Chapter 28

Eliza

Behind me, Coleson stiffens once more.

I can feel his shoulders pull back, and his arms tighten around me. Things were going so well, and while I really enjoy his hard cock pressed into my ass, I don’t like that the rest of him is rigid. I wanted this to be good for him, for him to know people accept him. And while some did, there are a few who don’t, and it makes me irate. As I did when I was younger when I looked out for my sisters, I have this need to protect him. I don’t want him to hurt. I don’t want him to think less of himself. He’s wonderful—even when he is trying to keep me at arm’s length.

It’s cute.

And frustrating.

“I should have kicked that chick in the cunt,” I muse, ignoring the fact that he probably stiffened up because I was at his games. I don’t want to talk about that or give him time to ask me more about it. I want to be there, and nothing will keep me from supporting him. Thankfully, Elliot snorts. She pulls my attention to her, and I see her shaking her head.

“And you say you’re not violent,” Elliot teases, and I flash her a look. I guess I understand why she hit Coleson, not that it’s okay. But that urge to protect the person you love—holy shit, what? Love…? Wow, okay. When did that happen? My eyes widen at my inner revelation, and I feel like I’m the one who’s been kicked in the cunt.

I was not expecting to feel that way for him, but I don’t know why I’m surprised. I’ve always wanted to love someone. I’ve always wanted to care for someone and be a team together. I knew from the start that I would fall for Coleson Katz. I’m not even surprised it happened this quickly. I just wish the pain of him never loving me didn’t threaten to suffocate me at this moment.

At this moment when I’m in his arms in front of his whole team—and my sister.

“Could you even reach her cunt with your foot? Your legs are rather short.” I glare up at him as Elliot snickers, and Coleson just grins. His dimples are on display, making my love for him burn even hotter.

“Would you like me to demonstrate?” I ask, lightly pressing my elbow into his groin.

He hisses a breath and moves out of the way, wrapping his arms around me tighter. Against my ear, he whispers, “Now, now. You damage my cock, I won’t be able to see it in your mouth when I get you alone.”

Heat flushes through my body, and I want him. All of him. All for myself. As I’ve done before when I’ve been overwhelmed by my feelings or feeling way too much, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I gather all my emotions together, and I imagine bottling them up before throwing them into the blackness of the back of my mind. If I can’t find them, I can’t feel them. They’ll stay there. They have to. Because if I find them, let them out, and allow them to grow, I’ll be his forever.

Even after he leaves me.

“Eliza, are you okay?” Elliot’s voice has me opening my eyes quickly, and I nod.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“You know I don’t like that look,” she warns, and I wave her off. She’s probably remembering when I would do this while growing up. It was the only way I was able to handle what was done to my sisters. Standing in nothing but a bra and panties, I would close my eyes and act like I was anywhere but there, being looked at by men I didn’t want anything to do with.

“I’m fine,” I insist, and then I feel Coleson’s eyes on me.

“You sure?” he asks, his eyes full of concern too, and my heart swells at the sight. How can he care for me but not want to be with me or love me? Why won’t he tell me? This isn’t the time or the place, so I only nod once more.

I set Elliot with a look and say, “Yes, just annoyed.”

He cuddles me in closer and kisses my neck. I smile at the feel of his lips, and I feel Elliot’s gaze on me. “So, things are well, it seems?” she draws out, and I smile up at her.

“Yes, they are.”

“Good,” she says as Coleson looks over at her. “I’m glad you’re keeping your word about not hurting my sister. Though, it’s only been a week.”

“Over a week,” he corrects as he tucks me into his side. “And I don’t go back on my word.”

Even I hear the promise in his voice, and I can tell it pleases Elliot. It tickles my gut, for sure. She cocks her head to the side. “I don’t regret hitting you, though.”

I roll my eyes as Coleson chuckles. “I would expect nothing less. I deserved it, even if I didn’t know that you two were related.”

Elliot gives him a look. “He really didn’t,” I interject. “He thought you were a Davenport.”

She doesn’t seem convinced, but she shrugs. “Either way, it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen my sister smile like she is, so I won’t kick your ass again.”

“You’re so kind,” Coleson says dryly, though his voice holds a bit of humor.

I pat his arm that is at my hip. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“You can’t protect my face, little wife,” he teases, and I shake my head, this time jabbing him playfully in the side. His laughter is deep and warms my belly in the way only he can. I love that he hasn’t stopped touching me since he kissed me back at home.

Wow, now I’m calling his place home… I’ve fallen more than I thought.

“Stop calling me little,” I demand.

To my surprise, my sister betrays me by saying the same thing he does, “But you are little.”

“Assholes,” I say to them, but they both just laugh. I can tell they had a rapport before me. Not that I think they were attracted to each other; Elliot isn’t into blonds, but I can tell they got along before Coleson and I were married. I know if she just trusted me and believed that I could handle whatever Coleson threw my way, she’d love him the way I do.

Damn it, I can’t think that way.

“How are you handling her OCD?”

“Elliot!” I snap. “Hush.”

But Coleson laughs. “So, she does have OCD?”

“Not fully diagnosed because she won’t go get the diagnosis, but I’m sure you’ve dealt with it.”

“Oh, absolutely. I knew it was coming, though. She’s too put together not to want things to be the same.”

“Right? When we were living with our peepaw, she’d rip me apart for dishes in the sink.”

Coleson nods, pointing to his clean face. “Facial hair.”

Elliot winces. “Oh my. Did she kill you and then bring you back?”

“No, but her eyes did turn as red as her face.”

“Oh, so you haven’t experienced the true wrath of Eliza?”

“Elliot,” I protest, and she just laughs.

Coleson’s grin is unstoppable. “I don’t know. I may have gotten a taste today.”

“Coleson,” I start, but he ignores me as Elliot grins.

“Do tell!”

“She’s got a thing about the bathroom.”

“The bathroom? Like how it’s cleaned?”

“No,” he says, and my heart starts to pound.

Sweat breaks out along my brow.

“Oh look, I think they’re about to reveal the gender,” I lie, and they realize that when they both look out at the ice, where no one is standing. Ignoring me, they look back at each other.

“No, it doesn’t have an enclosed space for the toilet, and she is freaking out. I’ve seen her naked. I don’t care that she poops or care that she knows I poop.”

Just as I expected, Elliot’s eyes flash to my own and hold. Concern and fear swirl in her hazel-blue depths, and I slowly shake my head. Of course, Coleson sees the exchange. “What?”

I feel a prickling sensation along my skin. “Nothing.”

“Get the enclosure, Katz,” Elliot insists as she looks back at him.

“I already planned to,” he says slowly, looking between us. “I sent a text earlier, and the son of the foreman who did the building is going to come do it Wednesday.”

I didn’t know that, and relief floods me as Elliot nods. “Good. Thank you.”

“Care to tell me why?” he asks, looking back and forth between us. “You two’s weird sister thing is freaking me out.”

Elliot snorts, but I shake my head, meeting his gaze. “That’s a conversation for another time.”

“Yeah. When we leave,” he decides, not allowing me to look away.

“I already said that you don’t tell me what to do,” I throw back at him, and he scoffs.

He looks at Elliot. “For someone who isn’t tall enough to ride a kiddie ride, she acts as if she’s 6’1”.”

Elliot shakes her head. “It’s always been like that. We don’t know why she’s so small. Maybe there were two of her, and one dissolved into her ass or something.”

“It is a mighty large ass for such a little thing.”

“Are you calling my ass fat?”

“Yup, p-h-a-t,” he spells out, and Elliot dissolves into laughter.

As they both snicker, I glare. “If I had known your being friendly would involve picking on me, I would have kept you two apart.”

Elliot snorts. “Wait till the whole family gets together.”

Coleson looks between us. “Would they even want to get together?”

Before I can answer, Elliot says, “They will after I suggest it.”

“And you will? What has changed?” I ask, not convinced in the slightest.

Elliot meets my gaze. “Your smile,” she says softly. “You were right. I don’t know what you’re planning, only what Katz and I had discussed, but it seems that’s not the case.”

“It is,” I correct, holding her gaze. “He doesn’t want a wife.”

“Yet he has you,” she says slowly, looking back at him. “And you’re the greatest person to have on your side.”

The instant she says that, I know it won’t be good. I look at Coleson, wondering if I’ll see his body closing in on itself, but he’s just looking at me. His face is calm, and one dimple is deep as he reaches for me. He kisses my jaw, then cuddles me close to him. “She’s not wrong, and I can fit you in my pocket.”

I feel like he’s deflecting, not really realizing what she means. But I don’t correct him, or even her. I don’t know if his comment is for show or if he means it, but I’d rather not try to figure it out. Instead, I revel in the feel of his arms around me, his hot body up against mine, and I hope he’s done with the space he has been trying to put between us. If he’d just let go, let me in, he’d fall for me. I know he would.

I don’t even have to imagine the bottle of emotions I just threw into the back of my mind; the damn thing already has a crack in it. All from his teasing and his laughter. All because I love him—like a fool.

Maybe I’d be better off finding a bear to eat me.