Hating the Book Boyfriend (Book Boyfriend Builders)

16. Colton

CHAPTER 16

Colton

" W ho is the guy JoJo's talking to?" I ask Kieran.

When I first saw her greet him tonight, I was hurt. I didn't leave things the way she wanted me to last night. She asked for more, and I said no. It was the hardest no of my fucking life too, but I need her to see that I'm not messing around. I put the ball in her court, allowing her time to sit with what just happened between us. I know she wanted more in the moment; the question was, would she still want more after she had time to sit with everything.

Last night, I was sure the answer to that would have been yes, but then the guy from the bar showed up, and he's been practically glued to her side since he arrived. Two things immediately crossed my mind. One, I read everything wrong, and she's less interested than I thought. Or two, this is payback, her way of proving that if I wouldn't give her what she wants, someone else would.

"I don't know. I've seen him around. I think he was a few classes behind us in school," he says before taking a pull off his beer as we wait for the dinner line to die down. I couldn't eat even if I wanted to. Part of me feels like I'm going to be sick, and the other part of me wants to storm across the room and pull her aside, consequences be damned. I watch as she rises on her tippy toes behind him in line to whisper something in his ear, and my blood starts to boil. He nods in agreement with whatever she's said before she walks away, and I'm out of my chair. If she doesn't want me, fine, but she's going to say the words.

I follow her back into the kitchenette off the main area and scan the room before demanding. "Who is he?"

She startles, throwing her hand over her chest. "Jesus, you really need to stop walking up on me like that. You're going to give me a heart attack."

In two long strides, I'm in front of her, and there's no question I affect her. Her cheeks flush, and those golden orbs I'd like to get lost in dilate. "Who is he, Josephine?"

"Colton, I've been so busy today…" Her eyes fall to her hands. "I wanted to talk, but there wasn't enough time for the things I wanted to say?—"

"There you are," Archer says, entering phone in hand. "I was wondering if we could use your phone to connect to the outdoor sound system. I have mine playing the instrumentals inside and…" he draws off his brow furrowing when he notices how close I'm standing to Josephine. "Am I interrupting something?"

I take a step back. "Not at all. I noticed Posey's been running around all night, so when I saw her head to the kitchen, I followed to see if she needed a hand."

She shoots me a glare that tells me she doesn't like my bluff before pulling her phone out of her jean pocket and handing it to Archer. "You know the code." Then reaching for a platter of cookies, she says, "If you could grab that container of cupcakes, I wanted to restock the tree tower on the dessert table."

"Do you need me to take something out?" Archer asks.

"No, I think we're good," she says, but when he doesn't turn on his heel and leave, I know he's hanging back until we exit with him. I grab the container of cupcakes as instructed, and Archer heads for the door and props it open with his foot. "It's not what you're thinking," she speaks low, picking up the tray next to the cupcakes. I'm so mad I can barely think straight. Her response wasn't an answer, and the fact that she said it at all tells me she knows exactly what I'm thinking. I follow her out of the kitchen and to the table.

"Tell me last night changed things—" I start, only to be cut off yet again.

"Josephine, can we talk for a second, privately?" the redhead I've seen her hanging with tonight interrupts.

Her eyes flash up to mine in apology before she says, "Do you mind putting those on the display for me?" I grit my teeth as I give her a warning look. My patience is waning, and I'm quickly approaching a point of no return. I don't want to make a scene, but right now, she's also the only person I care about in this room. "I'll be right back," she adds to douse the flames threatening to consume me, and I nod my acceptance.

It's been twenty minutes since Josephine left me beside the dessert table, and I haven't seen her since.

"Hey," a hand tightly grips my shoulder. "I've been wanting to ask you about something." Shit, this is it. It has to be. Archer doesn't miss details. I'm sure he saw me glancing at his sister one too many times today. "You want to grab a beer with me? I feel like this conversation could use a drink."

"Sure," I glance around the space one more time, hoping to catch a glimpse of Josephine to give her a heads up on what's about to go down. "Arch, look, I know what you're about to say..." I start when we reach the bar.

"You know I want to make you an offer on some of your land?" he queries as he rounds the bar and pours me one of the holiday brews.

I try to keep the utter shock off my face as his comment sinks in. "I had a suspicion there was more packed into your desire to test my soil than genuine curiosity," I answer honestly. This may not have been where I saw this conversation going, but it doesn't mean I didn't see the writing on the wall the day we took soil samples at the edge of his property where the back half of mine meets his. He slides me a beer, and I say, "I might have a counterproposal."

He takes a pull off his beer. "Let's hear it."

F inally, I've found her. She said she'd come right back, but that was an hour ago. It's possible she saw me at the bar talking to her brother and didn't want to approach, but what's her excuse now? She's standing alone by the hot chocolate bar, watching everyone enjoy music, drinks, and the whimsicality of the setting. It's almost impossible not to get caught up in its grandeur.

I'm at the edge of the tree lot when the fucker from Holly's Tavern approaches her. "You got to be fucking kidding me right now." I pause and wait. Her parting words were, "It's not what you think," but what's been eating away at my sanity is why she wouldn't tell me who he is if that's the case. I watch her smile take over her whole damn face, and it's like a punch to the gut. She's so damn beautiful; it's then that I realize it's her smile that's always driven me mad. Every time she smiled, and I wasn't the reason for its existence, I got jealous like now. It's why I stopped any of her relationships before they could happen, scaring off any potential suitors, just like the night I saw her in the hotel bar. I was sure it was her that night, but it was the way she was looking at the guy, coupled with how she let him touch her, that had me crossing the room and sidling up to the bar instead of heading to my room unnoticed. I want her. She was always supposed to be mine. That thought has me stomping across the lot the second his hand dares to touch her lower back as he leans in to say something in her ear.

"Josephine," I say her name louder than intended, my tone shrouded in anger.

The second her eyes land on mine, I see surprise, but there's something else I can't put my finger on. "Jacob, you'll have to excuse me for a second," she says to the asshole that's been monopolizing all of her time tonight.

"Get lost. She won't be coming back," I say as her hand wraps around my wrist.

"Colton," she scolds, pulling me back, worrying I'm too close and liable to do something stupid like punch him in the face. The worry isn't unfounded. "Jacob, I'm sorry," she apologizes as I willingly let her pull me away because, truth be told, even mad I'd follow her anywhere. She stops at the edge of the lot. "What are you doing? What was that back there?"

"Why is he here?" Her eyes search the crowd, and I pull her out of the lot and into the rows of trees, ensuring I have her undivided attention. "Answer me, Posey."

"You're acting awfully jealous of someone you don't even know."

I back her further into the trees. For every step I take toward her, she takes one back, but I don't see fear. "You're not answering my questions, Posey. Is that because he's your guy? You want him?"

"Maybe," she shrugs. "He has a good job, comes from a nice family, and he's easy on the eyes," she taps her lips. "Not to mention, I'm pretty sure if he had me spread out on the counter, he'd finish the job?—"

Without warning, I swoop her up in my arms and toss her over my shoulder like Santa's sack. "Is that what this is about? I didn't finish the job? Who's trying to sample the goods now?" I taunt as I look for my destination and spot the old 1965 farm truck they use for pictures.

"Colton put me down," she demands in a whisper yell as she swats at my back. "You're officially causing a scene."

"Don't try to pretend that you care. If that were true, you wouldn't have avoided me the entire night, hanging out with the guy from the bar." I set her down when we get to the truck pinning her between myself and the door. My chest is heaving, and my heart is racing, but there's relief, too, because I can feel hers doing the same damn thing. "He could never love you the way I do." Her eyes widen as they dart between mine, and the realization of the word I used sets in. My fist hits the window beside her head, and she jumps, but she doesn't try to pull away.

Her tongue dips out to moisten her perfect mouth, the one she's refuses to let me have before she asks, "How could you know that?"

I lay my forehead against hers and twirl a piece of her hair between my fingers. I've never truly explored any of the emotions coursing through my veins. I can't be sure of much right now, everything is foreign, but of one thing, I am certain: I can't walk away from her.

My eyes latch onto hers, and I say the words that have been true in my heart since the first time I saw her. "Because I've been doing it since the day we met."

She presses her palms against my chest before fisting the fabric of my shirt into her hands. "Colton?—"

"Tell me I can kiss you now. Tell me I'm your guy."

"Under one condition," she pants, her lips mere inches from mine.

"Name it," I counter.

"You never ask to take what's yours again."

My mouth crashes to hers, and I swear my entire body hums. Her taste, her feel, her scent, all of it feels like home. I part her lips with my tongue to deepen the kiss as her hands slide around my neck. A kiss has never hurt so good. It's an exquisite ache that I feel in my bones, one that says there will never be another like this, one that is scared to let go because letting go risks never feeling this way again. I move us to the side and pull open the truck door, and her lips leave mine as she willingly slides onto the bench seat. I've never been so happy to see the inside of an old truck cab in my life.

When I don't move fast enough, she pulls at my belt, and I fall on top of her, our mouths deliciously colliding once more. She's intoxicating. I could kiss her forever, but it still wouldn't be enough. Her fingers dip under my belt, sending delicious tendrils of heat straight to my groin. They tease, trailing along my waist where my boxers meet my skin and I'm gone for her. Her touch is everything. I've been waiting to have her like this longer than I've realized. Now I see why I've never settled down, why I never let anyone stay the night, my heart has always been right here waiting for me to come home to her.

Her lips pull away from mine while those teasing fingers trail lower. "Colton, I want this," her hand strokes my length.

My head falls into the crook of her neck. God, she feels so good. "Posey, I just wanted to get you alone again. I couldn't stand watching you with someone else. I didn't pull you in here for that. I can't."

"Why not? Don't you want to?"

I snap my head up quickly, ensuring her eyes are on mine. "Are you serious right now?" I pump my cock against her hand. "I think you can feel how much I want you, but I don't have anything on me. We're at the house. I don't have my wallet, and I'm not in the habit of throwing condoms in my back pocket." She purses her lips in disappointment, and I can't help but peck them before adding, "You said these were mine…" My hand trails down her stomach and between her thighs. "What about this?" I cup her pussy. "I told you I wanted to taste you again. There are other ways I can make you feel good."

"Mmm," she moans as I apply pressure and kiss her jaw. But it's her lack of words that gives me pause. I want to make her feel good, but we also need to talk. We've both been good at not saying what we mean, and I'm all in. I need to know that she is, too.

I pull away and remove my hand. Her eyes widen, but before she can speak I say, "Tell me who the guy was tonight?" She never answered my question, and I want to know who he is to her.

"I told you it's not what you think."

"Yes, and that is not an answer." I can tell she's still dodging the question. But why?

She blows out a resigned breath. "Fine, I'll tell you, but you must promise this stays between us." Those were not the words I was expecting to hear. Now I'm intrigued. I nod my agreement rather than give a verbal pledge I may be unable to keep should she be in danger. "I was helping him get a girl."

My brow furrows, not understanding. "Like a wingman? He was attached to your hip all night. I didn't see another girl."

"Yes, you did. You probably didn't pay attention because you were more focused on believing I wanted him. The girl who asked to speak to me when we brought out the desserts... That was Avery, the one he's trying to get a second date with." I briefly reflect on the night. A girl was hanging around and she's right. I didn't pay her any attention because the only person I could focus on was Josephine, and her attention was on another man.

"Why would he ask you to help him with that? How do you know him?"

Her mouth opens and closes as she searches for an answer, and I hate that I know that means she's keeping something from me. "Do you believe me? Do you believe I don't want him, that he wasn't here for me, and the only guy I see is wrapped around me?"

"I do," I answer without hesitation because while I know she's holding back, I believe her. Josephine Estes is stubborn as hell; no one can make her do something she doesn't want to; the fact that I'm here after everything we've been through speaks volumes.

"Good, because I'd really like to revisit those other ways of making me feel good you mentioned."

My lips captured hers, and they haven't let go. The windows are fogged, our shirts have come off, and I'm dying to have her again, but I'm also not in a rush. I want to take my time with her. My hand trails up her spine, admiring every inch of her soft skin before my fingers connect with her bra, and I snap it off. She grinds herself against my length as my mouth makes its way down her neck until I reach her flushed chest, where I pull down the lace covering her perfect breast and suck hard. She whimpers, and I can't help but groan as I feel my tip leak. "Posey, you're driving me crazy."

"Colton, please…" she pleads.

"Please, what?" I taunt before flicking my tongue over her pert nipple.

"I want more. I want you inside of me."

I abandon her body, knowing I'm weak and unable to resist her pleas. I sit up and run my hands through my hair. "I already told you?—"

"I'm on the pill, and I haven't been with anyone in almost a year."

"You really expect me to believe that? Have you looked in the mirror recently?" I question, disbelief marring my tone. She could have any man she wants. The fact that she hasn't had one, even for fun, is perplexing.

"I've been in my me era." Before I can ask what the hell that means, she's kicking her boots off and unbuttoning her jeans.

"Posey…" I warn, but the second my eyes catch sight of her in nothing but a red thong, my hands are immediately on her. I pull her onto my lap, and her legs straddle my waist as my hands grip her bare cheeks. "I know what you're doing…" I nip her breast. "You're welcome to grind that pretty pussy against my cock and make yourself come, but we're not fucking."

Her nails rake down my chest hard, and heat surges through my veins. Christ. She reaches for my buckle, and my hand covers hers. "I'm just pulling your jeans down." I bite my bottom lip hard before letting her have her way.

Those golden orbs that I could stare into until the end of my days are on mine when I feel her heat engulf my cock as she grinds down hard. My hands find her hips, and I hold her in place. "Are you sure you want this?" Her forehead pinches. "I thought I was stronger. You deserve better, but you make me weak, Posey. I want you to take me bare." Her lips clash with mine, and she kisses me deeply, her tongue dancing with mine as her hand slides between us and she pulls me out. "Posey." My lids are heavy, and my self-control is hanging by a thread when she uses my tip to move her thong to the side before running it through her folds, and I hiss my approval. My god, this woman. She coats my cock, her eyes never leaving mine before she brings my head to her entrance. "If you do this, if you let me have this, there's no going back." I grab her chin. "You're no longer Josephine Estes, my best friend's little sister. You're mine."

"Good, because that's exactly what I want to be. Now make it so."

"Fuck," my cock twitches as she starts to take me inside of her. The woman is a fucking queen. I always knew she was pretty, but having her stripped down, bare, and exposed is next level. And not because of what I'm about to do but because she's trusting me with it. The girl I spent years giving countless reasons to hate me is about to give me everything.

She pulls back up after an inch, and my hands find her hips. "Take your time, baby. You're tight, and I don't want to hurt you."

"I like it when you call me baby." She kisses my neck.

"Yeah?” She goes down a little further. "I wouldn't mind saying it every day, especially if it means I get to have you like this." Those words have me fully sheathed, and we're both silent as we acclimate to the new level of intimacy. I've never had anyone like this, and the way her eyes are steadily holding mine tells me the same thing is true for her. She leans in her lips, gently caressing mine as her hands glide up my arms before settling on my shoulders. She lifts slowly, once, then twice, before finding her pace, and I'm in awe. Right now, the woman of my dreams wants me the same way I want her. The sound of her arousal sucking me in grows louder and I revel in the knowledge that I'm the reason for its sweet song. I smack her ass. "That's it, baby. Ride me the way you should have been all along, the way I wanted it to be yours, the way it will only ever be yours."

I palm one of her breasts before sucking her nipple into my mouth, and she clenches hard. "Mmm, don't stop doing that," she moans as her walls grip me tight. "You're so deep."

"Yeah, I am. I fucking love it," I say, thrusting up into her, rubbing my tip over the spot that's been driving her crazy. "You going to let me come inside of you?"

My lips kiss a trail over to her other breast, her lust-filled gaze following their path before her eyes lock onto mine. "You know the risks," she answers, and I don't hear a no.

"I'll take them with you. You're my home."

Those words have her slowing her pace. Her lips connect with mine, and she kisses me deep as the depth of my words settles between us. I'm not trying to do shit backwards, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. She's the only girl I want for the rest of my life. I kiss her collarbone and neck, whispering words of praise in her ear as she loses herself, and I follow, falling into a beautiful oblivion.