The Right Direction

by Kathy Coopmans

  I drop to my knees, undo his fly, free his thick length, and inhale his heady scent without saying a single word. I’ve missed him as much as he’s missed me. Maybe more. “Damn, Joslyn. Get those lips around my cock.” His deep roar flames across my skin. Leaving me burning.

  When I open my mouth and take him in, his legs tense and the back of his head hits the door with a thud.

  “Fuck,” he whimpers when my tongue darts out to lick around his velvety head. I grip him firmly in my hand, watching as his cock jerks. His hands cradle the side of my head, his hips thrusting into my mouth. I hollow my cheeks and suck his cock. My hand is moving with every plunge and draw. Sucking him deep into my throat, I weave my way back up by swirling my tongue, pumping the base, and repeating again and again. He pushes in deeper. I moan. His salty taste is consuming all my thoughts. God, I love this man.

  Just when I think he’s going to come in my mouth, he jerks himself free, lifts me up under my arms, and tosses me over his shoulder. A strong hand comes down across my ass. “Fuck, the things I want to do with you. You drive me out of my Goddamn mind,” he belts out. My backside stings, but it quickly turns to pleasure when he unzips my dress before he sets me on the floor and strips it from my body. He takes a knee and unfastens my shoes, slipping them both off and chucking them over his shoulder.

  I’m so lost in every exposed piece of his muscular frame he teases me with when he makes quick work of his clothes and stands in front of me stroking his cock. My breathing is out of control; my heart is thrumming through my chest. “Get in the center of the bed on your hands and knees.”

  God, the way he says that has my wetness running down my leg.

  I do what he asks without second-guessing. This is how Roman is; he’s a man who likes to be in charge. He slaps my other cheek, pushes down onto my back, and shoves a finger up inside me. I convulse around him, clench his finger as he begins to press and circle against my hard clit. “Holy shit,” I cry out.

  “You’re going to take this and more. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to stand up there tonight and sing for you? Fuck, it drove me crazy the way you sang every word to my songs. Now, I want to hear you sing for me. Your sweet tight pussy has my finger inside of you. Your clit is on fire. I swear I can feel it pounding in my Goddamn ears. Let me give you all of me. I want to make you scream. I want you to come so fucking hard. I want to fuck you harder and then turn right around and fuck you again. I want to be buried so far inside of you that all I feel is you.”

  Oh, sweet Lord, he jolts right into action without giving my brain time to catch up. He doesn’t let up when he adds another finger and stretches me wider. My hips begin to rock back on his fingers. The wicked pleasure on my clit is sizzling.

  I cry out in agony when they slide out of me and feel the passion of his tongue against my hard little bundle of hammering nerves. He bites down, and I explode. Roman continues to feast on me with his dirty-talking mouth, and I swear I hear the words he told me in the car the first time I came here about me seeing the moon, the stars, and the sky come to life. I fly.

  The need to beg him to stop is ready to coast out of my mouth. Sweat is dripping down my back. My mind goes haywire while he’s torturing me and making me sing just like he wanted.

  I scream his name. I feel alive. I feel wanted, needed, and loved.

  Another orgasm is building inside of me. I have no control over my body as my sex clenches once again.

  He replaces his mouth with his cock, filling me completely. His fingers are digging into my hips as he thrusts himself into me several times before he grabs my hair and tugs my head back.

  He fucks me like he said he would, our bodies making their own kind of sweet, sweet music with the sound of our skin slapping together. “Fuck, you feel amazing,” he yells.

  “So do you,” I whimper. He pulls my hair hard, my head snapping back on a moan.

  He’s relentless. On a mission to rob me blind of all my senses. And just when I think he’s done, he gives me more until I’m spiraling out of control, my body weakening as he continues to drive inside of me.

  “Roman,” I say, my voice chuck-full of emotion.

  “Unforgettable. I love you,” he whispers in my ear, his grip on my hair loosening. His strokes fast and sensual as his warmth fills me.

  I’m too exhausted to hold myself up anymore. I crash onto my stomach, my arms and legs giving out. Roman rolls off me. Our gazes collide, his chest heaving, legs still tangled in a heap of sweat.

  Sometime in the middle of the night after another round of incredible, mind-numbing sex and Roman wound around me fast asleep, the darkness of the night doesn’t help me sleep. My body’s fatigue doesn’t either. Time trickles by as the numbers on the clock change slowly. That unsettled feeling of dread keeps me up all night.

  Chapter 19

  Joslyn

  Not always, but once in a while, I’m handed a criminal case where avoiding the press can be a difficult task. It’s usually the district attorney’s office who steps in and tries to smooth down the worried citizens and fill them in on their side of the story.

  Before a criminal case begins, the defense attorney tries to have a professional managing relationship with the prosecutor and a friendly familiarity to be able to negotiate on behalf of his or her client. Most of the time, this is a strategic move on my part because if I come off knowing precisely what I'm talking about, I’m in a much better position to do my job as the case goes to trial or a plea bargain is discussed and agreed upon. These reasons alone were why I did what I did when Grim and I parked and started toward the stairs.

  This morning was one of those days when the press was all over the place. And even though I knew they were not here for me due to a high-profile murder case, I chose to turn right back around and call the judge who helped Roman and me escape a few weeks ago to ask if he would let me in. I had to, or I’d walk into the meeting like the one I’m headed shaken up and unable to speak. I wasn’t about to do that to my client.

  A professional and friendly relationship between all parties is important for all sides. However, one should never have to look into eyes that are narrowed down to angry slits of someone whose social status claims he’s still living in Montana when it’s clear as the loud intuition ringing in my ears that he’s moved back as he stands at the end of the hallway with a briefcase in his hand, looking comfortable talking to a couple who appear to be elated with whatever he’s telling them.

  My own elation over walking out of a successful meeting where I was able to plead down my client's case to six months in jail instead of the three to five years in prison he was looking at for a crime he pled guilty to is gone.

  My feet root themselves to the floor as he makes his way toward me, and my suspicions rise enough to cause panic to settle in my stomach.

  I’ve learned over the years how to read people like a book if they let their guard down. Different traits to pick up on when I become suspicious a witness is either lying or a danger to others. And the man walking toward me is highly dangerous. In fact, he’s scaring the ever-loving shit out of me right now.

  “Logan, what are you doing here? It’s so good to see you.” Somehow, I manage to play my poker face and push my words through my constricted lungs while he smiles deviously. I’m shaking. Vomit churns my gut when he scans me up and down before stopping close enough to me that to a passerby we’d appear to be having an intimate conversation.

  “It’s good to see you, too. I was offered a job I couldn’t resist. The pay is unbelievable. I’ve been here for, oh, I don’t know, two weeks or so. I tried calling your office the other day to see if you wanted to have dinner so I could tell you I was back, but of course, I was hung up on. Now I know why. Sorry you're going through a rough time. I’ll be honest, though, never saw that one coming.” There’s something in the way he speaks that causes my mouth to turn down and my suspicions to rise even higher. It angers me to the point that I go to step around him without sayi
ng another word. His arm whips out and snatches hold of my hand and squeezes until I wince.

  “Let go.” I raise my voice. The overwhelming urge to scream hits me as those bad vibes slink up my arm.

  “Scream, and you’ll be sorry. So will Roman. If I say we talk, we talk.”

  “Fuck you,” I huff. He squeezes, then jerks me into him until my shoulder cries out.

  “Fucking you was part of my problem. I do not appreciate being investigated without my Goddamn knowledge. Do you have any idea how hard it is to try and pretend to be in one state when you're really in another? It cost me a mint. Now, either we talk, or I’ll be knocking on your boyfriend’s door and telling him all about the time I fucked you on your desk.” I cringe. What in the hell is going on?

  His hardened actions throw me off balance. This is unlike the man who was always gentle and kind, caring in a way that drew my attraction to him in the first place. I’d dare to say he paid much more attention in school in learning how to read a liar in order to play one than he did anything else.

  “I’m not talking to you about anything. Let go of my arm, or you’ll find yourself being thrown in jail.” I try to jerk away, but he shoves open the door to one of the meeting rooms and hauls me inside, slamming it behind him hard enough I jump. “There are cameras everywhere in this building. You just made a mistake, you asshole,” I sneer as I try to step around him. Only he shoves me against the wall and cages me in by pressing his body up to mine. His eyes are flaring in anger.

  Oh God. I’m going to vomit.

  “You think I’m scared. All I have to do is tell them we had a lover’s quarrel. That should look really good for you. The innocent little woman who isn’t innocent at all.” I ignore the icy chill he’s flashing across my face. This man is out of his mind if he thinks I’m going to bow down to his command.

  “Tell them whatever you want. I’m as determined in showing my strength in my personal life as I am in court. You, however, have so much more to lose than I do. I will wipe your ass with the paper they print your lies on. What the hell is the matter with you? Jesus, Logan. Now, step away from me, or I’ll scream.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without you. Not until I get what I need. I want you to imagine my surprise when I found out that the woman who broke my heart and stole a job right out from under me is Roman Nixon’s ex.” He grounds me with green eyes full of an expression I can’t put my finger on. It perturbs me and sends a cold shiver up my spine. I’ve never had a reason to be frightened of this man. I am now. I’m trying hard to ignore he just said I broke his heart at the same time trying to figure out what he’s talking about with a job. I had mine before we ever met. My brain is eating away at me trying to work this all out.

  “I don’t have a clue what you're talking about. If you're angry because Roman was trying to find out who was working with Gwen, then you’re a bigger fool than I was to think we were friends. Surely, you can’t be mad at someone for trying to protect me. Unless you have something to hide.” He is hiding. He’s hiding so, so much that he’s fallen desperate.

  He diverts his eyes to my mouth. Lingers there for longer than I like before lifting his gaze and hitting me with a cold glare I decipher this time. It’s him. He’s the one behind it all. I feel absolutely sick. My stomach spirals and my legs start shaking in warning to give out from under me. This cannot be happening.

  “I never kept anything from you, Logan. I simply chose not to talk about it. I cared about you. I’ve never once thought about the women in your past, let alone felt I had the right to ask. What happened in your personal life before or after me is none of my business. The same goes for my life. I was there for you when you cried into the bottom of dozens of whiskey bottles after your business took a nosedive due to you becoming partners with the wrong group of lawyers. They ran your name through the mud. I did everything I could to build your confidence back up. Helped you find a job instead of taking one from you. You’ve completely lost me on that one. I told you how great of an attorney you are, and then you stroll back into town and abuse me. I’m not a woman who lets people get away with walking all over me. You’ve completely caught me off guard. I assure you this, though, you're not going to get away with trying to scare me. You failed. I’d like to know why you think any of this concerns you in the first place. What the fuck is your problem with all of this?” I’m playing dumb. My eyes divert to his hand that reaches over and locks the door. I swallow my panic down, open my mouth to scream when he covers it and gets to within a hairsbreadth of my face. Dumb didn’t work. He knows I’m onto him.

  His eyes suddenly flash up to mine, and he is manic. I suck in air through my nose when his entire demeanor changes. It sets me on high alert. Makes my skin shift and rattles my bones.

  “As a lawyer, you should know not to answer a question with a question. I’ve never been good at sharing, Joslyn. I’ve kept a lot of shit inside when it comes to you, and that’s on me. This, though, doesn’t sit well with me. You're Goddamn lucky the press isn’t destroying your reputation the same way they did mine. Ring a Goddamn fucking bell in that pretty little head? I would love to sit back and see them rip you from your ass to your fucking mouth. It’s no wonder you’re good at your job because you are a fucking good liar. You call yourself my friend when we both know you never gave a shit about me. That’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told. You used me to scratch an itch. Not giving a fuck that I wanted more. And the minute he comes along, you jump in his bed. You're no better than she is.” She? The man is talking in circles. I have no idea who she is or what he’s talking about. But then I do know who she is. I’m struck in the head and it causes my pulse to crash so loud in my ears that tears hit my lids.

  “Get away from me. I was never yours to share. I don’t know what’s gotten into you to make you lash out at me. If what’s happening to me is bringing back memories for you, then I’m sorry, Logan,” I snap as I plant my hands on his chest and push. He doesn’t budge.

  Horror joins the sudden gust of ice that has stormed into this tiny room. I’m suffocating. I want to fling out words to strike him down and get him to let me leave. The man towering over me is not the same man I’ve grown to care about. I swallow around the lump that builds in my stomach and moves upward until the bitter taste of bile scratches at the back of my throat.

  “I don’t care what you or anyone else think about Roman and me. I honestly don’t. I know who we are. We’ve done nothing wrong. Why didn’t you come to me and tell me how you felt when we called it off? I thought we worked it out. You said you understood when I told you I needed to plant my feet on the ground. Do you even hear yourself right now? My God, I don’t even know who you are.” I’m desperate for him to listen to me. Reaching for a straw that isn’t there to help me suck all this down. I’m not about to touch on the subject of him keeping things inside. It shakes me up to even let my thoughts go there.

  He scoffs and pushes his erection into me. The hostility is pulsing off him in waves. I don’t want to be anywhere near him anymore. This sudden change comes at me out of nowhere. “What’s gotten into me? You did. From the day I met you, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. You let me fuck you, crawled underneath my skin. So sweet and kind. I sat by and watched men hit on you when we went out. Grew so Goddamn hard when you would grind your perky little ass up against me. You’ve turned me inside out. Fucked me up. And then the minute I leave town, you forget I ever existed.” I flinch when his hands come down and smack hard on the wall beside my head. His words, they hurt me more than anything has in a long time. I want to curl into a ball and cry, but I won’t let what he’s saying get me down. They might be stinging and hurting me right now. However, Logan is a grown man, and whatever he’s done he has brought on himself.

  “You didn’t move back here for a job, did you? You came here for me. Or were you even in Montana at all?” I mutter.

  “Of course I was there. I had to get away from you. What the fuck do you care if I’ve
moved back here or not? You're too caught up in him. Just like everyone else is.”

  “What are you talking about? Who’s this she? You are talking crazy.” I know who it is; I just want him to say it.

  I shudder when his gaze pierces through me like a knife. Pointy, jagged edges are slicing me right down the middle. My heart burns from the red-hot coals he’s placed on my chest. I sense more from him, too. As if he’s hiding something from me, and yet he’s too caught up in his wild emotions to spit it out. Something he’s gotten himself into and doesn’t know how to get out of it. But that isn’t my problem. Logan has poisoned the fond memories I have of him. I want to scrub my body until I bleed to get his scent off me. Fry my brain and erase everything I know about him.

  “She is the woman who is helping me destroy you and Roman. Now, let’s go.”

  Chapter 20

  Roman

  “Roman, please let me in, I’m begging you. It’s urgent. It’s about Joslyn. Please.” The hard pounding on my door has been going on for a couple of minutes. The guys and I have all done our best to ignore it. My annoyance with Gwen beating on my door meets its breaking point when Joslyn’s name falls from her lips. I warned her.

  “Fuck this. Someone call the cops. She won’t answer my phone calls and then disappears. I don’t need this shit from her anymore.” I cave, drop my guitar in its case, and push out of my chair. It topples over with a loud crack on the tiled floor.

  “What the fuck are you doing here? I thought I made myself clear when I said I wanted you gone and out of my life!” I yell before I have the door all the way open.

  Gwen comes stumbling through. The woman is a mess. Tears are leaking out of her bloodshot eyes. Her hair is frizzy instead of smooth and straight. Her entire body is shaking. I’ve never seen her like this. Desperation seems to be pouring out of her. “What are you going on about?” An overwhelming urge of alarm seizes hold of my gut as I watch my ex-wife battle to get the words out of her mouth.