"Corri?"

Colt's warm voice washed over me as he stepped inside my office. I had my back to him, but I could still feel him approaching me. I sighed and relaxed into his arms when he held me from behind and peered over the top of my head. "Is everything okay?" he whispered into my ear as his arms tightened around me. 

I was staring at a large board pinned to the wall of my office. "Just going over some details."

"Like?" he prompted, even as his nose found my neck.

"Like how I still don't have an instructor for this self-defense class. And I'm just frustrated that the right person has come along yet," I explained.

Colt gave me one more big squeeze before guiding me over to my big chair. "I thought you found someone you liked."

I pulled three files from the stack and laid them out across my desk for Colt to inspect. He sunk into my chair and touched each file, inspecting the contents of each one. "So what's wrong with this guy?"

"He's great. Very knowledgeable and smart, but his availability is for shit. He could only teach one class a week and I wanted more options than that."

"And this one?" Colt mused as he tugged me across his lap. 

"He has the qualifications and the time but…"

"But?"

I scoffed. "He has the personality of a wet mop!"

Colt burst out laughing and cuddled me close. "And what about the third guy?"

"He's good. He seems to fit in every way, but he hasn't been doing this for long. He's just barely gotten qualified and this would be his first time teaching. I'm not sure I want to take a chance on that."

Colt's eyes drifted to the three choices and then he smirked. "I'll do it."

"No," I gasped. "You're so busy with your training schedule and working at the garage…"

"I quit. I told the twins I just couldn't keep it up. We agreed to hire another mechanic and I'd help out when I could, but that's it. I'm still invested in the garage, of course. But they understood that helping run the gym was taking a lot of my time and I just didn't have any more to spare."

"I'm so sorry. I never wanted…"

Colts mouth covered mine and I suddenly lost my train of thought. When he pulled away, a slow smile spread across his face. "Don't be sorry. I'm exactly where I need to be."

I snuggled a bit closer and nibbled on my lower lip. "Mmm. I can't argue with that. I love having you here with me."

Colt nodded and then let his gaze fall to my desk. He gathered up the three files and tossed them behind him. "You were done with those, right?"

"I guess so," I laughed, staring  at the mess of papers scattered on the floor.

"Good," he growled, lifting me up and placing me on my now cleared-off desk. "Because I think it's time you interview me for this self-defense instructor position."

"Interview?" I echoed. "I don't need to…oh!" I gasped when Colt tugged on my leggings and pulled them from my body. In seconds, he had my lower half bared to him, legs spread wide and his face buried.

I leaned back on my elbows and sighed at the sight of his fingers curled into my thighs as he spread me wide and feasted on me. "Colt," I cried out softly when he teased me to the brink.

He lifted his head and smiled a lazy smile with his lips coated in my arousal. "Yes?" he hummed.

"More?" I pleaded. "I'm already so close."

"Yes, ma'am," he beamed. "I believe I'm up to that challenge."

Before I could say another word, he dove back down, his tongue parting my folds and zeroing in on my clit so expertly. My back arched as my orgasm approached and when the tingles began, I gasped. He had pulled away from me and I was losing my climax. "Colt," I groaned in frustration. 

I couldn't form another thought when I felt Colt's hands gripping my thighs. In one swift thrust, he was buried in me to the hilt. My mouth fell open in a shocked gasp. In a matter of seconds, my lost orgasm was roaring back to me. I reached up and squeezed Colt's muscular forearms as he pounded me hard enough to move my heavy desk with each thrust. I hooked my legs around his waist, heels digging into his ass to spur him on. "Oh yes," I whimpered when the tingles started again.

"That's it, baby," Colt sighed into my ear as his face fell into the crook of my neck. His thrusts were becoming erratic as he chased his own high. I could feel the impending explosion and when Colt ground his hips tightly against mine, I saw stars. 

Colt groaned into my neck, a series of curses as his body shuddered above me. Me? I fell apart. Completely shattered, I rode every wave with him, squeezing his body so tightly to mine. As the tremors eased away, Colt lifted his head and with a sex hazed voice, he murmured, "So did I get the job?"

…

In the end, we decided to hire the inexperienced guy to teach the class and allow him a chance to prove himself. Both Colt and Beau also took the course so that between the three of them, our potential clients would have a variety of times offered to them to take the course. 

Colt really enjoyed getting certified and was excited the first time he had a chance to lead the class. I stood in the doorway of the great room and watched him command his students. I admired his charm with people and the way everyone was so drawn to him. His smile was so warm and his eyes made you feel as though you were safe with him. He was perfect for the job.

Unfortunately, the room full of women in his first class were as enamored with him as I was. Jealousy pricked at my scalp when I saw one particular woman wrap her ridiculously long, manicured fingers around my man's bicep. Colt forced a tense smile and lifted his gaze until he found me stalking him from the doorway. 

Shit. I didn't want him to think I didn't trust him. I shot him an awkward wave and attempted to dash off when he called my name. 

All eyes swung in my direction and I could feel the blush in my cheeks. Colt waved me over to where he stood in front of his class. "Let me introduce you to someone. Class...this is Corri Armstrong. She's the owner of this gym and offering this course was her idea."

I was met with a sea of smiles and even a little bit of applause as I faced the women and gave them a small wave. "I'm so glad to have you all here. I hope you'll find Colt to be an excellent instructor. He's very capable."

"I bet he is."

I wasn't sure which one of them said it and I was sure I heard a few more echoing the sentiment. When my expression hardened, the giggling group straightened up and went silent. I wasn't stupid. I knew most of them would trade places with me in a heartbeat. Colt was the rare combination of being as beautiful as his heart was kind. And any woman would be lucky to call him her own. 

But he was mine. And in that moment, I wanted them to know.

I faced him fully, curling one arm around his neck and drawing his face down to mine. "Have a good class," I purred before pressing my lips to his. "I'll see you back at home," I added when we broke apart, loud enough for most of them to hear. 

Colt's eyes flashed with a hot desire I had seen many times. I squeezed his arm and spun on my heel, fully prepared to leave on a high note. But I was surprised when he called out to me.

"Can you help me with something?"

I froze when I felt him tugging on my hand. "Where you going, baby? You don't wanna talk to me?"

I faced him with a furrowed brow, confused with the change in his demeanor. "Come on," he sighed, circling around me and tugging on my ponytail. "Can't we talk for a minute?"

Then it hit me. He was role-playing. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to react so gestured over my shoulder and replied, "No. I really should get home."

When I spun away from him, he grabbed me from behind, hooking one arm around my waist and one across my shoulders. I gasped in surprise, but Colt was all business-like as he placed me back on my feet. "So who can tell me what Corri did wrong in that scenario?"

I stood there baffled as they began calling out all the mistakes I made.

"She turned her back on you."

"You could have grabbed her when she pointed."

"She didn't stay aware of her surroundings."

Colt nodded as he circled me again. "So how could Corri have avoided this situation?"

The class remained quiet as his attention fell on me. My mind was jumbled and I couldn't find the words. Suddenly, Colt advanced on me, but reacted quickly, shoving my hands out and telling him no! He reached for my arms, but I raised my knee to his groin, careful not to actually make contact. "That's good," he praised me.

Next, he put me in a hold with my back to his front. He held me securely and told me to find a way out. I squirmed and writhed in his arms with no success. "I can't," I panted. "You're stronger than I am."

"Strength doesn't matter. Everyone had a weak spot. You just have to know where it is."

His teacher-voice was commanding and I found myself wanting to make him proud. "Come on, Corri. Show me what you can do," he growled into my ear, setting off fireworks in my belly that made me remind myself we weren't alone.

I took in a deep breath and sighed. "I could throw my head back and slam it into your nose or mouth."

"Perfect," he praised. "What else?"

"Stamp on your foot or throw an elbow into your ribs?"

"She's exactly right. All of these spots will give you the possibility to escape a hold. Especially headbutting the nose. It makes your eyes water and will definitely throw him off guard."

Colt released me with a light swat to my backside that had me blushing. I shot him a shy smile and moved aside so he could carry on with the rest of his lesson. I was impressed with how professionally he conducted himself, especially when half the class was wanting him to demonstrate the moves on them. Instead Colt instructed them to pair up and practice escaping their holds. 

When the class finished up, I noticed how some of the women hung around to speak to Colt one-on-one. I started folding up the mats and returning the room to its normal state. Eventually they trickled out and left Colt and I alone for the first time that day.

"So what did you think?"

"You're great. You have a real presence and your class really responds to you."

"But?" he prodded.

"But nothing. You did great."

"And that's why you were spying?"

"I wasn't!" Colt shot me a skeptical look. "I never intended to interfere. I was just curious."

Colt stepped up and helped me lift the foldable mats onto a large stack that we kept in the corner. We worked together to clear the room and found ourselves face to face. "You know I don't notice anyone but you, right?"

"Colt," I sighed, pushing him gently and embarrassed that he felt the need to reassure me. "You don't have to do this."

I knew I shouldn't ever doubt him or feel like I needed to stake my claim on him. Colt could be furious with me for the little stunt I had pulled, but somehow it didn't feel like he was angry. He could have been, but lucky for me, I had an amazingly patient boyfriend. 

He tugged on my hand when I tried to walk away from him. "But I do. I don't want you to ever question how much I want you." He cupped my jaw in his big hand and ran his tongue along his lower lip. "Only you, Corri. I've never wanted anyone like this. And I would never risk what we have to see what else is out there. You're the one I've been waiting for."

I nodded slowly, taking in his sweet words and realizing how lucky I was. Colt didn't let another moment pass without telling me how he felt. He didn't tease me for getting jealous or make me feel ridiculous about needing reassurances. 

He just took care of me. Like he always did. And it was then that I realized he always had. Even when I didn't want to see it. Even when he was keeping Katrina away from me. Even when he was defending me from guys he thought had hurt me. Colt had always been loyal and caring. And now he was mine.

"You should go lock the door."

My order was direct and it took him by surprise. But he complied, jogging over to the double doors to set the lock. He flipped a few of the light switches on his way back, leaving us partially bathed in darkness. The other side of the club had been closed for hours and the silence was strange. Only the sound of the air conditioner whirring softly above us could be heard.

Colt stepped up to me and smiled softly. "Ready to go home?"

"After."

"After what?" he scoffed, taken off guard when I pressed him back so he could lie on the pile of mats.

Colt leaned back on his elbows and watched me climb toward him. I straddled his hips and grinned down at him. "After I show you how much I appreciate you."

"You don't have to…"

His words fell away when I lowered my mouth to his chest and peeled his t-shirt from his body. I kissed my way down past his abs and hovered over the waistband of his shorts. I didn't wait for his permission before I tugged his shorts and boxers down his legs, revealing his stiff arousal jutting proudly from the center of his hips. He held his breath as I lowered my mouth and twirled my tongue around his crown. 

"Fuck," he hissed softly. I looked up to find his head turned away. I followed his gaze to the mirror covered wall we were parallel with. I saw his hands buried in my hair and my body bent over his. My backside was poised at an angle and even though I was still dressed, the whole scene looked so sexy. "Look at you," he gasped when I continued to take him deep into my mouth. "So fucking hot."

His words were strangled, choking with a deep need that had his hips flexing. Colt reached down and started tugging my clothes off, pulling me away from my task at hand. I couldn't complain, I was just as worked up and hardly in the mood for tons of foreplay. There was something primal in the way I wanted to take possession of my man. I wanted to claim him and make sure everyone knew he was mine.

I took in a sharp breath when Colt rolled us over and took back the control. "Baby," he grunted loudly as he sank inside me. He held himself above me, whispering to himself with his eyes screwed shut. I knew he was trying to maintain control, but fuck that. I wanted him, wanted it wild.

"Take me, Colt. Don't hold back."

My words broke the dam inside him and soon he was punishing me with powerful thrusts. He angled his body away from me, grinding his hips and pulling back far enough so we could both watch him slide inside me over and over. Colt glanced at the mirror again and urged me to watch us make love.

It was so sexy watching his muscles flex, his glutes squeezing with each thrust. I was getting close to a powerful climax when Colt lowered his mouth to my neck and peppered it with sloppy kisses. "Fuck, I love you," he cried out. 

I pressed my hands to his lower back and he grinded harder than before. I could feel the tingles climbing up from my toes as his strokes went deeper and we both gazed at the other in our reflection. "I love you," I called to him when my orgasm hit me hard. 

Colt pulled back and pounded into me, drawing another climax out of me as his release sent him shuddering above me. We were a gasping mess of tangled limbs and I gladly held him to my chest as the tremors subsided. 

Colt lifted his head and with a hooded gaze, he smirked. "If this is what I get when you're jealous, then I hope you get jealous more often."

I feigned shock, but I knew what he meant. Sex with Colt was always so good, but there was an edge to what we did tonight and it left us both breathless. "I really have no reason to be jealous," I explained as I curled up against his chest and peered into his mossy eyes. "You're mine. You've always been mine."

"And don't you forget it," he teased as his big paw held my chin. He rained kisses all over my mouth and neck while a sense of peace washed over me. I didn't want to tempt fate and think that the worst was behind us, but I truly had it all.
.....

A/N: there's a little fluff/smut for you lol And just to let you know...there will only be about 5 more chapters before we get to the end of Corri and Colt's story. Thanks for sticking with me ❤