“There it is,” Colton said as he twisted my body to face him, pressing his lips against mine in a chaste kiss. I could taste myself on him and it wasn’t the unpleasant flavor I had expected. Mixed with the taste of Colton still on my tongue, I was mesmerized.

Before I had time to recover, he grabbed the back of my thighs and lifted me up. My back pressed against the stairs as he aligned his cock with my slit and eased inside.

His plunges became frenzied and it was all I could do to grip the post still wrapped between my hands to hold myself steady.

“Fuck, come with me,” Colton demanded as he held my weight in one hand and used the other to stroke my clit.

“I can’t,” I told him, my body too sensitive for another orgasm. But I could see the determination in Colton’s eyes.

“You can. Your selfish pussy wants another. She’s begging for it, dripping all over my cock.”

My head thrashed as I whimpered.

“There it is,” he said a minute later. “I can feel your body clamping around my cock, aching for it. Come with me, greedy girl. I need to feel you come on me.”

“Ah!” I cried out as the orgasm tore through me. My body felt like it was breaking in half as Colton pounded into me over and over while he sought his own release his body thirsted for.

“Yes,” Colton and I roared in unison as my body shook uncontrollably.

Even with his body arched over mine, Colton’s deft fingers untied the knot on the straps that held my arms up. My arms were still wrapped up and fell over his head as my shoulders protested. I didn’t care, though. That was the sexiest thing I’d ever experienced and when my body was up for it, I wanted a repeat.

“You okay to stand?” Colton whispered in my ear as his breathing evened out.

“Yeah.” Slowly, I released my arms from around his neck, holding my hands out. He slipped the canvas toolbelt free from my wrists and rubbed the angry red markings it left in its wake.

My eyelids were drooping as Colton sorted through the pile of clothing, then tugged on his own.

“Lift your leg,” he said softly, carefully holding my ankle as I steadied myself on the stairs at my back. “Now the other,” he repeated, then yanked the pants the rest of the way. “Hope you’re okay going commando.”

I giggled shyly as I told him it was fine. There was no reason to be embarrassed after everything we had just done together, but I couldn’t help myself.

“I’ll let you put this on,” he added as he held out my bra with the straps between his fingers.

Unfortunately, he had returned all of his clothes back to his body as he helped me with my shirt.

“Autumn, stay with me.”

“For the night? I mean-” I started, but Colton silenced me with his lips.

“Until I leave. Stay with me until I leave on Friday.” With a single finger, Colton tipped my chin up so that my eyes were on his instead of the hem of my shirt. “Please.”

“Okay,” I replied, then I immediately went weightless as Colton lifted me into his arms and headed out the back door toward the trailer.

My eyelids grew heavy with every soft patter of his feet on the crunchy grass. I was barely coherent when my body jostled with each step into the camper. There was a metallic clank from the door closing that startled me. I looked around frantically, only for Colton to murmur that we were going to bed.

He slipped my clothes off of my body with the gentlest of movements and then draped the covers over me. His warm frame nestled up behind my body and I drifted off into the most pleasant dream where Colton and I had nothing standing in our way. Where time stood still.

Colton brushed my hair away from my face but I was too shattered to smile.

“I wish you could stay forever.”

Chapter Seventeen – Autumn

There were moments when all I wanted was for time to speed up. Moments like high school because I yearned to go to college and spread my wings. Moments like losing my job because I was determined to get out of Ashfield again. Moments like standing in Chuck’s Grocery looking at the magazine rack and finding my face staring back at me.

Colton had left earlier that morning, the sheets beside me cold to the touch when the sound of the construction equipment woke me up. I should have known my Friday was going to fall into a black hole when my phone started buzzing with notifications from my sisters. I hadn’t believed them at first when they claimed my name was being tossed around the internet. It took me grabbing a few items for Mom and seeing myself on a tabloid for it to really hit home.

The news had moved on from Colton’s ex, but not in the way he had hoped. They focused on me instead. Not exactly something I’d had in mind.

“Mr. Granger, do you think we can take these off the shelf?” I asked my old employer. My nails dug into the plump skin, leaving crescent marks and my teeth hurt from my clenched jaw.

“I’m sorry, Autumn.”

“Yeah, me too.” My chest ached from holding my breath while I skimmed the glossy pages. The pictures were from the Italian restaurant where Colton and I had dined earlier in the week. Most were taken through the glass, so it meant the person hadn’t been inside. I was certain no one in the town had been the one to leak the images, but it was confirmed when my phone buzzed and there was a message from Max.

Max: Photography has become a hobby of mine.

He didn’t deserve the dignity of a response. Blocking his number, I put my phone in my purse and grabbed the stacks of magazines that had my face plastered on the front. I knew there would be more, but this was the least I could do for my sanity.

Mr. Granger’s eyebrows furrowed as he scanned each magazine. I’d think he was angry at me if I didn’t know any better. He was angry for me. The man was just as protective of me now as he was when I worked for him.

“Your day will get better, Autumn. I know it.”

“Well, there is only one way it can go.”

I waved goodbye as I headed toward my car. Colton and I had finally exchanged numbers, and I considered messaging him about the tabloids, but he beat me to it.

Colton: Are you okay?

Me: Yes. Just angry.

Colton: I’m sorry. I never wanted this to happen. It’s part of why I picked Ashfield.

Me: To lie low. I get it. Neither of us planned for Max to do this.

Colton: It was your ex?

Me: Yes. He messaged and said he had picked up photography as a hobby.

Colton: Fucking asshole. I’m going to destroy him.

Me: He’s not worth it. What are you going to do?

Colton: What do you mean?

Me: I understand if you have to deny everything.

Colton: I would never deny being with you, Autumn.