by J. H. Croix
“Hello,” he returned. “How are you?”
“Great,” I managed.
He glanced around the office. Beyond the main door with frosted glass on either side lay the entry area. It was open and airy. We’d decorated it in soft grays and muted blues. My desk was a rich mahogany, curving into the wall facing the door. The bathroom was off to one side with a small waiting area to the other. There were several soft gray chairs with a low, circular table in front of them. The door to Zoe's office was beyond that.
Finn’s eyes landed back on mine. “So this is just you and Zoe?” he asked.
I nodded. “It's her practice, and I’m the paralegal-slash-receptionist,” I offered. “We met in law school. I'm going to finish my courses soon,” I added, getting suddenly anxious about saying that out loud. I didn’t know why I felt the need to explain it to him.
“Some people don't actually want to be lawyers,” he commented. “I hear paralegal work can pay just as well without as much stress and less liability.”
I shrugged, still leaning against the door. “True, but I was close to finishing. I only have one semester left.”
“What happened?” he asked.
My heart tightened, and I swallowed. Thinking about that time was hard for me. It wasn't just everything that blew up with Rick. It was my mom dying and how the collision of events sent me into a spiral of depression. I took a deep breath, breathing through the knot in my throat.
“It's kind of complicated. I’ll explain another time.”
Finn stared at me, his far too perceptive gaze making me want to squirm. Restless with need coursing through my veins, I reached between us and curled my fingers into the handcuffs hanging on the edge of his belt, tugging him to me. The gravelly sound of his laugh sent a prickle down my spine and a hot shiver over the surface of my skin.
“Rain check on that topic,” he said with another low chuckle.
I slid my hand up around the nape of his neck, threading my fingers into his hair and tugging him down to me. I arched up, bringing my lips up to meet his, feeling a jolt straight through to my toes at the point of contact. He took control instantly, stepping closer, crowding me against the door, his hard muscled body pressed to mine. He tangled a hand roughly in my hair, swept his tongue into my mouth and our kiss went wild.
My head thumped against the door as he angled his head to the side and devoured my mouth. I hooked a foot around his calf, arching into him and running my hands up over his shoulders, down his muscled spine and gripping his tight ass. He was hard all over, and I loved it. His knee slid between my thighs, and I rolled my hips against his thigh, chasing the sharp spikes of pleasure. He broke free from our kiss, muttering my name.
“Bloody hell, Jana. I missed you,” he murmured.
His lips blazed a searing, damp trail down my neck. He yanked at my blouse, not even trying to be tidy about it. I heard a button ping against the glass beside us and then bounce off the floor. Shoving my bra out of the way, he cupped my breasts in his hands. My head bumped against the door with a low moan.
“Jana,” Finn said, his voice a gruff command.
I dragged my eyes open to find his waiting, his gaze dark and hot. I swallowed. Desire was whipping through me, tightening inside my core. The anticipation, the intensity, and the longing were tangled up in the intimacy I felt when I was with him. He pinched my nipples. A sharp cry fell from my lips.
“Do that again,” I demanded, craving the sharp bite of it.
With a grin, so dangerous, so sexy and doing crazy things to my insides, he obliged. He flicked his thumb on the clasp between my breasts, and they tumbled loose—hot, tight, and achy. Flutters twirled in my belly, a storm massing inside. He dipped his head, dragging his tongue in a wet path along the valley between my breasts before angling over to a nipple. He swirled his tongue around it, his teeth scoring the taut peak, as he drew it in his mouth. The wet suction alone sent flares of pleasure shooting through me. I rolled my hips against his knee, restless and impatient, the sensation driving me so intense I needed to find relief.
All he did was drive me wilder. His tongue made its way over to my other nipple, the sharp bite of his teeth barely easing the need lashing at me as he bit down. I yanked at the buttons of the shirt, sighing when I could feel the hard planes of his chest, his skin hot against me. When I dipped my head and dragged my tongue along his skin, he muttered something and then lifted me roughly against him. He spun around and took several quick strides, sliding my hips onto my desk. My skirt conveniently rode up my thighs. He stepped back, dragging my hips close to the edge.
His eyes flicked to mine. I tried to tug him to me, but he shook his head. He knelt between my knees, dragging a single finger over the wet silk there. When he pushed my thighs apart, the cool air hitting the wet heat there sent a shiver through me. Another tease of his fingers over the silk and then he brought his mouth to me, right through the silk, drawing his tongue over it and sucking my clit. I cried out, the pleasure sharp and deep, echoing through my body.
“Finn, don't make me wait…”
My words trailed out with a gasp.
He drew back, his eyes flicking to mine. “Oh, you’ll wait. You made me wait for days,” he muttered with a rough chuckle, teasing me through the now soaking wet silk.
After a moment, he reached up and yanked my panties down. I lifted my hips to help, kicking them free. He spread my folds apart. My sex clenched and throbbed as he teased me, dragging his fingers back and forth through the slick wetness, grazing over my clit. Just when I thought I might die, he sank a finger inside.
I scrambled, gripping my hands on the edge of the desk behind me as I leaned back. I was wanton and wild, my skirt hiked up around my hips, my blouse falling open, and desperate for him to be inside of me. He said he would make me wait, yet he neglected to mention he would drive me to the edge of sanity while he was at it. Another finger joined the first, and he set to stroking in and out of me. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, he brought his mouth to me again, sucking my clit in and sending me hurtling over the edge with such force, my elbows gave out and I fell against the desk.
He drew away slowly. I heard him unbuttoning his slacks, and I rose up.
“I need you. Now,” I demanded.
“Right here,” he replied, his voice tight.
Gripping his cock, hard and thick, in his fist, he slid the head of it through my folds, slippery wet now. I curled my legs around his hips and arched into him. In one swift surge, he sank inside, seating himself deeply in my core. The sensation of him filling me was so good, so right, I cried out. He held still for beat.
“Jana,” he said, my name another gruff command.
I rose up on my elbows again, locking my eyes to his. It felt overwhelming, but I couldn't look away. He drew back slowly, looking down between us. My gaze followed his to see his cock, glistening wet, as he drew back and then sank inside of me again and again. We watched together, the sight so arousing, I nearly came again. But then he spoke my name and laced a hand in my hair, leaning forward as he sank deeply to the hilt. With one hand curling around my hip and holding me close, he brought his lips to mine and caught my cries in our kiss. My orgasm started at my toes and rolled through me, so deep and intense, it rang every chord of every fiber in my being. I felt his release as he went taut, the heat of it filling me.
We pulsed together, and then he slowly drew back. We stared at each other, our breath heaving. After a moment, he sifted his fingers through my hair, tracing his thumb along my jaw and then around my lips. I caught it in my teeth, releasing it gently. I wanted to cry, but it wasn’t the bad kind of tears.
The emotion welling up was so intense, I didn't know what to do with it, so I pushed against it and forced myself to be light.
“So dinner you said?”
He held my gaze, his eyes searching, and then he nodded. “So I did. Dinner then.”
He slowly drew out of me, and I missed the connection instant
ly. Ever the gentleman, he helped me put my clothes back in place. As we walked out of the office, hand in hand, I wondered if I’d lost my mind. Or better yet, my heart.
Chapter 19
Finn
I woke to the feel of a furry face rubbing against mine and the sound of purring. For a moment, I was confused and then I recalled where I was—in Jana’s bed. Smokey had taken this opportunity to greet me. I reached up and stroked him for a moment before he leapt off the bed, and I heard him scurrying out of the bedroom. Jana was warm against my side, her breathing steady and even. Her head was tucked against my shoulder, and one of her legs was thrown across mine. Her curves were soft against me, her skin like silk. I glanced to her, the streetlights through the window limning her features. Her hair was a tangle around her face.
My mind spun back to last night. After our interlude in her office, we’d stopped by my place so I could change out of my uniform and then went to the grocery store to gather ingredients for dinner. Upon her request, we made a stir fry. I loved to cook. I always had. Perhaps it was because the kitchen was where I spent the most time with my mother growing up. She’d lug me into the kitchen with her, along with my younger sister, who’d rebelled and declared she hated cooking. As a bachelor, it was a bonus to be able to cook halfway decent meals for myself.
After dinner, we’d lounged on Jana’s sofa. When she’d fallen asleep, I’d carried her into the bedroom. She’d come awake long enough to strip herself bare and collapse against me, warm and naked. My mind ran in circles in my brain, wondering just what I was getting myself into with Jana. I liked her. I liked her so much, I was dancing along the edges of thinking there was more to it. Yet, I wasn't quite sure what to think. I hadn't intended for this to be anything more than yet another casual fling, though I can’t say I thought much about it. My draw to Jana had been too powerful to ignore, and yet trying to consider more wasn’t simple. Trust didn't come easily to me.
I wanted to relax, but I didn't know if I could. Yet, right now, Jana was warm beside me, and I didn’t want to think about anything else. She shifted in her sleep, and I slid my palm down her back, savoring the warmth of her skin and letting my hand come to rest on the lush curve of her bottom. On the heels of another deep breath, I fell back to sleep.
I woke the following morning, instantly sensing Jana wasn't in bed with me. I rolled to the side to see steam billowing out of the bathroom door. I sat up swiftly and strode into the shower. The moment I stepped in and saw her there, bare naked with soap bubbles rolling over her skin, my cock hardened. There was no such thing as being partially aroused around Jana. I was rock hard and ready. I stepped behind her, sliding my hands down her sides, savoring the soft curves of her breasts, the dip at her waist and the flare of her hips.
She gasped, a little squeak coming out. I didn't even bother to hide my arousal, stepping against her and savoring the feel of her luscious bottom against my cock. She giggled and lifted her face to rinse it before spinning in my arms. Her eyes were bright with her dark hair slicked away from her face and her damp lashes.
“Good morning,” she said with a sly grin, reaching between us and curling her palm around my cock.
“Morning,” I murmured in return, dipping my head and meaning to kiss her.
But she shimmied down, glancing up to me and dragging her tongue along my cock, swirling it around the head. My cock throbbed, so hard for her it ached. I watched as her mouth closed around the head of my cock and she drew me inside, her eyes on me the whole time. She slid back, the suction sending a jolt of need through me.
Fisting my cock in her wet grip, she drew me in again and again. She released me only to cup my balls as she took me in deeply, the head of my cock bumping against the back of her throat. Bloody hell. Jana sucking me off was about the best way to wake up I could even imagine. A few more deep strokes as she teased me, and I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to be inside of her.
I murmured her name roughly as I reached for her, dragging her up, and spinning her around. Her palms slapped against the tile wall. As if she could read my mind, she knew what I wanted. She spread her thighs apart and arched her back. I slid my palm down the sweet dip of her spine and over the luscious curve of her bottom. I gripped her hip in one hand, my cock in the other, dragging it through the wet folds. She was slick and ready. I sank into her, seating myself deeply in her creamy clench. She cried out, arching back into me.
I took her roughly, pounding into her. I gripped both of her hips as I held her in place, drumming into her, her pussy clenching around me and milking my cock. I reached around, stroking over her swollen nub, gritting my teeth and hanging onto my restraint until I felt her moan and let go around me. Her sex clamped down, and I finally let go.
My release thundered through me, whipping through me so hard my palm slapped against the tile beside her to keep from collapsing. We held still together with me curled over her, our breath heaving as hot water poured down over us. As the pounding slowly eased inside, I uncurled and drew back slowly, spinning her in my arms and finally kissing her.
When I pulled away with my hand tangled in her wet hair and cupping her bottom to hold her close, my heart tightened as I stared into the deep blue of her eyes. I forced myself to step back and lighten the moment. I reached for the soap and handed it to her with a grin. I felt emotionally rattled and sensed the same from her.
“Morning luv,” I managed, striving for a light, teasing tone.
She returned my grin and threw the bar of soap at me. After we showered and were getting dressed, I felt somewhat more grounded.
“That was a sufficiently nice way to wake up,” she said with a laugh.
“Sufficiently nice?” I countered, narrowing my eyes.
She flashed a grin. “Okay. It was amazing.”
She pulled a shirt over her head, her voice muffled. “Are you working today?”
When her face reappeared, I shook my head as I buttoned my jeans. “Nope. You?” I asked.
“I don't usually work Saturdays. Here and there, I might do some extra paperwork or court filings, but I'm all caught up. Should we do something today?”
I held her gaze, contemplating her question. It had been years since I’d done much more than dinner and sex with a woman. So I shrugged. “I don't know. Is there something you'd like to do?” I asked.
I might not know what to do, but I knew I didn’t want to leave her side. Not just yet.
“Let’s go to the beach.”
Chapter 21
Jana
We stood on the beach, staring out over the water. The day had started sunny, but it was slightly overcast now. The ocean was calm today, stretching into the distance—a sea, not a metaphorical one, but an actual one, of slate gray water ruffled softly by the wind. Rocks rose up through the mist over to one side. Seagulls called and swooped through the air. We were standing on a beach just beyond an old favorite place of mine. I took a deep breath, savoring the salty scent. Simply being by the ocean itself felt freeing as the wind washed away my worries.
Finn had gamely come along with me, declaring in his proper British accent that he hadn’t been out here before. He’d only visited the ocean along the harbor in Seattle. We were just north of Saltwater State Park at a local beach. I used to come here often with my mother when I was little. I was taking Finn to brunch at one of my favorite places. I spun away from the view and grabbed his hand.
“Come on. I’m starving.”
Within minutes, he followed my directions and rolled to a stop in front of Sal’s Diner. It was an old diner in a weathered square building with faded silver flashing on the roof. I loved this place, and they had the best biscuits and gravy ever.
“Best biscuits and gravy,” I announced as I perused the menu once we were sated.
“Biscuits and gravy?” he repeated, arching a brow. “That’s an American thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, and it's the best. If you haven't had it, you have to get it.”
&nbs
p; His mouth curled at the corner, that sexy grin of his sending my belly into a tailspin of flutters.
“I have to?”
“Yes,” I declared, nudging his wrist with the corner of my menu.
Finn chuckled, his low laugh sending a shiver through me, and shrugged. “Very well then. I shall.”
“Good.” I leaned back in my seat, sliding my hand along the red vinyl of the booth seat.
I watched as he looked around the restaurant. It was a classic, basic diner with booths lining the walls of the small space. A counter ran the length of the back wall with stools. The kitchen was immediately behind the counter with the grill in full view. Sal and June Torro owned this place. They were old friends of my mother’s. I’d never brought any man here, and I didn't know quite what I was thinking, but it was the only place I'd wanted to go today.
A Christmas tree was tucked into a corner at the end of the counter with a hodgepodge of decorations. Sal and June let the local elementary school decorate the tree every year, which meant hordes of small children bouncing around the tree and a wide variation in how it looked from year to year. One side of this year’s tree was heavily weighted with decorations, but the glitter and bows on the other side balanced it out.
Sal hadn't been behind the counter when we arrived. Our waitress came by to fill our coffees, and Finn politely ordered the biscuits and gravy with a side of hash after I did. Our waitress, Mabel, looked to me with a warm smile as she collected our menus.
“Sal’s in the back. I'll tell him you're here,” she offered as she walked away.
Finn arched a brow in question. I was coming to love how he stayed engaged in conversation without ever being pushy. I couldn’t say the same about myself.
“Sal’s an old family friend,” I explained.
He simply nodded and then asked the obvious next question. “Where is your family anyway? Do they live around here then?”
I swallowed against the emotion that suddenly clogged my throat. I was an only child, raised by my mother. My dad had been, well he just hadn’t been around. I knew who he was, and he was still alive. He’d never paid a dime in child support, and we didn't have much of a relationship. I gave Finn the answer that I’d trained myself to say ever since my mother had died. “It was just me and my mom. She passed away a few years ago.”
