“Damn right, I am.” The towel around my hips comes untucked on the way over and falls to the floor. Fine by me because I would’ve taken it off in about three seconds anyway. Lowering her to the plush couch, I say, “And now I’m going to remind you exactly how perfect we are for each other.”
I follow her down, and Addison welcomes me into her arms as I settle between her thighs. We kiss with the longing of being separated for months, and the excitement for our future. Too impatient to undress her, I hook her panties, which are already damp with her arousal, to the side and thrust home. Feeling her hot pussy clench around me is indescribable. Nothing compares to this. No one compares. She’s one of a kind, my Addie, and she’s all mine.
I wanted to take my time, to make love to her and revel in every touch, every taste. But I can’t. Not now. I’ll do that next time, and the fact that I know there will be an infinite number of “next times” soothes my soul.
In minutes, I feel the tingling heat gather at the base of my spine. I have seconds before I explode, and Addison is close. Reaching one hand under her ass, I angle her hips so I hit that spot inside her that drives her wild. She moans and digs her nails into my shoulders. “God, yes, that feels so good!”
“Almost there, baby,” I rasp out. “Want you to come with me.”
From the lust-induced haze surrounding us, I hear a countdown somewhere in the background. “Ten…nine…eight…” Countdown to midnight. My thrusts are double-time, two for every second counted down. “Seven…six…five…” So close, so fucking close. The flames of my orgasm lick at my balls, drawing them tight to my body. “Four…three…two…”
Staring down into Addison’s sea-green eyes, I nearly drown in the love shining there. “Happy New Year, wildcat.” I reach between our bodies and rub the pad of my thumb over her clit, rocketing us both over the edge and straight into orgasmic bliss.
“One! Happy New Yeaaaaaaar!”
As the crowd on the TV cheers and a band starts to play “Auld Lang Syne,” I capture her mouth and kiss her with slow, deep strokes that mimic the way my body coaxes her through the last gentle waves of her climax.
After she melts into the cushions in satiated bliss, I press my lips to her forehead then gather her into my arms and carry her to bed. Holding her close to me, I caress her soft skin and revel in her warmth as I think about the coming year and the new life I’m starting with the woman I love. There’s only one thing that could make it even better. “Addie.”
“Hmm?” she hums sleepily while drawing lazy circles on my chest.
“Come back to work for me.”
She freezes for a few breaths before resuming her invisible finger painting. “Your dad’s firm pays me really well.” Giving me consolation pats, she says, “Sorry, hot stuff, but you can’t afford me anymore.”
I set my jaw to hold back the smile that threatens as the familiar heat of one of our arguments races through me. “Maybe not yet, but I can promise you’ll run point on more cases with me than you will over there. In fact, we have a very high-profile divorce case we just landed.”
Addison lifts her head to look at me. “It wouldn’t happen to be the Marchbank divorce, would it?”
The Marchbanks own so much real estate in downtown Chicago, they practically are Chicago. John and I had acquired Lydia as our client just before the holidays, but she said her husband had gone with Giglante. “Yes,” I say slowly, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Her full lips, still swollen from my kisses, curl up into a smug grin. “George had a disagreement with Giglante and came to us. Bill asked me to work the case with him as backup so he can ‘show me the ropes.’”
Well, shit. That means we’ll be opposing counsel on the same case. While it isn’t ideal, it isn’t illegal, either, and Addie is every bit as professional and ethical as I am. We’ll both fight like hell for our clients in the courtroom. And out of it, I have no doubt that fire will follow us into the bedroom.
A smile spreads over my face as I imagine what life will be like with this feisty woman at my side, and I can’t fucking wait to get started.
Flipping her onto her back, I pin her wrists above her head and settle into my favorite place—between her thighs.
“What are you doing?” she asks breathlessly.
“Giving you my closing argument. But don’t worry,” I say in a tight voice as I slide into her warm channel. “You’ll have your chance to counter when I’m done.”
Addison gasps once I’m fully seated, then smiles up at me, her eyes lighting with carnal mischief. “Looking forward to it, counselor.”
“So am I, wildcat. So am I.”
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Acknowledgments
As always, thank you to my amazing husband for his unwavering support and constant understanding when I go into crazy-writer mode and keeping me fueled with 5-Hour Energy Shots and cases of Cherry Coke Zero.
To the two amazing women who are first and foremost in my corner as my friends—my agent, Nicole Resciniti, and my editor, Liz Pelletier—thank you for always picking me up and dusting me off. None of this would be possible without you.
To my Becks and Cindi-Sue, my sanity would have been long gone without both of you in my life. I will forever be grateful to have found my true sistahs-from-different-mistahs in you girls.
To Jennifer Severino, my friend and attorney guru who helped make sure that all the lawyer-y stuff in here made sense when I begged for her help in the 11th hour. (Any mistakes that might still be in the book are solely my fault.)
To the Maxwell Mob who continues to support me and our mission for World Domination. ;) Thank you for everything you do for me and for the friendship I’ve found in each and every one of you.
To Heather Howland (cover designer), Sara Eirew (photographer), and Nick Bennett (model) for bringing Roman to life and giving me my absolute favorite cover to date. I promise I’ll stop petting it eventually. Or maybe not.
To Melanie Smith who has to put up with me a ridiculously annoying amount over the course of a year. Thank you for always being so sweet and understanding and more accommodating than I deserve.
To everyone at Entangled—editors, managers, publicity peeps, and everyone else who works to get my books into the hands of my readers—thank you for every minute of your hard work. We may never speak personally, but your efforts do not go unnoticed by me, and I appreciate what you do for me.
And most importantly, a huge, squishy thank you to all of the readers and bloggers who have been so enthusiastic about this new series and have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Roman’s story. I’m so incredibly proud of this book and I can’t wait to hear what you all think. Thank you a million times over for sharing your enthusiasm and giving Ruthless a place on your shelves and in your hearts.
About the Author
Gina L. Maxwell is a full-time writer, wife, and mother living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. An avid romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read. Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and she’s been living her newfound dream ever since.
When she’s not reading or writing steamy romance novels, she spends her time losing at Scrabble (and every other game) to her high school sweetheart, doing her best to hang out with their teenagers before they fly the coop, and dreaming about her move to sunny Florida once they do.
Visit and chat with Gina on all her social media homes:
www.ginalmaxwell.com
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