Paloma had offered to stay with Kate, make sure she was safe during the night, but Kate could sense her desperation to spend more time with Heath, and had convinced her to spend the night there instead. They would be right next door, Kate had assured her, and the walls were thin. If she needed them, she’d yell. She walked them out to the hallway, regretting it the minute her eyes caught the gaze of Colton, smoke billowing from his reddened mouth. She averted her gaze, closing the door with a gentle thud and locking it. She drifted around her apartment, ensuring all the windows were secured before falling into bed, emotionally and physically drained.Sleep evaded her. She tossed and turned, feeling too hot and then too cold. She was scared and angry and fucking confused. Her mind ticked, thoughts of Colton in her hands, his fingers against her, flashing in front of her eyes. She couldn’t think through the haze of how good he made her feel.She groaned, her fingers gliding

“Come on, Kate,” Paloma whined, her voice perforating through the speaker. “It’ll be fun. You haven’t left the house, other than for work, since last weekend! You even skipped out on yoga.”“I just don’t feel like it,” Kate mumbled. “Austin’s been staying here with me, so it’s not like I’ve been alone.”“Heath’s already organized it with Austin. He’s coming too. Come on, it’ll be fun. We’ll have a few drinks and just have a good time.” Sensing her friend’s hesitation, Paloma trilled, “Pleeeeease.”Kate let out a hearty laugh, “Fine. Text me the details.”“Yay!” Paloma squealed. “We’re going to the club on Fifth so wear something slutty.”Shaking her head, Kate ended the call. Paloma was so comfortable with her sexuality. It had been the downfall of her relationship with Dylan. She needed more than he could give and when she confronted him about it, he had made her feel unattractive after having Florence. Kate was happy for her, happy that she was enjoyi

“What the fuck were you thinking?!” Colton barked, slamming the door behind him. His muscular biceps folded across his chest, dark eyes trailing her weary body.“I... I had to get out of there,” she sighed. Her head had started to throb, the room spinning. “I don’t feel well.”His arms scooped her up, her face nuzzling in the soft material of his shirt. She moaned, the scent of his cologne permeating her senses. She was wet already and he hadn’t done a single thing.“Don’t fucking moan like that,” he snapped.Kate felt herself drop on the bed, her clothes being yanked from her body. She was unable to stifle her moan, anticipation already heating the junction of her thighs, “Why not?”“You’re drunk as shit and I can’t fuck you. It’s just a fucking tease.”Furrowing her brows, Kate glanced down as Colton pulled a pair of shorts over her thighs, “What are you doing?”“Dressing you.”His smirk was back and Kate felt the heat from her thigh

Curled in bed, Colton’s tattooed arm wrapped tightly around her waist, Kate let out a contented sigh. They’d been talking for hours about anything and everything. Colton had told her about how he met Austin, how he’d played football in school but sucked so he moved to boxing. He’d told her about how he started underground fighting to make money but had been able to escape that life due to his father’s connections. Kate had asked about his family but Colton changed the subject. It wasn’t subtle by any means and she knew it was best to leave it alone. His body tensed and his hair prickled beneath her touch. It was clearly a sore subject.His breath was deep now, his chest rising and falling slowly. Kate’s eyes traveled to his chest tattoo; a black and grey skull with a snake constricting it covering the majority of his left pectoral muscle. It continued across his shoulder and down his left bicep. She wondered if it had any significance, deciding to ask him when he awoke.

It’d been three days since Kate had been home. She’d not heard from Colton once and she was resigned to the fact that he had used her. However, she had heard from her landlord, telling her that if she broke the lease, she’d need to pay up until he could find a new tenant. There was no way she could afford both her apartment and her share of Paloma’s so she decided to wait a few more days before returning. She’d need time to prepare herself for the onslaught of women she’d be hearing again.Paloma had bought her some earplugs which made Kate laugh.She was sitting with a small blonde, going through the papers for her stay in a home accommodating women leaving domestic violence houses. Her mind was focused on the task at hand, and she ignored the buzzing of her phone as she typed in the last few details.“Okay, Molly. I’ll send this through. Do you have your stuff with you?” The blonde nodded and Kate continued, “I can drive you there. It’s not far.”Molly sque