Judge Me Not - Maggie Cole Page 0,6

next to me answers.

My cheeks erupt in flames. Against my better judgment, I glance at him.

He cockily raises an eyebrow, as if he expects me to argue with him. His lips curve up.

God, he's hot.

I hate myself for that thought.

But he is.

He's a bad boy, my mother's voice flies into my head.

Stay away.

I quickly focus on Cee Cee. My stomach does somersaults, and I haven't felt anything like this since I met Troy. All he gave me was a broken heart and license to single motherhood.

She smirks, and I want to slap her.

I blurt out, "Maybe we should go."

Cee Cee opens her mouth to speak, but Star enters the room and says, "Jasmine. I see you've met Colton."

"Who?"

She walks up and puts her hand on the bad-boy stud sitting next to me.

Jealousy tears through me that she's touching him and I'm not. I cringe inside, wishing I didn't have any of these thoughts.

"Jasmine," he says, and the way my name rolls off his tongue and his eyes flare create heat in my loins.

I shift in my seat, uncrossing and recrossing my legs, then realize I just drew attention to my thighs when his eyes dart to them. He slowly lifts his gaze and blue heat sizzles from his eyes.

Oh God.

"Ladies, if you'll come with me," Star says.

Relieved to leave Mr. Lickable, I get up too fast and stumble. He rises and grabs me, steadying me by palming my ass and head.

My face rams into his chest, and my lips brush against his skin. I look up. He towers over me but dips his face inches from mine. The intoxicating smell I inhaled earlier only gets more potent, and I quiver inside.

"You okay?"

"Mm-hmm," I meekly reply.

His jaw clenches, and his blue eyes darken. The warmth of his breath mixes with mine.

Star's voice cuts through my trance. "I'm Star. And you are?"

I spin into Mr. Lickable's hard frame, and he drops his arms so they are around my waist. "Sorry to be rude. This is my cousin Cee Cee."

Why isn't he removing his hands?

I need to step away.

He feels so good.

Star shakes Cee Cee's hand, smirking. "You came to give your stamp of approval?"

Mr. Lickable murmurs in my ear, "I wasn't planning on going inside tonight, but now I'm going to have to."

My skin hums from his touch. I squirm, but all it does is make his erection harden against my back.

The quivering in my gut gets faster, and my legs shake.

He strokes his thumb near my belly button.

I freeze.

He releases me, turns to the bar, and finishes the last mouthful of his scotch. His large hand slides along my back, and he guides me toward a door.

"Uh, where are we going?"

His hot breath hits the skin on my neck, accelerating all the tingles already racing through my bones. "To my suite."

"Your...what?" Panic takes over. I spin out of his grasp and bump into Star. "Sorry."

"Is there a problem?" she asks.

I glance at Cee Cee for help, but she only gives me a tiny shrug and has her "I don't know what we're doing" expression on her face.

"Well?" Star asks impatiently.

Mr. Lickable touches my waist, and I sharply inhale. "Star, give the ladies your tour. Drop Jasmine off in my suite when you're through, please."

"Sure."

"Excuse me, but—" I shut my mouth.

Star raises her eyebrows and crosses her arms. "Why don't I show you around, and then we can talk. Hmm?"

Abby's face fills my mind. Don't blow this before you even know what it is. It may be your only chance of getting the money to save her. I stand straighter and nod. "Yes."

Colton removes his hand, and I want to grab it and put it back.

Stop these thoughts. He's trouble.

We all step into another hallway. It's black, just like the bar, with pink near the ceiling. Colton goes one way, and Star leads Cee Cee and me in the opposite direction.

We pass dozens of doors with silver numbers. We finally get to the end. The only number on it is a one. Star opens the door and motions for us to go through.

Cee Cee and I step in, and we both freeze. Like the bar, the atmosphere is dark, with soft neon lights against the walls. A long bar stretches the entire length of the wall. Men fill the stools. Several small stages with poles are positioned in different parts of the room. Women dance, some with lingerie on, some with none. The center has leather couches and chairs. Waitresses wear barely