Chapter 4: After the first time
Colin stirred awake, the room dark and still. He couldn't see much, but he didn't need to—he could feel her beside him, her head resting on his chest, his arms wrapped around her. Penelope. Pen to him. Her familiar scent filled the air, and he breathed her in deeply. The effect was immediate, like a rush of endorphins, almost too much to handle, leaving him in a state of blissful intoxication.
He didn't know what possessed him, but it felt like his other hand—the one not wrapped around her—moved on its own accord. The need to touch her was overwhelming, so his fingers obeyed. His index finger traced the delicate line of her jaw, gliding down to her chin and then along her lips—those soft, irresistible lips—before continuing up to her nose. Her cute nose. Colin sighed quietly, a wave of contentment washing over him. He didn't think he could be any happier than he was in that moment.
But then Penelope stirred, and Colin froze, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't meant to wake her.
Too late, though. Penelope was awake. She smiled when she felt the stillness in his body, like he'd been caught. She breathed him in, and the feeling was exquisite, filling her with warmth. Slowly, she opened her eyes, catching the early morning light seeping into the room. She could hardly believe she was there, beside him, under the sheets.
Without a word, Penelope buried her face into his chest, and a soft giggle escaped her lips. Colin, unable to resist, chuckled too, the sound of their laughter breaking the quiet intimacy of the morning.
"Morning," Colin murmured, his voice unexpectedly hoarse. Penelope glanced up at him, and her heart almost melted as his blue eyes locked onto hers. The golden halo around his irises was more distinct than ever, catching the soft morning light.
"You have such beautiful eyes, Colin," Penelope whispered, her voice filled with awe. Gathering her courage, she leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, unable to resist the pull of the moment.
Colin's heart skipped several beats, and for a moment, it felt like the world around him slowed to a gentle crawl. He watched Penelope as she leaned in, her lips closing the distance between them in slow, deliberate motion. She kissed him softly, her lips grazing the corner of his mouth, and the sensation sent a shiver of delight through him.
It was a perfect mix of tenderness and desire—he had never felt anything like it.
Driven by the overwhelming need to feel more of her, Colin kissed her back as fervently as he could, his lips moving with purpose. He deepened the kiss, savoring every second, wanting more of the warmth and connection that only Penelope could give him.
"This is crazy. I'm so happy, Pen. Do you feel it? I feel like there's… magic," Colin said, breathless, after they broke apart. His voice was filled with wonder, and Penelope's heart swelled at his words. Overcome with affection, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, pressing herself close to him.
"Oof, Pen, you're hugging me too tight," Colin teased with a grin. Immediately, Penelope loosened her grip, her face flushing as she pulled back, suddenly nervous.
"I'm kidding," Colin added quickly, his hand gently brushing her arm as he smiled, hoping to ease her worry.
"Colin! How could you!" Penelope cried, whilst Colin smirked and pulled her close. Her head rested on his chest again and his arms around her with his fingers tracing patterns on her arm.
"Colin! How could you!" Penelope cried, her voice full of mock outrage. But before she could say more, Colin smirked, pulling her close again, guiding her head back onto his chest. His arms wrapped around her with ease, his fingers gently tracing idle patterns along her arm, soothing and familiar.
She let out a small sigh, the sound somewhere between contentment and surrender, feeling safe and warm in his embrace. Colin dipped his head slightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, the soft scent of her hair filling his senses. For a moment, everything was still, the only sound between them was the rhythm of their steady breaths.
"You're always so dramatic, Pen," Colin murmured, his voice low and teasing, but full of affection. "But that's one of the many reasons I love you."
Penelope shifted slightly, just enough to glance up at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Dramatic? You're the one who said you felt magic in the air," she shot back softly, her lips curving into a smile.
Colin chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest where her head rested. "Well, maybe I was right," he said quietly, his gaze softening as he looked down at her. "This feels like magic, doesn't it?"
Penelope didn't respond right away, but the smile on her face said it all. She snuggled deeper into him, letting herself melt into the warmth of his hold, feeling completely content. In that moment, neither of them needed words. The silence between them felt full—full of promise, love, and something that went beyond the ordinary.
As the silence between them deepened, the warmth of their shared embrace began to lull them both. Colin's fingers continued tracing gentle patterns on her arm, each movement slower than the last. He felt Penelope's breathing even out against his chest, and he smiled softly to himself.
"Don't fall asleep on me, now," he whispered teasingly, but there was no real urgency in his words.
Penelope hummed in response, her voice drowsy. "Too late," she mumbled, snuggling deeper into him.
Colin chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. Soon, he found himself drifting too, the quiet of the room wrapping around them like a cocoon. It wasn't long before both of them were fast asleep, tangled together in a perfect moment of peace.
The next time Colin woke, it was to the shrill sound of his fire alarm. Groaning, he rubbed his eyes and realized he was alone in bed. Panic quickly set in as he leapt up, grabbing his boxers and pulling them on in one fluid motion before rushing out of the bedroom.
What he saw in the kitchen was a mix of chaos and something rather delightful. Penelope was standing by the stove, furiously waving a dish towel at a pan of smoke. She was wearing his shirt—just long enough to cover her bum but leaving her legs completely bare. Colin couldn't help but take in the sight, despite the situation.
"Pen!" Colin called, hurrying over. He quickly switched off the hob and moved the smoking pan to a cooler spot. Reaching up, he jabbed the fire alarm button, silencing the infernal beeping.
Penelope turned to him, her face flushed and guilty. "I-I was trying to make breakfast," she mumbled, still half-heartedly fanning away the smoke.
Colin glanced at the charred mess in the pan and, despite himself, let out a hearty laugh. "Pen, love, you've never been any good in the kitchen, have you?"
Her expression immediately shifted to a sulky pout, arms folding across her chest. "I was just trying to do something nice," she muttered, clearly unimpressed with his amusement. Without another word, Penelope turned and walked toward the sofa, her steps quick and determined. Colin's eyes followed her, and for the first time, he truly noticed how the hem of his shirt just barely covered her bum. The way she moved, with her small but perfectly proportioned figure, caught him off guard.
She wasn't tall—far from it—but there was something about her compact frame that made his heart race. The gentle curve of her hips, the soft movement of her body as she walked—he'd never seen her like this before. They had been friends for so long, but now, in this moment, he was discovering things about her he'd never paid attention to.
It was thrilling, almost like seeing her for the first time. He couldn't quite believe that this was Penelope—hisPenelope—and yet, every new detail made him want to know her more intimately.
Penelope plopped down on the sofa, arms crossed over her chest, her lips set in a determined pout. Colin followed her, smiling softly at the sight of her sulking, though he could tell she was genuinely annoyed.
He sat down beside her, sliding his arm around her waist to pull her closer. "Come on, Pen, don't be like that," he said gently, his voice full of warmth. "It's sweet of you, really. Even if the kitchen's declared war on you." He grinned, giving her a soft nudge, his affection clear. "And I mean it—don't be cross. It's the thought that counts, right?"
Penelope glanced up at him, her pout still firmly in place, though he caught the faint flicker of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You're just saying that."
"I'm not!" Colin insisted, his grin widening. "I love that you tried, even if... well, you and the hob don't quite get along," he teased, leaning in to plant a kiss on her forehead.
Penelope shook her head, trying her best to hold onto her indignation, but it didn't last long. Colin's teasing, paired with his playful grin, was enough to crumble her resolve. Slowly, she gave in, a small smile breaking through as she sighed. "You're a menace, Colin Bridgerton."
"And yet, here you are," he teased back, pulling her closer into his embrace. He leaned his head against hers, his grin still wide as he hugged her gently.
Penelope huffed playfully, trying to maintain her irritation, but it was no use. "Fine," she muttered. "But don't think I've forgotten about this."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Colin said, squeezing her just a little tighter, his affection for her shining through in every word.
After a bit more playful banter, Colin decided to take over breakfast duties. "Alright, sit tight. I'll whip up something edible," he teased, giving Penelope a quick wink as he made his way to the kitchen.
Penelope, still perched on the kitchen island, watched him as he moved around the kitchen with a surprising level of skill and ease. She rested her chin in her hand, her eyes following his every movement. There was something captivating about the way his arms flexed as he whisked the eggs, the muscles in his forearms subtly tightening with each motion.
Her gaze lingered longer than she expected, and to her surprise, she felt a shiver run down her spine.Has he always been this... manly?She wondered, watching as Colin's brow furrowed in concentration while he flipped the bacon with practiced precision.
She had known Colin her entire life, but somehow, she'd never noticed just how attractive he was when he was focused on something so simple.
His broad shoulders moved with every shift as he leaned over the stove, completely absorbed in his task. The soft clinking of utensils and the sizzling of food filled the air, but all Penelope could focus on was him. The more she watched, the more she realized how much she appreciated his quiet confidence in moments like this. It was so…manly, and she couldn't help but feel a sudden surge of affection.
Before she could stop herself, she slipped off the kitchen island and padded quietly over to him. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, resting her cheek against his back. Colin froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden contact, but then relaxed, a soft chuckle escaping him.
"Well, hello there," he murmured, still focused on the stove but clearly amused by her sudden affection.
"I couldn't help it," Penelope whispered, tightening her hold around him. "You just looked so… manly. So handsome." Her voice was soft, but the sincerity in her words made Colin's heart skip a beat.
He turned slightly, just enough to glance over his shoulder at her with a warm smile. "Glad you think so, but I don't want to burn breakfast. Although, if you keep distracting me…"
Penelope smiled into his back, squeezing him tighter, unwilling to let go just yet. "I'll behave. Just... keep cooking."
Once Colin finished cooking, he brought the plates over, setting one in front of Penelope as they both settled on the stools at the kitchen island. Penelope glanced down at her plate, and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. The presentation alone reminded her of something she would have eaten back at her mother's house, prepared by their private chef.
"Colin, you've outdone yourself, mate," Penelope said, immediately taking a bite. Her eyes widened in delight as the flavors hit her. "This is glorious!"
Colin chuckled, a bit bashfully. "It's nothing, really. Just a few things I picked up."
Penelope raised an eyebrow, her fork pausing mid-air. "A few things? This is gourmet-level stuff! Where on earth did you learn to cook like this?"
He shrugged, taking a bite of his own food. "Well, when I was traveling, I couldn't always rely on eating out, especially when I was staying in smaller places. You pick things up when you have to cook for yourself all the time."
Penelope smirked, leaning forward. "Oh, come off it, Colin. We both know you didn'tneedto travel on a shoestring budget. You're rich. I'm rich. We could have hired private chefs to follow us around if we wanted to."
Colin laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, fair point. But where's the fun in that? I needed to live a little, have some real experiences."
"Real experiences," Penelope repeated, her tone playful. "That's what you call it?"
"Well, yeah!" Colin defended, grinning. "And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to learn a thing or two that would impress a certain someone."
Penelope's smirk softened into a smile. "Well, consider me thoroughly impressed," she said, her eyes twinkling. "It's unfair, really—you're handsome, you can cook… What else are you secretly brilliant at?"
Colin leaned in with a teasing grin. "Oh, I'm full of surprises, Pen. You'll just have to stick around to find out."
She gave him a mock-serious look. "Oh, I will."
As they finished their breakfast, Penelope leaned back in her seat, a thought crossing her mind. "You know… we should make this official. On Instagram."
Colin blinked, looking amused. "Instagram official? Do people still do that?"
Penelope giggled, reaching for her phone. "Of course they do! Well, at least our friends would want to know we're together now. Plus, it'll stop the gossip—this is our moment."
Colin made a face, half-playful and half unsure. "I don't know if I'm the 'Instagram official' type…"
Penelope raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "You're not trying to hide me, are you?" she asked, her tone light but playful.
Colin blinked, looking momentarily surprised before bursting into a laugh. "Hide you? Pen, if I was trying to hide you, I'd be doing a terrible job of it, considering how much I've been kissing you in public."
Penelope giggled, leaning closer. "Well, I just wanted to make sure. You know how these things go. You could have some mysterious social media strategy I don't know about."
Colin shook his head, his grin wide as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "Trust me, love, I'm not hiding you. If anything, I'd want to show you off every chance I get."
Penelope's smile softened as she looked up at him. "Good," she said, her voice quieter now but still playful. "Because I'm definitely showing you off."
Colin leaned in, brushing his lips against her temple. "Go ahead, then. I'm ready to be Instagram famous for a day."
With a smirk, Penelope snapped the picture of them, her head resting on his shoulder as his arm remained wrapped around her waist. After a few taps on her screen, she grinned triumphantly. "Done. The world knows now."
Colin chuckled softly, kissing the top of her head. "I guess that means there's no going back now, does it?"
Penelope grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "There isn't," she replied, her voice soft but full of meaning.
Colin's heart swelled as he wrapped his arm securely around her waist, pulling her closer. Penelope, always cheeky and confident, stood on her tiptoes, her arms winding around his neck. Even though he towered over her at 1.83 meters, she fit perfectly into his embrace, her small frame pressed up against his chest.
Their lips met again in a soft, lingering kiss, and Colin let himself get lost in the warmth of her. His hand rested on the small of her back, gently guiding her toward the bedroom. His touch was unhurried, deliberate, as though every step was part of a dance they both knew well.
Penelope followed him willingly, her fingers lightly tracing the back of his neck as they moved. The atmosphere between them shifted, the air growing heavier with anticipation. Colin's gaze flickered down to meet hers, filled with an unspoken promise, as they crossed the threshold into his room.
He leaned down to kiss her once more, tender yet filled with intent. His lips barely left hers as he whispered against them, "Let me show you what being an Instagram-official boyfriend really entails."
Penelope smiled, her breath hitching at his words, and with that, Colin quietly closed the door behind them, sealing them into the privacy of their own world.