Page 37 of Inevitable
At one time, he’d been capable of smiling when he was happy, and he’d been able to let some of those walls down at times.
Now, I doubted he let anyone see the real Colin Marshall.
The only time he’d shown a hint of emotion was when he thought I was uncomfortable in some way.
After his injury, he’d built up those walls brick by brick until no one could see the incredible man he really was.
What in the hell had happened to his teasing and his wicked sense of humor?
I knew that man was still there, but I couldn’t quite reach him.
I could sense it.
Colin really hadn’t changed. He’d just learned to contain the man he used to be.
He’d always been overly serious, gruff, and contemplative, but he’d taken that to a whole different level.
However, he had put his own life at risk to save me, and I was determined to return the favor by bringing out the parts of Colin that were hidden away from everyone.
“If no one has seen your leg, does that mean you have sex with your clothes on?” I asked jokingly.
“No,” he answered roughly.
“In the dark then?” I questioned.
“Not in the dark,” he said in a frustrated voice. “I haven’t been with a woman since our fling. There isn’t a woman on the planet who would want to be close to me after seeing my leg.”
Not once?
Not a single female since he and I had been together?
How was that even possible?
I hadn’t been with another guy since Colin, either, but it was hard for me to believe he hadn’t had sex in fourteen years.
He was a virile man with averyhealthy sexual appetite.
“Of course women would want to get close to you,” I said as I moved until my body was plastered against his and my head was on his chest. “You’re a beautiful man, Colin.”
God, did he really think his leg would take away from his overall attractiveness?
His entire body stiffened for a moment before it finally relaxed and he wrapped an arm around me protectively.
“You’re insane if you really believe that,” he rumbled.
“I really believe it, and I’m not crazy,” I retorted.
I was still insanely attracted to Colin, just like I’d been years ago.
Yes, I realized that our short relationship had ended a long time ago, and that the attraction couldn’t go anywhere, but it was still there.
The truth was, I’d just never felt that kind of attraction again after Colin, which was one of the reasons I’d never been able to be with another man.
I’d tried dating a few times, but none of those first dates had ever turned into a second.
I let out a small sigh as Colin stroked a hand through my hair to comfort me.
“Sleep, Emma,” he said soothingly. “You haven’t gotten any decent sleep since the kidnapping.”
