For Her Amusement: Bid on Love: Bachelor #5

by Heather Anne

  I came here on a mission to get her back. Not that I fully had her to begin with, but just from our night at the amusement park and those life-changing kisses, I know she’s mine. Now, I just need to convince her of that.

  “What are you doing?” She squeals as I lift her from the stool, setting her on the counter, careful of her foot. I look at her. Her vulnerability tugging at my heart, I lean in. I place a chaste kiss on her lips. I pull back and see the tears start to fall. I feel my own building behind my eyelids but do nothing to stop them. Hurting her has hurt me which is something she needs to see.

  “I’m so sorry, baby,” my voice trembling. Her tears fall faster. I lean back over the counter taking her face into my hands, I wipe the tears from under her eyes. I brush her cheeks with soft kisses, ending with a final kiss to her pouty lips.

  She pulls back, the struggle apparent in her eyes, which have turned a liquid amber.

  “Colton, stop.” Her voice is commanding with just a hint of uncertainty.

  “I don’t get it. This push and pull with you. One minute, you look at me like I’m the only person on this Earth and the next, it’s like I’m a pariah.” She pushes herself back in an attempt to put space between us. I will my arms to not reach for her and bring her back to me. I need her close, I need to keep physical contact, so we both know that this is real.

  “Ev,” I plead. For what? I don’t know. Maybe for her to stop crying, because the anguish on her face is gutting me, or maybe because she’s speaking the truth. The truth can be so hard to handle. It takes you by the head, forcing you to look in the mirror and see some of the ugliness there that you try to hide with everything you have.

  “I read your article and I appreciate it so much. I’m not even going to deny the fact that there are feelings there, nor that it gave me hope. But the way you treated me, that’s not okay.” Her eyes start to water and the pull to her is overwhelming. My body gives in and I reach for her, pulling her against me. She adjusts herself, so she is facing me. The fact that our arms are still touching doesn’t go unnoticed, offering me a glimmer of hope.

  I rake my hand through my hair “I know, baby. I am so sorry. I don’t know, it was always a no-zone with you. Looking back on it, I know it’s ridiculous and I regret all the time that we wasted because of it. You may not forgive me now, but one day you will because as much as you want to fight it, you will give in. Do you know why?”

  She looks puzzled. “Because you are mine. I know it, probably for a lot longer than I realized. Even though you’re hurt right now, you still know it too.”

  That’s the fucking truth. Everything we are screams that we belong to each other. I just had my head too far up my ass to hear it.

  “Colton…” her voice trails off, she goes quiet. My girl deep in thought is so adorable with the way her forehead and her nose scrunch. I stifle a laugh at the cuteness.

  “What was in that editorial was the truth. I was so afraid of fucking up your friendship with Sienna. I was afraid what people would think of our five-year age difference. I was afraid you couldn’t handle my travel, but the reality is, knowing what I know now, accepting what’s between us, I don’t want to do that anymore.”

  “What? But you love what you do!”

  “Like I said on our date, it’s time I cut back on the travelling. Having you as mine means that I’m right where I belong. Right here. Next to you.” A small sob escapes her, but I continue “It’s true that I love what I do, but I love you more.”

  “Colton...” She moves in closer and I lean down so our foreheads are touching. I take her hands into mine, holding them tightly.

  “If you give me a chance, I promise it will be just you and me against the world. I will show you how much you mean to me every day. I will never give you a reason to doubt my feelings for you or to lose faith or trust in me. I will do what I should have done since the first time I felt something for you when you showed up to Sienna’s big performance in New York.”

  “What’s that?” her voice turns breathy and I know I’m winning her over. I can’t control the smile that crosses my face.

  “Claim you. Make you mine. Just love you every damn day.”

  She lifts her head and kisses me. She takes control of the kiss, nipping my bottom lip coaxing me to let her in. When our tongues collide, a switch goes off and I grasp the back of her neck, pulling her closer. Tasting her. Lapping at her mouth. Showing her the truth not only with my words but in this kiss and every one we had on our date.

  “So, what now?” The nerves return, hoping that she says we can give it a real go. That she’ll agree to let me take her out on a real, mind-blowing first date.

  “Well, Sienna was my ride, so you get to take me home” She grins, waggling her eyebrows. I throw my head back in laughter and the sound of her laughing with me is music to my ears. I kiss her on the nose.

  “Ok, baby. Tell me how to lock up” I say.

  She shouts instructions from her perch on the counter. I put the money in a bank bag and put in the safe. I make sure all the windows are closed and the back door is locked. I lock her office door, after grabbing her bright red purse.

  I go back to her and lift her off the counter, handing her the crutches. “What’s your alarm code so I can set it?” I ask.

  “It’s 11111,” I shake my head at her easy to figure out passcode.

  “What am I going to with you, silly girl?” I smile wide.

  “You’re going to take me home, and hopefully to bed,” she grins back.

  The thought of her writhing under me gives me an instant hard-on.

  “Okay, gimpy, let’s hurry up and get out of here.”

  She laughs all the way out of the store and I know that we are going to be ok.

  Chapter Fifteen

  EVERLEIGH

  I keep thinking about what he said in the article about loving his sister’s best friend.

  I have loved this man for more than half my life. Going from hopelessness to the inevitability of a future for us is overwhelming. What if he changes his mind? What if he decides he can’t handle my clumsiness or my quirks? What if tomorrow he thinks this is just a bad idea all around? I unlink my fingers from his and turn away from him.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?” Concern fills his eyes.

  I close my eyes. Loving the term of endearment, but so afraid of it at the same time. Every time he says baby or touches me, it’s like another piece of me belongs to him. If things don’t work out the way I hope they will, there will be nothing left of me.

  “What if...”I start to say, but he cuts me off, grabbing my hand, linking our fingers together again. I am so consumed by my thoughts that I don’t even realize we’ve stopped in my driveway.

  “Baby, look at me.” He takes his other hand and turns my face towards him.

  “Shut that shit down. Don’t listen to that what-if bullshit. I fucked up. I know it. I take full responsibility for the doubt in your mind. I promise you that will never happen again. I’ve had a small taste of you and you already own me.”

  My breath hitches.

  “I meant every word I said earlier, Everleigh, and I will do my damnedest to prove it to you.”

  He leans in pressing his lips to mine with a soft kiss. My eyes must be showing some apprehension because he continues.

  “I know you don’t trust me yet, and I get it.”

  “I want to,” and I do, badly.

  “I know, baby, and we will get there. It’s going to take some time. The good thing is that we have all the time in the world.” He smiles, resting his forehead against mine.

  I close my eyes, his musky scent surrounding me, and I breathe him in. I will never get enough of him. I want to believe with everything piece of my soul that he feels the same, but words are just that. Words. They have no meaning unless backed up with action.

  “Colton, I’m scared.” I close my eyes again, not wanting to see his reaction.

  “Baby, open your eyes. Talk to me,” he p
leads.

  “I’m afraid of loving you only to lose you,” I confess in a quiet tone, feeling the burn of unshed tears in my eyes. One escapes, and Colton wipes it away with the pad of his thumb.

  “Don’t worry, Ev, I have enough love for the both of us.” His gentle hands frame my face and his lips meet mine in a slow kiss. He nips at my bottom lip, coaxing me to open for him. Our tongues tangle in the most erotic dance of giving and taking, pushing, and pulling. We give just as much as the other gets. His hands move down my sides as he peppers sweet, wet kisses along my jaw down to my neck and I moan.

  “Baby, just tasting those lips and this soft skin.” He trails kisses up my neck, “I need to taste all of you.” When he gets to that sweet spot behind my ear, the wetness pools between my legs. I have a need for him that I never experienced before.

  My mouth frantically searches for his and this time it’s me kissing him. I wrap my arms around his shoulders.

  “I need to feel you,” I breathe out, kissing him again. He takes my hand is in his and places it on his crotch causing me to groan at the feel his hardness.

  He lets out a growl as I slide my hand up and down his jean-clad length.

  “You’re killing me,” he groans removing my hand and shutting off the engine. He jumps out of the truck and runs over to my side flinging the door open. He steps up onto running board, lifts me into arms and jumps down. He takes the keys from my hand, opens the front door, and carries me into the house.

  “Couch” I moan as we walk through my living room, passing the oversized sectional.

  “Colton,” I beg.

  “I know, baby. We’ll get there. I want to take my time with you. Cherish you like you deserve. The first time I’m inside you, won’t be on the damn couch.”

  I pull back in laughter. Sometimes he can be so crass, most of the time he’s brooding, but whatever he is at whatever moment, he’s mine. The feeling has me giddy like a schoolgirl.

  He pushes the door to my bedroom open, and lays me down on my bed, careful of my foot.

  It’s like something snaps and Colton McDaniels is on me like white on rice. Kissing, nipping, licking, groping. I want to crawl on top of him and rub myself against his hardness to get some relief for the ache between my thighs.

  His forehead drops to mine and the way his blue eyes are shining with happiness and true admiration is the way I’ve always wanted him to look at me. From the soft smile that crosses his face, I know he can see the same sentiments reflecting in my own eyes.

  I adore this man. I always have.

  “I can’t believe this is real,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

  “It’s only ever been real with you, sweetheart.” His head comes up and I lean into his touch as his palm cups my cheek.

  “Especially after last week, I never could have believed that we would get here,” I open my eyes.

  “I’ve wanted this for so long, baby. My two biggest regrets are fighting it for so long, and the way I treated you at our date. I promise to make it all up to you. Whatever you want, it’s all yours.”

  “I just want you, Colton,” and that’s the truth. “Anything that happened in the past, we can move forward from. All that we went through and all that time that flew right by us, was all worth it because it got us here.”

  “I love you,” he whispers against my lips, taking me in a sensual kiss. His tongue sweeps my mouth and grazes mine in the most sensual slow dance. He shifts his body so that he’s facing me, his strong hands grip me under my thighs. He gently pulls me up so I’m straddling him, taking caution with my broken foot.

  I grind down on him and he growls, burying his face in my neck, he stands up with a firm grip on my ass. I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me towards the bedroom. My mouth doesn’t lose connection with the cords in his neck. Nipping and licking at his pulse point, eliciting grunts and moans, the sounds of his reactions go straight to my clit. I’m wet and wanting, so damn needy for him to give me the relief I know we both crave.

  He looks me right in the eyes as he takes my shoe off. He glides his hands up the sides of my legs, his touch searing a path up to my waist. His hand hovers over the button of my jeans, he looks at me for permission to continue. He’s taking his time with me, taking care of me, and this is the side of him I knew I always wanted to see.

  I nod my permission, lifting my hips. At the slowest possible pace, he carefully slides the heavy fabric down my legs and over my feet. His hands repeat their journey up my legs, leaving goosebumps in their wake. When they reach the hem of my shirt, I lift my arms allowing him to rid me of that barrier. I am left in my pale pink lace bra, my breasts spilling over the delicate cups and matching boy shorts. His blue eyes burn with lust as he takes me in. I bite my bottom lip and heat rushes to my cheeks in both embarrassment and arousal.

  “Holy shit, Everleigh, you are even more gorgeous than I imagined.”

  “Your turn,” I tease, watching as he reaches behind his back pulling his t-shirt off in one swift movement. His glorious chest is on display and my mouth goes slack. He’s in even better shape than I remembered. His upper body is sculpted like the most beautiful piece of art. Vibrant tattoos cover his chest, cross up to his shoulders and down his left arm into a full sleeve.

  His abs are more defined than they were the last time I saw him at the lake. The dips and valleys define into a sharp V that point right to where my mouth wants to be. I let my want for him take over, and I lean up pushing his sweatpants down, taking what seems to be gray boxer briefs with them. His thick cock bounces up and I do what any woman in my position would do. I lean over and lick the engorged tip.

  He groans my name in warning, but I don’t listen. I wrap my hand around the base of his thick, hard cock relishing in the velvet feel of his taut skin.

  I take him fully into my mouth at a tantalizing pace, gliding my tongue along the underside as I take him as far back into my throat as I can. When my reflex hits and I gag a little, Colton lets out a groan and I can’t help but smile around his cock.

  Colton abruptly pulls himself from my mouth with a grin. “Baby, the first time I come in you, it’s going to be in this delicious pussy.” He strokes my lace-covered sex causing me to whimper.

  He hovers over me, careful of my foot. His blue eyes are blazing with the same need built up inside me.

  “Watching you come on that Ferris wheel did crazy things to me, Ev. All I’ve been thinking about is making you fall apart in my arms over and over again.”

  I moan as his hand snakes up, pulling down the lace cup of my bra. My back arches as he leans down taking my puckered nipple into his mouth. The warm wetness of his tongue, the gentle pulls he takes and I can come from this alone.

  Everything with him is so erotic; just so much more.

  He trails kisses and light nips across my chest, making sure to pay attention to my other breast. He moans when he feels my hand on the back of his head, holding him where I want him. After a few moments, he pulls back, sliding his hands down my body, stopping at the waistband of my panties, ripping them at the sides, exposing my bare pussy.

  “Baby, I want the taste of your sweetness on my tongue.” I moan as his fingers dance around my slick folds. “But I need to be inside you more.”

  “Please,” I beg, needing us to be joined.

  “Condo…,” he starts.

  “Pill,” I interrupt.

  “Thank fuck.” He slams into me in one fluid motion.

  “Colt,” I moan when he stills.

  “You feel so good, baby. Better than any fantasy.” His eyes fill with love as he reaches down, lacing his fingers with mine. He pulls my arms over my head, his forehead touching mine.

  “Love you, baby,” he says right before he claims my mouth, and finally starts to move.

  Colton slides in and out of me at a tantalizing pace. The glide of his cock against my inner walls feels like nothing ever has before.

  He makes love to me in a way that tells me we have al
l the time in the world.

  “God, Everleigh, this pussy feels like heaven,” he says, picking up his pace, fucking me in deep, fast thrusts, causing me to cry out when he reaches the hilt.

  Our movements become frantic, erratic even. He gives it to me hard and I take it with a stream of moans, cries, and whimpers.

  “Fuck, you’re squeezing the shit out of my cock,” he groans. “Give it to me, sweetheart. I know what it feels like to have you come on my hand, I need it on my cock.” He reaches his hand down to where we are joined. When he presses my clit with his thumb, it’s like a bomb detonating and I explode all around him, crying out his name with my release.

  Colton grunts my name and spills his hot come deep inside me; the pulsing of his cock, causing my aftershocks to turn into another immediate orgasm.

  His body sags against mine, his hot breath against my neck. He’s careful not to put his full weight on me.

  “God, Colton, that was--”

  “Everything,” he finishes my sentence, leans back, and places a soft kiss on my lips.

  We both groan at the emptiness when he leaves my body. He pushes up and heads into the bathroom. He comes back with a warm washcloth and cleans me up. Tossing it into my hamper, he lays down next to me, pulling me against his bare chest.

  “Thank you,” I say.

  He looks down at me, his expression quizzical. “For what?”

  “For writing the article. For not only telling me but for showing me how you feel. For coming to your senses.” I laugh.

  He leans down, kissing my nose.

  “I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

  I quirk my eyebrow.

  “For giving me a chance, for loving me enough for the both of us,” his words are sincere.

  “And thank you for Mr. Panda and for taking care of me, even though you weren’t here.”