by Violet Duke
The way she looked at him, hell, he’d imagined nothing could get him to calm down at that point, but that look did. Because it reminded him he wanted to do this right, take it slow, cherish her.
Then she showed him the nifty ‘all access’ feature of her underwear…
Aaand, he was back.
In two seconds flat, condom in place, he was trying out that red lacy feature.
Holy hell.
He had to shut his eyes to keep from coming on the spot.
Abby whimpered and arched and basically did everything to make that first gliding stroke completely mind-bending. Hot, wet, and so tight he had to stop for a second to get his bearings, she was all that he imagined and more.
The more being when she took control and slid him to the hilt on her own.
He’d expected nothing less.
He would’ve smiled if he weren’t so busy trying not to come.
Teeth grit, body fighting his brain something fierce, he started a steady rhythm, a tortuous rhythm. He dragged her hands above her, pinned them against the leather seats as her tight, slick walls began pulsing around him.
Pumping into her harder, faster he buried himself as deep as he could go. Again and again. His breathing rasped against her neck, “Let me feel it again. Drive me crazy, Abby. Come for me.”
She did.
His mouth came down on hers hard as she gripped him in a hot, liquid explosion that sent him hurtling over the edge right after her.
He must have blacked out there for a minute. Or ten. When he regained enough brain ability to shift his weight off of her, she grumbled a sleepy protest, following him as he rolled onto his back.
Smiling, he tucked her in against his chest, doing his best to ignore the fact that her sweet weight on him was making him hard again—around Abby, his constant arousal was a state of being.
She burrowed into his arms and he held her tight.
Last night, she’d fallen asleep on him during the movie. But rather than carry her back to her room right away, he just held her and dozed off for a bit with her. Now here he was again, ready to fall asleep with her in his arms, liking it far too much than was sensible.
The realization didn’t stop him from dropping a kiss onto her hair and closing his eyes.
He’d worry about letting her go later.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“SO WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS at the end of the month?”
Connor sighed. These were not normal questions he usually entertained.
“I mean, it’s got to be an awkward last day,” pressed Abby. “What do you do? Shake hands and provide a severance package with references?”
Looks like it was cold-hearted bastard time again. “Most times, I just leave before they wake up.”
Abby’s jaw dropped and he could see she was officially appalled. “You don’t even leave a note? An email or text message? A grocery store flower arrangement with a ‘to whom it may concern’ card? Anything?”
Well, when she put it like that.
Her brows went up a notch. “Wow, you’re kind of an asshat.”
He jerked back defensively. “Why? Because I refuse to draw it out and string these women along? I’ve had enough of the post-one-month drama to know how each one of those gestures you just listed could play out. A call or text is always way too awkward because it puts it back on her to reply. And if she does, we’re right back at the start of a vicious loop. Email isn’t all that much better, and actually rather insulting if you ask me. Meanwhile, leaving a note is much, much worse. If I leave a note, then it’s like leaving the hope that this isn’t really goodbye for good, that I want each word I’ve written to be analyzed with the magic relationship decoder ring for the secret hidden message.” Oh yeah, he was officially worked up. “And a gift? If I send a gift, hell, that’s the same as saying I’ll be back someday so don’t ever forget me.” He looked her square in the eye. “Why do that to them? At least if I leave without a word, they know that’s it. Door closed. The end.”
She was expressionless in her silence.
“Say something,” he grumbled.
“You’ve obviously given this a lot of thought.”
“I have!”
“Everything you said is probably more true than not.”
He’d yet to realign his jaw. She wasn’t getting off that easily.
“I’m sorry for calling you an asshat.”
Finally.
“It’s clear that your logic, though warped and jaded, comes from someplace honest and kind.”
Aaand, of course. “Do you have any idea how infuriating you can be?”
She beamed. “Oh c’mon, just because you win an argument doesn’t mean I can’t get in some good blows. What kind of fight would that be?”
Choosing to hear only the most important part of that, he puffed up his chest in satisfaction. “So you’re admitting I’m right?”
Her pert little nose went up in the air. “Most certainly not. I’m saying I get why you think you’re right.”
Laughing, he kissed the tip of her nose and was just arming up to go another round when the doorbell rang.
He pulled the door open to a less than welcome swirl of Chanel and bright blonde hair.
“Hey, babe.” Victoria took off her suit jacket and popped a kiss on his lips. “If I beg really prettily will you give me one of your magic foot rubs tonight? I had a killer day today.” She pulled off her stilettos one at a time. “In return, I’ll massage any part of your body you want.”
Connor jerked back and took a step away as he silently guided Victoria’s attention over to Abby on the couch.
“Oops! I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had company.” Victoria grabbed his shoulder to slip her stilettos back on her feet, groaning in her usual, unintentionally triple-X way.
He threw a worried glance over at Abby, knowing how bad this looked. There was no way she could possibly know that flirting was basically Victoria’s first language, and that between them, propositions involving body parts never actually meant anything.
It took him a fair amount of restraint not to forcibly shove Victoria’s hand off his shoulder while she was teetering on one ridiculously high heel. He didn’t want her tripping over and showing Abby why she didn’t have any panty lines under that skintight suit skirt.
Not missing a thing, Victoria soon caught wind of his panic and slid a curious smile over at Abby.
Uh-oh.
“I’m Victoria, by the way,” she called out, vying for the crown of world’s slowest suit jacket wearer.
He should’ve let her fall on her ass.
“I’m Abby,” came the quiet, flat reply from the living room. He shot a quick look back her way, tried to get her to meet his eyes. She wouldn’t.
Victoria tilted her head to the side. “You look so familiar. Have we met?”
Connor jumped in on that one. “I highly doubt that. This is my little brother’s friend. She goes to ASU; you two don’t exactly run in the same circles.”
Abby went stiff.
Shit, now what’d he do? He’d only been trying to help by cutting off Victoria’s interrogation. But it seemed he somehow made things worse.
One perfectly arched eyebrow directly at his eye level harassed him without saying a word, told him she wasn’t leaving without at least a little more of an explanation.
“Abby’s staying here for a bit while the place she’s renting is being renovated.” He followed that up with a pointed glare. Now LEAVE.
But that’s when Abby chose to speak up. “Yeah, thank god for good old Connor here. He took pity on a starving college kid and offered to let me crash here.”
Ooh, this was so not good. There was no way Abby ever used ‘crash’ in that context before. He’d have no choice but to forgive the ‘old’ crack. She was clearly pissed.
Victoria, on the other hand, looked like she was ready to crack-up. “I see. Well, like I said, I didn’t know Connor had company so I’m sorry for barging in.”
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“No, don’t go.” Abby got up to grab her bag and keys. “I should be heading out anyway.”
What? “You didn’t mention you had plans tonight.”
As slippery as a ghost, Abby shot right past them and yanked open the front door before he could stop her. “A friend invited me to go clubbing tonight so you two can have the place all to yourselves for your massage night.”
“Abby.” It came out a feral bark. And had zero effect on her.
She ran straight to her car. “Don’t worry, I have the spare key. Have fun you two. Don’t wait up!”
He glared at her retreating figure, willing her to stop all this and come back to him. When she didn’t, when she actually drove off, he grabbed his phone and dialed her number.
Straight to voicemail. Goddamn it!
“Oh my god. You’re completely gaga over a little college kid.” Victoria tsked, sounding both highly entertained and slightly awed. “How the mighty have fallen.”
Not trusting himself to say anything that wasn’t four-lettered, he kept his mouth shut and held the door open for her, foot tapping impatiently.
Victoria snickered as she walked past. “I do hope she comes back. She really is super cute.”
He slammed the front door on her.
1:00 AM
With each passing hour, it seemed like the time on the DVR box glowed brighter and brighter.
Mocking him.
Though she hadn’t been dressed for it, and she’d said before that it wasn’t her scene, Connor still couldn’t help but wonder if Abby did in fact end up going to some hot, sweaty club. The thought made his back teeth hurt. Probably from all the clenching.
Picturing her dancing around with other men had him on edge, territorial.
At 1:01 AM, he picked up his phone and unclenched long enough to text her.
>> Having fun?
His phone beeped back a half a minute later and he exhaled in relief. At least she was still talking to him.
>> Sure. Are you?
No. He missed the hell out of her. Tonight had been anything but fun.
>> Victoria left right after you did.
Pause.
>> Oh. Sorry if I ruined your plans for tonight.
He let out a frustrated breath.
>> It’s not what you think. I haven’t slept with her in years.
Her reply was instant.
>> How do you know what I think?
Replaying the look in her eyes as she’d left the house, he texted back.
>> You seemed upset.
The sound of musical chirping coming from outside his room led him out to the hallway, where Abby was standing at the top of the stairwell with her phone. “Damn right I was upset.”
“I told you—”
“Not over you and Victoria,” she snapped. “If you want to date other women that’s your prerogative. What I am pissed about is being reduced to a peon in the presence of two oh-so-great lawyers. Call me a relative stranger, call me the girl you’re banging, I don’t care—but don’t ever make me out to be anything less than I am again! I’ve worked hard to achieve the goals in my life. I’m not some young college kid bumming on your couch. How would you feel if I’d referred to you in that way during your last year of law school?!”
God, she was magnificent when she was angry. “I see your point. I’m sorry.” He got within arm’s reach of her but kept his hands in his pockets. Barely. “If it helps, you did a good job getting me back. I’ve been going out of my mind wondering if you really were out dancing up on a bunch of guys while I was sitting here all alone. Jealous.”
She jutted her chin out at him. “Good. Serves you right.”
Taking extra measures not to touch him, she cleared a wide path around him and headed for her room. “I’m not sleeping with you tonight, Connor.”
Huh, he didn’t think she was the type to hold sex hostage.
When she turned back to face him, a touch of vulnerability marred her features. “I’m not being a shrew. I just…don’t want to be sloppy seconds to Victoria.”
“I swear I didn’t lay a finger on her.”
“That may be but you still had your lips on another woman tonight. Right in front of me.”
“She kissed me. And I backed away as soon as I could.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m sure you wouldn’t care about this sort of thing if the positions were reversed, but I do.”
“Hell, if the positions were reversed, I’d make damn sure to kiss you silly until I wiped every last trace of any other man’s kiss from your memory completely,” he growled.
That familiar Abby light returned to her eyes. “I can see how that’d be…ah, effective.”
Seeing her gaze travel down to his lips and then shoot back up again, he took a cautious step forward, teasing lightly, “Want to try that tactic with me?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You don’t reward the puppy that misbehaves. It tends to confuse the poor thing.”
He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “God, I missed you tonight.” He brought her close and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair. She always smelled so good. “You didn’t go clubbing tonight, did you?”
“No. I went to the library and then met up with a friend for coffee and dessert.”
He none-so-subtly corralled her back to his room. “A male friend?”
“Her name’s Megan.”
“Glad to hear it,” he said gruffly. Gazing at her in his arms, outlined by the moonlight, he could still see the lingering traces of hurt in her eyes. “I’m sorry your feelings were hurt today.” Brushing a light kiss on her lips, he asked, “If I promise not to ravage you, will you at least come to bed with me? I find I sleep…better with you here.” It was true. With her tucked in his arms, perfectly fitted against him, he experienced a bone-deep comfort he never had before in his life.
After studying him warily for a beat, she nodded and headed for the other side of the bed. “Fair warning, I have to get up really early in the morning to meet with some teachers at one of my research schools on res. It’s my first and only chance to talk with them all together at once.”
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that? What I think I heard you say was that it’s a good thing you stayed here instead of going back to California.”
She smothered a grin and volleyed back, “So about that kiss…”
Ouch. “Early in the morning, research on the reservation. Got it. So I guess we better hit the hay.”
Her chuckling smile turned into a wary look as he climbed under the covers. “You swear you’ll keep your hands to yourself tonight?”
“Scout’s honor,” he promised.
She giggled. “You’re supposed to hold up three fingers, not two.”
“No, this is right. I never made it past the cub scouts.”
She burst out laughing.
With his two finger salute he vowed, “I swear on my slightly tarnished honor that I will try my best to keep my hands away from any of your good parts tonight…or bad parts, rather, since every part of you is pretty spectacular.”
Shaking her head, she stated simply, “You’re incorrigible.” Releasing her hair from its ponytail, she added, “And unlucky for you, so am I.”
With just that one warning, his beautiful Abby proceeded to remove every stich of clothing she was wearing, before sliding into bed next to him.
He gave a heartfelt groan. “You’re a mean, mean lady.”
“Goodnight, pup.”
He loved hearing the humor back in her voice.
She turned over and parked her curvy backside up against his front side. But not in a lewd manner.
Shame.
He reached out and pulled her back into him fully, making sure he kept his hand on her belly—no higher or lower—as he snuggled her in. She stilled for a second and then relaxed against him.
“Good night, Abby.”
“’Night Connor,” she sighed in a voice already half asleep. “I m
issed you tonight, too.”
The smile on his face stayed put, long after he began drifting off to sleep as well.
“YOU REALLY WANT to read my dissertation?” Abby was floored by Connor’s request.
“Only if you’re comfortable. I look over legal briefs and fifty-page contracts every day. You never know, I could help to see if there are any holes in your argument, or maybe find ways you could improve your write-up.”
Who could pass up an offer like that? She grabbed the latest draft of her last three chapters and held it out. Then yanked it back again. “Wait. You’re busy with that huge cyber-company case. You don’t have the time.”
“Actually, there isn’t anything more I can do on that deal right now. Their decision on our latest proposal should be coming through either today or tomorrow.” He snatched the folder out of her hands. “I’ll read this while I’m eating lunch today.”
Did he realize how many pages it was? “It’s pretty long.”
He shrugged and downed the last of his morning coffee. “I took speed reading seminars during law school.” Flipping through the pages, he estimated, “This should probably only take me a half hour. We can discuss it over dinner tonight.”
That sounded so domestic, Abby warmed at the thought. Before sobering back up. There would be a Connor shaped hole in the door if he knew she was thinking of him in the happily-ever-after sense.
So that was why, when he leaned down to give her a quick kiss goodbye—in a very have-a-good-day-dear kind of way—she turned the heat up a nondomestic bit, playfully slipping her tongue past his lips. Then right back out.
The response was almost disproportionate.
His arms came barreling down around her, caging her against the breakfast bar. A primitive sound rumbled in his chest as his tongue started a search and destroy mission for any and all non-sex-related thoughts in her brain. Mission quickly accomplished.
“Don’t start something if you’re not going to follow through, sweetheart,” he warned, placing a warm kiss on the side of her throat. “Because it’s been nearly thirty-one hours since I’ve had you last. If I need to miss a court hearing in exchange for a chance to be inside you right now, I’m taking it.”
How did this turn around on her?
With his forearms just barely touching either side of her ribs, and his warm, freshly shaven jaw under her lips, she was supremely tempted to strip him bare and have her wicked way with him.
