Page 46 of Saddled in Secrets
“Extremely,” I blurt. “We barely saw each other.”
“That’s not true.”
“Fine, I didn’t see you.”
The stalker on top of me ghosts his lips along my cheek, drifting to my ear. “Which is why this is one-sided.”
“You…?” The rest of the words catch in my throat. I clear the disbelief and try again. “You love me?”
There’s not an ounce of hesitation when he says, “Unconditionally.”
My mind goes blank in these uncharted waters. I would’ve guessed the attraction was mutual. That’s simple enough. What Colton just declared is the opposite.
Love.
It’s basically a foreign concept aside from my handful of sexual partners. Those were one and done and forgettable. Something tells me Colton is looking to leave a permanent mark.
Confusion keeps me mute. How am I supposed to react? I’m not in the market for a relationship, let alone whatever he’s proposing. This man has acted as my jailer for the better part of three months. He’s been stalking me for much longer. Nothing about this situation is normal.
“I don’t expect you to ever love me, but that’s the only way we’ll be more than this.”
“Damn,” I breathe. “Is that meant to be a kinky ultimatum?”
A snort scolds me. “No pressure.”
“Sure about that?”
He nods again. “It’s no secret that I don’t deserve you.”
“But you brought me to the middle of nowhere in hopes I’d fall for you.” Not to mention against my will.
“Brody encouraged me to shoot my shot. He knows how I feel.”
And just like that, I’m reminded where his allegiance actually rests. “Would you have admitted all this if he didn’t approve?”
His gaze averts. “Eventually.”
I cluck my tongue. “Doubt it. You can’t go against his wishes and I totally get it. He earned your loyalty.”
This isn’t me being petulant or insensitive. I just know where I stand when it comes to him and my brother.Mom’s voice chooses that moment to pop into my head, reminding me of her suspicions. She was certain Colton stuck so close to the farmstead for me. The theory seemed highly unlikely, but it’s obvious I wasn’t paying enough attention.
A crease carves into the space between his brows. “You’ll always come first, Princess.”
I pat his shoulder. “Maybe you’ll prove it someday. Better hurry if you’re planning to use our forced proximity to your advantage.”
“Am I supposed to know what that means?”
“It’s a book trope. One of my favorites,” I admit on an exhale. “Which fits right into the unrequited romance you’ve whipped up.”
Colton blinks. “Is that a good thing?”
My palms shove at his chest and he finally relents, rising to his knees. “Depends on what you decide to do next.”
Bianca’s meaning becomes clear later that evening.I thump my head against her bedroom door when a low buzz kicks on. This scene is painfully familiar.
My cock throbs, demanding I change the script. As tempting as it was, I never barged in on her while we were in Germany. At the time, I assumed those were meant to be private moments. It’s becoming clear now—as I hear her moans rise in volume—that Bianca is doing this on purpose.
The doorknob gets hot under my hand while I stay still. If I storm in there, our dynamic will shift. But isn’t that the point? There’s more to our story than unrequited love. That term burns in my gut until it festers. I’ve used it before, but that was backwhen I chose to deny myself. It’s different now. I want her to become just as obsessed.
