From Bully To Beloved

SERA

I’m back at the apartment. A nervous thrill races up my spine. Geez, I’m nervous about seeing him. I’m nervous abouttalkingto him.

I’m not expecting Coltonto be here.

It’s around noon, and he’s almost always out having lunch with the guys or handling things at the dealership. I toe out of my sneakers and place them neatly next to his boots (which are not in the way).

But wait, if his boots are here, that means he is, too.

Quickly, I peek around the apartment. He’s not in the kitchen or living room.

“Cal?” I call out.

No answer.

Remembering how exhausted he looked earlier and that he spent the night on that couch, I figure he’s probably taking a nap to catch up on sleep. I put my bag in the living room and look around for my laptop. Since I’m home early and no talk is happening-thank you, heaven-I want to take the time to go through my old ArtGal site and start cleaning it up for a relaunch.

My laptop is probably in the bedroom, where I had tucked it away before the dinner the night before. Crap. I walk quietly toward the room. I’m assuming he’s sleeping, and I don’t want to wake him.

I’m just being considerate, okay?

It’s not until I’m right outside the door that I hear rustling. The door itself isn’t closed all the way. Inside, it sounds like the bed sheets are moving, and I can hear labored breathing.

Okay, now I’m nosy. Perfectly nosy.

Is he changing the sheets? They aren’t even dirty! His cleaning mania sure knows no bounds.

Without a second thought, I put my hand on the door and push it open.

I’m greeted by the hottest sight in the world. A sea of tattoos.

He isnotchanging sheets.

Coltonis lying in the middle of the bed, fully naked with the blanket pooled around his waist. His firm hand is wrapped around his cock, and he’s stroking himself roughly, his chest heaving as he pants.

My brain short-circuits.

Holy shit.

Holyshit.

My mouth goes dry, my mind goes blank, and an ache unlike anything I’ve ever felt settles between my legs. I thought I was turned on before. But this… This is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

You should back away, says the goody-goody on my shoulder.

No, you should join him, says the naughty seductress on the other.

No, back away! No, join him! The two halves of my brain are arguing, and they need to shut the fuck up. I can’t think straight.

I’m too stunned and can’t look away, so I don’t do either. But what happens next sends me into a mental tailspin.

“Oh, yeah, Sera,” he groans as he’s stroking his thick cock, the veins in his neck tightening.

At first, I think he knows I’m here.

Fear has me standing still as a freaking statue.

It’s only when I tear my gaze from his dick and look at his face that I find his eyes are still closed. He hasn’t noticed me yet. Which means-holy shit-he’s thinking about me.

He’s touching himself and thinking about me.

“Fuck, Sera,” he moans loudly, throwing his head back, and I watch as he comes, jets and jets of come erupting over his hand and stomach, his cock pulsating. He’s still panting my name throughout his climax.

So. Fucking. Hot.

My brain finally catches up.

I back away, pulling the door closed behind me.

Quieter than I’ve ever been in my life, I quickly move down the hall, turning the corner and leaning against the wall, trying to catch my breath.

Oh, shit.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Oh, shit.

I can’t believe I just saw that. What do I do? Do I tell him, “Honey, I’mho-ome.” Do I pretend like I didn’t see anything? You know, all cool. “Cal? You in?”

I don’t think I could if I tried.

I need to go.

I need to be somewhere other than here.

As quick as I dare, I silently rush back to the living room, grab my bag, and leave, closing the front doorsilentlybehind me.

Out in the hall, my mind is spinning. I mean, I knew Coltonwanted me last night. I guess I assumed once the impulsiveness was gone, things would go back to normal. Our talk this morning smashed that to pieces, and what I just witnessed only cemented things.

I take a deep breath, the spark of an idea taking hold.

I need to go for it. I said I was going to go for it. Hell, Iwantto go for it. But I don’t want it to be a spur-of-the-moment thing. Also, it would be too awkward. It might ruin the moment if I just burst in there with him naked and all his come still hot and splattered on his stomach. I want to do things right. I want to blow his mind.

I need something sexy. And condoms.

Determined, I exit the building and hop on the subway.

There’s a lingerie shop not far from here.

“Can I help you find something?” the saleswoman asks, approaching me with a graceful purple lipstick and a smile.

“Yes, yes, you can. I need something that’s going to make his eyes pop out of their sockets.”