Chase (27 page)

I fight for breath as his hands roam my contours, knead my breasts
.
his touch electric. He pulls away to smile down at me, his hips grinding into mine, his erection heavy against my belly. The warning glint in his eyes tells me he’s only sounding me out but my sex quickly moistens under his firm, insistent hand.

His eyes widen at the shameful secrets he finds there. ‘And you looked so prim in that. Who’d have thought? Miss me?’

‘You
think
?’ I want to shout and rut all at the same time. I’m guessing he knows this too.

He’s laughing now, ignoring my pleas. But the hard line of his jaw and the fierce gleam in his eyes tell me it’s an effort.

I gaze up at him, drinking him in. Why rush it? Let him take as long as he likes
.
I’m just glad he’s here. ‘You’re very tanned. Where’ve you been?’

His eyes glitter for a second and I feel a twinge of dismay. ‘Am I not supposed to ask?’

He grinds against me again but now his look is veiled. ‘Why? Jealous?’

‘In this weather? Very.’ But his slow smile warns me I’m on thin ice here. He works in security. His first question is always
why
– why do you want to know? His next is always
who
– who asked you to find out?

He forgets I’m just a civilian. I’m new to his rules.

‘I just wondered,’ I say gently. ‘You don’t have to answer that.’

Now his eyelids lower. ‘If you want to talk about work I should warn you I charge for my time. And I’m very –’ he kisses the tip of my nose ‘ –
very
expensive.’ He kneels beside me as he slides my panties all the way down my legs, frees one foot and then the other and flicks the wisp of blue lace away across the floor.

‘I flew to the Middle East and met some people. That’ll cost one kiss.’ He touches his lips to my mouth, deceptively gentle, and then his tongue surges inside as I part my lips. He lingers in my mouth for a moment and then pulls away again, his expression solemn.

‘Then I went on to Eastern Europe. That’ll cost another.’ He rears up beside me, his muscular thighs like columns of oak. His glossy, purplish erection looms over my face, terrifyingly large from down here. ‘Right there, under the root.’

He holds very still as I offer up my payment, his breath catching as I add a few soft, teasing licks for a tip.

‘And then on to the Far East. That took longer, so it’ll cost you more. A whole side, say.’ He grins as I lean up to pay again, taking my time over which side of his towering column to choose and finally paying up with an eager flicker of my tongue along the closest.

‘And then to South America by way of Australia. That’ll cost pretty much the other side, so you’d better start over.’

I do it, getting more and more excited by his game.

He’s laughing now. ‘And then I flew back here by way of LA and New York. And now you owe me a whole blowjob, but I’ll take it in instalments. First one now.’

I launch myself over his bulging manhood, happy to play but dismayed with this all too scanty information. ‘But why? What were you doing?’

His smile vanishes. ‘Looking for work.’

I hold very still. ‘It’s that bad?’

His eyes flash. For a split second I see raw pain in his face. ‘Amazing how fast you can take apart an empire. The Romans took well over a century. Mine was a mite smaller, admitted, but it took just five weeks. Maybe they should have had you for a girlfriend.’

Ouch.
‘Please don’t. I’ve told you I’m sorry. Want to talk about it?’

He touches a finger to my lips. ‘We just did. And I’m still waiting to be paid. Or do I make that two blowjobs?’

I give in gracefully, hungry anew as his manhood bats at my lips. I surge again and this time I take him deep, pulling away every so often to lick and tease him, priming him for entry.

That
thought makes me even hotter. When his fingers slide into my open, predatory folds I almost come on the spot. He laughs softly as he withdraws his hand and eases himself out of my mouth.

‘Very nice. We’ll consider the first instalment paid. And the jury’s still out on the precise number of blowjobs. I might have to charge you two after all. That was a whole heap of information. Can’t lower the rate just because you’re a close friend. That would be unethical. Now we’ll go somewhere more comfortable.’

On the bed he sprawls out before me and makes me kneel up next to him.

His fingers close round my wrist, his hand moving gently on my slender bones.

‘Now it’s your turn. Touch, taste, or sight? Two out of three.’

I bite my lip. ‘That’s harsh. OK … touch and taste.’

‘Close your eyes.’

I do it, parting my lips with a giggle and placing my hands on his broad chest. ‘OK, off you go. Have fun
.
’ His low murmur sends a tingle all through me as I start to feel him, running my hands slowly over the broad pads of muscle, letting my fingers ease deep into his private places.

As I work my way along his legs and edge upwards between his muscular thighs I take care to skirt round the edges of his cock and avoid inflaming him too soon. I drop kisses only as far as his rigid, flat abdomen and the sprinkling of clean, springy hair, and then I travel higher, towards the broad curves of his powerful chest and the tempting valleys of his muscular armpits.

I torment his tight, hard little nipples with my mouth, swirling my tongue-tip all round his tight, hard navel and then working up to the other side, ending with a long, lingering kiss in each armpit. When I reach his neck I hear a kind of low growl and all at once I’m hauled up over him and then he’s rolling over on top of me.

‘You can look now.’ His voice rasps above me as he aligns himself along my body, his hard, muscled ridges perfectly filling all my soft, yielding dips. He leans up over me with his hands at either side of my shoulders, his eyes full of heat.

‘Hard, soft or fast? Two out of three.’

I’m wise to him now. ‘
Six
out of three. Hard and fast.’ I smile up at him, relishing the gleam in his eyes. ‘Soft and slow. Then hard and fast again.’

‘Greedy girl.’ His eyes narrow as his erection jolts between us, impatient to start. He swoops down on my mouth, his lips light and teasing but his breathing harsh now from holding off so long. ‘OK. Coming up.’

His sudden thrust almost drives me into the pillows. I gasp as he pulls out and drives forward again, his solid, burning heat like a blast of flame, his thudding plunges rapid as a piston. As I whimper, part in fear, part delight, he slows, taking me in gentle moves that allow me to measure his length, letting all my inner layers suck him in, relishing the swell, pulling him back as he pulls away, his rhythm and his power as strong as the sea.

The change of pace gives my arousal space to breathe. Now my softest layers are curling around him like clutching anemones as his girder of muscle pounds into my soft, shy opening, the friction on my softest places awakening every nerve-ending to its full, sparkling peak. It’s like we’re so attuned that every move he’s making erupts inside me in a shower of stars.

‘You close?’ He’s watching me, skilled at this, charting my pleasure, map-reading the journey of my arousal in my changing expression.

I’m past speaking now, but I part my lips in a sigh and grin. He shifts position and grinds against me, hard. With a shriek I tip over into climax.

As my belly spasms he gives a triumphant shout and speeds up to his finish.

He collapses on me, his face buried in my neck, his heart pounding against mine.

‘
Christ
, Ella
.
How I’ve missed you.’

The weather turns really cold now. The snow comes in fits and starts, sticky at first and then fine and powdery, blowing in our faces like sharp, freezing dust. It cakes our breathing, clogs the sidewalks. In the sun it glitters like diamonds. At night it turns the darkness into perpetual twilight.

My heart’s chilly too. There’s some kind of informal meeting about the Kraik case happening soon and I’m getting scared.

Nothing’s changed. Darnley refuses to talk about it. Lola Forman’s still resolute. Joel’s getting nervous. I try to sound out Darnley. He says little but I sense he’s resigned to whatever fate awaits.

I admire his courage but the tension’s hard to bear. For all Darnley’s bold, upbeat hints about his recent business ventures, I’m unconvinced. I suspect this may end badly.

Even if he succeeds against the juggernaut of the Kraik Corporation, whatever settlement Joel manages to secure for the Formans still spells disaster for Darnley and his family. If Lola Forman refuses to accept any payout and it goes to trial Darnley’s image may never recover – not with his relatives, not with his business.

And I worry for Eldon. He still knows nothing about what really happened, what his childhood hero was really like, or what faced him that day. And I’m even more scared for Lydia. If this stuff ends up in open court it could push her over the edge.

I decide on action. A hasty call to Lautner Wolfe informs me Aaron will be in the office later this week. I take a deep breath and make an appointment

Aaron’s office is high up in the financial district. His picture windows look grandly down on the city below.

For a recently retired head of the firm who only calls in the office on days he feels like it, he keeps me waiting far longer than he needs. When I finally sit opposite his desk I expect a friendly smile, after all that time we spent by Lydia’s bedside. But to my dismay nothing happens. His cold stare warns me he’s still in denial.

Quietly I state my business. Once more gives me a flat refusal.
Stalemate.

I sigh, resigned. ‘How’s Lydia?’

His face softens at my simple question and all at once we’re back on terms. He tells me at length and then starts talking about his first marriage.

Now I’m all attention. ‘Was it bitter, the split from your first wife?’

His face contracts and now I see a flicker of real pain
.

‘Savoy Pemberton was a real socialite, not some two-bit teacher. But she had an air, like you. All Grace Kelly on the outside, Lord-knows-what underneath.’ He glances at me briefly, and then away again. ‘No offence. But when you’re busting your buns to pull the firm back together and your cool, classy wife looks down her nose at your money because you sweat for it and don’t just dip your fingers into some damn family trust fund, and then she plays hookey with every young blood she can get her hands on, it’s hard. That’s why Lydia was so refreshing. She knew what money was about.’

He glances at me, his jaw tense. ‘Still does. She appreciates the good things.’ He looks away. ‘Darnley liked her, too. But he was
always trouble, that boy. Different schools, different ideas. Turned down a share in the firm. He’s even got his brother. Eldon trying to make
movies
? What kind of tomfool nonsense is that?’

Now he’s pacing the room like some B-movie press baron but I sense it’s all for show. He darts me sharp looks, clenching and unclenching his hands.

He’s scared
.

At last he stops pacing and faces me. ‘I’m not getting involved in this, Ella. He’s already asked. Says there’s other people involved now. Well, that’s their problem. I’ve kept this family out of trouble for fifteen years and I’m damned if I’m letting up now.’ He snorts. ‘You tell him that. Try to make him see sense. Make him think of other people for once. What about Lydia? Next time she may not be so lucky.’ He breaks off and turns away.

‘Please don’t be upset, sir. I had to ask.’ I place my hand on his shoulder. Angrily he shakes me off.

I have one last try. ‘Aaron, Darnley’s your son. And he needs help.’

He snorts. ‘Too bad. He insisted on going his own way and this is where it gets him. I’m not dragging up the past. Kraik’s poisoned my family long enough. We’re well rid of him. That material stays buried. And if Darnley wants to make trouble with it he’ll get no help from me.’

I get in early in the evening. I walk in to the delicious aroma of supper and the haunting, glorious sound of a Bach cantata from somewhere upstairs.

I look in on the way to my room to wash and change. Darnley’s on the phone so I tiptoe past and get myself ready to greet him in something soft and sexy. I’m still in my robe when he appears in my room and draws me into his arms.

‘Hi. Tonight we’re celebrating.’

I wind my arms round his neck and kiss him on the cheek. ‘We are?’

He runs his hand into my robe and squeezes my breast. ‘Mm. Today’s the last day of your semester. Big day for you. You deserve a treat. First we’ll have a romantic supper for two and then we’ll go out on the town.’

I find his mouth and we kiss for a while, our tongues meeting again after hours apart. When he finally pulls away he’s smiling fondly, his eyelids lowered. ‘It’s a big night for me, too. So we’ll celebrate together.’

I widen my eyes. ‘Sounds exciting. What are we celebrating?’

He pulls me close, and his smile fades. ‘It may be my last night as a happily private individual. The Kraik–Forman meeting’s scheduled for tomorrow.’

‘So soon? Darnley, I’d no idea.’

He stops my mouth with a finger. ‘No reason you should. But tonight I want you to wear this.’

He brings his hand out from behind his back and holds up a froth of chiffon. His expression is calm but his eyes are watchful.

‘That’s my Beauty costume, right?’ I hold his gaze.

‘Right.’ He kisses my mouth, softly.

To my dismay he’s still not smiling.

‘Why?’ Something about this is making me uneasy.

He peels my robe away from my shoulders, leans down and plants a soft kiss on at the base of my throat in a soft salute. ‘Because you look ultra-sexy in it. Like you do in most things. And it reminds me you’re vulnerable.’

Just do it. Whatever he wants.

Tomorrow his world may collapse. The ticking time bomb he’s kept buried so long is about to explode.

It seems so unfair that he should have to go through this.

It’s not even his fault. He’s a victim too, yet he’s risking everything for a boy with nothing and a junior lawyer with a big heart and a sick child.