by Ann, Natalie
“Does your daughter know who her father is?” Kaitlin asked patiently.
“No. No one knows. I came here to start a new life. I had an old friend who moved here and she offered me a place to stay until I could get on my feet. I’ve never told a soul about that part of my life. And frankly, I don’t want to relive it now.” She started to stand, but Kaitlin reached out and lightly placed her hand on top of Layla’s, urging her to remain. For the moment, Layla sat back down.
“I’m sorry to bring up bad memories. But please hear me out,” Ryan said. “My client was being abused the same as you. She has three children, one daughter, who is sixteen.” Kaitlin watched the understanding dawn in Layla’s eyes and glanced briefly at Ryan, saw he realized the same thing. “She came home one day and found Jason had her daughter pinned against the wall while he was groping her under her clothes. She watched while her daughter cried and pleaded with him to stop. All the while a gun was lying on the counter a foot away. A gun that Jason used to threaten her with. To threaten her younger brothers with.”
He paused when the tears came to Layla’s eyes, but then pushed on. “How would you feel if you came home and saw a man attacking your daughter? What would you do?” he asked.
“I would protect her,” Layla whispered. “Or die trying.”
“And that is what my client did. But I need your help.”
Kaitlin could see Ryan was getting to Layla, but she didn’t know if Layla would relent or not. Reaching into her purse, Kaitlin pulled out her card. “Layla, please think about it. Jason can’t hurt you. Don’t let this mother go to prison for protecting her child. Here is my card.” She grabbed a pen from her purse and wrote quickly. “My cell phone number is on the back. Call me at any time if you want to talk. Nothing you say to me can go on record. I’m not an attorney. I’m just a friend of Ryan’s. But I would like to help you if I can.”
Layla reached for the card and the one that Ryan had slid across to her, too. “I hope you change your mind,” Ryan said. “Please think about it. And Kaitlin is right. Anything you say to her can’t be used in court. It would be between the two of you only.”
***
In the taxi, Ryan turned to Kaitlin. “Thank you for your offer back there. If she doesn’t change her mind about helping me, maybe it will help her to talk to someone about what happened. I would feel better knowing she was getting some type of help, even if my client can’t benefit from it.”
“Do you mean that?” she asked.
“Mean what?”
“That you want her to get help? Even if she can’t help your case?”
“Of course. She doesn’t deserve what happened to her. No one deserves what that piece of shit did to them. Yes, I would love nothing more than her help and I hope she does help my client. But if she chooses not to, I won’t pressure her. She deserves to move on. I’ll still work on tracking down some of the other exes. I’m sure I could find someone else, but knowing she hid a child from him, that would work in our favor.”
She looked at him curiously. “That tough guy attorney stuff in the court room is all an act isn’t it? Underneath it all you’re really a softie yourself.”
He was too embarrassed to answer her, so instead he just leaned in for a kiss.
Suggestion
They were seated at a half circle booth in an upscale nightclub when a server brought over their drinks. White wine for Kaitlin, one for Sophia, and a beer for Ryan. “Sophia should be here any minute,” Kaitlin explained.
“So what does Sophia do for a living? You’ve never told me.”
Kaitlin smiled warmly. “She’s a CPA. Closing in on a partnership soon.”
They didn’t have any more time for small talk before Kaitlin’s face lit up. She stood up and wrapped her arms around the blonde bombshell that made her way to their table.
Kaitlin saw Ryan try to hide his shock. Sophia didn’t look like a CPA. She was only an inch or so taller than Kaitlin, built the same way with luscious curves. Ironically Kaitlin couldn’t help but suppress a giggle that she and Sophia were as opposite as Jack and Ryan standing together. One fair-haired, one dark haired.
But their looks weren’t the only thing that made them different. Kaitlin was shy and naive at times, but not Sophia. She was sexy, confident, sophisticated and held the world in her hand. Or at least she gave that impression. She was never unsure or indecisive of anything, not that Kaitlin ever saw.
Kaitlin stepped back, slid into the booth next to Ryan and made the introductions. “Ryan, this is Sophia Mansfield. Sophia, Ryan Mathews.”
Sophia’s eyes glimmered kindly at Ryan. “Nice to meet you,” her sexy voice replied when she offered her hand. Everything about Sophia gave off the impression of sex.
Then she turned to Kaitlin. “I managed to push my date off an hour so we could meet. I hope you don’t mind that it will be a short night.”
“You should have said something. We could have tried to meet up tomorrow or another time altogether.”
“Nonsense.” Sophia waved an elegant manicured hand at Kaitlin. “It’s only the second date.”
“And not sure if you are going to make it to the third, right?”
“That’s right. I didn’t even think I was going to make it to the second, but you know my rules.” She grinned and picked up the wine in front of her, then took a sip.
Kaitlin turned to address Ryan. “Sophia has a rule to never make a judgment after just one date. No matter how bad it is, she always gives them a second chance.”
“Then if he stuffs up, he’s out the door.” She chuckled; then she sobered instantly. Looking softly at Kaitlin, trying to read her face, Kaitlin knew, and then Sophia glanced over at Ryan, held his stare for a minute also.
Kaitlin waited with baited breath for Sophia’s next words. She never knew what would come out of Sophia’s mouth, but she valued her opinion more than most. “You look radiant, Kaitlin,” she said tenderly, patting her hand, and sent another smile Ryan’s way.
The three of them had been talking and laughing for close to thirty minutes when Ryan’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket to check the caller and apologized to the women. “I’m sorry, I really need to take this. I’ll only be a minute,” he said, standing up and walking out of the room.
“What do you think of him, Sophia?” Kaitlin asked hurriedly.
“Well, you know me, I did my own research on him. Why wouldn’t I for my best friend?” She squeezed Kaitlin’s hand. “And as much as I would love to find dirt on him, I really couldn’t. Not any more than what you’ve already told me in terms of him being seen with a lot of women. He is everything you’ve said he was. And I think things are more serious than either one of you is letting on,” she said thoughtfully. Before Kaitlin could dispute it, Sophia clarified. “Or more serious than either one of you is even aware of at the moment.”
Kaitlin frowned and was about to respond when she heard her name called. Then she froze on the spot at the sight of the elegant man in a tailored business suit walking toward her.
“Kaitlin, I thought that was you,” he said, leaning in and kissing her cheek before sliding next to her in the booth. “I’ve been trying to reach you. Why haven’t you returned any of my texts?” he asked curiously.
Kaitlin drew her eyebrows together, unsure of what to say or why he was even asking her that. She hadn’t talked to him for months prior to moving. “I moved months ago and changed my number.”
“That would explain why you haven’t gotten my text messages,” he replied happily. “I’m glad I spotted you though. Guess it was meant to be.”
“If you were so concerned with contacting her, Stephen, then placing a phone call might have been a better bet. Where you would have been notified her number was no longer in service,” Sophia said, crossing her arms, coming to Kaitlin’s defense.
Stephen brushed her off with a dirty look—he had never cared for Sophia—and addressed Kaitlin again. “I’ve thought about you over the last s
everal months. I’m really sorry about the way things ended. I panicked; it just caught me off guard.”
“Caught you off guard?” That statement forced her courage to the surface. “Enough so that you just walked out the door without a word?” Kaitlin said dryly.
He ignored her comment, instead gave her a charming smile that had worked on her before—and made her wonder how she’d ever been so gullible. “I’d like to try again. If you’d give me another chance,” he said, reaching over and caressing her arm.
Sophia snorted. “That ship sailed months ago.”
“Excuse me?” Stephen asked, frowning, and dropping his hand.
“What Sophia means is that Kaitlin is currently spoken for,” Ryan explained as he stood next to the man who was currently in his seat. Ryan had returned in the opposite direction, where he wasn’t seen by anyone in the booth, shocking them all with his comment.
Stephen looked up at the intimating man standing in front of him, hands relaxed in his pockets, appearing to not have a care in the world by his body language. Only his eyes told another story, Kaitlin knew.
“I think it’s time you left, Stephen,” Kaitlin said, looking at Ryan’s face, sending him a tentative smile of thanks.
“I’m sure Ryan would like his seat back,” Sophia added sweetly with a bit of venom in her eyes.
Stephen obviously knew when to cut his losses. He stood up to his full height next to Ryan, several inches shorter. Gathered as much nerve as he could before he mumbled, “You’re a better man than me to take that on.” Then hurried away.
Kaitlin saw the hesitation in Ryan, debating his next move, but in the end he slid next to her in the booth, dropping his arm over her shoulder. “What did you ever see in that ass?” Ryan asked, caressing her shoulder and putting on a fake smile, drawing a laugh out of her.
Instead Sophia responded softly while staring right at Ryan. “Nothing. She always had her eye on the goal in front of her, instead of the prize at the end.” Sophia leaned over to give Kaitlin a brief hug, stood up walked around and gave Ryan a kiss on the cheek. “It was nice to meet you, but I need to get home and get ready for my date.” She turned to address Kaitlin. “I’ll talk to you later. Enjoy your night.” She winked at both of them, then walked away while several of the patrons watched the sway of her hips on her exit out of the club.
Kaitlin grinned at Ryan, watching his face as he tried to figure out Sophia. Sophia was in turn witty, charming, sarcastic, caring and protective. All in the span of close to an hour. Very few knew the real Sophia, and Sophia liked it that way. She preferred to keep people guessing, and Kaitlin wasn’t about to let anyone know that about her friend.
“Let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough of people for the day,” Ryan said, sliding out of the booth and pulling her up next to him.
She laughed, she couldn’t help it. It was exactly the same thing she had been thinking. She was ready to get back to the hotel. Only that thought brought back her anxiety, because Ryan still hadn’t said a word about her suggestion from last weekend.
***
By time they arrived in the hotel room, Kaitlin had worked herself up into a bundle of nerves, Ryan saw. The confrontation with Stephen affected her more than she let on. “I’m fine,” she explained to him in the cab ride. “We didn’t date long at all. It’s not like there was any lost love,” she said, trying to joke.
“But he hurt you,” Ryan stated.
“Yes, he did. Or rather his reaction to the situation did. And to be honest, it’s what drove me to move back home. That was the final straw. So in actuality, I can thank him. Otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here with you right now, or going back to the hotel with you either,” she said mischievously.
He shut the door to their room minutes later, then pulled her close and kissed her. Running his hand through her hair, holding her head in place, he devoured her, tasting the sweet wine on her lips and tongue.
Up until today he still hadn’t made a decision on where he stood in regards to her suggestion, but the last few hours solidified it for him. He wasn’t letting her go anytime soon. This was more than dating in his eyes. Deep down he’d known that all along.
He trailed his mouth from her lips to her ear and he whispered, “The moment won’t be ruined tonight.” He felt her shiver just before she gripped his head and placed her mouth over his.
Consuming him, she kissed him for long seconds, then let go of his head and pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders, tossed it on the chair, then went to tackle the buttons of his shirt next.
In quick work she had relieved him of all his clothes and was reaching for the buttons of her own short jacket when he stopped her, brushing her hands aside. “Let’s see if I can undress you just as fast.”
It was close. But she won even though he had fewer clothes to take off of her. Mainly because he couldn’t stop touching and caressing after each article he removed. The heels needed to stay though.
Backing her up to the bed, he turned and pulled her on top of him, her thighs straddling his waist while he leaned up and placed his mouth around her pebbled nipple.
He drew her into his mouth, sucked hard, bit gently and then sucked hard again, putting enough pressure behind it to border on too much. He heard her whimper and felt her dampness as she ground against him.
Leaning back for a moment, he looked at her head thrown back in ecstasy, her eyes closed and her breath coming out in short pants. Completely lost in the sensations within her body, the match to his flame, the fuel for his fire, licking and scorching his very soul.
He lifted her slowly on top of him. As fast as he wanted it and as much as he needed it, it had to be slow. This first time, feeling all of her with no barrier had to be drawn out. He had to savor it.
Once fully inside of her, he spread her thighs apart a bit more while she rested on her knees. “Reach back and grab your ankles,” he told her. She easily complied, bending her body back like a bow, her slender fingers wrapping around her ankles just above the leopard print heels she was wearing.
The sight of her on top of him spread wide in that position was almost more than he could handle.
“Touch me,” she told him, breathlessly.
“Where?” he asked, his voice rough with pleasure.
“Anywhere,” she said on a sob.
His hands went to her breasts, cupping her like he knew she loved. Pinching her nipples a little harder than normal. She moaned deep in her throat, her body rubbing against him.
Sensing her dilemma, he moved his hands lower, spread his fingers wide on the top of her thighs and placed his thumbs on the outside of her lips below, teasing her, bringing his thumbs closer to her desire. Not really giving her what he knew she wanted, but teasing her just the same.
“Please, Ryan.”
He couldn’t deny her. Not when he wanted it as much as she did. He moved his thumbs closer and started to rub light circles around her, barely touching her, just enough for her to know he was there, only not as much as she would have liked. “More,” she cried out, panting.
He was so lost in the sight of her trying to ride him. Her breasts moving up and down, her hands on her ankles above the ice pick heels she still had on, breath coming out in sobs, and her head thrown back begging him.
He had no fight left in him. When he felt her start to convulse around him, feeling every squeeze and every pulse like never before, he dug his heels into the bed, lifting his hips in a frenzied motion to reach the peak with her, his shout overshadowing hers.
Completely spent, he pulled her down on top of him. The bed moved slightly while she toed off her shoes, then stretched her legs out along his, laying her head on his chest.
She was right—it felt good. Better than good. It felt glorious. Just holding her like that, not rushing to get up. Not worrying or even caring put a whole new dimension in their relationship.
And that’s what it was. They were no longer dating, but something much more serious than he had eve
r felt or expected to feel. Even wanted to feel. He was finally to the point he was willing to admit that much.
Sometime in the middle of the night he subconsciously reached for her. Both of them still naked, while he started to glide his hand up and down her back. She pushed beside him, rubbing her backside against his rising erection. He heard her sigh and turned her on her back.
Half awake he slid inside of her, lacing his fingers through hers above her head, kissing her deep, and made slow sweet love to her. No rush, no hurry, just completing them as one.
Moments later he rolled onto to his back, pulled her across his chest, held her close, still joined, and fell back to sleep.
***
The next morning Kaitlin woke on her side with Ryan’s arm around her waist holding her close. It had been the best night of her life. Now, more awake than she wanted to be, she thought back to how it was when they entered the room last night. Fast and hurried. Exciting, more exciting than anything before. More sensational than before.
But in the middle of the night it was soft and sweet. If she dared to say it, more loving than ever. And it scared her. She wasn’t supposed to have those types of feelings for Ryan. They were dating, nothing more. She needed to keep that in mind at all times.
She felt him stir and hug her close. She prayed he couldn’t feel her heart pounding in her chest. “Morning,” she said, hoping her voice was steady.
“Morning,” he mumbled into her neck.
Time to put things back on even ground. “Do you need to get back early today?” she asked.
He sighed. “Yeah, we probably should. Can I convince you to come back to my place for the rest of the weekend?” he asked around the small kisses he was placing on the side of her neck.
