Page 1 of Rescuing Erin

Prologue

“You’re a coward.”

My carefully controlled temper was being tested. Erin Anderson had to be the most spoiled brat I’d ever met. However, my dick hadn’t gotten the memo. She was too smart, too manipulative, too beautiful, too off-limits. She was the President of the United States’ daughter.

Untouchable.

“Not a coward, Erin, smart,” I replied.

She crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance, the movement showcasing the pristine flesh of her cleavage. In a moment of weakness my eyes lowered of their own accord, and I had to stifle a groan. The momentary glance had my dick stiffening and my resolve faltering. However, when my gaze met her smirk, I reminded myself I wasn’t going to touch her. Not now, not ever.

She knew exactly what she was doing. It was all part of her manipulation. Erin knew how beautiful she was and she’d learned to use it to get what she wanted. And over the last few months, she’d made one thing very clear—she wanted me. That wasn’t going to happen for a variety of reasons. Setting aside who her father was, I wouldn’t be used; I wasn’t any woman’s boy toy.

As happy as I was for my team, I didn’t believe in love. Not for myself anyway. Once bitten, twice shy and all that bullshit. I also didn’t fuck women above my paygrade. Rich women who only wanted me on their arm because I was former Special Forces. Fuck that. My service was never going to be exploited.

“I know you feel it, too, Colin. You’re either too stubborn or too stupid to admit it,” Erin continued.

“Woman, the only thing I feel is annoyed.”

“Colin—”

“Enough, Erin. I know you’re used to the pansy, country club boys who kiss your ass, but I’m not them. You can throw whatever temper tantrum you’d like, and I still won’t bend. I’m a man, not some punk who’s gonna cave because you’ve begged enough.”

“You’re an ass!” she shouted.

“No, sweetheart, I’m real. I don’t sugarcoat shit so I won’t hurt your tender feelings. If that’s what you’re after, why the fuck do we keep having this same conversation?”

“Fine. I get it. You don’t want me.” The saucy grin she’d had earlier turned into a defeated frown. A look I found I didn’t like on her pretty face, but one that was necessary. It was my job to protect her, and I couldn’t do that if every time we were alone together, she was testing my patience and self-control.

“Erin—”

“No.” She held her hand up, stalling my rebuttal. “Leave it. I have to get back downstairs. I have responsibilities to the charity.”

She was right, she did. There were at least four hundred people here by her invitation, all waiting to be schmoozed by the first daughter. I had to hand it to her; she could work a room. All it took was an impassioned speech about the children she was helping and a smile, and people opened their wallets and money flowed.

Erin was almost to the door. I reached out and stopped her before she could leave. My first mistake was touching her, the second was savoring the way her small hand fit in mine.

“What?”

“Listen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such an ass, Erin. You’re a beautiful, smart woman.” I opted to leave out what a pain in the ass she was. “But you have to know, I can’t touch you. I was hired by your father to protect you. That’s it. Whatever you think is between us is a case of wanting what you can’t have. If I were some guy off the street, you wouldn’t give me a second glance.”

Her sexy, brown eyes narrowed into slits before she turned, bringing her closer to me. So close the flowery perfume she wore assailed my senses. When I tried to let go of her hand, her grip tightened and she leaned in close.

“You’ve miscalculated me, Colin. You presume to know me, and why I want what I want. Has it ever occurred to you, that I’m not, nor have I ever, been attracted to the ass kissers that chase me only to get closer to my father? I don’t want a boy in my bed, Colin. I could have any number of them with a smile and a wink. I want you, not because I can’t have you, but because I’m attracted to you.”

When her mouth pressed against mine, I did nothing to stop her. When the silk of her tongue swept the seam of my lips, I opened for her. And when she invaded, I caved, then took over. The sexy mew she made fueled my desire, and I deepened the kiss, and, in an illicit battle I knew I’d lose, I waged war. It was wrong. I shouldn’t have been devouring her like she was my last meal. I shouldn’t have enjoyed the way her tongue felt against mine. But I did and I was. She pressed her body closer and there was no way she could miss my hard-on. The slacks I was wearing gave little by way of a barrier. Her hands roamed my back, and mine grabbed her ass and kneaded the firm muscles. Goddamn, she was sexy.

“More,” she whispered against my mouth.

What the fuck am I doing?

“Stop, Erin.” I grabbed her hands as she fumbled with my belt.

She kept her hands where they were but pulled back enough to focus on my face.

“What?”

“We can’t do this.”