Lawfully His (A Dirty Business Novel Book 1)

by Michelle Betham

  “So, just because you think you need to screw me or play with me or whatever the hell else you might want me for I just have to accept that and give in to you, or lose a job I worked fucking hard for?”

  He sits back, but he says nothing. He just smiles, but this time that smile is making my stomach turn for all the wrong reasons.

  “I don’t respond to blackmail, Mr. King. No job is worth that kind of shit, who the hell do you think you are?” I grab my purse, push my chair back and stand up, keeping my eyes fixed on his because he needs to know I’m not kidding here. I’m serious. “Shove your job up that perfect ass of yours, do you hear me?”

  I walk away without looking back, my heart beating so loud and fast it’s drowning out everything else around me. It’s all I can hear, that heavy thud as it frantically pumps the blood around my adrenaline-filled body.

  I’ve just told Evan King to shove his job. A job I wanted so badly. A job I needed. It was mine. And I’ve just walked away from it. But I have to, I’m not working for an arrogant asshole, I don’t care how hot or how powerful he is. I’m not going to bow down to his demands because he thinks he can have anything or anyone he wants, at any cost. I’m not doing that. I’m better than that.

  So I’m walking away.

  I’m going back to missing that life I almost had; the one I’m trying to forget. That’s how it’s going to be, because I have nothing to distract me anymore.

  I’m going back to missing him…

  Evan

  I watch her stride out of the restaurant. Watch her beautiful ass in that perfect dress as she walks away from me, but she isn’t going anywhere. She’s as turned on by that exchange as I am, shit! My cock was hard the second she told me to shove my job, and I can’t leave this table ‘til that’s subsided. But when I do, I’m going straight back to Cavendish King, and I’m gonna show her just why she’s going nowhere.

  She may think this is a bad idea. She may think I’m some arrogant dick of a lawyer who assumes one click of his fingers gets him everything he wants, and to some extent she’s right. She may think she’s different, that she isn’t like the rest of the women I fuck and forget. She’s right on that score, too. She may put up a fight, try and resist what I’m offering, because this isn’t something I’ve done before. I don’t make a habit of sleeping with my secretaries, this is a first. But I want this. I want that danger, that excitement. I want her.

  So, she may put up a fight, but that won’t change anything.

  She’ll give in, in the end.

  Challenges don’t scare me, I thrive on them. Because I never lose. And I don’t intend to start now.

  Lola

  I have to head back to Cavendish King to collect the few things I left there this morning, and I breathe a sigh of relief that I hadn’t already filled my cubicle with plants and photographs and anything else that defined it as my station; my home in this prestigious, powerful law firm.

  I’m going to collect my things, then I’m going to find a quiet place in which to draft my resignation letter, and I won’t mention Evan King and his inappropriate demands. I don’t want to make an enemy of the man. I still need to work in this city, I still need a job, and I’ve a feeling that getting on the wrong side of Evan King could be a mistake. So I’ll think of a reason why I have to step down from this position, something that’ll wash with Human Resources and not make me look like too much of an idiot.

  I reach my cubicle and grab the few items I left here earlier, then I make my way to the library, find a quiet corner where no one I’ve already met or spoken to can see me – I don’t want to have to start explaining my short stay here at Cavendish King – and I pull out my notebook and start drafting my letter of resignation.

  “Ms. Burrows? May I see you in the conference room next door?”

  I look up, and he’s standing there, all arrogance and swagger and he’s giving me no choice but to go with him; I’m not completely alone in here. And he’s one of the managing partners, so I need to do as he asks to avoid raising any kind of suspicion. Like I said, I don’t want to make an enemy of the man. I just can’t work for him, not now. I can’t do that.

  I get up and follow him out of the library, along the corridor to the smaller of the three conference rooms on this floor. He lets me through the door, closes it behind him and flicks the lock, I hear it click, and I watch as he proceeds to pull down a series of blinds that are seemingly hidden along the top of the glass-fronted room. We’re completely private in here now. Nobody can see in, and we can’t see out. But at least, thanks to the huge windows lining one entire side of the room, we still have light.

  I back up against the table, accidently dropping my purse and my notebook on to the floor, but I don’t take my eyes off him as he walks toward me. And he says nothing, he stays silent, and then he stops right in front of me, reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear as he leans right in to me, his mouth almost touching my neck as he speaks, his voice low and quiet, almost guttural.

  “You’re really gonna walk out on me, Ms. Burrows?”

  “You changed the terms of employment, Mr. King. You doctored the contract. But I’m sure there are plenty of women out there who would quite happily drop their panties in a heartbeat, just because you tell them to.”

  “I don’t want any other women. I want you.”

  “Do you always get what you want?”

  He pulls back and he looks at me, his eyes staring right into me, and he cups my cheek and moves closer, his mouth almost touching mine and I try to pull his hand away but he stops me. And I stop fighting. “I’m a very powerful, well-respected man, Lola so, yes. I always get what I want.”

  “Then I guess it’s time you got used to hearing the word no.”

  I finally manage to pull free of him and I reach down to retrieve my purse and notebook, and he lets me. He leaves me to gather my things, and I stand up and I look at him and I feel so angry at the way things have turned out. I feel angry at him; at myself for being so – what? Weak? I fucked a stranger. I had a one-night stand; me and Christ knows how many other people, it’s not unusual. How was I to know my one-night stand would turn out to be my new boss? A man who thinks that power, success and money can get him anything he wants, including women.

  I finally break the stare, and I start to walk toward the door, my heart once more thumping out of my chest.

  “I want you, Lola. And I think, somewhere inside your messed up head you want me, too.”

  I swing back around, and now I’m really angry, he has no right…

  “You know nothing about me.”

  “I know someone hurt you. And I know you’re looking for something – you need something to help you get over that, something to distract you from whatever he did…”

  “You arrogant prick. How dare you…”

  I narrow my eyes and I raise a hand to slap that arrogance out of him but he grabs my wrist and he holds it tight, and for a couple of beats no one says anything, but his eyes, oh, Jesus, they’re boring into me with an intensity I’m trying really hard to cope with.

  “Who the hell do you think you are?”

  He smiles, his hand still tightly gripping my wrist. “I know exactly who I am. I’m Evan King. A man who’s never lost in his life, and I’m not starting now.”

  I laugh, I can’t help it. He really is the most arrogant man I have ever met, and I’ve worked with lawyers for over twenty years now. I’ve seen some jumped-up bastards in my time, been around men so full of shit it was hard to believe people like them could exist. But this one – he’s kicked all those others right out of the park.

  “You really think you’ve won this, don’t you?”

  “I don’t think anything, Lola. I know.” He leans in so his mouth once more almost touches mine, his voice low and deep as he speaks into me. “I’m gonna have you, okay? I’m gonna take you, right here, right now, do you understand me? I’m gonna slide my hands up that beautifully expensive dress and slowly
slip your panties off. Then I’m gonna spread those incredible legs of yours, and I’m gonna touch you; put my fingers inside you. I’m gonna touch you, inside and out. I’m gonna make you moan, make you feel so fucking crazy that you’re gonna find it hard to keep the noise down. But you’re gonna have to. And when I’ve almost brought you to that point of no return I’m gonna pull my fingers out, and I’m gonna ram my cock so hard into you I’m gonna have to cover your mouth to avoid anyone finding out what we’re doing in here. I’m gonna fuck you, Lola. And then I’m gonna fuck you again, and then we’re going back to my office, and you’re gonna get back behind your desk and you’re gonna start work. For me. Are we clear on that now?”

  “You piece of shit prick!”

  I try to break free but his grip is way too tight, and for the next few loaded beats we just stare at each other. We’ve reached a stand-off; he isn’t moving and I’m not giving in to him. He isn’t winning. I’m not that weak, and I try to think of him, which is so fucking twisted because the whole reason I’m in this crazy mess is because of him. Because I want to forget him, no. I need to forget him. And this – working for Evan King, that was supposed to help me, forget him. And now I need to think of him to help me step back from this. How the hell did I get into this fucked up situation?

  “You don’t get to talk to me like that, Ms. Burrows.”

  “Fuck you, Mr. King.”

  The atmosphere in the room is so thick and heady I can barely breathe. And I’m trying to conjure up memories, good and bad; memories of the day he broke my heart, the day he tore it from my chest and stamped all over it. The day he killed us, and I want it to make me angry, so angry I take it all out on this arrogant bastard who still has way too tight a hold on my wrist, but it isn’t doing that. It isn’t making me angry, it’s just making me experience that crushing, agonizing pain all over again, like it just happened yesterday. But three months – that isn’t all that long ago. Not long enough for me to have come through everything unscathed, I’m not fully healed yet. I’m still working on that.

  “Fuck you!”

  And all of a sudden it’s like something just exploded around us, and the atmosphere changes again, and I feel like my mind is separating from my body, like I’m watching this play out from a safe spot high above me as he swings me around and lifts me up onto the table, his mouth crashing down onto mine in a rough, almost violent kiss. And now I’m angry. Now I’m fucking angry, and frustrated and tired and sick of all the shit I’ve had to put up with and… yeah. You know what? I am going to take it out on this arrogant prick. It’s too late to do anything else anyway, he’s already slid my panties off, they’re on the floor, and I wasn’t even aware he’d done that. And as he spreads my legs and thrusts his fingers into me I throw back my head and moan quietly, biting down on my lip as he touches me, invades me, and I like it, God help me, I fucking like it!

  His thumb rotates against my throbbing, aching clit as his fingers continue to fuck me, and his kisses, they’re still hard and rough and this side of him, it’s exciting and dangerous and it’s wrong, I know it is. I’ve let him win, but what the hell can I do now? I’m ceasing to care, because the white-hot tingles beginning to burn my skin are distracting and beautiful and as I feel myself almost step over that precipice into the most incredible climax, he pulls out, and the cry of frustration that leaves me has to be silenced by him; by his fingers pressing against my lips as he shakes his head. And then he smiles, and he pulls his hand away, and he kisses me a little more gently, a little slower, and my groans are muffled by the fact his mouth is on mine as he rams his rock hard cock so deep inside me it almost knocks me backwards.

  He takes hold of my legs, unwrapping them from around his hips, and he spreads them wide, looking down as his cock thrusts in and out of me, and I lean back slightly, closing my eyes as he goes deep, so deep I feel every inch of him. And then he lets go of my legs, and I wrap them back around him and he lifts me up, his cock still deep inside me as he slams me back against the wall, his kisses once more hard and rough and so damn freaking hot! I’m burning up now, my skin feels like it’s on fire and my head, it’s spinning. I’m still angry. I’m confused and frustrated and, yeah, I’m angry. At myself. And what’s happening here, it’s twisted and wrong but I let it happen. It’s all on me. I gave him permission, and I don’t fucking care anymore. I’m coming, and it’s hot and harsh and the release is sweet and fast as those white-hot tingles wash over me, causing my body to jerk in his arms, my hips thrusting against him, and I bury my face and my fingers in his hair to drown out my low, drawn-out groans. And as he comes too, his almost guttural, barely audible cries of relief vibrate against my neck, his fingers digging into my ass as he holds me, until both of us are done.

  “I guess I won, huh?” He grins, and I could still slap that expression right off his face. But what’s the point now? Yeah. He won. Because I let him. Because I’m weak. But I can still pull some of this back, I don’t want him to think he’s got himself some kind of pushover here, those days are gone. I don’t roll over and give myself to any man completely, not anymore.

  “You’re still an arrogant prick.”

  He laughs quietly and slowly pulls out of me, lowering me down and letting me go. I retrieve my panties from the floor and he zips himself back up, pulling a handkerchief from his top jacket pocket and wiping his hands before he trails them through his hair. And he’s done. He’s back to his staid and composed self whereas I doubt I’m that lucky. I’ll have to pay a quick visit to the restroom to repair any damage he’s caused.

  “You stopped fighting it, Lola.”

  I walk over to him, and I smile as I tuck my panties into his jacket pocket. “I stopped fighting because I wanted to. Not because you made me.”

  He slides an arm around my waist and pulls me against him, his mouth almost touching mine, but not quite. And I find that so hot, so damn fucking hot, shit! I hate this bastard with every fiber of my being. And I need him even more. Now. He’s forced me to need him, but he gets me on my terms. He wants me, he can have me, but he isn’t calling every shot.

  “So, let’s get one thing straight, Mr. King. You want me this way, you’re going to play by some of my rules too. You understand me?”

  “You don’t get to make any rules, Lola.”

  I pull his arm from around my waist and step back. “Then you don’t get me.”

  His eyes follow me as I walk to the door, and he lets out a low whistle. “Whoever he is, he must’ve hurt you real bad.”

  I keep my back to him, I don’t turn around, I don’t want him to see any hint of a change in my expression. And then I feel him come up behind me, feel him slide a hand up under my dress, feel him cup my ass, his lips lightly brushing the back of my neck and I can’t stop the shiver from becoming something physical that he feels, too.

  “You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Burrows. But I’m the best closer this city has, and I guess I either have to close this deal, your way, or lose for the first time in my life.”

  “And Evan King doesn’t lose, right?”

  He swings me around and takes my face in his hands and he kisses me, and with that kiss it’s like he’s feeding strength into me. His strength. His arrogance. And I take it, all of it. I need it.

  “Evan King never loses,” he murmurs.

  “Then I guess we got ourselves a deal, huh?”

  He smiles, and he lets me go, and I take another step back and hold out my hand, and he takes it, and he shakes it, and I feel all that bad shit slowly start to retreat once more. To be replaced by something more dangerous? I’m playing with fire here, we both are. But I think we have an understanding. He wants me as some kind of corporate plaything. I need him as a distraction. We each have our own twisted reasons for playing this game. No emotion. No ties. No commitment. No chance of pain or heartache or shit that hits you like a bolt out of the blue to rip your world to pieces. That won’t happen here. We won’t let it.

  “We got ourselve
s a deal.”

  I smile and drop his hand, running mine through my hair and shaking it out. Suddenly I feel alive, and when I stride out of that conference room and back along the corridor to my cubicle outside of his office, I’m ready. To move on. I’m so fucking ready.

  Evan

  She closes the door behind her and I can’t keep the smile off my face. She’s one stubborn, feisty bitch but that only makes this all the more interesting; twice as exciting, because she’s playing along, and I was right. I knew it wouldn’t take much to get her where I wanted her.

  I lean back against the wall and drop my head as I try to catch my breath. This game, it’s new to me. It’s certainly new to her. But now I’ve started I have no intention of pulling back or stopping it. Look how easily she gave in to me? She wants this just as much as I do. And when I threatened her with either accepting my terms, or losing her job, I was bluffing. I do it all the time, I’ve won many a case by bluffing. It’s a tactic that’s never failed me yet. I knew she wanted me, I read people. I look into their eyes and I see what I need to see in order to work them out, and I had her in a heartbeat.

  My beautiful, dirty little secret.

  She works for me.

  I fuck her.

  I freaking love my life…

  Five

  Lola

  I told Kat everything. All of it. Every sordid, fucked up detail. I had to. Keeping that kind of shit locked up inside; my head’s a big enough mess.

  “Wow. Rebound sex and then some.” Kat hands me a glass of wine and throws herself down beside me on her slightly battered but comfortable-as-hell couch.