“Honestly, Susannah, I don’t. I mean, I know what you’ve told me – I know what you’ve been telling yourself, but I think it’s a convenient excuse.”
“What?!” Now she stood and stalked over to him. “How dare you!”
“Sweetheart, you and I both know that you are an extremely levelheaded, confident woman. You don’t shy away from a challenge of any kind. You’re an amazing mother who raised two incredible kids! You tackled turning this old house into a bed and breakfast that is going to be a huge success! Everything you put your mind to, you give it your all and make it succeed!”
“You don’t know…”
Reaching out, he grasped her shoulders. “Yes, I do! And do you know how I know that?”
She shook her head.
“Because you’re an extremely intelligent woman who worked out every possible angle for this business and put it into play! Because people love you and you make them feel welcome! Because you made this place the kind of destination where people are going to want to stay!”
“Colton…”
“You’ve taken a chance on so many things, Suz. Why not on me?” And damn, he hated how desperate he sounded, how needy, but he couldn’t help it. He needed to know.
Her mouth moved but no words came out and he cursed himself for backing her into a corner like this.
Then he cursed again and claimed her lips with his.
It wasn’t tender or sweet, but a little untamed. Her arms wrapped around him just as his went around her – as if they both needed to be as close as humanly possible. Her soft curves always drove him wild. He loved being able to grab and caress them and he loved the sounds Susannah made when he did.
Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her onto the counter and stepped between the vee of her legs and growled with how good it felt. He might not be a young man anymore, but he still enjoyed making love – especially with Susannah. They’d come a long way since those early days when she wouldn’t let him even look at her naked.
Speaking of…
His hands snaked under her t-shirt as he pulled back long enough to whip it over her head. Diving in for another kiss, her legs wrapped around him. It didn’t seem possible that they could still feel this kind of urgency for each other. Ten minutes ago, he was exhausted and couldn’t imagine anything feeling better than the shoulder massage she was giving him. But now he was wide awake and wanted her. Needed her.
Reaching up, he cupped her breasts, the calluses on his hands snagging on the delicate lace covering her. He used to feel bad about it, but he knew from experience how much she loved how rough and scratchy his skin was.
The kiss went on and on – changing, softening, before going deep and wet again. In a perfect world, he’d strip them both down right here, right now. But the back kitchen wall was floor to ceiling windows along with a pair of French doors leading out to the deck. Mallory and Jake were known to walk through that door without any advanced notice and the last thing he wanted was for Susannah to be caught in a compromising position.
They’d had that happen more than once while Sam was still living here and he wasn’t looking forward to it ever happening again.
Susannah’s nails scratched along his back before trailing up his neck and into his hair.
He loved when she did that.
It still amazed him that she was this wildly attracted to him. He knew he was still in decent shape because he had such a physical job, but he also knew his hair was graying, he wasn’t quite as firm in places that he used to be, and…his stamina wasn’t what it once was. He’d lost count of how many times he had silently wished he and Susannah had met when he was younger and more in his prime.
Judging by the sounds she was making and the way she was rubbing against him, she didn’t have a problem with any of it. And that’s what spurred him on to lift her back off the counter and stride out of the kitchen to her suite of rooms. No one was staying at the inn tonight and that meant he wasn’t going anywhere.
Still, he kicked the door closed just in case anyone stopped by unannounced.
He didn’t stop until they were in her bedroom and he was gently placing her on the bed where they finally broke the kiss. Both were more than a little breathless but the way she looked up at him was beyond sexy. He pulled his shirt up and over his head, tossing it aside before he reached out and let his hand skim up her belly to her breasts again.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. “I could look at you all day.”
Even in the dim lighting of the room, he could see her blush. “Stop,” she said quietly. “You don’t have to say that.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to because it’s true.”
“Colton…”
He placed a finger over her lips. “Shh. To me, you are the most beautiful woman in the world.” He swallowed hard. “Always have been. Always will be.”
A soft smile crossed her face. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said gruffly, lying down beside her. He touched her – gently skimming his hands along her arms, her face, her throat. There was no rush to finish stripping them down, no need to hurry. They had all night.
Even though he had to be up at five a.m. to go to work.
Still, a night of slowly making love to Susannah was worth missing out on some sleep.
They rolled toward each other as they began to kiss again – her lips soft and a little wet against his. Her skin felt warm and wonderful and for several moments, they simply enjoyed the pleasure of this lazy exploration. It was familiar. It was comfortable. Some nights it was all fast and frantic, but tonight felt a little more intimate.
And he was more than okay with that.
Lazily, he stripped off her jeans and panties and she helped him remove his pants and boxers. There was one small bedside lamp on and he had to admit, he loved looking at her. She had such soft skin that was fairer than his and he loved the look of his tanned hands touching her. Her back arched beneath him as he caressed and teased her. Her breath caught when his mouth latched on to her nipple. And she cried out his name over and over as he made love to her.
And later, as they lay together in a tangle of limbs, she placed a soft, sleepy kiss on his chest. He could tell she was practically asleep and he hugged her a little closer.
“Stay,” she whispered. “Always stay.”
A smile tugged at his lips as he reached over and turned out the lamp. Kissing the top of her head, he replied, “Okay.”
All day the next day, Susannah had a smile on her face. She felt good. Happy.
Almost deliriously so.
And with George Michael singing on the 80s station she had on, she allowed herself to sing and dance just like she had back in high school.
It was four in the afternoon and Colton said he was coming for dinner again. Well, she had invited him for dinner before he left for work this morning and he accepted. She had a chicken roasting in the oven and had just put a salad together that she placed in the refrigerator. As she moved around wiping down the granite countertops, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander to the night before.
Having Colton work on the inn meant he was here with her almost every day for a year. She got used to seeing him every day – looked forward to seeing him. Once the work was done and he had to move on to other jobs, they still saw each other every day. Sometimes they’d meet up in town for lunch, but they tended to eat dinner together every night and took turns staying at each other’s homes.