Chapter Eight – Max
I was restless all night, playing back the sight of Lucinda getting herself off over and over. I don’t think that I’ve ever jacked off so much in my life. When the alarm clock went off in the morning, I felt the raw skin of my cock in the air.
Watching her was the most erotic thing I’d ever done. I rose and slipped on some boxers to make some coffee, thankful that Riley wasn’t here. I was picking her up later. I brewed some coffee to take to the bathroom with me. I showered, hoping to relieve some of the pain as I cleaned up and got ready to go see my lawyer.
We were just a few weeks shy of my custody battle in court and we needed to find a plan that was going to ensure that I got Riley. That was the only option for me while Blake was playing the role of the brokenhearted mother that missed her baby. I knew that she wanted more money for herself and that it would not go to Riley.
I dressed in black slacks and a white shirt. I looked towards Lucinda’s closed blinds. What did she do last night after she cut me off? I wondered if she continued to masturbate in her bed as she thought about me. I let out a slow breath.
I got into my car and drove into the city to meet with my lawyer, taking some coffee from his receptionist before we settled in his office. He took a deep breath and looked at me across the desk. “She’s going with the idea that she is beginning to suffer from depression over being limited to short visits with Riley now. Not actual depression, since she was supposedly taking medicine and seeing a therapist, but heading there.” I looked at the papers that he slid across the desk to me from her therapist, recommending that Blake was safe for her daughter and would benefit from her getting custody. She was settled and living in a good part of town, working and ready to raise her daughter.
I knew that it was all lies. She never cared about Riley. I knew that a few months into the pregnancy, but I had wanted everything to be okay. I wanted to have a daughter that had a mother who would care for her while I did what I could to support all of us. I just wanted all of us to be happy, but Blake never was. I saw her go off the rails when we split up, drinking and seeing tons of men in addition to the one she was cheating on me with. I fought Riley being with her then and had proof of it all. I won, but I did give her alimony just to end the process. I didn’t think that she’d come back for Riley, but now she needed more money.
“Do we still have time to get anything from the PI?” I asked as he sighed.
“She’s playing it safe, Max. She knows we’re watching her. Blake has a house and a job now. She’s doing better in the eyes of the court. She’s the mother. You are single and a doctor who works a lot – they are going to consider that. Have you thought about the wife angle any further?”
“I know someone that would be perfect for that, but I need to convince her. She’s reluctant right now. I need to sweeten the pot.”
I sipped my coffee as he looked at me. “You can have any woman that you want, Max. How is this an issue for you?”
“I don’t think that a woman I met at a bar is someone I want to make me look good in court. I don’t think anyone that I’ve slept with from the office works either. This girl… She is kindness and innocence. She has met Riley and they get along. Riley loves her. It’s the perfect front for this case, but what if it breaks Riley’s heart when it ends? She didn’t have to experience losing her mother because she was too young, and I don’t want her to do it now.”
“Maybe this won’t be a front. Do you have feelings for this girl?” Liam asked me as I looked at him. “I know that Blake burned you and you are not looking for love, but it is bound to happen at some point. Maybe this is it.”
“Are you getting sappy on me?” I demanded. He shrugged.
“I just don’t think you should hold out so much. Blake was one woman and you’re doing fine without her. You can raise Riley, but maybe she needs a woman in her life as well. Maybe this is the one for both of you.” I knew that Liam was happily married, but that didn’t mean it was meant for everybody.
“For now, I’ll convince her to do this for me. I just need to win in court and I’ll take it from there. Hell, I’ll offer her some cash and make this work. I want Riley.” I told him as he nodded.
“Is she in financial need?” Liam asked. I thought about the story about her lab. I nodded. “That might work. You can keep it casual for Riley’s sake, but have everything on paper and everyone wins.”
Could I? Riley had adored Lucinda from the first time that she met her. If we spent any time together, lines would be crossed and people could get hurt. Thinking about losing her to Blake and knowing that she wouldn’t be raised well was what made me come to my senses. That was what made my choice. “I’ll talk to her soon. Do I need to be married or engaged by the court date?”
“Married. It can be a whirlwind relationship, but it needs to look foolproof. What would be even better is the girl expecting a baby – giving Riley a family. Blake is still single. I am going to try to dig up as much as I can to prove that you’re the better choice. I know there’s something.” I raised my eyebrow and nodded my head. “How long did it take you to have Riley with Blake?”
“She was six weeks pregnant when we got married after dating for three months,” I reminded him. He chuckled.
“You can do it, then. Seduce this woman and sweep her off her feet. Offer her money. Do whatever you have to do to get a wife,” Liam said as he glanced at the clock. “Want to grab some lunch?”
We left and walked over to a diner to eat as he talked more about Blake. He was a friend before he was my lawyer, well-aware of the bitter split between me and Blake. He knew that my loyalty was to my daughter and that I’d fight for her.
I left and went to my office for a few appointments, working on autopilot. I’d been doing this for seven years now, and every day I thought about my aunt and how she waited too long to save herself. My friends teased me about doing this to hook up with women, but they were wrong.
It didn’t help that I made a lot of money. I had a good life, and now I needed to use my wealth to convince Lucinda to play a part for me. I went to pick up Riley after work and had dinner with my sister before bringing her home. “Where’s Lucinda?” Riley asked as she looked at the house, running up to the door. The light was on. I ran after her as she looked inside. “Lucinda doesn’t live there, sweetie. She lives in the apartment around the back. Let’s not bother her.”
“I want her to have ice cream with me,” Riley pouted. I shook my head at her.
I started over to our house as Riley ran off. “Lucinda! Come have ice cream with me.” I looked at the beautiful woman. She avoided my eyes and knelt to talk to Riley.
“Don’t you need to go to bed soon?” Lucinda asked as Riley shook her head.
“I ate all my dinner tonight and Daddy promised. We have a bunch in the freezer and I want to share with you,” Riley pleaded. My heart tugged in my chest. She liked Lucinda – I was going to invite her into my life to save her.
This was twisted.
Lucinda agreed and came over as Riley told her all about her day while I unlocked my door. We walked inside and I watched as Lucinda dropped her face to follow Riley to the kitchen. “Is it okay if she has some?” Lucinda asked. I looked up and meet her eyes.
“Yeah, but don’t let her scoop it.” I said. She nodded and asked Riley where the bowls and spoons were. I listened as they talked in the kitchen and thought about my approach with Lucinda. I had money and I could fix all her problems. She could fix mine.
Lucinda stayed for a while and even tucked Riley into bed as I went into the kitchen for a beer. She came out and I looked up to her face flushing pink. “She’s asleep. I’m sorry that I monopolized your night with her, but she’s very convincing. She’s so sweet.”
“She likes you,” I told her. She nodded. There was tension between us as we stood in silence. I cleared my throat. “Can we have lunch tomorrow? I’d like to discuss something with you.” I moved closer to Lucinda, drawn to her. She pressed her lips together.
“What?” Lucinda asked as I listened through the house to see if Riley was asleep.
I reached out to touch her face and Lucinda whimpered as she stared at me. I knew that she wanted me. I felt my body responding to her as I pressed my forehead to her own. “I want to make an arrangement with you.” I brushed my lips against hers and she stilled. I didn’t just want the arrangement right now. I wanted her. I slipped my hand into her hair and she moved her head, parting her lips so I could taste her mouth. I slipped my tongue in and she met my passion with her own, pressing herself against me as images of her body rushed through my mind.
There was something about this kiss that I couldn’t pinpoint. There was some memory involved in it, but I pushed it away because I’d been with so many women. I’d kissed so many that it all had to blur together somewhere.
I held her by her hair and waist as I continued to claim her. I knew what her nipples looked like and how she liked to touch them. I saw her with her hand inside of her pussy, fucking herself as she came for my eyes alone.
I turned and pressed her to the wall, kissing her harder as I ran my hands over her side. She was curvy and beautiful. Lucinda gasped as I slipped my hand just under her breast. “Max,” she breathed as her hands gripped my waist. I kissed her neck and brushed her nipple over her bra, finding it hard. An image of her tugging on it played through my mind. “Oh, God. I can’t.”
“I need to taste you, Lucinda. I watched you pleasuring yourself on your bed last night and I haven’t been able to get the memory out of my fucking head,” I whispered as I sucked on her neck. She lowered her hand to stroke me over my slacks, making me suck in my breath. “You have watched me.”
“I need to leave, Max. I lose control with you.” Lucinda pushed me away, but I kissed her again.
“Have lunch with me,” I urged her as she looked at me. “I work in the city. I’ll send a car for you tomorrow. I need to talk to you.”
“What time?” she asked in a frightened voice as I dropped my hands away from her body.
“Noon,” I replied. She nodded and walked towards the front door.
Fuck the way she was affecting Riley. I was more concerned with what she was doing to me right now.