Page 51 of Cured

I grabbed his shirt in my fist and sobbed into his chest. The fact that he hadn’t pushed me away was almost as emotional as what I had lived through.

Colt held me as I cried, all the while smoothing my hair and back and placing kisses on my head. “It’s alright, sweetheart, let it out. Let it go, it’s time.”

When I finally stopped crying, Colt shifted me so he could see my face. “So that’s why you go from person to person. You feel guilty because you think that accident was your fault.”

“It was,” I stated.

“The mechanics of the accident, that was your fault, but the fact that your mother and Dean, and even Kadyn, died was not your fault.” He ran his finger over my cheek. “Life happens, Ember. Sometimes it can be wonderful, and sometimes it can be so damn harsh, but no matter what happens, that is the way it is meant to be. You can’t let what happened all those years ago control you for the rest of your life. You’re alive. Do you think your mother, or even Dean for that matter, would want you to be doing this to yourself?”

I knew the answer to that but didn’t voice it. I stared into Colt’s face and fell into his beautiful green eyes.

“I think your mother would want you to forgive yourself and move on with your life. She’d want you to find someone to love, and not keep punishing yourself for an accident. It happened, and it was horrible, and the memory of that will never go away, but you have to accept that it happened and move on.”

“I think you lied to me,” I said softly, and he jerked back slightly. “There is no way you are a boob and butt lifter. You really are a shrink.”

Colt laughed softly and tweaked my nose. “I swear I’m not, but if it’s helping you, then I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”

“Anything?” I said with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes,” his gaze drifted over my face, “anything.”

“Then be my boyfriend and kiss me. Show me how to feel again, Colt, how to love again, please.”

Colt’s breathing picked up immediately, and he shifted slightly to the right, his hand resting on my cheek, his thumb brushing my bottom lip. “I’m afraid that if I start kissing you, I won’t be able to stop.”

“Then don’t stop,” I ran my hand over the top of his head and cupped the back of his neck, “I need to feel you against me, Colt. I need you.”

His mouth descended on mine a heartbeat later. I opened to him immediately and sighed as our tongues melded in the middle. I wasn’t lying when I told him I needed him. I needed him like my next breath now. I needed him to make me feel alive.

Colt deepened the kiss, and I clung to him the best that I could, but as I shifted, I winced, and he knew it. He pulled away.

“Stewart, Stewart, Stewart…” he said to himself quietly.

Well, that was certainly strange. “Why are you saying Stewart’s name?” I had to ask.

He gave me a lopsided grin, “Because I realized earlier that saying his name was a great mood buster.” He smoothed his hand over the side of my head, “Not that I want to ruin the mood, but you are in no shape to be doing this,” I flopped back on my pillow, “but just because I won’t make love to you right now, doesn’t mean that I don’t plan on doing it when you are better. For now, can you be satisfied with me being here with you and holding you?”

“You still want to be here with me after what I told you?”

“Ember, that’s kind of a stupid question. Of course, I still want to be here, and with every moment that we spend together, I want to be with you more and more, not just to sleep with you, but to be by your side.” He kissed me tenderly, “I wasn’t looking for a relationship when I challenged you, but getting to know you, well, I can’t imagine walking away from you once the four weeks are up.”

My heart fluttered in my chest, “Really?”

“Yeah, really. I know we joked about you being my girlfriend, but I want you to really be just that.” He ran his finger over my lips, “Think you can handle that?” He looked deep into my eyes, “Do you think you can be with just me for as long as we are together?”

“I’d really like that, yes.”

He kissed my forehead. “Good, so hurry the hell up and get better.” We both laughed, and for the rest of the evening, we cuddled on the bed.

When I woke the next morning, the bed was empty. The other side still had the sheets tucked in, so he had either slept on top of the covers or had gone back to his room.

I sat up on the edge of the bed and noticed it was a quarter till eight and that there was a note on the nightstand next to my water.

Ember -

I hope you slept well. I didn’t want to wake you this morning; you looked so peaceful. I had to get to work early this morning. I have a busy day, lots of boobs and butts to lift. There is plenty of food in the fridge, help yourself. If you need something, give me a call. If I don’t answer, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Rest up, I have plans for you.

Your boyfriend – Colt

I felt like a high school cheerleader with a crush on the football star, all giddy that he had noticed me on the sidelines.

I sent him a text before I got out of bed letting him know that I had gotten his note and wished him a good day at work. How odd was it to wish someone a good day at work and know that you would see him again that night when he got home?

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