Page 51 of My Addiction
“Give me your hand.”
I extend my left hand out to him. He places a solid silver ring on my index finger. Why am I disappointed that it’s not on my ring finger? I just met him. But in that short time, he has become so important to me. Trying to hide my emotions, I give him a small smile.
“Thanks.”
“What is it?”
I shake my head, not wanting to say what was going on in my head. I can’t help the blush that I know is staining my cheeks. He cocks his head, and without saying another word, he pulls me to my feet and leads me from the room.
“Now, tell me. I want to know what just went through your mind.”
I close my eyes and want to melt into the floor.
“Look at me, Colton.” He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, lifting my face to meet his. “I need to know.”
“It’s stupid. Please don’t make me say it out loud.” I try to plead with my eyes. My pulse is hammering. How can I tell a man that I just met that I wanted more? Hasn’t he done enough? Provided enough already? And here I’m wishing that it was a forever ring he was placing on my finger.
“Colton, I haven’t learned you yet, and I want to. I can’t do that if you don’t talk to me. I can’t properly process your body language if you don’t tell me things first.”
“I just had a moment of wishful thinking about the necklace and ring. That’s all. It’s not a big deal.” I try to pull back to step around him, but he takes my hand in his. He rubs his thumb across my knuckles, stopping on my ring finger.
“You will wear my ring, Colton. And when I put it on this finger, it will be forever.” The kiss that he gives me is demanding, claiming. My pulse is racing, and it feels like my heart is going to come out of my chest. If this man puts a ring on my finger, I will never take it off.
“Never keep your feelings from me. Remember the rules? They go both ways.”
“Okay. But sometimes it’s embarrassing. So it’s hard to say out loud.”
“I don’t understand embarrassment. If something is true and factual to you, then why be embarrassed, especially with me?”
I recall how Alessia explained this to me before. He doesn’t understand or relate to most emotions. He processes them and figures out how to react afterward.
“I’m not sure that I can explain this correctly so that you will understand. Sometimes I don’t get it myself. Like with the ring, I just met you, and I’m already thinking long term. Just because you tell me that I’m yours and you will protect me doesn’t mean you are thinking the same thing.” My shoulders slump. This is harder to explain than it looks.
“Colton,” Ronan straightens my shoulder. “You are my forever, you and Ollie. I will give you the world and burn it down at the same time. You’re mine.”
“How can you be so sure?” I whisper.
“Because it’s factual. There is no going back for either of us.”
He is so confident in his words that I believe him. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I burrow my face into his neck. His scent envelops me, and I breathe it in. When his arms wrap around me, I feel it in my bones. He’s mine just as much.
Chapter 27
Ronan
Colton is unsure. I don’t understand why. Is the problem me? Or him? It doesn’t matter. He’ll see that everything I’ve told him is true. He’s mine, and I’m not letting him go. I never pictured myself with kids, even though Mom has hinted at it for all of us. Ollie is special. He doesn’t cry or fuss unless provoked. He gets upset when Colton is upset. I don’t plan on letting that happen often.
“Let’s get back to work so we can end this.” Colton kisses me before releasing his arms from around me. We walk hand in hand back into the office.
“You’re back. Update on the situation.” Dad begins as we take our seats. “Finn and Taylor have acquired three of the inner circle left in Oklahoma. They will be transported to the compound. Conor is still working on tracking those here in Philly. After their flight landed, they disappeared. Ronan, we need you to get into the CCTV and see what you can find.”
I nod and turn to my computer. Since I’ve hacked the airport’s security before and left a backdoor, I’m in the system in minutes.
“It still amazes me that you can gain access that fast to government sites,” Colton says.
“I’ll show you. You’ll need to learn.”
“I will? For what? After all this is over, we go back to the real world, right?” He asks me, but then glances at the others in the room.
