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There is no way this traffic jam will disappear soon.
“Colin, what the fuck?” Penelope cries out. They are stuck in the middle of the Blackwall Tunnel for the last thirty minutes, and God knows when they will reach their neighborhood in the city center. “Since when you hang out on a random Thursday night in a police station in Bexley? Aren’t you supposed to be in Bath at the writer’s conference till tomorrow?”
“Sorry, Pen, I know you have to go to work tomorrow.” With his hands covering his face, Colin says, “I simply didn’t know who to call.”
“Sorry to remind you, but you literally have seven grown-up siblings, four in-laws, whoever that fucking Fife is to you, and, oh, a fiancé to bail you out,” Penelope grumbles. She grabs the steering wheel even more vigorously.
“Well, you got almost everyone right.”
“What do you mean?”
“My siblings and in-laws won’t be able to keep their mouths shut, and I don’t want my mother to know about this. Fife is probably on some type of psychedelic retreat in Bali or somewhere else, and we’re not even that close. And, oh, I no longer have a fiancé,” he answers with discontent.
“Wait, what—” Penelope blurts out. “—happened between you and Marina? I thought everything was going quite well.”
“She was cheating on me.”
Penelope turns her head in shock.
“I was at that conference. But I decided to leave early to surprise Marina. Last day wasn’t all that intriguing,” he continues. “I bought her favorite cake. I entered the flat but couldn’t find her until I got to the bedroom to see that she’s sucking some guy’s cock. I mean, she barely ever touched mine—” he stops himself.
“You didn’t need to share that detail from your sex life,” Penelope blushes. “But what a cunt! Is that why you ended up in that pub in Bexley?”
“Yeah, I needed a drink after that. I just couldn’t believe it,” Colin sighs. “I thought we were happy together, but clearly not.”
Penelope puts a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“I politely asked her to get the fuck out of my flat and my life, said that everything is over, and then left myself,” he goes on. “I got in the cab, asked the driver to take me as far as he could. I drank and drank and drank until I wasn’t feeling anything, got into a stupid fight, and ended up at the police station. You were the only one I could call. I was so ashamed and didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to burden you.”
“I’m so sorry I yelled at you,” Penelope says with a softer voice. “I had no idea. You did right by calling me. How do you feel? Do you have any serious bruises?”
“Like shit, obviously. There’re a couple of scratches, nothing too serious,” Colin chuckles sadly. “I don’t feel drunk anymore, but I’m sure I’ll have a horrendous hangover tomorrow. And also, I wanted to ask you to crash at your place. She can still be at my flat, and I don’t want to face her right now or maybe ever. But if you’re not comfortable, I can find a hotel or some—”
“Colin, of course you are welcome to stay as long as you want. I just hope we eventually will get out of this tunnel.”
“Thank you, Pen,” Colin says with gratitude, feeling a sense of relief at her understanding. “I just need some time to figure things out.”
Pen nods in understanding, offering him a reassuring smile as they ride towards her place together.
About an hour and a half later, Colin and Penelope open her flat’s door. Both of them are very exhausted.
“We need to get to sleep. It’s already 1:30 AM,” Penelope says. “Just let me prepare the guest bedroom quickly.”
“No need. I can sleep on your couch. You don’t have to do that,” Colin replies.
“First of all, you need to get a shower. You look like you were dragged over the floor of that pub, and you smell awful. There is no way I will let you lay on any surface in my flat, let alone on my relatively new couch. And I’ll give you a shirt.”
“Your home, your rules,” Colin grins, holding his hands up in defense.
“Good. Now go take a shower before I change my mind,” Penelope says with a smirk. Colin chuckles and heads towards the bathroom.
Penelope gets clean towels and new sheets as she makes her way to the linen closet. She gives towels and a T-shirt to Colin before he shuts the bathroom door.
Twenty minutes later, Penelope finishes changing the sheets in the guest bedroom. She’s already in her pajamas set. She also puts some pills and water on the nightstand to aid with his hangover the next morning.
Colin enters the room in his boxer briefs and Penelope’s old, oversized university T-shirt that doesn’t look even a bit oversized on his large muscular body. He’s using a towel to dry his beautiful locks when Penelope turns to face him.
“You look good in my shirt,” she teases, a smile playing on her lips.
Colin laughs, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he replies, “It’s definitely more comfortable than my own clothes.”
Penelope can’t help but notice exposed skin on his lower abdomen when he lifts his hand, and a trail of dark hair leading to his—
No, she cannot think about his cock now. It’s like she travels back ten years when they were teenagers and Penelope used to ogle Colin at the pool at Aubrey Hall. She had a serious crush on him a long time ago, but they’re friends now. Best friends.
Penelope quickly averts her gaze, feeling a rush of embarrassment at her thoughts. She reminds herself that their friendship is too important to risk over something as fleeting as physical attraction.
“You’re an angel, Pen,” he says. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me all the time. That’s what friends are for.”
Colin smiles and gets into bed. He gently holds Penelope’s wrist just as she is about to say goodnight and head to her bedroom.
“Would you stay? Please?” He asks with a pleading voice.
Penelope looks at him confused.
“Stay,” he says one more time, more confidently.
They used to have sleepovers and movie nights all the time. He once or twice stayed in her dorm room, on her bed, when he lost his room key. They slept together many times. Not slept slept, but rather took the most platonic route possible to arrive to the Kingdom of Morpheus together. However, it was ages ago, before they started having serious relationships, and it started feeling inappropriate and disrespectful to their partners. But now they’re both single. Just under two months ago, Penelope’s ex-boyfriend, Alfie, abruptly ended things with her, and even though she’s moved past it, the wound is still there.
Penelope’s heart races as she hesitates. She takes a deep breath and decides to stay, allowing herself to be vulnerable in that moment. Without a word, she crawls into bed beside him. They both turn over to face each other as they drift off to sleep.
The sun hangs high over the pool area in a warm golden glow, casting shimmering reflections on the crystal-clear water. A gentle breeze rustles through the air, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers. It’s the perfect summer day at Aubrey Hall, where time feels suspended, and every moment is a blissful escape.
Penelope stands next to the pool in her sexiest blue bikini set when she feels Colin’s strong body behind her own. He wraps his hands around her waist, closing the distance between them, and lowers his head to hers. She can feel his breath on her body. His grip begins to tighten around her, and then—
Penelope opens her eyes. It takes a minute to realize that is actually happening. She is in bed with Colin. They’re spooning, and his hand is around her waist. Like in her dream, his head is above hers, and she can sense his soothing breathing. Is that truly what it takes for Penelope to have wet dreams about Colin? She might’ve dreamed about anybody. Maybe one of her exes, or a celebrity crush. But no, it has to be him, only because she had seen him in her T-shirt the night before. Penelope can’t help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with confusion at the intimacy of the moment. She wonders if this is just a dream within a dream or if reality has truly surpassed her wildest fantasies.
Penelope starts carefully wiggle to get out of his grip. She can feel his erection behind her back but doesn’t want to think that is because of her. It’s awkward, but it’s a natural reaction of the body, she concludes. Penelope manages to slip out and leave the room before Colin wakes up. As she walks down the hallway, she can’t shake the feeling of guilt and curiosity swirling inside her. She wonders if Colin will remember anything when he wakes up or if this moment will remain a secret between them.
She is frying the last piece of bacon when Colin enters the kitchen. He is still only in a T-shirt and boxer briefs. Penelope quickly busies herself with breakfast, hoping to distract both of them from the lingering tension in the air.
“Smells wonderful,” he says.
Penelope turns to him.
“Thanks,” she replies, forcing a smile. Colin’s gaze lingers on her for a moment before he sits down at the table, and Penelope can’t help but feel a mix of relief and anxiety at his nonchalant demeanor. “How did you sleep? Hopefully, I didn’t wake you up.”
“No, you didn’t. I slept well,” Colin says. “Thanks for the pills. My head is blowing up badly.”
“Maybe a breakfast would help a bit?” She says sheepishly.
“Nothing that food wouldn’t be able to fix,” he says with a smile.
Penelope puts two breakfast plates with utensils on her kitchen table and two cups of fresh coffee. They start eating.
Penelope says, “I have to leave in thirty minutes for work,” as she finishes her meal. “But feel free to stay as much as you want. You can throw your clothes in the washing machine. There’s food in the fridge. And I will leave you a spare key if you need to close the door and depart before my return.”
“Thanks,” Colin replies. “Although I don’t think I want to go back to my flat today. Even if she’s gone, the place will still smell of her. I need a break from all that. Plus, I could use some time to clear my head.” Colin takes another sip of coffee. “I will probably tell Benedict what happened and ask him to check the place. I might have some pressure points to silence him so nobody will find out.”
“And why you didn’t use them yesterday and called him instead?” Penelope teases.
“I mean, it was pretty late, and Sophie’s pregnant, and Ben can’t leave her at night—” he murmurs.
She chuckles and says, “I’m kidding. I appreciate you calling me.”
“Yeah,” he replies, lowering his head. “Can I borrow your old laptop? I can edit some of my texts to kill time.”
“Of course,” Penelope nods. “It’s on the vanity table in my bedroom. You know the password. Now I have to get ready.”
“Leave dishes to me.”
“Alright.”
Penelope heads to her bedroom to get ready, leaving him alone in the kitchen. He quickly grabs the laptop and settles down at the table, grateful for something to occupy his mind.
Penelope finds Colin on her couch typing something on her old laptop when she’s back from work. He’s in his yesterday clothes, but they are definitely cleaner. She always loved to look at him while he was working. His intense stare, furrowed brows, and his thumb on his lips give Penelope butterflies in her stomach that she had assumed were gone. She quietly watches him for a moment before joining him on the couch, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Hi,” she says quietly.
“Hi,” Colin turns his head to her. “How was your day?”
“Just a normal Friday, nothing unusual,” Penelope replies. Obviously, she can’t tell him that she spent her whole workday staring at a computer monitor, unable to do any job, thinking about him and things she wants to do with him. She smiles softly, hoping he can’t see the blush creeping up her cheeks. She bites her lower lip. “Do you—do you want to talk about—I mean, you don’t have to—”
Colin says, “Yes, I do want to talk about it,” after pausing for a moment. “When Ben came to my flat, she was there with a guy, packing her stuff,” he continues. “Probably the same guy I saw, but who knows. Ben offered his help, and she told him to fuck off—”
“Wow—”
“Yes,” he says, raising his eyebrows quickly. “God, I feel so stupid and embarrassed. It’s the most cliché movie scenario. The guy returns from work early and finds his fiancé with another guy. Now streaming on Netflix. I just can’t believe she would do this to me. And on my own fucking bed,” Colin says, his voice filled with hurt and confusion. “I thought we had something real, but I guess I was wrong.” He looks down at the ground, trying to process everything that has happened.
“You’re not stupid, Colin,” she says surely. “And she’s the one who should feel embarrassed. You gave her the world. Made every one of her dreams become reality. And it’s the most cliché thing to say, but it turned out much better that you found out the truth before your wedding. You deserve someone who appreciates your love and loyalty. This is a blessing in disguise, even though it may not feel like it right now.”
“You’re right,” Colin nods. “I mean, things were a bit shaky lately, but I put it down to my hectic job schedule and the wedding planning. I know we wanted to marry next year, and we still had a lot of time, but I felt this stiffness and repulse from her.”
Penelope furrows her brows. Everyone around felt that change in Marina, but nobody wanted to upset Colin.
Colin notices her facial expressions. “Yeah, I guess I wasn’t the only one. She was so different before our engagement. But recently, she didn’t even want to talk about the family she was going to become a part of. It was like she was pulling away from everything, including me.” Colin sighs, feeling the weight of the situation. “She always changed the subject when I mentioned any of my siblings. I know my family is quite intense, and I never forced her to attend every single chaotic Bridgerton brunch, but she didn’t even want to be at Ben and Sophie’s wedding. And she was one of the bridesmaids!”
He grabs his face. “Did something happen at Sophie’s hen party?”
Penelope bites her lip. “What do you mean?”
“I overheard Kate and Eloise once, and they mentioned Marina’s behavior at that party. But I didn’t get the whole picture. You were there, you should know.”
Penelope winces and shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “I—I don’t think I should be the one to tell you,” she hesitates, clearly conflicted about revealing what happened at the party. “But at some point, she got very drunk, although everyone was pissed, but—she sat between Kate and Sophie and said that the three of them were mastermind manipulators to pull off a Bridgerton bastard, and she can’t wait to see the one who will twist Graham around her finger.”
“Who’s Graham?”
“I think she meant Gregory.”
“Wow—”
“That was Eloise’s reaction. The rest of the group went silent, which was to be expected considering like eighty percent of the group was either Bridgerton or to-be Bridgerton, not counting Sophie’s sisters and me.”
“So, she was with me for my family’s money. Another fucking cliché.” Colin says angrily. “I can’t believe she would stoop that low,” he adds, shaking his head in disappointment.
“Everyone once said something they didn’t really mean when they were drunk.” Penelope tries to calm him down offering a different perspective on the situation.
“I know you don’t fucking believe that it is the case. Fuck!” he screams loudly. “Sorry, I—”
“Don’t be sorry. You’re allowed to express your emotions. The walls are soundproof. And you know you don’t have to pretend with me,” she says eagerly.
Colin looks directly in her eyes and says, “I know.”
They sit in silence for a couple of minutes, the tension slowly dissipating as they both process the conversation.
Finally, Colin breaks the silence, “I can’t believe I’m saying this. I was thinking about breaking up with her. But I was so afraid to turn into a coward who couldn’t get his shit together. I’m 30 and I just stopped traveling to concentrate on my writing. I just got the strength to be a responsible adult, to start a family, and to have a job. And I thought I could do it with her, even though I fucked everything and everyone up before her. I put all my breakup thoughts aside because I wanted to improve myself for her, and I hoped that she would be with me no matter what. To not be a coward who runs. That’s why yesterday’s events hit so hard. I felt I have no ground underneath my feet, that I am at the lowest point of my life. And that’s why I got so drunk and—”
“Colin, you’re not—”
Penelope notices the tears in his eyes as he turns to face her. She hugs him tightly while he sobs uncontrollably. Colin knows he doesn’t have to pretend with her. He can be vulnerable, and she will never judge him for that.
Penelope whispers softly, “I’m here for you, always.”
Colin feels a sense of relief wash over him, knowing that he has someone who truly cares for him unconditionally.
“Let’s have a dinner, shall we?” She asks when he calms.
After dinner, Penelope and Colin are back on the couch watching some trash reality TV just to shut their brains off. Penelope is in her home clothes, a simple tank top, and sweatpants, and her hair is held back with a claw clip. Colin rests his head on her shoulder. Penelope experiences a familiar feeling that she hasn’t had in a while. She knows she can’t have him, especially in this condition, even though it feels so right. She takes a deep breath, trying to push away her conflicting emotions, and focuses on the show playing in front of them. Despite the comfort of his presence, she knows she must keep her feelings in check for both their sakes.
Suddenly, she feels his rugged breath on her neck. She nearly sighs but is able to contain herself when he begins to caress her lips close to her pulse point.
As his touch sends shivers down her spine, Penelope struggles to maintain her composure, knowing that giving in to temptation could lead to complications. She silently prays for strength as she tries to ignore the overwhelming desire coursing through her veins.
“Colin, what are you doing?” She asks.
He doesn’t answer but continues to move along her neck, getting closer to her earlobe. Penelope’s heart races as she tries to push him away, but her body betrays her with each lingering touch.
“Colin, if you want to hook up with someone just to get over your breakup, you better find some girl on a dating app.” Penelope tries to sound undistracted, although her rapid heartbeat clearly gives her away. “I’m sure any straight girl out there will be happy to shag you.”
“But I don’t want any straight girl,” Colin continues the teasing. “I want one particular redhead sitting next to me.”
“Sorry, Colin, but I’m not interested in being your rebound,” Penelope replies firmly, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach. “I value our friendship too much to risk it for a fling.”
“You said I don’t have to pretend with you. So, I’m not going to pretend I never dreamed about being with you. I just need to know if there’s a chance for us, even if it’s just a small one.”
Did she hear that right? Penelope’s heart raced as she processed Colin’s words, unsure of how to respond. The possibility of something more between them lingered in the air, leaving her conflicted and intrigued.
“Please, don’t be ridiculous. You can’t play with me like that.”
“I’m not playing with you, Pen. I would never.”
He sits straight and looks into her eyes.
“Nothing will happen if you don’t want it. Do you want me to stop?”
She looks at him. She’s not sure this is a good idea. But this is a now-or-never situation. Future Penelope will deal with the consequences.
“Fuck it,” she blurts out and rolls over to straddle him. As she leans in, her heart racing, she can’t help but wonder if this moment will change everything between them. The tension is palpable as their lips finally meet in a long-awaited kiss.
Penelope dreamed about this moment for almost half of her life, but even the most vivid imagination doesn’t compare with reality. His lips are smooth and soft, and his mouth is sweet as honey. She likes the way their noses touch when they tilt their heads. She feels Colin’s tongue on her lips, asking for permission. His tongue slides into her mouth as she opens it. As they deepen the kiss, Penelope can feel her heart racing and her body tingling with desire. The world around them fades away as they lose themselves in each other, savoring every moment of this passionate embrace.
She starts kissing his perfect jawline, his Adam’s apple, moving down to his neck. Colin groans and purrs every single time her lips touch his skin. Penelope’s hands lower down to the hem of his shirt, and she starts moving it upwards to take it off. He assists her, and a couple of seconds later she looks at his bare chest, mesmerized. She runs her fingers through the coily hairs on his sternum and leans down to kiss and lick his shoulders. With each kiss, Penelope lowers herself until she is on her knees on the ground, leaving wet trails on his chest and abdomen. God, she wants to lick every inch of his body to mark it as hers. Colin’s breath hitches as her lips go lower, causing chills to run down his spine. Penelope’s desire to possess him completely is evident in every touch and every kiss, within him that he never knew existed.
Finally, she reaches his hips and starts unfastening the buckle. A minute later, she drags down his jeans and boxer briefs to free his cock. She can’t believe her eyes. Of course, Colin Bridgeton would have the most perfect cock. Like his dickpics should be hung up in the Louvre. That’s how perfect it is. So long and thick and hard for her. Penelope’s heart races with anticipation as she takes him in her hand, feeling the weight and warmth of him in her palm. She leans in, ready to take him into her mouth and show him just how much she craves him.
Colin watched her all the time with an open mouth, unable to form any voices other than moans. His eyes are darkened with desire as he watches Penelope’s every move, his body trembling with anticipation. The intensity of their connection is palpable, a magnetic pull drawing them closer together in that moment of pure desire. He can’t believe the perfect picture he’s witnessing. Perfect Penelope’s perfect fingers are around his cock. This is better than any of the dreams he had over the years. The dreams that he was bewildered about, but now he recognizes she’s what he needed most of his life. And while he was trying to separate dreams from reality, Penelope’s head moved closer to his throbbing cock.
Panting, he manages to murmur, “Pen, you don’t have to—”
“But I want it. So, so much.”
Penelope’s touch makes him speechless as she gets closer, her breath warm against his skin. Colin knows in that moment that he never wants this feeling to end. She licks his cock from base to tip, swirling her tongue around it. She takes it to her mouth and begins to move her head up and down while cupping his balls with her hand. She can feel every vein on his soft velvety skin and taste salty precum on her tongue. Colin’s breath hitches as Penelope’s skilled mouth brings him closer to the edge. The intensity of the moment overwhelms him, leaving him craving more of her touch and never wanting it to stop.
Colin closes his eyes and throws his head back to the couch in ecstasy. He feels an electric current run through his body every time Penelope touches his cock. He leans forward, his mouth hanging open as he stares at her, groaning and unable to look away. Soon, Colin feels his body trembling uncontrollably as he almost reaches the peak of pleasure, completely consumed by the sensations Penelope is creating within him. He whispers her name, a plea for more as he surrenders to the staggering pleasure she has ignited.
“Pen, I’m close,” he manages to say breathlessly.
Penelope looks directly into his eyes without stopping her motions. Breathing through her nose, she takes him even further till she feels his tip in her throat. Colin gasps for air as he feels himself on the brink, his hands gripping the edge of the couch tightly. With one final deep thrust, he releases with a guttural moan, his body shuddering with desire. Penelope continues to pleasure him, her eyes locked on his as she swallows every drop, savoring the taste of his cum.
Colin grabs her to her shoulders and throws her back on his lap. They share a messy kiss while he hastily removes her shirt and bra and frees her hair from the clip. He cups her breasts with both of his hands and starts relishing the silky skin of her neck. Penelope gasps with desire, her body arching against his touch. Colin’s lips go down her chest, leaving a trail of kisses as he eagerly explores every inch of her skin. The room fills with the sounds of their shared passion, the intensity building between them with each passing moment.
“You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” he says between kisses.
Penelope lets out a moan. “Then show me.”
Colin discards his jeans and underwear from his ankles and stands up, lifting Penelope with him. She wraps her legs around his waist and kisses him while he walks towards her bedroom. As they reach the bed, Colin gently lays Penelope down, his hands exploring her body with hunger. His mouth glides down her jaw and neck, going lower, whereas his hands pull down her sweatpants and knickers and throw them on the floor.
Colin looks at her with pleading eyes, and Penelope nods. He starts taking care of one of her nipples with his tongue while his hand grips the other breast.
“Your tits and hips have been driving me crazy,” he says before taking her nipple in his mouth. “Your curves were made for me.”
His other hand travels down between her thighs, and he begins stroking with his fingers along her wet seam. Penelope arches her back in bliss, her fingers tangling in Colin’s chestnut hair as he continues to worship her body. A double rush of arousal grows in her core as he starts rubbing her clit with perfect pressure and tenderness. Colin’s touch sends waves of pleasure through Penelope’s body, making her moan softly. She can feel herself getting closer to the edge with each gentle stroke, completely lost in the sensation of his touch.
Colin moves to her other breast to give it the same attention. He groans loudly, unable to wrap his mind around the fact that he’s fulfilling one of his biggest fantasies. He feels his cock growing harder again and begins lowering himself to her belly.
“Pen, how am I so lucky?” He whispers under his kisses. “You’re perfect. So soft and lush.”
Before Penelope can analyze his words, his head is already between her legs. He peppers hot kisses on her inner thighs and opens her widely. She instinctively puts her legs on his shoulders when he starts working with his tongue. As he continues to eat her out, Penelope’s moans fill the room, driving him to increase his intensity. The sensation of her hands in his hair spurs him on, determined to make this moment unforgettable for both of them. One of his hands is still firmly clutched on her breast. His finger starts drawing circles at her entrance. He puts his two fingers inside her and sucks her tender bud, tugging it a little.
“Yes, Colin, yes! Right there,” she moans.
Penelope’s body trembles, her breathing becoming more erratic with each touch. With a flick of his tongue, Colin brings her to the brink of bliss, leaving her gasping for breath and utterly satisfied. He laps every single droplet of wetness she gives him while his fingers expertly curl inside of her, hitting that sensitive spot.
Penelope lifts herself up. “Fuck, you’re so good at this.”
Then she finally hits her peak. Colin continues fingering her through the waves of her orgasm, feeling her walls pulsating around his digits. As Penelope rides out the intense pleasure, Colin’s movements become slower and more deliberate. Finally, as she comes down from her high, she collapses on the bed, spent and completely satisfied. He looks up at her, cocky and full of want in his eyes. He returns to her lips, kissing and nibbling her curves on his way back. They rejoin in a hungry kiss, their limbs tangled beyond retrieve.
Penelope flings her hand in the direction of her nightstand.
“Upper drawer. Condom,” she lets out.
Colin basically throws himself to the drawer, opens it, and pulls out a foiled package. He unwraps it quickly, puts it on his cock, and positions himself between her legs. With a swift movement, he enters her, causing her to gasp in ecstasy. Their bodies move together in perfect rhythm, lost in the heat of the moment. Colin looks into her eyes to see if she feels any discomfort. Penelope connects her ankles on his back to encourage him to go deeper.
Colin thrusts, building up the pace. Penelope’s moans grow louder as Colin’s movements become more intense. The room fills with the sound of their heavy breathing and the creaking of the bed frame beneath them. She can’t believe how good she feels with him. It’s one thing to imagine that your long-time crush is a sex god, but it’s quite another to have him truly be this fantastic. At this point, she’s not sure if she’s ever had proper sex. None of her exes and handful of one-night stands were able to give her even an ounce of fulfilment Colin has managed to give her so far. His cock fills her perfectly, hitting all the sensitive spots. His hands grip her curves with just the right pressure. His mouth sucks and licks her delicate skin. His cock thrusts hard yet somehow so gently. Her body is so responsive to his groans, sending thrills to her core every time his voice reaches her ears. Soon, his movements become more erratic, and one of his ands reaches to rub her clit. Their lips meet, and they bury their moans in each other’s mouths. Colin feels her tightening around his cock, and she shudders beneath him. As they reach the peak of pleasure together, their bodies convulse in unison, and they both cry out in ecstasy. Colin drops on top of her, breathing heavily as they both come down from their shared climax. Penelope’s body is so numbed after intense orgasm that she can’t even feel his weight.
After a couple of minutes, Colin raises up and gets off the bed to discard the condom. He returns to the bed and lies next to Penelope with the widest grin on his face. She turns to face him and can’t contain her happiness for being the cause of his ruffled hair and sweaty, thoroughly fucked body. Colin looks back at her. Their eyes meet, sharing a moment of contentment and connection before he leans in to kiss her tenderly.
“Pen,” he says with the softest voice. “You weren’t a rebound. I want you to know. I dreamed to be with you for so long. And not just for sex. I can’t fuck this up—”
Penelope interrupts him, pressing her lips against his to silence his doubts.
“I want the same so badly. I’ve had a thing for you for ages,” she reassures him. “But I believe you need some time. Obviously, we’ve accelerated events a bit with four amazing orgasms in total, but I don’t think we should jump into a relationship right away. It wouldn’t be healthy for either of us. You just broke off the engagement. I’m also fresh from my recent breakup, and we need to work through it. I want to be there for you as your friend. And when we’re ready, we can start the new page. I don’t have any interest in dating other people. Let’s take this one step at a time and see where it leads us.”
“You’re right as always,” Colin responds. “I don’t regret this, but I want to do things right with you. To properly date you. To spend my life with you. To make life changing decisions with you. You’re so special to me. You always were. I was just too stupid to not be with you from the start.”
“No regrets tonight,” Penelope calms him. She hugs him tightly and rests her head on his chest, feeling the warmth of his embrace. “Let’s just enjoy this moment together,” she whispers softly, feeling content in his arms.
“And for the future, I noticed your toy collection in your upper drawer,” he teases her. “And I have to say, I’m quite impressed.”
She laughs. Tomorrow won’t be awkward. Tomorrow they will begin a new chapter in their lives. And they will do it the healthy way. Because that’s what friends are for. To support each other, to stand by one another through thick and thin. That’s why Violet Bridgerton always says that the best foundation for great love is friendship. And Colin never doubted his mother’s wisdom. Penelope is his future, and he is therefore hers. Together, they will navigate whatever challenges come their way. With each other by their side, the future looks brighter and more promising than ever before.