“You caught that, huh?” He dropped his finger to the tip of my nose. “I’m having lunch with her at one. Would you like to come?”
I felt my eyebrows rise rapidly. “Uh, nope. No, thanks.”
“Lynn—”
“No. Not happening, I don’t want to meet your mother on a whim when she is expecting you for lunch.”
He lifted the tray over his legs and lowered it to the floor. “I can convince you to go.” He pulled my arms towards him.
“I’ll let you try, but I can promise you it’s not going to happen.”
“Are you making promises you can’t keep?” he whispered. His breath tickled my neck; my core awoke with his touch.
“You can try, but this is a promise I am keeping.” I moaned the words as his tongue slid behind my ear.
By one in the afternoon I had a satisfied grin on my face and disheveled hair. Peyton pouted as he tucked his shirt in his pants. My knees were weak and my body relaxed; he had spent the last few hours claiming my body, trying to get me to change my mind, and I’d gone along with the ride, letting him devour my core, bringing me to multiple orgasms. And still I refused to meet his mother.
After Peyton had left, I had Thomas bring me to run errands, but first I had to stop at home. Doing the walk of shame, I turned my key in the lock and pushed the door open. Dropping my keys in the bowl, I strolled through the house, looking for the file Peyton had given me.
“Look what the cat dragged in!” Kennedy shouted from the laundry room. I jogged to the room attached to the kitchen and peered in. She stood over the dryer, folding her clothes. “Nice to see you too,” she said when I stuck my tongue out at her.
“I’ve been gone a day.”
She laughed and threw her balled-up socks at me. “I love the fresh fucked face you’re wearing. It really brings out your eyes.”
I brought my shoulders up to my chin. “No complaints from me.”
“Did you have fun at the party?”
“Uh … yeah, probably more than I should have.” I leaned into the door frame, smirking as I recalled last night.
“Uh...” Kennedy mocked me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I chuckled and walked out of the laundry room. Her footfalls told me she was right behind me. I turned back when I reached the doorway, and couldn’t hold back the smile on my face. “It was a BDSM play party.”
The laundry basket filled with fresh clothes dropped from her hands and landed with a thump at her feet. “Shut up!” I bit my bottom lip to contain my laughter. “The fucker is a freak in the bedroom?” Laughter erupted from within me and she glared. “I need details, Lynnie. I have committed to spending the rest of my life with one man. One!” She reached down and picked up the laundry basket. “And I’m not complaining about that because we all know Peyton is sex on a stick and Caleb sits right next to him on that scale, but now I find out he is a kinky fucker to boot. Does he get off on spanking you?”
“Kennedy, I swear the shit that comes out of your mouth sometimes is absurd. No, he doesn’t spank me to get off. I happen to like it too.”
“Eww.” She tried to cover her ears.
“We’re having fun, and he likes toys and stuff while we play.”
“Okay, never mind. I really shouldn’t have asked. Now, every time I see him, I’m going to think of this conversation.”
I turned out of the kitchen and towards my bedroom. “Hey, you asked. By the way, do you still have the leather cat suit you wore to that Halloween party a couple years ago? I want to borrow it. I was thinking about making him crawl around the house as I whipped him.” I winked at her.
“Gross. Seriously, I don’t ever want to know what happens between you two in the bedroom.”
“Don’t knock it till you try it.” I strolled into my room, a giddy smile on my face. Quickly I packed a duffle bag with some essentials since I was planning to stay at Peyton’s house a few more days. I added a couple sets of workout clothes plus the file Peyton had given me about my disappearance. I needed to visit the hotel where Officer Walsh said I had been staying, so I decided to go after my CrossFit class. Perhaps something at the hotel would jog my memory. I said goodbye to Kennedy, who was busy putting her laundry away, and promised to call.
Peyton
The hostess pulled the chair out for my mother as I closed the screen on my blackberry and slid it in my jacket pocket. My mother was never late to an appointment; she was always five minutes early, and I knew that, so I was ten minutes early. I stood with the sound of the adjacent chair scraping against the marble floor.
“Oh, my son.” She laid her hands on my cheeks. I lowered my head down to her and brushed my lips on her forehead.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Would it kill you to call me Mom? Why are you always so formal?” I lifted my shoulders, grinning at her as I held the chair for her to sit. “I haven’t seen you in months. Why have you disappeared, Peyton?” she asked the second her body hit the soft white leather cushion.
“Work.”
She brought her lips together and shook her head. “You sound like your father.”
I chewed the inside of my lip to keep myself from talking back to my mother. I wasn’t like my father, not in the least.
The waiter returned with a Pellegrino and a bottle of sparkling rose wine.
Once the waiter left with our orders, my mother folded her arms on the white linen tablecloth, her fingers interlocked. She looked up at me with a grin on her face. This wasn’t a mother merely wishing to see her son; she had a motive for being there.
“Taylor informed me that he met Braelynn.” The words flowed out of her mouth. Of anything she could have possibly asked, this wasn’t what I expected. I kept my parents in the dark about my personal life —because of Mary Ann McAlister. “And then I called Spencer and she informed me that, like Taylor, she had met Braelynn as well. Nine months ago.”
“I thought Taylor was getting cut off.” I tried to change the subject, but it was a wasted effort.
“You’ve been seeing someone for nine months, Peyton. And I have to find this out from your younger siblings.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Then what is it? You have never been in anything serious since college and ten years later you still choose your career.
“Mom…”
“No. I’m serious, Peyton. I want to meet her”
“Mom.” I covered her hand with mine. “It’s not what you think. She and I were apart for a few months. But if we do grow to something more serious, of course I’ll bring her to meet you.”
It’s not that I was opposed to them meeting, but Braelynn was so adamant about not coming today that I didn’t want to force her into a situation she was uncomfortable.
“Bring her to your sister’s fashion show Saturday night.”
My sister Spencer worked for a public relations company that my fathered owned. Her biggest client was a famous designer with shows worldwide—New York, Paris, London, Milan and so on. This was my sister’s prize case. She had worked night and day to assure her clients that the show would be a hit for all the press to see.
“Mom—”
“Don’t.” She raised her hand to stop me. “Tell me you’ll mention it to her.”
If I didn’t give her hope that she would eventually meet Braelynn, she wouldn’t ever drop the subject. “We’ll see.”
The waiter placed our food on the table and my mother got her request in one final time before she began her lunch. “Please try to bring her Saturday night. I’d love to meet her. Spencer said you were smitten.”
Of course my little sister would say that.
After lunch with my mother, I made my way back home. When the elevator door opened, I found Braelynn sitting on the couch in the living room next to the foyer.
“Hi,” she beamed up at me, her hair tossed up in a bun with a pen holding it together. “How was lunch with your mom?”
“Pleasant. It would�
�ve been better if you were there.” I sat on the couch next to her. She had the file that I’d created for her spread across the coffee table. “What are you working on?”
“I woke up this morning needing to look at this again. I can’t shake off the nightmare from last night, so I need to find out who set me up.” She drew the picture from the file. “I went here today.”
“You went to this hotel alone? What were you thinking?”
“Thomas drove Gus and me.”
“Braelynn, Thomas is driver, not a bodyguard. That hotel is in a sketchy area.”
“I’m fine, Peyton. I was with Gus.”
“Lynn—”
“Like I said, I’m fine. Anyway, I went there to see if it would jog my memory. If something would trigger that week.”
“And.”
“Nothing. I know I was never there. You see this picture hanging on the wall in the background?” She pointed to the photo I held in my hand. Braelynn stood before a colorful landscape in what looked like a hotel corridor.
“What are you getting at?”
“That shot is from the security camera. I recreated that same picture, and the artwork’s frame is higher on my waist then in the photograph I made. Even if I was so drugged that I was walking the hallway mindlessly, it’s not me in the photo. I’m taller than this person. Whoever took me had an accomplice.” She pulled another picture from the file. “Also, look at these. It’s kind of blurry but look at the guy in the background. I didn’t notice it at first because I was only looking at the person who looks like me, but then it clicked. He is in a couple of photos. It looks like he was with the person who was impersonating me. Like they were together. If I can find them, then maybe I can find out who did it.” She tapped the five-by-seven pictures I held in my hand.
I had gotten her back. I couldn’t let her go on a wild goose chase, looking for some unknown person.
“Lynn—”
“Don’t!” She rushed to speak “I need to know, Peyton. It doesn’t add up. Especially if this guy was helping whomever out maybe I can find something. Anything. ” Her hunter green eyes looked up at mine, begging me to understand. “I know it’s far-fetched and crazy to think I can track someone down based on a picture, but it gives me hope.”
I leaned forward, closing the file on the coffee table. I couldn’t push her. I knew her well enough that she would do it even if I asked her not to. I reached behind her, pulling her tiny body to my chest. “Promise me that you’ll share everything with me.”
“Promise.” She brought her lips to mine.
“And that you won’t do anything crazy.”
“I promise.”
We both kicked our feet up. She tossed the remote onto my chest and curled closer into me. It was these rare moments that I wasn’t accustomed to; these moments that surprised me. I wanted her not just for her body, but her heart. I wanted the curling up on the couch, the cooking dinner for one another, and even the arguing that came with relationships. I wanted all of it. All of her. All the time.
By Thursday morning, Braelynn and I had fallen into a routine. She had spent every night with me since Saturday after the play party. We got ready for work together, waking up earlier than usual so I could have her in the shower. I wasn’t used to having someone around, but anytime she spoke about going back home I found a way to pull her to into the playroom and change her mind. At work, we went our separate ways, but we ordered dinner curled on the couch and spoke for hours. I was finally getting to know the real Braelynn, and I loved her more than I thought would be possible.
Thursday, though, there was a change in our routine. I was due in court first thing in the morning. She was dressed and ready, waiting for me in the kitchen with my briefcase and a cup of coffee by the time I was done dressing.
“You clean up nice when you have to go to court.” Her eyes scanned my body. It was the look that drove me wild. The deep green eyes that captivated me and made me weak for her. I could never get enough of her. I had spent the last few hours having her and still I wanted more. If this were any other case, I would have called in sick and spent the next few hours between her legs. I strolled over to her, grasping her chin. My lips covered hers, my minty breath mixing with her coffee-flavored one. Her mouth opened up for me, her lips submitting to mine. I pinned her against the countertop, sliding my tongue against hers.
When I pulled away, she was breathless—panting. I knew her body, knew she was wet and ready for me. My eyes locked onto the microwave clock before I gazed down at her. “I can’t miss this case. But you make it so fucking hard.”
Her fingertips grazed over my erection, a devious smile appeared on her face. “I like making it hard.”
“You’re going to be late.”
“It’s not me that has to go to court. I’m returning the favor,” she whispered, her tiny fingers gripping my girth.
“Fuck,” I growled. Tugging on the hair at the nape of her neck, I brought my lips to hers. “Tease.” I smiled against her lips.
“I don’t tease, Haas.” She released her hand from my cock and pushed on my chest. I stumbled back a step and she dropped to her knees in front of me.
Fucking priceless.
“Just one for the road. I need to make sure your head is clear when you’re in court later,” Braelynn moaned, looking up at me with her dark green eyes. Her hands were sure as she lowered my zipper. No, not a tease. She stroked my dick once, twice. Lifting her eyes to meet mine, her tongue slid across her lips, wetting them in the process.
It was unbelievable how sexy she was in her pencil skirt and collared shirt, her blonde hair pulled back and my dick inches from her mouth. Her lips parted, kissing the tip where the pre-cum had pooled. My hands reached over to the counter behind her, bracing myself for what would be a quick blowjob. Her hand stroked up and down my shaft, her tongue swirling around my head before she took my in her mouth.
She was hungry for me. Braelynn pressed her tongue under my shaft, locking her lips around me in a tight vice and began to suck, lowering herself as far as she could go, only to come up to the tip of my head, flicking her tongue against it.
I grunted and she moaned, repeating the move over and over. It was hard not to blow when she knew exactly what I liked.
“Ah fuck, Lynn.”
Her one hand cupped my sac and the other held my shaft in place as she worked the tip, sucking, licking, devouring until I was pouring all I had into her mouth. My eyes locked with hers and I could read through the green haze that she reveled in it as much as I did. Braelynn milked me dry, sucking out every last drop.
She sat back on her heels and wiped the side of her lips. “I think we should be going.”
I zipped my pants and tucked in my shirt. She stood, grabbing her stuff off the counter and strolled to the elevator.
There was no chance I was every letting her out of my sight again.
Court had gone even better than I had expected. It wasn’t a case I was passionate about, so when the judge broke for recess it was the highlight of the trial. The defendant was found guilty of murdering his brother-in-law for skimming drug money they had decided to split. I had suggested he plead out and give the prosecutor any information he had on the drug lords who were moving dope through Washington Heights. He was stubborn and stated that they had no proof he did it.
He was wrong. The jury had stepped away to decide a verdict as we broke for recess. My associates and I were waiting in a corridor of the courthouse when I heard my name being called from behind.
“Haas! Still working for the murderers, huh?” Howard broke away from a group deep in conversation and shifted his briefcase to his left hand as he approached.
“Howard.” I extended my hand to shake. “It’s been awhile.” I had stepped back when Braelynn left without a trace, giving my associates more responsibility for the firm, only working on the paperwork end of it.
“A long while, I’d say.”
“How’s the firm? Teaching going we
ll? Any new candidates I should consider for my office next year?”
“You still have my best student.” His statement caught me off guard. “Braelynn Wolf—I hear she’s working with you now.”
I laid my hand on his shoulder and led him towards a quiet corner where nobody could overhear us. “It’s, uh … she isn’t working … Braelynn and I are seeing…”
“Since when can’t you get your words out?”
I chuckled. It was hard to tell a friend who also happened to be Braelynn’s mentor and former boss that we are seeing each other and I was helping her get back on her feet. Well, that was a lie. I was in love with her, and I wanted her near me.
“Braelynn and I—”
Howard raised his hand to interrupt me. “Honestly, it’s none of my business. I hope you’re not holding her back for your own personal gain.”
Even as temper crawled up my spine, I felt a quick flash of uncertainty course through my body. “How so?”
“Her passion has always been to take down the criminals. When she interviewed for my internship, her hope was to work for the District Attorney.” His long index finger jabbed me in the chest. “You’re a defense attorney, your careers are on different paths. You go to work and find ways to keep the assholes out of prison. She wants to make sure that bastard pays for what he did. All I’m saying is make sure working with you is what she really wants.”
He glanced behind him to check the colleagues he’d left behind and gestured that he’d be another moment. “She is one of the brightest students I’ve had in the past twenty years of teaching. She could go extremely far in her career.”
I couldn’t respond.
He tapped my shoulder, saying goodbye before he moved past me to rejoin his associates. Howard had a way with words. He was right. I couldn’t agree with him more, but I couldn’t bear to let her go. My desire and demand to keep her close to me overpowered whatever she wanted.
Once I was done with court I headed back to the office. Any other day I would have gone straight home and finished my work there, but Braelynn was in the office and she generally wouldn’t leave until everyone was out the door. She had become an asset to all the employees; the snacks she brought in on Fridays and her eagerness to help in any way possible helped her win everyone’s support. Though most days she would lock herself away in her office, studying for the bar that was only a few weeks away, she never stayed isolated from the others for long. Even Melissa—who had always been stoic and professional around Braelynn—was talkative and funny. It seemed that everyone was different now.
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