by Aliyah Burke
They fit so perfectly in his hands. Colt swiped his thumbs across her peaked nipples, causing them to harden even more. He watched her try to control her moan of pleasure.
“Let me hear if you like my touch, baby,” Colt coaxed as his thumbs teased her nipples once again.
Aspen whimpered. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Straight white teeth bit into her full bottom lip.
“So you don’t like my touch? Maybe I should stop.” He removed all but his fingertips from her breasts.
“Colt!” she cried out, desperately wanting more of his touch.
“What, baby?”
“Touch me.”
“Oh I plan on it, baby. I plan on it.” Colt’s voice was pull of promise and it ran through her soul like no man’s words ever had before.
Aspen stepped forward, an action that pressed her breasts further back into his waiting hands. Her softer hands touched his chest, slipping through the coarseness of his chest hair, as she began her own quest.
Squeezing her breasts, Colt dipped his head and popped one of the turgid nipples into his mouth. Her back arched while her hands dropped to rest on his steel-muscled arms. He lavished attention on that breast until she whimpered uncontrollably beneath his touch.
One arm snaked around her middle as he picked her off the ground and deposited her on the bed. Releasing her nipple, he nipped the side of her neck before standing upright.
“Let’s get these off you,” he uttered in a sotto voice. His strength-filled hands traversed over her hips, fingers catching the elastic of her panties, and he pulled them slowly down her smooth legs, appreciating every second what he saw.
Moving his body up the bed, he laid himself beside her. Capturing her face, Colt kissed her. A long, hot, thorough kiss. Aspen grabbed the back of his head and ground them together.
Colt understood. He trailed his hand over the curves of her body, loving each dip and swell. At her knee, he slid his hand under it and raised it off the bed. Then his tantalizing touch moved up the inside of her thigh.
Every tremble, every shake, and every whimper she emitted, Colt knew he would never forget as long as his lived. They say people never forget their first love and it was true. Aspen was the only woman he had truly ever loved.
Colt moved closer and closer to the apex of her thighs. He left her mouth and latched his lips back onto a perfect breast. As his mouth sucked hard on her puckered nipple he drove two fingers home deep within her.
Aspen convulsed around him. “Colt!” she screamed. He worked his wrist, driving his fingers in and out of her velvet warmth. Feeling how her body clamped around him, trying to keep him firmly in place, made his penis twitch with longing.
His thumb found her clit and he began rotating over it in circles. Each time, her body seized again and again, coating his fingers and dripping down the back of his hand.
His attention moved to her other breast, the dark nipple already tight with desire and anticipation. Colt never stopped his fingers from pleasuring her. With her knee bent, he was able to plummet into her very depths. As she came again, her hips bucked against him and she clamped her legs around his wrist.
Aspen felt the craving deep within her. A need that Colt created and therefore one only he could extinguish. “Colt, please.” Her words were throaty. “I need you…”
About to burst himself, Colt agreed with her. Releasing her plump breast, he withdrew his fingers from her wet core. “Look at me,” he commanded softly.
Dragging open her eyes, darkened with pleasure, Aspen met his gaze. She could see the beads of sweat on his forehead and she knew it was hard for him not to lose control.
Sure she was watching him; Colt trailed his two fingers up her body and to his mouth, allowing her scent to fill his senses. His eyes held hers as he licked his fingers clean. “I can’t wait until my mouth gets to go where my hand was. You taste so damn good, baby.”
He skimmed out of his boxers and laid his body over hers. The tip of his erection nestled comfortably at her wet entrance. She spread her legs wider.
Aspen looked up at him after he placed his hands on either side of her head. “Please, Colt. I need you.”
That voice, those eyes, the body beneath him. Hell, his woman. His control snapped and in one stroke he buried himself to the hilt within her. The feel of her around him—holding him, caressing him, squeezing him—almost made him come that moment.
Both groaned at the feeling of joining and becoming one. Aspen bit her lip in order to control herself.
“You feel so good, baby.” He withdrew and slid in again. “So tight.”
“Colt,” she panted as her hips rose to meet his thrust.
“Yes, baby?”
Out. In. Out. In.
Faster and faster he moved within her.
Her hands clamped on his forearms as she closed her eyes and rode out the waves of pleasure coursing through her. “I need…I’m almost…”
“I know, baby. I can feel you tightening around me.”
Faster.
Harder.
Deeper.
His head dripped sweat onto hers and his hips pumped into her.
“More, Colt. Give me more!” she cried out.
Rising up, Colt gripped her hips with his strong hands. Fingers dug into the flesh as he pistoned his lean hips faster between her dark, spread thighs.
Aspen went from mewling pants to downright screams as her mind exploded into dazzling colors.
Feeling her tighten around him, Colt yelled her name in a hoarse shout to the room as he spilled himself deep within her.
Throats dry, hearts pounding, and limbs shaking, they lay in a silence broken only by raspy breathing. Colt rolled off her, pulling out of her body and brought her in close to his chest where he secured her with his embrace.
“Aspen?” Colt broke the silence.
“Um-hmmm.”
“Thank you.” His voice was tender.
Pulling back as far as his arms allowed her to she asked, “Why, exactly, are you thanking me?”
Maneuvering so he could look at her in the late winter sun, Colt spoke sincerely. “Because I have never had an experience like I just had with you.”
Aspen smiled softly. “That makes two of us then.”
With a roguish wink he asked, “How’d I compare to your dreams?”
Her eyes twinkled impishly. “Well…”
“Aspen,” he growled warningly as his fingers pinched her lightly.
“I could’ve sworn that my dreams had nothing on you…but maybe I need a refresher.”
Rolling her over, Colt proceeded to do just that.
Chapter Eleven
It was dark outside when Colt’s eyes finally opened. He had loved every inch of his Aspen’s body. A feeling of contentment settled around him as he listened to her deep, even breaths.
Aspen was so free with her responses to his touch. His chest tightened at the thought of another man sampling what he had enjoyed. He couldn’t share her. He wouldn’t. Since he was a younger man, he had known that his and Aspen’s lives were intertwined. She was the only person who had been able to tame the beast within his soul.
Her lush body stirred against him. She opened her eyes, blinked a few times, and gave him a smile that made his knees weak. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” He brushed his lips against hers tenderly. An idea formed in his head. “Can I use your phone?”
Yawning, she nodded. “Go ahead. There’s that one or you can use the one in the office if you want. I’m gonna get cleaned up and see what’s left of my cookies with your dogs down there.”
His dogs. Colt climbed out of bed, put on his boxers and jeans, leaving the button undone, and headed out the door to take care of his dogs.
Once they were back in, he went up to her office. Glancing around the room he was impressed with her setup. Walking to the phone, Colt hesitated as he saw a letter beside the wireless headset. One paragraph jumped out at him:
Having said that, please c
onsider accepting our position here in California. We know you would be a valuable asset to our team. In order to help sway your decision, we want to remind you we are prepared to offer you double your current salary.
Colt’s heart plummeted. She was leaving? “No!” he expelled in hoarse whisper. Picking up the phone, he made his call.
When he was through, he went back down the stairs after not finding her in her room. She was in the kitchen, feeding his dogs.
“Done with your call?” she queried as she stood up and washed her hands.
“All done.” He couldn’t let go of the fact she might be leaving…this time for good. “Go out to dinner with me tonight,” Colt suggested.
Angling her head to the side, Aspen glanced around her kitchen. “Okay, but I have to put this dough in the fridge.”
“I’ll be right down to help.” Spinning around, he jogged up to her room and finished dressing, then he helped her get stuff put away.
“What kind of place are we going to? In town?”
Tuttle had no real fine dining establishments to speak of. They had some nice places, but not what Colt wanted.
“I thought we’d go to the Cities…to a nice place.”
“Well, then I guess I’d better change.” She paused, looking over his attire. “Are you going home?”
“When you’re ready. I want you to come with me. I’ll take my dogs with me.”
The idea of being in his home with him held amazing appeal. “Be down soon.” She fixed him with a look. “Stay here.”
* * * *
Aspen walked down her stairs to meet the man waiting for her. Molding the contours of her body was a dark green princess dress. The color combined beautifully with her earthy skin tone.
It covered her tattoo, but showed off her voluptuous figure to perfection. Her hair was no longer straight but corkscrewed and it swayed gently with each step she took. Low heels were on her feet and they matched the green of the dress.
“You are beautiful,” he muttered, reaching for her and spinning her around for a total view.
“I’m ready.” She smiled at his compliment. “And thank you for saying that.”
Helping her on with her jacket, Colt opened the door and let his dogs out. “I’ll meet you at my place.”
“Okay, I’ll be right behind you.” Aspen shut the door after him and locked her house before going through the garage.
* * * *
Colt drove her Subaru Outback through the night. He wore a dark gray suit with a green tie. Dinner had been wonderful. And now he drove them back to his house.
Pulling into his driveway, Colt parked her car beside his Jeep and shut off the engine. Climbing out, he walked around to open the door for her. Helping her out, he escorted her inside his home.
The dogs went out as the humans came in. Shutting the door on the winter’s night, Colt gathered her into his embrace as one light shone upon them. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“Thank you for inviting me. It’s been so long since I’ve gone out to a real restaurant.” She pulled back and reached her hand out for her keys.
“Stay the night with me,” he murmured as he removed her coat.
Her keys were dropped forgotten to the floor as her lips met his insistently. “Yes,” she moaned.
Sweeping her off her feet, Colt lifted her up and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom. Their clothes were gone in seconds as he laid her back on his bed.
He licked his way from her neck down to her belly, and she quivered like Jell-O beneath him. Placing his wide shoulders between her legs, Colt placed his mouth at the wet apex of her thighs.
Aspen’s hips came off the bed as his tongue slipped inside her. The man was deadly. His thick tongue swept deep within her, reaching as far as it could. Tasting her, teasing her.
“Colt!” Her body vibrated with the tremors of pleasure he sent through her.
Two fingers replaced his tongue as his mouth latched onto her clit, sending her spiraling further into the planes of pleasure. Adding a third, Colt brought her to the peak of bliss over and over again.
Her wet heat tightened and at the last moment he withdrew his fingers and placed his mouth back over her, drinking every last bit of her essence he could manage to get from her body. Before she had time to completely recover, Colt had risen over her and was sliding his thick erection into her body.
A hiss left him as he felt her surround him. It just got better and better with her. It didn’t take long at all and the lovers had found their rhythm and the only sounds were that of pure pleasure, the squeaking of the bed frame, and their harsh breathing.
* * * *
Aspen woke alone. Her whole body was sore. Colt was an exhaustive lover and she had been worked over. Not that she was complaining.
He had made love to her all over his room. Here was a man who was as generous as a lover as he was in other ways to her.
Opening her eyes she looked at the clock beside the bed. Six. Sitting up in the king-sized bed, she kept the blankets firmly around her naked body. She didn’t see any sign of Colt or her clothes.
Looking at the chair beside the bed, she noticed some folded clothes. Stepping out into the cooler air, Aspen shivered as she grasped the top article. Soon she had put on the clothes.
She wore an old Marine sweatshirt and a pair of his boxers. There was a pair of socks there for her feet. Gathering her hair back she ran her fingers through it to try and calm the wayward curls.
Opening the door, she was hit with the smell of cooking food. Stomach growling, she shuffled out of the room and down to the first floor. The dogs were lying on the floor and got up to greet her when she appeared on the stairs.
Aspen patted them and found Colt in the kitchen, standing over the stove watching the bacon as it fried. “Morning,” she said.
He turned to her, his gaze becoming possessive as it roved over her. “Damn, you make my clothes look good. Morning, yourself. I didn’t wake you, did I?
“No, you didn’t wake me.” Aspen walked over to the coffee pot and fixed herself a mug.
“Breakfast’ll be ready soon,” he said as he put the bacon on a paper-towel-covered plate.
“Great, I’m starved.” She took a seat at the table and let her gaze roam over Colt. He wore a nothing more than a pair of black jeans and looked delicious.
Colt grabbed the plates and set them down. “I hope you don’t mind scrambled eggs. I don’t know how to make much of anything else.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.” Eagerly reaching for her food, Aspen dug in. It was nice having a man make breakfast for her. With a wink, Colt dug in as well.
“What are your tattoos?” she asked as she took a drink of juice.
“This one on my right shoulder is the Marine symbol. And the other one, here by my left armpit, is my Social, done in barcode. Just in case something happened to me out in the field, they would be able to identify me.”
Aspen shuddered at the thought of him lying dead somewhere. “I see.”
Colt saw her reaction and dropped it.
Aspen was rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher when male voices yelled through the house.
“Colt!”
“Hey, man, where are you?”
“We are already late. Come on.”
Colt blanched and three men came into the kitchen and halted. Each one of them acquired a rascally grin as they spied the guest in Colt’s kitchen and his lack of anything but pants.
“Well, well, well,” one of the men said. “So this is what you’ve been up to.” His blue eyes met Aspen’s gaze. “Hello, Aspen.” He had a smirk on his face.
“Bobby,” Aspen replied with a nod.
“Hey, Aspen.” The other two men waved at her.
“Randall. Mikie.” Her eyes took in their hunting attire before she turned back around to finish her task at hand.
“Guys, I totally forgot about hunting,” Colt said.
“We can see that,” Bobby retorted. �
��The question is, are you coming with us?”
Colt glanced over to Aspen who had finished wiping off the table. “Well…”
“Don’t stay because of me, Colt.” Aspen looked into his eyes. “I have to get home and back to baking.”
Standing, he moved toward her, unmindful of the observing gazes that were upon them. “I don’t want you to feel like I am rushing you out. Not after last night. Not ever.” His words were velvet on her soul.
“Colt, the town Christmas party is next week. I have a lot more things to get baked and in the freezer so they are ready and I can turn my attention to other things. Besides, you already made this hunting date with your friends. Go, have fun, let your dogs do what they love to do.” Aspen smiled at him. “I would just like a pair of warmer pants to wear home. I’ll wash your stuff but I don’t want to wear my dress back.”
Colt leaned over and kissed her. He nodded as he pulled away. “Guys, go outside and clean off Aspen’s car so she can go home. I’ll get ready to go.”
With chuckles, the trio of men left to do Colt’s bidding. As soon as they were gone, Colt swept her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom.
“What are you doing? You have to get ready to go, as do I.” Aspen halted his hands as they tried to lift the sweatshirt.
“Trust me, baby. I’ve been ready since you walked into the kitchen this morning.” He flexed his hips and showed her just what he was talking about.
“Oh, no! Not with your friends down there. I’m embarrassed enough that they found me here. I am not doing anything with them around.” She shrugged out of his embrace and backed off, holding up a hand as if that could stop him.
“What do you mean, you’re embarrassed?” Colt asked as he tossed her a pair of sweats.
“Colt, I’m a private person. I don’t really want anyone in this town to know what I do while I’m here.” Aspen pulled on the pants and rolled them so they would fit her. Without another word, she grabbed her dress, walked back down the stairs and ignored the looks the men gave her.
As she strode away from him, Colt felt that fear settle back into his heart. While I’m here. Those words could only mean she was planning on accepting that offer back in California.
