Courting Innocence

by Kimberly Dean

  His eyes practically smouldered. ‘Maybe we should.’

  Erin led him up the stairs. She saw boxes in some rooms, a painting in another, and the shelf of Matchbox cars in another small bedroom on the second floor. She didn’t see any heavy furniture, but that didn’t matter. They didn’t need a bed. There were the showers and tubs. There was even the kitchen island if it came from push to shove, but when she walked into the master bedroom she saw a lone mattress on the floor.

  It was made up, with a blanket tucked smoothly at the bottom. He’d been sleeping here.

  His arms came around her from behind and she leaned into him. She’d missed his heat and his strength.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. The words were soft, but there was a plea for forgiveness in his voice that wrenched at her heart. ‘I should have stood up for you before. I should have laid my heart on the line and gone after what I wanted.’

  ‘Why didn’t you?’ she asked. ‘You defend people all day long. You fight for what’s right. Why couldn’t you fight for us?’

  He was quiet for a long moment.

  ‘I was scared,’ he finally admitted. He let out a breath that stirred her hair. ‘I was afraid of losing the people who were close to me. In the end, I lost the one who mattered most.’

  He rested his chin on top of her head and held her tightly. ‘I’ve missed you like hell, Erin.’

  Tears stung her eyes. ‘I missed you, too, but I was so mad at you.’

  ‘I deserved it.’

  She turned in his arms and put her hands on his chest. ‘I was the most upset about you not standing up for yourself. You’re a good man. When are you going to accept that?’

  ‘When you tell me enough times.’

  She gave him a push. That wasn’t good enough.

  He swore softly and looked out the window at the side garden. ‘Erin, I didn’t have the best childhood. You know that. When your family took me under their wing, it was the first time I saw how a family is supposed to function. But…I guess when your father told me to keep my hands off of you, I heard it in my head as him saying I wasn’t good enough for you.’

  ‘I told you that you are.’

  ‘When you walked out on me, it confirmed that he was right.’

  ‘You broke my heart, Colton. You told me not to love you.’

  A muscle in his jaw flexed. ‘And that’s on me. I just felt like we were living on borrowed time, and that I didn’t have a choice. I would have stayed away, for your own good. I did my damnedest, but when I heard what happened to Marilyn, my first impulse was to get to you.’

  She swallowed hard. ‘I was so relieved when you came.’

  ‘I love you, Sunny.’

  Erin’s heart took flight. He’d told her family, but that was the first time he’d told her.

  He put a finger under her chin and made her look at him. ‘You said it to me, and I didn’t say it back. I was an idiot, but I’m saying it now. I’ve loved you since I was eighteen years old.’

  Tears thickened her throat. She’d known he cared about her, but when he wouldn’t say it…

  It had ripped her up inside.

  ‘I love you so much,’ she said hoarsely.

  ‘I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to show you how much,’ he promised.

  He kissed her so softly, it felt like the brush of a feather. All around them, the house stood silent and protective. Erin let out a shuddering breath when his hands slid under her top. He pulled it off and gathered her into his arms. She rose on tiptoe to kiss him back, and their bodies came together.

  It felt so good. She’d missed him badly. She’d missed talking to him, teasing him and making love until they were both covered in sweat. The connection between them was so deep, she didn’t understand how he could have denied it.

  ‘I’ve barely been able to function without you,’ he admitted. His hands were slow and seductive as he undid her jeans and pushed them down. ‘Your brother has been watching me like a hawk.’

  ‘He’s been babysitting me too.’

  Erin’s stomach cinched in when Colt knelt before her to take off her shoes. She braced her hands on his shoulders as he peeled her socks down one by one. It left her in only her bra and thong. In the big, gaping house, she should have felt cold, but all she sensed was heat as his gaze gobbled her up.

  It had been weeks since they’d made love. For ever since his mouth had been voracious at her breasts, and she’d felt him moving deep inside her.

  His fingers worked under the straps of her tiny underwear, and her thighs trembled. It wasn’t going to stay on her for long. Her nails left half-moon impressions on his shoulders as she tried to stay still.

  Then he was pulling her thong inexorably downward, and it was suddenly hard for her to breathe. She was covered on top, but the heart of her was bare and vulnerable. Yielding.

  And he still knelt before her.

  He pressed a kiss to her lower abdomen, and her muscles began to shake. Those dangerous kisses skimmed lower and lower until her womb was throbbing. His hands pressed against her knees, encouraging her to widen her stance. As wanton as it felt, Erin did.

  Her head fell back when he placed a kiss directly upon her mound.

  ‘Colton,’ she cried as he worked his face against her.

  The open-mouthed kisses were electric. She wove her fingers into his hair and held him to her. He clutched her just as tightly, both hands biting into her bottom. He massaged her there, and her knees buckled.

  He caught her and lowered her to the mattress.

  ‘Your old man was right,’ he rasped. ‘I would have had you knocked up in no time if he hadn’t held me off.’

  Erin squirmed as Colton rose above her. Nothing was holding him off her now. She wanted his weight pressing down on her. She wanted his hands pushing her thighs apart and his mouth at her breasts.

  He began to strip off his clothes, and she reached for the back tab of her bra.

  ‘Leave it on,’ he ordered.

  ‘But…’

  It made her exposure down low seem all the more shocking. She could walk around topless and not feel like this. Hot, bothered and somewhat obscene…

  But she lowered her hands obediently.

  He gave her a quick, hot kiss. She followed him up when he tried to pull back. She’d missed him kissing her senseless.

  She’d been senseless without him.

  ‘What have you been doing without me?’ he asked. His shirt dropped to the floor, and her gaze ate up his muscled chest. She stroked him possessively, but arched in surprise when he caressed her between her legs.

  ‘No escorts?’ His voice was low, but it had an edge.

  ‘Ahhh!’ she cried when his finger flicked her clit. ‘No escorts.’

  She hadn’t hired anyone from Luxxor. None of them could have given her what she needed.

  He worked down his jeans, and she reached out to help him. His boxer briefs came down too, and his rigid cock popped out.

  Erin’s stare became stuck. ‘I got a job,’ she said dumbly.

  ‘You did? Where?’

  He looked bigger than she remembered. Stiffer. She took him eagerly in both hands. Even then, she couldn’t cover the length of him.

  Or the width.

  ‘At the wedding shop.’ Of all places…

  It was getting difficult to think straight. Her thighs were becoming wet as her body prepared itself for the coming heavy invasion. ‘I’m going to design weddings.’

  She swept her thumb over the head of his rock-hard penis. ‘And make brides happy.’

  He rolled on to the mattress with her. ‘Isn’t that the groom’s job?’

  ‘It’s yours right now,’ she groaned.

  Spreading her thighs, she guided him to her. She got him to where he needed to go, but he took it from there. Erin arched as he pushed into her slowly and purposefully.

  ‘Ohh,’ she groaned.

  He seated himself deep and looked down into her face. ‘Did you want to ge
t married?’ he asked.

  Oh, God. Right now, she just wanted to get to the honeymoon. ‘Eventually,’ she groaned.

  He didn’t move, and the pressure of his penetration made her entire body pulse. She dug her fingers into his bottom as she tried to get him to fuck her, and frustration made her a little crazy when he just smiled down at her. ‘Right now, I just want everyone in the world to know I’m screwing Colton King!’

  That finally got him going. His hips began to bang into her. He held her down and slid his hand along her side.

  But then he made a grunting sound of discontent and rolled until they were both on their sides. Catching her behind the knee, he drew her top leg around his hip. Erin’s thigh clenched in pleasure. She learned the movement quickly and was soon swinging her hips forward to accept his thrusts.

  Finally, finally, he undid her bra and settled his mouth over her nipple.

  She let out a cry that had to radiate all the way downstairs when he began to suckle her. Oh, God. Now she understood why he’d made her keep it on for so long.

  She stroked her hand up and down his back. On their sides, coming together as they were, they felt like equals. ‘So nobody is on top?’ she asked.

  ‘I wouldn’t say that.’ His hand met her bottom in a sharp love tap that sent heat through her like a fire blow-up.

  ‘Colton!’ she squealed. The slap had sounded loud and naughty in the empty, echoing house. She met his dark gaze and nearly drowned in it. Her body melted against him, and she wiggled her butt against his palm. ‘Spank me harder.’

  She wasn’t all that innocent any more.

  Epilogue

  ‘A wedding planner?’ Nina said with a smile on her face brighter than Erin had ever seen. The woman swivelled in her leather chair behind her massive desk. She even let out a chuckle. ‘That’s a twist I didn’t see coming. How delightful.’

  Erin felt a smile tugging at her lips, too. A dumped bride helping other women bring their wedding fantasies to life? She was aware of the irony. ‘My goal is still to be an interior decorator, but I need to polish my résumé and work harder on the job search. Unlike Sienna, I let that all fall by the wayside when I was finishing up my master’s degree.’

  ‘That’s understandable.’

  Not really.

  ‘Wedding planning suits me well for now.’ Erin liked the paradox. At least something had come out of all that pain and suffering. ‘Little did I know at the time I was collecting colour swatches and choosing boutonnières that I was apprenticing for a job.’

  Nina lifted an eyebrow and gestured at her office. ‘Our careers often take paths we don’t expect.’

  Her tone was so dry, Erin was momentarily taken aback. Then she laughed again. ‘True.’

  She hadn’t known Nina had a sense of humour. The woman was smart, powerful, stylish and sexy, yet she was also as guarded as Fort Knox. Erin guessed you had to get close to her to really know her. From the small vantage point she had, she liked the woman.

  DC madam or not.

  ‘I’m happy with where I am,’ she said, ‘in all parts of my life.’

  Nina tilted her head. ‘I’m glad everything worked out so well for you and Colton.’

  ‘Me, too,’ Erin said softly. She was still pinching herself over that. After so many years of wanting and waiting, it was hard to believe that her dream had come true.

  ‘I know I caused some real issues when I came to you for help.’ It seemed like so long ago when she’d walked down Luxxor’s hallway, eager and determined to make some changes in her life.

  She’d made changes, all right, but ones she never expected. ‘I can only imagine the alarms that were going off behind the scenes.’

  Nina gestured casually. ‘Really, the things you wanted weren’t that different from what we typically provide. You just didn’t realise that your dates were professional escorts.’

  The gesture turned into an offered palm of apology. ‘I apologise for that. I didn’t know you at the time. We have to be very careful about whom we take on as clients. I wasn’t sure I could trust you to keep our confidentiality, and Sienna was adamant that you not find out.’

  ‘I know. We’ve talked about it.’ Erin tucked her hair behind her ear. She was aware Nina was playing down the situation. Sienna had apologised, too, but she’d also laughed as she’d told stories about how she and Rielle had panicked. Nina, true to her reputation, had apparently remained calm. It was still amazing to Erin how the company managed to keep nearly all of its offerings under wraps.

  Some of the company’s escorts might go under wraps, too, but Erin didn’t like to think about that. It only reminded her of why Colton had turned to Luxxor…when he should have been able to turn to her…

  She rubbed her temple. She could only imagine how she would have reacted back then if she’d known that she was stumbling into an escort service. She’d been so naïve and oblivious.

  Nina unfolded her legs and rolled her chair forward. ‘Actually, you’ve brought to light an intriguing business opportunity. I’m thinking about adding matchmaking to Luxxor’s line of services. It does fit in well with our strengths.’

  Finding mates for the powerful and wealthy? Erin could see that. DC’s elite were already Nina’s clientele, and matchmaking was a natural offshoot.

  ‘It wouldn’t take any capital to establish. Our messaging would need tweaking, but Sienna already has some ideas. It could be an exciting new market for us.’

  Exciting and legal.

  Erin pressed her lips together. That was not an observation for her to make.

  ‘To be honest, I’ve found it rewarding to work with you,’ the CEO said.

  ‘Me, too.’ Erin felt a pang of regret. Nina had helped her through so much. She’d been a good sounding board and a clear frame of reference. Neither her mother nor Sienna could have done that for her. They both knew Colton too well and the background they had together. They never would have been able to see into the heart of the matter. ‘I’m sorry this will be our last session.’

  She felt like she should have brought a cake or something. She’d been trying to branch out from pie.

  ‘This is the best outcome possible,’ Nina said. ‘You and Colton have made a perfect match.’

  Erin blushed. She didn’t know about perfect, but they were a couple now. A real one. They still had their challenges, but they’d conquered the biggest one – their own doubts.

  ‘You’ll just have to get used to people not being repeat customers.’ Almost as soon as the words were out, Erin clapped a hand over her mouth. She might have gone too far. She was sure Nina’s humour had limitations.

  Nina simply waved her off. ‘So tell me, as our inaugural client, how would you rate our services?’

  Erin blinked. Seriously? ‘A ten. You got me my teenage crush!’

  And her big brother’s best friend to boot. Wasn’t that the forbidden fruit for all good girls?

  If she hadn’t used Luxxor, Colton never would have gone out with her. He never would have taken her feelings seriously, he never would have broken his promise to her father, and he never, ever, in a million years, would have become upset enough to spank her.

  Erin shifted in her chair.

  Nina leaned forward, and her expression turned serious. ‘When we began these talks, you were searching for an answer to a very specific question. Did you find it?’

  ‘I did.’ Erin met her steady gaze with confidence. ‘I’m not boring.’

  Colton didn’t think so, and neither did she. Not any more. Boring people didn’t make love in an empty living room in front of a raging fire. They didn’t take up exotic dancing or even French cooking. She and Colton had crushed Sienna and Jason in every game of Password they’d played last weekend during a winter snowstorm, and she’d been jazzed. Her life was fun, energetic and fulfilling.

  And she’d landed the sexiest man on earth to share it with her.

  ‘Then the arrangement worked out to both our benefits.’ Nina
stood and smoothed her skirt. Her suit managed to be both powerful and sexy at the same time. ‘Let me see you out.’

  Erin looped her purse over her shoulder and followed down the hallway. She could see Rielle talking animatedly with someone in the lobby. Their next appointment was apparently here. Her time with Luxxor was nearly over.

  ‘I doubt this is the last we’ll see of each other,’ Nina said. Her walk was model perfect in her high heels. ‘I expect Sienna will keep us updated on all the latest with you and Colton.’

  ‘That’s true,’ Erin said. ‘And I’ll be interested to hear how your new venture goes.’

  ‘What venture is that?’ a low voice asked.

  When she and Nina turned the corner, Erin was so surprised she jumped.

  ‘Detective,’ she squeaked.

  ‘Morgan.’ Nina’s greeting was more arch.

  Tension formed where none had been, and it pulled until the office walls were about to pop. Erin looked back and forth between the two. They were engaged in a silent stare-off. She shot a look at Rielle. The pretty office admin winced and shrugged her shoulders.

  ‘Well, thank you for your time.’ Gathering her coat, Erin sidestepped around the pair and scurried for the door.

  ‘Ms Foster?’

  Drat! She gritted her teeth at her foiled escape, but smoothed her expression and turned. ‘Yes?’

  ‘You might want to hear this news, too. I just dropped by to tell everyone that the case against Jason Sloan has been dropped.’

  Oh, really?

  Erin squealed in delight, but Nina merely crossed her arms. The outcome did not surprise her. It was exactly what should have happened weeks ago.

  ‘That’s great!’ Erin lunged towards the detective as if to hug him, but stopped short. Instead she lifted her arms in victory and did a little dance. ‘Thank you.’

  The detective seemed surprised by the little blonde’s exuberance. ‘I just presented the facts to my superiors as I saw them.’

  ‘Yes, well…I knew that Jason hadn’t done anything wrong.’ The smile on her face widened, and so did her eyes. ‘I have to go tell Colton and then call Sienna.’