unlocking the front door, she pushed it open and walked in, searching blindly for some lights. When she could see, she looked around his home.
Pictures, trophies, awards, and more lined the walls. Cleary he was an amazing bull rider. Slowly, she looked over the wall of memories.
Picking up one of him when he was in the Marines, Aspen could see the boy she remembered from high school. His face wasn’t as hard as it was now. He had many awards from that period of his life as well.
Setting the picture down, she moved on. Shaking her head, Aspen head
ed up the stairs and looked for his bedroom. Entering it, she knew in a second this was his room. It screamed male. The furniture was solid and unadorned. His room was done in earth tones.
She found a satchel with the Marine logo on it. With a shrug, Aspen began to open drawers and fill it with clothes. It was such a personal thing to touch his boxers and socks. She felt like a wife. “Oh, for cryin’ out loud, Aspen. Get a grip. His sister is in the hospital.”
Walking to his bathroom, she packed him a shaving kit and toothbrush with travel-sized toothpaste. Back in his bedroom, she tucked the kit in his bag. Standing upright, she glanced around the room seeing if there was anything else she should grab. Not thinking of anything, Aspen headed back down the stairs and set the bag by the door.
She began to search for dog food and dishes. When she was done, there was a good-sized pile by the door. Hauling everything down to her car, she got it loaded and then double-checked the lock on the house.
Confident that his house was secure, she started the drive back to her place. She pulled to the steps, shut off the car, and began transporting everything from the car into the house. She let the dogs out while she did that.
Her house seemed to be in okay condition. She fixed the dogs some food, then Aspen called them back inside and refilled the water dish. “Stay.” She told them again and left to head to the hospital.
Parking in the visitor’s lot, Aspen grabbed the bag and headed inside. Stopping at the admittance desk, she looked at the nurse on duty. “I’m here to drop some things off for Colt Larkin. His sister is having emergency surgery.”
The woman looked at Aspen as if sizing her up. Arching a brow at her, Aspen waited for her to point the way.
Walking off without saying a word, Aspen followed the arrows until she came upon Colt sitting on a chair in the waiting room. His face in repose was emotionless, but she could see the worry and stress on it. His hair was rumpled, from countless times of him running his fingers through it. He never looked better.
Chapter Ten
His silver-gray eyes turned to look at her as if intuition had told him she was there. The stress and worry on his face seemed to melt away as he took in her appearance.
Colt rose in one smooth motion and strode toward her. Without saying a word, he opened his arms. Aspen dropped the bag and stepped into his embrace.
The tables had been reversed. Where he had been the one to offer support at the graveyard, now it was her turn to return the favor, and she did so willingly. One gloved hand cradled the back of his head, pressing him closer to her neck. Her other rubbed his back.
No words were needed as they separated. Holding her hand, Colt scooped up the bag and led Aspen to the row of cold, metal chairs. He removed her glove, needing to feel her skin against his own.
“Are your parents on the way?” Aspen asked.
“They should be here around midnight.”
“Good. Where’s Dale?”
“With a neighbor.” He began to shake. “I should have her flown to the Twin Cities.” Aspen remained silent. “That’s my baby sister in there. I can’t lose her.”
Until his parents arrived, Colt alternated between pacing, venting, and staring blindly off into space. Aspen sat through it all, holding him when he wished it and not judging his anger.
Aspen slipped away around one in the morning, once Mr. and Mrs. Larkin arrived. She drove home to take care of the two dogs in her house.
* * * *
Sunday afternoon, Aspen was in a baking frenzy. She was making cookies and other treats for the town Christmas party coming up next week. Duchess and Valor were sound asleep on the kitchen floor.
Aspen had stopped at the hospital to see Lizzy. Both times Colt had been there, sound asleep. This morning she had taken Lizzy some flowers for her room. But now Aspen was back home, baking.
She took the latest batch of cookies out of the oven and set them to the side to cool. Moving back to the island in the middle, she rolled out some pie crust; hands on the rolling pin, she couldn’t help but jump when the doorbell rang.
Both dogs bolted up and took off running for the door. “Come on in,” she yelled over the barking of the dogs. “Just don’t let the dogs out.”
“My dogs seem to like it here,” a masculine voice drawled.
Glancing up from her project, Aspen grinned. Colt was leaning in the entryway to her kitchen, looking larger than life and twice as handsome. His hair was dusted with snowflakes, his face clean-shaven and, like usual, he wore clothes that molded to his body like a second skin.
“How is Lizzy?”
“Lizzy’s going to be fine.” He smiled. “I have a niece who is also doing just fine.”
Wiping her hands on her apron, Aspen waved him in. “Come in and sit down. There’s coffee made and cookies ready to be frosted.”
Colt took a step into the room and froze. “Do you have anything in the oven right now?”
Aspen shook her head as she began to cut strips of the crust for the lattice work. “Nope, just took out the last batch of cookies. The oven is empty right now.” She looked at him and inquired, “Why?”
Desire flared in his eyes, so hot it burned her. He said nothing as he strode through the kitchen, turned off the oven, and swept her off her feet.
“Colt…what are you doing?”
“What I should have done a long time ago.” He moved out of the kitchen and headed up the stairs with her in his powerful arms.
Aspen struggled a little until the arm around her tightened. That prompted her to hold still, yet the pent-up passion inside her raged to life. She knew what was going to happen and she wasn’t going to stop it.
Colt shouldered his way into her bedroom. One swift kick by a booted foot and he sealed them in together. With an ease that amazed her, Colt set her back on her feet.
Molten steel stared down at her as she tilted her head back to meet his gaze. His urgency suddenly disappeared as he needed to take it slow. One long index finger reached out and slid under the tie holding up her apron. He tugged her closer to him and deftly untied the strings so the apron fell to the carpet.
* * * *
Colt stared at the enchantress before him. She wore navy blue warm-up pants and had on a gray tee shirt. Thick socks cosseted her feet. A few wisps of hair escaped their confinement and curled about her face.
He used his thumb to wipe away the flour from her face. She stood there watching him, remaining silent. Stepping up flush to her body, Colt tipped her wide-eyed face up to meet his lips.
The kiss was gentle, exploring and tender. His tongue traced her lower lip before entering her mouth. He touched everywhere in the welcoming warmth he had access to. Drawing away, he saw her eyes had fallen shut.
“Aspen,” he murmured against her lips.
“Hmmm?” Her eyes appeared almost liquid gold, as they opened to meet his gaze.
“If you don’t want to go any further, tell me now.”
“Shut up, Colt.” Her hands moved around to cup his ass.
This time the kiss was explosive. The spark between them ignited, and the result was combustion. He dominated the kiss as his hands began pulling up her shirt.
Breaking away, Colt yanked off her shirt and almost lost control. Her body was fit, but definitely feminine. Just what he knew lay beneath those clothes she wore: perfection.
The stark whiteness of her bra stood out vividly against her sienna skin. His breath left in a whoosh. Not even naked and he was having heart palpitations. “Jesus,” he moaned. His eyes moved like mercury over her exposed body.
A frown marred his features as he noticed something on her skin. A tattoo. His Aspen had a tattoo? He flowed nearer and looked closer at the object. It was a snake.
An onyx black snake that bore slate gray diamonds on its body. The asp coiled twice around her right upper arm and its head was laid to rest just over her shoulder. Its eyes were sapphire blue and they gleamed like hard jewels.
He reached out to touch th
e lifelike snake that graced her body. “When did you get this?”
Shuddering from the slight contact, Aspen turned her head to follow his fingers as they skimmed the snake. “In college.”
His lips teased her collarbone while his hands began to push down her pants. As she stood before him in her bra and underwear, Colt felt like he had been given the best gift ever.
“My turn,” her husky whisper reached him. Colt’s heart rate increased as she touched the hem of his shirt.
Colt took the chore away from her and whipped his shirt off, throwing it away to the side. He watched her reaction. He knew that with the scars he had, he wasn’t beautiful, but he hoped to hell she wouldn’t be repulsed.
Aspen sucked her lower lip into her mouth. Her eyes moved over the rock-solid physique. Tanned skin covered in a moderate amount of dark chest hair. Her gaze moved over the numerous scars he had in addition to two tattoos.
“Amazing,” she purred, stepping in closer to trail her fingers over the chest she had longed to touch. “I want to know where you got these scars from…but later.”
Her fingers stopped on the button of his jeans. Excitement flared in her eyes—for twenty years she had dreamt of this. And now she was about to unwrap her gift.
Aspen ran her tongue over her lips, wetting them. Carefully, she slid the button free and lowered the zipper. He wore a pair of dark gray boxers and it was obvious that there was still some truth to advertising.
Everything she had felt pressed against his body was…all him. And for the time being…it was all hers.
Her hands guided his jeans down over lean hips and toward the floor. Colt kicked free of his pants and socks before stepping close again to his Aspen.
“Take it off,” he ordered in an extra-deep tone.
Reaching between her breasts, Aspen unclasped her bra, removed the lacy item and dropped it at her feet. She heard his sharp intake as he stared at her.
* * * *
His hands, large and callused, reached out and cupped her breasts. Colt felt the intense rush fill him again; it made his control vanish like a snowball in hell.
