Colton
This woman can make me forget I was almost charged with a murder I didn’t commit. When I’m in the same room as her, I feel the heat between us. Yeah sure, I’ve had my share of women, but Alexandra, she’s different. The night we were together, she ruined me for anyone else.
Now she’s walking on eggshells. I need to know if she truly believes I didn’t kill Officer Knight.
“One question, sweetheart.”
Alexandra looks at me and my dick gets hard immediately.
“One question, Colton, then we get down to business.”
I could say something smart, but I don’t. I know this shit is serious but having her in my corner somehow makes it bearable.
I walk over to where she stands, cupping her face in my hands. It may be a dick move to ask her if she believes me while I’m touching her, but I can’t help it.
I rub her cheek with my thumb, and notice she’s looking down. “Eyes up here, darlin’.”
Alexandra looks at me with a challenge in her eyes. I love that she’s so strong and sassy. “I just need to make sure you believe me, Goldie. If you and I are going to work together to figure out what the hell is going on, then I need to be sure.”
She moves her hands to my hips, pulling me in close. Never taking her eyes off mine, she answers me with her mouth.
Her lips move to mine and the taste is familiar. I’ve fantasized about it for a month. And yeah, maybe I’ve rubbed one out in the shower, envisioning her mouth on me.
Sliding my tongue against hers, she moans. It’s the sound that makes me rock hard. The same passion I felt when we were in the motel is still there, and I’m not sure if I can walk away.
Just as I start to move my hands to her ass, she pulls away.
Clearing her throat, Goldie moves her hand to her mouth. Lucky hand.
As she takes a step back, she holds her hand out to me. “What’s going on, darlin’?”
“We need to talk before this goes any further. Let’s go to the living room where we’ll be more comfortable.”
Of course she’s right. I take her hand and lead her to her couch. It’s small and for once, I’m glad for it. She doesn’t have any choice but to sit practically on my lap.
“All right, let’s talk, Alexandra.”
* * *
Alexandra
“I need to tell you about myself and how I ended up here.”
Where do I even start? I blow out a breath. It’d be so easy to just say fuck it and not relive the past year. But it wouldn’t be fair to him. He deserves the truth if he’s going to trust me.
Colton rubs my arm. “Take your time, sweetheart. I got no place to be.”
He’s looking at me with such understanding. I just hope he continues to after he hears me out.
“The night we met at Cheeser’s was my first night in town. I moved here from New York State because I was basically run out of town.”
Immediately, Colton becomes uncomfortable. Just wait, I think to myself.
“Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer. As a little kid, I always defended those who couldn’t stand up for themselves. I did OK in school… I guess better than OK, since I got into law school.”
Glancing up at Colton, I see he’s focusing on what I’m saying. I can tell he senses something bad coming. The question is, will he stick around once he finds out?
He pushes some of my hair behind my ear. The gesture may be small but it makes me feel so comfortable. Like I can tell him anything…everything.
“I got my law degree in South Carolina and I thought I was going to stay there. I made a lot of friends, but my sister needed me back in New York. She was going through a difficult time, both medically and personally, so I moved back home.”
“You’re a good sister, Goldie. She’s lucky to have you,” he says with a smile. I try to smile in return but I know what’s coming.
“Thanks. She’s a great sister too. She lives here now. I needed to be near her after what happened.”
Colton places his arm around my shoulder but turns to face me. He smiles again and says, “You can tell me anything, darlin’. I won’t judge.”
I laugh because it’s laughable. “You don’t know that.”
“I know you didn’t judge me. Maybe it’s because you and I were having sex at the time of Officer Knight’s murder, but I get a sense you would’ve believed me anyway.”
“A year ago, I would’ve agreed with you, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Tell me what changed then. I can tell you’re struggling with something. Let me take on some of that burden.”
My heart slams in my chest. “Why would you do that, Colton? We don’t even know each other.”
He takes my face in his hands, and I feel my heart melt. “I know a lot about you, Alexandra. You’re loving and loyal. Smart, sassy, and sexy as fuck. I also got an idea of how strong you are when we were at the station today. So, go ahead. Tell me about the monkey on your back.”
“OK, you need to know.”
I spend the next hour telling Colton about my case. How I believed Steven Minor was innocent of the murder charges. I explain how hard I fought for his acquittal and the relief when he was set free.
I stop short of finishing the story.
“Sounds like you’re a great attorney. But that’s not what’s bothering you. Come on, darlin’, there’s more to the story, so tell me. Maybe it’ll help.”
I guess if he’s going to trust me, I have to trust him.
“Soon after Minor was acquitted, he murdered his neighbor before killing himself.” I can’t even look at Colton as the words fall out of my mouth.
Needing to move, do something, I get up from the sofa and begin to pace. “That’s not all. He left a note for me.” My stomach squeezes at the memory.
Colton stands and pulls me into his arms. I’m snuggled in to his massive chest. “You can tell me what it said, darlin’.”
I feel so safe in his arms, so I tell him something even my sister doesn’t know.
“The letter he left wasn’t a suicide note. It was a letter to thank me for being gullible enough to believe he was innocent.” I start to sob and he pulls me tighter, but he doesn’t say anything.
I try to catch my breath between sobs, then I finish. “It said he hoped I never forgot that even though he was responsible for the murder he was acquitted of, I was the one responsible for the death of his neighbor.”
I barely finish telling him when he sweeps me up into his arms and carries me back to the sofa. Placing me in his lap, he still doesn’t say anything. He just lets me cry.