Hard Justice

by Lori Foster

  “Will you kiss me again?”

  On a vibrating groan, he took her mouth. Hell, he could lose himself in kissing her. He ruthlessly held himself in check until she finally unclenched. The second she did, he drew back, only to slide in deeply again. She freed her mouth on a soft, high-pitched cry.

  “Yeah, that’s what I want.” This time she gripped him with need instead of discomfort. Keeping his thrusts measured, he concentrated on her reactions, taking much of his pleasure from hers.

  When she whispered, “Harder,” he gave up on all restraint and began driving into her, rushing them both toward completion.

  Head arching back, slender body bowed, Fallon cried out another release. Her beautiful response triggered his own, and he put his face in her neck, crushing her close until the nearly painful pleasure finally began to fade.

  * * *

  WHILE REGAINING HER BREATH, Fallon idly smoothed her fingers over Justice’s shoulders and back, and down the deep groove of his spine to a very tight behind.

  Lord help her, the man was rock solid all over.

  She didn’t need experience to know that a man like Justice was rare. So earthy, so considerate and so incredibly hot. For now, he was hers, and she intended to make the most of it.

  Nerve endings all over her body still pulsed with new awareness. His body covering hers was a delicious sensation, his hips holding her legs open, his breath on her throat, his chest hair tickling her breasts.

  Unable to contain her happiness, she lightly hugged him.

  “Mmm,” he grumbled, with a faint, “G’me a minute.”

  Satisfaction curved her mouth in a secret smile. She’d gladly give him a lifetime if he wanted it.

  Odds were he didn’t. They hadn’t known each other long enough for her to be thinking such things, much less for him to be thinking it.

  However, she had here and now, and she wouldn’t ruin it by reaching for more. “I’m good.” She stroked back up to those broad shoulders, now damp with a light sheen of sweat that amplified his scent.

  How could a man smell so incredibly good?

  She breathed a little deeper and felt those still-tingly places flutter anew.

  She’d never before noticed anything like it. She’d enjoyed the scents of aftershave and expensive cologne, sure. But this fresh, masculine, toe-curling scent, like earth and man and sex, made her want to eat him up. It was unique to Justice and everything female in her reacted to it.

  She ran a hand over his short cropped hair. She’d liked his cut before and already missed it, but the new trim didn’t detract at all from his sex appeal.

  Feeling daring, she trailed her toes up the back of one hairy calf.

  Suddenly Justice leaned up to see her.

  His gaze was intent, a little curious, a lot triumphant.

  She felt ridiculously shy, especially since he was still inside her, not as much now, but she felt him there teasing her sensitized flesh.

  Without a word he leaned down and treated her to a warm, lingering kiss.

  God, she loved his kisses.

  When she thought of what he’d done with that mouth, how crazy he’d made her, the explosion of pleasure, she moaned softly.

  Justice stole the sound from her, taking advantage and deepening the kiss with a stroke of his tongue.

  Fallon didn’t recall doing it, but when he finally let up, she had her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms locked around his neck.

  He switched to her throat. “You tasted so fucking good, Fallon.”

  She hadn’t expected him to talk about it! A little flushed, she whispered, “Thank you?”

  His laugh teased her skin. “You’re welcome.” Then he shifted away. “I don’t want to crush you.” Leaving her body, he moved to his side and pulled her into his embrace.

  She could have told him how much she’d enjoyed his weight over her, but this position was nice, too.

  He touched her mouth. “You okay?”

  “Very.” Better than she’d ever been.

  “Not sore?”

  Though she was just a little, she shook her head. “Thank you for asking me to stay over. We’re going to do this again, right?”

  His eyes warmed, and his grin came slowly. “That would be my preference.”

  “Good.” Feeling more free than she had in years, Fallon turned to her back and stretched. She was as aware of her scars as ever, but not in a tragic way. Their existence seemed more bearable, less...shameful.

  Justice rested a big hand on her stomach, then leaned forward and brushed his mouth over the burn marks on her shoulder. It surprised her, until he casually remarked, “You left me weak. I’ll need a few minutes, and maybe I can talk you into showering with me. Hopefully our next time I can keep it together and show you some of my better moves.”

  Fallon laughed at his hilarious comment and the easy way he treated her scars. She was honestly starting to believe that they didn’t bother him, and somehow that made them bother her less, too.

  “Better moves?” She turned her head to smile at him. “I can’t imagine anything better than what you already did.”

  “Good.” Feigning a serious attitude, he said, “Low expectations will make it easier on me.” He pressed his hand down, insinuating it between her legs.

  Her heart thumped at his easy familiarity with her body.

  “Before long,” he murmured, “you’ll know all my moves. I want you to promise to tell me what you like the most, okay?”

  Easy enough to do. Hoping she wouldn’t overstep, she whispered, “I like you.”

  Her concerns disappeared when he said, “That’s a fine start.”

  So not only could she freely show her body, she could also speak her mind? The urge to laugh, maybe even dance, swelled inside her. Justice’s acceptance worked toward liberating her from the chains of the past five years.

  Her thoughts buzzed about her future, and in rapid order she made several decisions, all thanks to Justice.

  “I like you plenty too,” he said. “You know that, right?”

  Actually, she did. Sure, she was an easy conquest, but Justice wasn’t a user. He wasn’t the type of man to take advantage of anyone, much less a woman. Knowing her parents wouldn’t approve, knowing it went against the agency protocol and could damage his career, he’d still come after her. If he’d only wanted sex, she had no doubt he could have had his choice of women. And if he’d wanted her specifically, well, he could have had her without anyone ever knowing.

  His openness, the way he’d approached things, meant he cared. How much, she didn’t know. Heck, she didn’t even know how much she cared.

  But she looked forward to finding out.

  With a growing frown, Justice muttered, “You’re taking a mighty long time to answer me.”

  “Just thinking—and yes, I know you like me.”

  His gaze warmed. “Good.” Sitting up, he stretched his arms high, making those bulging biceps roll and the muscles in his back flex and pull. He twisted to see her. “Stay put and I’ll play the gentleman.”

  Not understanding, she quirked a brow.

  He whistled as he left the bed, returning a moment later with the condom gone and a damp washcloth in hand.

  Until he went to bathe her between the legs, she didn’t understand his intent. As usual, he didn’t let her shy away and once he’d finished, he crawled back into bed and drew her close.

  She couldn’t remember ever feeling so content.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  IT WAS LATE MORNING, the sun slowly crawling into the sky and lightening the shadows in the bedroom, when Justice began to stir again. Fallon watched him with fascination. She should have been exhausted, but instead she fairly burst with energy.

  They’d had
sex three times throughout the night before taking a shower together and finally sleeping.

  She rather liked his insatiable appetites because they indulged her own.

  An hour or so ago she’d awakened, immediately aware of Justice beside her. His heavy arm had draped her body, one big rough hand opened over her breast.

  His fingertips had touched the worst of her scar, but that had had little relevance against the reality of being naked in bed with him, filled with the memory of all they’d done and all they could yet do.

  By slow degrees she’d freed herself of his hold and now rested on an elbow, just looking at him.

  Even with the beard shadow darkening his jaw, he didn’t appear as intimidating, not with his face so utterly relaxed. Visually she traced his well-defined lips and the slight kink in his strong nose.

  Grumbling something in his sleep, he shifted and the sheet went lower, barely maintaining his modesty.

  Not that he had much.

  Justice Wallington was an extremely carnal man, and very unapologetic about it. In fact, last night he’d blamed her, saying she made him that way. Fallon smiled remembering it.

  It was one of the nicest compliments she’d ever gotten.

  Shifting again, he lowered one hand to his abdomen to scratch.

  She breathed deeper. His abs were stupendous. “Justice?”

  One eye opened, he looked at her, then stretched more deeply and turned toward her. “Come here, you.”

  Straight-arming him, she laughed. “Hold up.”

  He pulled her in anyway and his warm lips brushed her temple. “What’s up—besides me?” To emphasize that, he nudged his morning erection against her belly.

  “Yes, you are,” she murmured, smoothing her hand over his crisp chest hair. “Before you take over, you should know that I want to touch you, too.”

  “Yeah,” he growled with that now familiar edgy arousal in his tone.

  Tucking her nose into his neck, she breathed deeply while moving her palm over his shoulder and biceps. She could spend a day just touching Justice, and still not get her fill.

  “Is all this cuddling going to add up to morning sex?” he asked while dragging her pelvis into closer contact with his. “If so, I should warn you that I have to be at the office in two hours to talk to Sahara, and it’s going to take me an hour to get you home and backtrack.”

  Thinking to save time, she asked, “Would it help if I took a cab home?”

  “Hell, no. It’d help if we hurried things along, though.”

  “Yeah?” Smiling, she brought her hand down past his ribs, those solid abs she’d just been admiring, across his hip...and then to his erection.

  Justice went still, but only for a moment. “Now we’re talkin’.” With a groan, he turned to his back, inviting her to touch all she wanted.

  “Talking first is just what I had in mind.” Keeping her fingers firmly curled around him, she sat up to ensure she didn’t miss anything. Now able to look him over as much as she wanted, she whispered, “You are such a stud.”

  When he said nothing, she glanced at his face. Smoldering heat burned in his dark eyes, giving her a taste of sexual power.

  “You’ve got my full attention, babe.”

  Yes, she did. Though he didn’t touch her, a man couldn’t be more attuned to a woman. Not just now, but from the day she’d first met him.

  Before she got carried away, she needed to explain something. “Yesterday, when I was stupidly crying—”

  “Nothing stupid about it.” More softly, he added, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  “You didn’t. It was my own insecurity that did it. I know that. I promise I don’t usually weep like a baby. In fact, I rarely cry.” Crying had always felt so self-indulgent.

  When his erection flexed in her hand, she decided to finish her talk in haste. After all, he was being incredibly patient with her.

  So how did she explain? Since Justice was always so plainspoken, she decided to follow his lead. “The scar on my leg doesn’t bother me as much because it’s not in such an...intimate place. No one sees it either. I mean, I can easily wear longer shorts and it’s hidden.”

  “You don’t need to hide.”

  She loved that he thought that. “But these—” She shrugged her shoulder forward to indicate the uglier scar. “That’s such a female part of me. A sexual part.”

  “I guess. But you’re more than a stacked body, honey. A lot more. Any asshole who doesn’t see that isn’t worth your time.”

  Humor curled her mouth. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about Marcus.”

  “No, we’re not.” Smug, he pointed out, “But you knew exactly who I meant.”

  “I want to thank you.”

  “For letting you hold my junk and not complaining that you’re only holding it?”

  Justice was so damned funny, even at the most awkward of times, that she had to laugh. “For that, too, yes. But I meant for reinforcing that the scars aren’t what define me.”

  “Not even close.”

  “I don’t want to be shy anymore.”

  “You still were? Because damn, honey, you’ve got a grip on my dick and—”

  She halted his jokes by gently squeezing him.

  “Go ahead,” he rasped, his hands knotting in the sheet. “Be shy or bold or whatever. Long as you keep touching me.”

  “I plan to.” The feel of him, smooth velvet over rigid steel, amazed her. Curious about every inch of him, she briefly cupped his testicles, now drawn tight, then trailed her fingertips up his length before clasping him again. He was thick enough that her fingers didn’t quite meet her thumb, but while entering her, she felt only indescribable pleasure.

  Fascinated by the drop of fluid beading the tip, she brushed her thumb over it.

  As if pained, he briefly closed his eyes, locked his jaw and his body tensed.

  “You liked that.”

  His eyes slowly opened. “Yeah.”

  “I’m not entirely sure where this is going—and no, I don’t mean this,” she said, giving his erection a slow pump.

  The harsh groan interrupted whatever quip he’d planned to make.

  “I mean you and me, in a bed. You said you wanted to date. I’m not so naive that I don’t understand dating as a euphemism for sex.” Lying to him and herself, she said, “I want you to know, if sex is all you want, I can be content with that.”

  “Goody for you, but I sure as hell can’t.”

  She quickly continued past his denial, needing to get it all said. “I’ve been starving for this.” She got more comfortable, straddling his thick thighs and coasting a hand down his big, gorgeous body. “So many nights I thought about being with a man, kissing and touching and doing all the things most women do.” With a soft laugh, she admitted, “I never envisioned a man like you.” With his size, his muscles and his body hair, he was pure male perfection. She’d been too realistic to ever hope for anyone like him. “But I have you now and I want to take advantage of every second we have together.”

  He caught both her wrists and carefully dragged her down to rest atop him, then folded his long arms around her. “You can get back to torturing me in a minute. There’s something I want to say to you first, though, and I can’t think clearly with you doing that.”

  She smiled. “Okay.”

  Beneath her cheek, his chest billowed on a long, slow breath. “First, hell yeah, I wanted to have sex with you. Still do. And I know I will tomorrow and the day after.”

  He didn’t offer forever, and after knowing him such a short time, that made sense—to her head. Her heart, however, wanted to grab for it all.

  Her head reminded her heart that she had to be reasonable.

  Pressuring him wouldn’t gain her anything, and who knew if
they’d even suit for the long haul. Scarred or not, she deserved happiness. For right now, that meant Justice.

  She turned her face to kiss his throat. “Okay.”

  “You know what I noticed about you right off? Your eyes. So big and soft and dark. Those eyes got to me from the start. Then your honesty. The way you react to everything.” His fingers tunneled into her hair, close to her scalp. “And this baby-fine hair, all sleek and sexy.”

  Her hair? She levered up to see his eyes. “Seriously?” Her hair was...plain. She could grow it longer, could wear it more stylish, but she’d spent so much of her life trying to avoid notice as a woman...

  “Okay, so maybe I noticed your ass, too.” Justice kissed her forehead. “But your hair got my attention, too. So did your skin.” His lips brushed her ear. “And the things you say and do.” He moved to her throat, and she felt the hot brush of his tongue. “The way you smile.” Growling softly, he added, “How good you smell, so good I could just eat you up.”

  He had eaten her up, and her entire body flushed anew with the memory.

  When his hands coasted down her body and he began to rock her against his erection, she knew she had to regain control.

  She pushed free of his hold to sit on his abs. “So,” she began, only to gasp when he cupped her breasts. Talk about making it hard to think.

  “You want to know what we’re doing? We’re dating. Exclusively.”

  Since he waited—while toying with her nipples—she quickly nodded agreement.

  “Good.”

  “We’re dating,” she repeated, “and taking it one day at a time.”

  “Sure.” He didn’t sound enthusiastic about that part, but she took heart that he didn’t deny her either.

  “I won’t pressure you,” she promised. “And you won’t hold back if there’s anything you want to say to me.”

  “Know what, Fallon?”

  “What?”

  “You talk too much.” He reached for her.

  Laughing, she swatted his hands away. “One more thing.”

  His long groan was too amusing.

  “You know how you wanted me to tell you what I like?”

  That sharpened his interest. “Yeah? Got specifics for me?”