Page 53 of Hero's Prize

She shook her head, still staring down at the floor. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Colton. I know what that night was.”

“Enlighten me, then.”

“A pity fuc?—”

His lips were on hers before she even finished that filthy phrase.

Not that he had a problem with the F-word, but he was absolutely floored by the fact that she could possibly think that. The only thing he could focus on now was erasing that thought from her mind.

Because nothing on earth could be further from the truth than him thinking of her as apity fuck.

He ravished her mouth. He might not have been able to find the words to set her straight about what had happened that night, but he could damn well show her.

He reached under her armpits, not caring a bit how unsexy it was, and hoisted her onto the counter. He slid one hand into her hair, gripping it hard—because damn it, he was fucking pissed—holding her in place so that he could plunder those lips. The otherhand, he slid down to her hip and yanked her to the edge of the counter so that he could press up against her.

“Don’t you dare ever call yourself that again.” He slid his tongue deep into the recesses of her mouth before nipping at her bottom lip. “Ever. Do you understand me? There’s nothing pitiful about you in any sense of the word, and most definitely not when it comes to you and me making love.”

“But—”

He nipped at her lip again. “No buts.”

He hated that this was why she had left that night, but it explained so much. And it changed everything, at least for him.

She hadn’t been using him. And somewhere, he’d always known that—it was completely opposite of what he knew of Ella O’Conner’s personality to think she had used him in that way. He should’ve followed through weeks ago. Demanded to know why she left that night, rather than to have assumed the worst. If it hadn’t been for the accident and those damned panic attacks, he probably would have.

He pressed up against her, loving that sigh that escaped her.

“Lincoln telling me that you were open to some sort of advance from me just gave me the freedom to do what I’d always wanted to without risking alienating a precious friend. Trust me, there was no pity involved in that night. Only heat. Passion. Explosive chemistry.” He punctuated each word with a kiss.

“Really?”

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to accurately tell you this with words. Will you let me show you instead? Pick back up where we should’ve left off that night after my nap?”

Those green eyes looked up at him. “Okay.”

He couldn’t stop the grin that broke out on his face. “Do you still have the place upstairs?”

She shook her head. “No. I bought a little house down the street a couple years ago.”

“Can we walk?” As soon as she nodded, he slid her off the counter. “Get what you need.”

He waited, not at all patiently, as she grabbed her bag and shut down the lights. She kept shooting him somewhat wary looks, but each time she caught him still looking at her, she blushed and looked away.

She liked it. Liked that he was beside himself with the need to get her into the nearest bed. Good. It was good right now that she didn’t want soft and romantic.

“Because all I’m going to be able to give you is hard and fast, Butterscotch. This unquenchable need I have for you isn’t going to allow for much else.”

She blinked over at him, not responding to the fact that he was obviously having a conversation in his mind. And only making part of it verbal.

The walk to her house didn’t take very long—thank God—and he didn’t let go of her hand the whole time. He wasn’t sure he could’ve forced himself to stop touching her, so he was glad he didn’t need to.

She got the door unlocked, and they walked inside. “This is it. It’s not much, but it’s?—”

He kissed her again. Without breaking the kiss to respond, he swept an arm under her knees and lifted her up.

“Colton.” She let out a nervous laugh. “I’m too hea?—”

“Don’t you dare even say it. Just point in the direction of the bedroom, or else I’m going to take you right here against this wall.”

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