Chapter Sixteen

Evelyn

 

Hot water eased the tension in my shoulders as warm steam swirled around my body like the fog in my head. Ever since the ride, all I could do was think about James. There was a strong urgency for him, a need that I wasn’t accustomed to having.

Being alone had never bothered me, and with the exception of my parents hinting that I wasn’t getting any younger, thoughts of having someone in my life were infrequent. Work was my life. I loved my work.

I let the fog, the steam, and my thoughts take me. I fantasized about the house James panned to build, how nice it would be to share it with him. The sensation of his arms wrapping around my waist pushed me to the cool tile, my back arching as it touched.  I wanted him. I wanted to stand on the private balcony at the master bedroom, him holding me while we gazed at the moon sparkling on the lake.

Water dripped down my neck, slowly tracing the outline of my body as it rolled to my toes. I imagined James, behind me, caressing me gently as the water continued to beat down against my breast.

An ache between my legs called for my hand, beckoning it to slide between them, rubbing to ease the angst.

My head fell backward as my shoulders rolled up, then down with the stroking notion of my hand. Flesh, warm and slick, swallowed my finger, tightening around it with a steady pulse.

Electrifying flicks of water against my breast caused me to arch towards the stream. My hand worked slowly, steadily, as my mind filled with images of James. His cock against the moonlight, hard and long, made my mouth water. The sensation of his tongue between my legs caused me to roll my hip with a moan.

I was lost in the world of make-believe, where a man like James and a woman like me could be together. There were no nagging echoes of my parent’s voices telling me to find a successful lawyer to marry, no judgmental glances from Axel as he watched me become flustered in James’s presence. There were no images of our lovemaking being sent to influential leaders in the courts. There was only me, my fingers, the water, and the thought of James.

The water started to cool against my skin just as my finger was pulled deeper into my body by muscle spasms. My legs weakened. My body tightened into an arthritic position as I leaned against the cool tile for support.

Like a hurricane pulling and tearing everything in its path, my orgasm strengthened, taking hold and not letting go. White spots flashed in my eyes, silence deafened my ears, and my body paralyzed with my hand gripping between my legs as if to somehow control the powerful roar that exploded with me.

I was dizzy, cold, and as blood rushed back into my brain, I realized I was extremely late.

My hand slammed against the shower faucet, shutting off the cold streams of water that sent wild tingles beneath my skin causing it to prickle up in tiny bumps.

I rushed as I dressed, feeling foolish for getting so caught up in my thoughts. On the way to the office, I cursed at my legs for remaining weak, my inner thighs quivering as I pushed against the brake pedal or gas.

Finally at my desk, my laptop logged on and e-mails flooding my screen, my thoughts secured on work. I had a big case later; one that I was certain would go in my favor, and my connection at the courthouse was expected to have an answer on Jill’s dinner date.

I scanned through the e-mails, opening the one from my connection. My eyes widened as I read what he wrote, my heart racing with excitement.

I dialed Axel frantically.

“Good morning,” his voice was chipper.

“You won’t believe what I found on this guy,” I blurted without addressing his greeting.

“What is it?” he asked eagerly.

“Apparently, this isn’t his first time being seduced by a pretty woman,” I sighed.

I explained how he had been reprimanded several times early in his career, but the paperwork for any of his warnings had been lost, and that more than a dozen cases were in question due to his discrepancies.

“Why hasn’t anyone done anything?” Axel questioned.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” I groaned.

“Okay, well let me handle this. There is obviously more than just this horny old coot to worry about,” Axel insisted.

I agreed, not feeling great about the level of corruption that loomed over our case.

I didn’t have time to call James and let him know like I wanted, but I knew Axel would handle that for me. I did yearn to hear his deep voice.

I was swamped, my e-mail dinging every few minutes, and my phone beeping with texts non-stop. By the time I made it into court, I’d managed to gather everything needed to discredit the prosecutor’s witnesses and get the jury to come back with a ‘not guilty’ verdict It was a big win, and knowing what I knew now about the county clerk, and possibly someone higher up corrupting the system, It was a huge win.

The prosecutor patted me on the back as we walked out of the courtroom.

“You did good,” he smiled.

Pride swarmed me as I walked down the steps of the historic brick building. I knew my diligence had paid off. Every paper, every piece of evidence, I’d gathered before the trial started. I knew, and was right, that items would be lost, no longer available for use without them entered properly with the courts. It had happened before, key pieces of my case gone without a trace. The case would get rushed, pushed to completion and I’d wonder if I’d had those items, would the outcome have gone differently?

I was ready for the mistakes this time, and I’d be certain to be ready for James’s case.

My car looked so disheveled as I shoved my briefcase into the front passenger seat. I shook my head, deciding not to worry about organization today, not today. Daddy’s scolding about organizing my life could wait. The restaurant across the street flashed a giant neon margarita in the window, and that’s what I wanted.

I strolled across the street without a care in my mind and walked into the restaurant with my head held high. A table for one was always so demeaning, not that it really bothered me, but I hated the looks from the hostess. When the woman asked if anyone would be joining me, I smiled and told her I’d be at the bar.

It seemed to be perfectly appropriate for a woman to sit at the bar alone, but not at a table meant for two.

She smiled as she stepped out of my way, motioning me towards the large oak bar that wrapped in the shape of a horseshoe through the center of the room.

I stopped after two steps, spotting James and Axel sitting in the far corner. My eyes froze on James, his leg kicked up on the bottom rung of Axel’s stool, his hand sliding back and forth on the upper part of his thigh. He seemed nervous as he smoothed the denim of his jeans. My heart raced as I started to turn back towards the door, quickly, without thinking, without looking.

A large man’s chest met my face with a hard thump, and then the floor introduced itself to my ass. A basket teetered on the tray next to a large draft beer as the man tried to steady it, his eyes on me, apologetic as he lost balance and let the items slide from the tray to the floor, to me.

Beer splattered everywhere, coating me in the foam, but that wasn’t nearly as bad as the spicy chicken wings that dumped in my lap.

“I’m so sorry, miss,” the man apologized, extending his hand to help me to my feet.

I was facing the door, ready to run when a hand rested on my shoulder. I already took in the familiar cologne, tingled from the gentle grip that gave me a small squeeze.

“Its fine,” I said, my cheeks burning as I turned to James.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I blushed.

“Well don’t just stand there, bring her something to clean herself up with,” James barked at the man.

It wasn’t his fault. I was trying to run away, to avoid the embarrassment of running into James. I sighed at how ridiculous that appeared now.

James pulled a chicken wing from my hair and tossed it on the tray the server left on the small hostess stand as he rushed off to follow his orders.

I giggled and then laughed. James’s eyed me, confusion obvious in his expression. I watched as his lips curled into a smile at my absurd reaction.

Soon, he joined in, laughing hard as his arm wrapped around me. He guided me to the bar where he and Axel were enjoying a beer while watching a basketball game. Axel shook his head as I sat down, covered in beer and chicken spice.

“You know, you could’ve just ordered,” he smirked.

The server arrived with towels in hand, both wet and dry. I worked on wiping the sticky sauce from my shirt as I calmed down.

“What are you two doing here?” I questioned, more directed to James than Axel.

“Calm down, I’m just here working on a new buyer,” James grinned.

“I didn’t say you were stalking me or anything,” I smirked playfully in his direction.

His eyes were so blue, so warm. I could dive into them and bathe.

“How was court?” Axel interrupted my indulgence.

“It was-uh, good. I won,” I stammered.

A wild grin grew on my face, pride beaming through my entire being as I stood there a winner. It was a rough case, one that nobody thought I’d manage to pull off, but I did.

“Oh, hell yeah!” James guided me onto a barstool between him and Axel.

The stained orange on my pink blouse, the smell of beer sticking to my skin suddenly didn’t matter. I was a winner.

“Another round, and one for the lady,” Axel boasted to the bartender.

The tall man with slicked-back blond hair and light green eyes smiled in my direction as he nodded to Axel’s order.

“I think he’s sweet on you,” James teased as the man walked away.

I blushed.

“Oh yeah, look at me,” I laughed, motioning to my messy shirt.

“There’s something quite hot about the way you get messy,” James chuckled.

I thought about our first meeting, me covered in mud, and how he looked at me as I wore the random green shorts he’d found. He looked at me with the same hunger now as he had then. My body stirred, something growling from deep within, a hunger, a need.

“Here ya go,” the bartender winked in my direction before he walked away.

“I told you,” James boasted.

My cheeks grew hotter.

“So, apparently men like messy women?” I laughed.

“Less maintenance,” Axel injected with a chuckle.

I shook my head as I reached for my beer.

“More fun,” James added with a smirk.

Oh my God, my thighs were starting to quiver and my forehead beaded up with sweat. I smiled, swallowing the lump forming in my throat before sipping on the tall draft beer.

“So, how’s our case coming along?” James asked.

“I got a court date for next week,” I announced.

He looked relieved as he leaned back against the leather of the bar stool. His hand reached for mine, squeezing it tightly as he smiled.

“That’s great news,” he sighed.

“What about the county clerk, any news on what’s going on there?” Axel asked.

“He was fired, effective immediately,” I replied.

Another sip of the beer. It was cold against my hot throat, helping to ease the tremors erupting in my legs and calming my nerves as James leaned in closer, his cologne swirling through the air, finding my nostrils and lingering as if to tease me.

“Wow, that was fast,” James smiled.

I nodded. It was fast, but with everything that was found on him, there was no other punishment suitable. He was a corrupt official, one that had started his devious ways long before I showed up in that courthouse.

“What about the judge?” Axel asked.

“I got the court date set as quickly as possible, so hopefully Jill won’t have time to get to him,” I sighed.

“If she hasn’t already,” Axel grumbled.

The thought of Jill working so hard to corrupt the system, screw James out of what was rightfully his infuriated me. I took a long swig of my beer as James moved his stool closer to mine. He was so close I could feel the heat of his breath on my neck, instantly causing goosebumps to rise on my skin.

Axel growled about Jill, continuing his rant about how she probably already had the entire town in her pocket. I tried to engage, to listen to him, to join in, but James was so close that my mind only focused on him.

“Let’s order dinner, celebrate this win, and we’ll worry about the other case after,” James insisted, grabbing three menus from the rack near his seat.

Axel agreed, quickly scanning his menu and taking his attention from James and me. I moved closer to him. It wasn’t unintentional, but it wasn’t controlled either. My body gravitated towards him, leaning in to look at his menu instead of mine, my hand resting on his thick thigh as I pointed to the shrimp basket and fries.

“Sure you don’t want the chicken wings? I hear they’re amazing here,” James teased.

“I’ve tried them already, thanks,” I laughed.

Axel had put his menu down and was staring in our direction as I turned towards him. One eyebrow raised as his lips curled into a crooked smile. I realized my hand was still resting on James’s leg, and I’d practically ended up in his lap as we browsed the menu together.

I was mortified.

Immediately, I started to pull away, moving my hand from its comfortable spot, pulling back towards Axel so my neck was left empty and cold without James’s warm breath.

James tossed an arm around my shoulder, keeping me close enough. Axel didn’t say anything, or even do anything. His expression was empty and impossible to read.

I kept up the conversation through dinner, doing my best to avoid ending up so close to James again. It was a relief when his food came, a steak that required both of his hands to cut. I leaned in towards Axel, told him to find out anything he could on the judge, on Jill, and make sure they didn’t have a connection to him in any way.

“I better hit the road,” James announced, standing from his stool to stretch.

I watched his muscles flex and pull, my mouth watering as my eyes filled with admiration for his tall frame.

“I’ll contact you tomorrow about the court date,” I replied with a polite smile.

James leaned in, his lips pressed against my cheek before I could offer any protest. They were warm, slick, and brought my mind to the night in his truck.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Axel interrupted, bringing me back to reality.

I knew better than to get caught showing affection to James, especially right across the street from the courthouse.

I scanned the restaurant after James left, looking to ensure no one of any influence was inside.

“There’s no one here,” Axel sighed.

“You have to be careful, Evelyn,” he warned.

Careful. I thought about that word, that warning. My belly ached for James, and I couldn’t wait for this all to be over so we could be together again.

At home, I ran a bath, undressed in front of the long mirror behind the bathroom door, taking in each curve of my body that James had touched, had kissed.

My heart fluttered as I stepped into the soapy water. I knelt down, letting my bottom hit the heat, slowly submerging my body into the white foam bubbles that smelled of lavender. Even they weren’t strong enough to wipe James’s scent from me, at least not right away.

A bottle of wine and a large glass waited for me on the teak bath rack where I normally placed a book to read while I soaked. Tonight, I didn’t feel like reading. James was heavy on my mind.

The water splashed around me, lapping at my skin as I poured the sweet red into the glass. One large sip and I leaned back into the water, sinking to my shoulders beneath the bubbles.

My hand played with the water, brushing against my thigh delicately. My fingers danced in the water, playfully tickling the warm flesh between my legs, sliding up my belly, pinching at my nipples, and then rolling sweetly to my neck.

With my eyes closed, I could hear James’s voice. I could see his unrelenting blue eyes, taste the sweat from his skin, and feel his touch.

I would be careful with James until after the court ruling. I would be careful to keep him close to me when my eyes closed, enjoying him in my fantasies, my dreams, my memories.