Holding You

  Laughing, Lauren pushed herself up and gave me a naughty smile. “I’m kind of in the mood for seeing stars of a different kind.”

  Standing, I reached down and helped Lauren up. Honestly, it felt too good having her in my arms, I didn’t want to move but I still had another surprise for her. “Come on, I’ve got one more place I want to go.”

  “Somewhere private I hope.”

  Wiggling my eyebrows, I said, “Oh yeah baby. When you come, you can scream to your heart’s content.”

  Biting on her lip, Lauren whimpered.

  Climbing down first, I kept reminding Lauren to watch her step and to take it slow. Stepping off the ladder I reached up and grabbed Lauren by the hips, lifting her off the ladder. Letting out a small yelp, she spun around and I about fell over. Her smile would always be my undoing. There was something magical about it. It filled my body with love and hope.

  Taking her hand, we walked to the truck. Lauren jumped in as I threw the bag into the back seat. Making my way over to the driver’s side of my truck, I jumped in, started my truck and hit play on my iPod. “Smoke” by A Thousand Horses began playing. Smiling, I reached over and turned it up. Taking Lauren’s hand in mine, I made a plan to make sure my shirt was covered in her perfume by the end of the night. Pulling out onto the street I turned and headed to our spot.

  MY HEART WAS still beating like crazy as Colt drove toward what I thought was his families cattle ranch. My mind was spinning as I attempted to take it all in, the orgasm, the height of the water tower, the stars in the sky, Colt holding me in his arms as we just talked endlessly.

  Colt pulled down his driveway and waited for the gate to open. I watched as the giant black-iron gate opened. The words Mathews Cattle Ranch stood out in bold letters. Glancing over to Colt, I asked, “Where are we going? To your house?”

  Smiling, he shook his head. “Nope, we’re going to our spot.”

  Pulling my head back in surprise, I asked, “Our spot? We have a . . . spot?”

  Tossing his head back, Colt let out a rumbled laugh. “Yes ma’am we do.”

  Facing the front, I desperately tried to think of where in the hell our spot would be. We had a spot? I don’t remember ever having a spot? Huh. Chewing on my lip, I turned back to Colt. “We have a spot?”

  Colt turned down one of the older dirt roads. This road ran behind the main barn of the ranch, just down from Grams and Gramps house. Looking all around, I tried like hell to remember our spot.

  Oh. My. Glitter. I’m the worst girlfriend in the world. Placing my thumb in my mouth, I chewed on my nail. We have a spot and I don’t even remember it. Lifting my eyes, a thought occurred to me and I snapped my head over and looked at Colt.

  That bastard. He’s probably thinking of Rachel! It’s probably their spot. Not our spot. Slowly facing the front, I folded my arms across my chest. Oh, if he thinks I’m letting him make love to me in someone else’s spot, he has another thing coming.

  Bastard. Oh wait until I tell the girls this one.

  Sitting in the passenger seat, I began to plot my revenge on Colt. Maybe I’d give him a blowjob and accidentally sneeze and bite down . . . just a little. I bet that would hurt. Maybe my foot would make contact with his balls . . . by mistake of course.

  Not paying attention at all to where Colt was going, I didn’t even notice when he stopped driving.

  “We’re here.”

  Humph. I’m not moving one inch.

  “I know it’s dark, but do you remember what you said to me when we were standing in this very spot when we were six years old, Lauren?”

  Blowing out a fast breath, I blew a blonde curl from my eye. “No.”

  Wait. What? Six years old?

  Looking out the window, I let my eyes adjust. Sucking in a breath, I opened the truck door and jumped out. My hands came up to my mouth as I walked over to the tree. The tree that held the treehouse Gunner made for all of us. I hadn’t been here in years. Truth be told, I had forgotten all about it.

  Stopping just short of the tree, I looked up. It looked like it was in perfect condition. Like the years hadn’t even touched it at all. It stood only a few feet off the ground, but when I was six, it seemed so high.

  Closing my eyes, my mind drifted back to that fall day.

  “COLT, YOU WATCH Lauren and make sure she doesn’t fall,” Momma yelled out. Colt turned and smiled. “I won’t, Aunt Jessie! Promise!”

  Colt took my hand and helped me climb up into our new treehouse. Looking around, I started jumping. “Is this all ours?”

  Colt started jumping, too! “Yes! And Luke’s and Grace’s and Libby’s and Will’s and my stupid sister Alex’s! Oh and Daddy said it’s for Maegan and Taylor, too!”

  Letting out a scream, I hugged Colt. “I can’t wait to show them,” I said as I stopped jumping and spun around.

  Colt stopped me from spinning. “Or, we could tell my momma and daddy and your momma and daddy that this is our spot.”

  Grinning so hard my cheeks hurt, I nodded my head. “Yeah! Our special spot forever, Colt. You can even marry me here.”

  Colt wasn’t smiling anymore. “You want to marry me, Lauren?”

  Shrugging my shoulders, I scrunched up my nose and looked up to think about it. Looking back at Colt, I nodded my head and said, “Yep. You ain’t gonna marry anyone else, Colt Mathews.” Placing my hand on my hip, I took my other hand and pointed at Colt. Like Momma does when she wants me to listen real good. “You hear me? If you do, I’ll beat you up ‘cause I ain’t afraid of you.”

  “I ain’t afraid of you either and girls can’t beat up boys, Lauren.”

  My lip began to shake and I felt sad. “Does that mean you won’t wait to marry me, Colt?”

  Colt laughed as he spun his body around. “Ah heck, Lauren. I’ll marry you. I don’t think any other boy could like you more than I do anyway. I will love you forever. That’s what Daddy says to Momma.”

  Standing up straight, I nodded my head as I stomped my foot. “Then it’s settled. You’re gonna marry me and become Mr. Lauren Ashley Reynolds.”

  “Cool!” Colt smiled and winked. I had to look away cause my face felt funny. “Come on, let’s play hide and seek before the others get here! You’re it!”

  Covering my eyes, I counted to twenty-five before I jumped down out of Colt and mine’s special spot and started looking for him. I couldn’t wait to grow up and marry Colt.

  A TEAR SLOWLY slid down my cheek as I opened my eyes. Our spot. How could I have forgotten about our spot? Oh my glitter. I’m the worst girlfriend in the world. I was planning on biting Colt’s dick!

  My body instantly warmed as tingles raced across my skin. Colt wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear. “You thought I was taking you to some spot I had with another girl, didn’t you?”

  Pulling away from his hot breath, I barely said, “No.”

  Colt began nipping my earlobe. “Really? Cause you sure looked pissed off when I was driving through the fields.”

  The pull in my lower stomach was growing as the seconds ticked off the clock. “N-no I didn’t.”

  Colt’s hand slipped down my chest, over my stomach and into my pants and panties. Oh God. Yes.

  “Really? Are you sure about that, Lauren?” Colt’s fingertips brushed across my lips and clit as my legs wobbled.

  “W-what are we talking about?” I panted.

  Much to my disapproval, Colt pulled his hand out of my shorts and stood in front of me. Cupping his hands on the sides of my face, Colt stared into my eyes. “This is our spot. Forever and always. I’m going to make love to you in our spot, Lauren. You stole my heart that day you stomped your foot down and declared I was to marry no one but you. I promise to make that come true, sweetheart.”

  Brushing his lips softly against mine, he smiled and said, “I want nothing more than to become Mr. Lauren Ashley Reynolds.” Smiling, I let out a chortle. Colt pulled back, his hands still cupping my face as he pierced my blue eyes with his. r />
  Placing my hands on Colt’s strong arms, I fought to hold back my tears. Damn it all to hell. I have never cried as much as I have since I started dating this incredibly sexy and handsome man standing before me.

  Closing my eyes, I whispered, “Colt.”

  Lifting me up, Colt carried me over to his truck. Slowly setting me down, he pushed me against the tailgate. Running his hand through my hair, he took a handful and gently pulled back until my neck was exposed to him. Moving his lips across my sensitive skin, Colt spoke in a low sexy voice. “Tell me you’re mine, Lauren.”

  My insides were melting, and not like they were melting the day Colt mentioned Velcro baby hair bows. They were melting in a completely new way. Pulling harder on my hair, I moaned as Colt spoke again. “Tell me . . . you’re mine, Lauren.”

  Closing my eyes, I attempted to speak. My heart raced, my hands began to sweat and I found myself holding my breath. Finally gaining some composure, I whispered, “Yours. I’m yours, Colt. I’ve always been yours.”

  Pressing his lips against mine, Colt kissed me like he had never kissed me before. I was lost in a euphoria that had my body feeling like it was lifting off the ground. The cool night breeze was blowing and it was as if every exposed area of my skin tingled. Before I knew it, I was in the bed of Colt’s truck, on the quilt, as he quickly undressed me. A shiver ran across my skin as Colt asked, “Are you cold, sweetheart?”

  Shaking my head, I placed my hand on my chest. My heart was slamming against my hand as I swallowed hard. “I won’t be for long.”

  Colt began to kiss me, on the bottom of my foot, slowly working his way up my leg, one painfully slow kiss after another. When he reached the inside of my upper thigh, I attempted to push his head between my legs. Wanting him to taste my desire, I lifted my hips to him.

  “Lauren, baby. Do you need something from me?” Colt asked as his fingers slipped into my body. Pulling out a long deep hiss between my lips, I jerked my hips, craving more of his touch.

  “Yes, more,” I panted.

  And more is exactly what Colt gave me. He took me to heaven with his mouth not once, but twice. Feeling him over my body, I opened my eyes and saw nothing but a sea of blue staring at me. “I want to feel you, Lauren. No barriers, just you and me.”

  Nodding my head I knew it would be okay. Neither of us had ever been with anyone else, and Libby made sure to tell me to get on stronger birth control pills as soon as she found out Colt and I had been together.

  “Please, Colt, please make love to me. I need you.”

  “Lauren, are you sure?”

  The concern on his face only made me realize how much I’d wanted this. How much I had desired this connection between the two of us.

  “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life, Colt.”

  Spreading myself open to Colt, he slowly pushed into me. Once he was all the way in, he didn’t move. Wrapping my legs around him, we both moaned.

  “Does it feel different?” I asked.

  Lifting his head, Colt placed his hands on the side of my face. “It feels like heaven.”

  Smiling, I whispered, “It does for me too.”

  Colt slowly pulled out as I watched his eyes roll to the back of his head before he shut them. “Lauren—”

  Pushing back in I felt my orgasm building. Colt was moving slow. Too slow. “Colt, for the love of all things, go faster! Please go faster!”

  Shaking his head, he kissed my lips as he talked. “Can’t. Feels. Too. Good.”

  Bucking my hips, I whined. “I know! It would feel better if you just moved faster.”

  Ugh, I sounded like a little whore, but I didn’t care. Colt began to pick up speed and I didn’t think it was possible, but it felt even more amazing. Something was happening between us and I had no words to describe it. My body trembled as I watched Colt’s face. My orgasm was growing faster and I was about to come, but I couldn’t pull my eyes from his face. Snapping his eyes open, Colt pierced my eyes with his. I gasped as I saw nothing but love in his eyes.

  Oh. My. Glitter. Screw the glitter, this is no time for glitter! Holy fucking shit. This was going to be big.

  My orgasm hit me as I called out Colt’s name. He kept his hands on the sides of my face, pinning me so that I was looking directly at him as I came. “Oh God. Colt!” My body trembled as I called out his name into the darkness as one of the most intense orgasms rolled through my body.

  “Lauren, look at me,” Colt panted. Opening my eyes, Colt’s face gazed upon me with adoration. He slowed down as he moved gently inside of me.

  Grabbing onto his arms, our eyes were lost in each other. “Lauren,” Colt said as he pulled out and pushed in hard, pouring himself into me.

  “I love you, sweetheart. Oh God, I love you so much.” Pressing his lips to mine, I felt our connection change. It grew stronger. Deeper.

  This moment would forever be etched in my memory. The moment Colt and I became one . . . at our spot.

  SITTING ON THE tailgate of my truck, I stared out over the pasture. Feeling a bump on my shoulder, I turned and looked at my father as he gave me a smile, letting me know he knew exactly how I was feeling.

  “You know, Colt. She’s only been gone for two hours, yet you’re sitting here like someone just ran over your favorite dog.”

  Frowning, I looked down. “Feels like it. I don’t understand it, Dad. It’s not like I don’t want her to go and enjoy herself, because I do. I really honestly do. I guess I’m feeling . . . lost . . . which kind of freaks me out a little bit.”

  Letting out a slight chuckle, my father jumped up and sat next to me on the tailgate. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw your mother. She had just punched a guy right in the face after she found out he had been cheating on her.”

  Pulling my head back, my mouth dropped open. “What? Mom punched a guy?”

  A smile slowly grew on my father’s face. “The little fucker deserved it.”

  Laughing, I shook my head. “Damn, somehow I can’t picture Mom hitting anyone.”

  My father looked out over the pasture and nodded his head. “Your mother is a very strong person, Colt. She rocked my world that day and nothing was ever the same after that.”

  “It scares me sometimes, Dad.”

  Turning back to me, my father asked, “What scares you?”

  Blowing out a deep breath, I rubbed my hand across my hair and shook my head. My father and I had always been close. I knew I could talk to him about anything and that was an amazing feeling. “Love I guess.”

  Laughing, my father bumped my shoulder. “Love scares you, Colt? Why?”

  Shrugging my shoulders I looked into my father’s eyes. One thing about my father, he was always there for me. When we talked, I could see it in his eyes, at that moment, I was his only concern. “I feel like I crave her, Dad. Her touch, her smile, her laughter, and the silly way her blue eyes light up in the mornings when she comes skipping into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. She is so full of life and I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. When I’m not with her, I feel lost. I keep thinking it’s because we’re fairly new in our relationship. Puppy love phase maybe?” I let out a nervous chuckle.

  Clearing his throat, my father nodded slightly. “It’s not a puppy love phase, Colt. That is something special. Rare, that not everyone is blessed to experience. It never stops, it only grows. There are times when I’m away from your mother and nothing seems to go right.” Laughing, he shook his head. “It’s like I can’t think right or function right because she’s not there. She is almost like my energy source sometimes.” Glancing back at me his eyes glassed over. “That is scary, son. But at the same time, it’s the most precious gift in the world. Never take that feeling for granted.”

  Placing my hand on his shoulder, I gave it a squeeze. “Lauren and I would be blessed if we had a marriage as strong as you and Mom.”

  My father smiled, then dropped it. “Marriage? Um . . . are you two . . . ah.” Shaking his head a
s if he needed to clear his thoughts, my father looked straight ahead. “Marriage.”

  Tossing my head back, I let out a laugh. “You should see your face right now, Dad. Don’t worry. Lauren and I have not even talked about that step. Wipe the look of panic off your face.”

  Scrubbing his hands down his face he whispered, “Thank God. I was trying to come up with some kind of plan to keep Scott from breaking your legs.”

  My smile faded. “Huh?”

  Still looking straight ahead, my father blew out another breath as he slowly moved his head back and forth. “Man oh man, that was a close call. You really scared me there, buddy.”

  Jumping off the tailgate, he took his cowboy hat off, ran his hand through his hair, and placed the hat back on his head. “I need a cold beer after that.”

  My eyes widened as I watched my father walking to his truck. Jumping off the tailgate, I attempted to catch up to him, but I stumbled and had to catch myself from falling flat on my face. “Dad! Wait. Why would Scott want to break my legs? I thought he liked me?”

  Looking over his shoulder, he let out a stronger laugh. What the fuck?

  Stopping at his truck, he turned and watched me as I made my way to his truck. My legs felt like rubber. “What in the hell is wrong with you? Are your legs asleep?”

  Stopping in front of him, I glanced down to my legs. “No! You just gave me the image of Scott breaking them and I’m a little concerned. Why would he break my legs? I mean, Alex and Will are engaged and you didn’t want to break Will’s legs.”

  My father’s eyes grew dark. “Please, if you only knew the different ways I was going to torture that boy, your eyes would pop out of your head.”

  Taking a step back, I tried not to look stunned. “Dad. Will’s like your son.”

  Pursing his lips together he nodded in agreement. “He is, just like you’re like Scott’s son. But I can promise you one thing, Scott cares more about his little girl than he does you. You mention marriage right now and all I think about is you’re wanting to get married because of a baby. ” Leaning closer, my father looked around, then looked back at me and talked in a hushed voice. “Don’t forget, his best friend was a trained killer. One shot and how in the hell am I gonna explain it to your mother?”