Descending Darkness(43)

“I was probably talking about Jensen Ackles. He has some nice eyes,” I say while trying to hide my laugh. I bite my lip and smile up at Colton.

“I don’t think you were talking about him. I think this guy’s name rhymed with -olton.”

“Michael Bolton? I don’t think he has green eyes,” I say. Seeing the look on Colton’s face, I scramble out of the bed. Everyone gives me that look before they tickle me. “Ha, I don’t think so.”

He gets out of the bed and stalks toward me, staring at me the entire way. I can’t break away from his gaze. I’m sure I look gross, with my messy hair and large sweatshirt, especially after yesterday’s events, but the way he is looking at me would make anyone think otherwise. I start to have trouble breathing the closer he gets to me. When he finally stops in front of me, I crane my neck and look into his “gorgeous green eyes.”

“You know—” Colton starts but is interrupted when someone knocks on the bedroom door. We both turn and look at the door. “Go away,” Colton yells as he leans down and rests his forehead against mine. I giggle at his reaction.

“I’m coming in!” We hear Emma yell from the other side of the door. Colton sighs and takes a step away from me as Emma opens the door. She barges into the room and walks over to me. “Sorry, lover boy, but I need Ryanne to help me with something.” She grabs my wrist and starts pulling me out of the room.

“Can this wait? I really need to take a shower,” I tell Emma as she forces me into their room. Natalie is standing against the wall. She stares at Emma when we come into the room.

“You seriously went and got her? You didn’t wake her did you? She needed to sleep,” reprimands Natalie.

“She didn’t wake me. I was already up. I was about to get in the shower though,” I say, while turning to glare at Emma.

“You were not. You were about to—”

“Is there a reason why you dragged me over here?” I interrupt her sentence. I was very aware of what was going to happen.

“Natalie likes Liam,” Emma bluntly states.

“I do not like Liam. Liam’s just…Liam. Nothing more,” Natalie says.

“Read her mind,” Emma demands. I look over at her; she is completely serious.

“I will not read her mind. Though I think Liam likes her too, I’m not going to meddle and you shouldn’t either. Let things play out like they should. You don’t want to change anything,” I tell Emma. Then turning toward Natalie, I say, “I do think Liam likes you, but I know that he won’t say anything. If you like him, you’ll have to be the one to initiate it. He likes to keep to himself and doesn’t often open himself up to people. Though he won’t tell anyone, I think he’s been hurt before, so just make sure you know what you’re doing.” Both girls nod at me. “Ok, now I’m going to go take a shower because I feel gross from yesterday.”

Morning, I stop walking and bend down to pick up Olive. I haven’t been able to spend much time with her lately. “Good morning, Olive.” I walk across the hall, holding her.

Feeling better? I enter my room and look around. Colton isn’t in the room. I glance toward the bathroom and find Colton in there, shaving. “Much better, thanks.” I place Olive down on the ground and walk over to the armoire and grab my “Bazinga” t-shirt and jeans shorts and walk into the bathroom. I put my clothes on the toilet seat and hop onto the counter. Colton smiles over at me but continues shaving. I reach over and grab my toothbrush. As I brush my teeth, I continue to watch him. Occasionally, he will look over at me, but neither one of us say anything.

I finish brushing my teeth at the same time as he finishes shaving. I put my toothbrush back in the holder and turn toward him again, finding him already looking at me. He walks over so he is standing in front of me.

I reach out and run a finger across his now-smooth jaw line. He places his hands on either side of my hips and moves closer to me. I move forward and firmly place my hands on his neck, tracing his jaw line with my thumbs. His breathing hitches as I scoot closer to him. I chuckle as I lean forward and kiss his jaw. He moves his hand to my back and pulls me even closer to him.

I like it when Colton forgets to shave, and he has slight stubble on his face, but there’s something about the smoothness of a clean-shaven man. I don’t know where this confident Ryanne came from, but I’m glad she finally surfaced.

“Ryanne…” Colton says, his voice lower than usual. I lean back so that I can see him better. He reaches forward and grabs onto my hand and places it on his heart. “Do you feel that?”