Page 45 of Tops
My heart deflated, feeling entirely confused. Tanner didn’t even want me to do something about his hard cock. Shakily, I got off him and sat down on the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest to cover myself. Tanner got up from the bed and started with his boxers as he put all his clothes back on. He hadn’t bothered to clean up at all, but he hardly looked any different once he was back in his button-up and slacks. Other than his hair, which looked thoroughly fucked. Thankfully, he was wearing black pants, and night had fallen, or else the prominent bulge would be glaringly obvious.
Colten handed me a black silk robe that I quickly tied around myself as Tanner left the room and closed the door behind him.
“I know you said you wanted to do it yourself, but I am here if you need anything,” Colten said.
I nodded in thanks, but I needed a little time to myself.
The shower at Colten’s apartment was just as luxurious as the one in my room back in Bottoms. I was left alone under the torrent of water, feeling the same as I did before. Having sex wasn’t transformative, although I was sore enough to noticethatfelt different.
When I emerged from the bathroom, Colten was lying under white sheets and a comforter. Everything changed and was clean, with no evidence of my bloody first time. He patted the space beside him on the bed, and I felt the wide smile stretch across my face as I dropped the towel and slipped in under the covers, completely naked. His arm wrapped around me as we talked until the full moon shone brightly between the neighboring skyscrapers. We fell asleep, cuddling together as dark clouds overtook the sky.
Tomorrow called for more rain. I shut my eyes with a smile, looking forward to what the day would bring.
Light flashed through my eyelids, followed by a close crack of thunder. I jolted awake, looking around at the rain as it hammered against the windows. Another close bolt of lightning flashed, making me jump. I thought a shadow moved to the side of the bed, but I couldn’t tell.
Colten was lying beside me, sleeping peacefully despite the wind whipping water at his mostly glass home. I had always enjoyed the rain, but from inside the house. This felt like I was inside the storm. Sometimes you could think dangerous things are beautiful, but it was best not to get a look up close and personal.
I thought I saw something move again, and I whipped my head around in that direction as my heart beat wildly in my chest. My eyes scanned unfamiliar furniture to see if someone else was with us. A loud boom of thunder shook the apartment, scaring me enough to make me yelp. Colten sat up in an instant, his arms wrapping around my shoulder.
“What’s going on?” he asked calmly.
I looked into his dark eyes and focused on breathing with him. “The storm woke me up, but I thought I saw something moving over there,” I said, pointing toward the bathroom.
Colten used his phone to turn on all the lights in the room. I squinted against the harsh light as all the shadows disappeared. No one was there, and nothing was out of place. Colten turned the lights off, and it took me just a moment to get my vision sorted.
“It’s probably just because this is a new place,” I said apologetically as I laid back down on the bed.
He pulled me into his chest and kissed the top of my head. “You’re safe when you’re with us, Nessa.”
I’m not sure how, but I fell asleep in Colten’s arms. Someone was watching me on the street corners of my dreams, but I couldn’t see his face.
14
To Watch You Shatter
ThenexttimeIwas pulled from the dark abyss, the rain had slowed considerably as a drizzle replaced the storm. The sun was already up but hidden behind thick clouds that turned the sky a violent purple gray, almost like a bruise.
I was also alone in bed.
The smell of coffee hit my nose, and I was instantly out from under the sheets, grabbing Colten’s discarded dress shirt from last night off the floor. My clothes seemed to be missing. I buttoned it together quickly, letting the top hang near my shoulders. Getting the bottom part covered and coffee was my main objective.
I opened the door and peeked out. No one was in the sitting area, but when I peered into the kitchen, I saw Colten leaning against the counter, wearing only his glasses and a pair of sweatpants. A black coffee cup was held in his hand, and he took a sip from it while smiling.
My feet moved without authorization as I swiftly headed for the kitchen in search of a cup. Colten moved quicker than I could, pulling out a black cup to match his and filling it with hot coffee. When I made it to the counter, he had also added a small bowl of sugar, cream, non-dairy creamer, and a spoon.
“How do you take your coffee?” I asked him as I fixed my cup; three heaping scoops of non-dairy creamer and one small spoon of sugar.
“Dash of cream, no sugar,” he said, putting his cup on the counter and refilling it just to demonstrate as I had. I sat on the chair, letting my mug warm my hands. Swirls of steam rose into the air, twisting and turning until evaporating into nothing. That was how my mind felt this morning.
“How do you feel this morning?” Colten asked.
I took a sip of my coffee first, wanting it to coat my throat and warm me up from the inside. My toes were cold from walking around the floors here barefoot. But mostly, I didn’t feel any different if that was what he was asking.
“A little sore, but overall, really good.” I smiled and hoped that was a good enough answer. I took another sip of my coffee so I wouldn’t have to smile anymore. The top had cooled just enough to allow me a bigger gulp of the deliciously nutty and smooth coffee.
“You liked that sip of coffee more than you liked answering my question,” Colten hedged.
“The sex,” I said, making sure to say the word this time, “was great. Soul-shattering, as promised. But I don’t feel different, and I’m not sure if I was supposed to.”
