Infraction (22 page)

“Yes!” Nathan yelled out, scaring me half to death.

I turned to him, his eyes wide and a smile stretching from ear to ear.

“What did you find?”

“I was scared, really scared the worst he’d get was for the attempted rape, but he
has a prior felony.” Yeah,
me
, but we knew that already. He shook his head, seeming to know what I was thinking.
“Not just you. A woman named Marie Valda. He attacked her four years ago. She spent
two days in the hospital. Two prior attacks along with this one makes him a habitual
offender.”

My lips curled up, my smile matching his. Double. It would double the sentence.

Nathan grabbed another book from the pile next to his spot on the couch, still digging
in, insatiable at finding all he could. I picked up the one beneath and began combing
through it.

About an hour later, I looked over to him from my spot on the floor at the coffee
table where I had various books and papers spread out. He looked delicious, lying
on the couch in only his flannel lounge pants, one arm propped behind his head, some
law book, resting on his chest. He was engrossed, and completely ignoring me.

I was bored; we’d been working so hard, but now I was craving attention. Affections
had been taking the backseat to putting Adam away for life. I continued to watch him,
his eyes flitting about the page. An idea sparked, and I pulled my t-shirt off and
tossed it at him. It left me smirking at him in just my little shorts. It landed on
his legs and did not receive the response I was hoping for. He grunted in annoyance
and kicked it off, his eyes never leaving the book.

I let out a huff before crawling across the floor, stalking toward him when his eyes
snapped to me.

“Lila?”

I gave him a wicked grin and climbed onto the couch, straddling his hips and grabbing
the book, tossing it on the floor. Taking his hands in mine, I placed them on my breasts.

“Touch me.”

His eyes went wide in shock, but his hands didn’t move the way I loved, the way I
needed. They were still and lifeless.

I leaned over and kissed him, placing all of the attention back on me and what I needed
from him. I placed my hands over his, encouraging him with the movements for him to
do something, anything to give me friction and hope of release.

“Please, baby. I can’t take it. You look so good, and I want you.” I breathed against
his mouth, kisses left on his lips to persuade him.

It took a moment, but Nathan finally responded like I hoped he would. He growled and
pinched my nipples before sitting up and taking them in his mouth. I shuddered in
pleasure as he began to ravage me. His fingers flexed into my flesh, his teeth nipping
and pulling on my nipples. My hips rocked against the hardening length beneath me.

“Fuck, baby.” His hips flexed up as I pushed down.

I chanted his name, grabbing hold of his hair and pulling his head back to devour
his lips. “Take me, please. I need you. Take me.”

His eyes darkened to almost black, his grip on me tightening.

“Again,” he demanded.

My eyes threatened to roll back, and I moaned. “Take me.”

He growled and sat up, spinning me around and pushing me down onto my knees. My shorts
and panties where pulled down with so much force I heard the fabric tear at the seams.

Nathan’s weight sagged the couch on one side—the hot head of his cock rubbing against
the inside of my thigh.

“Is this what you want, slut?” He rocked his hard length against my slit. I wiggled
my butt, teasing him, earning a smack against the swell of my ass. “You better answer
me or I won’t give it to you.”

“I didn’t ask you to give, I told you to take.”

His fingers dug into my hips, and he drew in a shuddering breath.

“Fuck, baby,” he groaned, his hips rocking faster. His hand landed against my skin
again, and I yelped, my pussy clenching and begging for him. “That’s it, fucking naughty
girl. Every time my hand comes down, making your ass nice and pink, you soak my cock.”

“Who do I belong to?”

His fingers dug deeper into my hips. “Me. You are fucking
mine
.” His teeth nipped at my neck as he pulled my hips back to his.

“Then show me. Show me who owns me and my pussy.”

He slammed into me, hard, causing my body to clench and convulse around him. He pulled
out and thrust back in, pushing me into the arm of the couch. Setting up a wicked
hard, rough pace, he grabbed hold of my hair, swirling it around his hand, and pulled.

“Fucking take it. Take my cock. Your pussy loves it, doesn’t it?”

I moaned, unable to form a coherent thought. His hand smacked down on my skin as his
hand pulled harder on my hair.

“Answer me!”

“Yes, yes! Fucking God, yes, my pussy loves your cock.” The whole experience was more
intense than any in almost two months. I couldn’t even think, wrapped in his overwhelming
need and dominance.

I begged for more, and he gave me what I asked for. Harder, rougher, faster. It was
instinctual, primal fucking, and I loved every moment.

Over and over he pushed me, until I was a blubbering mess from coming so many times
in a row. My body was limp, and he was still pounding into me. Incoherent words fell
from his lips, his movements becoming erratic until he let go, spilling inside me.

He collapsed down onto my back, and together we slid down to the couch on our sides.
His arms wrapped around me, his hot breath on my neck.

“Damn, Honeybear.”

I giggled, the laughter shaking my body. “What?”

“You’re going to kill me if you keep that up. Though no better way than balls deep
in your pussy…or mouth, or ass. I’m not picky.” He chuckled while placing a kiss to
my temple.

We both began to laugh, snuggled together in a mass of limp-noodle limbs. Nathan forgot
about the book I’d tossed aside and kept me wrapped in his embrace. His fingers caressed
and tickled me, making me squirm against him.

We stayed snuggled on the couch for the remainder of the day. Nathan threw the blanket
from the back of the couch onto us to keep warm. The TV was on, Sunday movies playing,
while we napped on and off.

It was an enjoyable day, and we were well rested for the week to come.

C
HAPTER
22

T
he day started off like any other morning of late: faltering masks and blurred indifference.

Sometime during mid-morning, Libby, the receptionist, knocked on our door.

“There’s someone here to see you,” she said and stepped aside.

Behind her stood a short man who was less than memorable. His voice, however, was
unforgettable: deep baritone that resonated on the walls, and much louder than I expected
from his small frame.

“Delilah Palmer? Nathan Thorne?”

“Yes?” We moved from our desk to stand in front of him.

He held out an envelope to each of us.

“You have both been served with a subpoena by the defense attorney.”

My eyes grew wide, my gaze flickering to just outside the door and the few gawkers
we had developed. While I was looking, Andrew appeared in the doorway.

“Can you tell Lawrence to call me beforehand next time? I would have requested a different
location for these to be served, thus resulting in less commotion regarding such a
sensitive subject,” Nathan said, his jaw flexing and voice tight.

The man apologized before leaving, and we stood there holding the subpoenas.

I stared down at the envelope, the sound of paper ripping filling my ears.

“What’s the party about?” Andrew asked.

Nathan let out a snort. “They want a deposition from us. Seems habitual boy is still
spouting it’s not his fault, that you provoked him.”

Andrew’s eyes narrowed on the slip of paper. “Like hell it is.”

My chest began tightening, and I concentrated on trying to keep my breathing regulated.
It was a good thing; I had to keep repeating that mantra to myself. He was going to
be put away for a long time. He would never be able to hurt me again.

My coaching wasn’t helping. Doubt started to nag at me, what if’s taking over my mind.
Adam’s voice was in my head, laughing about how nothing could touch him, just as he
had said many years before.

“Well, that was a little faster than I anticipated,” Nathan said, breaking the silence
and opening the envelope, looking over the information. “Looks like it’s going to
be a speedy trial.”

I couldn’t speak as dread settled in. Things I hadn’t thought about came flooding
to me.

I was going to have to retell the whole ordeal to more strangers, under oath. Pandora’s
Box was going to be opened for all to see; the weak nothingness of a girl who was
too stupid to check the peephole.

I began shaking, all of my muscles were clenched tight in fright, and I felt sick.

“Hey, hey,” Nathan called, his hands rubbing up and down my arms before he pulled
me to him. “Shhh, this is good, remember?”

My knees buckled from under me, and I slumped against him. Pulling me close, he sat
on the floor and leaned against the desk as he cradled me in his arms. His hands made
soothing circles on my back, while his lips placed tender kisses on my forehead, trailing
down my cheek to my lips.

“I’m here, baby. I’ll be there with you. I love you, and I won’t let him anywhere
near you. Him, your father, or Cheryl. Get their voices, their words, out of your
head. The only ones you need are my voice, telling you how much I love you.”

My fingers clenched onto his jacket, my breath coming out in rapid pants. My chest
was tight, unable to pull in a full breath.

“She’s panicking.”

“I know,” Nathan said, confirming that I wasn’t all right. “Check her purse; she keeps
her pills in there.”

I was aware of Andrew moving around the desk, but not much else. Nathan was trying
to calm me, but his voice was a whisper over the roaring in my ears and everything
was starting to fade.

“They’re not here!”

“Grab mine, top desk drawer.” Nathan directed him.

I tried to center myself, but it snuck up on me. I was choking, trying in desperation
to breathe and began to claw at my throat in an attempt to get Adam’s hand away that
wasn’t really there.

“Lila!” Nathan cried out, grabbing my hands.

Then I felt it. The zing, the electricity of Nathan’s lips on mine, his fingers digging
into my skin as he pulled my body as close to his as he could. A shudder ran through
me, and my airway opened back up. My lungs drew in the welcomed air as my heartbeat
lessened. Nathan kissed all over my face and neck, grounding me to him, making me
feel
him…and it worked.

My breaths began to regulate, and Nathan pressed a pill into my mouth. He held up
a bottle of water and tipped it back.

“Come on, baby, swallow.”

It was hard to do as he requested with my chest still stuttering.

As I was pacified, I heard the voices and my head turned to look at the door. About
six people, at least two Boob Squad members, stood at the threshold, looking at me,
then looking at Nathan, chatting away about us.

“Everybody out! You have no business being here,” Andrew yelled, pushing people back
and shutting the door.

Jennifer was the last, a murderous gleam in her eye before she stalked off.

The end had come. This was it. No more pretending we hated each other.

I was very clingy that night, unable to leave his touch even for a second, because
we both knew what was coming in the morning. One or both of us was going to be jobless
by the end of the day.

Nathan kept saying everything was going to be okay, but he wouldn’t say more than
that. When I brought up talking to Jack, he asked me to let him take care of everything.
So, I relented and tried to relax, perched on his lap, straddling his hips.

The next morning we drove together, my fingers tangled in his as we rode the elevator
up. We disengaged as the doors opened and we walked into the receptionist area. Libby
wasn’t in yet, but as we walked past her desk, we found many others were.

We stopped, halted in our tracks by the people staring at us like a sideshow attraction.
Whispered words floated around the air, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Nathan’s
jaw clench.

“Fuck it.” He grabbed my hand, dragging me down the hall behind him.

We rushed past the cubes and offices to the other side of the building, to our office.
Owen was at his desk just outside as we rounded the corner. He stood and followed
behind me as we stepped in.

“How bad is it?” Nathan asked while Owen closed the door behind him.

“It’s pretty bad. Jennifer sent out an email, complete with a picture of Lila in your
arms and you kissing her.”

I stared at Owen, unblinking. “You knew?” I turned to Nathan. “He knew?”

Nathan nodded. “You read us pretty early on, didn’t you?”

Owen smirked. “Yeah, I had an inkling in June, but I knew when I started helping out.
Nathan wasn’t the best at hiding his distress. I was the only one that caught on that
your wellbeing was the cause of said distress, and not the extra work. They’re so
damn vain they can’t see past their own reflection.”

I wanted to laugh at his observation, but was still too stunned at his admission.
“That was almost six months ago! You never told anyone… Why?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “The policy was a bit harsh in my view. Plus, I could see
how torn up Nathan was without you. Who am I to stand in the way of true love?”

I walked over to Owen and hugged him, the action surprising all in the room. “Such
a sweet guy. Your girlfriend is very lucky to have you.”

All morning long, murmured words could be heard as the gossip spread throughout. We
tried to block it out, but even our email was loaded with curious people. We didn’t
leave our office, having Owen fetch anything we needed. The world outside seemed like
a foreign place. I had no idea what to do with the attention we were receiving.

We went to lunch together—no point in hiding. Afterward, Nathan left for a meeting
with Jack, kissing me before going, leaving me alone with the gawkers and gossips.

At one point I had to venture out as Owen was missing from his desk. The hawks were
watching, circling overhead, waiting for someone to emerge.

I was cornered, and they were pissed.

“You always act like you’re so high and mighty. Now we see why,” Kelly said, a huff
in her tone as she spat at me.

Then it was their leader, Jennifer’s turn. “Just because Nathan was nice and went
out with you a few times and fucked you doesn’t mean you’re going to go riding off
into the sunset together.”

My hands balled into fists, and my head pounded as the pressure built up inside while
my teeth clenched together. “Really? What about being together for almost ten months
and living together for two?”

“L-live together?” Tiffany asked, stuttering in surprise.

I smirked and refused to back down, my spine strengthening at the knowledge they weren’t
going to beat me down. “Mm-hmm! After my stepbrother attacked me, Nathan insisted
I get rid of my place. It was almost like we were living together anyway, so we made
it official. I moved in with him. He worries.” I shrugged nonchalantly like it was
no big deal.

“Beside the point,” Jennifer said, changing the subject. “You’re gone. They won’t
keep you over him, so you better start packing, because he is going to leave you in
the dust.”

“You know, I always wonder…if that is what you really think of him, why are you so
desperate to get him? The thrill of the chase? Or is he simply a nice trophy for your
bedpost? To me, he’s the most wonderful man I’ve ever met, not just another guy to
fuck. Though he is fantastic in that department; I won’t lie about that fact.”

I didn’t even get to enjoy the furious looks on their faces as Nathan came out of
nowhere and grabbed my arm, pulling me from them. While he was moving me from their
presence, an announcement came over the speakers to meet in the conference room.

People gathered, cramming into what was a small space for the number of people who
were coming in.

“Excuse me, can I have everyone’s attention? I have a very important announcement
to make,” Nathan shouted over the crowd to make sure everyone heard him. The room
settled down to listen, curiosity winning over. “I know many of you have heard rumors
I’m having an affair with my office mate, Delilah Palmer. Well, I’m here to put those
rumors to rest. I am not having an affair with her.” He then turned to me, smiling
at the confused look on my face. “We’re in a relationship.”

The room burst into whispers and talk, silencing Nathan. My cheeks were red as everyone
stared at me. Words of disbelief, “I knew it,” and “thought they hated each other,”
circled around.

“Effective immediately, I have left my position with Holloway and Holloway.”

I stared at him in complete shock. He never mentioned anything to me about leaving.
My hand tightened on his. I wasn’t ready for that. I needed him.

“No! She was the one who was supposed to leave!” Jennifer cried. The other BS members
chimed in with agreement.

“Fat chance of that happening, girls.” Caroline beamed with pride at them. “Unlike
you, Delilah is worth something to the company.”