Bossy (26 page)

“Shit, I think I fucked up again. Sorry.”

G
uards and more police pass by without paying us more than the occasional glance. We probably look like innocent refugees from the fight, instead of the match that lit the whole damn thing on fire.

Declan grabs my arm. “Come on.” Dragging me behind him, he pushes the door open into an empty courtroom across the hall. The door slams shut behind us, and the sound of the chaos deadens to a muffled clamor.

He spins me to face him, then pins me up against the wall, dragging my hands above my head. I should push him away and remind him it’s over between us, but my blood is running hot after our escape, and the dark intensity of his eyes shows it’s the same for him.

“I’ve fucked up a lot of things. All my life. I don’t usually mean to, but it happens anyway. I’ve got no one to blame but myself.” He takes a deep breath. “I usually don’t care, but us? I don’t want to fuck this up. Please don’t let me fuck this up.”

My chest goes tight, constricting my heart, which is beating a mile a minute. “Declan... I don’t know. The two of us? It’s just so—”

His fingers tighten around my wrists, burning against my skin and holding me in place. “Please. Let me finish.”

I open my mouth to argue, but shut it again and nod. I should have listened to him the day of the wedding. Or answered one of his calls. Or swallowed my pride and gone to him.

His clear blue eyes hold me in place as firmly as his hands. I can see that this is difficult for him, and I’m not proud of it, but I’m glad it is.

Difficult means he cares.

“I can be a jerk. I know that, and it’s probably not going to change overnight.”

“
This
is you convincing me?

“This is me being honest. You want pretty and fake? That’s not me.”

“No! I want to believe you wouldn’t hurt me. I want to go back in time and not see you standing there watching my
sex tape
!” God, it hurts. I close my eyes at night and see that image in my head.

Him at the laptop with my video playing.

“You don’t think I want that too?” he shouts. “I want to kill your douchebag of an ex-boyfriend for even touching you, let alone filming it. You might not have noticed, but I don’t share well. I wasn’t watching, I was
turning it off
.” Declan’s voice vibrates with anger.

Heaven help me, I believe him. I look into his eyes, and I see a man tortured by my own pride. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

He jerks back like I’ve slapped him. “I’m that hard to believe?”

“No, I mean, I’m sorry for running. I’m sorry for avoiding you. I’m just... sorry.”

Declan’s body relaxes slightly. “I didn’t make it easy on you, did I?”

“No,” I answer honestly. “But I should’ve at least listened.”

“So why did you come? You could’ve watched me make an ass out of myself on TV like you were supposed to.” He’s so close it’s hard to breathe.

I turn my head, breaking eye contact. I came because the instant I heard his opening speech, I knew what he was doing. I’ve read his opening. Hell, I helped write it.

What we wrote together wasn’t what he said.

The words he said were perfectly average, predictable, solid B+ material for a lawyer fresh out of school. He’d been throwing the case, and I couldn’t sit home on the couch waiting to find out why. “You sounded like your opening was written by an intern. I just wanted to make sure my name wasn’t on it anywhere.”

He stares at me for a long moment and then rests his forehead against mine and laughs. “Fuck. How can you expect me to let you go when you keep being so adorable?”

“Well.” I lick my lips. “First off, I’m not adorable. Puppies are adorable. Second, you start by relaxing the muscles in your fingers.”

He moves closer, his soft breath playing across my neck. His voice drops deeper, into a sexy tone that makes heat flow straight into my center. “Like I said, adorable. But I don’t think you want me to let you go, do you?”

I struggle against him, but he holds me in place with ease so I change tactics and go with honesty. “No, I don’t, because every time you get near me I can’t tell if I want to slap you or tear your clothes off. You’re crazy. You’re impulsive. You’re distracting. And sometimes you are so sweet it hurts, but then the minute I slip up and let you in? You break my h—”

He kisses me forcefully, rough lips forcing mine open while he presses his body against me. I’m distinctly aware of every inch of us that is touching. His heat, his strength, the scratch of his stubble against my cheek, and the sheer intensity of his presence threatens to overwhelm my better judgment.

“I broke your heart.” Declan watches me like he’s seeing something for the first time.

I press my traitor lips together, partly to keep them from revealing any more secrets, partly to keep from closing the distance between us and kissing him again like I want to.

He smiles. “I broke your heart.”

“That’s not exactly a thing I’m celebrating, you jerk,” I snap.

He grins again, eyes going right to my lips. “I can’t break your heart if you don’t like me. You like me.”

“Do not.” I press my lips together to hold back the smile.

His only response is to go right back in, like his plan is to kiss the anger right out of me.

I think it’s working.

Electricity arcs between his fingertips and my flushing skin as he strokes the side of my neck and throat. Without meaning to, I lean into his touch, my body well aware of exactly how good it would be to just give in and let this happen.

His lips leave mine, kissing their way along my jawline. When he dives into the hollow of my throat, I raise my head to let him in, luxuriating in his rough pecks and nibbles. I can barely force out words, but I try. “Tell me again you didn’t do it. Look me in the eyes and say it.”

He slides his hand down and up underneath my t-shirt, dragging the fabric with him until he palms my breast through the thin fabric of my bra. He traps the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, giving a light squeeze. I moan softly, unable to help it.

Nose to nose, he looks straight at me. “I. Didn’t. Do. It. I did, however, go back a couple days ago and find out they still had the thumb drive, which among other things, was full of Michael’s course work. I turned it over to the police along with a report of what happened. It might never go anywhere without more proof, but if you ever need to get a restraining order, it should help.”

I draw in a sharp breath, really not expecting that. “Oh my God! Why didn’t you just
say
that?”

“Because at first I was pissed that nobody believed me. I know I’ve pulled some messed up shit, but I’ve always owned it.”

That was true. I lean forward and kiss the side of his jaw, watching his eyes soften.

“But I talked to Dad, and then I realized I’d still fucked up. I could have gone to the police when he first called me. I could have grabbed someone to help when I saw him at the wedding. But I didn’t, and I have to live with regretting that my choices put what felt good at the time ahead of what was best for you, and that it fucked us up.”

“Declan...”

“Don’t get me wrong, babe. I don’t regret swinging that bat, or pounding his face in.”

My eyes go wide. “
Bat?”

Oh. My. God.

“Doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ll probably always be the guy that doesn’t hesitate to take a swing, but if I want a chance at you, I need to be the guy who at least thinks about it first.”

“Like you thought about today?” It’s low but I can’t help taking the shot. I also can’t help leaning forward a little farther and nibbling up to his ear.

He chuckles, and we’re so close I can feel it rumble through me. “Today was for both of us. It started out for you, but I needed it too. And shit, I know I can’t make a habit of that, but it was a fucking blast. So what d'ya say? Have I earned a second chance?”

“It’s more like fourth, maybe fifth.”

“That sounds like a yes to me.”

I laugh. “Oh just shut up and get me out of here so we can make up already.”

He lets go of my wrists and tugs at my shirt. “No way, babe. I can’t wait.” In no time he’s exposed my bra and he’s working on getting the shirt up to my underarms.

I bat at his hands. “We can’t. We’re in a courtroom. What if someone comes in? There’re tons of people out there!”

The riot is still going on, a madhouse of yells and rumbles. Someone blows a whistle and the sound of heavy boots on laminate floors sounds down the hall outside. I guess the cavalry is on its way.

“That just makes it hotter,” he whispers in my ear.

I have to admit, he isn’t wrong. He rips off my shirt and his hands go straight to my breasts. I’ve missed this so much.

“You’re so fucking beautiful. I’ve been dreaming about you. I can’t get you out of my fucking mind, babe.” With a sudden movement, he pulls down the left cup of my bra, freeing my breast.

When his teeth lock over my nipple, I let out a sharp hiss. His tongue flicks over the tip, sending an electric current of desire racing through my shivering body. While his tongue works wonders, he liberates my other breast and I’m effectively topless in the middle of a huge courtroom.

As someone intending to go to law school, I have to admit this has always been a bit of a fantasy of mine. Still, it feels a little strange, and a lot scary. As if to emphasize the risk, someone thumps into one of the doors, shaking it and making me yelp.

“Sssh.” He looks up, his eyes crinkled and with a mischievous grin on his lips. “We don’t want them to hear us. Someone might come in.”

Declan’s hands go down to work the fly of my jeans open. I bury my hands in his hair, making a mess of it and not caring because I’ve missed this. I grip him hard, holding him against me while he tugs my pants over my hips. Once they’re past the middle of my thighs, he lets go and they drop around my ankles, trapped over my shoes.

I need to see him. To get him out of his suit, to have his skin against mine. To feel him inside me. “Hurry up and fuck me,” I whisper.

He straightens up, with a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. “A few days off and you think you’re the boss now?”

Gripping his hair and tugging his head back, I force him to look at me. “You owe me.”

He raises an amused eyebrow. “And what does my bossy little mistress desire?”

I reach for his tie, grabbing it firmly. “I should force you to your knees and make you crawl.”

From the way his amused expression doesn’t change, it’s obvious I don’t scare him one bit. “So why aren’t you?”

I grin and tug at the knot, loosening the red silk while he laughs. I don’t care. I don’t even pull it out the whole way. Just enough so that I can get at his collar buttons. Making quick work of them, I continue downwards to expose his beautiful chest, one tight button at a time.

He looks so proper fully dressed, but as the shirt opens, more and more ink is exposed. Exquisite lines and details. Leaning in, I put my lips to his smooth chest, tracing the red and blue swirls of a design that ends at his right nipple with my tongue, tasting and exploring him. He draws a sharp breath when I flick over the tight nub.

I finally get his last button after pulling his shirt out of his black suit pants. I push it back and down his arms, my fingers sliding over the swell of his muscles, baring intricate patterns and vivid scenes on his skin. I want to lick all of them, marking him as mine, but it’ll have to wait.

“Because I owe you too, and I’d rather be on mine making you groan.”

I
sink to my knees in front of him, worrying at his belt with my fingers. It comes loose with a rattle. The massive bulge in his pants makes my mouth water, but it also makes it harder to get the little latch and button open. I nearly tear the fabric, but once released, his pants slide right off his narrow hips to pool around his ankles. His boxer briefs follow as I rip them down, and then I’m staring his magnificent cock right in the face.

Every inch of him is mine, and I re-stake my claim by sliding my lips around the salty head of him and then sinking until I feel him hit the back of my mouth. Declan groans and his thighs flex. Swirling my tongue around the underside, I tease and explore until he shivers.

So soft. So hard. I want him inside me, but not quite yet.

His hands slip into my hair, making tight fists so I can’t get away. I drag my nails softly up the backs of his legs as he takes over, guiding me where he wants me most. My cheeks cave while I suck, but he’s the one in charge. I brace my hands against his powerful thighs and close my eyes, just enjoying the feel of his thrusting. Between my thighs, there’s a throbbing echo of each slow, wet slide.

“You feel so fucking good, babe. I can’t keep this up for long.”

I suck harder, wanting to tell him to just go for it. I’m eager to taste him, to feel him lose control, but I want him in me more. Apparently he thinks the same thing, as he pulls me off and lets go, leaving me sitting back on my heels and catching my breath.

Kicking off his shoes and pants, he grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet. He flips me around and bends me over the back row of the audience bench. If anyone comes in right now, they’re going to get one hell of an eyeful. I shiver at the thought, but I’m too far gone to care.

“Stay.” His husky voice brooks no argument. There’s a crinkle of plastic tearing and then he’s behind me, nudging his rock hard length in between my thighs. I groan deep as the smooth head of his cock parts my soaking wet core. Has it only been days? It feels like a lifetime since he was last exactly where I need him. Buried to the root.

Forgetting, or maybe just not caring, I’m getting loud. Declan strokes a hand up my back, around my throat and then over my mouth. “Shhhhh. We don’t want anyone to come check on us, do we?” He drags himself almost all the way out and then fucks back in hard with one thrust that rocks my whole body. I keen softly behind his hand. “Or maybe you do? Do you want an audience?”

My whole body warms as I blush, but I shake my head into his hand even as I feel a rush of heat coat my insides. The thought excites me, but only the
idea
. Declan laughs softly.