Beyond Reckless

by Autumn Jones Lake

  For a second, it seemed he was about to offer me one of his hands, but instead he jammed them in his pockets. We turned left, away from the bar. Away from the courthouse where my car was still parked.

  “Where’s your car?” he asked as if he’d read my mind.

  “In the courthouse lot.”

  “You didn’t drive down here?”

  “No. I needed the air.”

  Something about my answer made him stop. “Why?”

  “Rough day.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  I couldn’t tell if he was commiserating or he genuinely wanted to hear about it.

  What was I supposed to say? Part of my bad day was directly related to him.

  “I…I can’t always do what’s best for my clients and it gets to me after a while,” I explained when we started walking again. I wanted him to understand that settling the case hadn’t been my first choice, that I’d been ready to fight. But I was bound by all sorts of rules that forced my mouth to stay shut.

  “I can imagine.” His voice seemed to penetrate past my ears. Outside away from the bar noise, it was easier to appreciate his deep, confident tone. He didn’t press me for details or nose around for information about my conversations with his sister, which made my respect for him grow.

  “How long have you been doing this?”

  “Not long. Too long. I don’t know.”

  My jumbled answer didn’t seem to faze him. “Not what you thought it would be?”

  “Not at all.” We passed a few shops. Nothing was open at that hour. “I originally wanted to be a criminal attorney.”

  Why did I tell him that? The starry-eyed dreams I had of being a criminal defense attorney had died a long time ago.

  “Yeah? Why didn’t you?”

  “Decided I’d rather help kids instead of criminals.”

  That was close enough to the truth. As much as I dared to tell this man who was practically a stranger.

  He smothered a laugh. “Yeah, can’t blame you there.” We walked a little farther before he spoke again. “Hope’s said it’s not what she thought too.”

  Hope? His attorney? How close were they? Why was I so jealous all of a sudden?

  “You know her well?”

  Marcel’s demeanor shifted to something more guarded. “She’s dating one of my…best friends.”

  “So she gave you the friends and family rate then?” I teased.

  “Something like that.”

  That made sense. He didn’t strike me as the type of guy to hire a female attorney. Something that made my attraction to him even stranger.

  A man I recognized as the parent of one of my clients approached us, crazy eyes focused on me. My heart kicked up. This jerk had threatened me several times over the last few months for not recommending to the court that he have full custody of his daughter. Never mind I thought he was a terrible parent, it wasn’t what his daughter wanted. Since she was my client, his wishes weren’t my concern. I’d tried reaching out to the man’s attorney a bunch of times, but he couldn’t seem to rein in his client either.

  “Bitch, you better stop ignoring my phone calls,” he said as he weaved in front of me, completely ignoring Marcel.

  Marcel moved fast. Before I could even open my mouth, Marcel placed himself in front of me.

  “Back off,” he warned in a low, menacing voice.

  The man stumbled back a few steps but kept his eyes trained on me. “You’re not keeping me from my daughter, bitch.”

  One of Marcel’s hands reached behind him and patted my side. To reassure me or ascertain my location, I wasn’t sure, but I appreciated the gesture.

  I also noticed the way he’d adopted a fighting stance, prepared to defend me without even knowing the situation.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Marcel growled. “Stay away from her.” He didn’t follow it up with threats. Didn’t need to, honestly. His tone and posture said it all.

  My client’s father turned and ran.

  It wasn’t until I settled my hand on Marcel’s shoulder that I realized I was shaking. “Thank you.”

  He turned quickly, fierce expression still in place and took my hand. “That kind of thing happen to you a lot?”

  “Once or twice,” I admitted.

  His face softened and he brushed the back of his hand over my cheek. “Is that why you were freaked out when I came up to you in the bar?” he asked gently.

  “A little. Yes.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  The apology surprised me. Reassured me.

  His face darkened, and he turned, searching the street again. His body stayed tense, ready to hunt down anyone who bothered me. Finally, he turned my way again. “Anyone ever hassles you, let me know, and I’ll handle it.”

  The intensity in his voice, in his eyes, made me hot all over.

  Marcel brought out primal urges I didn’t even know I had. I wanted him to fire off some orders, push me up against the wall, dig his big hands into my ass as he took what he wanted—

  “Charlotte?”

  “What? Sorry.” My cheeks must have been a hundred shades of red. He cocked his head, studied me as if he knew he’d caught me fantasizing about him. About us.

  He slipped an arm around my waist, turning us in the opposite direction. I didn’t ask where we were going and he didn’t offer.

  Finally, we ended up in a parking lot behind a small apartment complex. “My place,” he explained.

  I turned and faced him. “Kind of big for one guy.”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “My apartment’s on the top floor.”

  Both arousal and fear spiked inside of me.

  I was crazy for considering this. Sure, technically I didn’t represent his sister any longer. But I could in the future. Getting involved with him was such a bad idea.

  “Do you want to come up?” he asked.

  I couldn’t deny I’d been interested in him since the day we met.

  Bad decision or not, I answered, “Lead the way.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  He wasn’t kidding about living on the top floor. Since he was so fit and in shape, I was embarrassed to be a little out of breath as I trailed behind him. He seemed not to notice. At his front door, he smiled.

  A hungry smile, but still somehow sweet. Charming even.

  I bet he charmed lots of women.

  But in that moment he wanted me. His gaze traveled over my body in a much more intimate way than he’d done all evening. Clearly he was picturing us fucking and the thought shook me in the best possible way.

  Our arms brushed, a brief second of electricity while he opened the front door. He waited for me to walk in first. Almost like a dare.

  I should have left. Gone home.

  Instead, I stepped over the threshold.

  The soft thunk of the door closing behind us seemed so loud.

  We were alone.

  He could do whatever he wanted to me.

  After a few seconds, I turned. He still hadn’t moved from the door. His big body stood between me and escape.

  As if he sensed my thoughts, he stepped aside, giving me the chance to run if I wanted it. At least I think that was his intention.

  “You good, Charlotte?”

  “I’m good.”

  He circled me slowly. “Do you want something to drink?”

  “Sure. Water?”

  One corner of his mouth lifted. “Good choice. That’s about all I have at the moment.”

  I followed him across the apartment. The kitchen was small. A counter separated it from the living room, and he had three bar stools set up on one side. I leaned against one, watching while he poured water from a jug he removed from the refrigerator.

  He slid the glass across the counter and watched as I took a sip. Too nervous to meet his eyes, I glanced around the apartment. It was sparsely furnished. Everything seemed new, clean, and neat. One of the bay windows had a little nook area
with a small table and two chairs.

  “Heidi likes doing her homework at the table,” he explained when my gaze lingered.

  Right. His sister. My client.

  Fuck.

  He stepped closer almost pushing my back against the counter with his body. “Are you comfortable, Charlotte?”

  “Comfortable?”

  “You seem nervous.”

  “Oh, maybe a little.”

  “I don’t bite.” He grinned, slow and full of heat. “Unless you want me to.”

  “Uh.” Brilliant. He’d reduced me to noises instead of full words. His muscular body was within reach, but I kept still. Yes, I was nervous. Scared and a lot turned on.

  I dodged to the right and walked through the living room. One door was open, and I pushed it wider. A twin bed took up one wall, a desk and bookcase filled the rest of the space. Everything was bare though.

  “Heidi’s. I was planning to take her shopping to furnish it this weekend,” Marcel explained from right behind me. Startled, I whipped around, finding him a lot closer than I expected.

  My heart clenched. The idea of this ultra-manly, rough, tattooed guy spending an afternoon taking his sister shopping for bedroom furnishings was too sweet to contemplate. “She’ll probably love that.”

  He shrugged and peeked in the room. His gaze fell on me again and he opened his mouth, seemed to think better of whatever he wanted to say and shook his head. Taking my hand, he tugged me away, closing the door behind him.

  I followed him to the couch and when I didn’t sit close enough, he slid over and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Still okay, Charlotte?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” He placed two fingers on my cheek, turning me to face him. I stared into his eyes, swimming in the almost teal color.

  “Are those contacts?” I blurted out.

  “What?”

  “Your eyes. They’re such a pretty color.”

  He pulled back, laughter making his body and the couch shake. “Pretty? I don’t think anyone’s ever said anything about me was pretty.”

  “Well they are,” I huffed. He made me feel so damn foolish.

  “Thank you. No. I don’t wear contacts.”

  His hand cupped my cheek this time and before anything else stupid came out of my mouth, he pressed his lips against mine. One soft, gentle perfect kiss.

  I reached up and ran my fingers through his thick hair, pulling him closer. Sinking into the warmth of his mouth and body.

  The kisses started off soft and gentle, but with each nip and lick, he demanded more.

  He leaned into me, the force of his body pushing me back into the couch where I stared up at him. He traced a finger over my cheek then lowered his mouth to mine again.

  My heart pounded.

  He was a good kisser. So good. Too good.

  I moaned against his lips as his tongue softly stroked mine.

  His hands held my face as he kept kissing me. I kissed him back just as hard.

  “Charlotte.” He broke away long enough to stare down at me with heavy-lidded desire.

  I grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to mine, answering his unspoken question.

  One of his hands dropped to my waist and I realized he was untucking my blouse. Once it was free of my skirt, he went to work on the buttons.

  “Lot of buttons,” he muttered.

  I sat up and pulled the blouse up over my head, draping it over the back of the couch. It seemed to surprise Marcel. Hell, the action surprised me too. It proved just how much I wanted him.

  He traced his finger over the tops of my breasts, skimming the lace of my bra, but didn’t try to remove it. His mouth followed the path of his fingers before kissing his way up my neck.

  “Good?” he whispered against my ear.

  I’m not sure what it was, but every time he checked in to see if I still wanted this, desire rushed through me in waves. The question wasn’t a boy asking permission. It was a man who wanted to protect me.

  I answered by reaching between us and running my hand along his length where it strained against his jeans.

  He groaned against my lips. “Not yet, Charlotte.”

  God, I loved the way he said my name.

  His eyes squeezed shut as I explored him through the rough fabric. Long, thick, and so hard.

  He brought his lips to my skin, sucking and kissing my neck. “Keep it up and this will be over real quick,” he warned. His hands moved to the back of my skirt, quickly tugging the zipper down. I lifted up so he could drag the skirt over my hips and down my legs. He tossed it next to my blouse.

  “Are you with me?” he growled, shoving his hand between my legs and stroking the satin of my underwear. “Answer me with words this time,” he demanded as he kept grazing the fabric covering my pussy.

  I shivered with desire. “Yes.”

  He knew how much I wanted him. The evidence was on his fingers. But the little reminders that I had control here made me want him even more.

  I wanted to devour this woman.

  She’d been on my mind for months.

  In my head, I’d already fucked her in a hundred different positions.

  The nervous way she entered my apartment had me rethinking my plan to pin her up against the door as soon as we stepped inside.

  No, this was much better.

  Kissing her rocked me.

  I’d fucked my fair share of club girls, but I rarely spent time kissing them. It seemed too intimate. Not that I was mean to the girls or treated them badly. It just wasn’t necessary when you were both in need of a quick, easy release, and nothing more.

  But I wanted to kiss Charlotte for-fucking-ever.

  I couldn’t think far beyond that.

  “Marcel?” she whispered. I liked the way my name sounded on her lips. I’d like it even better if she called me the name everyone knew me by in my world.

  I needed her in my bed.

  I sat back and ran my gaze over her pale skin. Her chest and neck were flushed pink with arousal.

  “You want this?”

  “Yes.”

  “You want me?”

  She lowered her eyes. “I do.”

  Given the conservative suit she wore to court, the sapphire-blue bra and underwear with gold lace at the edges was real fuckin’ sexy.

  “You’re all girly-girl under those suits, aren’t you?” I reached out and teased my fingers over her breasts.

  “Sometimes.”

  She blinked up at me when I stood, but as soon as I held out my hand, she took it. I pulled her off the couch into my body, running my hands over her exposed skin before lifting her off the floor and carrying her into my room.

  Her sharp squeal and laughter turned my own mouth up. As I set her down, she turned and took in my room.

  “You’re so neat for a single guy.”

  “Thanks, I think.”

  I rented the apartment so I could share custody of Heidi with my grandmother. I certainly never intended to have it be some hook-up pad. I wouldn’t subject my sister to that.

  Charlotte was the first woman I’d brought into the apartment.

  While she had her back to me, I took the opportunity to unhook her bra. She glanced over her shoulder. “You’re still dressed and I’m almost naked.”

  “Observant. I like that.” I teased the straps down her shoulders, but she hugged the material to her chest. “Still good?”

  “Yes.”

  The bra fell to the floor.

  “Get on my bed.”

  She took her time and slowly crawled into the middle of the bed, hips and ass swaying in the most seductive way.

  “I already like everything you got goin’ on, Charlotte. Lie down.”

  I reached down to adjust myself as she did what I asked, then stalked closer.

  Standing at the foot of the bed, I met her questioning gaze. “Feet flat on the bed,” I directed in a low voice, waiting until she did what I asked before continuing.
“Spread your legs.”

  She teased me for a few seconds but finally moved her knees wide apart.

  “Nice.” My hand stroked over my chin as I took her in. “Touch yourself.”

  Her hand slid down, under her panties and I sucked in a deep breath. I placed one knee on the bed and slipped my shirt off. Her eyes widened and she rubbed herself harder.

  I wrapped one of my hands around hers, removing it from her pussy. “Mine now.”

  My fingers hooked into her underwear and she watched as I slowly peeled them off. I wished I’d bothered to turn on the overhead light. I wanted to memorize every single inch of her. Instead, I kissed behind her knee.

  “That tickles.”

  “Yeah? How ’bout this?” I ran my tongue up the inside of her thigh and she let out a sound somewhere between a gasp and a giggle. “Still tickle?”

  “No.”

  I placed a kiss on her lower stomach then slowly worked my way down.

  Most girls closed their eyes or stared at the ceiling. Not Charlotte. She was one hundred percent with me. Rising up on her elbows to watch everything I did to her. I wrapped my hands around her ankles, spreading her wider. She gasped when I brushed an open mouthed kiss over her pussy. Dug her fingers through my hair when I dragged my tongue over her lips.

  I needed her closer, so I slid my hands under ass and held her the way I wanted.

  “Oh.”

  “More?”

  “Please.” She was so close to begging me. Cool, calm, collected Charlotte was coming undone in my bed.

  My fingers glided through her slit. Slick and hot. I dragged my tongue up her wet center, stopped to suck and kiss where I wanted. The steady rhythm I settled into seemed to please her because she rocked her hips in time with each lick. Slowly, I made my way to her clit, sucking gently.

  Under me she twisted and moaned, let out a scream when I wiggled my tongue over it.

  “Keep going. Please, keep going.”

  She didn’t need to say it, I had no plans to stop.

  Each cry sounded more desperate than the last.

  “I…I’m…”

  “That’s it.”

  She came beautifully for me.

  I placed both hands on her hips. “We’re fucking now.”