Mrs R (Mrs R & Mr V #1) (49 page)

**********

“It’s getting better isn’t it?” Joe asked her several moments
later. He was lying on his back with Rachel tucked into his side. Her head was
resting on his massive chest and she was lazily drawing circles on his skin,
occasionally teasing his nipples. The hitch in his steady breathing as she
brushed over his pecs was testament to the effect she had on him and she loved
knowing she had that power.

“That’s a strange observation to make” Rachel replied pondering
on whether Joe was looking for reassurance or just making conversation by
stating the bloody obvious. She was a little surprised that he of all people
would need reassurance that his skills in the bedroom were up to par.

“Was it like this with Nate?”

The question threw Rachel for a loop. “Jesus Joe – don’t
hold back will you?”

“Well – I want to make sure you know who’s fucking you
babe.”

“Charming.”

“He may have had you first, but I’m going to have you last.”
Joe moved cradling his hands behind his head. He hadn’t bothered to cover
himself up clearly comfortable being naked and on display.

“That’s mighty presumptuous although I appreciate the
sentiment. It’s a bit soon to sound so sure, don’t you think?”

“I can’t change who I am – if I want something I will do
everything I can to have it and keep it. I want you Rachel.”

“Slow down bossman, you’re scaring me.” Joe turned his head to
look at her; his eyes narrowed and a flash of something unreadable crossed his
handsome face. Rachel’s chest tightened, fearing she had hurt him already. His
confession was overwhelming.

“Well? You haven’t answered my question.”

“Are you jealous of a dead man Joe – because if you are
that’s just preposterous and insensitive. He was my husband for over 20 years;
I’ll never stop loving him.”

“I would never ask you to. I just want to know if the sex is
different. If this is going anywhere, and I want it to, I need to be sure when
you’re with me you’re not wishing I was him.”

A rush of emotion gathered in Rachel’s chest and her eyes
welled up with tears. Joe was spoiling her night pressuring her into revealing
more than she wanted to. At their age he should expect a lifetime of previous
experiences; loves; heartbreak and guilt. It was the guilt that Rachel found
the hardest to deal with even though she knew Nate would want her to be happy,
but she still felt like she was betraying him. He hadn’t been dead a year yet
and she’d wasted no time ‘finding herself.’

Sniffing she caught Joe’s attention.

“Shit, shit, shit” Joe shot up and cradled her in his arms.
“I’m sorry. I’m really bad at this aren’t I?”

“Pretty fucking crap, Joe.” Rachel snivelled against his bare
skin dampening it with her tears. She pulled on his chest hair making him hiss
at the sting.

“How is it that I can make light work of someone in the most
complex court room situations, yet I can’t formulate a bloody coherent sentence
with you?” Gripping Rachel’s shoulders he held her in front of him searching
her face for answers. He looked frustrated and sorrowful, but mostly
devastatingly gorgeous and Rachel wanted him loving her not fighting her. Joe
hadn’t hid the fact that his experience with relationships was pretty
non-existent and although this didn’t excuse his forthright and slightly
insulting line of questioning, Rachel didn’t want to pile on the pressure at
this fledgling stage of whatever this thing between was developing in to.
Furthermore, she already knew him to be direct and tenacious and passionate and
not especially sensitive or tactful – to expect him to change just for
her was unreasonable to a certain extent, and again it really was to soon to
make that demand of him. However, a part of Rachel panicked when she considered
he may not decide to continue down a line that was difficult and complex to his
life right now so pushing her hurt feelings aside for the time being, she
decided to let him off the hook and lighten the mood before the whole night was
ruined beyond repair.

“I can’t answer your question.” She shook her head at him as
his face screwed up into a frown.

“What? Why?” Joe looked confused.

“Because I simply don’t have enough evidence on which to base
my answer, M’Lord!” Rachel held her breath as realisation dawned on Joe’s face.
“It’s a sad fact that my research has been a little iffy.”

“Oh really?” Joe pushed her back against the mattress and
settled in-between her legs where the ‘evidence’ was certainly making its
presence felt.
 
“Well then let me
provide you with some more, Counsellor” he offered before planting his lips
over hers in a kiss so passionate Rachel nearly passed out.

“Oxygen” she gasped pushing against his marble like pecs. Joe
laughed as Rachel gulped in air giving her a minute to catch her breath. Then
he made love to her, slowly, sweetly and attentively. He took nothing for
himself but licked, sucked, fondled and caressed Rachel to a blissful state of
oblivion. She was soaring as a result of his devotion to her absolute pleasure
and her entire body buzzed contentedly in the aftermath.

After proving to her without a doubt that he was indeed worthy
of her every waking thought and most of her dreams, Rachel decided to put Joe’s
poor confused mind at rest, after all Nate was never coming back and although
when she was with him Rachel had never craved for anything more, now she was
with Joe, he was by far and away the most exciting and satisfying man she had
ever known. She wanted only to move forward; the past could not be changed.

“Your argument for the defence of your worthiness has been
truly convincing. As long as you promise never to do anything less than
completely satisfy me in bed, I would have to concede that you are indeed the
best lover and fittest bloke I’ve ever had.”

Joe wrapped his arms around her typically smug with her
conclusion. “Obviously” he murmured into her neck “its not like I’ve had that
much competition though is it?”

Rachel’s heart lurched as an image of a very naked Luc flashed
through her mind. “Tell him now Rachel Renton,” she mentally screamed, berating
her cowardice. Part of her wanted to keep her affair with Luc secret forever
but she knew it wasn’t fair to Joe not to tell him. It was inevitable that Luc
would cross their paths again in the future; would it be better if Joe was
aware of their relationship or not? Rachel was very uncertain of how to proceed
and decided she needed to thrash it out with Karen first. She probably would
have to tell Joe at some point but not tonight.

They chatted for a while making plans for the weekend until
Rachel could no longer keep her eyes open. Snuggling in closer to Joe she ran
her fingers through the soft hair on his chin then tugged it so he faced her.
“I’m happy Joe, thank you,” she told him sleepily.

“Me too Rachel; more than you’ll ever know.”

**********

Joe was caught up in meetings the entire following day at work
but he did manage to cross paths with Rachel a couple of times. Each time he
winked at her and she felt her tummy flip knowing what he was remembering from
the previous night. By the end of the day she was literally craving his physical
touch but regrettably, they weren’t due to meet up later as Joe had a function
to attend. He’d tried to convince her to accompany him but she’d declined, the
dilemma over Luc weighed heavily on her mind and it was a good opportunity for
her to swing by Karen’s and get her advice.

“You absolutely have to tell him Rach.” Karen poured her friend
a glass of wine. “He’s scary enough as it is – imagine how he would react
if he found out some other way.”

“Joe is not scary – well not that much anyway, and how is
he ever going to find out? You’re the only person I’ve told.” Rachel knew she
was being obtuse, but she still felt possessive over her relationship with Luc.
“It was such a special time for me but I just can’t see Joe understanding.”

‘I don’t think you give the man enough credit. Especially where
you are concerned; he’s clearly crazy about you.” Karen looked suitably
perturbed by her friend’s situation.

“I’m just not sure if it will hurt him to be honest. I don’t
think it’s crossed his mind that there was anyone else after Nate and before
him. He hasn’t even asked me.”

“Because you have given him no cause to suspect otherwise,
Rachel. It’s lying by omission. You are the lawyer here, doll, you don’t need
me to point out the bloody obvious.”

Rachel took a long gulp of her wine. ”Fair enough, I’ll tell
him this weekend. Oh god, I’m dreading it. I feel so foolish.”

Karen enveloped her friend in a big bear hug. “If he’s that
much into you Rach; he’ll appreciate your honesty at the very least.”

Rachel wasn’t so sure.

**********

CHAPTER 22

Friday arrived and Rachel was sat in Joe’s office going through
her short list of the
 
three Genesis
cases she’d picked for his consideration. Before she could take on a new pro
bono client, Joe had insisted he be part of the selection process. At first,
Rachel had baulked at his interfering ways, but as they worked she began to
appreciate his extraordinary commitment to his craft. Being a corporate lawyer
was more than just knowing the legal system; it required greater understanding
of the business world; something Rachel was not yet up to speed with and had to
defer to her boss. However, he turned out to be a great mentor and she was
learning so much by working with him on this.

In the beginning, she found it hard to separate Sexy Joe from
CEO Joe but as the morning wore on she was completely absorbed by his many
questions and the ensuing discussions, that business was the only thing on her
mind.

“Let’s take a break – coffee?” Joe stood from behind his
desk and walked over to the couch area where a Nespresso machine sat ready. Joe
chose two capsules with exotic sounding names and made them each a delicious
espresso. Passing her a cup he was about to tell her their plans for the
evening when Angela buzzed through interrupting him.

“Angela?”

“Hi Joe. Is Rachel in there with you?”

“Yes she is – do you want her?”

“Hi Rachel. I have a Mr Vincent in reception asking for you.”

“Luc?” croaked Rachel as her cheeks flushed to a flaming red.
Joe frowned at her reaction instantly aware of the uncharacteristic blushing
that had started at the mention of the boy. Something niggled him about the
cause of her discomfort but he admonished himself for his wayward thoughts. The
boy was a friend of her daughters’ for god’s sake; it wasn’t possible that
there was more to it than that surely?

“What’s he doing here?” Joe asked Rachel keeping his tone even.
He was growing concerned. He knew Rachel and it was uncharacteristic of her to
become flustered for no good reason. A surprise visit was puzzling at most but
not cause for such a visceral reaction.

“Umm, I’m not quite sure. Let me go and find out.”

“Rachel’s on her way down” Joe advised Angela. “Leave your
stuff here; I’ll carry on reading it while you’re gone.” Joe busied himself
with her papers, clearly irritated. Rachel studied the rigid set of his
shoulders and the tick along his jaw line still obvious even under his beard. A
sense of foreboding descended upon her and she hoped to god that Luc’s visit
was nothing more than a spontaneous urge to say hi. Rachel willed Joe to look
up and smile reassuringly at her but he did not or more likely would not - and
so with her heart hammering violently against her chest she briskly walked out
of his office to find Luc.

Approaching reception, Rachel caught Angela’s expression. She
must have been ogling Luc, as she was practically drooling all over her desk.
Clearing her throat to catch Angela’s attention, the receptionist looked her
way mouthing ‘hot’ and rolling her eyes towards the man boy god decorating the
waiting area. He never failed to steal Rachel’s breath with his beauty and
today was no exception. Dressed in his trademark white t; low hanging jeans and
leather jacket, Luc looked like the wet dream she knew him to be. Clearly
Angela was smitten and when he smiled at her she actually moaned. Rachel
laughed grateful for a break in the tension she was feeling.