Charming Colton Read online

  No one is loitering around her building this morning, so I head to the precinct, taking the most roundabout way imaginable, just in case.

  That evening, ten minutes before we are supposed to leave to go to Davis and Britney’s house, I’m leaning against the kitchen counter, wondering what Eve is doing in her bedroom. She went in there the moment we got back home and shut the door, mumbling about needing to change.

  I glance at my watch again and shove off the counter, angling for her door. I knock softly. “Eve?”

  Moments later, she opens the door. She’s wearing a soft pink robe, which she’s clutching around herself. Her hair is down, and I’m quickly learning I love it when it’s loose like this.

  She’s been in here for over an hour, and she’s still not dressed for dinner?

  “You okay?”

  She sighs. “Not really.” She tucks a lock of wavy hair behind her ear.

  I glance past her. The closet is open and a lot of clothes are lying on the bed, still on their hangers. I’m not sure what to say. I don’t have a clue what’s going on here. Eve does not strike me as an undecided woman who can’t throw some clothes on.

  She clears her throat. “I’m not ready to be little in front of you.”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  “If you weren’t going to be with us, I would be myself in front of Britney. In her home. She’ll be little tonight. She’s little every night.”

  “And what does it mean to be little exactly?”

  She shrugs. “It’s complicated, but right now I’m just trying to decide what to wear, and frankly every time I pick something else up, my stomach ties into knots.”

  “I don’t want you to feel stressed like that around me.”

  “Can’t help it.”

  I inhale slowly, hating that I’m causing her to panic. This is way outside my realm of understanding. “How about you just dress in something comfortable. I’m sure everyone will understand.”

  “Yeah, I’m working on it. Give me five more minutes.” She shuts the door in my face.

  I grin. I can’t help it. As much as I loathe disrupting her life, she is adorable when she’s flustered. It’s another side of her.

  I wait in the living room, not bothering her again. She knows we’re late. I doubt anyone will say a word. This entire situation is awkward.

  When she finally emerges, I’m surprised to see her in jeans and a white sweater. There’s nothing unusual about her attire. She has on dressy leather tennis shoes too. Her hair is hanging full down her back. A small white purse with a gold chain strap hangs from her shoulder. She opens the coat closet and grabs a puffy white ski jacket. As she puts it on, she meets my gaze. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  I pull on my coat at the same time. “Can we go in my car?”

  She nods. “No one will notice me leaving with you since your car is in the parking garage now.”

  I open the door and let her pass through first. When she pulls the keys from her purse, I gently take them from her hand and lock the door. She doesn’t say a word about my highhandedness. I’m not even sure why I would do something like that. I rationalize that for one thing, she’s clearly shaking with nerves. For another, I want to ensure her door is indeed locked for my peace of mind.

  She doesn’t say a word as we head down the stairs and approach my SUV. I open her door for her and wait for her to get settled before closing it. I’m perplexed by her many facets. Every time I’ve seen her in her professional work attire, she’s been strong and confident. It’s like she changes into another personality when she takes off her daytime clothes.

  When we arrive at Davis and Britney’s house, I park out front and turn toward Eve. “We don’t have to do this.” She has been wringing her hands the entire drive.

  “Yeah, we kinda do.” She says those heavy words as if she’s announcing that we have no choice but to attend a funeral. And she opens her door to jump down from my SUV before I can round the hood.

  Davis opens the front door as we step onto the porch. I’ve never felt so unnerved with a woman. My instinct is to set a hand on the small of her back or thread my fingers with hers. I want her to relax, and I imagine I could accomplish that if I were touching her. But it wouldn’t be appropriate.

  Eve is not my date. She’s a woman I’m protecting. The majority of my thoughts about her are completely inappropriate and I need to rein them in. I have no idea why I’m so drawn to her. I mean, other than the obvious. But looks aren’t everything. It’s not that. It’s something inside me that wants to protect her. Comfort her. I want to pull her into my arms, tip her head back, and reassure her that everything is going to be okay. Even though I have no proof that is true.

  I suspect I’m about to have the strangest night of my life.

  “You made it,” Davis states as he steps back to open the door wider. “Come on in.”

  I let Eve enter in front of me and follow her.

  It’s not until we’re inside that I realize Britney is hovering out of sight pressed against Davis’s side almost behind the open door. When Davis shuts the door, I force myself not to react.

  Britney grips Davis’s waist and does her best to squish even closer to him. Her gaze is down, but she can’t exactly hide behind her hair because it’s braided behind her ears. She has on a soft pink knit sweater dress with long sleeves. It fits slightly loose on her and hangs only a few inches below her butt. It’s winter, so she’s also wearing knit white tights. Pink ballet slippers that match the color of her dress round out the outfit.

  I’m starting to understand.

  Davis holds out a hand to shake mine. “Good to see you.” He tips his head down to Britney. “Are you going to say hello?”

  “Hi,” she whispers, lifting one hand to give a little wave without looking at either of us directly.

  “Hey,” Eve says quietly as she removes her coat. “I love your dress.”

  “Thanks,” Britney murmurs.

  Davis meets my gaze. “She’s not usually this shy, but it’s hard meeting new people. Or…exposing your kink to people you already know.”

  “I get it. It’s good to see you, Britney. Please don’t let me make you nervous. Just be yourself.” I have enough nerves for both of us.

  She gives a slight nod, but that’s all I get.

  After shrugging out of my own coat, I take Eve’s from her and hook them on the coat rack next to the front door.

  Davis waves a hand in the direction of the living room. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”

  “I’m fine.” I could use a shot of something strong, but I need to be completely level-headed for this evening. I stroll over to the couch and sit on one end.

  Davis leads Britney to an armchair. He sits and then lifts her onto his lap, settling her sideways as she leans her head on his shoulder. His hand comes to her thighs.

  Eve sits cautiously on the other end of the sofa, a good distance between us.

  A rattling noise, followed by the clear sound of a dog whimpering, makes me turn around to see a cage in the kitchen area. “Ah, the puppy. Charlie?”

  Davis nods. “Yep. The little rascal would jump all over everyone. He’s going to stay in the kennel until after dinner.”

  Britney gives a humph and crosses her arms. Obviously, the idea of keeping Charlie in the kennel is not one she approves of.

  Davis frowns. “What did I say about Charlie?”

  She sighs. “That it’s not polite to let him jump all over the guests.”

  “That’s right. We’ll let him out after dinner.”

  I can’t help but smile. The dynamic between Davis and Britney is fascinating. I’m intrigued. I was worried about this all day. Concerned about how I might react to this lifestyle. But somehow I’m not as unsettled as I expected. I’m not sure I have it in me to be the kind of Dom Davis is, but I do know I’d give my left arm to have a woman look at me the way Britney looks at him.

  I glance at Eve, wondering if she wants w
hat Britney has. Wondering if she’s ever had a relationship like this. She’s so timid right now, sliding her palms under her thighs and pursing her lips. Her gorgeous hair creates a bit of a curtain, letting her hide her expression when she leans forward.

  I thought the professional take-charge version of Eve was hot. This side is also grabbing my attention. I flatten my palms on my thighs and rub them against my jeans. I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable. I want to reach over and haul her into my side, onto my lap even. I want her to be able to relax, not have to worry about what I’m thinking. Because there’s no mistaking that her discomfort is directly related to the fact that she’s too nervous to be herself in front of me.

  I jerk my attention back to Davis. I have no business thinking of either the adult version of Eve or the little version. I’m here to protect her, not hold her in my damn lap. Jesus.

  “How was your day? Anything new?” Davis asks me. He’s talking about the investigation, of course.

  I shake my wandering thoughts away. “No. It went smoothly.” If you don’t count the stress of learning the multiple sides of Eve. I lean back and glance at Eve again to point out the obvious. “I’m certain I’m upsetting Eve’s usual routine though.”

  She shifts her weight, sitting awkwardly, her hands crossed on her lap now. “It’s fine.”

  Davis nods. “I’m sure it’s hard.” He rubs Britney’s thighs. “It’ll get easier.” He’s speaking to Eve.

  She doesn’t respond though.

  Davis turns his attention back to me. “Let me tell you a bit about our lifestyle. It will help if you understand better.”

  I sit back, trying to appear as calm and collected as possible.

  “Britney and I have a nearly full-time Daddy/little arrangement when we’re in the house. When she goes to work or we have some sort of engagement outside the home with vanilla folks, she leaves her little at home. But when we’re here or at Surrender, Britney is my little.”

  She squirms on his lap, and he steadies her with a firm grip on her thighs. It’s captivating.

  “Essentially I’m a Dom who prefers a nurturing role. Britney is a submissive who enjoys being taken care of. I make most decisions for her at home. She obeys me or finds herself over my knees.”

  Britney wiggles on his lap again and tucks her face into his neck.

  I’ve only seen her as a strong independent woman, so this side of her is mind-boggling.

  I lick my lips, aware of the woman next to me who is fidgeting. I realize this is the kind of person she is too. Like Britney, she’d rather be little right now. That’s why she took so long getting ready. She’s chosen an outfit that’s somewhere in between—appropriate in public, but comforting at the same time. I wonder how she normally lives since she doesn’t have a full-time Daddy figure living with her.

  “It’s not confusing? Flipping a switch like that?” I don’t even know who I’m asking.

  Britney shakes her head. “Nope.”

  Davis lifts her chin to meet his gaze. His expression is serious. “I know you’re nervous, but I expect you to speak respectfully to Colt. Understood?”

  “Yes, Sir.” When he releases her chin, she faces me. “It’s not confusing, Sir. It’s just who I am.”

  I turn toward Eve. “It’s who you are too.”

  She nods, not meeting my gaze.

  “It’s freeing,” Britney murmurs. I hope she’s growing more comfortable in my presence. I wish I could say the same for Eve.

  I look toward Britney again.

  She shrugs. “Some people like to have a drink when they get home from work. Some watch sports. Some sit in a hot tub. I like to leave my adult self at the door and slide into a youthful persona. Kids don’t have any worries or responsibilities. I leave them at the door and shake them from my mind.”

  “Makes sense.”

  Davis speaks again. “Littles come in all ages. Older ones are called middles. Britney gravitates to about four, which means I do nearly everything for her when she’s in her little space. I’m strict because she likes it that way. We have an agreed-upon dynamic and we take a pause every once in a while to make sure we’re meeting each other’s needs. Usually, I can tell when we need to stop and reevaluate even before Britney realizes it. She tends to get defiant and break the rules when she’s frustrated.”

  I’m curious to know how sex fits into this arrangement, but I’m not going to ask.

  Davis slides his hand higher up Britney’s thigh, under her short skirt and gives another squeeze. “Sit still, sweetie. If you don’t stop squirming, I’m going to spank you before we’ve had dinner.”

  She freezes. “Sorry, Daddy.”

  He kisses her forehead. “I know you’re nervous, but I trust Colt to keep our secret, and I’m asking to extend the same courtesy.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  One thing is for sure, I would never in a million years break this confidence. “He’s right, Britney. I’m humbled that you’ve allowed me to come into your home to see this side of you. I would never break that confidence. Same goes for the club. I appreciate you preparing me for what I’m going to see at Surrender. It means a lot to me. I don’t want to stand out and embarrass myself. This is a tremendous help.”

  She meets my gaze. “You’re welcome, Sir.”

  It feels odd when she addresses me like that, but I’m gathering it’s expected from her.

  I glance at Eve, addressing Britney still. “My goal is to keep your friend Eve safe just like Davis did for you. I can do my job better if I understand her better.”

  “I don’t want those bad men to get Eve,” Britney says. “Thank you for keeping her safe.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Eve has been sitting stiffly this entire time. She finally scoots back into the corner of the sofa and pulls her knees up to her chest in the same position I saw her take last night at her apartment. I assume she feels calmer when she’s curled into a ball. I hate that I’m the reason for her stress.

  The odd urge to reach out and hold her consumes me again. It’s unnerving. I can’t act on it. Of course not. On a few occasions in the past, I’ve slept with women when I was undercover and turning them down would have looked suspicious. But this is not that kind of job. Eve knows I’m a cop. I don’t need to convince her. She needs me to keep her alive, not fuck her.

  She’s just so…vulnerable. Especially tonight. And though I might not have any knowledge of this aspect of the fetish world, I am a rather alpha sort of man. My inclination right now is to do anything I can to help her relax, including pulling her closer.

  It’s not outside of the scope of my job to ensure Eve is comfortable around me. It’s necessary. I’m rationalizing this when Davis speaks again.

  “I need to finish dinner.” He pats Britney’s thigh. “Why don’t you take Eve to your room? You can play for a while. I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She slides off of his lap and shuffles over to Eve. “You want to go to my room?”

  Eve unfolds, nodding, and I watch, my chest tight, as she follows her friend out of the living room. At least I no longer need to make the immediate decision about whether or not to touch her.

  Chapter 8

  Colton

  * * *

  I run a hand through my hair and draw in deep breaths, hoping Davis doesn’t notice my plight as I follow him into the attached kitchen. My shoulders are tense, and nothing is going to relax me anytime soon.

  Davis looks over his shoulder. “You can help me get dinner on the table.”

  I nod. “Sure.”

  “I know you’re overwhelmed, but damn, Colt, I’m impressed with your open-mindedness.”

  I glance at the hallway. Faint noises are coming from deeper in the house. “I’m trying. It’s outside of my comfort zone, mind you, but I want to understand. More importantly, I want Eve to be safe. That’s my job.”

  “I’ve never seen her this stressed,” Davis admits as he grabs a s
alad bowl from the fridge and sets it on the table which is already set for dinner. “This is hard on her.”

  “I hate that.”

  He smiles at me. “You’re a good man, Colt. That is actually your name? Colton?”

  “Yes.” I chuckle. “If I’m deep undercover, I assume totally different names, but I’m not so deep right now. I don’t flaunt that I’m a cop, but I will if I need to. I wouldn’t give out my last name to just anyone. I make one up on the spot when needed.”

  Davis pulls something from the oven, and the room immediately smells divine. My stomach grumbles. “Lasagna. Dude, you are a God.”

  He chuckles again. “I’m not the best cook in the world, but I can make a mean lasagna. My grandmother taught me because it was my favorite food growing up, and she insisted a man should know how to cook some key meals to impress the ladies.”

  I smile. “Well, I’m not a lady, but it’s working for me. I’m impressed.”

  He adds a basket of French bread to the table, then reaches for the two glasses and fills them with ice. “What would you like to drink? Water, tea, soda?”

  “Tea would be great. Thank you.”

  I watch in fascination as he pulls two sippy cups from the cabinet next and fills them with a splash of apple juice and the rest of the way with water. He screws on the lids and sets them on the table.

  Davis leans a hip against the counter when he’s done. “I can see Eve straddling both worlds. She’s not comfortable being little in front of you, and I totally understand. I think she’ll accept my gentle guidance though. She knows me, and she would ordinarily accept the direction from any Daddy at the club.”

  I nod, wondering if there might come a day when I have to step up to the plate and fill this role for her, in order to keep up the ruse. If there’s even the slightest chance the seller or one of his men is a member or guest at surrender, I need to be on alert at all times there. I also need Eve to be herself in front of me so that no one suspects I’m a cop. That’s going to be challenging.