Forbidden

by Hadley Raydeen

  “Oh, okay…” I was too in shock to say anything else. He wanted to talk more and show me something…but what?

  Before I could ask the question, he walked away from me, leaving my mouth agape. Arlene wasted no time wearing her shoes down covering the distance between us.

  When she reached me, she grabbed my elbow, the very one Reid had cupped with gentle fingers moments before. She pulled me to the side, narrowing her gaze at me. I looked back at her, not knowing exactly what her problem was and not sure if I cared. I was still reeling from the fact Reid wanted to talk with me after this party, and now here I go with this witch on her broom in my face.

  Arlene looked around quickly, obviously looking to see if anybody could hear what she was about to say. I followed her line of sight and nobody was within earshot.

  “What was he saying to you?”

  “I'm sorry. Who was saying what?” I asked, playing coy. I knew exactly who she was talking about, but I wasn't going to allow her the ease of me knowing what she was talking about.

  I'd had one too many glasses of champagne. It was a Friday night. I was not on the clock, and I didn't feel like playing this guessing game with Arlene. She was going to have to explain herself.

  “Reid Matheson!” She spit out his name like it was poison on her tongue, and she didn't want to repeat it again. She narrowed her green eyes at me, and I flinched.

  I didn't quite like hearing his name on her tongue. Why I was protective of Reid was beyond me, but after our exchange the other night in the library, and him showing me such tender care, I did not want my witch bitch of a boss knowing about our personal connection. Well, not really personal but personal enough to me.

  She gets the high level story and that was it. “I told you he’s my law professor. He was talking to me about class,” I said back matter-of-factly. Technically, it was true and that's all she needed to know.

  But, I would stick her with something else because I could. It would just put a cherry on top of the sundae of my weekend.

  “He wanted to know why I wasn't in class last night. I let him know my boss kept me over for an assignment. I don't want to fall back on my Ethics class or my studies. You know I am trying to pass the bar eventually.” I rolled my eyes with my sarcasm and she scowled me.

  “And, that's all he wanted to know? Why you weren't in class?” she asked again as if what I told her was a lie. I wanted to scream. She was always second-guessing me. If I told you it was this, why wouldn't it be this?

  Ugh.

  I looked her dead in the eye and answered, “Yes, I need to make classes more regularly, Arlene. It will ultimately help me and the firm out if I graduate and pass the bar, no? I can’t do that when I’m missing classes because I’m preparing for a meeting that isn’t even happening until next week.”

  She eyed me before she answered in her usual flippant tone. “Fine.” Her tone was tight as she turned from me. Before she was gone, she turned back and said, “You're free to go, Addison. I don't need you here anymore tonight. I'll see you on Monday.”

  “Are you sure? I was just hobnobbing with some of the clients. I could always—”

  “No.” She cut me off, turning back to look. I followed her gaze as she peered across the deck. Reid was still talking to Joe Eisen—also Arlene's boss. She cussed under her breath, and I turned to look at her.

  “Leave,” she said to me again. “I'll see you Monday.” Her lips tightened as she turned from me. I watched her walk in the general direction of the men, not quite meeting them, but trying to get close enough to gauge the temperature of the conversation.

  I wasn't leaving now. Not until I found out what this was all about. For some reason, she did not like the fact that Reid was talking to Joe. I was quite intrigued myself. But, that’s okay, I would ask him when we spoke later in the library.

  I turned to look at him again before I walked toward the exit. I was over this party already and if Arlene didn’t want me here, I sure the hell wasn’t gonna be here any longer. He caught my eye and his brows knit in a look at confusion as he saw me make my exit.

  Chapter 5

  I thought about going home and ditching the dress for yoga pants or something more comfortable. But, he seemed to like the dress or at least my cleavage in the dress. The way he stared at me made me feel damn sexy, and I liked it.

  I wanted him to look at me like that again. To feel the heat of that stare, and know I possibly turned him on just as much as he did me.

  But, after thirty minutes of sitting in the law library in a barely-there cocktail dress, the only appreciative looks I got were from a few late night students and the custodian mopping the marble floor.

  This was ridiculous sitting here waiting for a man I had no business waiting for or wanting in the first place.

  And, God, did I ever want him. I finally admitted it. I wanted to know what he hid behind that suit jacket and those dress shirts he wore to class. He looked like he could bench press me if he had to. But, he wasn't overly muscled; Just enough to give me a hard squeeze while he pressed my body against…

  The sound of someone clearing their throat made me jump from my reverie. “Holy shit!” I said, putting my hand to my chest. My heart was pounding a mile a minute. I looked up into his stormy gray eyes that followed the path of my hand right between my breasts on full display. I pulled at the material immediately feeling my nipples react to his stare. He eventually made eye contact, but not until after he took in the view.

  He pulled his plump lips into his mouth moistening them, but he still didn’t speak. His lack of words caused my body to hum like a ball of emotion.

  He cleared his throat again, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry I kept you waiting, Miss Mitchell.” His tone was low and graveled my senses even more. What on earth would that voice sound like in between my high thread count sheets as I writhed naked and free, beneath him?

  A girl could dream.

  There is no way in the world a high profile professor and attorney would heat up the linens with a student and paralegal.

  Would he?

  Plus, I would bet someone that looked like him was not getting hot and heavy with anyone looking like me. How would that go in the old Boys Club? ‘Oh, you got you a little taste of the chocolate, Reid but now back to the regularly scheduled snow bunny.’

  I wanted to chuckle to myself but his eyes were fixed on me and nothing was getting over on him. “Why do you keep doing that?” he asked.

  “Doing...what?” I asked, my voice sounding like I’d walked through a desert for forty days and forty nights. I need a vat of water. Why he did this to me every time I spoke to him, I’d never know. There was something about the older, wiser professor. And, God Almighty, he was so easy on the eyes. Hell, his eyes alone could melt my panties clear off my body.

  “You’re doing it right now. What are you thinking about?”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I tried to play coy but failed miserably.

  “Your mind wanders and your skin goes flush. Your pupils dilate like you’re…”

  “Like I’m what?” I breathed, hanging on to his every syllable as he spoke.

  “Are you turned on, Addison?” His words were low and whispered like we shared a dirty secret he didn’t want anyone to hear.

  Oh my…shit.

  Did he just ask if I was turned on? I mean, I am completely without a doubt turned the entire way on, but how the hell did he know?

  He stepped toward me and the combination of scents on him went straight to my nose, causing my senses to go into overdrive. He smelled warm and spicy, and I realized I’d never been close enough to actually sniff him. That sounds crazy, right? I’m over here swooning over his eyes and God, what is it… notes of lavender, almond, vanilla, bark, wildflower, leather and the whiskey he’d consumed earlier in the evening? I wanted to drink every drop of him figuratively and...literally. I looked down at his lips wanting a taste there and even farther below. I wondered just ho
w far down that scent travelled… The thought of diving face first into my professor’s pants was not something I should be thinking about when he already seemed to find me out. I was more than turned on, and he knew it.

  Damn him.

  I cleared my throat trying to pull myself off this cliff I was about to jump off that would land me right on this man. “Did you just ask if I’m—”

  “Turned on? Yes, I did.” He looked down at my lips and back up into my eyes. “It’s okay if you are.”

  “It is?” Why this conversation was leaving me at a loss for basic sentence structure was beyond me.

  He nodded instead of verbally responding, and I stared at his mouth willing him to speak. I loved his voice and strong tone. It was why it was so easy to learn from him in class. His instruction was everything. He could read the law books cover to cover for me, and I’d hold onto every damn word.

  He shrugged back for just a minute and slipped the jacket he wore tonight from his shoulders. His defined arms showed through the dress shirt, and I salivated, despite myself…

  A flask fell from the jacket with a thick thud to the floor, and I noticed an imprint on it. I bent and picked it up.

  A Dragon and Phoenix were wrapped around each other in a surrounding of smoke and flames. They faced each other as if they were sparring but there was something very intimate about their exchange. I didn’t know the meaning or story around the two mythological creatures but it was a gorgeous piece of metal and cold to the touch. I could feel the liquid slosh around as I moved it.

  “This is nice,” I said, looking back up at him.

  “Thank you. It was a gift.” He took it back from me and our fingers touched as I passed it back. His hands were warm and lingered on mine for longer than needed.

  A current shot from his hand to mine, and I flicked my gaze to his to see if he felt it too. His eyes glazed over from more than just the contents of the flask. I saw lust, maybe more, in his eyes.

  I pulled my hand away but didn’t take my eyes from him.

  “I see you are making use of that gift,” I said, and humor crossed his handsome features.

  A smile tugged at his plump lips and a dimple, I hadn’t noticed before, appeared at his right cheek.

  “Suppose I am. I have had a few tonight. Not gonna lie.”

  “You are within your right. We were at an open bar event after all.”

  He nodded. “You look lovely this evening by the way. I don’t know if I had the chance to say that back there.”

  My face warmed again and his eyes followed the trail of flush I’m sure was creeping from my chest to my face.

  “I hope I didn’t offend?” he asked.

  “No, no, of course not.” I waved him off. “That is very nice of you, Mr.—”

  “Reid,” he corrected.

  “I’m sorry, Reid. I appreciate the compliment, but um...” I didn’t know how to bring up the subject. There was nothing to it but to do it I guess. “Why did you ask me to meet you here tonight?”

  “Oh. Yea, that.” He looked as if I startled him back to reality.

  “I mean, I figured it was something you didn’t want to say earlier tonight since you asked me here.”

  “Yes, you’re right. I want to show you something,” he responded.

  This was driving me mad. What in the world could he possibly want to show me? I’d wracked my brain the rest of the night since he’d asked me here, and he didn’t seem to be in any real hurry to share. He picked his briefcase off the library floor and placed it, along with his suit jacket, on the table next to the law books I’d picked up tonight and my computer bag.

  He popped the clasps of the case revealing a stack of papers and some folders. He placed the flask amongst the items and pulled out one of the folders, handing it to me. “Look familiar?” he asked, with a lopsided grin on his face.

  I took the folder, raising my brow in question, before flipping it open. The entire presentation I’d given to Arlene earlier on the merger for our client lay inside the folder. Atop the page was a red grade in Reid’s usual scroll. He marked it with a ‘one hundred percent’.

  “How did you get this?” I asked, dumbfounded. It hadn’t even been presented to Joe or the client for presentation. That would happen next week at the postponed dinner meeting. There was no way Arlene would have given him this. She apparently hated Reid for reasons I’d yet to figure out. Unless, he did get it from Joe. Arlene could have sent it to him after I’d left early for the day. But, why would he give it to Reid? He had nothing to do with any of this. As far as I knew, the client hadn’t seen the project plan yet… so, how…

  Oh shit.

  The sly smirk on his handsome face turned into a devilish grin. “I guess you figured out how I got it.”

  It took me a minute to run through all possible scenarios of my day and how Reid would have come across this presentation. But, it became clear; I’d sent the project plan to him this afternoon instead of my report on Employment Law.

  Damn it, Addison, doing too many things at one time.

  I nodded. “I emailed you the wrong file for my assignment this afternoon. I’d been working on this for Arlene. She was on one this afternoon…” I clasped a hand over my big mouth.

  But, Reid burst out laughing. I looked around the library to see if we’d disturbed anyone, but the place was pretty deserted on a Friday night.

  “No, it’s okay. No need to edit yourself with me. Arlene has a tendency to be that way more times often than not. I didn’t realize you reported to her.”

  “I didn’t know you knew her,” I retorted.

  “I know quite a few lawyers in that firm,” he responded matter-of-factly. “Joe and I go way back. “

  “I’m surprised you don’t work at the firm.” I caught myself before I said more.

  The firm was top tier and Eisen, Gold and Blume hired only the best of the best. That is why I pride myself on landing even a paralegal spot there. It was hard as shit to even get an interview. Unless you know someone, have pull or like Arlene, sleep your way through the ranks.

  If I could work my way up to an associate after I passed the bar, I’d be doing very well for myself.

  He raised a brow.

  I shook my head. “I meant no disrespect…”

  “None taken. Joe offered me a partnership once upon a time…but I like what I’m doing. Teaching the law is where I should be. I do consult from time to time for E.G.B.”

  “Oh, I’ve never seen you there…” I would have remembered seeing Reid at work. It would have been one hell of a distraction.

  “All work done behind the scenes. However, since I know one of my brightest students works there maybe I will stop in more often to see my teaching in action.” He winked at me.

  My heart skipped a beat. He’d stop in to see me? But wait…

  “So, you wouldn’t be coming in to see Arlene or anything?” I joked. At least I thought it was a joke. But, his expression hardened, and I flinched. “I don’t seem to be saying anything right in this conversation.”

  “It’s okay, really. I just have no reason to see her. Not anymore, anyway. I really don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Fair enough.”

  Shit.

  This was going to bug the hell out of me. What was the deal between those two? How strange to have my professor beefing with my boss.

  “Why did you leave the dinner?” he asked, suddenly knocking me out of my thoughts.

  “I was told to leave.” I didn’t dare say the name that should never be mentioned again. But, I didn’t have to, because he did.

  “Arlene made you leave?” His voice rose. I looked around to see if anyone was within earshot but it was tumbleweeds and crickets in this place.

  I kept my tone even despite his spike in voice. “Yes, she told me I wasn’t needed anymore tonight, and I should get going.”

  His brow knit as his gray eyes remained level on me. A fire burned there, and I wondered what it was about
.

  “How dare her meddle in… She saw the two of us talking, didn’t she?”

  I shook my head in affirmation, not knowing if I should speak.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry about this, Addison.”

  “You don’t have to apologize—”

  Before I could finish my sentence, his lips landed on mine; soft at first and then more demanding. All other thoughts left my brain, and I could only think about him and the way his mouth felt on mine. He controlled the tempo of the kiss, but I was there for the ride. I grasped his arm before I melted right before him into a puddle at his feet.

  Christ, this man could kiss.

  He pulled back from me. “Shit… I should not have done that. I am so…” He shook his head.

  “Why did you stop, Reid?” My words were a mere whisper and his pupils dilated when I said it. I reached between us and fisted his light blue dress shirt, pulling him back in. “Kiss me, damn it.”

  “Addison,” he growled my name. “You know how many reasons there are we shouldn’t be—”

  “But, I know all the reasons I want to.” I cut him off.

  He started this, damn it. How dare he get me hot and bothered and then want to stop. I’d just found my voice. Something about that kiss emboldened me to speak my mind, and I wanted more where that came from.

  He closed his eyes before opening them again and pinned me with the smoke-colored windows to his thoughts. I could see his wheels turning, and he was thinking of why we shouldn’t, but how he clearly wanted to. The want and need was palpable between us, neither of us were getting away from this, not after that kiss.

  I pressed into him and his erection poked against my lower abdomen, and he groaned. “Damn it, Addison. What are you doin’ to me?”

  “Nothing… yet.” I stood on my tiptoes and kissed where jaw and neck connect. That heady scent of almonds, coffee bean, cashmere and sage assaulted my nose again.

  God, what is that scent combination? It’s fucking fabulous.

  I licked across that trail wanting to taste it. Salty, male, sexy…yes.