Wild Man (Wild Men Book 1), page 8
I can tell she’s holding back, too, like we both want to stay in the moment as much as possible, because this moment will be gone in a flash.
Chapter Nineteen
As we keep talking, we realize we’ve got something in common—we both want to make something of ourselves. We also admit how far away that success sometimes seems.
“I have a feeling you’re going to make it,” I tell her. “You’ll have your name in a paper on a regular basis someday.”
“That’s so sweet,” she murmurs. “We’ll see.”
“Can’t you picture it?” I ask her.
“Not really,” she says honestly. “I’m so busy living each day as it comes right now.”
I put my hand on her bare knee. “Your skin is so soft,” I say.
A small noise escapes her mouth.
And then, her hand snakes over my thigh. She runs her hot palm over my jeans until I have to bite back on a groan.
“Skylar.”
I twist so I’m facing her.
When I lean forward to kiss her, she doesn’t back away like I thought she would. Instead, she shifts toward me.
I tangle my fingers in her red hair and capture her mouth with mine.
It’s not a soft kiss. And it’s far less innocent than I planned on.
What I also didn’t plan on was Sky’s hands, which are suddenly all over me. She claws at my flannel with her fingers, popping a few of the buttons in her hurry to open my shirt.
I should slow things down. But I can’t help from slipping my hands underneath her tank top and stroking the soft skin of her stomach.
And fuck. I actually ache from needing her. I slide one of my hands around her rib cage and up her back until I reach the clasp of her bra.
As soon as I hear the snap of the lace come undone, my self-control snaps. I sink into the kiss, tugging at Sky’s bottom lip with my teeth. She lets out a sexy moan, and I’m completely gone for her.
I rip off my flannel and t-shirt and then gently tug her tank top over her head. Her bra slips off her shoulders, exposing her pebbled pink nipples to me. I caress her breasts, tugging at her nipples with my thumb and finger until she arches her back for more.
I grab my flannel from the ground and spread it over the grass, and then I shift us so that we’re both lying down on top of it.
“I want you, Skylar.” I trail kisses down her neck and run my hand down past her belly button.
“Oh, God, Colt.” She cries out as my mouth closes around the tight bud of her nipple. “Fuck.”
I return my lips to her mouth and position myself over her. She squeaks when my chest touches hers.
“You okay?” I’m braced over her with my arms on either side of her head, but I lift up even more to give her more space.
“Yeah. I just…um…” She shifts out from under me. “I’m not that experienced, Colt.”
I put my hand on her hip so she can’t roll away further. We’re each on our sides now.
“I’m not either,” I tell her.
She gives the cutest laugh. “Right.”
“I’m serious. I’ve never…done this before.”
Her pink mouth parts in surprise. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Have you dated?”
“I’ve dated some. But nothing serious. I don’t know—I guess I just never really hit it off with anyone before.”
She digs her teeth into her bottom lip and hesitates before saying, “I’ve never been on a real date. Not once.”
“How is that possible? You’re incredible. You’re caring and funny and smart. And gorgeous, of course.”
Her cheeks flush pink. “Like I told you earlier, I’m a bit of a loner.”
I stroke the curve of her hip with my thumb. “You’re not alone tonight.”
“No,” she says, her mouth turning up in a smile. “And neither are you.”
“You can count tonight as a real date,” I say. “I wish I could have taken you to dinner or a movie.”
She puts her hand on my cheek. “This is perfect. I wouldn’t want anything different. It’s a perfect first date.”
“Do you want it to end? I can take you home whenever you want.”
She touches her lips to mine. “I don’t want it to end, Colt.” She kisses me harder. “Definitely not.”
My eyes fix on hers as I unbutton her cut-offs. I drag the zipper down as slowly as I can, but she lets out a little breathy sigh and shifts closer to me. She lifts her hips and I lower her shorts so she can kick them off.
I cup her over her panties. She shuts her eyes and bites down hard on her lip.
“I can stop,” I say quietly.
“No,” she says into the night air. “Don’t stop.”
My hands are shaking as I hook my thumbs under her panties and pull them down. When she’s completely bare to me, she opens her eyes. Her gaze is wide and vulnerable, her green eyes showing so much emotion.
“You’re so beautiful.” I lean forward and run my tongue along the seam of her mouth.
She opens immediately, and for the next few minutes, all we do is kiss. Even though she’s completely naked, I don’t run my hands all over her like I’m dying to. But when she nips at my lip, our make-out session turns frenzied. I run my hand down her body, stroking her nipples until she moans. She reaches for me, pulling me on top of her.
I’m so hard, and I feel like my cock is going to break out of my jeans as she lifts her hips, begging for the friction. I rub my erection against her core, slowly at first, but she clearly wants more. So I give it to her, grinding into her with everything I have.
I’m barely aware of her fingernails digging into my back, and when I dip my head to suck on her neck, she calls out my name. Christ, I could come from this. With my jeans still on, this girl is turning me on like never before.
She reaches for the waistband of my jeans, and together we practically rip my pants off. She braces herself on her elbows and stares at my dick straining through my boxer briefs.
“You want to see?” I ask her, my tone coming out hoarse.
She gives a quick nod.
I’m not used to doing any kind of strip tease, but everything about being with Sky is different. Her eyes darken to the color of a pine forest as I peel off my underwear. She straightens up off her elbows and leans forward. And I forget everything but the feel of her hands on me.
Her touch is innocent, and her hands tremble as she runs them up and down my erection.
“Do you have protection?” she asks me, the question shaky with lust.
Shit.
Fuck.
I drag my lips down her neck and kiss her soft skin before lifting my head to meet her hot gaze.
“I don’t. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. But we should stop.” Her voice is thick with disappointment. “You know what? It’s probably a sign anyway. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Sky.” I run one finger down between her breasts, over her belly button, and between her thighs.
She shudders as I coat my finger in her wetness.
“Let me taste you. Please.”
Her eyes are so green they’re blazing. “I…”
“I promise I’ll make you feel so good.” Now my thumb is involved, and I nibble her ear. “I swear, Sky, you’ll never forget me. I’ll make sure of it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she murmurs. She pulls away from me, and I swear I see tears in her eyes.
She searches around for her clothes and dresses faster than I can think of a way to keep her here with me.
“Goodbye, Colton Wild. I hope you have a wonderful life.” She bends down to where I’m still sitting on the grass and kisses me gently on the cheek.
I jump up when I realize she’s really leaving.
I get my jeans on in record time. I slide my feet into my sneakers and drag my t-shirt over my head. Grabbing my flannel, I take off down the path, catching Sky before she’s made it too far on her own.
“If you’re going to leave, at least let me walk you home,” I say, taking her hand in mine.
She uses her free hand to brush her cheek. I reach over and touch her face. It’s wet.
“Why are you crying?” I say softly. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Some things can’t be easily explained,” she says cryptically.
We walk back to the campground, and she leads us in the direction of her trailer.
“We’re staying in the place usually reserved for employees,” she says, and I catch a hint of shame in her tone.
“This place isn’t cheap,” I say. “We’re lucky. Money’s not something I’ve had to worry about growing up.”
“Some of the motor coaches look amazing,” she says wistfully. “Ben and Nick went into a kid’s trailer, and they said it was super fancy.”
Probably a bit like ours is.
“It’s a whole world I didn’t know anything about,” I say. “This is our first time RVing. We camp in Montana a lot, but just in a regular old tent.”
We’ve reached her trailer now. She stops behind a tree so that we can’t be seen by anyone inside of the trailer.
“It was nice to meet you, Colton.” She holds out her hand for me to shake.
I chuckle. “I think we’re a little too close for just a handshake, Skylar Rosewood.”
I pull her in for a kiss, and her mouth meets mine hungrily. My lips close over hers, and I snake my hand around her waist and underneath her tank top. She leans back against the tree and drags me closer.
I drop my flannel shirt to the ground and groan into her mouth.
“You’ve got a sexy tongue,” I mutter. “You’re driving me crazy with it, Sky.”
She presses up into me further, and I drive my leg in between hers. She starts leaning into my thigh like she’ll die without the friction. Her body’s shaking, and I can tell she’s desperate to get off.
“Oh, God.” She moans as I suck on her neck and cup her ass with one hand.
With the other hand, I squeeze her breast through her thin tank top. “Let go,” I whisper.
She freezes like I’ve asked her to do something impossibly terrifying, and I drop my hand immediately.
“I…can’t let go like that, Colt. My life is too complicated.” She takes a step away from me.
“Is that why you look like you’re about to run?” I murmur.
She lets out a nervous laugh. “I’m sorry. I just need to escape sometimes.”
“Even from things that feel good?” I press her.
“Yes.” She pauses. “I hit the panic button. Sometimes it’s warranted, and sometimes not. I can’t always tell the difference.” Another pause. “As long as I stay in control…” She trails off without finishing her sentence.
It’s an honest answer. But I don’t have a clue why she reacts that way.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I say.
“Um…” She pulls back further and fixes her face again with that frozen, impassive look I’ve learned means she’s about to shut me out. “I really do have to go inside,” she says. “My mom could come out and see us.”
“Can I have your phone number and address?” I hand her my phone. “Type them in for me, please?”
She hesitates. Her instant of pause is subtle, but I see it clear as day.
In hindsight, I wish I’d realized what that hesitation meant. In the moment, I think she’s scared I’ll blow her off. So, I try to reassure her.
“I’ll call you,” I promise. “As soon as we get home to Montana. I won’t bug you, though, so I’ll wait to reach out. Sound good?”
She looks up at me, the saddest smile on her face. “Sounds perfect. Like a dream.”
She types quickly into my phone and then hands it back to me. I glance down.
“Sparky?”
“That’s what you call me, right?”
Her emerald eyes are shining with emotion. I lean in and kiss her one more time, and then she turns and runs to her trailer. I wait until she’s safely inside before I walk slowly back to my motor coach.
I’m smiling as I unlock the door and step inside. Even the sound of Dad’s intermittent coughing can’t stop me from feeling optimistic.
I just met the girl for me.
My dad will get better, I’ll go to college and get drafted, and Skylar Rosewood and I will end up together. Sure, we’re still in high school and live across the country from each other.
But I believe we’ll get there somehow. Tonight, right now, as I hear my Dad’s coughing, I have to believe it. It’s a bright moment in the dark night, and I’ll hold onto it for all it’s worth.
Chapter Twenty
Skylar
“You did the right thing,” Mom assures all of us the next morning as we drive out of the campground just before dawn.
Ben, Nick, and I have been talking about how awkward it was when kids asked us for our contact information. Both my brothers ended up giving out fake numbers too, and we all feel like shit about it. Mom feels so badly she insists on driving the first part of the way. Ben and Nick try to assuage her, saying they’re getting used to walking away from people without a goodbye.
They both had best friends back in our first home in Indiana, not to mention their football teammates. I didn’t have any close friends, and I feel for them. But both my brothers were single, and the night I spent with Colton is weighing heavily on me.
I miss him already. And the fact that I’ll never see him again? That’s enough to start the tears.
“Hey, don’t cry.” Ben pats my back awkwardly. “We’re all together, right? And we’re safe. Those are the two most important things.”
I stop my tears and nod at him. “You’re right. We’re so lucky. And I’m grateful.”
I may not be getting everything that I want, but Ben is right—I’m alive and unharmed, and my father isn’t going to catch us again.
As for Colton, I send up a quick prayer for him and his family. I hope everything works out for him.
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Colton
As the casket disappears into the ground, my innocence goes with it.
My hero is dead and gone, and now I’m the man of the house. I have to be strong for my mom. I can’t cry in front of her. Or anyone here.
As soon as we all return to our house for the post-funeral reception, I disappear into my dad’s den, the place where I said goodbye to him.
I sit down in the chair where he drew his last breath, and I pull out my phone.
I don’t think about what I’m doing when I pull Sky up in my contacts.
Before hitting connect, I flash back to what happened when I called her shortly after returning home—how the operator came on and said the number I had called wasn’t in service.
So I wrote her a letter and mailed it to the address she’d given me. It was returned to sender. And every effort I made to locate her online turned up empty.
I was beyond frustrated.
But I was also distracted by my dad’s rapid decline in health, and I didn’t have much time to focus on anything other than him and my mom.
Right now, sitting alone in his den, I’m desperate to feel something other than the overwhelming sorrow slicing through my chest. Even if it’s anger, I’ll take it.
So I call the number again.
When the phone rings and the operator comes on once more, saying this number is no longer in service, I feel a weird sense of foreboding in my gut. But I push that feeling aside, reaching for the justified anger. When it comes, I let it wash over me.
Sky didn’t seem like the type of girl to play games. But she gave me the wrong contact information. And she had to have done it on purpose.
Dropping the phone into my lap, I slam my fist into my open palm.
She was the one bright spot I had. My world feels so dark right now, and Skylar Rosewood gave me hope.
So the question is, why did she lie to me?
Before I can think too hard about it, there’s a knock on the open door, and Jenson pops his head into the room.
“How you doing?” He glances at the phone in my hand. “You calling somebody?”
I tilt my head toward the half-open door behind him. Without asking why, he shuts it behind him and takes a seat in the chair opposite me.
“What’s up, Colt?”
I’d kept Sky’s existence to myself. I tell my cousins pretty much everything, but that night with Sky felt sacred. I didn’t want to water it down by sharing it with anyone.
But I’m worn down today. And I need another opinion. Jenson’s been my best friend for years, and I know if I tell him to keep this between us, he will without a second’s thought.
“This doesn’t go outside this room,” I say with a hard stare.
He doesn’t even blink. He stretches out his legs and jerks his chin at me. “Lay it on me.”
“I met someone. A girl.”
He raises an eyebrow in surprise. “Really? I didn’t know you even had time lately to date.”
“I don’t. I didn’t. It was one night. In Colorado. She’s from the east coast.”
He nods. “Okay.”
“And I know it sounds nuts, but I felt like she and I could really be something real someday, you know?”
His eyes flash with understanding. “I do. So don’t give up on her just because she’s not local.”
“That’s not the problem.” I hold up my phone. “She gave me the wrong contact information. And she must have done it on purpose.”
He frowns. “She lied?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” He rubs his jaw. “Tell me more about her.”
I fill him in on how we met and how much we talked and hung out. “We nearly…” I break off.
“You fucked her?” he asks me bluntly.
I shake my head. “Almost.”
He sits quietly for a moment. Then, he says firmly, “I don’t get why she’d lie, but I’d trust your gut, Colt. If you liked her that much, maybe there’s an explanation. Maybe someday you’ll find out why she didn’t want to be found.”
