by Lucy Leroux
Her mouth dropped open. Unfuckinbelievable. “You should have asked me two years ago!”
“Andie, I couldn’t have taken care of you. I was a bad bet back then. Plus, you were still in school.”
Man, he was a gambler. A bad bet… How had she missed that?
“First off, I can take care of myself. Second, you should have told me what your situation was. We were…we were…”
What the hell had they been to each other?
The hottest thing that would ever happen to her. A fantasy she dreamed up. After all this time none of it felt real, despite the fact he was standing in front her now.
Eric’s grip on her arm tightened and he drew her closer. “We were this,” he whispered.
A buzzing started in her ears, and she watched him wide-eyed as he reeled her in. Then his lips touched hers.
A supernova of heat blew through her. It was just like in the movies. One second she was a normal human being, the next she was a boneless pile of mush clinging to him as his mouth consumed hers.
This wasn’t a sweet nice-to-see-you kiss. Eric didn’t make any allowances for the time that had passed. His lips weren’t soft. They were hungry, ravenous, robbing her of her willpower and good sense.
His hands ran down her back and up her sides. They passed over the sides of her breasts until her nipples were hard and tingling. She pressed the aching tips against his chest. The cotton of her shirt and bra were thin enough for her to feel the texture of his shirt as she rubbed against him.
Eric groaned and carried her to the floor. Her heart was racing, her breath coming in short pants and gasps. The sound of a zipper filled the air and then she felt the rough texture of carpet under her thighs.
Blood rushed from her head, the space between her legs heating and swelling. Incoherent cries filled the air, stopping only when she bit her lip.
Then he nipped her clit through the cloth of her panties and she sobbed aloud. It wasn’t too hard, just right. Then her panties were gone, skimmed down her legs by Eric’s beautiful hands—the hands of a surgeon.
She was squirming, restlessly pumping her hips, trying to get closer to his touch, but Eric pulled back, stopping to stare at her bare cunt.
“I love how wet you get,” he whispered, leaning closer to blow on her heated folds.
He inhaled deeply as if to draw her scent into his lungs. Whimpering, she reached out and pulled his hair.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m going to take care of you—starting now.”
His tongue snaked out, licking her up and down, seeming to relish her taste. He nibbled on her clit, stroking her with his mouth and hands. His tongue probed her entrance, teasing her with a series of quick licks. Her hips rose to meet his mouth, trying to deepen the penetration, but he continued to torture her, only peeking into her with frustratingly shallow strokes.
“Oh God, please.”
Eric hummed in satisfaction before pushing into her with two fingers. He pumped in and out while his mouth fastened on her clit, sucking in time with his rhythm. Andie writhed on the floor, lost in the climbing heat.
He’d done this before. His talented mouth and hands had driven her crazy many times, but it had been so long ago. She missed feeling this way. Being with Todd was nothing like this—their sex life had always been about him. He’d never stirred her blood the way Eric could.
One touch from the doctor and she was wet and ready, every nerve ending straining in anticipation.
The rhythmic movement of his mouth and hands ignited an answering pulse in her blood. She clamped her thighs around his head, trying to pull him in even closer. But his hands held her down, forcing her still as he consumed her like a starving man.
The ceiling above her started to fade in and out as her pussy began to pulse in time with Eric’s hands and mouth. His tongue thrust deeper, delving into the heart of her and she splintered, edges of light appearing in the cracks of her soul as she exploded in his arms.
Chapter 8
“I hate myself.”
“Why?” Eric sounded hurt.
His long, hard form was currently wrapped around her naked body on the floor of Juliet’s apartment. He was still fully dressed, his hardness pressed against her backside. She’d fully expected him to unzip and fuck her brains out.
The truth was, she wanted that to happen so badly it hurt. But Eric had restrained himself, pleasuring her without taking anything for himself. Under the circumstances it was chivalrous. Any other guy would have gone all the way. It’s not like she would have said no.
Andie was feeling sorry enough for herself to tell the truth. “You show up and I fall into your arms like some sort of sex-crazed idiot,” she said, turning away as the recrimination built up inside her.
It felt like someone was sitting on her chest.
“Andie, you’re not crazy and you’re not an idiot.” He shifted to stare down at her face. “We have something. It’s deep and strong. The fact it’s still here after all this time apart means it’s never going away. Come to Boston with me. We can live together, and you’ll find a job you like. Maybe Calen will take you on at one of his other clubs or restaurants. Or he can recommend you to the Caislean chain. I’m sure he’d be willing to once this drug mess is cleared up. I know it won’t be perfect with my travel schedule, but you can come with me whenever you’re able to. I’ll buy you a ticket anywhere I’m going.”
It sounded like a dream come true, but she had been burned too many times in the past. Her dreams didn’t come true. She had learned that lesson the hard way. White knights didn’t appear out of the blue no matter how badly you needed them.
Two years was simply too long. All her dreams of happily ever after with this man had died long ago—right around the time she had stopped waiting for him to come home. Shortly after she had started dating Todd.
“I think you need to go now,” she said in a low voice. “This is over. It has been for a long time.”
Avoiding his eyes, she picked up her discarded clothes and started pulling them back on and stood up. Don’t cry. No matter what you do, don’t cry.
Eric moved to his knees, stopping her hands as she tried to zip up her jeans. He tugged on the open flaps to pull her closer and pressed a soft kiss above her mound on the skin of her belly.
“I regretted not asking you to wait for me,” he said, looking up at her. “But I thought you deserved better. That was always in the back of my mind—in rehab and when I went back to work. I’m still not good enough for you. There is probably some billionaire out there who you’re supposed to be with. Someone like Calen. But they can’t have you. You’re mine and I am going to find a way to make this up to you.”
Eric stopped to nuzzle that spot on her belly again. “Someday my child will grow here,” he whispered.
Her breath caught, tingles running up her spine as he stared at her with eyes that glowed like coal.
“I love you, Andie. Once you understand that—after you forgive me—I’m going to be here,” he said putting his hand on her stomach and stroking down until he reached her pussy.
Tugging her waistband lower, he slipped his hand inside the band of her panties and stroked her clit briefly before moving down and pushing into her with his fingers.
“I’m going to fuck you hard and often, filling you with my seed. I want to see you get big and round with my baby and then I’m going to fuck you some more knowing I did that to you. And then I’m going to point you out to every man I see and I’m going to tell them, ‘See that gorgeous pregnant woman? She’s mine.’”
Annie’s mouth was gaping open, her lips parted as Eric’s other arm snaked around her, cupping and kneading her ass to press her closer. She grabbed his arm for support, her eyes rolling back into her head as he continued to fuck her with his hand.
She should have pushed him away and slapped his face. But she didn’t. Instead, she widened her stance so he could take her deeper.
The shrill ring of the doorbell snapp
ed her out of her euphoria.
“Shit!”
Eric paused, glancing at the door uncertainly. Andie pulled away and fastened her pants, running to the kitchen to wash her hands and splash some water on her face before returning to the living room.
She flushed, well aware the scent of her arousal filled the air. The impulse to ignore it was overwhelming but the shrill buzz filled the air a second time.
Eric crossed his arms, apparently content to have her scent all over his hands and face.
“Aren’t you going to wash up or something?” she asked, brow creased.
“No.” He slowly lifted two fingers to his lips and sucked on them, making the world spin dizzily
Holy shit, why is that so hot?
Shaking her head to clear the stupefying haze of lust from her brain, she opened the door. As it turned out it was unnecessary. The shock of seeing police uniforms waiting on the other side was more effective than a splash of cold water to the face.
Chapter 9
“You want me to do what?”
The hard-faced detective named Carter leaned forward. “We want you to wear a wire.”
Andie had been at the police station for hours. At first, she had been terrified she was under arrest. The uniformed cops at her door had certainly made it seem that way—until Eric had very loudly assured he was going to call Calen McLachlan to get her an attorney ASAP. Then they admitted they just wanted to talk to her.
More like bully me…
Eric insisted on coming with her to the police station. However, they kept them both waiting so long he had to leave. Lynx’s manager called to tell him there had been an accident at the club. A girl needed stitches. But Eric stayed until Calen McLachlan himself assured him one his attorneys was en route.
That had been at least two hours ago. The moment Eric left, Andie had been swept into an interrogation room. Two plainclothes detectives came in. They gave the impression of appearing bored, like they had all the time in the world. But the shorter Hispanic one kept checking his watch.
They were obviously trying to scare her into action before Mr. McLachlan’s attorney arrived. She had no idea when that would be, but her request to wait for her lawyer was ignored. Meanwhile she said as little as possible. After, they left her alone again, presumably to let her sweat it out. Now they were back, grilling her all over again and the lawyer was still nowhere in sight.
“I don’t even know if Todd is the source of those drugs,” she repeated for the third time. “My friend Juliet reminded me that he knew my locker combination, but so could a lot of other people. I’ve worked at Lynx since it opened and I never changed it. It isn’t exactly Fort Knox. I’m sure Mike, the head of security, will confirm that.”
They didn’t like her answer. Carter gave her a steely-eyed glare. “We can charge you right now for possession. We have more than enough evidence to put you away for a very long time. And even if Calen McLachlan’s fancy lawyers manage to keep you out of jail, there’s still a drug charge on your record. What hospital will hire you after that?”
Andie did her best to remain impassive, but the shock of the threat hit her like a physical blow. They had been looking into her since she made her statement, obviously searching for some sort of weakness to twist to their advantage.
Juliet was right. Going to the cops had been a bad idea.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” she said hoarsely. “And I’m not going to let you push me into a dangerous situation. I may have nothing, but I’m not some nobody you can use however you want. I have never witnessed Todd using or selling drugs.”
“Then why did you give us his name in your statement?”
“To prove someone other than me knows my combination, and he’s probably one of many. Now I’d like to leave unless I’m under arrest. Am I under arrest?”
Carter and the chubby Hispanic man exchanged a glance. She held her breath, waiting for the bomb to drop, but at that moment an attractive ice-blonde walked into the room.
The stranger was wearing a skirt suit so sharp it could cut her, but it was the briefcase and assorted accessories that identified her as a lawyer—a very successful one.
“My client is done speaking with you,” the woman said before smiling brightly at Andie. “I’m Delaney. I was sent by my employer Mr. McLachlan. Carter, Hernandez,” she said, acknowledging each with a brief nod.
“We’re still deciding if we’re going to charge her or not, Mizz Delaney,” the male detective said.
The Mizz was drawn out with irritating emphasis. Clearly, all these people knew each other.
“And?” The lawyer drawled in the same tone.
Carter stared at Andie, making her dig her nails into her own thigh under the table. She would not squirm in front of this woman.
“She can go,” Carter said eventually. “But don’t leave town.”
Andie bit her tongue as the lawyer waved her to the door. She wanted to swear a blue streak and tell the bastards off, but she didn’t. There might not be an expensive lawyer to hide behind the next time she saw the detectives.
God, please don’t let there be a next time.
“Delaney,” the female detective said, acknowledging the lawyer as they headed for the door.
“A pleasure, as always, Carter,” Delaney said before stepping out and closing the door behind her.
“Thank you,” Andie said, following the lawyer out to the parking lot. The sun beat down on her skin like a laser, but it was a welcome change. With luck, it would melt the block of ice that had grown in her stomach during her interrogation. “Thank God you finally got here. It was freaking scary in there.”
“It was meant to be,” Delaney said with a laugh. “And I apologize for the delay. I was in San Francisco when I got the call. I was on the next flight.”
The woman had been in another state? Damn. “Thank you for coming all this way,” Andie said weakly.
Delaney smiled her toothpaste commercial smile. “Not a problem. It’s a trip I make frequently for Mr. McLachlan. And I agree those particular detectives can be pretty intimidating, but they’re not bad compared to some others in that building. Carter’s a ball-buster, but she’s basically honest and does her job well. Hernandez would get nowhere without her.”
Andie tightened her grip on her purse. “Was she being honest about having enough evidence to charge me with possession?”
“Technically, yes,” Delaney acknowledged with a small inclination of her head. “But it wouldn’t stick if Mr. McLachlan backs you, and Mike Ward testifies others had access to your locker. That combined with your clean record and the fact you graduated at the top of your physician’s assistant program speaks to your character. I could have gotten the charges thrown out like that,” she said with a snap.
“You must be good,” Andie murmured, unnerved to find a stranger knew so much about her again.
Delaney reached a shiny black car, a Lexus of some type, and paused. She peeked at her sideways from under thick blonde lashes. “I’m one of many excellent lawyers Mr. McLachlan employs, but when it comes to this kind of thing I am the best. Which is why Eric Tam practically prostrated himself to make sure I would get to you as soon as I could instead of the lawyer on call. Now that I’ve seen you I know why.”
Andie stared at her. “Err, why?”
Delaney gave her a knowing smile. “I recognize you. I’ve worked with Eric a few times as part of my job. He keeps a picture of you in his medical bag. Has it with him at all times. I asked him about it once. He clammed up and refused to talk about it. But his reaction told me plenty—enough to stop angling for a date with the man.”
Holy crap! Eric turned down a date with this perfectly-coiffed Nordic goddess? Was it really because of her? Had he been pining for her the whole time they were apart?
“I need to sit down,” Andie said, leaning on the car for support.
Delaney laughed and pushed a button on her keychain, opening the doors to the car remotely. “Get
in. I’ll drop you off at your place.”
Andie climbed into the car, still feeling a little shell-shocked. “I’m staying with a friend,” she mumbled, giving her the address.
She sat quietly digesting what Delaney had told her. Eric kept a picture of her with him…but he’d dropped out of her life with barely a murmur.
Her lips compressed. How dare he show up back in her life after all this time! If he had really been missing her, the ass could have called her sometime in the last two years. True, she hadn’t made it easy for him by ignoring his messages in the beginning, but if he’d explained why he had to leave in the first place, she wouldn’t have been so hard on him. He could have tried a little harder.
His text could have explained about the rehab. Blinking she glanced up to find they were near the hotel Eric mentioned at the police station.
She twisted in the passenger seat. “I’ve changed my mind. Can you drop me off at the Caislean 21?”
The blonde lawyer smirked. “Isn’t that where the good doctor always stays?”
“Yes.”
“Going to run into his arms and ride off into the sunset?” Delaney’s smile was cynically amused.
Andie sat up straighter in the passenger seat, her hands fisting. “Actually, I’m going to kick him in the nut sack.”
Chapter 10
Eric walked into the security office of Lynx with his medical kit, blood dotting his sleeve in an ominous pattern.
“Hey, can I change in here?” he asked Trey. He kept an extra shirt in his kit.
Trey gestured for him to go ahead while checking something on the video monitor in front of him. “Girl all stitched up?”
“Yes, she’s fine. Just a clumsy drunk. She’s part of a bachelorette party.”
