Colby: September Read Free Page A

loft apartment. An extremely tiny apartment, but an apartment nonetheless.
    “What is this place?” Ella huffed when Colby pushed her down onto the bed with firm hands on the tops of her shoulders. He stepped back. Disappointment had her forehead scrunching up and her heart dropping a little. She wanted his hands back on her. Their warmth and strength. The strange connection she felt settling around her.
    He leaned against the edge of the desk, crossing his thick forearms over his chest. “My office. I share it with the other manager, Holden. I crash here when I’m too tired to head home after a shift. Same with Holden when he works nights.” Worry pinched his eyebrows together. “Is there someone I can call for you?”
    “Why?” The sluggish words felt heavy on her tongue. In her mind, she knew she was sinking into oblivion at an alarming rate. Her body didn’t really give a damn though.
    He chuckled lightly. The sound twisted around her, sending a delicious curl of heat through her chest. “Because you’re about to pass out.”
    “No I’m not,” she slurred. But that’s exactly how it felt. The room got fuzzy, and she couldn’t quite think straight. Ella flopped back. All of her energy suddenly drained from her body. Why resist when the bed was so inviting? “It really is comfy,” she murmured, thinking she’d only close her eyes for a minute or two now that she was lying down.
    A snort came from Colby’s direction. She wanted to open her eyes and see what was so funny, but the bed’s lure was too much. “So nice.” She wiggled a little into the plushness. Her breasts jiggled against the soft fabric of her top, making her giggle. She’d picked one of her racier bras even though it lacked the support she typically needed. The silky fabric felt like heaven against the tops of her overflowing breasts.
    “Can I at least get your name?”
    Ella hummed lightly. The bedding was cool to the touch and felt delicious against her heated skin. “Ella,” she said on a sigh. “Ella Burke.”
    “Nice to meet you, Ella.”
    She was vaguely aware of being moved up the bed. Damn, the man was strong, and his arms felt good around her. She certainly wasn’t a lightweight. Her five foot four frame packed some mighty fine curves. She loved them. The dip at her waist. Her larger than average breasts, rear, and thighs. She had more of an hourglass figure. The type of body that used to be considered fashionable back in the day. If she could only get over her dislike of her bigger arms.
    A yawn stretched her mouth that she covered with her hand. “So tired.” Her body was floating away. The room spun behind her eyelids. Without opening her eyes, she waved a hand over her body. “ Prohibere telarum ,” she whispered and allowed her magic to flow free. It tickled over her skin and sunk into her bones. Like a snap of the fingers, the unwanted spinning disappeared. She sighed happily. A small purr rumbling in the back of her throat.
    A wisp of air, which had nothing to do with her magic, brushed over her and she was moved again. Strong hands gently tugged off her boots, and she was tucked into bed. Covers weighed down on her, relaxing her even more.
    “S’nice,” she murmured as sleep pulled her under.

    C olby stared down at the woman snuggled up in his more-than-occasional bed with a wistful look. Damn, she looked cozy and content. She’d felt even better in his arms than he’d imagined. He wanted to crawl in next to her and wrap his body around every beautiful curve, but he knew that would lead to one pissed off witch. He had no intention of suffering another angry witch’s curse. Once in a lifetime was more than enough.
    He didn’t know what she’d said earlier, but figured it had to do with whatever she was feeling from the alcohol. He could only hope that it worked and she’d get undisturbed sleep. And that her hangover wasn’t as horrible as he thought it would be when she woke up.
    Blowing out a breath,