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Chapter11

Iknew evenbefore I made my way up the white t-shirt that it was Colt.I knew the way he smelled, the way the air vibratedaroundhim.

I froze somewhere between his jaw and his nose.I didn’t want to see the look in his eyes—not if it was moreanger.

“Look at me,” he whispered.It was a soft plea, completely different from the frustration he feltearlier.

I shookmyhead.

He took my arms in his hands.Gently, but firmly.“Look at me...Lily.”He said it as if he were testing it out, seeing how it felt to say my real name.“You didn’t know I was a Landry?”His voice was rough, like he’d been out in thenightair.

He’d heard me fightingwithTed.

I fought back the urge to wrap my arms around him.“No.I was just as surprised as you were on the stairs thismorning.”

His fingers tightened on my arms.“Ted is anasshole.”

“He can be.It’s part of his charm.”Damn it all.I couldn’t stand being this close and not find comfort in his eyes—because that’s what I always felt there, even when he was mad at me.So even though I was scared shitless, I forced myself to look all thewayup.

He looked tired.Exhausted,actually.

Our gazes locked.Held.And for a moment everything was right in the world.He might hate me but he also understood me in much the same way I understood him.We both had drives that fueled our passion every bit as much as it woreusdown.

He must have felt it too because understanding turned to heat in a matter of moments.His eyes widened and his lips parted a split second before he released me as if I were fireitself.

“What are you doing down here?”he croaked, stepping awayflustered.

“I didn’t eat much at the dinner and I couldn’tsleep.”

He shot me a concerned look but didn’t move.“Why didn’tyoueat?”

He knew, he just didn’t want to admit he knew me that well.“Too nervous.”I could play along if it made him feel morecomfortable.

He grunted and moved safely around to the other side of thecounter.

I followed him.“Why areyouawake?”I hated that he was avoiding lookingatme.

“Trouble sleeping.I have a lot onmymind.”

I stopped in front of him and brushed the hair over his ears.“Workorme?”

His eyes snapped up tomine.“Both.”

“I’msorry.”

“Areyou?”

Since I was feeling bold and little bit desperate, I did something a little on the crazy side.I pulled him into me and kissed the crap out ofhim.“Yes.”

“Oh,” he said between kisses.Each one more fervent than the one before it.Maybe, just maybe I could make him forget both for a few minutes.And maybe forgetting would help him remember that we were pretty amazingtogether.

The next thing I knew I was on the counter.His capable hands lifting me, spreading me, taking me deeper and deeper into the dirtiest kiss I could ever remember.Our clothes were still on but I could feel himeverywhere.

“Stop,” he gasped,steppingback.

I immediately felt empty and cold, but I stopped.“I’msorry.”

“You keep saying that,” hesnapped.