Martha was right. She did make him happy.
“Leigh, still busy?”
He hoped she wasn’t.
“Not really. I just finished a lot of work. How was dinner?”
He noticed the hesitation in Leigh’s voice. Well, so he’d been right. She had chickened out.
He would be a gentleman and not let her know that he had noticed that.
“It was interesting. But I was a bit too nervous to have Martha’s excellent dessert. She packed some and sent it with me.”
He could see Leigh swallowing – he could just see it. She loved Martha’s chocolate fudge cake, which she’d baked for Harrison.
“Dessert?”
“She really knocked the chocolate fudge cake out of the park. She did that gooey version that she bakes in a tart shell, instead of having a biscuit base. You know the one.”
Oh, he knew that Leigh knew the one.
“You have some?”
Harrison bit back a chuckle. He had her now.
“I do. I was going to keep it for a midnight snack.”
“Why don’t you come over and share it with me?”
Harrison grinned. She’d walked right into that one.
“I thought you had lots of work,” he teased.
“I’m done. Work can wait. Bring me the damn dessert, Harrison. You know very well exactly what you’re doing.”
Now he did laugh. Yes, he did know.
“All right, Leigh. If you insist. Have you had dinner, or should I pick something up along the way?”
“No, just you. And dessert.”
Harrison hung up, feeling pretty satisfied with himself.
He needed some Leigh time, and it looked like he was going to get it.
Leigh grinned as she hung up. She’d been wondering how dinner had gone. She knew that Martha, for one, would notice that Harrison wasn’t broody as he could often be.
Leigh had been a bit guilty about not going, but she did have work. Slimy Willie was up to something – she was sure about it. And there was a pretty big case they were prepping for, which involved so many depositions that she was quite overworked, getting it all sorted out.
She was also supposed to be taking care of details, like chain of custody for evidence, and she had a feeling she was missing something, somewhere.
Everything seemed perfectly fine on the surface, but Leigh had always had good instincts, and they were warning her.
She had spent almost all day trying to figure out what was setting off her alarms, and had come up empty. She would have to try again.
She knew she’d been neglecting Harrison a bit, too. She knew what a mistake that was. After all, look what had happened when she had spent too much time on her career, instead of spending time with Carl!
No, that wasn’t fair. Harrison was not Carl, and Carl had been unreasonable. Harrison knew that work was important. If he had time now to do as he wished, it’s because he had invested so much time and effort into his career a few years ago.
He would never be as lacking in compassion and understanding as Carl had been.
Besides, he was bringing her dessert – her absolute favorite.
She was honestly a bit annoyed that her mom had made that when she wasn’t going to be there.
And the truth was that she had missed Harrison. She hadn’t been sleeping very well, and that was mostly because of Harrison.
Part of the reason why they hadn’t gone out since that first date was because Leigh had found herself questioning how quickly things had moved. She should take more time to figure out what she wanted, shouldn’t she?
But then, she wanted Harrison. It was becoming very hard to deny that everything else was becoming a bit of an afterthought.
So they would have dessert, they would have each other, and then…
They would see. Maybe they could talk, slow things down a bit so that she could get room to breathe.
She needed some room.
Harrison would understand that.
The front door buzzed as she stood there, a million things flying through her mind, trying to figure out just what she wanted to do, and what she wanted from her life.
She buzzed him up, and was waiting at the door when it opened.
She smiled.
“Dessert looks good,” said Leigh.
Harrison grinned.
“You haven’t seen it yet,” he pointed out, looking down at the box he held.
Leigh’s smile widened.
“I think I have,” she told him, nipping the box out of his hand and placing it on the table beside the door before pulling him in and closing the door.
She moved into his arms. Her arms went around his neck as she pulled him down, pulling his face closer to her as she smiled up into his eyes.
“Haven’t you?” she asked.
“Haven’t I what?”
Oh, Leigh could’ve laughed with joy. She had made him forget everything but her.
“Kiss me, Harrison,” she whispered, and her heart soared when he did.
His lips were soft and persuasive, so skillful, as they moved over hers. His tongue slid over her lips, as if they had missed their taste, their shape, their texture.
“I missed you,” he said, echoing what was running through her mind.
She moaned, pulling him closer as she kissed him, with all the longing in her heart. She didn’t seek to hide any of it.
She needed him, and she needed him to know that, too.
“Show me,” she told him, and felt his hands moving up her back, pressing her to him.
Her breasts brushed against him, making her sharply aware that she was only wearing a robe, having just got out of the shower when he called.
She had been so lost in thought that she hadn’t even considered that. But she wouldn’t have changed if she had noticed.
“I think you’re a bit overdressed,” she commented, as her hands tugged at his T-shirt, pulling it up and over his head.
Her hands were on his chest, stroking him, as her lips nuzzled his, her tongue sliding over his slowly and softly.
As her fingers brushed over his nipples, she smiled and nipped at his lower lip, making him gasp.
She felt his hands on her hips and he lifted her, strongly. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck again, and heard him growl when he realized that her robe had fallen open and she was all but naked.
“I want you, Leigh,” said Harrison.
Leigh smiled and kissed his ear, licking the folds, her tongue sliding down his neck as her teeth nibbled and nipped.
“I know. I like it. Take me,” said Leigh.
She moved against him and felt him harden as she brushed her crotch against his.
He moaned, a sound of desperation, as he walked to the bedroom, quickly. He lay her down on the bed, but she didn’t let him get up. She held on to him, her mouth still busy on his neck.
Quickly, she twisted, rolling them over, and she was straddling him.
With his eyes on her, she straightened and slid the robe off her. She cupped her breasts and stroked her nipples as he watched, purring with pleasure as she felt his hands on her waist.
“Tell me what you want, Harrison,” she said, her eyes going darker with desire with every word.
She licked her lips as her thumbs brushed over his nipples. She moved against his hips, and she could feel his hard erection against her.
“You, Leigh. I need you,” said Harrison, his words steady even if his heart wasn’t.
She slithered down him and slid his pants off, pulling his briefs off with it, leaving him as naked as she was.
She smiled, licking her lips, as she looked at him.
She liked how he looked – he was well-muscled, but not so muscled that she found herself wondering what was real and what wasn’t. He was tanned, though he needed some more time in the sun.
Her hands moved over his chest, and she could feel his heart thundering against the palm of her hand. She br
ushed her nails against his nipples, and slid down, still straddling him, brushing herself against his hard manhood.
She could feel him pulsing and throbbing against her wet, hot center, where she was more than ready for him. She needed to feel him inside her, take everything he could give and then demand more.
She bent down with a growl and took his mouth in a kiss so possessive that it felt as if she had stolen his very breath. She felt his hands moving over her soft, dark skin, becoming more and more demanding as her teeth nipped and nibbled, her tongue licked and stroked, soothing softly, arousing gently.
She felt his hands move down her back, cup her ass and slide between her legs. She gasped as his teeth latched onto her lower lip and pulled, tugging gently, as his fingers spread her, teased her, found those wet, swollen folds that needed everything he could give and then some more.
She felt his fingers sliding deep inside her wet heat, then moving as she clenched and quivered around him.
She squirmed against him, her breasts brushing against the slightly hair-roughened chest, making her nipples harder with every small move.
“You need me, too, Leigh,” said Harrison, and she knew he was asking her for more.
Could she give him more?
She felt his fingers moving, stretching and filling her, deep inside her. She felt them slide in and out of her, slowly, steadily, finding spots that seemed to drive her mad with desire.
She would give him whatever he wanted as long as he never stopped, as long as he promised that he would never stop.
“I do,” she moaned, as she moved against him again, trying to tell him that she needed more.
But he kept moving steadily, giving her only his fingers, exploring her so intimately. She pressed her hips down against him, trying to find more friction.
She was so needy.
“Tell me,” insisted Harrison.
“I need you,” she gasped, and the words were a plea as much as anything else now.
She would tell him anything. She needed him inside her.
She felt his fingers withdrawing and moaned in protest. She needed him.
“I need you,” she said again, this time a whisper that begged him to give her more.
She felt his hands on her hips, and she moved, as he moved her.
Her hand slid between them and found his hard erection. She wrapped her hand around it and stroked him slowly, softly, before urging him to push inside her, thrust up and bury himself deep inside her, give her the pleasure she needed.
But he made her wait, sliding her body over his, sliding his cock over her pussy, brushing it over and over again over her until she was so ready for him that she was whimpering, demanding, nearly crying.
“Now,” said Harrison, finally, and let her take him inside her.
She felt him enter her and she cried out, a triumphant sound because now she could set the pace.
She started moving, taking him all the way in, with her hips making small, rocking movements, keeping him waiting almost forever.
Then she started moving, slowly and steadily. He watched her, and thought that he had never seen a more glorious sight in his life than Leigh taking her pleasure, using his body for her desire.
“Tell me you like that, Harrison. Tell me you like being inside me.”
“I don’t ever want to let you go. Don’t stop, Leigh, you’re driving me mad,” said Harrison, and her smile was bright as she braced herself against his chest and started moving faster, harder.
His hands on her hips tightened as he moved her, his hips beginning to thrust up to meet her as she rode him.
She rode him harder, and harder, until she felt herself bow back, her hands fisting in her hair as she took, and took, more than she thought she could.
And still she wanted more.
Harrison held on, needing to watch her find that peak, tumble over it in all her glory, before he let himself find that pleasure he craved.
“Leigh!” he cried, and the hoarse sound that was torn from his lips pushed Leigh over that edge that she’d been riding for, unheeding of what lay beyond.
She screamed, and it was a primal sound of pure fulfillment as she felt her body tense, then shudder, on and on, as if it might never stop.
Harrison held on, longer than he’d thought he could, until he felt her melt onto him, sated. He held her and thrust into her, once, twice, once more and he emptied himself deep inside her.
It was more than he had ever thought he could feel, and now he felt like he might never have enough. Now he felt like he might never have enough of this woman who had taken him.
It took Leigh a few minutes to roll off him.
If she felt his reluctance as he let her go, she didn’t let on.
“So, how about dessert now?” asked Leigh, raising her head with a mischievous smile.
Harrison bit back his disappointment that Leigh was still not ready to acknowledge what had happened between them. It had been more than sex. It had been so much more.
But it was her decision, he reminded himself.
“I guess I could go again in a few minutes,” teased Harrison.
Leigh laughed, and rolled off and to her feet in a smooth sequence of motion that spoke of both grace and competence.
Harrison had often thought that Leigh could have been a dancer if she’d wanted to. Really, what had spurred her to choose law? Of course, there had been the Boston Legal reruns that Leigh was still addicted to, and for a while, Leigh had been obsessed with Ally McBeal.
Before he could wonder any more, Leigh was back, with dessert, and two spoons.
The hum that was drawn from deep inside her as she tasted it was as sensual as anything they had done together.
Harrison grinned.
Leigh grinned back, in sheer appreciation. Harrison was an excellent specimen of manhood, all right, and he knew what to do with most of it.
And she had been right – their little interlude had taken care of most of the stress that had made her so tense, and she was pretty sure that the chocolate would take care of the rest.
“I guess I’m glad you came over,” said Leigh with a grin. “So how’re Mom and Dad?”
Harrison shrugged.
“They’re good. You know how they are. They miss you. And, well, they told me that I should keep a better eye on you and keep you from working too hard. And wanted to know why I’m so happy. And… Well, you get the picture.”
Leigh lowered her spoon, a look of sheer alarm on her face. It was almost comical.
“You didn’t tell them… I mean… You didn’t… You wouldn’t!”
Harrison laughed.
“No, I didn’t. For one thing, I didn’t want to face the music alone. Only fair that you should be there to share that with me, don’t you think?”
Well, that was fair enough, she supposed, but Leigh really didn’t want to think about that at all.
Her parents would not understand. Or maybe they would, but it would leave them very torn and conflicted. What was the point of putting them through all of that when she and Harrison were just…
Well, what were they doing, anyway?
Leigh could feel herself beginning to tense up again.
“Hey, relax, Leigh. I didn’t tell them anything. We don’t have to tell them anything until you’re comfortable with it.”
Leigh nodded a bit too quickly.
“You’re right, we don’t. I’m glad you didn’t tell him anything. I mean, what’s the point of upsetting them for no reason? There’s no point opening up that whole can of worms.”
It was another indication that Leigh didn’t feel nearly as strongly about him as he did about her, for Harrison. But he reminded himself that he should be understanding. This was all a whole lot newer for Leigh than it was for him.
It had only been a week. He would never even consider taking a girl home to meet the Wellses after dating her for a week.
So it was absolutely irrational of him to want to tell the Wellses t
hat he and Leigh were together, after just a few days of being together.
Even if he had been thinking about the idea of them being together for so much longer than that. For almost as long as he had considered the idea of taking a girl home, really.
But Leigh was right that they would be upset. They looked at him as a son. He knew that. They had never given him reason to doubt that.
If they realized that he definitely didn’t look at Leigh as a sister, well, it would upset their world a bit. More than a bit.
He could wait a while to do that, too.
“Anyway, there’s no point coming up with complications now, is there? We’ve just started dating. It’s still all a bit… I don’t know, it still takes some getting used to. What if we decide, in a couple of months, that it just isn’t working? It would really suck to change everything and then realize that we can’t change things back. No, I think we’ve dealt with enough major changes for a while. Take things slow, I think. That should be the order of the day.”
Leigh sounded rather vehement. She knew that.
But she couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her parents. For once, Leigh had no idea how they might take it.
They wanted the best for both their children. She knew that. Logically, there was nothing stopping her and Harrison from being together.
But she knew that her parents might not feel too logical about things if she just sprung it on them.
Oblivious of the little battle being waged inside Harrison, she fed him dessert, and let it go, considering matters quite settled.
Chapter 9
“Harrison, I’m so sorry, but I can’t make it tonight.”
Leigh sounded frustrated. There was a simple reason for that. She was frustrated.
She knew that this was the third time she’d canceled on Harrison in three weeks, and understanding though he was, she thought even his patience might run out soon.
Really, what was wrong with her? She kept pushing men away by prioritizing her career, and then she wondered what was wrong with her.
Well, what was wrong with her was obvious. She couldn’t do anything right.
She couldn’t be a good daughter, a good sister, a good girlfriend, or, apparently, a good paralegal.
Or so she’d been told by Coleman, leaving her shocked and almost near tears.
This Was Meant To Be: BWWM Romance Page 9
