Forbidden Romance by Lena Lucas

4

Colton

There was something about her expression that set me on edge, something in the way Willow stared at me today that said she had something heavy on her mind.

I’d seen some awareness in her gaze as she looked at me, as if she’d come to the realization that I was so fucking obsessed with her. It’s not like I hid it, but it was clear to me she may not have fully understood my intentions about her like I assumed she might have.

I ran a hand over my jaw and stared at the fire. I wasn’t listening to what any of the patches were saying, something about running guns to Nevada later this week. My mind was too focused on the woman in the other room who drove me crazy and heated my blood to a boiling point.

I'd do anything to make Willow happy… to make her mine. I felt that way for years, and I planned on making that a reality finally, damn the consequences.

“You good with that plan, prez?”

I blinked back into focus and looked at Stiles, my Sergeant-at-Arms. I replayed what we’d been going over, then nodded. “Yeah. It’s all good.” I hadn’t heard a damn fucking thing they said, but I trusted my men and this club, and we talked about the gun run earlier this week, so I was confident things were under control the way they needed so things flowed smoothly.

Fuck, I have to get a handle on my emotions and make Willow mine. It’s fucking with my head and pulling me from the club.

I wanted to be her man, the male who kept her safe and away from harm. I wanted to shelter her, protect her from anyone and anything that meant to hurt her. I was trying to be a good man—for her, because she deserved that. She didn’t deserve a male by her side who didn’t have a handle on life or his club, who let the MC get mixed in with far too many dangerous endeavors that put everyone in harm's way.

And over the years, I’d been driving to do that—opening more legitimate businesses, tapering off from the more illegal, shady shit the club dealt with in the past.

Even though it was good for the club to go another route, the truth was I started doing all this for Willow, so she could be proud and safe. And those legitimate businesses meant she was at the clubhouse more to help with the paperwork. Yeah, I was pulling her farther into this world, because I wanted her around always.

I turned my attention back to the window that led to the office Willow was currently in. I’d been staring at her constantly since she’d gone in there, even though some of the time I couldn’t even see her. I could feel her.

I felt a sudden surge of desperation to go to her.

With that conviction in mind, I mumbled something to the guys about needing to leave and then stood, my own focus to go to her. I headed right to the office, not looking at anything else. The door opened, causing me to stumble to a stop momentarily as I watched her come out. She had her attention on the ground as she shut the door behind her, a stack of paperwork cradled to her chest with one hand.

And then she lifted her head and stopped, her eyes widening as she saw me all but barreling toward her.

Done waiting. She’s mine.

I stopped in front of her, and her lips parted, her head kicked back so she could look into my face. She was so small compared to me, but her body was curvy, all gorgeous lines and lushness. God, she was perfect, with meat on her bones that had my heart racing, my cock coming alive, and my hands curling into my palms because I wanted to touch her.

I imagined her spread out on my bed, all that creamy flesh on display. Yeah, I’d destroy her for anyone else in the best of ways. She’d only ever want me.

I watched as her pupils dilated, her chest starting to rise and fall faster with her increased breathing. And when she started tugging at her bottom lip with her straight, white little teeth, I felt a growl leave me. Her eyes widened more at the sound, and I felt dark satisfaction over the fact that she heard.

“Hey,” she said softly, her voice betraying how nervous she was right now.

I didn’t trust my voice, so I took her free hand in mine and led her down the hall and to the privacy of my bedroom I occasionally used when I crashed at the clubhouse.

“Um, Colton?” Her voice was soft, hesitant as I shut the door, caging us in together.

I knew it wasn’t lost on her how intimate this was, her in my room, me blocking her only exit. She glanced around, her eyes as wide as saucers. “Is everything okay?” She faced me, and I stalked forward—maybe prowled was a more accurate description of what I was doing.

“Is everything okay?” She took a step back, but I wondered if she realized she made the move. I came closer, shifting on my feet so she was now in front of the door, her back to it, her focus never leaving mine.

I inhaled deeply, unable to stop myself from taking in her scent. “I need to tell you something,” I finally said, hearing how gruff my voice had gone.

“Oh,” she whispered. “Okay, but I’ll be honest; you’re kind of making me nervous.”

I didn't want to cause her any unjust stress, and I was trying to act like a civilized male right now, but she drove me crazy, and all my pent-up desire for her was crashing to the surface.

And although I had decided to tell her how much I wanted her, how much I loved her, the words were lodged in my throat as I stared at her.

She exhaled, then shocked the hell out of me by saying, “I’m actually glad we’re alone. I need to talk to you too.”

I inclined my head, staring at her, letting her go first, because the last thing I wanted to do was reveal how I felt and fuck up her courage on what she needed to talk to me about.

It took her a moment to gather her strength. I could tell when she’d found it by the way she straightened her shoulders, tipped up her chin, and stared me right in the eyes. “I’m in love with you.” The words rushed out of her as if she wanted to say them as fast as possible.

Then we stood there silently, neither moving as we locked eyes.

What did she just say? Did I hear her right?

I blinked, trying to wrap my mind around her words. I fantasized about hearing her say this exact thing more times than I could recall. Never had I thought it would be reality.

I exhaled the breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding in and found myself taking a step toward her, every instinct in me telling me to go to her.

She’s mine.

Here she was, standing in front of me, the strongest person I’d ever met in my life. She all but trembled, her fear of rejection so clear on her face that I wanted to pull her against my chest and just hold her until she didn’t look so scared.

Tell her. Ease her worry that I don’t feel the same way.

“Say that again, Willow.” My voice was thick with… emotion. And I never showed that, not unless it had to do with this woman right in front of me.

“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered out, probably wondering why I hadn’t said anything else, probably feeling rejected. “I shouldn’t have said anything, but I couldn’t help it. I don’t want to ruin our relationship, but I can’t hold it in any longer, Colton. I’m in love with you, have been for years.”

And then I reached for her, unable to stop myself a moment longer. I slammed her back against the door. A soft gasp came from her lips at the contact of our chests pressing together.

“Colton?” she whispered, full of need and… hope.

“I’m so fucking in love with you, Willow. It consumes me to the point of madness.”

She gasped. “That’s what you wanted to tell me?”

I nodded, my brows pulled low as I stared down at her lips. “Yeah, baby. You’re it for me. You’ve been it for me for a long damn time.” I didn’t give her a chance to process my words before I captured her lips in a powerful, intense kiss, one that I’d been holding onto to give her for years.

At that first touch of our mouths, I groaned, she moaned, and I held her so damn tightly I feared I'd break her. I eased up, savoring how she melted against me.

And when she kissed me back, I roared internally at how fucking perfect this was.

Finally.

Her touch, her lips, her emotions… all of it was for me. Only me.

I pressed my body up against the door even more, if that were possible, my cock so damn hard the fucker dug against my zipper. Served the bastard right. Let the thick bastard be uncomfortable, because I clearly couldn’t control myself.

I pulled back when I heard her gasp, one I knew was because she felt my erection. I should have felt a bit of shame as I looked into her innocent blue eyes, knowing this was no doubt all new to her. But I couldn’t feel anything but hardcore need to take Willow right here, right now.

“Colton,” she moaned, and then surprising the hell out of me, Willow pressed closer to me, her belly grinding against my cock.

I gritted my teeth and tried to hold off on a groan, but I failed. The sound rumbled out of me, harsh and thick. All of the years spent wanting Willow with a desperation that topped anything I'd ever experienced in my life ran wild in me. Everything had come to this one moment where my woman was finally in my arms.

I was going to make being with me the most unforgettable experience of her life. I was going to make her mine, and then I was never letting Willow go.

I pushed her arms farther up until they were above her head, holding them together at the wrist with one of my hands, loving that she was spread for me, at my mercy.

With my other hand, I slipped my fingers along her side and over to her leg, gripping her thigh and pulling it up so it wrapped around my waist. I groaned as her jean-clad pussy now straddled my thigh. I lifted my leg, grinding it against her pussy.

I needed Willow closer, needed to get rid of any remaining space that separated us. Willow was mine.

Finally. God, finally.

“Colton,” she moaned again. I’d never get tired of hearing it with pleasure laced through her voice. I looked into her face, seeing her head resting back on the wall, her eyes closed, and her lips parted. She was lost in the moment. Because of me.

I growled, “Look at me, baby.” She opened her eyes and stared at me with a pleasure-dazed expression. God, she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. “You sure you want this?”

She nodded and licked her lips, lowering her eyes so she was staring at my mouth. “I want you. I’ve wanted this for so long, Colton.” She licked her lips, and I wondered if she tasted me on them. “But I’ve never done this before. I-I’m… a virgin.”

Proprietary need slammed into me. I’d assumed as much but fucking loved hearing her admit it.

“I’ll be gentle, baby. I’ll make it so good for you.” I groaned and slammed my mouth down on hers, kissing her fiercely, unable to stop myself. I slipped my tongue between her lips at the same time I curled my hands around her hips, lifting her off the ground easily. She wrapped her legs around my waist, her arms around my neck. “Good girl,” I growled.

I slammed her back against the wall and kissed her with all the ferociousness of my years of pent-up arousal I had for her. She tugged at the short strands of hair at the base of my skull, and I couldn't stop the grunt of ecstasy that spilled from me, all from that simple touch. She tasted sweet, like fucking peaches, juicy ones on a hot summer day. My cock jerked at the image that thought conjured up, one of her biting into the flesh, the nectar from the fruit slipping down her chin.

Fuck, that was hot.

I bit her lip like I was some kind of fucking feral animal, and I guess I was, especially for Willow. She gasped, and I took advantage of her lips parting to shove my tongue deeper inside her mouth. God. Fuck yes. Her tongue curiously met mine at first, but the more I coaxed and teased her, the more wanton she became, as if she were slowly losing her control too.

God, she tasted so good.

“Baby,” I said, pulling away from her for a moment, which was the hardest fucking thing I’d ever done.

She didn’t respond, just stared at me with hooded eyes, her breathing as ragged as mine. Her lips were red, swollen, her cheeks a pink shade from her arousal. Fuck, she was pretty when she blushed. I leaned in and kissed her again, slowly this time, savoring it. I wondered if anyone else had ever kissed her like this.

“Willow,” I growled against our connected lips. “You’re mine now.”