Justice (Counsel #2)

by Shenda Paul

  "I think we're doing well. How are things here?"

  "Despite everything, we've had a productive day, but Angelique can fill you in," she replies, kissing first Angelique and then me on the cheek. "I'll leave you to catch up. Oh, and Adam, before I forget, you need to get Angelique a security key, and I've left some veal piccata in the refrigerator for dinner," she calls over her shoulder as she gathers her belongings.

  "Your mom's been wonderful," Angelique tells me after Mom’s left.

  "I'm so glad she was with you today; how are you?" I ask, leading us to the sofa.

  "It was just such a shock. I had no idea until I went to Starbucks to collect some things I'd left in my locker, and one of the baristas …well, he couldn't wait to show me the article."

  I wrap my arms around her. "You know it’s all lies, don't you?"

  "Not all lies, Adam, I was a prostitute," she murmurs against my chest.

  "The people who matter love you and would never think of you in that way. I love you." I move a lock of hair to stroke the shell of her ear. "I paid a visit to that newspaper. We should see a retraction tomorrow."

  "I hope you didn't do it because of me," she says worriedly.

  "I did it for us and also because they came close to impugning the DA’s office; but Angelique, you need to accept that I would have acted even if they had targeted only you."

  "I don't deserve you," she says, eyes shiny with threatening tears.

  "You deserve better," I counter, kissing her temple.

  Later that evening, as we’re clearing up after dinner, I receive the draft retraction. Angelique offers to finish up while I deal with the matter. Harrison, the editor, proposes that it be placed in the second half of the paper, but I insist it be featured on page three or five and also on their social page. After a tense conversation, he agrees, and by the time I hang up, I’ve decided to make a general statement to the media.

  Angelique’s relief, when she reads the draft copy, is palpable, and I feel satisfied to have provided her with this one, small victory. We soon settle into what’s become my favorite way to relax—lying back on the sofa with her nestled into my chest. The R&B mix we're listening to is soulful and romantic, perfectly echoing our mood. Her breath hitches as I gently suck on the spot just behind her ear. "I love you," I whisper, letting my breath wash over her skin.

  "And I love you," she replies, turning her head to place a kiss under my jaw. She nips and then licks at my skin, causing me to grunt in pleasure. I cup her breasts, stroking rhythmically, and she emits a soft, sensual moan. I capture her lower lip, gently sucking and biting at it.

  Grasping Angelique’s waist, I raise her so she can turn to face me, then move her until she’s perched directly over where I need her most. She gasps when I lick and then gently bite into the soft, creamy flesh where her neck and shoulder meet. She writhes, causing the familiar, warm tingle to ignite my body.

  "Angelique…" I caution, my voice sounding pained as I force myself to stop. Her hair’s rumpled in the most delicious way; cheeks flushed, lips pink and swollen. She's never looked more alluring, but she averts her eyes from my gaze.

  "Darling, look at me." I grasp her chin, and my heart breaks at the mortification I see. "Angelique?"

  "I'm sorry," she whispers brokenly.

  "You have nothing to be sorry for; talk to me," I ask.

  "I don't know how to behave," she says, totally confusing me.

  " Just be yourself, Darling."

  "I don't know what you want from me, Adam," she replies, her voice soft and vulnerable.

  "I want you. I want to love you, and I want you to love me." I caress her cheek with my thumb.

  "But you don't," she says, totally confounding me.

  "I do love you."

  "Then love me, Adam. I know why you're being cautious, and I appreciate it…I love you for it, but you're almost too careful; it makes me feel that you can't forget my past." Her voice breaks, and I try to interject, but she cuts me off.

  "I need to say this before I lose my nerve. We have to face this, Adam." Angelique takes a long, shuddering breath. "I know you don't want to hear about my past, and I'd like nothing more than to forget it, but we need to talk about it, at least, this once."

  She places her fingers over my mouth when I try to protest once more. "I've had sex with six men," she announces, holding my gaze despite her obvious mortification. "It may not seem that many, but my shame couldn't be worse if it had been a hundred," she continues after a moment’s hesitation. "And as much as I detest the nature of Justin's contract with Joseph, it's what saved me from having to confess to a much higher number.

  "I'm ashamed, and I'm so scared that when we're together, you'll think about what I've been, or what I may have done with other men. I worry that you have preconceptions about sex with me that I can't or won't live up to, and I'm scared to show you how much I want you because I don't want you to judge me or stop loving me…" Her breath comes in a ragged sob.

  "Angelique; no more," I tell her, grasping her hand. "Of course, I hate that you were placed in that position; but Darling, you have to believe me when I say that when I'm with you, kissing you, touching you, there’s no room to think about anyone or anything else. You consume me." I cup her face with both hands now.

  "I’m sorry my behavior made you doubt my feelings. I want you more than I can adequately express, and I want you to want me in every way, always; so don't ever hold back. I've been afraid too; afraid you'd think all I want is sex or that I’m using you. I want you to feel treasured, not used."

  "Love me, Adam," she tells me, placing a hand over mine, "…the way you want to, the way you would if I didn't have the past I have. Make us both forget."

  I cup her face and draw her in for a kiss. "Stay the night."

  Chapter Seven

  Yes," she says, so quietly that if I hadn't been looking at her, I might have missed hearing it. I kiss her, and then lead her toward the stairs.

  Angelique’s gaze roams my bedroom, her nervousness apparent as it comes to rest on the bed. I tip her head up to look at me.

  "I love you," I reassure her, brushing my mouth lightly across hers. Her pulse, when I run my hands down the column of her neck, thrums rapidly beneath my fingertips. I place a tender kiss at the base of her throat before looking up at her. "May I?" I ask, lowering my hands to her top.

  She nods, and more and more of her beautiful skin is bared as I undo the buttons to reveal perfectly rounded breasts, cupped in a lacy bra. I draw in a calming breath, reminding myself that this is about her; Angelique needs to know how much I treasure her and value what she's offering. Unbuttoning her sleeves, I leave a kiss on the inside of each wrist before removing and letting her top float to the floor. Then, sinking to my knees and wrapping my arms around her, I undo the button on her skirt.

  My hands skim her body as I lower the garment over her hips and down her long legs. Unable to resist her intoxicating fragrance, I press my nose to her skin and inhale deeply. Angelique lets out a tiny gasp, her grip on my shoulders tightening when I kiss and then dip my tongue into her bellybutton. At my request, she raises first one, then the other leg to step out of her clothing. Sitting back on my haunches, I lean back to gaze up at her, dressed only in lacy underwear and high heels.

  My cock twitches even as my heart melts with tenderness at the sight of her near-naked and illuminated in the moonlight. I've never been more entranced by or wanted a woman more. I love her and lust after her in equal measure; the feeling is almost crippling.

  "You're so damned beautiful," I tell her, my throat constricted by emotion.

  "Sit," I urge, gently pushing her down onto the bed. I remove her shoe to kiss her instep, and then, replacing her foot on the floor, do the same to the other before running my hands from ankle to thigh, reveling in the satin-soft feel of her skin.

  "You too," she instructs, her voice trembling as
she reaches for my shirtfront. Unbuckling my belt, I free the shirt from my trousers, allowing Angelique to unbutton and slip it from my shoulders. She leans in to place a kiss over my heart; the tender gesture coupled with exquisite pleasure of her touch forces a ragged breath from me. I shrug my shirt off and let it drop as Angelique reaches for my belt. I help by rising to remove my shoes and socks before undoing and discarding my trousers to face her in nothing but boxer-briefs.

  She stares up at me, desire transparent in her eyes. I kiss her deeply, letting her know just how much I want her. Then, parting her legs and stepping between them, I wrap my hands around her waist and move her up onto the pillows before stretching my body alongside hers.

  Brushing the hair back from her face, I lean in to kiss her. She wraps an arm around my neck and runs her fingers through my hair as I nip and suck on her lower lip. She tightens her grip and gently tugs at my hair, eliciting an involuntary grunt of pleasure from me. We kiss, our tongues stroking each other's more and more insistently until we're both left panting.

  "I love you," I whisper, my voice rough with desire.

  "I love you too," Angelique returns breathily.

  "Turn over," I ask, but she hesitates. "Trust me," I urge, touching my mouth to hers before pulling back to look into her eyes. "Let me show you how much I love you."

  She rolls onto her belly and rests her head on her forearms as I run my hands up the length of her legs. Parting and settling between them, I raise her foot and kiss the sole. Angelique lets out a muffled giggle, and I playfully nip at her little toe just to hear that delightful sound once more. Then, setting her foot down, I languidly stroke her legs from ankle to the swell of her lovely behind. Her skin feels like the finest satin as I follow the slow progress of my hands with soft, wet kisses, pausing to suck on the pulse points behind her knees. She spreads her legs and emits a breathy moan. My cock, eager and wanting, jerks in response.

  Toned and rounded cheeks peek out enticingly from barely-there panties as I curl my fingers into the sides to lower them. Angelique lifts her hips to help, her delectable behind teasing me even more in the process. Removing her underwear, I hastily discard my own to slide my body over hers, tantalizing us both by allowing my erection to brush the length of her legs. I kiss the dimples at the base of her spine before making my way up her body to unclasp her bra and slip it from her shoulders.

  "Adam…" she gasps, and I let out a strangled groan as my erection unintentionally settles between her cheeks. Moving her hair, I suck at the base of her neck, and then nip at and gently kiss an earlobe before whispering that I love her. She turns her head to receive my passionate kiss, then, rising on both arms, I lower my hips to writhe against her slowly, sensuously until we're both left gasping.

  "Turn over," I ask once more, placing a kiss on her shoulder blade. Her hair, when she does, spills over the pillow in dark, silken waves, and even in the muted light, I can read the desire in her eyes. I claim her lips in a searing kiss before moving down to draw a taut nipple into my mouth while gently rolling and tugging the other between thumb and forefinger. Angelique’s breath and her soft moans quicken as I kiss and lick my way down her flat belly.

  I pause and take several deep breaths. The attempt to calm myself proves futile as my gaze sweeps the length of her stunning body before returning to her enticing, bare mound. Angelique, whose eyes have opened to watch me, suddenly appears self-conscious. She moves her hand, but I capture it in mine. "Let me look at you," I quietly demand.

  She exhales a ragged breath when I place a tender kiss on her sex. I caress the insides of her thighs before sucking at the juncture of first one, and then the other. Then, bending her leg at the knee, I lean forward to blow hot air over her clitoris. "Adam…" she entreats, as I spread her pretty, pink lips and then lower my mouth to feast until she arches off the bed in an almost perfect arc. Grasping her hips, I draw her body close and enter her warmth with my tongue.

  Angelique writhes—a silent plea for more. Settling her back onto the bed, I oblige by inserting one, and then a second finger, nearly coming undone as her incredible warmth grips me. I rotate my fingers, slowly at first, and then steadily increase the rhythm before, curling them upward, I massage her sensitive spot. Angelique’s breath hitches, then, as I lower my mouth to her clitoris, she utters my name repeatedly until, moments later, her body stills, and she emits a drawn-out cry of ecstasy.

  Tremors ripple through her in the aftermath of her climax. I hold her down gently, moving my fingers and tongue in an ever-slowing motion until she melts into the bed with a deep, contented sigh. Placing a soft kiss on her still quivering flesh, I slowly make my way up her body. Angelique’s eyes, when they meet mine, shimmer with unshed tears. "I love you," I tell her as she silently clings to me. I kiss her deeply, then, gently extricating myself to reach into the bedside table, I retrieve a foil square. She watches, lovingly stroking my thighs as I sheath myself.

  "Ready?" I ask barely recognizing my lust-filled voice.

  "I want you," she responds without hesitation.

  I enter Angelique’s body slowly, her name leaving my mouth in a strangled groan as I try to absorb the overpowering sensation of being inside her. Holding her gaze, engulfed in her heat and flooded with pleasure, I fight to contain the almost unbearable need to thrust. She lets out a soft, surprised, "Oh," as her body softens and then spreads to welcome me. Her lids flutter closed.

  "Look at me," I demand, wanting to read her every emotion. Her eyes, when they reopen, are filled with so much love, so much desire, that my heart constricts in my chest. I inch forward until our hips meet. Angelique reaches down to touch the place where we're joined, her eyes wide in wonderment and glistening with tears.

  "Fuck!" I exclaim at the sight of her graceful fingers wrapped around me, heat already gathering at the base of my spine. The feeling as I withdraw, only to be submerged once more, is indescribable. I'm all sensation, my brain incapable of formulating a coherent thought. I can think of nothing other than how good it feels, how right it looks, to be joined to her in this way. Angelique tilts her hips, sending another jolt of electricity through me. "Love me, Adam," she pleads.

  I comply. Lowering my body over hers to move in long, slow strokes, I capture Angelique’s mouth in a passionate kiss, swirling and sucking on her tongue in a sensual dance, imitating that of our bodies. Supporting myself with one arm and grasping her hip with the other, I withdraw only to plunge back into her sublime heat, gradually rotating and deepening my thrusts.

  Angelique emits a soft moan of pleasure as I draw a nipple into my mouth. She lets out a whimper and raises her hips, spurring me on. I slide my arms under her back to grasp her shoulders and kiss her passionately one more. My movements become shorter, faster as I stoke the fire raging between us.

  "Angelique…" I curse then as searing heat gathers in my scrotum, and her internal walls flutter before clamping around me in a vise-like grip. She calls my name as she climaxes, while I tighten my grasp on her shoulders, the only things keeping me tethered to this earth right now. Everything explodes; burning fire dissolves into excruciating pleasure as I come in seemingly never-ending spurts. I cling to Angelique, my face buried in her neck as I recover, aware of soft hands stroking my back.

  I discard the condom in the wastebasket beside the bed before turning to take Angelique into my arms. Panic surges at the wetness I feel on her cheeks. "Darling? Did I hurt you?" I ask, reaching for the light. She stops me by draping an arm across my body.

  "I… I've never felt this way," she whispers brokenly.

  "Neither have I," I confess.

  We embrace each other wordlessly until I gather myself enough to continue. "This is the first time I've made love to a woman; I've only just realized that. What I experienced, what I did before was have sex, but this, what we've just shared, what I felt, is so much more than I ever imagined lovemaking could be. I love you, Angelique."

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  The next morning, while knotting my tie, I stare at the erotic sight of Angelique asleep and naked in my bed. Her back is turned to me, the sheets only just revealing the dimples I repeatedly kissed last night. I should feel guilty that my insatiability kept her awake until the early hours, but I'm finding it hard to locate that emotion right now. I'm too sated and overcome with love and the feeling of things meant to be this morning.

  I kissed her tears away last night while barely containing my own emotion. We spent ages kissing and fondling as we discussed our feelings for each other and what we hoped for our future. Angelique confessed that her only sexual encounter that had come even remotely close to the level of tenderness she’d received from me had been with Luke. I wanted to hate the man, but I couldn't. Instead, I felt nothing but gratitude that her first time had been with someone who cared for her.

  I, in turn, confessed that I'd had many more than six sexual partners and pointed out that, despite our sexual encounters not having happened under the same circumstances, there were many more parallels than differences. I may not have paid for or been paid for sex, but my encounters had all been about sex. Even with Jaclyn, the only woman I’d come close to having a long-term relationship with, there'd been no deep emotional commitment on my part.

  Angelique fell silent and blushed profusely at one stage, and I pressed until she confessed to never having made love to a man. I felt renewed sadness and anger at the thought of the five who had so selfishly used her. I assured her that my body was hers to do with as she pleased, and when our petting turned to passion, I kissed her deeply. "Make love to me," I implored and turned onto my front as she’d done for me. Angelique proved a fast learner, nearly driving me mad as she slowly and erotically teased me. The sounds of her soft panting accompanied my increasingly vocal groans as she worked her lips, breasts, and her hot, moist sex over me, spurred us both to greater heights of passion.