Hot Lawyers: The Lee Christine Collection

by Lee Christine

  She buried her face in her hands and his heart went out to her. He longed to take her in his arms again, but he steeled himself, knowing he wouldn’t be able to stop. A moment ago he’d been ready to take her against the wall, hard and fast like an oversexed high school jock.

  And that’s not the way he wanted this to go down. He could do so much better.

  “Please, Ally. Don’t make it more difficult.”

  She looked up and his heart sank at the frustration in her eyes. Moments before her body had been molten liquid in his arms, her eyes dazed and drunk with passion.

  She dragged in an unsteady breath and wrapped her arms around her body. “You’re right for pressing the pause button. I hope everything’s okay.”

  “Me too.” He clicked his fingers for the dog. “But hope isn’t a strategy.”

  When she didn’t say anything, he took the lead from behind the kitchen door and clipped it onto the dog’s collar, fearing the resignation in her voice. He had to give her more, something to hold onto.

  “One of us has to keep a level head.” He grasped hold of the lead as the animal bounded around excitedly, accustomed now to their late night outings. He winked, desperate to make her feel better. “You can have your wicked way with me afterwards.”

  She didn’t answer right away and Luke held his breath, fearing what might come next. If she changed her mind, he’d be in for one hell of a rough night.

  But she smoothed down her gown with nervous hands and looked embarrassed. “Can I hold you to that?”

  His heart swelled and he let go of his breath, relief washing over him. “I’ll give you my personal guarantee.”

  Against his better judgment, he reached out and caressed her cheek. “After this, I can relax.”

  He stepped away before his resolve caved in. At the door he glanced over his shoulder. “And stay as you are. I remove the dress.”

  His command brought colour to her face and his heartbeat shifted gears. “This time we go slow.”

  She nodded, her eyes sparkling in the dark. “Hurry.”

  ***

  For the third time that night, the everyday man pulled the car into the curb halfway up the block from her apartment, watching as the lights flicked on inside.

  Anger welled up inside him. She was finally home.

  Killing the engine, he sat in the darkness, watching for movement on the street, but other than Allegra, the neighbourhood appeared to be sleeping. Strange for a Friday night.

  He opened the door and climbed out, closing it with a quiet click. Silence—other than the distant sound of breakers on Bondi Beach.

  He paused, letting his eyes adjust, scouting for obstacles that could prove hazardous in the dark. Numerous times he’d made the journey here, wandering around the seaside suburb during the day.

  Blending in with the tourists.

  Familiarising himself with the streetscape.

  There was a gap in the cyclone fencing of a partially constructed two storey home, making it the perfect spot to hide while he watched. But he wouldn’t be watching for much longer now. He’d wasted too much time admiring her from afar. Believing her pure. Untouched.

  And then he’d found the photographs.

  Impotent anger crackled along every nerve ending. She wasn’t who he thought she was.

  Pulling the cap low over his face he set off down the darkened, tree-lined street. In less than a minute he’d slipped through the gap in the wire and moved into the shadow of a dumpster. The midnight air was cool, and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his fleece and trained his eyes across the street.

  A light remained on in her apartment. Through the blinds he glimpsed a fleeting shadow. Two shadows.

  He gave the rage in his heart free rein. Something had prevented the photographs from arriving at Grace and Poole, most likely a security program filtering straight to a spam file. It was something he hadn’t considered. A mistake he wouldn’t make again.

  She’d looked like an angel tonight, but she wouldn’t be rubbing elbows with Sydney’s top legal eagles for much longer. She might have escaped this time, but Allegra Greenwood was living on borrowed time. He was ready to make his move whenever the opportunity arose.

  He started as light spilled from the side entry onto the driveway. Someone came out of the apartments. Pressing back into the shadows, he squinted in the darkness.

  It was her lover, taking the dog out for a leak before bedtime.

  He watched the bloke walk the dog in the front yard, then squat near the boundary fence. Straining his neck he tried to see what he was up to, when there was a sudden flash of light lasting a couple of seconds.

  Could he have lit a cigarette, squatting down next to the dog as the animal did its business?

  Glancing into the dumpster, his eyes rested on a piece of four by two hardwood. He reached for it. If he got close enough he’d take him out once and for all.

  He moved towards the gap in the fence as the bloke walked up the street and turned around. And then the dog came to a halt, turning its head in his direction, sensing him, forcing him back into the shadows.

  Stupid bloody mutt! Maybe he’d prepare a special dinner for him to enjoy.

  The big bloke stopped too. He looked in his direction for what seemed an eternity.

  Finally he tugged on the dog’s lead and went back inside.

  The everyday man let the piece of timber slide from his hand, breathing heavily as he moved through the gap in the fence.

  He crossed the road, using the wall of the building as cover as he moved down the driveway, footsteps scrunching on the loose gravel.

  The AMG was in the visitor’s parking area.

  Shaking his head, he dug in his pocket for the Swiss Army knife. Her lover should know better than to leave a high end luxury car sitting out in the open.

  Hate burning in his heart, he pushed the knife from its cover and thrust the blade into the rear left tyre, then the right.

  He moved to the front end, grinning. He’d only bought this gadget last week. It had everything; a blade, tiny LED torch, even a USB flash drive where he now stored the photographs of Allegra.

  Thrusting the blade into the two front tyres, he listened to the hissing sound of air escaping.

  Time to go.

  He hurried back to his car, started the engine and did a U turn.

  That would surprise her lover in the morning.

  Next time, he’d be thrusting a knife between the bloke’s ribs, and listening, as the hiss of air escaped from his lungs.

  ***

  Allegra opened the door when she heard the knock. “Everything okay?”

  “I’m not sure.” Luke unclipped the lead from Astro’s collar, setting the dog loose before turning and bolting the door.

  She laid a hand on his arm. “You were gone a while. What happened?”

  Luke shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of a chair. Then he took her arm and they sat together on the couch. “Take a look at this.”

  He pulled a remote control from a trouser pocket and scrolled through images taken from the camera. “This shows the front of the property and the street.”

  He pointed to a car, an early model Toyota. “See this car.” He scrolled through more images. “It came down the street twice tonight, and when I went out it was parked half way up the block. It’s the first time I’ve seen it. Do you recognise this car?”

  Allegra shook her head. “No, but it could belong to anyone in the street, or a visitor perhaps. I haven’t taken much notice.”

  Luke nodded. “Another thing. This is the last shot taken just before I went out. See here, there’s a person getting out of the same car, wearing a cap. We know the guy who gave the packet to McGregor wore a cap, but it’s too far away to get a good look. I can’t even tell if it’s a man or a woman.”

  Allegra sucked in a breath, fear chilling her heart as she gazed at the grainy photo. Up until now the person threatening her had remained faceless. “You
think this could be him, or her?”

  Luke pulled her close and pressed his lips to her temple. “It’s possible, but I’m not taking any chances. I’ll have Tom run the plate number.”

  The light from his phone lit his strong features as he waited for Tom to pick up. “Something in that half constructed house got the dog’s attention. It makes me uneasy, too many hiding places.”

  Icy spiders crawled up Allegra’s back. “You think this guy is out to hurt me? That he’ll do more than expose me on the net?”

  Luke pulled her closer and she shuddered, laying her head on his chest.

  “I’d be lying if I said no.”

  He threaded the fingers of his free hand through her hair. “I promise he won’t get within an inch of you.”

  Allegra closed her eyes, comforted by his warmth as he spoke to Tom. He was totally focussed. At a time like this, she couldn’t think of anyone she’d rather have in her corner.

  He hung up, and she sat up as he shifted beneath her, watching as he stood and moved across the shadowy room.

  She held her breath as he parted the curtain a fraction and surveyed the street.

  He turned to her, relief plain on his face. “It’s not there. The car’s gone.”

  She rose unsteadily, unsure what he planned next.

  Then he grinned and opened his arms.

  Allegra didn’t hesitate. She closed the distance between them, reluctant to waste even a minute of their stolen time together.

  In one easy movement he swept her off her feet as if she weighed nothing and strode towards the bedroom.

  “Come on, counsellor. I’ve got a promise to keep.”

  Allegra lit the scented candle on the dressing table and turned to face him. “I know you want to remove the dress,” she said, arching an eyebrow, “but I should take off my accessories first.”

  “Not the gloves.”

  “Ooh, not the gloves,” she said, giving him a naughty smile and enjoying his amused expression. “Who knew the tough Commander had a thing for satin gloves.”

  “I like them.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, turning her skin to gooseflesh. The difference in him was notable. The edginess had disappeared.

  She fiddled with his bowtie and studied his face. “I like a man who doesn’t feel his masculinity threatened by such an admission.”

  He gave her a lopsided smile. “Don’t tell me we’re finally in agreement?”

  “We are.”

  “So leave them on.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Tilting her head, she unhooked one sparkling earring, then the other, and dropped them into a glass bowl on the dressing table.

  He’d made a point of saying they would go slow. She couldn’t imagine anything more erotic.

  With a rustle of fabric, she lifted her skirt and planted a stilettoed foot on the bedroom stool. No matter what the future held, she was determined Luke Neilson would remember this night.

  “You may have to help me, Commander. I can’t manage the straps wearing gloves.”

  With something like a feral growl, he squatted to undo the shoe, but stopped short, his attention diverted by the silky stocking she wore. As she hoped, his eyes zeroed in on the clips of her garter belt, peeking out from under her hitched up dress.

  She heard him inhale sharply, quivered as he placed one large hand on her calf and with deliberate slowness ran it up and over her knee, all the way to her thigh where he pushed the luxurious material aside so he could admire the lingerie.

  He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “God, Ally, you’re a sight to behold.”

  Then he effortlessly straightened and pulled her to him, kissing her with the same fierce rapture, feeding her habit with another addictive hit. She parted her lips under his, helpless against the drugging rub of his tongue, his jaw abrasive against her cheek.

  Allegra swayed, light-headed, her arms creeping like ivy around his neck, her blood flow diverted to organs lower down.

  Breaking the kiss, she groped for the dress studs on his shirt, her gloved fingers an impediment to her endeavours. He captured her hands when she groaned in frustration, chuckling at her haste.

  “Slow down, baby—me first.”

  He spun her around so she was staring at their reflection in the framed wooden mirror. She gasped as he pressed up close behind her, his hardness at her hip, one hand wrapped around her waist as he drew her back against him. Gathering her hair in his free hand he lifted the whole mass off her shoulders and pressed his warm lips to her nape.

  Her entire body trembling with arousal, Allegra curled one gloved arm around his neck as he freed her hair and reached for the zipper of her dress, opening it with tantalising slowness, until the material loosened and he gently lifted the garment from her shoulders.

  With a rustle, the purple material pooled at her feet, leaving her standing in a black strapless bra, panties, garter belt, shoes and stockings.

  “You’re beautiful.” Deft fingers expertly unhooked her bra and tossed it aside, large warm hands taking its place, the most perfect bra nature could provide.

  Allegra leaned back against the hard wall of his torso, staring in awe at their reflection. He towered over her, strong hands massaging her breasts, his face turned into the exposed, white expanse of her neck. She closed her eyes as his lips moved over the sensitised flesh of her throat, blood roaring in her ears, burning moisture pooling between her thighs.

  Luke groaned his appreciation as Allegra’s nipples hardened like blood diamonds in his palms. Then she swivelled in his arms and rewarded him with an R-Rated view of her back.

  Kissing the soft spot beneath her ear lobe, he ran his lips down the pale length of her neck to the juncture of her collarbone. She murmured, swaying like an exotic dancer as his hands roamed her back, her gloved arms looped around his neck. He slid his hands lower, skimmed the lacy black knickers, garter belt and stockings, rock hard in his trousers.

  Luke slammed his eyes closed, felt his temperature spike as his fingers worked at the studs of his shirt. He managed to release the top two before she dragged her mouth away and reached for his bowtie. One quick pull and it joined the bra. She reached up and helped him tug the shirt over his head.

  Finally, skin met skin, the exquisite softness of her breasts pressing against the wall of his chest. He palmed one perfect globe then dipped his head and moistened a cherry-coloured nipple with his tongue. Then drew it between his lips and suckled strongly.

  She cried out, thrusting her gloved hands into his hair and cradling his head as she arched closer. She smelled like warm peaches, skin flushed and feverish beneath his hands. He shifted his attention to her other breast, grazing her nipple with the edge of his teeth then soothing it with his tongue.

  “Yes, Luke.” Her breathy cry had his groin throbbing with exquisite torture and his mind shutting down.

  “I want to feel your skin,” she murmured, the breath hitching in her throat as she peeled off the gloves. And then her bare hands were smoothing across his shoulders, her questing fingers pressing and massaging the joints and muscles in his arms and chest.

  At flash point, Luke wondered how long he could keep control.

  He scooped her up for the second time that night, their shadows merging on the wall. He laid her on the bed and stood looking down at her, heart racing along in top gear.

  Spread out that way, she looked like a beautiful sacrifice.

  With as much smoothness as he could muster, he undid his belt and trousers, slipping them off along with the rest of his clothing, until he stood naked before her. He’d seen practically every inch of her in the photographs. It was only fair he afford her the same courtesy.

  He swallowed as her ‘come to bed’ baby blues lingered on every part of his body, for the first time ever suffering a degree of uncertainty. Smart and stunning, she had high standards, and he hoped she liked what she saw.

  He wasn’t disappointed.

  With a gentle smile sh
e sat up and reached for him, the trust in her luminous eyes making his heart constrict.

  “You look amazing,” Allegra whispered, barely able to speak as she continued gazing in awe at the ruggedly handsome man eager to make love to her. In superb shape, his muscled torso was ripped and toned, his chest covered in a fine smattering of dark blonde hair that dipped in a narrowing column to his navel and beyond.

  The wide shoulders and bulging biceps reminded her of a competitive swimmer, the scars he bore adding character to his battle-hardened body.

  Allegra swallowed, her mouth going dry. Though she’d glimpsed bits and pieces of him before tonight, nothing could have prepared her for the sight of him fully naked.

  “I think you’ve set a new benchmark,” she said, making him splutter with laughter as he joined her on the bed.

  “I mean it.” She couldn’t keep the admiration from her voice. “You are one hot guy, Commander.”

  He loomed over the top of her and pushed her gently back against the pillows. “And you’re using flattery to get what you want.”

  He dipped his head and she threaded her fingers into his hair as he pressed his lips between her breasts.

  “Am I so transparent?” She gasped, watching as he moved lower and began undoing the clips on her garter belt.

  “Tell me you wore these for me.” He rolled one stocking all the way down to her ankle and removed it along with her shoe. He did the same with her other leg.

  “Well I didn’t wear them for O’Callaghan.”

  He scowled at the mention of the prosecutor’s name. “Just as well, or I might have to end the guy.”

  Her amused laugh ended in a throaty cry as he trailed hot kisses across her abdomen, his hands gently parting her legs so he could stroke the tender skin on the inside of her thighs.

  “I wear them because they make me feel sexy.” She leaned against the pillows, struggling to stay coherent as his mouth moved lower. “And I might have been living in hope you’d show up some time tonight.”

  He lifted his head and grinned at her, a triumphant expression on his face. “Is that right?”

  Placing her hands on either side of his face, she nodded. “But don’t get a swelled head, Commander.”