CHAPTER TWO
He wasn’t kidding about living on the top floor. Since he was so fit and in shape, I was embarrassed to be a little out of breath as I trailed behind him. He seemed not to notice. At his front door, he smiled.
A hungry smile, but still somehow sweet. Charming even.
I bet he charmed lots of women.
But in that moment he wanted me. His gaze traveled over my body in a much more intimate way than he’d done all evening. Clearly he was picturing us fucking and the thought shook me in the best possible way.
Our arms brushed, a brief second of electricity while he opened the front door. He waited for me to walk in first. Almost like a dare.
I should have left. Gone home.
Instead, I stepped over the threshold.
The soft thunk of the door closing behind us seemed so loud.
We were alone.
He could do whatever he wanted to me.
After a few seconds, I turned. He still hadn’t moved from the door. His big body stood between me and escape.
As if he sensed my thoughts, he stepped aside, giving me the chance to run if I wanted it. At least I think that was his intention.
“You good, Charlotte?”
“I’m good.”
He circled me slowly. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Sure. Water?”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “Good choice. That’s about all I have at the moment.”
I followed him across the apartment. The kitchen was small. A counter separated it from the living room, and he had three bar stools set up on one side. I leaned against one, watching while he poured water from a jug he removed from the refrigerator.
He slid the glass across the counter and watched as I took a sip. Too nervous to meet his eyes, I glanced around the apartment. It was sparsely furnished. Everything seemed new, clean, and neat. One of the bay windows had a little nook area with a small table and two chairs.
“Heidi likes doing her homework at the table,” he explained when my gaze lingered.
Right. His sister. My client.
Fuck.
He stepped closer almost pushing my back against the counter with his body. “Are you comfortable, Charlotte?”
“Comfortable?”
“You seem nervous.”
“Oh, maybe a little.”
“I don’t bite.” He grinned, slow and full of heat. “Unless you want me to.”
“Uh.” Brilliant. He’d reduced me to noises instead of full words. His muscular body was within reach, but I kept still. Yes, I was nervous. Scared and a lot turned on.
I dodged to the right and walked through the living room. One door was open, and I pushed it wider. A twin bed took up one wall, a desk and bookcase filled the rest of the space. Everything was bare though.
“Heidi’s. I was planning to take her shopping to furnish it this weekend,” Marcel explained from right behind me. Startled, I whipped around, finding him a lot closer than I expected.
My heart clenched. The idea of this ultra-manly, rough, tattooed guy spending an afternoon taking his sister shopping for bedroom furnishings was too sweet to contemplate. “She’ll probably love that.”
He shrugged and peeked in the room. His gaze fell on me again and he opened his mouth, seemed to think better of whatever he wanted to say and shook his head. Taking my hand, he tugged me away, closing the door behind him.
I followed him to the couch and when I didn’t sit close enough, he slid over and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Still okay, Charlotte?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He placed two fingers on my cheek, turning me to face him. I stared into his eyes, swimming in the almost teal color.
“Are those contacts?” I blurted out.
“What?”
“Your eyes. They’re such a pretty color.”
He pulled back, laughter making his body and the couch shake. “Pretty? I don’t think anyone’s ever said anything about me was pretty.”
“Well they are,” I huffed. He made me feel so damn foolish.
“Thank you. No. I don’t wear contacts.”
His hand cupped my cheek this time and before anything else stupid came out of my mouth, he pressed his lips against mine. One soft, gentle perfect kiss.
I reached up and ran my fingers through his thick hair, pulling him closer. Sinking into the warmth of his mouth and body.
The kisses started off soft and gentle, but with each nip and lick, he demanded more.
He leaned into me, the force of his body pushing me back into the couch where I stared up at him. He traced a finger over my cheek then lowered his mouth to mine again.
My heart pounded.
He was a good kisser. So good. Too good.
I moaned against his lips as his tongue softly stroked mine.
His hands held my face as he kept kissing me. I kissed him back just as hard.
“Charlotte.” He broke away long enough to stare down at me with heavy-lidded desire.
I grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled his mouth to mine, answering his unspoken question.
One of his hands dropped to my waist and I realized he was untucking my blouse. Once it was free of my skirt, he went to work on the buttons.
“Lot of buttons,” he muttered.
I sat up and pulled the blouse up over my head, draping it over the back of the couch. It seemed to surprise Marcel. Hell, the action surprised me too. It proved just how much I wanted him.
He traced his finger over the tops of my breasts, skimming the lace of my bra, but didn’t try to remove it. His mouth followed the path of his fingers before kissing his way up my neck.
“Good?” he whispered against my ear.
I’m not sure what it was, but every time he checked in to see if I still wanted this, desire rushed through me in waves. The question wasn’t a boy asking permission. It was a man who wanted to protect me.
I answered by reaching between us and running my hand along his length where it strained against his jeans.
He groaned against my lips. “Not yet, Charlotte.”
God, I loved the way he said my name.
His eyes squeezed shut as I explored him through the rough fabric. Long, thick, and so hard.
He brought his lips to my skin, sucking and kissing my neck. “Keep it up and this will be over real quick,” he warned. His hands moved to the back of my skirt, quickly tugging the zipper down. I lifted up so he could drag the skirt over my hips and down my legs. He tossed it next to my blouse.
“Are you with me?” he growled, shoving his hand between my legs and stroking the satin of my underwear. “Answer me with words this time,” he demanded as he kept grazing the fabric covering my pussy.
I shivered with desire. “Yes.”
He knew how much I wanted him. The evidence was on his fingers. But the little reminders that I had control here made me want him even more.
I wanted to devour this woman.
She’d been on my mind for months.
In my head, I’d already fucked her in a hundred different positions.
The nervous way she entered my apartment had me rethinking my plan to pin her up against the door as soon as we stepped inside.
No, this was much better.
Kissing her rocked me.
I’d fucked my fair share of club girls, but I rarely spent time kissing them. It seemed too intimate. Not that I was mean to the girls or treated them badly. It just wasn’t necessary when you were both in need of a quick, easy release, and nothing more.
But I wanted to kiss Charlotte for-fucking-ever.
I couldn’t think far beyond that.
“Marcel?” she whispered. I liked the way my name sounded on her lips. I’d like it even better if she called me the name everyone knew me by in my world.
I needed her in my bed.
I sat back and ran my gaze over her pale skin. Her chest and neck were flushed pink with arousal.
“You want this?”
“Yes.”
“You want me?”
She lowered her eyes. “I do.”
Given the conservative suit she wore to court, the sapphire-blue bra and underwear with gold lace at the edges was real fuckin’ sexy.
“You’re all girly-girl under those suits, aren’t you?” I reached out and teased my fingers over her breasts.
“Sometimes.”
She blinked up at me when I stood, but as soon as I held out my hand, she took it. I pulled her off the couch into my body, running my hands over her exposed skin before lifting her off the floor and carrying her into my room.
Her sharp squeal and laughter turned my own mouth up. As I set her down, she turned and took in my room.
“You’re so neat for a single guy.”
“Thanks, I think.”
I rented the apartment so I could share custody of Heidi with my grandmother. I certainly never intended to have it be some hook-up pad. I wouldn’t subject my sister to that.
Charlotte was the first woman I’d brought into the apartment.
While she had her back to me, I took the opportunity to unhook her bra. She glanced over her shoulder. “You’re still dressed and I’m almost naked.”
“Observant. I like that.” I teased the straps down her shoulders, but she hugged the material to her chest. “Still good?”
“Yes.”
The bra fell to the floor.
“Get on my bed.”
She took her time and slowly crawled into the middle of the bed, hips and ass swaying in the most seductive way.
“I already like everything you got goin’ on, Charlotte. Lie down.”
I reached down to adjust myself as she did what I asked, then stalked closer.
Standing at the foot of the bed, I met her questioning gaze. “Feet flat on the bed,” I directed in a low voice, waiting until she did what I asked before continuing. “Spread your legs.”
She teased me for a few seconds but finally moved her knees wide apart.
“Nice.” My hand stroked over my chin as I took her in. “Touch yourself.”
Her hand slid down, under her panties and I sucked in a deep breath. I placed one knee on the bed and slipped my shirt off. Her eyes widened and she rubbed herself harder.
I wrapped one of my hands around hers, removing it from her pussy. “Mine now.”
My fingers hooked into her underwear and she watched as I slowly peeled them off. I wished I’d bothered to turn on the overhead light. I wanted to memorize every single inch of her. Instead, I kissed behind her knee.
“That tickles.”
“Yeah? How ’bout this?” I ran my tongue up the inside of her thigh and she let out a sound somewhere between a gasp and a giggle. “Still tickle?”
“No.”
I placed a kiss on her lower stomach then slowly worked my way down.
Most girls closed their eyes or stared at the ceiling. Not Charlotte. She was one hundred percent with me. Rising up on her elbows to watch everything I did to her. I wrapped my hands around her ankles, spreading her wider. She gasped when I brushed an open mouthed kiss over her pussy. Dug her fingers through my hair when I dragged my tongue over her lips.
I needed her closer, so I slid my hands under ass and held her the way I wanted.
“Oh.”
“More?”
“Please.” She was so close to begging me. Cool, calm, collected Charlotte was coming undone in my bed.
My fingers glided through her slit. Slick and hot. I dragged my tongue up her wet center, stopped to suck and kiss where I wanted. The steady rhythm I settled into seemed to please her because she rocked her hips in time with each lick. Slowly, I made my way to her clit, sucking gently.
Under me she twisted and moaned, let out a scream when I wiggled my tongue over it.
“Keep going. Please, keep going.”
She didn’t need to say it, I had no plans to stop.
Each cry sounded more desperate than the last.
“I…I’m…”
“That’s it.”
She came beautifully for me.
I placed both hands on her hips. “We’re fucking now.”
She pushed up on her elbows to meet my gaze, eyes still hazy from the orgasm I’d given her. A total beat-on-my chest moment.
I kneeled up over her and she stared at me with a soft, dazed expression. “Damn, you’re talented with that tongue.”
“I’m even better with my dick.”
“Prove it,” she challenged.
I stood at the side of the bed and slowly worked my jeans off, letting her have a good look.
“Impressive.” She reached out, wrapping her fingers around me and I let out a hiss of air as she slowly stroked up and down.
I let her explore while I leaned over and grabbed a condom out of my pocket. Since I hadn’t planned on bringing women here, the place happened to be condom-free.
That might be a problem.
One fuck wouldn’t be enough.
“I only have the one,” I informed her, shaking the packet in front of her face.
“I have some in my purse.”
“Oh, really?”
“Does that bother you?”
“Nope.” I’d happily pretend she was carrying them around because she’d been planning to fuck me tonight.
“Good. Because if you did, I wouldn’t do this.” She leaned in and closed her mouth around my cock.
“Oh, fuuuck,” I groaned. “Definitely no problem.”
She chuckled and the sound vibrated up my dick. I gathered her hair in my fist and when I was close, tugged on it. Her big blue eyes stared up at me. I swore she looked annoyed I’d stopped her fun.
“You’re pretty good with your tongue too.”
Her mouth twisted into a wry smile and she watched me suit up.
I fucking dove at her, tackling her to the mattress. She let out nervous laughter and hooked her arms around my neck. “Eager?” she teased.
“Fuck yes.” I slipped my hand under her leg, opening her wider and settled between her legs. “Been wanting to do this for a while now.”
Her face lost some of the playfulness, so I kissed her to keep her in the moment.
“Think you can take it?”
“We’ll find out.”
Shit, she made me laugh.
I lowered my weight onto her and dipped my head to take another kiss. She spread her legs wider and I pushed my way inside her slick pussy.
“Oh, fuck,” she murmured against my mouth. “Harder.”
It felt so fucking good sliding inch after inch of my cock in her wet heat. I bottomed out and ground myself into her. Waited a second for her to adjust and when she met my eyes again, my hips pumped into her. Our wet flesh smacked together in time with her soft moans. I slipped my hand down between us and found her clit, rubbing with two fingers while I kept fucking her.
“Hold me down.” She practically panted the words in my ear.
“What?”
“Hold me down,” she repeated. A hot shock of surprise shot straight to my dick.
To demonstrate, she lifted her arms above her head, knocking my pillows to the side.
“Please?” she begged.
Wrapping my hands around her forearms, I gripped her tight. Pinned to the mattress. The way her breathing hitched fired up all my natural impulses.
Gathering her wrists in one hand, I kept them restrained above her head and used my other hand to cup her breast, rolling her nipple between my fingers.
A low moan escaped her throat.
“Harder.” She licked her lip. The blazing desire shining in her eyes was clear—the harder I held her, harder I fucked her, the more it turned her on.
The more it turned me on.
I brought my lips to hers for another kiss and she flinched, turning away.
She wanted the rough stuff, but shied away from any sweetness when she was getting it?
Fuck that shit.
I ground into her harder. Long and slow, until I wrung a loud moan from her throat. “I’m coming,” she whispered.
“Do it,” I encouraged.
“Harder.”
“Sweetheart, I fuck you any harder, I’ll split you in two.”
“I can take it.”
I pounded into her harder, then let out a frustrated growl.
“Get those fucking legs up around me,” I ordered.
Her feet landed above my ass.
“That’s better.”
Her eyes rolled back when I drove into her at the different angle.
Without thinking, I wrapped my hand around her neck. Perfect fit. Her pulse fluttered under my palm, wild and so out of control, I almost lost it. Her lips parted and her breath came out in quick pants. I took advantage, kissing her deeply, holding her so she couldn’t pull away again.
She blinked up at me and moaned into my mouth.
I’d never looked into someone’s eyes with so much intensity.
I’d never felt that sort of connection with anyone before. More than a fuck. Intimate. Something I didn’t usually have any interest in. It shook me and I liked it. A lot.
In more ways than one, I was royally fucked. Thinking I could spend one night with Marcel had been a huge mistake.
I had always suspected that deep down, under the law school education and sophistication I tried to project, I’m slightly unbalanced.
Here was my proof.
I barely knew this guy, but I let him manhandle me. Encouraged it. Begged for it.
Spikes of excitement shot through me in a way they never had before.
Something about him.
He was big. Taller than me. Lean, muscular. Cut in the right places. Strong. He could easily hurt me.
But I knew he wouldn’t. It made it so easy to ask him for something I’d always craved.
After the second orgasm, I still couldn’t get enough. He unwrapped his hand from my throat, bringing it to my hip.
“Harder,” I begged.
A glint of meanness entered his eyes. “Not good enough?”
It was good. So, so good, I was spiraling out of control.
Rough, but protective. Sinful and still sweet.
He pulled out, gripped my hips and flipped me over, lining himself up and sinking back inside before I had a chance to protest any of it.
Not that I would have anyway.
“Brace yourself against that fucking wall, Charlotte,” he ground out behind me.
I did my best, but he pounded into me so hard, my arms gave out and I ended up in a heap on the bed, ass in the air. He slapped my ass once, twice, before slowing his pace.
“Get on top,” he demanded.
“What?”
“Get. On. Top.”
“What? Why?”
He threw himself down on the bed next to me. “Because you’re fucking gorgeous and I want to see you. All of you.” He patted my thigh. “Come on. Up. Don’t be shy.”
“Well, I guess you have been working pretty hard.” I tilted my head and pinned him with what I hoped was a sultry look. “You’ve earned a break.”
“Oh, I’m not tapping out yet, sweetheart.” His hand clamped over my hip, urging me to straddle him. “Now, stop fucking around.”
He offered his other hand and I took it so he could guide me to his cock.
“Come on.” His voice was a harsh whisper. “Take it.” He groaned as I slid all the way down.
If I thought he was handing me control, I was mistaken. His hands gripped my hips, fingers digging into my ass. “Move.”
I slowly rocked my hips up and down, but not fast enough to satisfy him. He pushed me with one hand pressed to my lower belly and one gripping my hip. Back and forth. Harder. Faster. My body tightened, ready to go off.
Was it even possible to have another orgasm?
“You coming for me again, already?”
Yes, yes, it is.
A bunch more uh, ah, oh, noises burst out of me, but no words.
“That’s it,” he said in a low voice. “Ride it out.”
His hands gripped my hips and ass, lifting me off him, and tossing me to the mattress.
“Oh my God.”
He covered my body with his and slipped back inside before I fully processed what had happened.
“Holy shit,” I breathed out and laughed at the same time.
He pressed his palms against my cheeks, staring into my eyes. “You’re so fucking hot.”
I didn’t have a chance to respond because he took my mouth in a passionate kiss that went on and on.
His hands gripped my hips, then slid under my ass, holding me in place while he hammered into me.
“Shit.” I wrapped my hands around his forearms, feeling the taut muscles straining. My breasts wobbled and bounced everywhere, and he bent down to suck one nipple into his mouth. The extra friction sent me over the edge again and I think it triggered him. He let out a long, guttural groan and dropped his forehead against mine.
Our sweat-soaked bodies clung together. Our hearts racing.
He rolled off me, falling against the bed with a satisfied grunt.
“Hey?” His rough voice infiltrated my haze.
I blinked, opening my eyes. He slipped a hand behind my neck, pulling me closer. “I don’t want to skip this part,” he said against my lips. The need behind his words stunned me for a minute, while his lips met mine. Sweet. Not quite gentle. No, his kisses were hungry and demanding. But still tender. Intimate.
After a minute, he released me and I rolled to my back, our bodies still touching. He took my hand, bringing it up to his mouth to kiss my fingers. He might have stolen a little bit of my heart in that moment.
Not that I expected him to kick me out right away. But this sweet, tender stuff? No, I hadn’t expected that.
But I can’t lie and say I didn’t like it.
Even though it scared me and I knew it couldn’t last.
A clipped buzzing noise woke me a few hours later. I recognized it as my cell phone. Probably alerting me I had a new email. I tried ignoring it, but the sun was peeking through the shades, demanding I wake up.
I glanced over at Marcel. Flat on his back. One arm over his chest, the other flung out to the side. I barely resisted the urge to trace my fingers over his lips, brush the hair off his forehead.
Bathroom.
Fondling sleepy, sexy hookup later.
Quietly, I slipped out of bed. Picked up my bra, slipped into my panties. Found the bathroom. I ran some water and used my fingers to brush the morning yuck from my mouth. In the living room, I searched for my clothes. I found my cell phone and idly flicked it on to check my messages. An email to my law firm account piqued my interest and I opened it.
Charlotte,
Thank you for everything. Even though I’m disappointed Marcel didn’t get full custody, I’m so happy I get to spend weekends with him and Grams can’t do anything about it.
If anything else comes up, am I still allowed to contact you?
Heidi
Shit.
The guilt set in quicker than I expected.
Since I mostly represented children, thank you notes were rare. Honestly, appreciation of any sort from my clients was rare. Sometimes I received a quick email or a string of curses on my office voicemail. Once or twice a handmade card made out of construction paper and glitter. This was such an adult thank you with hints of teenage vulnerability intertwined in the words, it hit me hard. I staggered to the couch and sat down, re-reading the message.
I’d be this choked up if I’d gotten this message at home, right?
My eyes searched the darkened apartment. This was so wrong.
I slipped on my skirt, fastened my bra and buttoned up my blouse before looking for a pen and piece of paper.
I have to be in my office early. Thanks for dinner. I scrawled on a piece of notebook paper.
That had to be the dumbest thing I’d ever written, but Thanks for a good fuck, seemed a little forward.
My gaze darted to the bedroom. Quiet.
Where could a relationship between us really go?
Relationship. Yeah, right.
This was a huge mistake.
A really satisfying mistake.
I ignored that thought and snatched my blazer off the couch. I grabbed the rest of my things and opened the front door an inch at a time until I was sure it wouldn’t make any noise, then stepped outside.
At the bottom of the stairs, I slipped into my shoes, listening for any sounds of Marcel following.
As if.
He’d probably be relieved to have me disappear. Nothing more awkward than a one-night stand overstaying her welcome, right?
My mind batted the options around like a ping pong ball the entire way to my car. Stay and have an awkward morning breakfast or leave and save dignity?
Since I was still walking toward my car, I guess I chose dignity. Although I didn’t feel very dignified sneaking away like a hooker who’d stayed past her allotted hour.
My car sat all by itself in the courthouse parking lot. As if announcing that its owner was a harlot.
I tossed my briefcase on the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel. That’s when I realized I was still clutching my phone.
The sun was brighter now, searing my eyeballs. I fumbled around for my sunglasses before tapping out a quick response.
Heidi,
You’re very welcome. Yes, you can contact me anytime.
Charlotte
It was a lame response, but it was all I could come up with.
I knew I was alone before I was even fully awake.
It never failed. The girls I wanted to wake up with were always gone before morning.
Charlotte was no exception.
This time bugged me more than any time before.
Yeah, I’d wanted a morning repeat of last night. To see if the sex was really that hot or I imagined it.
But she was gone.
I padded through my apartment to be sure.
Yup.
All her things were gone. Like she’d never even been here.
On the counter, I found a note.
Thanks for dinner.
Jesus Christ.
She couldn’t at least thank me for a good dicking before she snuck off?
I had her number. Considered calling her.
But I didn’t chase girls. Didn’t need to. I gave them what they needed, they gave me what I needed, and we called it good.
Charlotte was no different.
No matter how much I wanted her to be.