Page 12 of The Break Out (Denver Dragons #3)

12

I hate how attractive Colton is.

I hate that I noticed it as soon as I caught sight of him at the bar when I walked in.

I hate that I’m even here.

I was bored, all of my friends were busy with their men returning from the road trip. Brent is busy, and my other siblings aren’t talking to me. I have yet to make any other friends around here.

So yeah, in a weird desperation for something I actually showed up to the bar Colton told me to, around the time he told me to get here. And when I did, I saw his shaggy light brown hair under his black baseball cap. The white t-shirt stretched across his muscular torso like a second skin showing the tattoo sleeves on both his arms. He towers over everyone around him and the way his jeans hug his ass should be illegal.

But I’m pretending not to notice any of that and remember who he is and that I hate him. Which doesn’t change just because he’s good looking. He’s still an asshole.

An asshole that is currently making his way onto Bill, the mechanical bull, to try and win a bet with me. One I can’t let happen.

I catch sight of the person who controls Bill and sneak my way over to him.

“Hey,” I greet with a smile. “That’s my friend about to go and we may have made a bit of a bet so I would really appreciate it if you could make sure he doesn’t stay on for eight seconds.”

The control guy chuckles, it’s obvious this is a somewhat common request. “I got you covered; don’t worry I’ll send his ass flying.”

I widened my smile, “You’re the best.”

Making my way back closer to the area Colton is currently preparing to mount the bull, I can’t help but appreciate him from afar. It really is unfair that the universe decides to give a man that face and body, but his shitty personality.

Once he’s situated, his eyes search for me and as soon as our gazes lock onto each other, his cocky smirk makes its appearance. My face drops the slight smile I had as I glare at him. He chuckles right before the movement starts.

It doesn’t take long before the operator is true to his word and Colton is being thrown around, but his stupidly strong bicep flexes as he holds on with all his strength. With one hand. I start to get anxious as the seconds go by. It feels like the three that have passed have already been an eternity. Then, the movement really kicks up and I notice the slightest slip from him, and I know he’s about to lose it.

It's been five seconds, though and he doesn’t have much more to go. Suddenly, right as the clock turns to seven, Bill is whipped in the other direction so hard I think it’s physically impossible for anyone to stay on and Colton flies onto the soft ground.

I laugh with my victory as he stands up, snatching his hat that flew off and securing it back onto his head. He looks pissed as he stalks toward me, but I’m continuing to laugh.

“No going home with me tonight, hah,” I gloat.

His stupid smirk is back. “Your turn, though Princess, then I’ll buy you your drink.”

I want to go back on my part of the deal, but then I remember if I stay on the entire time then Colton has to leave me alone forever. And I made friends with the operator. Even though I don’t even know his name, I’m sure he’ll go easy on me.

“Good luck,” Colton says, his voice low, almost like a seduction. I shake it off as I get to Bill the bull.

“Alright, buddy, let’s win this,” I whisper to the fake animal before climbing on. I’m thankful for my height, though, because I’m pretty sure anyone shorter than me would need help and I refuse to ask for any.

He did, in fact, not go easy on me.

After what felt like a lifetime, I’m thrown off, flopping onto the inflated floor so hard I bounce a couple times. When I looked up at the clock, I was on for a whole two seconds.

When I approach Colton again, he’s wearing the smug smile of victory while I glare at him.

“I’ll take your number now,” he says, expectantly.

I shake my head, “Drink first.” I walk past him, beelining it to the bar, Colton following close behind.

“What’re ya having, Princess? Let me guess.” Colton looks me up and down while I just roll my eyes. “A sex on the beach?”

“You’re a pig,” I scoff.

“What? You just seem like a fruity drink type of girl.”

“You don’t know a single thing about me.”

Before he can say anything else, I turn just as there’s a commotion on the other end of the bar in the direction I’m facing. A pretty bartender in shorts, a tight tank top, and her long brown hair pulled in a ponytail is sitting on the bar while a guy stands in front of her just a few inches from her knees. They both have a cup of liquid in their hand, and I watch as the guy drinks his like a shot and instantly the bartender tosses the liquid from her cup onto his face and then slaps his cheek.

The group around them cheer while the guy celebrates what just happened and I’m still staring, completely confused on what I just witnessed.

There’s heat at my back right before a deep voice is in my ear .

“That’s a hurricane shot, and it’s what I’m going to order next,” Colton says.

I shrug him away, not liking the heat his body is permeating and how it’s making me feel between my legs. “Have fun with that,” I grumble before starting to walk away.

I’m stopped by a hand wrapped around my bicep. That damn heat shooting through my body starting from where his hand is on me. Turning around, I narrow my eyes at the stupid hockey player, annoyed that my own body seems to be betraying me.

“ You are going to be the one to give it to me,” he says, his eyes shining with mischief.

Mine shoot up in surprise. “You want me to throw water on you and then slap the shit out of you?”

He just smirks.

“Then you’ll let me go home in peace?” I question.

He nods just once.

I feel like there has to be a catch here. Something is up, but with how much he’s pissed me off lately I’m also not about to turn down the chance to feel my palm sting from it meeting his ridiculously, annoyingly handsome face.

“Fine.” I fold my arms across my chest.

He pulls me back over to the bar, turning me so I’m facing it while he crowds me from behind, caging me in with his arms on either side of me while his body presses into mine. I try to push him away, but he’s like a brick wall.

He flags down the bartender while I’m trying to find a way to possibly kick him in the balls in this position, but he has me pressed against the wood too tight. Speaking of wood, why can I–

“One hurricane shot, and my friend here will be the one giving it to me.” He sounds so cocky, and I just roll my eyes.

The bartender just nods before handing over the two cups then looks at me, “Don’t hurt him too bad, sweetheart.” With a wink he goes back to helping other patrons.

Colton spins me around quickly and I see the look on his face isn’t as playful as it was before. He looks almost angry, or annoyed, but it’s not directed at me. The way his eyes narrow on the good-looking bartender that just gave us the shots and if I didn’t know any better it almost looks like he’s…jealous. But that wouldn’t make sense because he knows there’s nothing between us and there never will be.

“Hop on up, Princess.” His gaze softens slightly looking back at me. Mine does the opposite.

I must not move fast enough for him because not even five seconds later his big hands are gripping my waist and pushing me up onto the bar. I yelp in surprise as he maneuvers me a bit too easily for my liking. And not because it makes me uncomfortable, but because I don’t like how it’s making me feel in my lady bits. I’m a strong independent woman who loathes the man in front of me. My vagina doesn’t get to react positively to a single thing he does .

Which is why I’m ignoring the slight throb and feeling of wetness that may or may not be present.

He also stands a lot closer to me than the other guy did with the bartender. While he wasn’t touching her, Colton is standing between my legs, my knees grazing his hips. He takes off his baseball cap, shakes out his hair before putting it back on. Backwards.

I hate how good he looks.

“Ready?” he asks, his voice low and gravely.

“Are you?” I counter.

He smirks while lifting the cup with the shot up to his lips and downs it easily. As soon as he pulls the cup away, I’m throwing the water onto his face then immediately my hand connects to his cheek in a harsh, loud slap. My palm stings from the contact, but I won’t lie, it felt pretty good to smack him.

Colton seems unaffected by any pain he may be feeling, which is a bit annoying to me because I slapped him hard. Before I can move or say anything, he reaches out, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and yanks me forward while his mouth crashes onto mine.

I freeze. I can’t believe this is happening. And I can’t believe that it feels… good . When his tongue swipes against my lower lip, I’m ashamed to admit that I open, letting it sweep inside my mouth. He tastes like the alcohol he just drank. My head is spinning. My skin is buzzing, starting where his lips are on mine and where his hands are holding me by the back of my neck and my hip .

When he presses forward so I can feel the bulge of what I’m refusing to admit feels…substantial I start to realize what I’m doing. And who I’m doing it with. So, I suck his bottom lip into my mouth and bite down. Hard. I expect him to break apart at the sharp contact, but he doesn’t. In fact, I feel the growl he lets out before deepening the kiss further.

I squeak in surprise at his reaction. And despite all the positive feelings I’m having, mostly in my pants, I need to end this. I push against his chest and our contact finally breaks. The look he’s giving me is full of smugness and lust. The damn backwards hat and tight t-shirt aren’t helping.

I hate him.

Sure, he’s hot, but I hate him.

“What was that?” I snap, finally finding my voice.

“That was a kiss,” he responds with a shrug.

I roll my eyes. “Why?”

“Because I wanted to. And I tend to do what I want.”

“Well, I didn’t want it. Let me down,” I command since he’s still standing too close and if I jump down then our bodies will be flush and that’s the last thing I want right now. Or ever.

Instead of backing up like I wanted, Colton’s hands are on my hips once again as he lifts me off the bar top, setting me back on my feet. I immediately put distance between us so I can breathe and work on slowing my heart rate down.

“I should go,” I say, refusing to look at him because every time I do my body betrays me more, and I need to get my head back on straight.

“You should stay.” He smirks, like he knows every single battling thought I’m having.

“This has been…” my voice trails off because I don’t even know how I want to finish the sentence and it only makes his smile widen. “I don’t even know why I came here, bye Colton.”

I push past his brick wall of a body, and he lets me as I make my way out of the bar. As soon as I get outside, the cool night air feels like a slap in the face as reality comes raining down on me as I process what actually just happened.

Colton kissed me.

It was the hottest kiss of my life.

And it’s never ever going to happen again.