Page 37 of Tops
Colten must have a thing for high views. His apartment was located near the very top of an expensive building. Even if I used all the money in my bank account, I wouldn’t be able to afford to live in an apartment like this for a year. When you first entered, there was a small closet for coats, but then the floor plan opened to a beautiful modern kitchen which flowed into a subset sitting area. There were floor-to-ceiling windows along the far wall, much like his office, allowing the light to stream in.
Colten hurried to take off both his jackets while I looked toward the windows. My stomach growled loud enough to get his attention as he was half-finished removing his suit jacket. He froze in place, giving me a moment to look at his button-up shirt as it was pulled tightly across his muscles.
I needed to see him in something other than a suit, but watching him take it off might be my new fantasy.
He slowly resumed his task of taking off his suit jacket before hanging it up in the closet. I hurried to take mine off to hand to him as well. His fingers moved intently as he put my jacket on the hanger, careful not to damage or wrinkle my jacket in any way, as I was sure he had done with his own. Colten was wound up tighter than I was. He looked at me like he wanted to say something, then hesitated before deciding to speak.
“Would it be alright for me to take a shower? Then I can order dinner and we’ll eat while I answer your questions.”
“It’s your house,” I said with a smile as my stomach rumbled again.
Colten gave a concerned look toward it.
“I’m fine, really. Tanner watched me this morning, so I didn’t eat much. But I’m fine. You’ve had a long day. I can check in with Hannah.”
Colten seemed reassured enough as he nodded and started roughly freeing his tie. Now his body was moving with the confidence he lacked earlier. These were well-rehearsed moves, his touch recalled with intimate familiarity. It made me want to feel what his hands could do to my clothes.
I needed to get some answers first.
And not like I waited for this hitman business to be over with first.
I knew I had to walk into the kitchen instead of pinning us into the small space. This was awkward at best and begging for trouble at worst. I made my way over to the wall made of glass, interested to know what the view looked like from here.
The people below looked the same as they did from Colten’s office. Tiny ant people scurrying about their day. No one’s path mattered, as they still flowed primarily as a long mass of bodies. A loud, snaking mass covered this city.
I heard Colten’s phone ring, but I didn’t turn around even as he stepped into the kitchen and answered.
“Black,” Colten said in a hard tone. I couldn’t hear whoever was on the other end. “We are at my apartment. No, I haven’t.” I watched Colten frown from the reflection in the glass before he walked out of the kitchen and into another room of the apartment, shutting the door behind him.
I may as well take a seat on the couch and try to see if Hannah was available. Then again, if I was busy with that many dicks, I wouldn’t bother looking at my phone too much.
Which was exactly the reason why romance was never a priority. What was it about these men that got me to throw out years of discipline?
Texting Hannah produced nothing, and faintly, I heard the shower from the other room. I mindlessly scrolled through my apps while I waited. Checking in on all the newly pregnant or married friends on social media. That whole section of the internet was a nightmare for me. I ended up defaulting to science news articles.
The door opened, and Colten walked out. My phone fell to my lap as all systems failed inside my mind. I didn’t get to see the unwrapping, but damn, Colten looked good without a shirt on. His hair was damp, slicked back. I noticed a few tattoos across his chest and arms. Not something I would have expected. He wore a pair of black sweatpants that hung low on his hips.
Lord, he would break necks if he stepped outside this apartment looking like that.
“Did you want something specific for dinner, or should I just order?” Colten asked, making me remember that all of this was real.
“Um, food,” I managed as my brain entirely short-circuited. At this moment, I wanted Colten Black more than anything else. My whole body felt alight with the burning desire to have him inside me. It was a raw and primal urge that felt like a craving.
Colten went back into his bedroom with his phone, and that was when I noticed the large tattoo of three birds across his shoulder blades. He shut the door behind him, and I was left wanting to know more about him while also searching for my missing phone.
When he emerged again, he had a shirt on. It was for the best. I did not need to actively drool over his toned abs while trying to eat.
“We have about thirty minutes until the food arrives. I can attempt to answer more of your questions,” Colten said as he came to sit on the adjacent couch.
“Why do you share?” Yup. I said it. The words slipped out of my mouth as I attempted to tell my mind that was not how to start this line of questioning.
“Share women?” Colten asked. At least he didn’t play coy. I only dared to be that blunt under the right circumstances. Having your brain scrambled from hotness was a qualifying factor.
“Nik told me last night that saying yes to him meant a yes to you all.” I swallowed hard. Really, at my age, it shouldn’t be this difficult to sit down and discuss sex. Not when I seemed to want it so bad.
“Did you say yes to Nik?” Colten asked softly, but with an edge to his tone that dared me to lie to him.
“Yes.”
