Courting Innocence Read online

  ‘Not going to happen.’

  Yet he didn’t stop kissing her. Or rubbing intently against her breasts.

  But he deliberately kept his hips away. She could feel his hardness barely brushing against her belly. She wanted more. She needed to feel his hot, muscled body against hers.

  She did the only thing she could; she climbed him like a tree.

  Swinging a leg high around his waist, she hitched herself up. His hips swung forward, almost as if they had no other option. She took advantage of the opportunity. Knowing he wouldn’t drop her, she hopped up and wrapped both thighs around his waist.

  When she settled down, his erection was right where she needed it the most. Big, hard and hot. They both shuddered when she ground against him.

  ‘God! Sunny, I can’t do this. Not here.’

  ‘Then where?’

  ‘No.’ He shook his head as if to clear it. ‘That’s not what I meant.’

  Erin had never felt a desire so intense or a need so strong. She had to be with him. She needed to feel him inside her. It was the only thing that would douse the heat in her core. She was ready to burst into flames at the smallest spark.

  She rolled her hips almost frantically. This was no dry hump this time. Just a few more strokes, and she would be ready to come. He pumped up to meet her, and she let out a whimper of need.

  ‘Erin?’ They both froze when her mother’s voice came down the hallway.

  Colton tore his mouth away from hers, and his muscles went taut.

  ‘Yes?’ Erin called, her voice squeaky.

  ‘Could you bring me a cup of tea, dear?’

  Erin swallowed hard, but her voice still came out all wrong. ‘Sure, Mom. Just…ohhhh…just give me a moment.’

  Her wrists were free. She cupped Colton’s face in both hands. ‘Take me to my apartment.’

  That tell-tale muscle in his jaw clenched. Watching him closely, she leaned in and brushed her swollen lips over his. A shudder went through him. They were so close. She almost had him.

  ‘What the hell is taking so long, Colt?’ Dustin’s voice sounded closer. ‘You missed kickoff. The second half is starting.’

  When Colton pulled back this time, Erin did too. She didn’t want her family finding them together like this any more than he did. She wanted Colton King all to herself, and not in a family-friendly way.

  He caught her by the waist. ‘Down.’

  His hold was firm as she untangled her legs from around him. He took care when he let her go, but Erin still used the wall to prop herself up. Her knees weren’t quite under her yet.

  ‘Your place then,’ she whispered. Her heart was in her throat as she looked up at him. His mouth was damp and red slashes marked his high cheekbones. ‘I don’t care where. Some cheap motel room is fine.’

  They could do it in his car for all she cared.

  His car…She pressed her thighs together when the ache between them throbbed. She’d already had one orgasm there, and it had been voracious.

  His hands tightened. The fierce light of arousal flashed in his eyes, but then his mouth flattened. And the light dimmed.

  ‘No, Erin,’ he said. The words were flat and without heat. ‘We can’t. I can’t.’

  She laid her hands on his chest. His heart was still pounding hard. She could feel the tension in his muscles. A quick glance down and she saw his arousal was just as sharp as hers. He looked even bigger and harder than he’d felt.

  ‘Yes, you can,’ she whispered. She was close to begging.

  ‘No, I can’t. I promised.’

  The TV announcer droned, and her cousin laughed like a grackle. Yet around Erin everything went silent.

  ‘You what?’ She didn’t understand what he meant, but the words sounded wrong. Out of place and foreign.

  ‘Years ago.’ He swallowed hard. ‘They saw the way you looked at me – and the way I looked at you in return.’

  ‘Who did?’ The moment the question was out, she knew the answer.

  ‘My parents,’ she said dully.

  ‘And Dustin. We were friends, but that was crossing the line for him, too.’

  Erin couldn’t breathe. The weight in her chest was just too heavy. Was that why Colton had stayed away from her when she’d offered herself up to him, time and time again? Practically thrown herself at him? ‘What did they say?’

  He pushed a hand into his hair and left it against the back of his neck. ‘You were so young, Erin, and I was at a crossroads. Shit, I knew better. They just reminded me of it.’

  Her fingers curled into his chest. She wanted to hold on, but everything was slipping away. ‘What did they say?’

  ‘Erin…’

  ‘Tell me.’

  ‘That I needed to keep away from you. I could be your friend, but if I touched you, I wouldn’t be allowed in this house again.’

  Her throat tightened. The betrayal was nearly unbearable. They’d done that behind her back? Without once giving her the same warning? What was the reason? He hadn’t had money like they did, but she couldn’t stomach her parents using that as an excuse. She knew he was older than her, but he’d cared about her. She knew he did.

  He still cared. She could feel it.

  Yet his loyalty to her parents had been stronger than what might have been growing between them.

  It was unbreakable still.

  ‘Do you want me at all, Colton?’ she asked, her voice like air.

  ‘That’s not fair, Erin.’

  No, it wasn’t. None of it was fair to her, yet it was what had happened her whole life. Protect Erin. Shield Erin. Don’t let Erin experience life. She was sick of it, but she’d grown so used to it, she’d stopped fighting it.

  She stepped aside, away from his touch, even as her body craved it. ‘You’d better get back to the game.’

  ‘Erin.’ The look of worry on his face nearly made her laugh aloud.

  He couldn’t have it both ways. He couldn’t want to protect her and push her away at the same time.

  She turned on her heel and headed for the coat rack.

  ‘Sunny?’ he said more sharply. ‘Where are you going?’

  ‘Back to the soup kitchen.’

  At least they wanted her there. They needed her, and they weren’t afraid to tell her so.

  Chapter Eight

  ‘What’s got into you tonight?’ Dustin asked as he reached for a water bottle. Sweat had darkened his blond hair, and his chest was heaving as he fought for air. ‘You’re like Killer King out there.’

  Colton grabbed a towel and ran it over his face. ‘I’m just not in the mood for their tic-tac bullshit.’

  It was basketball night in the DC city recreation league, and their opponents, the DC Villains, were a team known for playing dirty. That was fine by Colton. He had some aggression to work off. He looked at the scoreboard. The other team’s tactics weren’t getting them very far anyway. He wasn’t only banging into bodies in the lane, he was feeling his shot.

  ‘That was one hell of a screen you set on that guy.’

  ‘If he watched where he was going, maybe he’d stay on his feet.’ Colt ran the towel over the back of his neck and down his chest. The Capital Punishers were the skins team tonight, and it felt good to work up a sweat.

  God knew, over the past few days nothing else had worked.

  ‘Just watch it,’ Dustin said. ‘You’ve got four fouls.’

  ‘I know.’ Colt tossed the towel over one of the chairs on the sideline. ‘Find your spot on the baseline, and I’ll get it to you.’

  The whistle blew and play started again. Dustin brought the ball down the court, and Colton posted up. It felt good to be on the court tonight. He’d needed this game. He’d needed to run until his lungs burned and his legs were weak. It felt good to get in there and grind it out. Bump a few bodies and stick it to the Villains.

  Yet as the other team’s forward went up for a shot, Colton’s block turned into a hack of the guy’s arm. It wasn’t intentional, but it was a
foul – and it put him out of the game.

  ‘Shit,’ he cursed as he waited for his replacement to come on the court. He looked at the clock. He’d fouled out with seven minutes left in the game. Fantastic. Usually, he didn’t get into foul trouble at all.

  Dustin clapped a hand on his shoulder as their sixth man checked in with the referee. ‘Told ya so.’

  ‘Fuck off, D.’

  His buddy just laughed and took off to talk to the rest of the team.

  Colton tilted his neck and felt a satisfying crack as he sloughed off to the sideline. Hell. Sitting on his ass wasn’t going to help anything. Grabbing the towel that he’d just tossed aside, he sat down. The metal folding chair was cold against his skin. He draped his arms along the backs of the row of them and tried to catch his air.

  ‘Hell,’ he muttered.

  Maybe he should just go down the hall and hop on a treadmill. He needed to keep moving. If he stopped moving, he’d start thinking.

  And that wouldn’t be pretty.

  For the past few days, Erin’s face had been engraved in his memory. She’d been so distressed, so betrayed when he’d told her about the limitations her family had put on him. On them. Just remembering her sad eyes cut him up inside. He never should have told her.

  But what other alternative had he had? Let her think he didn’t want her?

  That would have hurt her even more. She was so open with her feelings; he’d always been able to read her like a book. She wanted him. She’d been very clear on the matter.

  So clear that even after an hour of basketball, he got a boner just thinking about it. He tossed the stinky towel over his lap.

  Erin didn’t play games. Oh, she teased and flirted, but that was just her way of expressing her feelings. He knew she had every intention of following through if he took her up on the offer.

  It was what kept him up at night.

  But he couldn’t betray her family that way. He watched Dustin dribble around the perimeter of the three-point line. They were right. They’d helped mould him into a good man, but he still wasn’t good enough for her. Just look at what he’d done the first time he’d touched her.

  Rage built up inside him.

  ‘Hey,’ he yelled at the ref when he saw a clear foul against one of his teammates. ‘How could you not see that?’

  The referee was pointing a warning finger at him when Colton heard his phone.

  ‘Shit,’ he muttered as he dug his gym bag out from under his chair. He was surprised when he saw Jason Sloan’s name on the Caller ID. What would he be calling about? Had the charges against him been dropped? Colton was determined to stay as far away from Erin as he could, but he hadn’t forgotten about the potential bombshell that could go off at Luxxor.

  He answered and stuck a finger in his ear so he could hear. ‘Hello?’

  ‘Where the hell are you?’ Sloan barked.

  Colt glared at the phone. ‘Playing basketball. What’s it to you?’

  ‘Sienna and I are at the Couples Center of DC fundraiser, and guess who’s here?’

  ‘Humpty Dumpty.’

  ‘Erin, you bonehead. And she’s with one of Nina’s pretty boys.’

  Colton felt as if he’d just taken an elbow to the head on the court. ‘She’s what?’

  ‘You heard me. I thought you were going to make your move.’

  He had, and then he’d promptly moved in the opposite direction, because it had been a mistake. A huge, mind-blowing, shake-him-down-to-his-toes mistake. But this was worse. ‘Is it an escort or another of Luxxor’s matchmaking clients?’

  ‘Does it matter?’

  No, it didn’t matter one bit. Either option made his skin crawl. ‘Where is this thing being held?’

  ‘The Renaissance Washington.’

  ‘I’m on my way. Don’t let them leave together.’

  ‘Hey, I’m not going to step in. She’s her own woman, if you haven’t noticed.’

  Colton had noticed. He’d noticed hard. ‘Keep her there, and I’ll show you pictures of Sienna as a pompom girl.’

  There had to be one in Erin’s yearbook. Marilyn would have one of those for sure.

  Sloan went silent.

  ‘Deal.’ His grin was clear in his voice.

  The sweat Colton felt as he disconnected the call was cold. Erin was out with an escort again. What the hell did she think she was doing? He’d told her that they couldn’t be together, but she knew the dangers of hanging around Luxxor. She knew what they did now. She couldn’t claim ignorance any more.

  Had she done this to get back at him?

  He ditched his towel in the bucket as he left the gym. She’d gone too far. He wouldn’t let her put herself in danger like this. Not for him. Not for anyone.

  It took 40 minutes for Colton to shower, get dressed and make it to the hotel. Way too long, by his book. The knot in his stomach was tight, and frustration had given him a headache.

  He asked at the front desk about a charity function and was guided to the main conference room. The doors were closed. He entered and began searching. Circular tables with white tablecloths filled the space. The attendees were all listening to an excited speaker up front. Thank God, it didn’t look to be too formal an affair. People were dressed up, but they weren’t in tuxes.

  The pounding in his head increased when he didn’t spot a head of sunshine-blonde hair. On the second pass, he saw Jason at a table up front, facing the crowd. There were four men, each seated alone at tables with empty chairs next to them. His informant signalled, so Colton circled the outside of the room and tried not to draw attention away from whatever programme was being presented.

  A laugh went up from the crowd at something the hostess said. Jason waved him to come over, so Colton made a beeline for him.

  ‘Where is she?’ he asked, keeping his voice low.

  ‘She and Sienna are in another room.’ Jason jerked his head towards the Ken doll at the next table. ‘That’s your guy right there.’

  That was all Colton needed to know. Erin wasn’t here, but he could start with the easy part.

  Walking over to the next table, he drew out the chair next to Kenny boy and sat down. A soft murmur went up through the crowd, and a few heads turned their way. Colton paid them no attention, but he did try not to make a scene.

  ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ the escort said. ‘I think you’re at the wrong table.’

  Colton got right to the point. ‘Do you work for Nina Lockwood?’

  The man was so classically handsome, he didn’t seem real. Even the way he raised his eyebrows looked phony. Yet, as surprised as he was by the sudden interrogation, he didn’t answer. He knew what he was supposed to and not supposed to say when out in public.

  ‘Check your phone,’ Colt instructed. ‘I’ve already notified Nina that she’s in violation of her agreement with me. If you don’t leave right now, I will sue.’

  The man threw a nervous look at the crowd facing them, but he dug into his pocket. He seemed surprised when he found a message waiting for him. He cast another suspicious look in Colton’s direction, but pushed back his chair and was standing before the message finished. ‘I should tell Ms Foster what’s happened before I go.’

  ‘I’ll let her know,’ Colton assured the guy.

  Again, the escort looked at the crowd. More people were staring now, as was the peppy speaker. The woman seemed confused and just a bit nervous.

  ‘I don’t know if leaving right now is a good idea,’ the escort said. ‘Erin isn’t going to like it.’

  Erin? They were on a first-name basis? Colton nearly growled at the guy. ‘Trust me. It’s a really good idea.’

  The implied threat apparently made it through, because the guy took a cautious step back. His gaze flicked up and locked with somebody else’s. Colton glanced over his shoulder to see a group of women entering the room through a side door. Erin’s eyes went wide when she saw him. For a moment, just a split second, she looked happy. Then her eyebrows slammed down, and her
hands fisted around the large pieces of poster paper she was carrying.

  She was pissed? That was funny.

  Only the Ken doll wasn’t looking at Erin. He was looking at Sienna. Colton levelled a glare on the icy blonde, too. She was supposed to be Erin’s friend, her best friend. She was supposed to look out for her and have her interests at heart. Yet she’d practically led Erin straight into this whole Luxxor mess. The escort lifted his hands questioningly. Sienna stutter-stepped, but she was a smart woman. She gave a nod of approval.

  Ken hauled ass out of the place.

  The murmurs became louder, and Colton felt the focus of attention swing to Erin. She walked stiffly towards the table where he sat. His gaze automatically swept down to her ankle. He was relieved and a little disappointed to find she wasn’t wearing the bracelet he’d bought for her. She did look fantastic, though. She’d played up the curl in her hair somehow, making his hands want to fist in it. The blue dress she wore was modest, but she had a figure that made everything look sexy.

  He didn’t like the way a few men in the crowd looked at her.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed as she sat down in the chair her Ken doll had just vacated. The poster paper hit the table with a smack.

  ‘What do you think you’re doing here?’ he returned.

  ‘Supporting a charity fundraiser.’

  ‘With a Luxxor escort at your side?’

  The look she gave him was lethal. ‘What did you say to him? Where is he going?’

  ‘He’s leaving.’

  ‘What?’ Her hair tumbled down her back when she started to stand up again. ‘He can’t go. Not now.’

  ‘Like hell he can’t.’ Colton caught her hand. ‘I just notified Nina that she’s in breach of our contract, and, honey, so are you.’

  Her eyes flashed. ‘How?’

  She said so much with that one little word, it almost made him smile. Almost.

  ‘According to the agreement that we both signed, if one party wants to cancel the arrangement, the other needs to be duly informed. I wasn’t.’

  One of her eyebrows lifted. ‘Well, I was. You made it very clear that you won’t sleep with me.’

  Colton sat back in surprise.