Filthy Beautiful Love by Kendall Ryan

don’t know what to say, but my body is humming with anticipation. My nipples harden against the flimsy tank top and my panties cling to my sensitive folds.
    Colton releases a frustrated groan and pushes his palm against his erection – which is definitely still there. "What in the actual fuck, Sophie?" His tone is a cross between playful and angry.
    "I’m sorry I interrupted you," I say.
    "Fuck it," he says, leaning his head back against the leather chair and closing his eyes.
    When he opens them again, his anger is gone. All I see is lust.
    "Why didn't you ever take me?" I ask.
    "As the weeks passed, you started to mean more to me. I didn't want to take something from you that wasn't mine."
    It is yours, I want to tell him. "But that day that Stella showed up, you were going to." I'd seen the look of resolve in his eyes and I knew he was finally going to give himself to me.
    "Because I knew in that moment you belonged to me. Even without the auction, without the agreement. You were mine."
    I watch his eyes, not disagreeing in the slightest. I still am.
    The way his dark gaze sweeps over to mine tells me he wants me, yet he’s choosing not to push me. I want to know why. "Why did you suggest we be just friends?" I ask.
    He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Then he motions for me to sit down in one of the chairs across from his desk.
    I follow his lead and sit, tucking my bare legs underneath me. The tank top and pajama short set I’m wearing is no match against the cool air conditioning. Either that or my body is still trembling from what I witnessed when I walked in.
    "I was developing real feelings for you, something that scared the fuck out of me given my past."
    "I don’t understand. We were both falling…" It’s the first time I’ve admitted my true feelings, but something tells me this is no surprise to him.
    Colton doesn’t say anything, he just patiently watches me like we have all night to sit here and speak in riddles. Perhaps his just friends speech was only that – a hollow request made only to get me to stay.
    "If you want a real shot with me, I need a few things from you," he says.
    "Such as?"
    "You know I’ve been burned before when it comes to women, and money and trust."
    "Yes," I acknowledge.
    "Women usually only want me for my money," he adds.
    "What does that have to do with me?" I am the furthest thing from a gold digger there is.
    "Well, you have to admit the start to our relationship doesn’t exactly instill confidence. You only agreed to go with me that night because I was paying you."
    "Yes, but as I got to know you, you know it wasn’t about the money. That money was for Becca. I told you I’ll give you the rest back right now."
    "That’s not what I want." His tone is adamant and I feel like we’re spinning in circles.
    "What do you want then?"
    "Something much more valuable…" His eyes trace a path along my exposed cleavage, making my nipples harden.
    I remain quiet, waiting expectantly and wondering what he has in mind.
    "I want to know I can trust you. I need your faith and belief in me that I’ll handle my past."
    "You can trust me…"  I start.
    "Talk is cheap and I’ve been burned before. What happened with Stella makes it hard for me to believe in women, Sophie. Lack of judgment and one broken marriage under my belt may be understandable, but two? That’s not something I’m willing to risk. Friends is safer right now."
    "You don’t trust me?"
    He doesn’t respond.
    "You’re the one who concealed the truth," I blurt.
    "That may be, but you wanted to know how I felt and I’m telling you," he says.
    "I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me," I admit. "You have to know that I’m nothing like her, Colton." I hate that one wicked woman has ruined it for the rest of us.
    The look he gives me is incredulous. "You’re only in my life because of monetary reasons. I paid you to be here, and you ran out on me as soon as things got tough. What am I supposed to