She sighed. No, her win tonight was setting this all aside, going home and being with the man she loved. She didn’t want to think about the rest of it. They’d sacrificed enough. No more. Not tonight.
The door opened. One hand on her briefcase, Valerie stood to greet the uniformed officer. “All done?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am. I’ll escort you out.”
“Let’s go, Ricardo. Your momma’s waiting to take you home.”
He lifted his tear-ravaged face and stumbled to his feet. She fished another pack of tissue from her purse and passed it his way. It was empty by the time they reached the waiting room. His mother engulfed him in her broad arms. The family swarmed around them.
“He can go?” his mother called out.
“Yes, he can go.”
They shuffled toward the door and out, leaving the waiting room blissfully quiet. Only Valerie, Russell and Casey remained, both were on their feet, ready to leave.
“Make a decision?” she asked Casey.
Casey pushed out a hard breath. “I don’t know. We’ll see how they behave.” She jerked her head toward the working end of the station at the same time Dave Deacon walked out. He took one look at her and ducked back inside. Casey grinned. “Oh the power.” She snickered. “You two have a good night. Nice to see you back together.”
Yes, she was one of those in the know. One who knew how to keep her mouth shut. She had something of her own to lose if word got out about their after-hours activity. Though God help the soul who crossed Casey Sullivan. She wondered if that’s what sent Dave skittering for safety. Boy, she’d love to see that in group play. Dave Deacon, District Attorney, at the mercy of Casey Sullivan, Advocate for the People.
“Want to share the joke?” Russell pressed his hand against her lower back.
“Didn’t realize I was giving myself away.” Valerie headed for the door, stepping through when he opened it for her. “Ever wonder about those two?”
Russell frowned a little, then grinned. “No, but I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that one.”
“Fly, hell. I want a ringside seat.”
He squeezed a hug around her shoulders. “Aw, one of the many things I love about you. Voyeur with a little bit of exhibitionist mixed in for fun.”
“So we’re back to talking about the girls?”
“I have a lot to say to them.”
Considering the reporters that lay in wait ahead, that was a conversation that was going to have to wait. The news-grabbers were kept at bay by uniformed officers. The Estavarezes had gotten away without harassment. Even Casey had zipped by without pause. Of course, no one would realize at this point she was eyeing the case for possible civil suit. Valerie and Russell weren’t going to skate by without some explanation. Reporters shuffled into position like a deck of crisp new cards when they saw the two of them approach.
“A representative from the police department will be out shortly to explain this misunderstanding.” Russell shut them down without pause.
“You and Ms. Oswald arrived together. Why?”
They’d barely taken three steps when the question shot out. “I’ve got it,” he mumbled to Valerie, then turned and kept walking backward. “Car accident, remember? I was there. Took her home where most of you lay in wait.” Nasty but it was the truth. “We opted for a quick bite to eat, only to be called here.” He gave them his back and kept walking.
“You realize the jab went over their heads,” she said. Most of the time they were too busy thinking of their next question to hear anything said to them.
“I do. My place or yours?” He hit the key fob to unlock the car door.
“Mine. The sooner I can get out of these clothes the better.”
“My thoughts exactly,” he said as he opened the door for her.
Warmth rushed her body. “No more business tonight.”
“None, only pleasure. Yours…mine. I even turned my cell phone off.”
Good idea. She wanted no further interruptions. As she sank into the seat, she pulled her phone from her purse and turned it off. They could do this—shut the world out and be together. A clear separation between business and personal. Although, once word got out they might find themselves not having to worry about the business part of it anymore. It had to be love if they were willing to risk their careers. And if they kept their respective jobs, staying in love was going to be a business all its own.
What did being in love mean? Where did they go from here? So many questions swarmed through her head that Valerie didn’t realize they’d reached her house until Russell pulled into the driveway.
“I almost didn’t recognize the place without the news vans decorating the street,” he said.
“I’ll get the garage door opener.” She fumbled through the console between them.
“Don’t bother.” He cut the engine. “I don’t have a damn thing to hide. I don’t care who sees.”
“Russell, if someone—”
He cut off her words with a kiss. “You’re all that matters,” he said once it ended.
In reality they both knew that wasn’t true. Their jobs mattered a lot, too much. She let the words stand, wanting to believe them, to trust they could work beyond the professional demands they placed upon themselves. Two type-A attorneys, facing off in court? Coming at each other full-on time and again? They’d implode before long. Explode would be more like it, destroying all this in the process. Might as well enjoy the hot sex while they could. Because one thing Valerie did know—sex didn’t get any better than what she had with Russell.
“I’ve missed you.” She traced her finger along the curve of his cheek.
“I’ve missed you too.” He dropped his hand to her hip. “I’m pretty close to seeing if I still have what it takes to have sex in a small car. I’d prefer to not have my teenage delusions of grandeur blasted to smithereens.”
Valerie laughed. “Then what are we waiting for?” She reached for the door handle.
Russell pulled her hand away. “I’ll get that.”
He knew how awkward it made her feel to sit in the car while he got the door. At least it had in the past. Now her heart raced with every stride he took around the front. He was coming for her, honoring her, about to make her his. She’d taken all that for granted before, nothing more than an annoyance. How could she have missed the obvious foreplay?
The door opened and he extended his palm to her. Smiling up at her knight, Valerie slipped her fingers into his. Tiny electric shocks sizzled between them. Russell smiled and drew her into his arms.
“I’ve missed this too,” he said.
“Me too,” she whispered.
He tilted his head to one side. “Have you?”
Valerie cleared her throat. “I have.”
“I missed a lot of things.” Hot hands cupped her ass and clamped her against his erection. “Opening your door, walking with my hand at your back, quiet weekend getaways, dinners at home, kissing you in public.”
She laughed at that one. “You’ve never kissed me in public.” They’d kept their relationship very much under wraps.
“As I said… I missed a lot of things.” He slanted his mouth over hers, gliding his tongue deep. She clung to him, lost in the magic of being possessed, of feeling their hearts beat in tandem, of knowing that steel wedge between them was all hers. She drew her foot over his calf as he feathered one hand down her thigh. They froze before they both got what they wanted—her leg locked around his waist, his cock wedged against her crotch.
“We’d better take this inside,” they said together.
They negotiated the narrow, winding sidewalk to her front door with her barely a step in front. His hand against her back kept them tethered. She readied her key to open the door. Russell beat her to it, thrusting his own key into the lock. God, the things that did to her insides.
“Was that little quiver just for me?” He brushed his lips against her ear.
“It was and there’s more where th
at came from.”
He pushed the door open and ushered her inside, her body tucked up nice and close to his. Once they crossed the threshold, she turned in his arms and peeled his jacket from his broad shoulders. The scent of raw male engulfed her. No aphrodisiac known to mankind was more potent. She folded the jacket and draped it over the nearby sofa. Oh how she’d missed seeing it tossed there at the end of a long day. One of the countless number of things she’d missed all this time.
The click of the deadbolt made her heartbeat skip. Valerie felt the heat of his approach. He braced his hands on either side of her, blocking her against the sofa. His breaths matched hers, hard and ragged. If she pushed her rear back there was no doubt what she’d find waiting for her.
“We’re wearing entirely too much clothing.”
Russell drew her hair away from her neck. Hot kisses dotted a path down the back of her neck. He caught the tab of her zipper between his teeth and pulled it down, skimming the dress from her inch by inch. She stepped free of heels and dress when the material reached her ankles. Squatting before her, he turned her around to face him. Fingers feathered up the outsides of her legs. His breath whispered up the insides. He nudged his face into the cleft of her thighs, inhaled, then nipped at the crotch of her panties and dragged them down, down, down. And yeah, those quivers were all for him, and he damn well knew it. So were her sighs and moans, her body and heart.
Valerie gripped the sofa, pushing her pelvis forward, spreading her legs a little farther apart. Russell took the invitation without hesitation. His tongue looped up her thighs, first one and then the other, over and over until he reached the top and paused much too long for her patience. A test or a tease? Valerie didn’t care. She combed her fingers through his hair, holding his head in place but not pushing forward. He slipped his tongue between her labia, mapping the folds and peaks. She writhed into the caress, arching farther back onto the sofa with every sweep of his tongue.
Russell wedged his shoulders between her thighs, drew her calves over his shoulders and pushed his fingers deep inside her pussy. She cried out and scrambled for a handhold to keep from falling. He captured her hard clit between his lips and thrashed his tongue over it. Fingers pressed high and rubbed hard. Climax rolled over her in sweet waves that made her want to melt in his arms. He stayed with her through the peak, then eased away with kisses up her belly toward her breasts. A flick of his fingers unhooked her bra. He captured his prize with a deep suckle, wrapped his arms around her and pulled them both over the back of the sofa and onto it.
He was astride her now. Other than the jacket she’d removed, only his shoes were gone. The rest of his clothing remained. Valerie plucked at the knot on his tie. Russell yanked it free. She moved to his shirt buttons, pushing each through their holes while he shrugged it off. He’d yet to pull his mouth from her breasts. Arrows of pleasure speared to her clit, reigniting the swell. She swore if she didn’t get him inside her soon, she’d die. A flick of her fingers released his belt. Another made quick work of the fly hook. She shoved her hands inside his trousers and boxers, forcing the zipper to part.
“Goddamn, woman,” he groaned around a mouthful of tit.
Farther still and she cupped his hard balls. That jerked his head up on a hard moan. He jumped to his feet and struggled free of his clothing. His erection bobbed free, that drop of pre-cum begging to be licked. Valerie opened her arms and legs to him.
“Uh-uh.” Russell straddled her waist. “I’m only human. You can’t flash the girls like that and expect me to ignore them.”
Valerie grinned. “You mean these?” She cupped her breasts, shoved them together and thumbed the hard nipples.
“I do.” He slid his cock between them. Valerie twirled her tongue around the head, then sucked it into her mouth.
He groaned and fell forward a little more, bracing his hands on the armrest. She lifted her knees behind him, holding him closer. He fucked like a beast and she loved every second, loved that she had the power to reduce him to this level. His balls felt like hot coals over her heart. She locked her lips around his cock head, flashed her tongue over the salty tip and took his pounding thrusts. Each unfettered sound that tore from his throat felt like an homage to love and a sad reminder of all they’d given up these last months. Tears welled in her eyes and fell unrestricted down her cheeks. Valerie sucked harder, determined to give him a night he’d never forget.
She felt the tension in his thighs, the just-for-her quivers. He froze…then came in a blast of heat that flooded her mouth. She swallowed every spurt, then as he had with her, released him slowly and bathed his groin with kisses. Russell slid atop her, cupped her face and kissed her once, twice…
“You’re crying.” He brushed the tears away with his thumb. “Why? Did I hurt you?”
“Never.” Valerie fanned her fingers over his ribs, around to his back. “I missed you so much it overwhelmed me.”
“I know, honey. I know.” He kissed the corners of her mouth. “Never again.”
“But—”
“Never.” Another kiss.
“Our jobs—”
“No work talk tonight. We’ve given enough of ourselves to that. It’s time to take something back for ourselves.” He stood and extended his hand to her. “Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.”
“I like the sound of that.” She grabbed his hand and pulled herself to her feet. “After a pit stop.”
“Ladies first.”
He gave her a wink, a light pat on the ass and started to retrieve their scattered clothing while she dashed to the bathroom. She found him standing in her closet, perusing their selection of toys in the small maple dresser when she exited.
“So many choices, so little time,” she said from the doorway.
Russell laughed. “Oh we’re taking the time. I’m just trying to figure out where to start.” He came up next to her, wrapped an arm around her and tugged her close. “Trying to decide what you need.”
The emphasis on that last word did deliciously naughty things to her libido. “I can’t wait.”
“Hmm…we’ll see about that.” He squeezed her ass and headed for the bathroom.
Smiling, Valerie peeled the bedcoverings down, plumped the pillows, then slithered into the center of the queen-sized bed just as he returned. Russell passed an appreciative gaze over her body. One hand idly stroked his swelling cock. Was he pondering his next move, or toying with her, making her wait? He glanced in the direction of the closet, then those smoldering eyes were back on her. He grinned and walked to the foot of the bed. Another glance told him the restraints they’d used had been removed. Valerie expected a reprimand or for him to rectify the discrepancy. Instead, he grabbed her feet.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing.” He pulled her to the end of the bed and dragged her upright. Just as quickly she found herself facedown over his knee.
The spanking started without any preliminaries. The first smack managed to shock her, the second led her into that place of bliss Valerie loved so much. Steady strikes rained over her ass. She lifted into each one, gripping the sheet in white-knuckled fists to keep from wiggling around to ride her clit over his knee. The feel of his cock wedged against her hip didn’t help. His breaths grew ragged—the perfect match to her own.
He stopped as quickly as he’d begun. “How do you feel?” He dipped his fingers down the crack of her ass and right to her pussy. “Nice and slick, just the way I like it.” Russell pressed his thumb inside and danced his fingers over her clit. Orgasm burst upon her. The aftermath left her limp and gasping over his lap.
“Very nice.” He smacked her hot bottom. “Into the frame.”
The command spurred her into action. She craved what was coming. No one welded a flogger with as much finesse as Russell. The “frame” was the doorway to her bedroom with brackets attached on the inside to bind her wrists and ankles. It wasn’t an ideal setup, but it was better than most and certainly better than nothing. Valeri
e snagged a scrunchie from her dresser to secure her hair atop her head. By the time Russell returned with the baby-soft leather cuffs, she was spread and in position.
He secured her ankles first, then slithered his free hand up her body as he stood flush against her until his cock was tucked into her lower back. He rocked into her, kneading first one breast and then the other, twirling her nipples to long, hard points until she whimpered from the sensation. Seemingly satisfied, he skidded his fingers up her arm, secured her wrist and looped the safety release around her hand, then did the same with the other.
Russell grabbed her hips, raked his cock between her buttocks and slid between her thighs. He indulged himself in a few strokes, sliding his cock head over her clit every time. His grunt said things a thousand words couldn’t manage. A sigh pulled him away. Valerie monitored his return to the closet. There was the whisper of something she couldn’t place, and though she tried to crane her neck around to satisfy her curiosity, her position didn’t allow the movement.
“Little nosy, don’t you think?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice right behind her. Before she could summon a reply, he cupped her breasts and rasped his gloved hands over her nipples. Valerie closed her eyes and arched into the chamois leather. How could she have forgotten how good this felt?
“Oh my…”
“I know.” His voice rumbled against her ear. “And I promise not to leave any part of your body untouched.” He rubbed his cock against her back, leaving a moist trail in its wake.
“Looks like I’m not the only one moist and slick,” she managed to say.
Russell chuckled. “Definitely not.” He eased far enough away to land a whack across her backside. “Now quit chatting.”
She thought of challenging the edict by asking why, but Valerie knew all too well what would happen if she did. He’d stop, pure and simple. Said and done and over for the night. And that was the last thing she wanted. So she kept her eyes closed and gave herself over to sensation.
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