Fixing Justice

by Halliday, Suzanne

  She’d been surprised and swept off her feet when Wallace had taken an interest in her. During the year they were together, the Earl had been painstakingly sincere and respectful while insisting their relationship take a slow course. At the time, she’d thought it wonderfully romantic even though it meant the sum total of their physical relationship consisted of a few kisses and one, less than stellar, make-out session. Being wooed and fawned over by any man, aristocrat or not, was every girl’s secret wish, wasn’t it? Finding out it was all a ruse made her feel stupid and naïve.

  She wanted what her parents had when it came to romance. Her mom and dad had been so in love; at least that was how everyone who knew the happy couple told the story. Her mother had been a twenty-one year old beauty queen when she met and fell hopelessly in love with a young lawyer from Atlanta. She and her lover eloped just months after they’d met with Victoria arriving a year later. They lived a charmed and perfect life for ten years until illness claimed her father’s young life. Their love had been so powerful and infinite that all these years later, her beautiful, talented, successful mother had not only never remarried, she rarely if ever toyed with the dating scene.

  Comparing her parents’ love story with some conceited aristocratic jerk didn’t come close to the image of the perfect mate she’d dreamed of since girlhood. And then there was Draegyn. The hard-bodied, sexy secret agent might be making her panties damp, but he was not to be taken seriously. There was no way to fix that kind of self-important belief system. He’d always be a dog, sniffing after every available female’s skirt he could find.

  Still, after lights out, her thoughts conjured up Draegyn sneaking into her bed. She imagined the blond Adonis teasing her with risqué suggestions. She’d fallen asleep while visions of hot and sweaty sex with the fair-haired super-hunk played out in her mind. She awoke feeling more exhausted and edgy than when she’d fallen into bed.

  Letting loose with the mother of all heavy sighs, Tori glanced at the time and saw she needed to be getting ready for work. In the bathroom, she stared at herself in the mirror, taking detailed stock of her appearance. Wearing a threadbare concert t-shirt that had actually been her mother’s, she couldn’t help but scowl at her uninspiring reflection. Whipping the t-shirt over her head and tossing into a nearby hamper, the image staring back at her was of someone who had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Without much in the way of boobage, and a figure that was plain-vanilla at best, the sloppy hair and wretched glower defined her way more than her body did. People rarely looked past what was visible on the outside. Maybe that was why her love life had been less than stellar. She was hardly the type to inspire great passion in a lover.

  Oh, for heaven’s sake, she thought. This was ridiculous. Why did everything always have to circle around to that? Couldn’t she just focus on work and be content? Crying for something she’d never had, and probably didn’t really exist anyway, was no way to live.

  Besides, men like Draegyn were not boyfriend or husband material. He lived in a world occupied by polished, worldly-wise women. Supermodels and actresses. She’d checked him out online. If you believed everything written about him in the media, he had a sexual history as long as her arm, with a cast of glamorous, elegant females who knew how to satisfy a man like him. He was trouble with a capital T and way, way, way out of her league.

  Switching on the shower and turning the temperature to sizzle, Tori stepped under the stinging spray and tried to erase these vexing thoughts from her mind. Best she remember the shit storm her life was recovering from before she did or said something stupid. Draegyn St. John might be the sexiest man alive but he was also technically her boss and a step too far down a road she best not travel. No, women like her were doomed to be sensible. Being practical and down-to-earth was her lot in life. Plain and simple.

  After another busy day, Tori was home trying to relax but Jesus, her nerves were frayed. It didn’t help any that she’d lost her appetite for anything except oceans of coffee and the occasional bowl of ice cream.

  It had been two weeks of sheer hell at work as she tried to steer clear of Draegyn, which was no easy feat. No matter what else was going on around the compound, he found time daily to stop by and spend time with his brother. Avoiding him was impossible considering how closely she worked with Alex.

  It didn’t help that he was constantly goading her any time they were alone or near each other for longer than five seconds. He wanted her to lose control and throw a hissy fit. She could feel it. That was why he tried so hard to get under her skin. Unfortunately, it was working. Though she fought to remain impassive, his attitude was messing with her head. Two weeks of it had all but wiped her out.

  Grabbing her cell phone, she flipped through a bunch of playlists until she found one that wouldn’t make her weepy or get her all worked up. Snapping the phone into the music system dock, she adjusted the volume as a classic soft rock song came through the speakers. It was just what she needed to unwind and relax on a Friday night.

  With a new group of visitors arriving on Monday for a series of training events, Family Justice was gathering for the evening in the big conference room for a movie night before things got hectic. Carmen said it was a chance for everyone to chill in advance of a busy week. She’d been invited, of course. Everyone was. But she was feeling fuzzy, tired, and vulnerable. Not a good time to be socializing.

  Eyeing the stack of books on the side table, she decided against diving into one. A racy, erotic story wasn’t what she needed right now. No, that wouldn’t do at all. Her dreams starring the sexy secret agent were torment enough. Adding literary sexual frustration to that seemed sort of stupid.

  Two glasses of wine later, she was camped out on the big comfy loveseat, long after the sunset had shifted to darkness. Tori loved the simple stillness of the desert nights. It was so quiet and calming. When one of her all-time favorite oldies started playing, she couldn’t help but sing along. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the long sleepless nights that filled her voice with emotion, all she knew was how the song made her feel. The emotions it was unleashing in her soul. And just like that, out of nowhere, she burst out crying. What started as a sniveling whimper quickly escalated to a full-on crying jag.

  Okay. This nonsense has gone on long enough, Drae thought as he looked around the room filled with people and nodded his head for the hundredth time in realization that Victoria hadn’t come out for the evening’s get-together. He wasn’t stupid. Ever since he caught her eating him alive with her eyes out by the pool, she’d been avoiding him. When it became apparent that she was going to be a no-show, his irritation level went up by degrees as the evening wore on.

  He tried to ignore the heavy feeling invading his groin but the thought of Victoria and her ballsy attitude kept flitting in and out of his mind. Why his cock woke up and made an unwelcome guest appearance every damn time he thought about her, which was often, was a continuing puzzle. She just wasn’t his type by any stretch of the imagination. His usual modus operandi with a beautiful woman was to imagine her naked in his bed. If his libido seemed interested, game on. With the little mouse though, picturing her naked wasn’t so easy. He had no idea what kind of body lurked under the hideous clothes she wore. Confusing matters even more was her talent for making herself so bland and unremarkable as to be rendered nearly invisible.

  Just about the time the group of super-heroes joined forces to defeat a movie-perfect villain, Drae threw in the towel and quietly slipped away from the group screening. He needed to find out what little miss do-gooder was up to.

  There were a couple of studio-style apartments on the property where he learned Victoria had been staying. Living in town had been an option. Not everyone was a resident in the main compound, but according to Carmen, who seemed to know a little bit of everything, Victoria preferred some privacy, staying mostly to herself when not working. All signs pointed to someone who was running. Or hiding. Maybe a combination of both.

  Climbing
the stairs with a light tread, he arrived outside her door, tapping lightly to get her attention. When the sound of sobbing was the only indication that she was home, his gut tightened. What the hell, man? Was that her weeping for all she was worth? He tried knocking again, this time a bit harder. “Victoria. Open up.”

  Still nothing. Shit. Oh well. Resting one hand at his waist and raking the other across his head till he was gripping the back of his neck, he thought, maybe it is best this way. He shouldn’t involve himself in whatever was fueling her tears. That was not the way he was built. When his feet started to move in retreat, he paused for half a second, long enough for her whimpering sobs to reach inside his chest and give a mighty squeeze. Reflexively, his hand tested the doorknob and finding it unlocked, gave a little shove, opening the door to the scene inside.

  She was huddled in the corner of a small loveseat, arms crossed on the padded back while her head hung and shoulders visibly shook. Deep shuddering sobs wracked her body, giving the impression of a rag doll caught in the throes of overwhelming sorrow. It was too much for his brain to take in so his body took over, forcing him to move toward the despondent woman.

  “Victoria?” Gulping at the ragged sound of his own voice, he had the distinct impression that the floor was falling away underneath him.

  Her head jolted when he spoke. Red-rimmed eyes overflowing with tears pinned him to the spot. “Get out!” she screamed as a sob ripped from her throat.

  “No,” he gritted at her, surprising himself with uncharacteristic emotion clogging his voice. He gestured at her dishevelment and asked, “What’s wrong?”

  She scrambled off the loveseat, jumping to her feet in a tangle of shaking arms and legs. “You can’t come in here!” she wailed.

  While his mind analyzed her distress, taking note of every word and action, his libido fired up at the sight of her in a pair of baby-doll style pajamas that sent his pulses racing. He didn’t need to wonder anymore what was under the ugly clothes.

  At a little over six feet, Drae might be the smallest in stature compared to Cam’s impressive height and Alex’s solid build, but next to her he was a generous half-foot in height taller. The picture she presented was delightfully feminine with an added fragility from her crying jag which only added to her appeal. She had beautifully shaped legs with small feet and delicate looking ankles. Wondering what those legs would feel like wrapped around his hips and if she would dig her feet into his butt as he rode her into oblivion shouldn’t have been a thought he entertained in this situation. But he did, dammit.

  The cut and style of her pajama top wasn’t revealing until she went to snatch a tissue from the coffee table. As she bent over, the top gaped enough for him to get a clear view of her perfect breasts. The way they swung and the modest handful in size told him they were all natural, topped with tantalizingly puckered nipples that made his mouth actually water. Down boy, down, he chanted silently as his cock woke up and stood at attention.

  Blowing her nose with an unladylike honk and sniffling like crazy, she watched him warily while angrily scrubbing the tears from her eyes. “I said get out Draegyn. I don’t want you here.”

  She was trying to conceal her distress with a flash of female bravado, but he wasn’t fooled for a second. It wouldn’t take much for the waterworks to start flowing again. “I get that Victoria, and I’ll leave you to it once I know you’re alright.” His eyes narrowed when he spied the way her hands trembled as she twisted and crumpled the tissue she held.

  Stomping her foot, she tried snarling at him, and he wondered if she realized just how adorable she looked. “I don’t want any help. Leave me be,” she hiccupped as fresh tears streamed down her blotchy face.

  Not knowing exactly what to do, Drae’s inner good-guy took control of the situation. Going to her, he grabbed hold in the same moment that he sank down onto the loveseat, effectively bringing her down onto his lap. When her perfect ass thumped against his hardness, he had to swallow quickly and shut his eyes for a second against the blazing desire that shot through him.

  “Tell me what’s wrong, honey,” he murmured as his senses filled with an awareness of her that emptied his brain of coherent thought. She smelled like an apple orchard, and something else, a scent unique to her alone. A curtain opened inside his walled-off heart exposing a place waiting to be filled. He hadn’t expected to feel the way he did with her body trembling in his arms. Holding her tight, he sat there for an eternity as she sobbed into his t-shirt. Liking the way she fit so perfectly on his lap wasn’t helping any. In fact, it wasn’t helping at all. He let her cry it out, running his hands up and down her back in slow strokes meant to soothe her anguish.

  Speaking in a gentle voice he told her over and over that everything would be all right, although he had no idea what that meant. He just knew her tears were ripping him apart. As the crying slowed, he laid his chin against the top of her head. They fit together like puzzle pieces, and it felt oddly right. Eventually, she raised her head off his chest.

  “Oh my God,” she cried. “I’ve snotted all over your shirt!” Squirming like a fish tossed on dry land, she wiggled off his lap, diving for the box of tissues. He stood when she did, quickly adjusting his jeans when the bulge under his zipper pulsed uncomfortably.

  This time when she bent over, he was treated to the sight of her bottom clad in a pair of skimpy pajama shorts, with the hint of her ass cheeks peeking out. Turning to him with a tissue to use on his shirt, an arc of electricity surged between them when her hand touched his chest. Her sweet brown eyes turned a deeper chocolate, flaring at the contact, but she didn’t move away. They both stared where her small hand lay on him while his chest rose and fell with each deep breath he took. Her fingers pressed lightly on a spot just above his heart.

  He growled her name in warning as the tether he kept himself on snapped. “Victoria.”

  She looked up at him, blinked once. And then again. When her eyes moved to his mouth and didn’t look away, he felt like he was falling out a window. The final straw came when her tongue peeked out and swiped along her lips. At the delectable sight, his hardness throbbed and his heart all but thundered out of his chest. Fuck. He didn’t hesitate, just gathered her into his arms and crashed his mouth onto hers. She opened under the onslaught, answering his desire with her own. Victoria Bennett tasted like heaven with sweet, hungry lips that eagerly devoured his. Kissing her was like nothing else he’d ever experienced.

  He needed to be closer to her, wanted to feel her body arching and writhing beneath his. Putting his hands on the back of her thighs, he scooped her up into a more intimate fit while guiding her legs around his waist. Moving them to the nearest wall he slammed her against it, holding her in place, grinding his hips against her. She was like holding wildfire in his arms. Everything about their kiss was hot and over-the-fucking top in seconds. Dueling tongues invaded and swirled while sounds of their panting split the air. How long they stood there, devouring each other with a hunger that rocked his world, he couldn’t tell and didn’t care.

  Spurred on by a fierce yearning for more, he rushed a shaking hand beneath her top to cup one of her perfect breasts. He swept his thumb repeatedly against a tight, little nipple and moaned like a dying man into her mouth. Her arms tightened around his neck and shoulders as her tongue slid against his own in slow, erotic swirls. It wasn’t until the sultry scent of her arousal pierced the sex-fueled haze in his brain that he realized what they were doing. And where it was headed if he didn’t put the brakes on. Fast. Wrenching his mouth from hers, he stared down at her, astonished at how quickly they’d gotten out of control.

  It took a minute, with each of them sucking in oxygen, for sanity to return. She pushed against his chest, and he reluctantly eased her off his body. A deep blush accompanied the horrified look on her face. It was clear from her stunned expression that she hadn’t expected something so incendiary to flare between them any more than he had. Drae reached out to swipe his thumb against her bottom lip wh
ere the telltale signs of saliva were all that remained of the deeply satisfying kiss they’d just shared. He didn’t want her to put too much thought into what had exploded between them so he blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. Turned out it was the stupidest thing he could have said.

  “It was just a kiss, Victoria. No big deal.” Suddenly, the distinct flavor of foot-in-mouth invaded his senses. She looked at him like she’d been struck.

  “Please let yourself out the same way you got in.” And with that, she turned and fled to the safety of her bedroom where she slammed the door with a resounding thud. The sound of a lock turning was going to be her final statement of the night.

  He stood stock still for long moments, head hanging with hands on his hips, while he struggled to find control. No big deal? Really Drae? He couldn’t believe he’d been such an insensitive dick. Who was he trying to kid? What they just shared was wilder and hotter than any other kiss in the history of kissing. Even her tongue fit him with perfection, and what had he done? Told her it was nothing.

  With retreat as his only option, Drae let himself out of her apartment, making sure to engage the lock on the door before pulling it shut behind him. A very cold shower was in his immediate future if the fire burning out of control in his pants was any indication.

  Tori couldn’t believe how fast she had come undone in Draegyn’s arms. One second they were standing there, and the next, he had her anchored against the wall while his tongue invaded her mouth and his hips bucked against hers. She’d never, ever experienced anything like that before. When the insanely sexy lips she’d been staring at crashed on her own, she’d lit up like a Chinese firecracker. Feeling hot and cold at the same time, she wriggled against his solid frame trying to climb inside his skin in a need to get as close to him as humanly possible. Where had all that passion come from?