Clasping her bound hands in his, he raised them over her head. The movement thrust her breasts upward. His chest brushed her nipples as he leaned over her. She bit her bottom lip to keep from moaning aloud. What was it about this man that kept her poised on the edge of orgasm?
He trailed his hands over the sensitive flesh of her inner arms and down her sides.
When he reached the band of her panties, he hooked his fingers in the lace-covered elastic and pulled them slowly down her legs and off. Then he brought the lacey fabric to his face and breathed deeply. “You smell hot and delicious.”
She could feel her cheeks getting hot. No man had ever talked to her in such a sexual fashion, but she liked it. Her sex felt empty and needy and she knew that only he could satisfy the ache within her.
His tossed her panties aside and reached for the top of one of her stockings. Slowly, he rolled it down her thigh, his lips caressing the skin he exposed. The silk stocking slid over her knee and down her calf, before being whisked away. Then he did the same with the other one.
It was incredibly arousing to have her hands bound over her head. She knew she could get free if she truly wanted to. But there was a sense of freedom involved as well.
She was captive to his whims, her legs spread wide, a sexual feast for him to indulge in.
She’d never played these sorts of games before, but she was quickly discovering that with this man she enjoyed them. With him, there were no preconceived ideas about who and what she was. They were simply a man and a woman doing whatever they wanted to do. The only stipulation was that it had to be something they both enjoyed.
She wanted to call him by name. Almost asked him then and there what it was. But she stopped herself at the last second. She was the one who’d said this was a one-night stand. She couldn’t change the rules this late in the game.
He sprawled between her thighs, his thumbs parting her as he simply stared. “You are beautiful. So pink, so wet. So damn perfect.”
She believed him. The honesty and wonder in his voice was too real to be anything but the truth. Before she could respond, he leaned inward. She sucked in a deep breath and then groaned as his tongue traced the slick folds of her sex. Up one side and down the other, he didn’t miss a spot.
Her hips jerked upward. Her breathing was getting quicker and shallower by the second. He circled her clit with his tongue before flattening it over the nub of nerves.
Alicia cried out as liquid heat flooded her lower body. She was so close to coming again.
“Oh, yes,” she moaned as he fitted two thick fingers inside her, pushing past the natural resistance of her body.
“Come for me again,” he whispered as he blew on her heated flesh. His fingers slowly pulled back to the edge of her opening before thrusting inward again.
“Close,” she gasped, pumping her hips in rhythm with his fingers.
His warm lips closed around her clit and sucked. Alicia felt as if her head was going to explode. Her nipples were painfully tight, her body stretched to endurance. One more thrust of his fingers was all it took.
Her entire body convulsed as she screamed. Her lover pulled his fingers away and reared up on his knees. Gripping her hips in his hands, he fitted himself to her opening and plunged deep.
The sensation bordered on painful. He was a large man and she hadn’t had a lover in quite a long time. But it felt good too. Amazingly good. Her inner muscles stretched, accommodating him. Accepting him.
“I can’t wait.” His voice seemed to come from far away, but she sensed the desperation behind it.
“Okay,” she managed to get out as he pulled back and plunged forward again. It was as if her orgasm hadn’t ended. Ripples of pleasure cascaded over her, sucking her into a sexual vortex.
She loved the way he filled her, stretching her further than she’d ever been before.
Eagerly, she opened herself, wanting everything he could give her. Waves of sensation engulfed her as her inner muscles rippled yet again.
Lowering her hands, Alicia reached for him. He was on his knees between her spread thighs, his eyes closed and head thrown back. The cords of his neck were pulled tight as he roared his release.
His cock jerked inside her and she knew he was coming. His hands tightened almost painfully around her waist as he thrust twice more before slumping forward, burying his face between her breasts.
Contentment and exhaustion flooded over her, as she lay there, covered mostly by his large body. She played with his hair, letting it sift through her fingers. Finally, the chill of the room began to seep into her bones now that the heat of arousal was cooling.
He stirred, sitting back on his heels. “You okay?” he asked as he withdrew from her body, taking care to keep the condom in place since he was only semi-erect now.
“Yeah. You?” She tugged at the covers, but it wasn’t easy with her hands still bound.
He took her hands and gently unwound the pearls, tossing them on the bedside table, before tucking her under the covers. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
“First door on the right.” She knew he was looking for the bathroom.
He nodded and padded from the room.
Alicia wasn’t sure what to do now. The enormity of what she’d just done washed over her. She sucked in a deep breath to calm herself. Her nostrils filled with the scent of sex permeating the room. She’d had two orgasms, not counting the first one in the foyer.
Or was it one long orgasm she’d just experienced? She wasn’t certain.
Burying her face in her pillow, she tried to think logically. She’d had a one-night stand. So what? She was an adult. She could do anything she wanted to do. They’d been responsible and used a condom. She didn’t have to worry about disease or pregnancy.
But that wasn’t what was bothering her most. She didn’t want to admit it to herself, but she was already more deeply involved than was smart. He was leaving, for heaven’s sake. Probably in a day or two. Once he left here tonight, she’d probably never see him again.
The thought depressed her.
She heard him coming and tensed. Would he get dressed and leave? He turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness. Alicia blinked several times to help her vision adjust. The mattress shifted as he climbed into bed beside her, pulling her into his arms.
Relief filled her when she realized their time together wasn’t quite done yet.
They didn’t talk, just lay there in the dark. He held her close and she rested her head in the crook of his arm, her hand on his chest.
She must have dozed, but something had awakened her. She lay silently, wondering what it was. That was when she realized he was no longer beside her.
Clothing rustled. He was getting dressed. She didn’t speak. Didn’t know what to say.
She feigned sleep when she felt him approaching the bed. His lips touched her forehead and she heard him sigh. Then he was gone.
She listened, following his footsteps to the foyer. She knew when he put on his boots and coat. The door opened and closed quietly. She could hear the sound of her own breathing above the quiet hum of the heaters. The house felt empty. Lonely.
Alicia rolled over. The bed was still warm where he’d been. She buried her face in the pillow, breathing in his scent—musky male and sandalwood soap. She ignored the first tear as it rolled down her cheek. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to sleep.
Chapter Three
“Jim is not going down without a fight.” Alicia sat across from her client and childhood friend, Elizabeth Brown, who was in the midst of a nasty divorce and custody battle. She hadn’t wanted to call this early morning meeting in her office, but she’d had no choice.
The sitting area in her office might be cozy, but there was no getting away from the fact that this was a lawyer’s office and an official meeting. Jonah Sutter sat next to his sister on the chocolate-colored sofa, looking large and protective as he gently clasped Elizabeth’s hand in his.
Alicia to
ok a deep breath and delivered her bad news. “He’s implying that you’re mentally unstable. But more than that, he’s claiming that you’re not a fit mother for Susie.” Alicia knew that Elizabeth’s six-year-old daughter was the joy of her life and that there was nothing to Jim’s claims.
“That’s crazy,” Jonah protested, leaning forward. “The man is an abusive liar.
Everyone who knows him knows he’s got a hair-trigger temper.” Frustration and anger rolled off the man in waves.
“I know.” Alicia stayed calm, knowing that she had to for her client’s sake. Jim Brown was evil, plain and simple. Professionally, she couldn’t wait to get in court and tear the man’s arguments apart.
She turned her attention to Elizabeth, who sat silently, her eyes averted. This was not the bright-eyed, exuberant girl she’d known in grade school. Life hadn’t been easy for Elizabeth, and it was going to get worse before it got better.
“What do you suggest?” Elizabeth raised her head. She was pale but composed.
“I think we need to hire an investigator to talk to some of Susie’s teachers, your doctor, as well as friends and neighbors. We need more than hearsay to build a case against Jim.” Alicia hated to distress Elizabeth further, but there was no choice. “We talked about this. The fact that you’ve covered up his abuse over the years, lied to your doctors and never filed a complaint with the police, will make this process much harder.”
It had been several weeks since they’d discussed the possibility of having to hire a private investigator. They might not need to call people as witnesses, but Alicia didn’t want to take any chances.
Elizabeth twisted her fingers together in her lap, her voice barely a whisper. “I want to keep Susie out of this.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not possible. The court will appoint a trained counselor to question Susie. They need to know about her relationship with her father and what she saw in your household.” Alicia wished it didn’t have to be that way, but it did.
“Is it really necessary?” She could see the pleading in Elizabeth’s eyes and knew her client would do anything to keep her daughter out of this mess as much as possible.
Alicia sighed, knowing that what she was about to say would hurt her friend.
“Ordinarily, I’d say no. But this is not an ordinary situation. Jim can be an incredibly charming man when he puts his mind to it. His position on the Jamesville town council, and as a respected businessman, gives him credibility. He’s active in the community and has a lot of friends.”
“Unlike me.” Elizabeth’s chin tilted up and Alicia could see a spark of fire in her friend’s eyes.
“That’s not your fault,” Jonah muttered. “That bastard would barely allow you out of the house.”
Alicia knew that Jonah was angry with himself for not seeing his sister’s plight sooner. He’d moved away from Jamesville when he was still in his teens, only returning a few months ago when their father was killed in a car accident. He’d had no idea his sister had been living with mental and physical abuse all these years. No one had known the severity of the situation. But guilt and anger weren’t what Elizabeth needed now. Right now, she needed action.
Elizabeth nodded, picking at a thread dangling from the hem of her blouse. “I understand. Even though I grew up here, most folks don’t know me much anymore.” She dropped the fabric she was shredding with her fingers. “That needs to change.”
“Just the fact that you’re getting out more is a good thing.” That was a plus as far as Alicia was concerned, but they still had to be cautious. She didn’t want Jim Brown getting anywhere near her client.
The only thing in their favor was that Elizabeth and Susie were now living with Jonah. She had no idea what he’d been doing the past fifteen years or so, but he was one tough-looking sonofabitch. Alicia only hoped this situation was resolved without more violence. Jim’s position in the community was important to him and she was hoping that the need to protect that would win out over his need to hurt Elizabeth further. Only time would tell.
“I think it’s better to cover all our bases.” Alicia got up from her chair and perched on the ottoman in front of Elizabeth, touching her friend on the shoulder. “It probably won’t be necessary, but I’d rather be prepared in case his lawyers decide to get nasty.”
“Okay. What do I do?”
Alicia sat back on the leather ottoman. “You don’t do anything. That’s what you have me for. I have a meeting with the sheriff in an hour’s time. I figured he can point me in the direction of a good investigator.”
“Good.” Elizabeth stood and held out her hand. “I’m not sure how I’ll repay you for this, but I will.”
Alicia ignored the outstretched hand as she came to her feet, hugging her friend instead. “I hated to have to call you in to my office today, but time is getting short. The court date isn’t too far off.”
Jonah held out his hand. “Thanks for everything. Just send your bill to me and I’ll make sure you get paid.”
Alicia shook his hand. “I appreciate the offer, but I intend to make Jim pay for the court costs. There’s also a little thing called child support and alimony. When I’m through with him, he’ll wish he’d meekly signed the divorce and custody papers we offered him at the beginning of this process.” It might not be professional, but she couldn’t wait to hit Jim where it would hurt him the most—his reputation and his wallet.
There wasn’t enough evidence to get a criminal conviction. She’d settle for the next best thing.
Elizabeth gathered her purse and coat. “If that’s everything, we’ll be on our way. I don’t like leaving Susie with a sitter, even Miss Saunders.”
Personally, Alicia thought it was a good move to have the elderly woman baby-sit Susie. As a pillar of the community, and the sheriff’s secretary, everyone in town knew and respected Miss Saunders. Jim would have to be completely insane to try and snatch Susie, but Alicia didn’t want to take any chances. For now, Elizabeth had custody of their daughter, and if Alicia had her way, that’s exactly how it was going to stay.
“We’re done. If anything changes, I’ll call.” Alicia ushered Elizabeth and Jonah from her office. Bypassing the cozy seating area, she strode back to the desk and plopped down in her comfortable chair. With that nasty piece of business behind her, she rubbed her eyes and rolled her shoulders, trying to shake off the lethargy that threatened to swamp her. Glancing at her watch, she groaned. There wasn’t enough time for her to get into any work before she had to leave and meet the sheriff.
She hadn’t slept well again last night and had overslept this morning. As a result, she’d missed breakfast. Her stomach chose that moment to growl a reminder. She’d spent hours tossing and turning and remembering every touch, every moan, every moment of her night of sexual pleasure. Her fingers tingled at the memory of his thick muscles, bunching and rippling as he plunged into her over and over, bringing her to release.
She shivered and rubbed her hands over her arms. If she hurried, she could stop at Jessie’s Diner for coffee and some breakfast before she had to meet the sheriff.
Determined to put her mystery lover out of her mind, she grabbed her coat and purse and strode out of her office. “Millie, I’m off to Jessie’s before I meet with Sheriff O’Rourke. You can reach me on my cell phone if you need me.”
Her receptionist just smiled and nodded, not even pausing her typing. “No problem.
You don’t have another client scheduled until after lunch.”
Alicia hurried down the steps and out the door of the building. The cold March air stole her breath at first as she strode down the sidewalk. She buried her hands in her pocket and flipped up her collar, wishing she’d brought a hat. But it wasn’t that far. That was the thing about having an office in the downtown section of Jamesville—everything was close. Jessie’s Diner was only a five-minute walk and the sheriff’s office was practically across the street from there. She not only saved on gas, but she got some exercise too.
In spite of the cold, people were out and about, and several of them said hello as they passed. She’d grown up in Jamesville and knew most folks by name. The place was growing, but it was still a small town at heart.
The bell over the door tinkled merrily as she pushed her way into Jessie’s. It was crowded, but not full. The murmur of voices and the clink of glassware and silverware filled the place. Bypassing the counter and the smattering of tables, Alicia unbuttoned her wool coat, making her way toward a booth in the corner. The smell of coffee tickled her nose and made her stomach growl. She tossed her coat onto the booth seat and slid in beside it.
Shannon O’Rourke bustled up to the table with a pot of coffee in hand, her order pad sticking out the pocket of her apron emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo. “Coffee?”
She didn’t wait, but picked up one of the clean mugs on the table and started to pour.
“Bless you,” Alicia replied as she plucked out the laminated menu from behind the metal napkin dispenser. Not that she needed a menu. She’d eaten at Jessie’s for so many years she knew the menu by heart.
Shannon laughed. “That kind of a morning, is it?”
“It certainly feels like a Monday.” Alicia had a headache brewing and was feeling totally out of sorts, and she knew it all had to do with the man she’d met the other night.
That just wasn’t acceptable. She’d never allowed anything or anyone to interfere with her plans or her work and she wasn’t about to start now.
“I hear you.” Shannon pulled out her order pad. “The pancakes are especially good this morning. Aunt Jessie was in the mood for blueberry pancakes, so that’s the special with a side of bacon.”
“Sold.” Alicia ignored the sensible voice in her head that warned her she’d have to add an extra fifteen minutes to her workout tonight to pay for the calorie-laden breakfast.
But she didn’t care. Pancakes were exactly what she wanted. “With maple syrup.”
Shannon laughed. “Of course.”
The bell over the door tinkled again and Shannon glanced toward it. Her entire face lit up. Alicia looked over, not surprised to see Shannon’s husband Patrick walking through the door. But it was the man behind Patrick who made her heart skip a beat. It couldn’t be. She blinked, but he was still there. Her mystery lover.
A Legal Affair j-5 Page 3
