Page 42 of A Secret Baby By the Alpha

“Call us if she needs anything,” I said. “I can come get her at any time.”

Mrs. Spencer smiled and nodded, and Colson and I started walking back home. Jenny had rarely been able to havesleepovers due to our low place in the Sparkle Hollow pack, and although I was excited for her to get the chance to bond with another little girl, I was also worried about her.

“She’s going to be fine,” Colson assured me.

“I know,” I said. “It’s just hard to let go.”

“It’s nice to have some time just for us, though,” he added.

We got back home, and I started cleaning up from the night. Colson joined me in the kitchen. I thought he was going to help with putting the food away, but he wrapped his arms around my waist and started kissing my neck.

“Um, hey,” I said. “What are you doing?”

“Kissing you,” he said.

His hands began traveling across my body, and I felt a tightness in my stomach at his touch. Even though it felt good, I was hurt that his immediate thought once Jenny was out of the house was to begin touching me. It wasn’t that sex was off the table, but it seemed like that was all he had on his mind.

“I see that,” I said. I cleared my throat and unwrapped his arms from my body so that I could turn around and face him. “I’m trying to get this cleaned up right now, though.”

His eyebrows creased as he looked at the food that was left out. “I’m sure that can wait, can’t it?” he asked. “I don’t think chips and cookies are going to go bad if they’re left out on the counter.”

“It isn’t about that, Colson,” I snapped.

“Christa,” he said quietly, taking a step back. “Tell me what’s going on. Did I do something?”

I sighed in frustration, not knowing how to explain the thoughts that were racing through my head without seeming likeI had gone off the deep end. We weren’t in a real relationship, and he didn’t owe me anything beyond normal human decency. So why did I suddenly feel on edge?

“Talk to me, Chris,” he said.

“The second we were alone, you were all over me,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “I don’t know it felt… it felt…”

“Oh. Chris, it’s not like that,” he explained as he realized what I was getting at. “I’m not just after something physical. I was just excited, that’s all, and I wanted to be close to you. Ialwayswant to be close to you. That’s actually what I was hoping to talk to you about tonight.”

“Talk to me about what?” I asked.

“These past few weeks have shown me what I need to do to be a better person,” he began. “I’ve learned that I need to prioritize the people I care about and be open with them. They’ve also shown me just how much I messed up in the past. I don’t want to repeat any mistakes. And the biggest mistake I ever made was leaving you behind.”

He was being more vulnerable than he had ever been, and I realized my jaw had dropped. I closed it quickly, listening as he continued his speech.

“You asked me to describe my dream woman, but all you need to do is look in a mirror,” he said. “It’s you, Chris. It’s always been you. I’ve been in love with you since the day we first met, and I’ll be in love with you until the day I die. All I ever want is to be with you.”

“Col,” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. “I love you, too.”

His dark eyes widened, seeming surprised by my admission. “Really?” he asked.

“Yes, really,” I said, putting my hands on either side of his face and staring into his eyes. “I just had no idea you felt the same way. I thought you were doing all those things for Jenny’s sake, and that I was just a live-in booty call.”

“No, babe,” he said, pulling me close. “It’s been for you. All for you.”

Colson kissed me delicately, but now that I knew where we stood, my hesitation had evaporated. I deepened the kiss, wrapping my arms around him and feeling his taut muscles against me. He put his hands on my backside, and I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist.

“To the bedroom?” he asked.

I nodded, and he wasted no time whisking me away to his room.

Chapter 21 - Colson

Last night with Christa had felt like a dream. Waking up with her in my arms and seeing her sleepy smile looking up at me had made me feel like the most powerful man in the world. All the hard work of fixing myself had paid off in a way I never could have anticipated, and I had finally been able to be with my true mate in the way we were meant to be.

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