Holding You

by Kelly Elliott

  Taylor had helped Maegan and Alex back to their room and I helped Grace and Libby. Libby wasn’t too wasted, but she was for sure feeling good.

  “That’s why I don’t want to drink. I mean, all four of them are going to be bears tomorrow. You know this, right?”

  Giggling, I flipped onto my stomach. “Yeah, I know.”

  Taylor placed her elbow on the bed and then rested her head on her hand. “So, tell me what it’s like. We haven’t even had a chance to talk.”

  Grinning, I asked, “What do you mean?”

  “Sex. Did it hurt? Was Colt amazing? We never even got to talk about any of it.” Taylor frowned. “Remember all the times we talked about what we thought our first time would be like? Sometimes I hate being at UT.”

  I nodded my head. “I know, I miss our talks.”

  Giving me a wicked grin, Taylor said, “So . . . tell me! Did it hurt?”

  “Yes it hurt but at the same time, it didn’t hurt.”

  Laughing, Taylor said, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  Sitting up, I crossed my legs and laughed. “I know it doesn’t but I don’t know any other way to explain it. It burned like a bitch but once I got used to him, it felt heavenly.”

  “Are you glad you waited?”

  My smile faded. “Yes. There were a few times I didn’t think I was going to wait.”

  Taylor chewed on her lower lip as she moved and sat on the bed. “I met someone.”

  Sucking in a breath of air I said, “What? Taylor! Who is he? What’s his name?”

  Giving me an innocent smile, she said, “He doesn’t even know I exist.”

  Pinching my eyebrows together, I pulled my head back. “What do you mean?”

  Shrugging her shoulders she cleared her throat. “His name is Jase. He’s in my English Lit class.”

  Raising my eyebrows up, I smiled. “Really? This Jase, what does he look like?”

  Closing her eyes and sighing, Taylor licked her lips and smiled big as she opened her eyes and looked at me. “Oh my gosh, Lauren. He looks like . . . like . . . like a Greek god.”

  Slamming my hands over my mouth, I began hopping on the bed. Dropping my hands, I whispered, “Tell me all about him!”

  Blushing, Taylor bit down on her lower lip and chewed on it. “Well, he’s smart, funny, and did I mention he looks like a Greek God?”

  Snickering, I said, “Yes, you did mention that already. Have you talked to him?”

  Dropping her smile, Taylor shook her head.

  “What? Why, Tay?”

  Wringing her hands, Taylor looked away and let out a nervous laugh. “Lauren, this guy is amazing. He hasn’t even looked twice at me. I mean, look at me.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Taylor, you are beautiful. Inside and out. Any guy would consider himself lucky to even catch your eye.”

  Rolling her eyes Taylor laughed. “There is this other girl. She’s in Italian with me. She speaks it really well and she flirts with Jase. Talks to him in Italian all the time and the stuff she says turns my stomach.”

  Inching closer to the edge of my bed, I swung my feet around and looked into Lauren’s eyes. “Does he know what she’s saying?”

  “No, he just smiles at her. The way he looks at her though is like he wants her.” Shrugging her shoulders again, she gave me a weak smile. “I’ve never been attracted to a guy like this before or had feelings like this. I’m sure it’s just a silly crush.”

  My heart hurt for Taylor. She was beautiful. Her light-brown wavy hair was pulled up in a ponytail. Her green eyes glossed over with sadness. Reaching over, I motioned for Taylor to give me her hands.

  “Taylor, please don’t ever sell yourself short or think you don’t deserve someone. This Jase guy, if he hasn’t noticed you yet, then fuck him. You don’t need the Greek god. There are other ones out there. He probably has a small dick anyway with a name like Jase.”

  Taylor started laughing. “He probably does!”

  My phone rang as I pulled it out and saw it was Colt. “Speaking of Greek gods—”

  Taylor jumped up and headed into the bathroom. “I’m taking a quick shower.”

  Smiling, I answered my phone. “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey, sweetheart.”

  My heart melted. The tenderness in Colt’s voice caused a pulling sensation in my lower stomach. “I miss you, Colt.”

  “Damn, baby. I miss you, too.”

  Swallowing hard, I nodded my head. Closing my eyes I pictured Colt lying on his bed in nothing but a pair of boxers.

  “Where are you?” I asked in a husky voice.

  “In my bedroom.”

  I could hear his smile in the way he talked. “What are you wearing?”

  There was a moment of silence before my phone beeped. Smiling, I pulled my phone back and saw I had a text from Colt. Putting him on speakerphone, I opened up the text and gasped. It was a picture of Colt lying in his bed . . . naked.

  Good lord, his body was perfect. Licking my lips, I stared at the picture. I wondered if I could get it printed out and carry it around with me. Feeling sad . . . pull out Colt’s picture. Feeling angry . . . pull out Colt’s picture. Feeling horny . . . oh yes. Pull. Out. Colt’s. Picture.

  “I’m saving this forever,” I whispered as I began biting on my thumb as I stared at it.

  “Lauren?”

  “Mmm?”

  “Baby, will you take me off speakerphone now?”

  Look at his abs. Oh my . . . it’s getting rather hot in here. What did Colt say?

  “What? I mean . . . um . . . did you say something?”

  Laughing, Colt said, “Sweetheart, take me off speakerphone.”

  Colt’s laughter snapped me out of my trance. “Right. Speakerphone.”

  Putting the phone back to my ear I said, “Okay, you’re off speakerphone. Tay couldn’t hear you anyway.”

  “Where is, Tay?”

  My heart started beating faster and my hands began to sweat. I knew where this was going and I was for sure going to let it go right down that path. “She’s um, in the shower.”

  “Get your headphones baby and call me back on FaceTime.”

  Hanging up my phone, I quickly ran over to my purse and dumped it out to find my headphones. Something red caught my eye. There you are! Running back over to my phone, I pushed my headphones into the jack and called Colt back on FaceTime.

  Seeing him lying on his bed, naked, caused me to smile. “Colt,” I whispered.

  “Can you go anywhere, Lauren?” Glancing back to the bathroom door I wanted to cry. There was nowhere I could go. Then I remembered I had the keys to the rental.

  “The car!” Jumping up, I ran to the bathroom door and yelled, “Tay, I left something in the rental car. I’ll be right back!”

  “Oh. Okay, Lauren. Be careful, it’s late.”

  Grabbing the keys, I made it out the door and to the elevator. “I’m going to lose my signal. I’ll call you right back.”

  Colt winked. “I’ll be waiting, sweetheart.”

  The screen went blank as I pushed my phone into my pocket and practically ran to the elevator.

  The whole way down, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. My phone pinged as I stepped out of the elevator. Pulling it out, I saw it was Grace.

  Grace: Bitch, I saw you running with the rental car keys. Get your freak on!

  Rolling my eyes, I deleted her message and walked out front. The valet came running over to me. “Yes, would you like your car?”

  Oh shit. I didn’t think this through very well. “Um, no! I just need to get something out of it. We parked it ourselves.”

  Giving me a smile he, asked, “The Tahoe right? It’s parked right next to our valet parking lot.”

  Nodding my head, I smiled. “Okay. Great! Thanks so much.”

  Giving me a sweet smile, the valet said, “Would you like me to run and get it for you?”

  “No! It’s personal and all that.”

  I took off running towa
rd where Grace had parked the Tahoe. Calling back over my shoulder, I yelled, “Thanks!” Adrenaline raced through my veins as I thought about having phone sex with Colt.

  Hitting the panic button to find the car, I heard the horn going off. Smiling, I hit the button again and skipped over to Tahoe. Jumping into the front driver’s side seat I looked around. Nope, I’m gonna need more room. Crawling over the console, I flopped down onto the back seat, opened up my phone and hit Colt’s number to FaceTime him. The moment I saw him my stomach flipped.

  We stared at each other as we smiled. “Lauren, make sure no one can see you.”

  Nodding my head, I looked around and slid further down into the seat so no one would see me.

  Licking my lips, I whispered, “Touch yourself, Colt.”

  MY DICK JUMPED when Lauren whispered for me to touch myself. I’d never done anything like this before, I knew Lauren hadn’t either. There was something very hot about what we were about to do.

  Reaching down, I grabbed my dick and began moving my hand up and down my shaft. Closing my eyes, I pictured Lauren’s lips wrapped around my dick.

  I could hear Lauren’s breathing increase. “Does it feel good, Colt?”

  Nodding my head, I moaned. “Lauren . . . touch yourself, too. I want to hear how wet you are.”

  “Colt,” Lauren hissed and I imagined her hands slipping into her panties and between her lips. “How wet, Lauren?”

  Panting, Lauren whispered, “Wet. Very wet. Colt, let me see you touching yourself.”

  Moving my phone down, I showed Lauren what I was doing. I heard her gasp. “Hottest thing I’ve ever seen, Colt. Go faster.”

  Fuck. Is she trying to kill me? “Lauren, if I go faster I’m going to lose it.”

  “Faster, Colt. I’m so close.” My eyes snapped open as I watched her. Desire washed over her face as I picked up the pace. “Yes,” she hissed through her clenched teeth. My heart was racing as I watched Lauren making herself feel good.

  “Ahh . . .” Lauren said as she arched her body. I felt my balls sucking up and I was about to lose it.

  “Lauren, baby, I’m going to come.”

  Lauren’s mouth dropped open as her breathing increased more as I came all over my own stomach.

  “Oh, God yes,” I moaned.

  Lauren closed her eyes as she said, “Talk to me.”

  “Baby, you look so hot touching yourself. I want to hear my name when you come, Lauren.”

  “Shit! Colt! Colt! Colt! Colt!”

  Smiling, I watched her come undone. I’d never seen anything so damn sexy in my life. Standing up, I made my way into my bathroom and grabbed a washcloth. Throwing it into the sink, I turned on the hot water. I couldn’t pull my eyes from Lauren. Her chest was heaving up and down still. Opening her eyes, Lauren looked at me and started giggling. “I can’t believe we just did that. We had phone sex!”

  “FaceTime sex, really.”

  Lauren was about to talk when I heard what sounded like someone knocking on the car window. Lauren jumped and screamed. “Fuck! I think it’s the valet,” she whispered.

  Looking around, Lauren reached down for something, then opened the back door. I could hear a male’s voice talking to her.

  “So that’s two free shows I’ve gotten from you in the last twenty-four hours.”

  What the fuck did he mean by that?

  “Um, Colt, I’m going to call you right back.”

  Feeling a sense of panic, I yelled, “No! Lauren stay on the—”

  Lauren disconnected the FaceTime and I stood there stunned. She hung up. She just hung up.

  Pushing my hand over the top of my hair I let out a frustrated sigh and then hit her number.

  Voicemail.

  What the fuck? Dropping my phone on the counter, I cleaned up and quickly put on a pair of pants. Grabbing my phone, I was about to hit Lauren’s number when my phone began ringing.

  Swiping to answer, I practically yelled, “Why in the fuck would you hang up on me?”

  “Colt, give me two seconds to get back into the hotel.”

  “No, Lauren you were fucking giving yourself an orgasm when some asshole walked up. Was he watching you? It sure sounded like it and what does he mean this was his second free show? What in the hell have you been doing?”

  Silence.

  “Lauren! What. Is. Going. On. There?”

  “Colt, shut the fuck up for thirty seconds!”

  Stunned, I sat down on my bed as I attempted to calm down.

  Hearing a door shut, Lauren cleared her throat. “He didn’t see anything, but it was obvious what I was doing, Colt. It was the same valet that helped us when we checked in. I had an . . . incident.”

  Pinching my eyebrows together, I quietly asked, “What kind of an incident?”

  “I got stung by a bee and I kind of panicked and pulled my shirt over my head in the front of the parking lot.”

  Closing my eyes and shaking my head I tried to understand what she was saying. Looking out my window I felt sick to my stomach. “You did what? Why would you pull your shirt off? Did you have a bra on? Did that asshole see you in just your bra?”

  Letting a deep breath out, Lauren sighed. “Are you finished asking me all your questions?”

  Slowly taking in a deep breath, I blew it out just as slow. “I’m sorry, Lauren. It’s just I heard this stranger talking and I kind of freaked out and then you hung up on me. Why did you hang up on me?”

  Letting out a gruff laugh, Lauren said, “You were on FaceTime naked, Colt. I didn’t want this guy seeing you.”

  Oh. I hadn’t thought of that. Shit.

  “Damn it. I’m sorry, Lauren. I wasn’t even thinking about that.”

  “No kidding. I wanted to wait until I got to the hotel before I called you back. The stupid guy walked me back to the hotel.”

  Balling up my fists, I had the urge to hit someone. Fucker. I prayed to God he hadn’t seen anything. “Did he, I mean are you sure he didn’t?”

  Lauren remained silent for a little too long. “I can’t say a hundred percent, but he knew what I had been doing.”

  “Fucking asshole. Don’t talk to him again, Lauren. Don’t even go near him.”

  Letting out a giggle, Lauren said, “Why, Mr. Mathews, are you jealous?”

  “No I’m not jealous. You’re mine, Lauren. I never want another man to see what’s mine. Ever.”

  Letting out a slight moan, Lauren whispered, “I love you, Colt.”

  My heart dropped at her whispered words. What was it about this girl? She had my stomach in all kinds of knots and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “I love you more, sweetheart.”

  “So, tell me about this stallion.”

  Grinning like a fool, I started to tell Lauren all about what had happened. My adrenaline began pumping again as I talked about it.

  “Wow. That’s awesome, Colt.”

  Something was off in Lauren’s voice. I could hear it. “I can’t wait for you to take a look at him, Lauren. He’s amazing.”

  “Yeah, I’m excited to see him. Listen, I better get to bed. We’re going on a train ride tomorrow, early.”

  Yep. I could hear the disappointment in Lauren’s voice. I made a mental note to talk to Scott tomorrow about Lauren.

  “All right, baby. I love you and I miss you. I hope y’all have fun tomorrow. No more taking your shirt off, okay?”

  Laughing, she said, “Deal! Don’t get too crazy with that stallion either, Colt. Be careful, okay?”

  “Always. Night, Lauren. Sweet dreams, baby, and I love you.”

  “Sweet dreams, Colt. Love you.”

  Closing my eyes, I could almost smell her perfume. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I set it on my side table. Dropping my head back, I let out a frustrated breath.

  “Lauren,” I whispered as I formulated a plan to have her help me with the stallion. We were going to do this together and she was going to prove to her dad that she was more than ready to take
over more control of her families breeding business.

  Falling back, it didn’t take long for sleep to win me over.

  WALKING INTO THE barn, I saw Scott leaning against one of the stalls looking over a piece of paper. “Hey, Scott what’s going on?”

  Glancing over to me, Scott smiled. “Colt. Thanks for meeting me down here.” He handed me the piece of paper and I began to look over it.

  Shaking my head, I looked at him. “What is this?”

  “This is your schedule for this summer. You are officially part of Reynolds Breeding, Colt. Welcome aboard son.” He held out his hand for me to shake it. I wasn’t sure how I should be feeling. I was happy but at the same time, I wasn’t sure how Lauren would react to this new development. “Jessie is booking your tickets this afternoon for the trips to Kentucky and New York. Those two are strictly for the racehorses Jeff and I are interested in.”

  My mouth went dry. Scott wanted me to travel with him to look at potential racehorses. Holy shit.

  “Um . . . I’m not sure what to say, sir. It is an honor that you would take me under your wing like this.”

  Scott winked and motioned for me to follow him as he walked out of the barn. “Colt, I see great potential in you. The way you nailed it on the head with that stallion really proved to me that you know your shit. You were meant for this and I don’t want to waste a second with your training.”

  Nodding my head, I swallowed. “What about Lauren, sir?”

  Scott snapped his head over and looked at me. “Lauren? What about her?”

  “Will she be joining us on these trips?” Glancing down I saw there were three trips planned. Two trips to Kentucky and one to New York.

  Shrugging his shoulders, Scott let out a chuckle. “I guess if she wants to join us she can. I figured she’d spend some time with her mother learning the books and—”

  Stopping, I closed my eyes. This could go two ways. Scott would listen and agree with me, or he would tell me to mind my own business about his family and his business.

  “You have something to say, Colt?”

  Opening my eyes, I nodded my head. I loved Lauren more than anything and if it meant walking away from the one thing I dreamed of doing for her love, I would do it.