Page 138 of Right Number, Wrong Man
Relief that I wasn’t crazy when it felt like a different man took my virginity. Because itwas.
For twelve whole years, he desperately held on to the one piece of me he possessed and treated it like a treasure. Preserved it. Cherished it. It’s obsessively romantic in the most psycho stalker, filthy pervert way—and so perfectly Colt-coded, I bite back a giggle.
He huffs a heavy breath. “My folks had asked me to bring Mike home and when I found him at the Halloween party, we got in an argument. He put his mask on my head to mock me, but then he passed out and I saw your note. I just meant to tell you that he wasn’t coming to the guesthouse. But you stood there looking so soul-shatteringly beautiful, I couldn’t stop myself.”
I raise my hand and put it on his bare chest. The heat of his skin sears my palm, his pulse thundering beneath my fingers.
“Until I met Jax, that was the best night of my life,” I admit in a whisper.
“Mine, too. After we became one, I never felt whole again without you. I left my heart with you that night and wandered this earth as a hollow shell of a man. You always carried a part of me with you, even if you didn’t know. Even if you didn’t ask for it.”
Tears rise in my eyes, blurring his handsome face, but I smile anyway.
All this time, our hearts spoke different languages and the meanings were lost in translation. But finally, I understand.
“I couldn’t let Mike take your firsts,” Colt continues. “I wanted to be the first man to split your sweet pussy with my cock and brand my scent into you. It was wrong to pretend, but for one night, I wanted to own your body, even if I couldn’t have your heart.”
I gather every ounce of courage inside me and ask, “What if I said you can have both?”
Colt puts the panty bag on the table and his hands frame my face. Tears spill down my cheeks faster than his thumbs can swipe them away.
“Then I’d tell you that all the longin’ and the pain and the heartache was worth it.”
My brow furrows. “But your career?—”
“I love what I do, but I loveyoumore. A life with you is all I ever wanted and for a shot at that, I’ll gladly stay.”
His expression shifts suddenly, growing harder. Withdrawn.
“But?” I ask.
“But you don’t know what you’re gettin’ into. I ain’t a good man. Far from it.”
“If you mean your black ops work, I don’t care what you’ve done on your missions. And Justin… I think he had it coming.”
“Ikilled Mike,” Colt blurts out.
My heart skips a beat. “You what?”
“I murdered my brother for you and made it look like a robbery. He deserved death for cheating on you. If you expect me to feel bad about what I’ve done, you better forget it cause that’s the kind of man I am, Spitfire. I’m cruel, cold, and calculating… and hopelessly in love with you.”
I swallow, dazed.
His confession should send me running.
Things were different with Justin because the guy was an actual serial killer. Itshouldbe terrifying to know that Colt is capable of slaughtering his own brother in cold blood, but my heart dances and my belly tingles.
He loves me so much, he killed for me. Twice.
“You ain’t runnin’ yet… can I take that as a good sign?” Colt asks.
I nod, still processing the information he threw at me.
He steps back and gestures at the door. “If you wanna run, I won’t stop you. I won’t hunt you down. You got nothin’ to fear from me, even if you decide that I’m the type of monster you can’t love. I’ll leave you in peace, I promise.”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
“I’m warnin’ you. If you stay, there’s no way back. I’m gonna make you mine—not just for a night. I want you for the rest of our lives and I’ll marry the fuck outta you.”
