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blow this fast. He couldn’t embarrass himself by shooting within a minute of her hand touching his cock.
    Before Colt so much as said her name, he began to come.
    Hot spurts shot out the end of his dick, soaking the waistband of his sweatpants. He froze, mortified by being so quick on the trigger. He didn’t even enjoy the first orgasm he’d had in years that hadn’t been brought about by his own hand.
    Luckily it didn’t last long. Colt jerked away from her, ignoring the pain in his ass as he spun around.
    Fuck. Way to be a loser.
    “Colt?”
    He didn’t respond, just kept walking toward the door.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Home.”
    “Why? Are you sorry—”
    “That I came in the blink of an eye? Yeah, I’m really goddamned sorry.”
    “That’s not what I was going to say.”
    “Doesn’t matter.”
    “But—”
    “Save it.” He struggled to slip on his right boot without bending over, by bracing his hand on the wall.
    Then India was in his face. “Don’t do this.”
    “What? Embarrass you and myself? Too fuckin’ late.”
    “Do I look embarrassed?”

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    Lorelei James
    Colt’s gaze traveled the length of her body and back up to her face. “No, you look beautiful. Jesus, you always look so beautiful.”
    Her eyes softened. “Talk to me.”
    He shook his head. He should’ve been hanging his stupid head in shame. Somehow he’d managed to get one boot on. He switched his stance, trying to block her out.
    But India wasn’t about to be deterred. She ducked under his arm so she was closer than before. His determination to ignore her was temporarily sidelined when he noticed the gap in her robe had widened, granting him an even better view of those exquisitely pierced nipples.
    “Fine, you’re embarrassed. So I’ve got nothing to lose by asking you to tell me the truth.”
    “Indy—”
    “How long has it been since you’ve had sex?”
    Thump . His heel hit the floor as he got the left boot on.
    “A year?”
    Colt laughed.
    “Two years?”
    “Try three years.”
    India stared at him with confusion, then understanding dawned.
    “You mean, you haven’t—”
    “Had sex since I went through treatment? Nope. I’ve been celibate as long as I’ve been sober.”
    “By choice?”
    How the hell was he supposed to answer that? “I hardly remember the last time I had sex. I was drunk. Or high. Or both. So 44
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    Branded As Trouble
    I guess you can say I hardly remember what sex is like or what I’m supposed to do besides come in my pants like a teenage boy.”
    “Why haven’t you talked about this at meetings?”
    “Because it’s not anyone’s goddamned business but mine.”
    “Okay. But you could’ve talked to me. One on one. We’re friends.”
    Colt laughed again, but it held a bitter edge.
    “That wasn’t meant to be funny!”
    “Which is why it is.” He grabbed the plastic grocery bag that held his toothbrush, iPod, extra clothes and started downstairs.
    “You’re just leaving?”
    Was that a regretful note in her voice? He didn’t turn around until he reached the landing at the bottom. “Do you want me to stay and finish what we started?”
    India actually backed up a step. A look of surprise—or was it horror?—crossed her face.
    Enough. Her expression told him everything he needed to know: it was time for him to move on, much as it pained him.
    “But you could stay and we could talk about it.”
    “Nothin’ left to say. See you around.”
    Halfway home Colt realized he never did get a cup of coffee.
    That harsh dose of reality had been enough to kick start his day.

    Thursday evening in the gym, Colt and Cam were sweating and grunting, trying to outdo each other. The best five-mile running time www.samhainpublishing.com 45

    Lorelei James
    went to Colt, but he admitted there was little victory in beating a man with half his leg gone.
    Cam out bench-pressed Colt by almost fifty pounds. Their sets of crunches were