Reaching Retribution(37)

“I don’t want to sound clingy or anything, but I don’t see a future for me if you’re not in it, Colton. Don’t do anything to get yourself killed, mister. I’ll be very mad at you and I’ll find a way to bring you back just so I can tell you how angry at you I am,” I poke him in the chest. Colton laughs and kisses my temple.

“The same goes for you, little one.”

I groan and lean back against him. “Not you too.”

“Sorry, I think it’s cute.”

“That’s what every girl wants to hear.”

Colton grabs my chin and turns me toward him. “You’re more than just cute, babe.”

I smile and lean toward him. “Really?”

He kisses my forehead. “Mhmmm.” He kisses the top of my nose. I let out a shaky breath as he whispers, “I think you’re stubborn.” I attempt to laugh, but it comes out more breathy than I wanted. “You’re oblivious.” He kisses my cheek. I tilt my head back as he trails kisses across my jaw. “You’re funny. Smart. Amazing. Beautiful. Quirky.”

“Quirky?” I whisper as he moves toward my ear.

“Mhmmm,” his lips brush against my earlobe. I lean closer to him. “And I think you’re incredibly sexy without even trying to be.” He gently nips at my ear. I groan and melt into him. “I also think that sound is incredibly sexy.”

“Colton.”

“Yes?” he says as he kisses the spot behind me ear that drives me crazy.

“Kiss me,” I demand.

“You’re also impatient,” he tells me as he moves his lips to mine. I sigh and lean into him. He slowly trails his hand from my shoulder down to the small of my back. His other hand rests on my hip and he gently scoots me closer to him. The kiss is gentler than our previous ones but filled with more love. This will be another one of those moments in our relationship that I’ll always remember.

I run my hands through Colton’s silky hair and stop at the base of his neck and press him closer to me. He tries to pull back, but I tighten my grip on him. He chuckles against my lips, but kisses me again. “You’re also a good kisser,” he mumbles to me.

“You’re…eh,” I sarcastically tell him. He laughs and starts tickling me. I gasp and attempt to scoot away from him, but he holds me in place. “Fine. Fine. You’re the best kisser I’ve ever kissed.” He stops tickling me, but keeps one hand on my waist. The other wraps around my shoulder again as he pulls me back against him. “Granted, you’re literally the only guy I’ve ever kissed…”

“I’m glad,” he whispers to me.

“Would you be jealous if I had kissed anyone else?” I ask him.

“I don’t want to think about that,” he says.

I rest my head on his shoulder again and look back out at the garden. “I’m glad you were my first kiss, Colton.”

“Me too, Ry.”





Chapter Eleven


Colton


Something wet falls on my cheek. With my eyes closed, I reach up and wipe it away. Another droplet falls on my forehead. Opening my eyes, I brush the water off. I’m outside? I can’t tell what time it is because the sky is covered with dark clouds from an impending storm. I look around me and see Ryanne sleeping with her head in my lap with her legs stretched lengthwise against the swing. Someone came outside last night and placed a blanket over her. When the raindrops start to fall harder, I gently try to pick her up without waking her. She sighs in my arms, but doesn’t fully wake.

Carrying her back to the house, I tap on the backdoor, hoping someone is awake who can open it for me. If there’s no one there, I can manage, but it’ll probably wake her up. From inside, I see Tom get up from the kitchen table. “I was about to come get you both. There’s a storm coming.”

“Thanks for the blanket,” I tell him as I walk past him and head into the living room. Sitting down on the couch, I readjust Ryanne on my lap, so she can sleep comfortably.

“That wasn’t me. James brought it out for you guys when we realized that you hadn’t come back in,” he says.

Of course it was him.

A loud pang of thunder echoes outside, but Ryanne jumps up and almost falls off the couch. I reach out and steady her. “Ryanne, Ryanne. Calm down. It’s just thunder.” She turns toward me, breathing heavily.

“Oh my goodness,” she settles down and looks around. “Did we fall asleep here?”

“No, we fell asleep outside, but it started raining, so I brought you in here,” I tell her. I struggle to keep down a laugh. Her curls are very crazy this morning. The humidity and wind caused them to thicken. “You’re having a crazy hair day,” I say as I try to brush some of her curls aside.