Page 23 of Collecting Her Debt

“Ex-girlfriend, Zack. And to be honest, with what you did to me, I should kick you out of this house completely.” His eyes widen once more. “ But I won't because I still love you. You are my son, and that will never change. But what you did to me? That will never be forgiven. Understood?” Zack nods.

“What about Sutton?” he asks with a slight smirk on his face as if he knows exactly what he did and how it affected her, and that makes my blood boil.

“You know what? That look you just gave me? That sly smirk you just flaunted tells me everything I need to know. I take back everything I just fucking said. You are no longer allowed in this house. You have three months to find somewhere else to live and get the hell out.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. You want to smirk and make light of the fact that you just ruined the dream Sutton has had for years, and over what? Our relationship? That's disgusting, and no son of mine acts that way. I didn't raise you to act that way.”

“Come on, Dad. You can’t seriously be choosing her over me.” I shake my head, my idiot son still not understanding that there never had to be a choice in the first place.

“Zack, that’s what you don't understand. There never had to be a choice at all. What you did to Sutton was inconceivable. You ruined something she worked really hard for out of spite. You ruined my relationship with her because of anger and jealousy. Honestly, I had plans to tell you. I planned to ask you if it was okay that we continue as a couple after the weekend was over, but you ruined it.”

I step away from my desk, making my way toward the door. As I pass him, he grasps my forearm, halting me in place. “Where are you going?”

“To fix what you broke.” And with that, I leave, hoping to god my instincts are correct and I know where to find her.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Ipull out my key card to my hotel room, flicking it through my fingers as I walk up to the elevator. The heaviness in my chest lingers as the doors open, and I walk through, pushing the button for the fourth floor. I know leaving Colton was the right thing to do. Deep down in my bones, I knew nothing could come of our relationship, if you could even call it that. I would ruin him, and not in the sexy romance novel kind of way. Being with me would turn heads, and not from the people Colton wants attention from. And even though I miss him…even more than I thought after only a short time together, I know I made the right choice.

Just as the doors begin to shut, I lean back, close my eyes, and pray that I’ll be able to get some sleep tonight.

“Thinking of me?” Colton's deep voice fills the tight space around me as my eyes snap open, watching the elevator doors close behind him. His smirk is only rivaled by the desire in his gaze as it rakes up and down my body as I desperately try to breathe.

“W-What are you doing here?” I stammer, my hands beginning to shake as I take him in. The beard covering his jaw is thicker now, almost as if he hasn't shaved in the weeks we've been apart. His hair is styled perfectly, if not a little longer than I'm used to as his fingers lace themselves through the blond strands, giving away just how nervous he is standing in front of me.

“You left,” he says, those eyes darkening as the space between us thickens. “You left without even a word, and I had to find out through a note on my desk?” he sneers, the anger washing off him in waves as the guilt wracks my body.

“I didn't know what else to do,” I admit. The shame of what happened between us is glaring. “I didn't want to ruin you.” His laughter fills the space around me as my body locks while watching him take calculated steps toward me.

“The only thing that would ruin me would be to never touch you again,” he whispers, his head dipping until those talented lips graze the side of my neck, his breath cascading over the shell of my ear as shivers descend my spine. “Never hearing your laughter again.” His words sink deep into my bones as I close my eyes, my fingers grasping at his suit jacket for balance. “Baby girl, beingwithoutyou would ruin me.” I shake my head, desperately trying to hold on to my resolve.

“Colton, I can't do that to you. I can't ruin your career, I can't ruin your reputation, and I definitely can't ruin your relationship with Zack…it would eat away at me.” Just as he opens his mouth to argue, the doors open, and I sneak past him, rushing toward my door. Yet the second I stop, he's there, my back to his front as his hand wraps around my middle, resting against my stomach as his lips press against my neck.

“I miss you,” he whispers, my body aching for something, anything but the barest of touches he’s giving me. “Sutton, being with you is worth every dagger thrown my way…you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.” I sink back against him, his fingers digging into me as a gasping breath leaves me.

“What about Zack?” I ask, bracing myself for the answer. When I’m met with silence, I turn in his arms, my back hitting the door. The second I see the regret in his eyes, a sinking feeling grows in the pit of my stomach.

“Right now, my son and I aren't on speaking terms.” I open my mouth, prepared to tell him just how right I was about us, but he stops me, his fingers lightly brushing against my lips. “And before you go off thinking this is in any way your fault. It wasn't.” I raise an eyebrow, knowing he's full of shit, and from the chuckle that leaves his chest as that sexy smirk plays on the edge of his lips, I know I'm right. “Okay fine, our relationship did have something to do with it, but Zack also did some unforgivable things.” I know from the look on his face that he found my note, but there's a layer of betrayal, and it seems deeper, more personal. But before I can ask, he pushes me up against the door, his body flush against mine.

“Colton,” I moan, his fingers sinking into the loose strands of my hair as my eyes close, and I bask in the way he feels against me.

“Fuck, baby girl. You have no idea how good it is to hear my name coming off those luscious lips,” he mutters, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw before his thumb lifts my chin so our gazes lock. “I know there’s a lot to talk about. I know certain circumstances are determined to keep us apart, but Sutton, Iwantyou. I want you now, tomorrow, and every day after that. I don't care what anyone else says…”

“You say that now, but what about a week from now, a month, or even a year from now?” I whisper, doubt creeping in beneath my skin, but Colton just smiles, his hand cupping the side of my face as his lips lightly brush against mine.

“I can't promise it won't be hard, baby girl. But the one thing I can promise is that you’re mine. You've been mine longer than I want to admit, and if you’ll have me, I want forever with you…” My eyes widen as his words sink in.

“Colton…” I whisper right before his lips take mine in a kiss that shows me just how much he wants me and how much he's missed me these past few weeks. Before I know what’s happening, the key card is snatched from my grip, and the door to my room slams open. Colton guides me through the room until my back hits the bed.

“I've been craving these lips for too long,” he growls, kissing me hungrily. He yanks my shirt over my head and makes quick work of my bra before his lips surround my breasts. I moan, holding his hair tightly as his tongue plays with my nipple, causing a groan to leave my throat as I arch my back into him. He makes quick work of his shirt, shrugging it off his shoulders and showing me exactly what I've been missing these past few weeks.

“Please,” I beg, my hips circling as his fingers make quick work of my jeans, yanking them off before tearing my lace panties from my body.

“Fuck, I’ve missed your scent, baby girl. You’re desperate for it, aren't you?” he mutters, lowering himself over me as my hips lift, his cock straining against the zipper of his pants and causing a shock of pleasure to course through me. Before I can beg once more, his fingers delve between my legs, my wetness coating them as I make quick work of his pants, shoving them down his legs and whimpering once his cock springs free between us.

“Yes…” I groan, my fingers wrapping around his girth, loving the guttural sounds coming from his chest as I coax the pleasure from his body. He pulses in my hands as my fingers stroke him. His fingers ease into my pussy, my arousal dripping down as he curls them deep and hits that one spot he knows will have me seeing stars.

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