I took a deep breath before rushing up the driveway with the hem of my gown gathered in my hands. Relief flooded me when I glanced up and saw Colt's bedroom light was on. He was home and I needed him more than anything. 

At the prom it was all I could do to let him walk away from me when Jason asked to cut into our dance. Jason's arms didn't feel as good as Colt's had. I couldn't stop thinking about how Colt had waited until I was alone and then pulled me into a dance I could tell he had practiced for.

I dashed up the steps to the loft apartment and eased the partially cracked door open a bit more. Colt was splayed out on the bed with his shoes kicked off, shirt missing and his pants undone.

"Colt?" I whispered, approaching him slowly. His eyelids fluttered a bit when I lowered myself to the edge of the bed. "Are you okay?"

He groaned and threw an arm over his eyes. "Corri?"

"He's all worn out. Maybe you should let him sleep."

Katrina's nasally voice was like a dagger plunging between my shoulder blades. Somehow I never counted on her being here. I spun around to find her sauntering toward me wearing Colt's white dress shirt. That was the only thing she was wearing. And I knew that because she hadn't bothered to button it up. 

My gaze snapped back to Colt whose eyes were now darting between Katrina and I. I guess the horror on my face must have been easy to read because the moment I stood up and tried to stumble for the door, he reached for me. "Corri, don't go," he called out as I gripped the door handle. 

But I couldn't stay. I didn't wanna see more than I already had. I felt nauseous with hate. How could he have held me so tightly and stared into my eyes during our dance and then come home and had sex with her?

I dashed back down the steps, doing my best not to trip on my dress. I raced through the house, careful not to alert my father that I was home. It was late and I didn't want to explain what had happened. I bounded through my door, carefully shutting it without a sound. When I caught sight of myself in my full length mirror, my shoulders sagged.

I carefully removed my makeup and unpinned my hair. I was struggling to unzip my dress when I heard Colt softly tapping on my door. "Corri," he whispered. "Let me in."

I was able to lower the zipper and wriggle out of my dress, but I still didn't want to see Colt. I stepped inside my walk-in closet and curled into a ball under my hanging clothes. Maybe Colt would give up looking for me and I could lick my wounds in peace.

I reached up and tugged a t-shirt down from where it hung above my head, yanking it over my near naked frame. A little bit of time passed and I was feeling pretty sure that Colt had given up looking for me. So I was surprised when my closet door eased open and I spied his bare feet beside my balled up self on the floor.

Wordlessly, he sank down, his back against the wall beside me. I hadn't turned the light on, but he seemed to know right where I was. He reached for my hand and took it in his. "Can I talk to you?"

I didn't speak. I was too afraid of what my voice would sound like and how ridiculous it was for me to hide in my own closet. Colt sighed and slid down further, lying on his side and facing me as I hid in the corner. "If you don't want to talk...I get that, but I have some things I need to say to you."

Once again, I didn't reply, but that didn't seem to deter him. He fumbled with his phone in the dark, eventually turning on the flashlight on his phone and leaning it against the wall so it shone on both of our faces. He looked tired, but beautiful like always. His hair was damp as he must have had a shower before he found me. He was clad in a pair of gray sweats and no shirt, which made it difficult for me to concentrate.

But then I remembered how I had found him, half naked with Katrina and suddenly I felt sick again. "Colt...you don't owe me any explanations."

That was only partly true. Because I wanted him to tell me how this happened. Hell, I needed to know why he ran to her.

He squeezed my palm between his large calloused hands and sucked in a deep breath. "Tell me what happened with Jason."

His brow was furrowed and suddenly it all made sense. Colt was worried that I had slept with Jason. When I alluded to the fact that sex might happen, I didn't think Colt took me seriously. Sure, I enjoyed seeing that twinge of jealousy when I flippantly mentioned our post-prom plans. 

But did I expect him to race home and have sex with Katrina? Hell no. He never even seemed that interested in her. I knew she had been around, following him to his job or the gym, but he always seemed annoyed with her. So what the hell changed? 

"He just dropped me off."

Colt nodded slowly as his gaze dropped to my lips. "I thought you were going to his house after the dance."

I shrugged. "I just...I didn't want to."

"Did he...did he do something to make you feel uncomfortable?" Colt sputtered nervously and I could see where his mind was going. 

I reached up with my free hand and smoothed the worry lines on his forehead. "No. I'm fine. We just...we broke up."

"Why?" Colt asked breathlessly.

I couldn't look him in the eye when I replied, "Because Jason isn't the one I want to be with. And I couldn't keep lying to myself about it."

Colt hooked a finger under my chin and tipped my face up until our eyes met. "I know what you must think happened in my room, but…"

I leaned away from him, pulling away from his grasp and noticing that he wasn't happy about it. "She said she wore you out and I could lie and say I don't care, but I do."

"I thought you were leaving the prom to go sleep with Jason."

"I didn't."

"But I thought you were so…"

"You slept with her?" I choked out on a sob.

"No, I didn't."

"But she said…"

"I got drunk, Butterfly. We were drinking in the alley and we were drinking up in my room. She wanted to...you know, but I didn't. I told her no."

Colt had rolled onto his back, staring up at the ceiling with his phone light still casting shadows on his strong jaw and dark, wavy hair. "But if you were that drunk, then maybe you…" I began.

Colt laughed heartily but I didn't get the joke. "You act like I can just get turned on by any other girl. Fuck, Butterfly, don't you realize…"

"What?" I prompted, scooting closer without even noticing I had done it.

Colt curled his hand around the back of my neck and drew my body half on top of his. His green eyes shone brightly in the dark when he stared down at me. "There's nobody else but you. I've tried so hard to move on...to ignore this connection we have, but I can't. I can't stop hating Jason because he's the one who gets to kiss you, but I can't stop him either."

My entire body tingled with the way he spoke to me, the way his eyes roamed my face and kept stopping on my mouth. I could tell he was holding back when his teeth sunk into his lower lip. When I thought he was about to finally kiss me, he gathered me close in his arms and held me so tightly. 

I sighed when I felt his hand run down my side, smoothing over my hip and hooking behind my knee. When my inner thigh brushed his erection, he gasped. I looked up to find him squeezing his eyes shut and trying to regain his composure. He wanted me badly, I could see and feel that. 

"Colt…" I began, snaking my hand up his chest and gripping his chin so he would look at me. "Why can't we try? We could talk to my father."

Colt scrambled away from me and stood up. "You're freezing. Let's get you to bed and we can talk more tomorrow."

"Let's talk now," I blurted. A big part of me knew that if I let him leave my room, I may never get another chance. I needed time to make him see that this could work.

Colt breathed a heavy sigh and then glanced around until his eyes landed on the fluffy blanket on the top shelf of my closet. He covered me with it and tossed me a couple of throw pillows too. I made us a little makeshift bed and opened the blanket so Colt would join me. I could see the struggle behind his expression. 

"If we get caught, I'm blaming you," he conceded before finally lowering himself beside me.

"No problem," I replied, hiding my delight at the prospect of spending a night in Colt's arms.

I could feel Colt keeping his distance, but I didn't let it deter me. I snuggled up in his arms and buried my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling his scent with every breath. Soon his breathing came faster, his fingers curling into my skin and holding me tighter.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my lips brushing his collarbone as I spoke. 

"Turn over," he murmured with need.

I glanced up at him for a moment in confusion until he rolled me away from him with my back to his front. He curled one arm under my neck and the other gripped my hip tightly. His whole body felt on edge, tight, and ready to explode.

"I can't handle you breathing on my neck like that," he finally admitted. 

I scooted back against him more snugly, hiding my shock as his erection dug into my backside. I refrained from wiggling around and teasing him further, but knowing that I had turned him on was doing wonders for my ego.

I could feel my body relaxing into his touch as he burrowed his face into my neck and whispered, "Good night, Butterfly."

I tried to ignore the tingles as his breath sent heat spreading over me. Now I understood how frustrated he was and wasn't sure how to handle it. His breathing slowed and deepened and soon it was lulling me to sleep right along with him.

…..

"Corri."

I groaned as I stretched, my fingers skimming over the hard planes of Colt's abs, lower and lower until he grabbed my hand. "It's your dad."

I jerked straight up, disoriented by the hanging clothes in my face. I had almost forgotten the fact that I had fallen asleep on the floor with Colt, who was now looking and sounding dreamy with that gruff morning voice and sexy tousled hair.

"My dad?" I gasped. "Where?"

Colt scrambled to his feet, pulling me up along with him. "At the door. Go answer it!" he whisper shouted. 

I left him standing in the closet and was relieved to find my dad had wandered off to the kitchen when I didn't answer. He was standing in front of the coffee maker when I walked in and his mood seemed grim. 

"Good morning, dad!"

My father gave me a bit of a scowl as he poured himself a cup of coffee and then searched the refrigerator for his favorite creamer. "Morning, honey. Have you seen Colt?"

I blinked quickly and the thought that he might have known where he was and was testing me. "I ...I'm not sure but I think he might have left for the gym already," I lied and hoped my fidgeting didn't give it away.

Without missing a beat, my father stared me down and retorted, "With his truck still parked on the street?"

I opened my mouth to formulate another pathetic story when we both heard the front door open and close. Colt appeared in the doorway with his sweats hiked up to his knees, a hand towel wrapped around his neck and a fresh coat of sweat covering his upper half. He glanced between my father and I before mopping his face with the towel and then smiled. "What's for breakfast?"

Dad narrowed his gaze at Colt and we both shifted nervously. "I'm surprised you got up to run with that hangover you must be nursing."

"Sir, I…" Colt began before my father raised his hand and cut him off.

"I know kids your age drink, Colt. But you're in training and I'd hate to see you throw that away. Please tell me you weren't driving like that."

Colt shook his head quickly. "No, Katrina drove."

I bristled at the mention of her name and was surprised he had let her drive considering he treated that truck like his baby. 

"Alright, well then, I guess you're feeling up to some training today if you were able to drag your ass up for a run this early."

Colt smiled and nodded, sparing a quick glance at me before he disappeared with my dad's arm wrapped around his shoulder. Dad popped back in to tell me goodbye before he took off to open the gym. I decided to make Colt breakfast since I knew he would be leaving shortly as well.

"Did you make pancakes?"

I felt Colt behind me as I stood over the stove. I spun around and smiled up at him. "Nope. I made French toast and omelets. Want some?"

His tongue peeked out to swipe over his lower lip before he answered me. "Your dad is waiting for me."

I cut a small bite of the toast from the plate I had prepared and held it to his mouth. "You can't leave without trying it."

The corners of his mouth turned up just a little before he took the bite I offered. He licked the syrup from his lips and growled in delight, even letting his eyes fall closed for just a moment. "That's so good," he hummed.

I was tempted to lick an errant drop of syrup from his chin, so I gripped his hips and leaned up to swipe with my tongue. But I caught the nervous look in his eyes and I used my finger instead. When I plunged the syrup covered digit into my mouth, I noticed how he couldn't tear his eyes away. When I was able to think straight, I finished plating our food while Colt poured the juice.

We sat and ate in a comfortable silence until I said, "So last night was…"

"Dangerous."

"But it was nice, right?" I was praying I could get Colt back on track. Last night when we had our bodies pressed together and he was admitting how he only wanted me, I began to think about how good it could be. And he needed reminding of that.

Colt scoffed. "Yeah it was nice until your dad nearly caught me in your room. We can't be that stupid again."

"I don't think we were stupid," I retorted with sass. 

"Well then what would you call it?"

I took a sip of my juice and peered over the rim of the glass. "We were being honest with each other. And you were finally admitting how you felt."

Colt suddenly looked very guilty. "What I told you last night...about wanting you...I shouldn't have told you that. It wasn't right."

His head dropped in shame and I felt compelled to reach for him, cradling his jaw in my hand. "I'm glad you told me. It makes me feel better knowing that all this isn't just in my head."

"All this?" he echoed.

I nodded and rose from the table, moving to his side and settling in his lap. "All this tension between us, the looks we share and the way my heart pounds when you barely touch me." I lifted his hand and pressed to my chest, watching his face as he felt the heavy strumming under the surface. 

I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in close. I wanted to believe we could make it work. I wanted to believe we could overcome anything as long as we were together. 

"I should go," Colt whispered into my hair. 

I begrudgingly slid off of his lap and began clearing the table. Colt brought his dishes to me as I stood in front of the sink. I waited for him to hug me or kiss me or promise me that we could talk later. Instead he dropped a kiss to my shoulder and rushed out of the house before I could say another word. And somehow I knew he didn't feel as sure as I did. 

And while I was trying to figure out how I could spend every single moment with Colt, he was always trying to figure out a way to avoid me. 

It was subtle at first with him using his impending graduation to try and keep me away. Then summer came and he divided his time between his work at the junkyard, training for his fight, and helping my dad at the gym. He never had time to hang out with me. I resented him for it once again, getting my hopes up about us and then letting me down again. 

And then I found myself going out of my way to get his attention. I always seemed to know just what to do to push his buttons and put the spotlight on myself. 

Colt stopped asking me not to kiss other boys or go on dates or go to the same parties he went to. But he was always there watching me with a scowl on his face and knowing that he was irritated with me was it's own reward.