“So, how are things with Heath?” Kate murmured, ignoring the stern glance from the yoga instructor as she stretched out on her pink yoga mat, lifting her hips in the air and relishing the release of her aching muscles.
Paloma let out a sly grin. “We’re just fuck buddies, but it’s so good. Nothing like it was with Dylan. We’d been together for so long, I’d forgotten what it was like to just be fucked with passion and desire, you know? With Dylan, we had to schedule it around Florence and we were never really in the mood. But now, Heath comes over and just slams me into the bed. It’s so hot.”
The yoga instructor let out a stony ‘shh’, her eyes narrowing at Paloma’s vulgar language.
“It’s good to see you getting out there again,” Kate hushed. “You had me worried for a while there when you weren’t leaving your house and covering yourself in Cheetos dust.”
Paloma giggled softly, “And now I’m getting covered in whipped cream.” She ignored Kate’s eye-roll, continuin
“Sorry,” she breathed, trying to avoid his gaze. “I… I was coming to get my stuff.”Raising his eyebrows, disbelief etched on his stern features, Colton shook his head, “You look scared shitless. What’s going on, Kate?”“Nothing.”“Do I look fucking stupid to you?” he snapped, irritation biting every word. “You’re so fucking frustrating. I’m offering to help you and instead of taking it, you just keep pushing every fucking button I have.”Running her fingers through her hair, Kate let out a shaky breath, “The note. It’s just freaked me out. What if he’s…” she cut herself off, glancing back to the ajar door and restarting, “What if someone’s in there?”“I can check.”The sincerity of his tone forced Kate to take a step back. In the three months that she’d had the displeasure of living beside Colton, the only person he had ever considered was himself. She couldn’t reconcile the honest help he was offering with the prick she knew he was. Slowly noddi
“Did he… Did you call because of Colton? Did he do something to you?” Paloma asked, dark brows knitting together as she glanced between the front door and her friend’s flushed cheeks.“No. No, not at all. He was making sure no one was here. I got this note on my door,” Kate murmured, scooping up the note and her remaining belongings from the hallway. Caramel eyes trailed to Colton’s door, hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of him, but it was shut. Kate’s heart sunk.Passing Paloma the note, Kate took in her friend’s concerned features and murmured, “Do you think…. Do you think it could be...”“Harry? No,” Paloma shook her head adamantly, her silky black hair waving from side to side. “Someone should have called you to tell you he’s been released, considering everything he put you through. I’ll stay here tonight, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Kate,” she strained a smile, rubbing Kate’s arms soothingly; “It’s probably someone playing a sick joke.”Kate n
Paloma had offered to stay with Kate, make sure she was safe during the night, but Kate could sense her desperation to spend more time with Heath, and had convinced her to spend the night there instead. They would be right next door, Kate had assured her, and the walls were thin. If she needed them, she’d yell. She walked them out to the hallway, regretting it the minute her eyes caught the gaze of Colton, smoke billowing from his reddened mouth. She averted her gaze, closing the door with a gentle thud and locking it. She drifted around her apartment, ensuring all the windows were secured before falling into bed, emotionally and physically drained.Sleep evaded her. She tossed and turned, feeling too hot and then too cold. She was scared and angry and fucking confused. Her mind ticked, thoughts of Colton in her hands, his fingers against her, flashing in front of her eyes. She couldn’t think through the haze of how good he made her feel.She groaned, her fingers gliding
Closing her eyes, Kate tried to relish in the feel of Austin’s relentless strokes, the sound of his body clapping against hers, his fingers gripping at her hips, pulling her onto him over and over again.But it was all wrong.His fingers were too smooth, his grunts not guttural enough. She bit her lower lip, twisting her body beneath him. The confusion in his eyes turned to lust as he watched her clamber to all fours. Resting on her forearms, Kate heard Austin’s sharp intake of breath as her hips lifted in the air.He wasted no time slamming back into her, his fingers tangling in her hair, lifting her head back to accentuate the arch of her spine. His groans filled the room, echoing in her ears and Kate wished it was enough. But it wasn’t. It felt like she was just falling short.As Austin relaxed his grip on her hair, Kate buried her head in the pillow, imagining Colton behind her, imagining it was Colton rolling his hips into her, his fingers lightly tuggin
“Come on, Kate,” Paloma whined, her voice perforating through the speaker. “It’ll be fun. You haven’t left the house, other than for work, since last weekend! You even skipped out on yoga.”“I just don’t feel like it,” Kate mumbled. “Austin’s been staying here with me, so it’s not like I’ve been alone.”“Heath’s already organized it with Austin. He’s coming too. Come on, it’ll be fun. We’ll have a few drinks and just have a good time.” Sensing her friend’s hesitation, Paloma trilled, “Pleeeeease.”Kate let out a hearty laugh, “Fine. Text me the details.”“Yay!” Paloma squealed. “We’re going to the club on Fifth so wear something slutty.”Shaking her head, Kate ended the call. Paloma was so comfortable with her sexuality. It had been the downfall of her relationship with Dylan. She needed more than he could give and when she confronted him about it, he had made her feel unattractive after having Florence. Kate was happy for her, happy that she was enjoyi
Austin rolled his eyes, choosing not to react as he downed the last of his beer and turned back to his conversation with Heath.Narrowing her eyes at Colton, Kate took in his dark features, tinged with something she couldn’t put her finger on. The tension between them only broke when a soft cough tore Kate’s gaze away from him and onto the stunning redhead who was seated next to him. Colton’s wide palm rested on her bare thigh, her fingers brushing over the ink of his arm.“Hi, I’m Sophia,” she murmured, smiling nervously as she took in Kate’s dark eyes. The jealousy must’ve been evident.“Kate. Nice to meet you,” she responded, managing to tear her attention away from the pair and leaning into Austin. Her lips brushed against his ear, “Why is he here?”Austin shook his head, indicating he wasn’t happy about it either, “Heath invited him.”Colton groaned beside her, and even though her mind screamed at her not to look, she had to. They were tangled in a
“What the fuck were you thinking?!” Colton barked, slamming the door behind him. His muscular biceps folded across his chest, dark eyes trailing her weary body.“I... I had to get out of there,” she sighed. Her head had started to throb, the room spinning. “I don’t feel well.”His arms scooped her up, her face nuzzling in the soft material of his shirt. She moaned, the scent of his cologne permeating her senses. She was wet already and he hadn’t done a single thing.“Don’t fucking moan like that,” he snapped.Kate felt herself drop on the bed, her clothes being yanked from her body. She was unable to stifle her moan, anticipation already heating the junction of her thighs, “Why not?”“You’re drunk as shit and I can’t fuck you. It’s just a fucking tease.”Furrowing her brows, Kate glanced down as Colton pulled a pair of shorts over her thighs, “What are you doing?”“Dressing you.”His smirk was back and Kate felt the heat from her thigh
Kate awoke with a dull headache. It was actually tolerable considering the amount of alcohol she consumed last night. Yawning softly, she made to thank Colton. The aspirin, his tattooed arms cradling her during the night, the way he made her body tremble as she came. She had no doubt it all combined together to fight off her usual hangover.Caramel-colored eyes trailed over to where Colton had laid during the night, and her heart sank. The bed was empty, void of the almost-naked man with his dark, tempting eyes and his dimpled smile. Of course it was too good to be true.Groaning, Kate rolled from the bed, her bare legs being nipped at by the morning chill. She grabbed a pair of clean panties and headed into the bathroom. The apartment was silent aside from the squeak of the faucets. Knowing that the water would take a minute or two to heat up, she slipped to the sink to brush her teeth.Staring in the mirror, Kate breathed out a frustrated sigh. Her hair was a mes