Kilty Pleasure (25 page)

“I’ll drop her off on the way to the precinct,” Colin added. “Thank you both for helping tonight.”

“It’s not a bother,” Ian said lightly, and their gazes met.

The warning in his twin’s eyes was clear.
Don’t be a dick to Hailey.
She’d already been through enough tonight.

Colin gave a brief nod, indicating he’d got the message, and he caught Hailey’s hand. His flare-up of ‘assholism’,
as she’d once put it, was under control.

They left Sarah’s house a moment later.

“I’ll drive you to my house and we’ll leave your car here. You’ll be coming back in the morning anyway.”

“Fine.”

She stared out the window.

He flexed his fingers on the wheel as he drove, and kept his eyes on the road.

“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. I saw the bruises.”

“They’ve barely formed. And aren’t you observant?”

“I’m trained to be. I can’t believe the bastard was stupid enough to break that order again. I wish you would’ve called me.”

“You were busy. How did you find out anyway?”

“My friend with Skagit Valley PD was one of the responding officers tonight.”

“Ah.”

The one word held no judgment that he could hear.

“You didn’t have to leave your date early.”

“It wasn’t a date. It was dinner. And I was already on my way out when I heard from my friend.”

Again she stayed silent. He didn’t continue the conversation because they’d arrived at his house.

He stayed close to her as they made their way inside, his gaze scanning the grounds of his property for anything out of the norm.

Once inside, he locked the door behind them.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “Can I get you something to eat?”

“I’m all right.”

“I’m starving,” he muttered, and moved past her to the kitchen. “Dinner was shite and I barely touched it.”

“You should’ve stayed with Brenda.” Hailey followed after him.

He gave a harsh laugh. “My evening with Brenda couldn’t end soon enough.”

She was silent for a moment. “You didn’t have to come get me tonight. I would’ve been fine with Sarah and Ian. I only agreed to come back with you because I hated being a burden—and Ian already has to worry about Sarah and Emily.”

“I’ve no doubt you would’ve been safe with them, Hailey, but that’s beside the point.”

She leaned against the counter in the kitchen and sighed. “Then what is the point, because I’ve gotta admit I don’t know.”

“The point?” He glanced in the fridge but nothing appealed. Closing it again, he turned to face her. “The point is that I want you with
me
. I want to be the one to ensure that piece of shite doesn’t come near you again.”

“Why? You don’t have to take the responsibility for me Colin. Just because you’re sleeping with me—”

“Sex. It’s always just about sex to you.” That hot frustration burned in his gut again. “What if my concern was more than that?”

“It can’t be.” She moved away. Seemed to be running both from the conversation and from him.

“Can’t it?” He followed her, backing her up until she hit the island in the middle of the kitchen. “What if I said I wanted to protect you, not just because we’re shagging, but because I’m in love with you?”

His words might’ve shocked him as much as they did her. He hadn’t planned on saying them, but they’d been there. Heavy in his mind and heart.

Hailey’s eyes widened while she shook her head, almost frantically.

“You can’t mean that.”

He slid his hands to her hips. “And why not?”

“Because we’ve only been sleeping together for a couple weeks.”

“But we’ve known each other so much longer than that,” he reminded her softly. “In high school I was half in love with you already. That’s why I took it so hard when I thought you’d slept with Ian.”

She made a startled little noise. “You liked me in high school?”

“You know I did. And I’m fairly certain you were interested as well.” He stroked the soft patch of skin between her shorts and tank top. “But you had a boyfriend.”

“It didn’t matter that I was with him. You’re right. I did have a crush on you.” She swallowed hard. “But I knew it was stupid.”

“It wasn’t stupid.”

“It was. It still is,” she cried and lifted her gaze to meet his. “Don’t you see? This isn’t how it works. People like us don’t end up together.”

What the bloody hell? This was her argument?

“And why the fuck not?” he growled, growing more frustrated with this conversation by the moment.

“Because I’m flawed. Maybe I’m doing okay now, but who says I won’t fall off the wagon and end up like my mom.”

“Impossible,” he scoffed. “That’ll never happen, Hailey, and we both know it.”

“Do I? My life for the most part was a big old mess. I barely have my shit together now. But Brenda, you guys are perfect together. She’s pretty, teaches second grade, seems nice enough. Probably had a great childhood with white picket fences and the whole shebang.”

“Jesus, you can’t honestly believe this. She left me at the altar.”

“We all make mistakes. Maybe tonight was awkward, but that’s to be expected.”

She was defending Brenda. This was unbelievable.

“It wasn’t a mistake. It was fated. I wouldn’t be here with you now if she hadn’t.”

“You can’t
want
me.” She seemed to grow more resolute by the moment. “I’m not good enough for you, Colin. I’m really not. Brenda’s the perfect wife for an island deputy.”

“Detective.”

“Whatever.” She sighed. “Does it even matter which job you have?”

It had mattered to Brenda. He hadn’t been good enough for her as a deputy. She’d denied it, but he wasn’t a fool.

“I don’t love Brenda. I’m not sure I ever did. I saw what you saw. What the world saw from a shallow perspective—a functional, adorable couple.”

“Colin.”

“And you
are
good enough for me. I don’t care about your past, Hailey. I care about your future…” he smoothed his thumbs up her rib cage, brushing the underside of her breasts, “…and only that I’m in it.”

She caught her breath and heat flashed in her hooded eyes.

“Tell me you don’t have feelings for me,” he challenged harshly.

“I can’t.”

Encouraged by her broken reply, he pushed harder.

“Okay. Then tell me that you’re not in love with me.”

“Colin, please—”

“Or even just tell me that you’ll never love me.”

She closed her eyes and made a small sob. “Damn you, I can’t do either of those.”

Triumph flared through him as he crushed her mouth in a kiss that claimed. That demanded the heart she kept so fiercely guarded.

Her head fell back and her lips parted. When her tongue stroked against his, he knew she was as caught up in the emotions and moment as he was. He gave a murmur of approval when she lifted her arms as he dragged her tank top up and off her body.

The bra was quickly disposed of next, leaving her breasts free for his pleasure. He tore his mouth from hers and slid his hands down to her ass, lifting her up until she wrapped her legs around his waist.

He adjusted her until her nipples were face level and he could suck them eagerly into his mouth. She cried out, her thighs squeezing his waist.

Still suckling her, he brushed aside anything on the counter so he could set her down.

While switching his lips to the other nipple, he unfastened her denim shorts and slid a hand inside, then beneath her panties.

The trimmed curls were already damp, and he tugged on them lightly before moving past to delve into the slick folds below. She moaned low in her throat and lifted her hips against him.

Colin raised his head to stare down at her. With her eyes shut, lips parted with pleasure and a sexy flush in her cheeks as she rode his fingers, she’d never been more gorgeous.

And he knew, without a doubt, that he hadn’t been wrong. He loved this woman and would do anything to keep her safe.

Wanting nothing more than to bring her pleasure, and steal some for himself, he dragged her shorts and panties off her body, leaving her bared to him.

He adjusted her legs over his shoulders, knelt down slightly, and then buried his face in the sweetness between.

Hailey’s cries of pleasure as he teased and tormented her swollen flesh became the music to their lovemaking. The taste and feel of her was an aphrodisiac that just spurred him on.

Cupping her arse, he stayed with her, bringing her closer to that edge as the line of his own control became thin.

“Colin,”
she cried out, her hips jerking as she held his head against her. “Oh…
oh.
”

She shuddered through her climax and he gentled his touch, placing soft kisses against her flesh now.

Only when she was limp and pliant in his hands did he pull away.

“That’s not fair.” Her words were thick with arousal.

“What’s not, sweetheart?” He kissed her trembling belly.

“Making me feel like this. So completely in over my head.” She stroked his hair. “So helplessly connected to you.”

Lifting his head, he met her passion-clouded gaze.

“So helplessly in love with me,” he murmured.

She gave a light laugh. “Are you done with me yet? Can I fall asleep now?”

No response to the love comment. Not a surprise. She’d admit it before the night was out.

“Not at all.” He pulled off his shirt and then reached for the zipper on his jeans. “We’re just getting started.”

Hailey watched him undress. Her heart was so swollen with confusion and need, and a hint of potential happiness.

Who was this man who’d just declared his love for her? A love she didn’t deserve. A love she couldn’t bring herself to admit she returned.

Did he mean it? Clearly, he believed it at this moment, but what if he was mistaking good sex for love? People did it all the time, didn’t they?

And why did her heart hurt at the possibility of the latter idea being correct.

Because you love him and you want his love, no matter how much you don’t deserve it.

Her mind whispered the response, and it was so heavy and confusing that she shut off her inner voice and just let herself live in the moment.

With Colin’s solid, naked body standing in front of her, it wasn’t really all that hard to do.

For a moment, she was convinced he was going to find a way to make love to her in the kitchen. He’d already brought her to orgasm with her sprawled out on the counter.

It had been so sexy, amazing and sensual, and every minute that went by she grew more attached to him.

Colin lifted her into his arms, though, and carried her from the kitchen. Clearly he’d realized the next part might be more challenging on a counter.

He took her to his bedroom and lay her down on the bed. It was so sweet and traditional, and one of the things she loved about him.

While he put on a condom, she closed her eyes and let herself imagine what it would be like without that barrier. She’d never gone without protection. Never been tempted to.

With Colin she was tempted. So tempted to reach out and grab his wrist, tell him not to use one. But, then, how stupid would that make her?

She highly doubted he would give her a disease, but there was a good chance he’d give her a baby.

That thought flickered through her mind and latched on. Her breath held as she realized she liked the image, much more than she should’ve.

And then she thought of Curt. What would happen if he wasn’t caught soon? The risk to her—to an unborn baby.

What the hell was wrong with her anyway? Fantasizing about Colin knocking her up. They weren’t married. They weren’t even officially a couple.

And yet tonight he told you he loved you.

Colin climbed into the bed next to her and cupped her face.

“You look awfully deep in thought, sweetheart. Are you going to share those thoughts?”

She smiled. “Oh, you know, just this and that.”

You know, having you knock me up
,
but I don’t want to freak you the heck out right at this moment.

“Mmm. There’s the problem. I’ve given you much too long to start thinking.” He pressed a kiss against her neck. “I’d rather you just feel.”

His lips claimed hers, so thoroughly and swiftly that he did an excellent job of eliminating her ability to think.

Soon she was parting her thighs and begging for him to take her. He settled between her legs and drove into her with one smooth thrust.

She wrapped her arms around him, digging her nails into his shoulders as he moved inside her. She met each thrust, rocking her hips against his and climbing toward the summit of pleasure.