All systems go.
He got the message, bringing a hand behind her head and catching her lower lip between his teeth. A moan escaped her, her knees spreading to allow him to move closer. He did, bringing her flush against his chest and parting her lips with his tongue.
A soft sob racked her chest as she pressed into him, feeling his strength and solidity.
Home. Being in his arms was home.
Pulse pounding, she wrapped her hands around his neck, breasts pressing into his chest. In the background, she heard Salisbury bark, then growl low.
She’d just reached for Colton’s belt and started to undo the buckle whending-dong, the doorbell went off and Salisbury went crazy.
OF ALL THEluck.
Colton broke off the kiss, fool that he was, and saw Shelby’s half-lidded eyes blink once, twice, three times as she realized they had company.
“Don’t answer it,” she whispered.
“Have to.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s probably the delivery guy with the security system.”
Even if it wasn’t, it was someone like Jack or Shelby’s boss, stopping by to make sure she was okay, because just like always, Colton was the big, bad wolf and they felt compelled to save her. They wouldn’t go away until someone answered the door.
Knowing Jack, he’d bust in and catch Colton and Shelby going at it on the kitchen floor.
Not thatthathad never happened before.
Colton snickered to himself as he grabbed his clean T-shirt off the table and pulled it on.
A truck sat in the drive behind his. Not a delivery truck, though. A dark blue pickup that looked like a rental.
Every nerve in Colton’s body went on high alert. Salisbury was going crazy at the front door, scratching and barking.
The doorbell rang again and Colton pulled his gun from the holster that he’d hung on a coat hook next to the door. He flipped off the safety and checked that a bullet was in the chamber.
The hair on the back of Salisbury’s scruff stood straight up as he planted his paws, his lip curled in a snarl.
There was no peephole in the door. Colton sidled over to the nearby window that looked out onto the front porch.
He used his gun to slide the lace curtain aside half an inch and angled his body to peer at the visitor.
A tall man with the build of a soldier stood on the other side of the door, looking off toward the abandon skeleton of the house across the street. In one hand was a black duffel.
He raised a fist and knocked on the door. “Bells, you in there? Come on, man. I’m six hours short on sleep and Beatrice is hot on my ass to make sure you’re okay. Open the damn door.”
Connor?
Colton grabbed hold of Salisbury to keep him from going attack dog when he opened the door. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Connor flipped him the bird and yawned as he eyed Salisbury. “Good to see you too.” He brushed by Colton. “Where’s the coffee and that pretty wife of yours?”
Salisbury went from a snarling demon to wagging and wiggling so hard, Colton nearly lost hold of him. He set the dog down and Salisbury took off after Connor as the man headed for the kitchen.
“Shelby?” Connor called as he walked through the dining room. “Special delivery!”
“Connor?” Shelby squealed from the kitchen. “Oh my God, look what the cat dragged in.”
There was laughing and Connor told Shelby she looked good. Salisbury barked again, happily this time.
Colton shook his head and flipped the safety back on his gun as he joined them.