Читать книгу Courting Innocence - Kimberly Dean - Страница 8

The hallway to Luxxor’s offices seemed long and extra narrow. Erin’s knees were unsteady as she made her way to the meeting Nina had scheduled. They’d talked and agreed to try a new direction for her. This time it was going to be different, she could feel it.

The idea excited her, yet also pushed her out of her comfort zone. She knew the type of man she’d described to Nina, but she’d never dated anyone like that. She hadn’t even spent much time in the company of someone like that – not in the past few years, anyway. Jason didn’t count. He felt too much like a big brother.

Yet this. She felt as if she was moving up a league. When Nina had called, she’d asked three times if Erin was sure.

She smoothed her dress over her hips. She was sure, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t anxious.

She took a moment to dart into the ladies’ room to check how she looked in the mirror. The little black dress was simple but deceiving. It skimmed her body closely, emphasising her figure. She was petite, but she had curves. Not flamboyant ones, but she wasn’t a stick. She debated the hem once again. The dress was short, but not too short. She hoped. She’d tried to make herself look taller. Her black heels helped with that, although she couldn’t pull off the stilettos that Nina wore.

Erin fluffed her hair. She’d had it up and then down, half-up in a barrette and then back down again. It hung in loose waves around her shoulders and down her back.

She did a quick check of her makeup, but the brightness in her eyes and the pinkness in her cheeks hadn’t been painted on.

‘It will be fine,’ she told herself in the mirror.

No, she wanted better than fine. She wanted out-of-this-world. She wanted unbelievable. She wanted lightning and thunder and magic.

Switch it up. Get in the mix. Turn it upside down.

Blowing out a quick puff of air, she finished the trek to Luxxor’s offices and entered through the heavy oak door.

Despite the late hour, Rielle was waiting with a smile on her face. ‘Hello, Erin. Welcome.’

‘What are you doing here so late?’

‘Oh, just finishing up a few things.’

Erin was glad she’d checked Sienna’s schedule. She wouldn’t have wanted to run into her roommate. Not tonight. They hadn’t yet talked about the fact that she was using Luxxor’s services, but she knew that Sienna was aware. They’d both skittered around the subject, neither really wanting to talk about it. Fortunately, her roommate and Jason were out at a function this evening.

‘Let me walk you to Nina’s offices,’ Rielle said. ‘She’ll introduce you.’

Erin’s eyebrows rose. ‘He’s here already?’

The office manager nodded.

Erin’s stomach flipped. ‘What’s he like? Is he nice? No, I didn’t ask for nice. Is he interesting? Handsome? No, that’s not important. Does he have…presence?’

Rielle touched her shoulder soothingly. ‘All that’s up to you to decide – but I definitely feel he has “presence”.’

Erin squeezed her pocketbook until the knobs on the coin purse bit into her palm. She tried to calm her racing heart, but this hallway was much too short for that.

When Rielle gave a soft knock, there was no more time. ‘Good luck,’ the woman whispered.

Erin nodded, unable to voice her thanks. Trying to be composed and worldly, she walked into the room. Two people were waiting: Nina, looking like everything Erin didn’t feel, and a solid, dark-haired man whose back was turned to her.

Erin stopped on a dime. He had presence all right. She could feel it all the way from across the room. The knot in her belly drifted lower, where it began to collect heat. Before she even saw his face, she knew he was sexy.

‘Hello,’ she said softly, happy when her voice didn’t waver.

The man stiffened. Slowly, he turned away from their hostess to look at her. Erin’s breath went short when his dark gaze connected with hers.

And then she couldn’t breathe at all.

Her stomach dropped, and dread filled her. Oh, no. No, this couldn’t be happening. This was some sick joke. Her family had found out what she was doing and had sent him in. She was so busted.

‘Come in, Erin,’ Nina said in her husky voice. ‘Erin Foster, this is Colton King.’

Erin knew. The man had been her teenage dream. Her fantasy – and the crush had lasted well past adolescence.

‘Erin?’ he said sharply.

Her knees wobbled and she caught the back of a chair. He was going to give her away. He’d tell Dustin, who’d tell their parents. If he hadn’t already –

She swallowed hard. ‘Colt,’ she managed to get out.

His attention swung from her to Nina and then back again. ‘What is this?’ he asked. ‘What’s going on?’

Erin focused on the carpeting. If she was lucky, maybe a big hole would open and swallow her up. It was the only way she could see to get out of this mess. She should have given Nina a list of men she couldn’t see. No-goes. This one would have been smack dab atop the list.

‘This is the woman I spoke to you about,’ Nina said patiently.

‘Jesus,’ he muttered underneath his breath.

That made Erin’s gaze lift. So maybe he hadn’t known? If she begged, would he put this in the vault and promise never to talk about it? Ever?

She didn’t think so. His jaw had gone tight, and a muscle at his temple was flittering. He had a tan as if he’d recently been some place warm, but underneath it she saw a definite pallor.

This was not good.

‘As I explained, we’re reevaluating the process we use to pair people. When we keyed in the new parameters, you two were a match for each other’s wants and preferences.’ Nina reached up to toy with an earring. ‘A perfect match, in fact.’

What? Erin’s heart raced so hard it hurt. Her ribcage was just too tight to contain it. If he wasn’t here to yell at her, then…‘You’re my date?’

The squeak in her voice made her cringe. It made her sound young and unsophisticated, but it couldn’t be helped. She looked at him, wide-eyed. Wanting filled her until she felt she might burst.

Colton’s mouth set in a flat line as he glared at Nina, but when he turned to look at her…his expression softened. He looked almost defeated. ‘What are you doing here, Erin?’

What was he doing here? ‘Getting matched up?’

The look he turned on the Luxxor executive was lethal.

Nina held up her hands. ‘Erin’s one of our clients too.’

That didn’t make things any better.

He planted one hand on his hip and rubbed his brow with the other. His jacket swung open with the motion, showing that he’d kept himself in shape.

Really good shape. Erin’s mouth got wet.

Oh, she wanted it to be true. She wanted to see him, to get a chance for at least one date where he saw her as a woman, not as Dustin’s little sister.

Only he looked as surprised as she felt, but a lot less happy.

‘A client,’ he repeated, this time with his look boring into her. The words came out in rapid-fire shots, but she didn’t know what they meant.

Erin stood rooted to the spot, feeling helpless. Was he that put off by her? Was he that loyal to her parents?

A perfect match.

Nina had said that, and she had heard it.

She’d heard almost nothing else.

With a low curse, Colton turned away. Lacing his fingers behind his neck, he walked over to the window to look out at the DC evening skyline. This late into fall, darkness was coming earlier and earlier. The colours of traffic lights glinted, along with the halos of streetlights all in a row.

‘Is there a problem?’ Nina asked.

As tense as Erin felt, the woman seemed calm and composed. Did she not feel the raw emotion snapping around the room, bouncing off the walls and even the furniture?

‘We know each other,’ Colton bit out, his voice like ice.

‘Would you like to cancel?’ The woman wasn’t rattled in the slightest. She turned to Erin. ‘I could find someone else for you.’

‘No!’ He crossed the room as if he was approaching the bench, argument in hand. Squaring off across from Nina, he jabbed a finger against her desk. ‘You aren’t going to set her up with anyone else.’

‘Else?’ Nina repeated.

Erin’s weight rocked forward to the tips of her toes.

For just a split second, Colt looked uncharacte‌ristically off-kilter. ‘I mean, you aren’t going to set her up with anyone.’

‘Well, since I already have –’ Nina leaned forward and braced both hands on her desk ‘– I wish you a good evening together.’

Erin was standing on the brink of a major precipice. She could tilt into happiness like she’d never known or be in for a world of hurt. If he told her family, she’d get a long lecture from her father about the dangers of going out with strangers. Her brother would go into protective overdrive, and her mother would talk about the nice men from the Capitol Hill Club. But if he agreed?

‘Don’t send me to Daddy,’ she whispered. ‘Please.’

A stern expression settled on his face, but she didn’t waver. She lifted her chin and met his dark gaze. She savoured the opportunity to just look at him. He was so handsome, and it had been so long. She knew he was a busy, important man now. He didn’t drop by her parents’ house any more. If Dustin was having a barbecue and she went, he rarely showed.

Time strung out on a razor wire.

At last, he grimaced and dipped his head. ‘Aw, Sunny, what have you got yourself into?’

She melted inside. Nobody called her that any more. ‘Please, Colt? Take me out. Just the two of us. Just once?’

He ran a hand through his hair. It was shorter than it had been the last time she’d seen him, but still long enough for her to want to touch. ‘I’ll take you to dinner,’ he finally said, ‘but only because we need to talk about this.’

The circular gesture he made with his hand was jerky.

‘Then I’m taking you home.’

She beamed at him. Absolutely felt like she’d sprouted wings. She’d dreamed about him taking her home for ever. ‘Great,’ she said, her voice thick. ‘Then I can show you my new apartment.’

He frowned. ‘You didn’t move back in with your parents?’

So he’d heard about her break-up.

‘No.’ Summoning the confidence Nina insisted she should have, Erin crossed the room and looped her arm through his. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. Her breast ached where his arm touched her, and she leaned into him more heavily. He felt warm and hard and thoroughly male. ‘I’m not a little girl any more. I’m all grown up.’

In every sense of the word.

‘Take me on a date, Colt.’ Show her what she’d been missing.

The mean, tough trial attorney looked fit to be tied as he led Erin out of the room. Nina folded her arms across her chest and nodded her goodbye. It wasn’t two minutes later when Rielle snuck back into the room.

‘He didn’t look happy.’

‘But Erin does.’ Nina unlocked her knees and felt them waver once again. That had been too close. She’d known she was running a risk choosing him. If he came after her, she’d have a fight on her hands. She had connections in the legal system, but they didn’t climb much higher than Colton King. The guy was a shark in the courtroom. She didn’t want him swimming around her company, looking for weak spots.

But little Erin had out-manoeuvred him.

Nina ran her fingers along the blue glass paperweight that held down both her clients’ files. She was good at seeking out weak spots too, and she already knew what King’s was.

‘He had me worried,’ Rielle admitted.

‘Listening at the door?’

Her employee looked guilty, but then flipped her hair over her shoulder. ‘I was ready to ride to the rescue.’

‘I don’t believe that will be needed,’ Nina said. ‘I think we just did a very good thing.’

Or so she hoped.

Rielle sat down and let out a shaky breath. ‘Did I hear right? Did he call her “Sunny”?’

‘It’s a family nickname, I believe. For her hair.’

‘It didn’t sound that way when he said it.’

No. No, it hadn’t.

But the stern lawyer had a spine made of titanium. If he couldn’t bend or give in to the sweetness being so innocently offered to him, they could have problems.

‘What do we do now?’ Rielle asked.

‘We sit back and see what happens.’

Nina had a feeling she’d be watching with both hands covering her eyes, because they’d either just fixed things or got themselves into one hell of a fix.

Erin got onto the elevator and stood close to Colton’s side. She barely heard the floors ticking off over the pounding of her heart. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Her biggest secret wish.

Had Sienna known?

Oh, who cared? Her roommate was going to get the biggest hug when she saw her.

Erin snuggled closer to Colt’s arm, but his muscles were tense. He hadn’t said a word to her since they’d left Luxxor’s offices.

‘Why are you upset?’ she asked softly. She knew when he was in a temper. It was when he was at his quietest.

‘Not here,’ he said, jerking his chin at the security camera in the upper corner of the lift.

Erin frowned. She hadn’t even known it was there.

Rubbing his arm uncertainly, she waited until they were on the first floor, heading for the door. ‘Well, I’m happy to see you,’ she whispered.

‘I’m happy to see you, too,’ he said, jaw tight. ‘Just not like this.’

‘Like what?’

He pointed at a Town Car waiting at the curb. The gesture moved him out of her reach, and she folded her arms across herself, pulling her wrap tighter. His coldness hurt. Why was he so angry?

With a sigh, he caught her hand and wrapped his around it. It felt warm and protective in the crisp autumn evening. November had arrived, and the nip in the air was biting. Palm to palm, he warded off the chill.

Erin started to get nervous again when the driver climbed out and opened the back door for them. Colton got in and, not letting go of her hand, tugged her in after him. He didn’t move all the way over, and she took that as a hopeful sign.

Could she pull this off? Could she make him see her as an adult and not a lovesick teen? She’d prepared for an intense, exciting evening, but she hadn’t prepared for him.

‘Is the idea of going on a date with me so repugnant?’ she asked.

He silenced her once again with a hiss and hit the button to raise the tinted window that would separate them from the front seat.

‘Why are you acting like this?’ she demanded. He’d always treated her as Dustin’s little sister, but he’d never treated her like a child.

He twisted in his seat. ‘Because you are the last person on earth I expected to find there.’

‘Why? I’m single.’

His teeth clenched. ‘I heard that. I can’t say I’m sorry, but that’s no reason for you to go to these extremes.’

‘What extremes? I’m dating again. It happens.’

‘Dating?’ he snapped. He looked at her like she’d grown two heads.

‘At least I’m not going online or hitting the bar scene. I chose Luxxor for the personal attention.’

‘Personal attention is right.’ His eyes were fierce as he leaned towards her, and colour shone on his cheekbones as streetlights flashed by. ‘Luxxor isn’t Match.com, Erin. It’s an escort service.’

It took a moment for the words to sink in. When they did, her head snapped back so hard, it bumped against the headrest. ‘It is not!’

‘It is.’

‘No, it isn’t. Sienna works there.’

His eyes went wide. ‘Sienna Blakely? She’s mixed up in this too?’

What was he talking about? Where was he getting these insane accusations? Sienna wasn’t mixed up; she was their Communications Director. Although…she hadn’t wanted to tell her where she worked…or what Luxxor did…

No, he was wrong.

‘They’re matchmakers,’ she insisted.

‘Erin,’ he groaned. His hand tightened around hers. ‘Tell me this is your first night using them.’

Erin’s brow crumpled. It couldn’t be. Luxxor couldn’t be that kind of company. Sienna would never work at such a place, and that would make Nina a madam! No, the business was too high-class and expensive.

Sex sells.

The words whispered in her ears.

‘That would explain the detective’s interest,’ she mumbled as the pieces clicked together.

‘Erin,’ he said more sharply. Cupping the back of her head, he made her look at him. ‘Have you been out with their escorts?’

She glared at him. He was acting like Dustin, all bossy and overprotective. ‘I’ve been on dates.’

Fury exploded on his face. ‘How many?’ he bit out.

‘That’s my business.’

‘How many?’

‘I don’t know. Four or five.’

‘Same guy?’

‘Different men.’

For some reason, that made the fluttering pulse at his temple start to pound. ‘Tell me you didn’t sleep with them.’

‘Don’t be disgusting. I’m not a slut.’ Besides, there had been that no-sex clause in the contract. She hadn’t slept with any of those men.

But she had got cosy with one, rubbing against him, kissing him and dry-humping his leg…

The streetlights must have shown her blush, because Colton looked crestfallen. And then furious.

‘But you did something,’ he growled.

She folded her arms over her chest in a huff. ‘That’s none of your business.’

‘I’m making it my business. You’re done with Luxxor. Do you hear me? You’re not to set foot in that place again. I don’t care if Sienna does work there.’

Erin’s eyes narrowed. She’d had just about enough of other people deciding her life for her. ‘You can’t tell me what to do.’

Even to her own ears, she sounded like the petulant teenager she’d once been – and it set him off.

His hand tangled in her hair. ‘Erin, you are not going around town with male escorts!’

She glared at him. He’d disappeared from her life, but thought he could stroll back in and take it over? ‘Try and stop me.’

That was it. When you pulled a tiger by the tail, you were bound to get bitten. She let out a spluttering protest when he pulled her across his lap, but the sound turned into a surprised gasp when his hand connected with the curve of her bottom.

Had he just spanked her?

Fire spread from where the sharp smack had connected, and her body jackknifed. Her hips came up, and her feet searched for the floor. She pushed away from the seat, but his hand settled on her lower back and pressed her down. Another swift spank had her wriggling in distress and embarrassment and…something else.

‘Colton,’ she hissed.

‘Do you know what your parents would say if they found out what you’ve been doing?’

Four more swats came in rapid succession.

‘Ahh!’ Erin’s right foot lifted in reflex, and her heel pointed at the roof of the car. If she’d been upright, it would have looked like a little foot pop as he kissed her.

But this was no kiss.

She squirmed more desperately as the tingle in her bottom burned and sang. His muscled thighs pressed into her belly and against the underside of her breasts. They plumped up, and she felt her nipples go hard.

‘They’re not going to find out,’ she cried. He had her unbalanced with her hips lifted so high.

‘No. They’re. Not.’ Each word was accompanied by another stinging spank.

He was warming both her cheeks, and the prickle was making it hard to breathe.

‘Do you have any idea what could have happened?’ he snapped. ‘Do you know how far some of those escorts will go?’

Tears stung at her eyes. ‘I was the one who started it,’ she gasped.

She was punished with another sharp swat.

‘But I stopped it too,’ she yelped.

His hand stopped in its up-and-down motion. It rested against the curve of her right buttock with a familiarity they’d never shared before. He was nearly cupping her, his thumb settling precariously over the crease in her ass. Only the thinnest layers of material stood between them, and they’d offered no protection from the spanking he’d just given her.

‘You stopped it?’ Leaning down, he whispered into her ear. ‘Why?’

His touch made the fire singe, and Erin’s most private parts clenched. Oh, God. She’d never been spanked, not even as a child. But the way he was touching her didn’t make her feel childish. It made her feel naughty. Her nipples were hard nubs, and her pussy…Oh, God. She let out a moan.

He rubbed her bottom tenderly. ‘Why?’

She struggled not to arch into that touch. ‘Because I didn’t feel anything. Not like…’

He let out a harsh breath that stirred her hair. ‘Not like Marty?’

‘Not like this!’

She let out another involuntary moan, and his hand paused.

The air in the back of the car became heavy and still. His ragged breathing blended with her harsh rasps. In that instant, Erin became acutely aware of her inexperience. Embarrassment flooded through her and she pushed up again, trying to get back to her seat.

Again, he stopped her with that immovable hand at the base of her spine. Only it was gentle. Inexorable but gentle. ‘Damn it,’ he whispered. ‘How did you stumble into this world?’

The spacious Town Car seemed to shrink as Erin lay back down. She felt every bump in the road, every seam. She could feel her heartbeat pounding in her bottom. The throb was unavoidable with his hand placed where it was.

A low sound left his throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut. His hand stroked her, and she tried to steady her breaths – only they seized up again when he caught the hem of her short dress. It had pulled high on her thighs, but he skimmed it up higher, over her curves to nearly her waist.

Erin felt exposed and humiliated and so turned on.

She wore a tiny black thong that had to bare her reddened curves to his look. Could he see his handprint against her tender flesh?

His breath came out of his lungs in a series of shudders, and she could feel every one against her sensitised skin.

‘Damn,’ he breathed. His finger traced the stretchy fabric over her hip, following it to the middle of her spine way down low. ‘This is what you wear on a date with an escort?’

Her back arched when he started tracing the thong downward to where it disappeared between her cheeks. ‘Ah! It’s what I wear on a date with you.’

She looked over her shoulder belligerently, and the muscle in his jaw bulged. His stern hand lifted again, and the thrill of danger went through her. Her confession was met with another spank and then three more. She let out a cry that sounded too much like pleasure.

Before she knew what was happening, he’d fisted his hand around the waistband of her thong and was pulling it down. The fabric stretched and cut into her sensitive cheeks. She twisted away from the sting, only helping him in the process.

Then she was completely bare, lying across his lap and at his disposal. Erin couldn’t compose herself any longer. She jiggled, she pushed, she kicked, she hissed. She did everything she could until another swat caught her from another direction.

He’d connected with the underside of her bottom and the top of her thighs. Right across her…

She melted back down across his lap, her pussy squeezing and blasting with heat. ‘Colt!’

‘Damn it, Sunny.’ His breaths were harsh, but he spanked her again in the same manner.

His leg lifted and her thighs fell open, parting as her muscles went limp.

He touched her then, his fingers sweeping slowly through her slit. Erin groaned in delight. The car came to a stop at a traffic light, and it lit the back seat like a spotlight. He touched her again, his fingers pressing deeper, parting her and rubbing against her damp flesh.

This time, he was the one who groaned. ‘Erin.’

She was so wet. The throbbing in her bottom had settled between her legs. Her entire body was trembling. Her nipples were hard against the cups of her bra, and perspiration dotted her forehead. ‘Colt,’ she begged.

For what she didn’t know. For him to stop. For him to continue. For him to do whatever he wanted to her.

His hard finger bumped against her clit, and she bit her lip. She couldn’t help but swivel her hips towards him, wanting more. Those dangerous fingers swirled round and round.

‘So good,’ she gasped. ‘Too much.’

It had to stop. She didn’t want it to end.

She wasn’t expecting another spank. The hand that had been restraining her lifted. It came down, flat and rigid, against her bare bottom in a wicked smack that left her cheeks quivering and aching.

And her coming.

She let out a cry that even the driver on the other side of the soundproof barrier had to hear, and shook on Colton’s lap as the most outrageous orgasm consumed her. He rubbed her bottom in circles as his other hand played with her below. A finger penetrated her and another orgasm crashed into her, or maybe it was a second wave of the first.

She didn’t know. Shock blinded her. By the time she got oriented again, he’d pulled her thong back over her hips and had guided it into place. Everywhere. In jerky movements, he pulled her dress down.

The silence was daunting. Emotion hung heavily in the air. Erin looked over her shoulder at him, her eyes damp. ‘Colt?’

He dropped his head against the headrest and stared at the roof of the car. ‘Son of a…I’m going to hell. Straight to hell.’

His chest rose and fell, and his eyes squeezed shut. Erin didn’t know what to do. She’d just experienced the most acute pleasure of her life, but embarrassment cut nearly as deep.

He’d spanked her like a schoolgirl.

A very grown-up schoolgirl.

She sprang off his lap, but bumped against his crotch in the process. He bucked forward, and she moved more carefully.

He was hard.

Colton was hard – and he was unhappy about it.

Scooting away, she pulled her dress down and pressed herself into the corner of the back seat.

‘Erin.’ He still didn’t look at her. ‘I…That never should have happened.’

‘Don’t,’ she said, her voice like sandpaper. ‘Don’t you apologise.’

She knew she’d pushed him past the breaking point. He’d lost his nearly legendary cool, but he would not take this away from her. She’d wanted him to see her as a woman, and she’d finally, finally got her wish.

She just hadn’t expected it to be so shocking.

She squirmed against the soft leather cushions. The sensitivity in her bottom refused to be ignored. Her cheeks felt as if they’d swelled to twice their size, and her thighs were sticky.

She brushed her fingers across the pulse in her throat. It was still racing.

Colton reached for the comm unit. ‘Take us back to Luxxor,’ he ordered the driver.

‘Yes, sir,’ the man responded.

Erin sat forward. ‘What are you doing?’

His expression was controlled when he looked at her. ‘I assume your car is there?’

Oh, no. This wasn’t where it ended. She refused to have that secret shown to her, only to be ripped away again.

‘I want my date,’ she said fiercely.

His chin thrust out. ‘You’re going to stop this nonsense. Your engagement was broken off just a little over a month ago. You don’t need to be seeing anybody right now.’

‘So what’s not good for the goose is still OK for the gander?’ she snapped.

His eyebrows pulled together, and she jabbed a finger at him.

‘You’re a client of Luxxor’s, too. You were in their database, and a lot longer than I have been. You use their escort service.’

‘I’m not a regular customer.’

‘But you needed dates too, and you turned to them.’

‘I didn’t need dates –’ He had the brains to look chastened. ‘They told me this was different, that they were looking to go legit.’

‘And I’m not legit?’

He laughed at that. ‘Baby, you’re as off limits as they come.’

The fire in her bottom fired up her temper. ‘You’re going to take me to dinner. That was the agreement.’

‘Erin,’ he said patiently.

Grabbing his tie, she pulled him to her. ‘I just put out. You owe me dinner, Colton King.’

He started to look away again, and she did the only thing she could think of.

She kissed him.

She pressed her mouth to his and felt him flinch – and then freeze. It gave her an opportunity she wasn’t going to miss. Coming out of the corner where she’d plastered herself, she moulded her lips more intimately against his. For as stern as his mouth could be, his lips were soft.

Erin’s senses sang.

A shudder went through him, but then he pulled away. She followed, cupping the back of his head and sliding her fingers through his silky black hair. Hesitantly, she brushed the tip of her tongue against the seam of his lips.

A hiss left his lungs, but then he was kissing her back.

Tilting his head, he brought their mouths into full, open contact. His tongue glided against hers, and need surged inside her. Erin felt so light, it was a wonder she didn’t float right off the seat. She had to get closer, needed to feel the press of his body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rose higher on the seat. One of his arms snaked around her, and it was only natural for her to climb on to his lap.

With a tug and a turn, she straddled him as he sat with his legs spread wide in the middle of the expansive back seat of the Town Car. What had started as a soft, tentative kiss was bubbling into something hot and barely under control. Their lips clung as they bit and rubbed at one another. Erin slid her hands under Colton’s coat and felt his hard chest. His heat poured through his dress shirt. She slid her hands down to feel just how far that hardness went.

His hands weren’t still either. They’d caught her about the ribcage to help her move onto him, and the balls of his hands pressed into the sides of her breasts. He ground into the softness, but then his hands skimmed downwards. They closed over her hips, and Erin let out a moan.

She was still tender down there.

The sound was enough to break through to Colton, and he jerked his touch away. ‘Erin,’ he said, his voice raspy as he pulled out of the kiss.

He caught her hands against his stomach before they could do any more damage.

Erin looked at him, her eyes heavy-lidded. He was beautiful. His hair was mussed, his eyes were dark as night, and his lungs were working like bellows. That muscle in his jaw had relaxed, and his hands, although firm, were holding hers in place instead of pulling them away.

Happiness made her chest ache. Years of wanting, aeons of unrequited longing, and she’d finally had a taste.

She leaned in for more, but he stopped her. ‘We can’t do this.’

‘Yes, we can,’ she whispered. And they should. It was good between them. Lightning and thunder and magic.

Nina had said they were a perfect match.

Before he could do his lawyer thing and argue her into submission, she reached for the communication controls.

‘What are you doing? Stop –’

She laid a finger over his lips.

‘Driver?’ she said, her voice unnaturally smoky. ‘We’ve changed our mind. We’d like to go to dinner.’

She rubbed the pad of her forefinger gently across Colton’s lower lip. ‘I’m hungry.’