Page 28 of Masters of the Game: Colton
She immediately captured his tongue the way he had done hers, sucking hard. Then he joined in by dueling with her tongue in a way that made her weak in the knees. Her entire body became inflamed with desire, even as she struggled to decide what was not enough and what was too much. Sexual hunger curled her stomach when she realized kissing him was not going to be enough. She needed more. But how much more could she handle?
Her thoughts scrambled when he escalated the kiss, taking her mouth with a degree of rapacity and greed that she felt all the way to her toes. And if that wasn’t enough, his hands had dipped below her waist and were now boldly caressing her backside as if he had every right to do it. Her moans mingled with his, and she knew that if they didn’t stop soon, they’d be at the point no return.
As if with forced effort, he finally withdrew his mouth from hers and leaned close to her ear. “You will never know how much I needed that. How long I’ve yearned for it.”
After the sinfully erotic kiss they’d just shared, Kelly knew she should leave well enough alone, but couldn’t. When he straightened to stare into her face, she said softly, “You only brought it on yourself, you know. Had you spent thet night with me two years ago, we would have been out of each other’s systems by now.”
He didn’t say anything for a second and then in a deep raspy voice, he whispered, “We could have made love all that night and the entire weekend, Kelly, and I would not have gotten you out of my system. I wanted you too damn much.”
**
“You rejected me that night, Colton.”
Colton tilted his head back and stared at Kelly. By using the word “rejection,” she’d finally given him some insight into what was at the root of the problem. He had to give Cobra credit. He’d been right, once again.
Reaching out, he cupped her chin to make sure she didn’t look away. Obviously, he hadn’t made himself clear last week, but now, he was determined to get through to her. “From the moment I first saw you, Kelly, I was drawn to you, both physically and mentally. Physically, because I thought you were such a beautiful woman. And mentally, because I knew you were someone who could challenge me, make me laugh… The type of woman I wanted to have—and keep--in my life.”
“You honestly thought that?” she asked.
He dropped his hand from her chin but still held her gaze. “Yes. And I still do. I didn’t reject you that night, Kelly. I respected you too much to use you, when I wanted so much more. It was about respect and not rejection.”
She stood there, seeming a little stunned. “You wanted more than one night?” she asked. Her words sounded accusing.
“I told you that I did. You’re the one who wanted less because, according to you, you had to focus on building your agency. But it’s built now. And there’s no reason we can’t have a more meaningful relationship. I will show you how it’s done. That way you can’t use it as an excuse anymore.”
She glared at him. “I wasn’t using it as an excuse, Colton. Why can’t you understand that I can only focus on one thing at a time. I’ve always been that way.”
“I do understand, Kelly. There is nothing wrong with staying focused, but not at the risk of social isolation. Working hours a day without a social outlet can impact both your mental and physical well-being.”
“I do have a social life.”
“Then tell me some of the things you do outside of work and family.”
“Outside of work and family?” she asked.
“Yes.”
From the look on her face, Colton knew that she couldn’t name a single one. “That’s the reason you need to incorporate some element of fun into your busy schedule, Kelly.”
He paused a moment, letting his words sink in. “Let me show you what you’ve been missing these past two years. Let me prove that you don’t have to give up being happy to be successful. It’s a lesson I had to learn.”
Kelly didn’t say anything for a moment, and he wished he knew her thoughts. Then she said, “I was going to give it to you.”
He lifted a brow. “What were you going to give me?”
She took a breath, and he watched her nervously nibble on her bottom lip before saying, “A taste of rejection. I was going to let you think I was all in with us sharing a bed, and then when things got hot, I was going to leave you standing there, alone, the way you left me that night. I wanted you to know how it felt to be left hot and bothered.”
Colton could certainly see her trying to do something like that, though, of course, he’d have made the sexual experience so enjoyable that there would have been no way she’d ever have denied him. “And now that you know the truth, what’s next, Kelly?”
**
Why did he have to ask her that? At least he wasn’t upset with her, and seemed to take her confession in stride. She was grateful for that. Now that she understood what he’d been thinking that night, mentally, she was in a better place.
“Kelly?”
She startled, pulled out of her thoughts. Although she was in a better place mentally about that night; physically, she was not. Heat had begun simmering inside of her the moment she’d opened her hotel room door to him for dinner. And that heat had gone up a notch when he’d held her hand during the play. Now, after the kisses they’d just shared, she was burning up.
She had a feeling he was feeling that same heat. It was there, in the dark depths of his eyes. If they didn’t do something about it, they would be consumed.
