by Celia Aaron
“Is this because I kissed you?”
“No,” I answer too quickly. Where is my poker face?
“You don’t have to go.” He reaches out, then stops and pulls his hand back. “We should probably talk numbers, right?”
“Numbers?” I’m a numbers person. Does he know that somehow? I like to know definite amounts and put a figure to any damages. It’s the best place to start when dealing with two warring parties. If I can narrow the dispute down to nothing more than a dollar amount—no emotions, no subterfuge—that’s my sweet spot. “What numbers do you have?”
“Well.” He flips through his worn legal pad as I take the seat across from him. “From discovery documents, it seems to me that Bonnie and Ty made a profit last year of—”
“Fifteen-thousand, twenty-one dollars and eleven cents.” I grab my pen. “Split between the parties, that would give my client $7,510.55.”
“I mean, look.” He tosses his pad to the side. “We’re not talking big money here.”
“No, it’s not to us. But to Rayford, it could mean a better life.”
“Sure, because he’s done such a great job with his life so far.” He gives me a searching look. “Do you really want Rayford to come out on top in this?”
“Of course.” I know Rayford isn’t the nicest, cleanest client, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve representation. “He should get his day in court. He has solid claims.”
“I don’t see it that way. And I think the jury will agree with me that Rayford is a piss-poor brother who wants to glom onto Ty and Bonnie’s success.”
“We are getting nowhere.” I sigh.
“Okay.” He holds his hands up, palms toward me. “Let’s go back to the numbers. Rayford wants $7,510.55 despite the fact he didn’t do a lick of work to earn it.”
“That recipe—”
“Isn’t a basis for monetary relief, and you know it.”
“I know no such thing.” I lean forward. “And if there was no basis at all, Judge Houston would’ve granted your motion to dismiss. He didn’t. So, try again, Hart.” God, arguing with him gets my blood up, and not in a professional sort of way.
He leans closer, bridging the divide between us. “He didn’t grant my motion because he wanted to make it look like he was giving you and Rayford a chance. He’s up for re-election next year. He knows you don’t have a leg to stand on but wanted to show the community that he’s even-handed.”
“Bullshit.” I pin him with a glare—one that I hope doesn’t give away the hot blood pumping in my veins. “I have a case. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be sitting here arguing with me.”
“You’ve got nothing but some smart pleadings and clever arguments. All of that will fall flat in front of a jury.” His tone verges on mocking, but his eyes say something else. He looks hungry. For me.
“We’re done here.” I stand and pull my briefcase strap over my shoulder.
“Not by a long shot.” He jumps to his feet.
My heart jumps right along with him as he closes the distance between us.
He leans down. “Your client needs to give it up. He’s not getting a dime.”
“And your clients need to stop being stingy jerks.”
His gaze slips to my mouth, and I’m right back into the fire, my desire for him smoking up my vision.
“I’m leaving.” I turn toward the door.
He takes my arm and pulls me back to him, his forehead furrowed. “You know what you need?”
“Smarter opposing counsel?”
He pulls me in for a kiss that lights a blaze through my entire being. One of his arms goes around my waist. I lean back but can’t get away. And heaven help me, I don’t want to. My briefcase slips from my shoulder as he pushes me onto the couch. I wrap my arms around his neck as he follows me down, our mouths a mess of lips and teeth and desire.
I know we should stop. I know it. But his tongue feels so good, and his body is hard on top of mine, fitting against me perfectly. I lift my hips, and he slides a knee between my thighs as we deepen our kiss. He puts one hand in my hair, and I moan when he pulls on the strands. Sensation washes through me, and I’m pulled under by how much I love his touch.
Breaking our kiss, he fastens his lips to my throat, sucking and licking.
His name darts across my lips, and he answers by pulling my sweater down and running his teeth along my collarbone. When he presses his hard length against me, all the same filthy thoughts I had about him years ago come rushing back. I have to stop this, to get control of the situation. But I can’t seem to do anything except writhe as he rocks his hips against mine and drops his kisses lower across my chest.
I run my fingers through his hair, then gasp as he returns to my mouth, his hand under my shirt and cupping my breast through my bra. My nipples are so hard they tingle, and when he brushes his thumb over one, I arch my back.
“I need you naked.” He rests one palm at my throat.
I’m not going that far. I’m not. Am I? When he rakes his fingers down my breast to get past the lace of my bra, I bite his lip. Yes, I’m going that far.
He yanks my top down. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” He fastens his mouth to my aching nipple. I can’t breathe as he nips at me with his teeth, then sucks hard, sending a shockwave of need through me.
“Hart, I can’t—mmmmm.” I bite my own lip as he cups my other breast.
A board creaks in the hall.
Hart yanks my sweater back into place as a dark-haired, bearded man strolls into the room. He stops, his blue eyes widening. “Well, fuck me.”
Chapter 7
Hart
“Garrett.” I want to strangle him, to just punch him right in his beard. Instead, I make sure Ella is covered, then I sit up. “You could knock, asshole.”
“It’s my house.” He shrugs.
“Our house,” I correct. “Ours.”
He doesn’t leave. “I thought you two were fighting?”
“We are.” Ella arranges her sweater, her ruffled feathers beyond adorable. “This was a mistake. I’d appreciate it if you could keep this to yourself.” She stands as Garrett gives her an amused glance.
“I’m the number one secret keeper in the county. Have been for years. Just ask around in town. They’ll tell you.” He leans against the doorframe.
“You don’t have to go.” I rise as Ella shoulders her briefcase again.
“I do.” She kicks her chin up. “I need to work on this case without distraction. I’m heading back to my motel. I’d appreciate it if we set the next conference in your office or a more formal space.”
“We don’t have to—”
“Thank you for lunch.” She turns to stride past a still-amused Garrett.
I glare at the cockblock, which only makes him smirk.
Then he follows Ella into the foyer. “Uh, hang on a second, miss. That’s what I was coming to tell you. Deputy Nabors called and said the bridges between here and town have iced over, and that the county has already closed the roads ahead of the storm.”
“Storm?” Ella crosses her arms over her stomach. “It’s not going to snow.” Her exasperation covers the earlier embarrassment. If she only knew what kind of kinky shenanigans Garrett got up to, she wouldn’t be the least bit worried about him seeing us together.
“Already started in the northwest section of the county.” Elise walks up next to Garrett. “Looks like you’ll be staying here for the night.” She smiles.
“No. I can drive back.” Ella heads for the front door and opens it.
“Ella, wait.” I catch up to her just as she stops and stares at the old oaks that ring the estate.
“Look at the trees.” She points to the crystalline branches. In the falling night, the nearest trees are coated with a layer of ice, and a keen wind blows along the eaves. The limbs lean toward us, and a popping sound tells me that a pine tree just exploded nearby from freezing sap.
“Yeah, that’s why the roads are closed. The rain’s turned
to ice ahead of the snow front.” Garrett strides toward the kitchen and calls over his shoulder, “Best settle in. I’ll make dinner.”
“I’ll watch.” Elise follows him.
Another gust whips past, and Ella steps into the foyer and closes the door.
“I’m glad you’re staying.” I move closer to her, and she turns around.
“Not intentionally.” She doesn’t meet my gaze.
“Hey.” I gently grip her chin. “Hey.” When her warm eyes meet mine, I continue, “I can tell you’re worrying. Don’t.”
“Of course I’m worrying.” She pushes past me. “This is bad.” Turning, she points at me and then herself. “This thing. It isn’t happening.”
“Honey, it started happening all those years ago with you on my lap.”
She throws up her hands and almost hits the Christmas tree behind her. “This is ridiculous.”
“Is it, though?” I take her hands. They’re warm. “We met before, and we felt it then.”
“Lust. That’s what we felt.” Despite her defiant tone, she doesn’t pull away.
“Definitely, but I think there was more to it than that. I think you know it, too. And now fate throws us together again? Seems like more than just a fluke to me. More than just attraction.” I look down at her lips. “Though, trust me, the attraction part is almost more than I can stand.”
She swallows hard. “I need to call my client.”
I crowd her. I have to. My heart is thumping. “You can call him. After we’re finished talking.”
“Hart.” She presses her palm to my chest. “Please.”
I cover her hand with mine and lean closer. Her eyelashes flutter closed as I press my lips to hers. Softly, this time. Almost as if I’m asking permission.
She sighs and takes my kiss, then answers it. Her tongue slides against mine, all of her protests drowned out by the connection between us, this insatiable need that began in a bar years ago and held strong ever since.
“Just pretend, okay? Pretend we don’t have a case.” I press my forehead to hers. “It’s just me and you. What do you want?”
She clutches my shirt and lets out a breathy sigh. Fuck, she’s sexy.
“I want …” She bites her bottom lip.
“Just you and me, Ella. No case. No distractions. Nothing between us. Tell me what you want.” I know the words I’m dying to hear, but will she give them to me? Because if she will, I’ll give her so much more.
“I want you.” Her voice is so soft I almost miss it.
But I don’t. I hear the words that set me on fire, and I scoop her up and carry her toward the stairs.
Chapter 8
Ella
How does he have this effect on me? A few kisses and I’m gone. He carries me up the stairs two-at-a-time, and I hold onto him as he rushes down the hall, into a bedroom, and then slams the door behind us.
“Hart!” I squeak as he sits me on his bed, then climbs on top of me. His mouth returns, and I’m drugged again, each caress like a hint of ecstasy that keeps me coming back for more. I run my hands to his broad shoulders, feeling how tense he is. I dig my nails in. He groans against my mouth and runs one hand down to my hip.
I thought I was burning up before. Now, alone with him in this bedroom, I’m engulfed. Each touch, each kiss, each low rumble from his chest—I give myself over to it. Kissing him is so easy, so delicious that it’s almost scary, and I fear that the wrongness of it all just serves to make it more appealing. I want to do the wrong thing, as long as it’s with him.
He settles between my thighs, and I rock my hips when I feel him pressing against me. His grip on my hip tightens, then he runs his hand up my sweater. With a hard push, he sits up and pulls my sweater completely off as I scrabble at his buttons.
“You know what this calls for?” He grabs his shirt and rips it open, buttons flying as he dives back down to me, his mouth on my chest as he reaches between me and the bed to undo my bra. He gets it with ease, and I would put in a snarky comment at his skill, but when he fastens his mouth to my breast, I can’t seem to string any words together.
He stops for two seconds to strip his undershirt away, giving me a glimpse of taut muscles and smooth skin. When he returns to my breast, he uses his teeth on my nipple, and I arch into him.
Kissing down my stomach, he stops at my jeans, pops them loose, then undoes the zipper. I take a deep breath as he pulls them down to my ankles, then yanks them completely off.
“Sensible panties, Ms. King.” He nuzzles against my stomach, his lips grazing me as I sit up. With an easy push, he puts me on my back again. “Let me help you out of them.” He hooks the sides of my cotton panties and pulls them down. When he spreads my legs, I can’t tell if I’m awkward or turned on or awkwardly turned on. All I know is that I want more.
“You saved this for me?” He kisses my mound, and down the sensitive crease of my thigh. “It’s perfect.”
“Hart.” I grab his hair.
He takes my wrist. “Touch your tits. I want to watch you while I eat your cunt.”
He’s filthy. Utterly filthy. But my hands find their way to my breasts, just as he instructed. And I run my fingers along my hard nipples.
“Just like that.” His green eyes never leave me as he runs his tongue along my pussy.
My body tingles all over, and when he fastens his mouth to me and pushes his tongue inside, I gasp. He doesn’t stop, his mouth so hot and perfect along my fevered skin. When he moves to my clit, I think I stop breathing. He pushes closer, my legs thrown over his shoulder as he watches me. I grind my hips to his rhythm, all modesty gone as I chase my release. My body tightens, everything twisting smaller and deeper inside me.
Then he stops.
“Hart!” I will beg if I have to. “Please.”
“I’m going to give it to you. Don’t you worry.” He strips his pants down, his cock springing free. My mouth waters as I see the bead of wetness at the tip, the way the shaft is so straight and hard. “You want it, right?” He grips it, giving it one erotic stroke. “It’s all for you.”
“Yes.” I clutch the sheets as he leans over and pulls a condom from his bedside table.
He rolls it on quickly, then settles on top of me. “I’ve been dreaming about this for years. Did you know that?” His mouth is insistent, almost rough, and I find I want more of it. I wrap my arms around his neck and bite his bottom lip.
“Fuck.” He palms one breast and rests his cock at my entrance. “You’re going to break me, woman.”
“Yes.” I thrust my hips up so his cock teases at my opening.
He groans and pushes inside me. “God-fucking-dammit-to-hell.” His arms tremble as he holds himself on his elbows. “You feel so good.”
My breath catches as he fills me, his body fitting mine perfectly, his cock hitting me deep and so, so right.
“More.” I bite his shoulder as he pulls back and pushes deep again, and my toes curl as he starts a slow rhythm. This moment consumes me, and I’m utterly his, giving myself over to every bit of pleasure he can share. That connection he spoke about—he was right. This is real, and I’ve never felt it with anyone else.
I spread wider, and he grunts as he leans back. Looking down at me, he licks his lips. “You’re gorgeous. So fucking sexy.” He palms my breasts then catches my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers while thrusting slowly, deeply.
I reach above me and brace myself against the headboard as his movements grow rougher, each jarring impact sending a wave of sparks through me.
“Like this?” He grabs my hips and lifts me, grinding my pussy against him as he takes what he wants.
“Yes.” I flatten my palms against the headboard.
With a groan, he pulls out, then flips me onto my knees. Before I can get a word out, he slams into me from behind. My moan is low and long as he starts fucking me harder, then reaches around my thigh and presses his fingers to my clit.
“Hart!” I buck at the sensation, the pure
arousal that shoots through me.
“I want you to come all over my cock.” He pistons me, the slapping sounds of our skin ricocheting around his room. “Can you do that for me?”
I press my forehead into the bed as he leans over me, his back sliding against me as we writhe and rock together.
A hard slap on my ass makes me squeal. “Can you come for me?”
“Yes,” I breathe.
“That’s it.” He covers my body with his, one hand on my clit, the other supporting his weight.
I shove back against him, his cock sliding deeper inside as he rides me. This is lust. This is possession. And I don’t want it to end. Each stroke sends me higher, and every masculine noise he makes is an added spark to my flames.
On and on, he masters me, his teeth nipping at my shoulder as he pounds inside me. My hips seize, my body going still and taking every impact until my orgasm bursts through me, pleasure erupting in waves as I moan into the bed.
“Fuck!” He shoves hard and deep as I roll under the sea of pleasure, each quake turning my insides molten and my mind to mush.
His cock kicks inside me, and he grinds deep as he climaxes, his groans a porn soundtrack that could get me off just from listening to it.
I sink into the bed, my knees spreading even more as I go limp.
He pants on top of me, his cock still buried deep, and drops kisses on my back. “I think I may have blacked out when I came.”
I snort. “Is that common?”
“Just you. Only with you.” He kisses down my spine.
We breathe for a while, falling back down to earth like an errant leaf. My mind starts to clear as he keeps pressing kisses to my back and shoulders, as if he can’t help himself.
“I can’t believe we did that.” I turn my head and breathe in deeply. The bed smells like him, that hint of cologne mixed with some sort of fabric softener.
“That has been coming for years.” He pulls out gently and hurries to the en suite. “You know that, right?” he calls. “Ever since that night at the bar.”
