Page 122 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

And Colt helped me see it.

I know I shouldn’t compare them, but I can’t help it sometimes. They’re so black and white. I guess the saying is true; you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince and boy, did I find mine.

His arms are folded, and the fabric of his red T-shirt is stretched across his chest and biceps, making my mouth water. He’s pinching the neck of a beer bottle between his fingers, nodding at something his buddy’s saying while looking like a freaking Greek god.

I could stare at him for days.

Watching him in his element.

Effortlessly sexy.

Effortlessly commanding the room.

Effortlessly breaking hearts around him without giving a shit about hurting their feelings.

Because he’s all mine.

Mine.

When he catches me staring at him, his mouth tilts up in a smile, and he walks toward me, ending whatever conversation he’d been having.

With a quick peck to my cheek, he greets me. “Hey, Sunshine.”

“Hey.”

“You look beautiful.” He leans closer, his breath fanning across my cheeks. “Love the dress, by the way.”

“Oh, you noticed?” I quip.

With a low chuckle, he grabs my hip with his hand and drags me closer, kissing my forehead.

“Hello to you too,” Mia interrupts from beside me.

Colt cringes and gives me a bit of breathing room, looking at Mia as if he just noticed she’s here. “Hey. Sorry––”

“For the lack of hello? It’s fine. I know I’m chopped liver compared to this girl.” She hooks her thumb at me. I don’t get a chance to argue how gorgeous she looks because she adds, “Don’t worry, Ashlyn. I was kidding, and I know I’m a babe. Besides, I think it’s cute how Colt has goo-goo eyes for you and only you.”

“He does not,” I start to say, but Colt cuts me off.

“I do.” He presses a quick peck to my temple to prove his point, turns back to Mia, and comments, “You look nice tonight, Mia.”

She snorts. “Gee. Thanks.”

Realizing he isn’t going to get anywhere by kissing her ass, he looks back at me and asks, “Are you ready to leave yet?”

With a laugh, I shake my head. “I just got here. Besides, it’s your little sister’s first college party. And since this is her first time with roommates, Mia and I have to show her how to have a good time.”

He looks around the crowded house, keeping his hand pressed to my lower back like he can’t get enough of me as he searches for Blake in the crowd. And I love it. The way he wants to keep me close. Within reach. It makes me melt a little. When he spots her in the kitchen, currently pouring vodka into a red cup, Colt scratches his temple and tilts his head toward her. “As long as you’re the ones cleaning up her puke.”

“Ew!” Mia and I return in unison. Mia adds, “But also, point taken. Now, if you two love birds will excuse me, I’m gonna go make sure our little Padawan takes things slow, so we won’t have to clean up any puke tonight.”

She slips between Colt and me, making her way toward the kitchen and out of sight when someone pushes Colt from behind. He almost bumps into me but catches himself on the railing behind my head with gritted teeth.

“Still can’t believe I enjoyed these things before we met,” he mutters under his breath while tossing a glare at the culprit, who’s too drunk to notice.

I tug at the fabric stretched across Colt’s chest to get his attention. “You can still enjoy them even though you have a girlfriend now.”

“I don’t need the alcohol or the music anymore, Sunshine. I don’t need to escape. I only need you.” He kisses my forehead. “How are you feeling?”

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