Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(22)
Mmm, how I loved the smell of Colt. Who was I kidding? I loved everything about Colt. He had cut his dark wavy brown hair short, and I loved running my hands over it. It felt so soft. His sky-blue eyes that sparkled when he looked at me. His body . . . oh my, his body. Smiling, I closed my eyes and pictured Colt naked.
Dear God. I craved his body like nothing I’d ever experienced before. He was like the stick to my corn dog. Sliding my hand down between my legs, I gasped at how sore I really was.
Shaking my head to clear it, I set Colt’s shirt back down. Realizing I didn’t have anything to brush my teeth with, I headed out of Colt’s room and into mine. After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I changed into some yoga pants. Wanting more of Colt, I skipped back into his room and began going through his drawers, looking for a T-shirt to wear. My eye caught something tucked under his shirts. Reaching for it, I sucked in a breath of air as I stared at the picture. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. My heart hammered in my chest as tears formed in my eyes. My hands shook gently as I attempted to wipe the tears from my eyes. Colt had a picture of me in his drawer. It was taken probably about three years ago when we were all playing football. I was standing with the football in my hand with it lifted above my head. Closing my eyes, I let the memory from that day engulf me.
TURNING AROUND, I waited for the signal from Colt. He gave it to me and I quickly cut back across the makeshift field. Colt threw the ball and I jumped. Catching it, I screamed with delight, only to see Luke and Alex running toward me. Spinning around, I took off for the goal line. Crossing over it, I began jumping as I held the ball up.
“We won! Holy sheets! I scored the winning touchdown!” Grace, Maegan and Taylor came running over as they tackled me to the ground. After they each congratulated me, I looked up. The sun was somewhat blinding, but I knew the person standing over me was Colt. Reaching down, he helped me up. His smile caused my stomach to flop around like a fish out of water. Reaching up with his hand, he brushed something off of my face. “I’ll never forget that smile, Lauren. You sure were happy when you made that touchdown.”
Nodding my head, I said, “Couldn’t have done it without you, superstar.”
Winking, Colt leaned down and kissed my cheek before turning and yelling for his team to huddle up.
I’m never washing this cheek again.
I COULD ALMOST smell the fresh-cut grass from the field we played on. Or the smell of the bluebonnets that were in full bloom. Every time I smelled either one of those two things I thought about that simple kiss on the cheek. It had meant the world to me. Never would I have imagined Colt had taken my picture and had it printed out.
Clutching the picture to my chest, I whispered, “Please don’t ever let me hurt him. Please.”
Slipping the picture back under Colt’s T-shirts, I took a shirt from the top. Slipping it over my head, I felt a warm rush run through my blood. Colt’s smell surrounded me as I smiled, shut the drawer, and made my way out of the room and downstairs.
Walking into the kitchen, Alex and Grace stopped talking and stared at me. Glancing back and forth between the two I asked, “What’s wrong with you two?”
Grace tilted her head and gave me one of her famous, what in the hell are you talking about, looks. “Yeah, no, Lauren Ashley Reynolds. You’re talking. We want all the good shit. Like how both your parents showed up on your doorstep. Will told us how y’all had to beat it home before your parents.”
Alex sat down and placed her hands on her chin. “I want to hear about the hotel in Rockport.” Scrunching her nose, she gave me a small little nod of her head. “I’m dying to know, is my baby brother romantic?”
Leaning against the counter, I let out a contented sigh as his words flowed through my memory.
“Lauren, I’ve never experienced such bliss as I am being with you right now. The taste of you was sweeter than I could have ever imagined.”
Grinning until my cheeks began to hurt, I looked away from Alex and Grace.
“Holy hell. Look at how her cheeks are flushed. I’d dare say Mr. Mathews made our little Lauren blush a time or two.”
Smiling bigger, I whispered, “Or three . . . or four.”
Alex and Grace both let out yelps of happiness as they bounced around. “How do you feel this morning, Lauren? Was he gentle?” Alex asked with a look of concern on her face.
Dropping my shoulders and nodding, I said, “Oh, yes. He was gentle, romantic, caring, big . . . oh my gosh is he big.”
Grace busted out laughing as Alex sucked in a breath of horror. “No, no, no, no! You don’t ever say stuff like that, Lauren! Ohmygod! I have to bleach my ears.” Alex’s body shuddered as she kept sticking her tongue out like she was going to puke.
Grace wiggled her eyebrows and smiled with a Cheshire cat smile. “So he’s packing, huh? Are you sore?”
Alex rolled her eyes. “Ugh.”
Peeking back at Grace, I nodded my head. “Yes. To both.”
Alex jumped off the stool. “I’m out. I’m so over this conversation. I can’t handle this. He’s my baby brother, y’all!”
Giggling, I turned and poured a cup of coffee. Turning back to Alex and Grace, I smiled and winked. “Let’s just say he is the cream to my coffee.”
Alex’s face dropped and Grace busted out laughing. “Oh . . . oh man did I teach you good,” Grace said as she walked up to me and pulled me into her arms. Pushing me back out, she gave me a once-over. “Seriously though, I’m happy for you and Colt, Lauren. You two were the only fools who couldn’t see the truth. I’m glad you asked him to dance.”