Unmasked Desire Read online

  What the hell was going on?

  I couldn’t dwell on it. I couldn’t waste my time trying to sort out things I wouldn’t be able to figure out in a hundred years.

  Not when I still had to manage to drive home without having a fucking panic attack.

  With my car tucked in my garage, I popped open a bottle of wine and carried a glass upstairs to the oversized, clawfoot bathtub.

  There was no way anything bad could happen while I was soaking in my tub.

  I started the water and stripped down, tying my hair up in a messy bun as I stepped into the steamy water.

  Just as I slid all the way into the bubbles, my doorbell rang.

  Shit.

  Who could’ve even known I was home? I closed my eyes, figuring whoever it was could come back. I wasn’t expecting anyone.

  But the doorbell rang again.

  And a moment later, the phone chimed.

  Sighing, I got up and checked my phone.

  A text message.

  Colton: I’m outside. Come let me in.

  I was tempted to ignore it. Just sink back into my bath, into my glass of wine, and let him stew for a while.

  It would serve him right.

  My phone chimed again.

  Colton: Now, Angela.

  Even without his voice, I read it in that deep, demanding tone.

  I toweled off and wrapped myself in a silky kimono as I headed downstairs.

  I opened the door, giving him a full view of the state of clothing I was in. “May I help you?”

  His groan said more than his words could have.

  “Fuck, Angela.”

  “Not tonight, thanks.” I crossed my arms over my chest and deepened my scowl. I wasn’t in the mood. Not when Colton was keeping so much from me, including himself.

  He stepped forward, into my house, pushing me backwards with every fall of his foot.

  When he closed the door behind himself, he turned and looked me over again.

  “What do you want, Colton? I get it. You’re busy with Halloween. You have better things to do. So do I.”

  He pressed me up against the wall. His thick thigh nudged my legs apart, pushing the kimono open with it. “You’re worth more than Halloween, Angela. You have to know that.”

  Resisting him, not melting into him, took every ounce of will power I had. “Then why have you been missing in action? Why have you been working on the masquerade on your own, when you know it’s my reputation on the line? When you know I needed your help? Not someone to take it over and take all the credit.”

  His hand cupped my cheek, and I was torn between wanting to slap him away and wanting him to kiss me. To fuck me right there in the foyer again.

  “I don’t want any fucking credit, Angela.” He let out another groan, and I followed his gaze to realize the robe was sprawled open now, barely hiding anything.

  He was distracted and I wanted him to tell me the truth.

  He licked his lips. “The party is still yours. It’s everything we’ve talked about and more. I promise, you’re going to be proud to put your name on it.” He leaned down and kissed down my neck. “And I’m sorry I’ve been M.I.A. I just want it to be perfect. Just like you are.”

  My heart pounded in my chest as he loosened the knot of my robe. “No. You can’t just show up here, interrupt my night, and expect sex.” I didn’t even believe myself as the words came out.

  Colton smirked and stepped back. “Then why are your nipples hard? And I bet you’re so fucking wet, too.”

  My resolve was crumbling faster than my thighs were getting soaked with my arousal.

  It took everything I had not to cover up. “What have you been up to?”

  “I told you. I’ve been working on some Halloween stuff. And working with Micah.” He sighed. “And my other clients. I do have a job, you know.”

  I sighed, unsure of how to respond. Of course, I knew he had a job. And it made sense he had more than one client.

  But he went from spending entire days with me, to hardly talking to me. Seemingly overnight.

  He took another step back, putting a little more distance between us. “I’m sorry, Angela. Truly.”

  I sighed. “I just could’ve used some of your time this week.” I closed my robe and re-tied the sash, covering up again. “The masks are worse this year, but I know you can’t be all mine all the time. I just…”

  I had no idea what was happening between us and it left me off balance and insecure. And that made me even more frustrated.

  He pulled me into his arms, holding me against his chest. He’d gone from horny lover, to caring boyfriend.

  Was he my boyfriend? We hadn’t talked about it at all. It was difficult to know where I stood with him. Though, I wasn’t even sure where he stood with me.

  “I’m so sorry, Angela.” He rubbed my back. “Let’s go upstairs. We can order food, put on a movie. I’m yours, all night.”

  He carried me to my couch, and as I curled into him, I nearly forgot about the warm bath waiting for me upstairs.

  “Colton, you really are interrupting my night.” I sighed and sat up.

  “Do you really want me to leave?”

  I shook my head. “But I have wine. And a bubble bath.”

  His eyes lit up. “Do you want company?”

  There had never been two people in my tub. I wasn’t entirely sure how we’d fit. But I wanted to try.

  Getting up, I grabbed a second glass of wine, the bottle, and then led him up the stairs with me.

  Watching Colton undress was almost enough to make me forget about any of the masks of the past few days. His bare chest begged to be touched, and my mouth watered as he unhooked his jeans and pushed them off his hips, taking the boxer briefs with them.

  “You’re staring, Angela. And now you’re wearing more clothing than I am.”

  I untied my robe and let it slip off my shoulders, hanging it on its hook near the door.

  He wrapped his arms around me from behind, kissing along my shoulder.

  “This isn’t a sex bath, Colton.” I leaned back against him, looking up at his ice blue eyes. “I just want to relax.”

  He leaned down and captured my lips, a teasing, playful kiss, before he pulled away and stepped into the bath.

  He leaned back against the high end and reached for me.

  Carrying the wine over, I carefully stepped in, avoiding his legs as I settled back against his chest.

  One arm wrapped around my waist, his hand resting above my hip, and the other took one of the glasses of wine.

  “What does one do in a non-sex bath?”

  I chuckled. “Soak. Relax. Let the tension slip from my muscles.”

  He set his wine down on the floor next to the tub and his hands moved to my shoulders, massaging the knots out. “I think I can help with that.”

  God, the man was good with his hands. He managed to find every spot that needed to be worked, rubbing and massaging until I was mush in his hands.

  Even though his cock was hard against my ass, Colton didn’t try to turn the massage into anything more than what it was. He didn’t grope or grab. His hands didn’t slide down to cup my breasts.

  And the more he took care of me, the more I wanted him to turn it into a sexy bath.

  The bubbles dissipated, the water cooled, the wine glasses emptied. But Colton didn’t make any effort to get out until I did.

  “What do you have going on tonight?” I stepped out of the tub and wrapped one of my oversized towels around my body.

  “Honestly, I’m hoping this woman I really like invites me to stay in her bed. I really want to keep holding you.”

  I blushed slightly and handed him a towel.

  As he wrapped it around his waist, it was obvious, even though he just suggested holding me, his cock had other things in mind.

  Things I was interested in. Now that I’d had time to relax and enjoy his company without wondering what he was doing or who he was with or what mask was co
ming around the corner to scare me, I was ready to start thinking about other things. Sexy things.

  “On one condition.” I tugged on my bottom lip with my teeth.

  “Anything.” He smiled and picked up his clothes.

  “I want your hands on me.” I stepped forward. “Your mouth.” I slid my hand over his length through the towel. “And more of your cock.”

  Colton’s eyes heated with molten lava. He reached for the edge of my towel, where it was tucked in to stay around my form. He tugged my towel off and dropped it along with his clothes. “I can make those things happen.”

  With the way he worked my body into a fever pitch in an instant, I wanted to shake myself for worrying, for doubting him. Nothing changed; I must’ve been imagining the distance, the walls, and the secrets.

  Colton climbed onto my bed and pulled me over him, making me straddle him.

  I rocked against his length, soaking it with how wet I was, how much I wanted him. And as I reached down and positioned him, Colton gripped my hips, slamming me down over his cock as he thrust up hard.

  I threw my head back and moaned, rocking hard over him, taking what I needed to work myself to climax.

  He thrust just as roughly, matching my feverish pace.

  When I came, I came hard.

  Colton followed me over, filling me deep as he climaxed.

  I collapsed onto him, panting, my brain fuzzy, and my body spent. All noodle-y, I enjoyed being sprawled over him. He traced his hands lightly over my back.

  “I’m glad you let me in,” he murmured softly.

  Falling asleep in his arms was everything I ever wanted.

  Colton was safe. He felt like home.

  12

  Colton

  The early morning sun filtered in through Angela’s open curtains, making me realize I’d slept in her bed again.

  Only this time, she wasn’t still here with me.

  I got up, finding my clothes folded neatly in a pile on the armchair in the corner of the room.

  Shaking my head at Angela, I dressed. She must have gotten up at some point and picked them up off the bathroom floor.

  It was evident she didn’t like anything out of its place. I guessed she’d probably also hung up the towels neatly.

  “Angela?” I walked downstairs, looking for the gorgeous Mayor.

  All I found was a note and a key.

  Colton, I had an early meeting this morning. Feel free to stick around as long as you want, but if you leave, please lock up behind you.

  She signed it with a heart and her name.

  I picked up the key and headed out. I would’ve happily spent all day in her bed, in her home.

  But not alone.

  I drove over to The Daily Grind, distracted by thoughts of Angela.

  “Good morning Mr. Black.” Cora nodded at me as I joined her in line.

  I smiled. “Ms. Reynolds.”

  She leaned close, and whispered, “I heard a juicy piece of gossip about you.”

  Great. The rumor mill loved to churn out stories; they’d talk about anything from someone’s new shoes to who was sleeping with who.

  “I wouldn’t put too much stock in the gossips, Cora. They very rarely get it right.”

  “You’re not interested in the Mayor, then?” She nudged me. “And here, I thought you were doing all this for the town, and for the kids.”

  I paid for her coffee, ignoring her protests. “Let’s take a walk.” I wanted to know exactly what she’d heard.

  Not for my own reputation. I couldn’t have cared less what the town’s gossips had to say about me. But Angela’s name was on the line. She was the Mayor and she deserved the respect of the town, not to be talked about like she was some celebutante.

  We carried our coffees out into the brisk October morning, and I glanced around. “What did you hear?”

  “Just that you’ve been spending a lot of time together. And you’re pretty chummy.” She shrugged. “You know how rumors fly around here.”

  “I do. But you’ve seen us together, are we not the epitome of professional?”

  Cora put her hand to her chest. “I’m not saying those things. It just hit the rumor mill. It’s not none of my business, Mr. Black, but I hoped after the last few weeks maybe we were a little bit friends as much as professional acquaintances.”

  I leaned close. “Can I tell you something in confidence?”

  She nodded.

  “I do like her. A lot.”

  Cora laughed. “I knew it. No offense, Colton, but I didn’t think anything would pull you away from that display at your house. She must be something special.”

  I grinned. “She’s something all right.”

  We paused at the school, and Cora looked up at the building. “We’ve got our final rehearsal tonight. Do you really think the kids are ready?”

  “They’re going to rock it. You’ve been so awesome with all of this. I really don’t know how I would’ve pulled it off without you and Tru.” I kissed her on the cheek. “Enjoy your day.”

  She smiled and clapped me on the shoulder. “See you at three.”

  I waited until she was inside before I headed over to the hall, to work on more of the decorations.

  I met Cora at the school Friday afternoon.

  The kids looked amazing as they got dressed in their costumes. Coats, tails, top hats, even a few pairs of spats covering tennis shoes.

  They’d taken the Victorian theme, and somehow it was all pulling together.

  Tru came bustling in a moment later with packages of cheap costume makeup and prosthetics.

  “Okay, Mayor Bartell is on her way home to get ready for the masquerade. We’ve got four hours to get all of you ready for the big show. Who’s ready?”

  A chorus of cheers echoed through the classroom, and I smiled, leaning back, admiring everything. We still had to get everyone to the event center without drawing attention and get them hidden around the hall in full zombie makeup. But with the enthusiasm and excitement making everyone a little extra hyped up, I had no doubt we could pull it off.

  Especially with the last piece of the puzzle I had for the kids.

  “Okay, I know your parents all know you’ve been working with Ms. Reynolds on a super-secret project for the masquerade, but we don’t want anyone to know what’s going on until it’s time.” I pulled out a bag of white, plain masks, and a bunch of art supplies. “While we start getting your makeup done, why don’t you all decorate a mask, so no one will see how awesome you look until it’s time?”

  Tru looked at me warily and grabbed my hand, pulling me into the hall while Cora started handing supplies out.

  “Do you really think that’s a good idea?”

  “It’s a masquerade, Tru. How else would we hide their hard work?”

  She pursed her lips, looking up and down the hall. “I work closely with Angela. I know the two of you have gotten close in the last few weeks, but there are some things you probably don’t know.”

  “If you’re talking about what happened when she was a kid, I know. But she’s been getting better around them. And I’ll be by her side most of the evening. She’ll be okay, Tru.” I smiled softly. “But I’m glad she’s got someone in the office she trusts to know her secrets.”

  “I don’t know, Colton. You haven’t seen her the past few days. Every time someone walks by in a mask, she jumps. But it’s more than that. She’s grown more quiet and less confident. She’s having a harder time making decisions. She’s questioning a lot. Including me, which she never does. I think she’s going to need as much support tonight as we can give her. If that means not letting the kids wear masks, I think that’s a choice we need to make.”

  I shook my head. We’d worked too hard for this. And I really did believe she could handle it. It would be a brief disguise before they broke out into a flash mob of dancing zombies.

  Angela was tougher than she gave herself credit for.

  And she had to know I’d never let
anything happen to her.

  “We go on as planned. The kids are all excited, and the masks will give them something to do while we get their makeup done.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “Trust me. Angela’s going to get through this. This party is going to go down in Jubilee Falls history.”

  We headed back into the classroom and I started working on making up the kids.

  But I could hardly ignore the look on Tru’s face.

  Was she right? Had I made a horrible mistake?

  There was only one way to find out.

  I pulled up to Angela’s house a couple minutes early, and sat in the car, staring up at the small cottage.

  I knew she’d be nervous.

  I just hoped it was nervousness about the party, about wanting to make sure it all went off without a hitch, and not nerves about the masks, or about me escorting her in.

  There weren’t any other cars parked outside, making me think that whoever she’d hired for her hair was already gone, but still I rang the doorbell rather than letting myself in with the key. I had no desire to scare her before the masquerade.

  Angela answered the door in her robe, a silky, short thing that made me want to drag her up to her room and just skip the party altogether. Her brown hair was piled on top of her head, a few loose curls escaping here and there, in a classic Victorian look.

  “Hi.”

  I grinned and stepped inside, carrying my makeup case with me. “Hi. Are you ready to be the most beautiful undead belle at the ball?”

  She blushed and shook her head. “I’m just ready for it all to be over with. I don’t know how I’d do this without you.”

  I kissed her cheek and pulled her in close. “I’ll be there all night. You won’t be alone.”

  She relaxed a little into me, and then straightened again. “You’re not dressed.”

  “I’ve got my costume in the car. I thought we’d do your makeup first, and get you laced into that sexy corset you insisted on getting, and then I’d worry about me.”

  She licked her lips, her eyes hungrily taking me in. “Do I get to watch you change?”