Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men #9)(61)

I whimpered and clutched my breasts, gripping them to abate the searing sensation, while Colton heaved his hips up under me, thrusting his cock deep.

“Juli,” he gasped, and it was like some kind of desperate plea, begging me to come with him. The combination of my name on his tongue, the look in his eyes, and his dick and fingers massaging me set me off.

I let out a breath and came hard. And I swear the only thing that got me through it was staring into his eyes the entire time, watching him go off with me.

As soon as the most intense part had passed, he reached up, clutched the back of my neck and pulled me down until we were kissing. His mouth was warm and soft, and I sucked in his tongue as soon as he offered it.

It all felt so different. I was used to kissing beforehand to ramp up the arousal and lead into sex. But kissing afterward was…I don’t know, so much more personal. We shared breaths and touches, and it was all so strangely intimate. I felt more connected to him than I could remember being to anyone.

He eased me onto my side so I didn’t have to keep hovering over him, and he rolled onto his side so he could keep facing me and kissing me. Our mouths didn’t lose contact, but he came out of me, down there. And still, I continued to experience that same intense link.

Slipping his fingers over my cheekbone, he finally broke his lips away from me so he could run them along my jaw and down my neck.

“Thank you,” he murmured as he continued to worship my collarbone. “Thank you for not holding your orgasm back.”

I kind of felt like I should be the one thanking him for that. I was the one who’d benefited the most from it. But he pulled back to grin into my eyes. “So, same time tomorrow night, right?”

The question bothered me. It wasn’t because he assumed I’d want him again, or that he wanted me again. I liked that part and I did want more. But he made it seem as if he were done with me for the day, and I had wanted to keep doing exactly what we were doing. So I guess the question almost felt like a rejection or dismissal or something.

“I have to work tomorrow,” I said. When he opened his mouth, I added, “And the next night too.”

Unease filled his face as if he wasn’t sure if he should ask for more, so I said, “But I have Monday off.”

His lips quirked into a smile. “Monday then.”

“Monday,” I repeated with a little dread and a little excitement. I wasn’t completely on board with the idea of continuing something with him—I mean, where would it lead? Where could it lead?—but ooh, my body sure wanted more. And he’d been right; arguing with him really did make my blood rush with enthusiasm. “Until then.” I yawned as I added, “So…I’m done with you for today.”

There. I’d beat him to the awkward good-bye.

But he arched an eyebrow. “Done with me?” he sniffed. “But earlier you mentioned something about back rubs afterward, so...” He rolled around, exposing his spine to me. “I’m ready for mine now.”

I barked out an incredulous laugh. “As if. Get your pasty pale ass off my bed.” I planted my feet against his warm, taut buttocks and shoved him forward. “I said I was done with you.”

He cursed as he scrambled to catch his footing, but couldn’t in time, and fell off the mattress, crashing to the floor on his hands and knees.

“What the hell?” he cried, popping to his feet so he could gape down at me.

The big grin I’d been giving him wavered and my pulse thundered through my neck. I’d just been teasing, but I knew I’d gone over the line as outrage washed across his face. For a split second, fear raced through me. I realized I wasn’t entirely sure how he’d react to this. Shaun probably would’ve given me a fat lip if I’d ever treated him that way.

But all Colton did was lift an eyebrow and say, “Pasty? Pasty? Oh, baby doll…” He shook his head as he removed his condom and tossed it in the trash. Then he smiled menacingly as he climbed slowly back onto the bed. “Just for that, I’m going to make you cuddle.”

“Cuddle?” My eyes bulged as he crawled closer.

For some reason, cuddling struck more fear inside me than getting slapped or punched. I knew exactly how to respond to those—kick his ass out of my apartment. But with cuddling, I was lost.

I edged away from him, shaking my head, only to yelp out a surprised scream when he snaked out a hand and caught hold of my leg, stilling me.

“Yes, cuddle,” he said. “I like to cuddle.”

My muscles clenched and limbs went tense as he climbed up right into my personal space and wrapped himself around me like a second skin.

“I…I’m not big on cuddling,” I finally admitted, my body board-stiff against him.

“Really?” He sounded surprised by that. “Well, don’t worry, by the time I’m through with you, you’ll love it. Here, maybe you should, yeah, just relax your muscles a little, and breathing is also good. Breathe.” His palm splayed warm and flat against my abdomen, and I purposely inhaled, then a few seconds later, I exhaled.

“Good,” he murmured. “Now roll facing away from me.”

After encouraging me onto my side, he curled up behind me, spooning, his knees fitting up into the backs of mine and his lap holding my bottom snuggly as his chest pressed to my spine. Then his arm looped around and banded me to him at the middle.