Her eyebrows rise, and she darts a glance at Viveka. She holds up a gloved hand smeared with something she had been putting in her client’s hair. “Sorry. Can’t shake hands. But nice to meet you.”
I nod at Frannie and turn back to Viv. She stares at me, and I can’t read a thing on her face.
“Can we talk privately?” I ask from across the salon.
She doesn’t even twitch, but instead asks me, “Did you cash my check?”
I give her a curt nod, and it causes her to propel herself out of the chair. Her face is awash with relief, and it’s a testament to how concerned she was for me. Her anger was born out of worry, and that causes a funny feeling to well up inside of me.
She walks across the salon in her jeans and rubber boots, and I know she could sell them on the catwalk. I drink in her long legs and swaying hips as she comes closer.
She doesn’t slow down but instead crashes right into me. Her hands dive into my hair, and her mouth slams onto mine. I catch her body weight easily, pulling her in tight as we engage in probably the deepest, hottest kiss we have ever had.
I vaguely hear a woman murmur, “Oh my.”
Viveka’s tongue practically wraps around mine, and I groan deep into her throat.
The same woman says in a much more purring kind of way, “Oh my…”
This seems to knock some sense into us because we pull apart, grinning stupidly at each other. Her hands slide to my cheeks, and her thumbs rub along my jaw. Her eyes are swirling with both desire and gratitude. She merely says, “Thank you for cashing it.”
“Well, I wasn’t about to give up that hot body of yours.”
Viv tosses her head back and laughs. I have the insane urge to lean forward and bite her neck.
Instead, I wait for her eyes to come back to mine. “I wasn’t ready to give you up. And so if I had to cash the check, I was going to cash the check. I mean, I want to win this case, but fuck it all… I want you to as well. I just went about handling it the wrong way.”
“I understand,” she replies softly. “But we have to keep the case separated from us.”
I lean forward and touch my forehead to hers.
My voice goes low so none of the women straining to hear can. “I just want you to be on an even playing field. It’s not fair you’re not because of money. I don’t like the thought of you struggling even if it is in a case against me. But I know it’s wrong and how dangerous it was to do that. My only excuse is you drive me crazy, and I wasn’t thinking straight.”
I can feel Viv’s body melt into mine. She pulls her head back, so she can look me in the eye. “I get it. And I’m not going to lie, it’s kind of swoony that you would do that for me. But please don’t worry about me, Ford. I am a scrappy lawyer. I’ve never been able to afford the best, so I make sure to bust my ass and use the full extent of my brains on every case. Sometimes I win, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I win when I shouldn’t, and sometimes I lose when I’ve done everything right. It all balances out for me. If I do my best, I can never be truly disappointed with the results. Because of that, I am okay with whichever way this case turns out, and you need to trust in that.”
I bring my hands up to the side of her neck and slide my thumbs under her jaw to hold her in place. It’s a domineering move, but I can tell by the flicker of heat in her eyes that she likes it.
“Is everything good between us?” I ask, making sure there is no misunderstanding my level of concern over her answer.
Her eyes soften. “We’re okay. More than okay.”
I lean in and my mouth finds hers, needing to cement everything we said with a kiss. When I pull back, I ask, “Want to go out and grab some dinner?”
Viv glances down at her watch and then at me with a smirk. “It’s only four o’clock.”
Shrugging, I drop my hands to lace my fingers through hers. I give her a slight tug toward the door, and she easily follows. “Let’s go find something else to do.”
There’s enough innuendo in my voice that I hear that same woman say once again, “Oh my…”
♦
Viveka bouncing up and down on my cock, my hands squeezing her tits, and her fingers at her clit.
The most goddamn beautiful thing ever. The hottest thing ever. I want this on video at some point.
There’s no surprise when Viv’s body tightens and her back arches with an orgasm. I buck my hips upward and start to come violently.
My body sags back down into the mattress, and Viveka collapses on top of me. For several long moments, we are nothing but a sweaty tangle of limbs and hard breathing.
After several more long moments of cuddling and regaining body function, I make my way to her master bathroom to ditch the condom and get cleaned up. She pushes in right behind me and goes over to the shower, leaning in to turn it on.
“Let’s go out to eat,” she says.
“Okay,” I agree easily as I study her ass in the bathroom mirror. It’s a fantastic ass. Rounded and toned with ivory skin as soft as rose petals. My hands spend a lot of time there. After peeling the condom off, I chuck it into her trash can.
“Did you go talk to Drake yesterday?” she asks over her shoulder to me. Our eyes lock in the mirror.
“I did.”
“And?” she prompts.
“He says he had nothing to do with the brick through your window,” I say through gritted teeth.
Lying bastard.
“He probably didn’t,” she says softly, and that makes me turn around to face her directly rather than talk through the mirror. “Trust me… I’ve pissed off lots of people in my practice.”
I just bet she has. I bet she’s induced a lot of men with lust, too. Probably amused a lot of people with her charm and humor. Caused envy and jealousy among women because she’s so beautiful, and probably reduced them to embarrassed lumps of apology when they realize how genuine and nice she is.
Viveka, I’m sure, has a strong effect on most people she meets.
But time for a change of subject. “Can I ask you something?”
She tilts her head and smiles. “What’s up?”
I step into her, my hands going to her waist. “Is there any reason we have to use a condom?”
She blinks in surprise. “Um… well, I’m not sure. I mean… we can talk about it.”
“Let me clarify,” I say in a low voice. “I’m safe, and I’ll give you the paperwork to back that up.”
“I’m safe,” she blurts out quickly and a little too loudly, as if perhaps I was doubting that about her.
I wasn’t. She hasn’t been with anyone in two years since her husband, so I suspected as much. Her experience is so limited, I just didn’t think that was the big issue.
“Are you on the pill?” I ask.
She bites her lip and shakes her head. “Wasn’t any reason to be.”
“Then we’ll stick with condoms,” I reply easily, and then give her a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth. “We’ll buy in bulk.”
I start to pull away, but she latches onto my wrist. “I can get on the pill.”
While I’d love nothing but to feel my bare cock slide against her wet flesh, I give her a gentle smile. “You don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind,” she says with no doubt in her voice. “I’ve been on them before… when I was married to Adam.”
“You didn’t want kids?” I ask curiously.
“He didn’t. At least not right away,” she admits hesitantly. “And then… well, years sort of went by. He concentrated on his career. And by the time I realized the marriage was over, I also realized he probably never wanted them to begin with.”
“Do you?” And it occurs to me I’ve never discussed this subject with another woman other than Leary, and with Leary, it had only been since she got pregnant. I never knew before—in all the years of our friendship or when we were lovers—how she felt about them.
“Yeah,” Viveka says in a dreamy voice laced with a bit of sadness. “I do. One
day.”
I could see Viveka as a mother. She’s a nurturer for sure, and I bet we would make beautiful babies—
What. The. Fuck?
I shake my head and take a step back from Viveka. She turns toward the shower, sticking her hand inside to test the water temperature. My expression must not have given away those inane thoughts I had, because her voice is light and teasing. “Want to come soap me down, Mr. Daniels?”
Yes… I want that very much.
I step into the shower behind her. We spend an enjoyable fifteen minutes getting cleaned up, which I feel is a waste since we’re going to get dirty again right after dinner.
While Viveka does her hair and makeup, I step back into the bedroom to slip my clothes back on. I’d been in a dress suit when I showed up at Do or Dye earlier, so I put it all back on except the tie.
“Would you mind feeding the dogs?” she asks as she brushes on some mascara. Her blonde hair is slicked back and still so very pale even when wet. She looks like a fairy or something.
“Sure.” I sit on the edge of her bed to put on my shoes and socks. It takes me what seems like forever, because while I’m fully clothed, Viveka does her hair and makeup while naked and it’s hard to keep my eyes off her.
After I tie my Oxfords, I push from the bed and take one more shameless gander at Viv’s beautiful body. She ignores me as she sweeps on some blush.
When I open the bedroom door, I find Butch and Daisy patiently waiting in the hallway. They don’t like being shut out, but they’ve at least stopped howling and barking when we do so.
“Let’s get some grub,” I tell them both, and their tails start wagging furiously. That’s Viveka’s word to them for a meal, so they know they’re bellies are about to be happy. It’s also what I’ve learned to use to get them to come inside when they’re being stubborn.
For example, I just have to call out, “Come get some grub,” and they dash inside. Of course, then I’m forced to give them a treat.
It’s funny in hindsight how easily I’ve acclimated to her dogs, and only I know I’ve made an overly diligent effort in order to impress Viveka. Still, it turns out her mutts are cute and well behaved—for the most part—so it hasn’t been all that trying to develop a relationship with them.
One night we were watching a movie, and Viveka had gotten up from the couch to make some popcorn. Butch jumped right up on my lap as soon as she left. I didn’t think twice about it, but when Viveka walked back in and saw me unconsciously rubbing his belly while he snoozed on my lap, she became so overwhelmed with the way I’d warmed up to her beasts that she gave me a blow job that fucking almost permanently crossed my eyes.
Of course Butch wasn’t happy. He had to get off my lap for that.
I snicker over that memory as we cut through the living room toward the kitchen when there’s a knock on the front door.
I don’t even think twice, treating this space as my own since I just fucked Viveka thoroughly and had her calling out my name along with God’s. Veering toward the door, I pull it open.
And standing on the porch is… Viveka.
Well, an older version of Viveka. The woman’s blue eyes—the same pale Nordic shade—sweep up and down my body. When they land back on me, they’re sparkling with keen interest.
Her voice is silky smooth when she purrs, “Well, hello there.”
The accent is stronger than Viveka’s but given the uncanny resemblance, I don’t need anything more to tell me that this is her mother standing on her doorstep.
CHAPTER 16
Viveka
I give a critical review of my makeup in the mirror, and I’m satisfied with the outcome. One could certainly argue it’s unnecessary because Ford’s clearly interested in more than just my looks.
But I can’t help it.
I’m a girl who likes to primp. I like pretty clothes, dressing up, and putting forth my best. I’m sure a psychologist would agree that is something left over from my modeling days, but I choose to embrace it.
As I start to reach for my hairdryer I have in a large basket on my vanity, Ford walks into the bathroom. His eyes lock with mine, and they don’t even bother to scan my nude body. This alone would indicate something is wrong, but I can tell by the hard lock to his jaw that whatever he’s getting ready to tell me is not good.
I reach my hand down to the vanity and brace myself.
“Your mother is here,” Ford says quietly.
Of all the things I thought he might say to me that would explain the grave expression on his face, I was not prepared for that.
“My mother?” I gasp. She had said she was going to come visit, but she never confirmed that.
Ford gives a curt nod. “Want me to… um… Do something with her?”
The uncertainty in his voice coupled with the fierce determination to be a buffer for me is adorable and makes me laugh. “What are you going to do—encase her feet in cement and throw her in the Neuse River?”
Ford rolls his eyes. “No, smartass. But if you want me to ask her to leave and tell her you are indisposed, I’ll gladly do so.”
That would be lovely. That way I can go on having a pleasant evening, and I can pretend that my mother doesn’t give me immense heartburn.
Instead, I give a pained sigh as I shake my head. “No. I’ll deal with her.”
I make my way back into the bedroom, grateful Ford had shut the door behind him. I don’t want to think about my mother eavesdropping on us. I’m sure she has a million questions about who Ford is and why he’s in my house.
I grab a pair of yoga pants out of a dresser drawer, a loose T-shirt out of another, as well as a clean pair of panties and a bra from yet a third. Ford watches me as I get dressed, a contemplative look on his face.
“What?” I ask.
He gives a quick shake of his head. “Nothing. But it’s uncanny how much you and your mother resemble each other. You could pass as sisters.”
“Good Swedish genes, I guess.” I mutter.
I move to the door but before I can reach for the knob, Ford stops me with an arm around my stomach. “Do you want me to leave?”
God, that is so fucking sweet.
Sure, one might say it’s too early to introduce Ford to my mother because we haven’t been together long, but my mother is not a typical parent whose opinion matters in these things. She’s more like a casual acquaintance. As it stands, I have a deeper relationship with this man I’ve known for eight days than I do with the woman who bore me.
“Please don’t go,” I tell him. “I’m going to shamelessly use you as a buffer.”
The breath is absolutely sucked out of my lungs by the beautiful smile Ford bestows upon me. If I had to guess, I really appealed to his alpha protectiveness. While I know Ford respects me as a woman and the fact I am independent, it’s obvious any opportunity he can use to be the protector in this relationship, he’s going to want to take it.
I hold my hand out to him palm up. He places his against mine, and our fingers clasp. “Let’s do this.”
“I’ve got your back,” Ford says as I pull the bedroom door open. Then in a lower voice, he says, “And what a gorgeous back it is.”
I don’t have to look over my shoulder as I lead him down the hallway to know his eyes are pinned on my ass. I can feel the weight of them just fine.
When I step out of my short hallway and into my living room, I can’t help that futile moment of longing that hits me when I first lay eyes on my mother. After thirty-six years as her daughter, I have never stopped wishing she could be the type of mother I want.
The type of mother I need.
But when her eyes come to me for a cursory glance that results in a slightly disapproving grimace, and then go to Ford for a lingering look of approval, I know my wishes won’t ever be granted.
There is no denying my mother is stunning.
Tilde Sjögren Wroth is fifty-three, and Ford would not be wrong with saying we could pass as sisters. She has never had p
lastic surgery to my knowledge, but her face is almost completely untouched by time.
Dewy fresh skin, a tall lithe body, and lustrous blonde hair she wears in a sleek shoulder-length bob. Her makeup is flawless, and her clothes are perfection. To the casual eye, her blue chambray shirt tied at her waist paired with white skinny jeans and flats done in a leopard print could be an outfit off the rack from Target. But because it’s my mother and I know her, I’d bet my life every stitch of clothing on her is designer label and probably costs more than what I make in a week.
Simply put, she is stylish, stunning, and one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen.
I had told Ford one night as we lay in bed about the relationship I had with my mother. He’d already known the basics of how she had dragged me off to the States to relive her glory days as a model. He knew all about me emancipating myself from my mother. Ford is well up to date on what my life has been like since then.
But I didn’t bother to tell him much about the woman she became after I left New York and she had to learn to survive on her own.
She’s currently married to her third husband since she lost me as a money source. While she loves to dally with younger men, for marriage, the older and richer the better. Stephan totally fit the bill. He’s a nice guy, if not a little gullible in believing Tilde married him for his personality.
Even though Stephan is eighty-three, he’s in pretty good health and I’m sure that’s to my mother’s great dismay. Not that it matters. As long as he indulges her with any luxury she could want as well as not be too demanding of her time, she’s perfectly happy to ride the marriage out until Stephan dies of natural causes. I have no clue if he’s going to leave his wealth to her, but it’s also none of my business.
“Viveka,” my mother says in a rich, cultured voice that borders on irritation. “Could you please put those dogs up?”
I note that my dogs are being extremely well behaved. They do bark on occasion, but they never jump on visitors. Right now, they are busy sniffing my mother’s legs.
I ignore her request. “It’s nice to see you again too, Mor.”
The Pecker Briefs Page 14
