Page 29 of Ride or Die
Colt collapses on top of me, both of us panting. I run my fingers up and down his back, basking in my post-orgasm glow. I can’t believe I just lost my virginity to Colton.
Pulling out and removing the condom, he ties it off and disposes of it. He lays beside me, running his hand up and down my chest, tracing the curve of my breasts, his thumb occasionally passing over my nipple. His hand feels so good as my body buzzes, coming down from the best high of my life.
“That was incredible,” he says.
“Really? I wasn’t boring?” I ask quietly, glancing over at him. He leans up on his elbow, looking down at me.
“Fuck no. You were not boring. You were amazing. It was the best I’ve ever had, because it was with you. It's more than sex with you. There's a connection here. Making love tonight…it only intensifies what I feel for you.” His fingers run down my cheek as he looks into my eyes. “You’re so beautiful and perfect. You feel so good, and I love the way you look when you come. I’m honored that you let me be your first. Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
I nod. “I’m perfect. I just lost my virginity to Colton Hawthorne. Holy shit.” I giggle. He chuckles with me.
“You more than just lost your virginity to me. You’re my girl, Layla. You’ve always been the one I want.” He cups my cheek, a gesture he always does that makes me feel so precious to him.
“Really?”
He nods and I feel giddy like a schoolgirl. “Before I kicked them all out, I told all those fucks at my place that you were going to be my girl and to not fuck with you. You’re mine, and you will be treated as such. So how about it? As corny as it sounds, will you be my girlfriend? Officially mine?”
Colton’s first-ever official girlfriend? Is this too good to be true?
“Yeah, I’m yours. I always have been,” I reply, and a huge smile spreads across his face.
He kisses me gently, then pulls me into his body, my legs wrapping around his as we hug. The feeling of our naked flesh intertwined together is better than I could have ever imagined.
“Stay with me tonight,” I whisper into his chest.
“You couldn’t get me to leave even if you tried.”
I grin as he squeezes me tighter, and we drift off in each other's arms.
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
LITTLE. FUCKING. SUNDRESSES.
LAYLA
The next day, after the best sleep ever, I open my eyes to find Colton already watching me. A sweet smile curves his lips, and he presses a soft kiss to my forehead.
Not ready for this to end, I curl into him, and his arms wrap around me. We lay here for hours, talking and laughing. We’re so at ease together, and it feels incredible to me so connected to someone.
“Why did you start? Racing and stealing cars?” I finally ask. He sighs and rubs his face, sitting up to lean against my headboard.
“Honestly, money. Dad left, and Mom was diagnosed with cancer and was going to forgo treatments in order to keep working, so I had a roof over my head. I couldn’t let her choose death because she couldn’t afford healthcare and a home.” He lets out a deep breath before he continues.
“After her diagnosis, I went downtown, started acting out and tried to steal a nice car. Only this guy named Williams caught me trying to stealhiscar. I impressed him, and he offered me an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. Before my dadleft, he taught me how to steal and race cars, and I was good at it. Williams paid really well per lift. Being all luxury cars, it was nothing off his back. The better I got, the more he paid. I managed to get Mom her treatments, and now I’m paying for tuition and our future, hopefully to get us out of here.”
My heart weeps that this whole time, he wasn’t doing it for the sake of being a criminal, but to take care of the person he loves most, and to escape. My goal all along.
“Why do you have to keep doing it? Why can’t you just walk away?”
“You can’t just walk away from a life of crime. Williams may be a criminal, but he's an educated one. A businessman. I work under contract with him, which is ending this spring, so I’m going to start talking to him about my plans to move to the West Coast. Like I said, Layla, if you can’t do this and want to wait until I’m officially out, we can do that. I’ll wait for you just like I have for the past ten years. And then once we’re done college, we can move out west.”
“I don't want to wait anymore, Colt. Now that you're here, I can't not have you. You really want to move out west?" I ask quietly, taking his hand in mine. He gives me a small smile.
“Yeah. I’m done here. I want a new life.” He pauses. “Hopefully with you.” His eyes gaze over at me with sincerity. “I promise to not involve you in the meantime. I won’t tell you when I’m going to do a job. I want you as far from that shit as possible. I know I should have quit first, but I wasn’t in a position yet with my contract. After the night of the street race, when I drove you home, I just couldn’t go another day without you.”
Excitement rushes through my veins. “It’s okay. I’ll stand by you while you finish your contract. I know you want to change. I’m just worried this Williams guy won’t let you off so easily.”
