by Kendall Ryan
I shake my head. “What about Rebecca . . . have you thought about her? You guys already know each other; obviously you did share some common interests.”
He clears his throat. “Our shared interests were work and that we both liked fucking.”
My eyes widen. Okay, that wasn’t what I was expecting to hear. The thought of him with someone else makes my palms sweat, and I get that dizzy feeling that comes right before you get sick.
“I’m sorry.” He takes my hand.
“No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”
We’re still learning about each other, feeling out this whole unique situation. But it’s moments like this where we share real conversation that I discover more of the man he is underneath.
“I’m no saint. I’m sorry to disappoint you. If you want to walk away now, I totally get it.”
I force a sad smile onto my lips. “And miss all the fun? I’m not going anywhere.”
“Thank God. I need you if I’m to survive the next six months.”
I walk him to the door, then take two steps back so I’m not tempted to contort my body around his muscular one, or steal another mind-blowing kiss.
Sterling releases a sharp exhale, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This is just fucking bollocks. There’s someone I genuinely like right now and I have no idea where it might lead, but I have this time bomb ticking in the background, deciding my fate for me. Talk about the worst fucking timing ever.”
Butterflies tingle inside my stomach. “Then you should find a way to show her how you feel.”
We share an intense moment where his eyes don’t leave mine, and I find myself swaying forward the tiniest bit.
“Show her?”
I nod. “Actions speak louder than words.”
“Right.” He rubs the back of his neck. “You’re absolutely right.”
“Night, Sterling,” I say as he steps into the hall.
“Night, gorgeous.”
I close the door and press my back against it, then immediately sink to the floor. My legs are mush, and the only thing that’s going to cool me down is a cold shower.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sterling
After spending the weekend thinking about Camryn, I’m back at work on Monday, and doing my best to throw myself into the cases piling up on my desk. Technically, I practice family law, which means I spend my days drafting prenuptial agreements, and handling divorce proceedings as well as alimony and child custody.
Very rarely, I also handle a personal bankruptcy, or help with an adoption. I’ve also been asked to speak at conferences about family law or ethics. But ask anyone I work with what I’m known for, it’s divorce. The big D is what I’ve lived and breathed for five years now, and what I’ve built my reputation and career on.
So color me fucking surprised that the man known for divorce now has to get married.
The irony is not lost on me.
And the craziest part is that I’ve started to fall for my matchmaker. I know she’s interested in me physically—but she’s given me no reason to believe she wants to throw her name into the hat for a shot at becoming Mrs. Sterling Quinn.
Needing a break from the mountain of work on my desk that only seems to mock me, I’ve asked Noah to meet me for lunch. At ten to noon, I walk over to the restaurant where we’re supposed to meet.
“You look like hell, brother. What’s up?” Noah asks when he spots me outside the restaurant.
“I’ve had a lot on my mind,” I mutter. “Come on, let’s get a table. I’m starving.”
We’re seated at the sushi bar, where we glance at the menu. Once we place our orders, Noah turns to face me.
“Is everything okay? I’ve never seen you rattled before.”
“That’s because I’ve never been rattled before.”
“Getting married is a big deal, man. How’s it coming, by the way?”
I make a noncommittal noise in my throat. “Nonexistent so far. I’ve been on one mediocre date, but Camryn’s planning a big event next month where I’ll be speed dating my way through all the hopefuls.”
“Next month?”
Shit. He’s right. It’s already the end of the month. “In about three weeks,” I say, correcting myself, stunned at how fast this is all happening.
Our food arrives, and I waste no time dosing a piece of spicy tuna roll with wasabi. “Let me ask you a question. What kind of girls are going to go to an event like that, really?”
He tilts his head, considering it. “Good point. Probably only those looking for a bit of the limelight, who want a piece of the fortune. Is that what you mean?”
I nod. “Exactly. My guess is that for every one hundred opportunity-seekers, there will be one genuine girl looking for love. And what are the chances that I’ll have a connection with any of them?”
“What are you saying? What do you propose then?” Noah steals a piece of my eel roll.
“Camryn.” I take a sip of tea, waiting for him to answer.
“Shit. You were serious about that before? I thought you were drunk and horny.”
“Sadly, no.” Horny, yes. She’s left me with blue balls twice now, and if I get the opportunity to be alone with her again, it’s my life’s mission to change that.
“Okay, so you like her like her. As in, you want to marry her?”
“Fuck.” I set down my chopsticks. “The idea of marriage makes me itchy.”
Noah smiles wryly. “You want my advice?”
“’Course I do.”
“If you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly,” Noah says before munching another bite of shrimp tempura.
What the fuck. Maybe he’s hit his head. “Meaning?”
“Go after what you want. Fight dirty. Get it. Make it happen.” Grinning, Noah claps me on the back.
“Be a grizzly, huh?” I smirk. Must be American slang. Stupid as shit, but I think I catch the meaning.
“You’ve got this.” He smiles, nodding. “Are you done with that spicy tuna?”
I push the plate toward him. “Have at it; I’m going to get back to the office. I’ve got grizzly-esque items to check off my list.”
He shakes his head, popping another bite of sushi into his mouth. “Damn British. You make everything sound so fancy and refined.”
I toss a couple of bills on the table and head out, my head clearer, my heart fuller. Time to go after what I want, consequences be damned.
I want to text Camryn, Shield your ovaries, girl. Sterling’s about to up the seduction game. But it won’t be any fun giving her advance warning.
As I step inside the office tower’s foyer, I spot Rebecca coming off the lift.
Fuck.
I’ve been dodging her calls for weeks now. This isn’t going to be good. I haven’t spoken to her since the news broke of my inheritance.
“Ster . . .” She pauses with her cell phone halfway to her ear.
“Hi.” I give her an awkward half wave while my gaze darts left, then right, looking for the emergency exit.
“I’ll have to call you back,” she says into her phone, then drops the thing into her briefcase.
I shove my hands in my pockets as I wait. I know she’s pissed.
“Why didn’t you just tell me?” Her eyes latch onto mine and then narrow into the shape of slivered almonds.
“About?”
“The inheritance!” she shouts.
I take her elbow and guide her over to the seating area. It’s not private, but it’s better than standing in the center of the lobby with people all around us.
“I found out about it the day before the news broke. If you can believe it, I was more than a little in shock. I didn’t exactly spend the day calling everyone I knew to inform them. The only people I spoke with were my mother and Noah.”
She scoffs. “Don’t even get me started on that. You two have an unhealthy relationship.” Then her gaze softens, and she places one hand against the arm of my suit jacket. “Still, you s
hould have called. I could help you, Ster.”
“Listen, Rebecca, I don’t mean to be a dick, but what we had has run its course.”
She smiles seductively, wetting her lower lip with the tip of her tongue. “It was fun. Even you have to admit that.”
I know what she’s trying to do. She’s trying to be sweet and demure, and make me remember her good qualities.
She’s only half right, though. We did have some fun between the sheets, but being married, taking a wife—I need a hell of a lot more than someone fun in bed. In fact, that’s just one tiny requirement on my list. All too clear in my memory are the times when she’d rather stare at her phone than me while we were in bed, or that time she threw a fit when I ordered the wrong pizza toppings. What we had wasn’t love, wasn’t even on the same spectrum as love.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I mentally search for a way to say this that doesn’t end with my face getting slapped. “Here’s the thing. We were convenient. We leaned on each other while we avoided real relationships.”
Her optimism falls, and she takes a step back. “I see. And here I thought what we had was nice. Am I the only one who remembers it fondly?”
I keep my mouth shut, because I think agreeing will only encourage her more. Plus, I’m going to be late for my one o’clock meeting if I don’t get back upstairs.
“I’m sorry. I’ve got to run.”
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she nods. “Good luck.”
Once inside my office, I realize I have five minutes before the conference call starts, so I grab the stack of papers from my briefcase that I lifted on Friday night from Camryn’s place. I’m sure she’ll want to kill me when she finds out, but that’s just something I’ll have to deal with.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Camryn
“So you’re trying to tell me someone broke into your apartment and stole all your bills?” Olivia asks, wide-eyed.
I nod. “Yep.”
Her expression is one of disbelief, but she closes her mouth and stares straight ahead, blinking.
We’re at the gym, walking around the track that’s elevated over the entire workout area below. Before she was a married woman, we used to love this vantage point for scoping out the hot guys below. Now, we just walk.
Well, I still look, because hello, I’m not dead.
“You probably just misplaced them,” Olivia says.
I know that’s not true. They were on my dining table right before . . .
Sterling! If he saw those bills and late notices, I’ll die of embarrassment. I can only imagine what he must think of me. It’s been days since we talked, and honestly, I’m not sure what to think. Last weekend I set him up for that date, and then afterward he came over and we made out like a couple of horny teenagers. I’m sure he’s just busy with work, but still, a girl can’t help but wonder what’s going through his mind.
I told him to go after the woman he was interested in, assuming that he meant me. But now, this radio silence has left me unsure. For all I know, maybe he’s still hung up on his ex.
My cell phone buzzes against my thigh. I pull it from the pocket of my spandex workout capris and see it’s a text from a certain sexy British troublemaker.
Sterling: Are you free on Saturday? I’d love to hang out again.
A smirk pulls up my lips.
Camryn: Is “hang out” a euphemism for . . .
Sterling: Dessert? Yes. Be at my place at seven.
My breath catches in my throat as his bold words stare back at me.
“What is it?” Olivia asks, sensing the change in my mood.
“Nothing,” I lie.
With trepidation, I realize this Saturday night could change everything. Three more days until I figure out, finally, what is going through Sterling’s mind.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sterling
Standing in front of my bathroom vanity, I tuck a towel around my waist. After shaving, I rinse my face and apply a splash of cologne to my neck.
My thoughts wander to Camryn, and the level of anticipation I have for tonight is through the roof. All day, my imagination has been running wild with thoughts of what may happen tonight.
Tonight, there’s only one thing I know for certain—I want her.
Finally, I run some product through my hair, then get dressed. She’ll be here any minute, and though my thoughts are far from innocent, I doubt she’ll be amused to show up and find me naked.
I’ve come to accept the fact that I’m falling for her hard. And I also know there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. I’m in uncharted territory, but fuck it, I’m going with my gut. Just like Noah advised, I’m going to be a motherfucking grizzly.
Besides, I have five months to wed, which means I have time to see where things might go with Camryn. If it doesn’t work, I still have time to marry.
I can’t lose.
My doorman buzzes, and I punch the button on the intercom. A few moments later, I open the front door just in time to watch an unsure-looking Camryn step off the lift.
“Hey there,” I murmur, and her gaze darts up to meet mine.
Expectant energy crackles in the space between us. Camryn, looking more beautiful than ever, crosses the hall and steps inside.
“Hi.” She’s quiet and contemplative tonight, and I can’t help but wonder how much of that trepidation is for what may transpire tonight between us.
We grab a couple of bottles of water, and since it’s gotten too chilly to enjoy the balcony, we sit together on the couch.
“Does it ever get to you . . . what you do for a living?” she asks.
“Of course it does.”
“I’m sorry, that was . . . I shouldn’t have—”
“You have this bad habit of apologizing when you don’t need to.”
“I’m sorry.” Her face breaks into a cheeky grin. “Shit. I did it again, didn’t I?”
I nod. “Yes, now quit. You can ask me about anything you like. I don’t want you feeling like you have to walk on eggshells around me.”
She opens her mouth, presumably to say I’m sorry, and I shake my head at her, laughing.
Sorry, she mouths with a smirk.
I lunge at her, pinning her under me on the couch, and begin tickling her waist. I dig my fingers into her ribs as I unleash the wrath of my playful fury.
“Not fair . . . so not fair!” Camryn gasps in between fits of laughter. She thrusts her hips up in an attempt to get away, bringing her center in direct contact with my hardening dick, and I grunt.
“Sorry.”
This time I don’t tease her. “No, you’re not,” I say, rocking my hips into hers.
A strained breath pushes past her lips, and her eyes slip closed. “God, Sterling . . .” Her voice is almost pained, right on the edge between desire and agony.
“Does that feel good, love?” I push forward again, now fully hard. “When I rub my cock against that pretty clit of yours?”
“Oh, fuck,” she curses under her breath. Her eyes drift open, glazed over with wanton lust as they meet mine. “You can’t say that kind of stuff.”
“I just did, Cami.”
With her body restrained beneath me, I’m in the perfect position, and I use it to my full advantage. Kissing her deeply, I rock in tiny thrusts, grinding against her each time we meet.
Whimpers of frustrated need claw up her throat.
“Just feel it, baby.” I thrust again, kissing her neck. “Right there.”
Her breathing is shallow and fast, her pulse rioting in her neck. The warmth of her penetrates straight through two layers of jeans, and it takes all the restraint I have not to just strip her trousers and knickers down to her ankles and thrust inside her, slowly so I can hear her voice break as she moans.
We continue our game of thrusting and kissing and fumbling until I can’t take it any longer. The need to hear her call out my name overtakes everything else.
“I need you,” I say on a groan. �
�Come here.”
I sit up, pulling her up from the couch. Her mouth opens but she doesn’t say anything, which is good. If she refuses me right now, if she tries to bring rationality to this situation, I might have a fucking meltdown like a two-year-old.
When she stands, I work at the button of her jeans, peeling them and her black satin knickers down her legs. My intention is to strip off her shirt and bra too, but I get sidetracked when I look down and see the most gorgeous cunt I’ve ever laid eyes on. Shaved bare. Juicy and plump. Wet with moisture that I want to lap up like a dog. Fuck, I could eat that all night.
I take her by the hips and lower her to the sofa. “Right here, beautiful.” Sit right here while I eat your pretty cunt.
If she refuses me, I might just have to spank her. I’ve never anticipated anything so much as this moment.
Planting one hand under her ass, I use the other to spread her apart with my thumb and finger, exposing the pearl of her clit. Then I lift her to my mouth and lap at her slowly.
“Fucking hell.” She moans, fighting to squirm away.
I almost chuckle. Her response is perfection.
But I don’t allow her to squirm away. I keep my hands planted where they are so I can taste, lick, suck, and nibble all the sensitive spots that make her moan. Her hips writhe, pushing her against my mouth, and I can’t get enough. I’ve never tasted something so sweet and tempting as her arousal.
When Camryn buries her hands in my hair, holding me in place, I increase my pace. My tongue moves in lazy, yet sure circles over that bundle of nerves that I know will make her detonate.
Soon, she’s making sexy whimpers and circling her hips. Gripping both of her ass cheeks, I pull her even closer. Right onto my tongue as I lick her, over and over at a brutal pace.
“Sterling!” She moans my name, tugging on my hair as she comes.
I continue licking and sucking through all the tremors in her sexy body as the orgasm crashes through her. Her body pulses with her release as I kiss my way up to her navel.
And then we’re eye to eye.
“Fuck. Did that just happen,” she asks. “This is bad. This is really, really bad.”