Justified Love (The Southern Gentleman Series Book 1) (27 page)

“I’m so glad you feel the need to drag my Mama’s name through the mud like that. That was awfully tacky,” she said.

“What’s tacky is the only reason I knew about the affair is because you wore that brooch not long after Mr. Wilson gave it to your Mama. Oops,” I said with conviction. As she started to turn around, I could see the rage in her face.

“Oh, and Paisley. I’d get yourself a good lawyer seeing as I’m taking you, and your mama’s ass, to the cleaners for stealing money from my father. Something tells me your mama is not the only one who had a hand in that corrupt money scandal. I hope you like the color orange honey because that’s the only fashion statement you’ll be making anytime soon,” I said punting her ass with my words. God, it felt good to stick it to her.

As my crew and I threw our heads back in laughter, Colt pulled me aside and gave me the biggest kiss in front of everyone. “I love you,” he said in front of all our friends.

“No matter what the outcome, I love you too. You did a great job today, Sherlock. I was impressed by your detective skills. Perhaps we should explore your discovery skills later?” I asked in a sneaky manner.

“I do believe you’re right, Watson. The power of deception seems to work well with my discovery skills. Hmm, what should I discover first?” he teased. Before I had a chance to answer, the jury came back from deliberations.

“Everyone be seated. Has the jury reached a verdict?” Judge Abernathy asked reaching for the paper and handing it back to the clerk. The room fell silent waiting for the verdict.

“Yes, we have, Your Honor,” said Juror number five, also known as Ms. Tuckett, my Middle School Algebra teacher.

“In the case of W&W Developments vs. Earl T. Mason, we the jury find W&W Developments, GUILTY for falsifying documentation, GUILTY of bribery and GUILTY of tampering with official records. We order the prosecution to relinquish their rights to the property, and officially sign Mr. Mason and Mr. Johnson’s farms back to Birdy Mason and Colton Wilson. In the matter of emotional duress, we order the prosecution to pay the defendant one million dollars in punitive damages. Finally, we the jury order the prosecution to publicly apologize to Mr. Mason for the emotional duress he endured during these difficult times. Waiting for Shepley Wilson to speak was so satisfying. He struggled to gurgle out an “I’m Sorry,” but he finally apologized to my father.

“As for the charges regarding, Avery City Bank. Another court date will be set for four weeks from today,” stated Judge Abernathy.

“I suggest you stay close to town Mrs. Parker,” Judge Abernathy stated. “That includes you too, Paisley.

As the courtroom exploded with cheers, I felt a sense of relief and pride. Knowing I helped Daddy, Granny, and Colt, was so overwhelming. Before I broke down, Colt picked me up and swung me around placing kisses all over my face. “I’m so proud of you, baby. You did it. You were amazing,” Colt said with admiration.

“I couldn’t have done it without you, babe. Without that updated will, I’m not sure how I would have won,” I professed.

“I have no doubt in my mind you would have found a way. You always do,” he said with confidence in me.

I was floating on air, but I was also dreading the talk. The case was over and I didn’t need to be in Avery anymore. I had a job, an apartment and boss in New York. I worked hard to get those things, but for some reason this victory was unsettling with me. The knot in my stomach started to churn again, but all I wanted to do was squash it, so I could enjoy this moment.

Chapter 22

Walking into Colt’s apartment, I started to remove my pinstripe jacket and heels. Moving towards Colt, I pinned him up against the island trapping him between my arms.

“So, how does it feel to be a millionaire, Sherlock?” I asked with encouragement.

“I hadn’t thought about it to be honest, Watson,” he said pulling me into his hips.

“Now you can afford to put together your after-school program, that’s exciting, baby!” I said enthusiastically wiggling my body between his.

“It is very exciting. I had the best attorney in town,” he said leaning in for a kiss.

“Oh really. Well, should I be jealous?” I said teasing him with my lips ever so lightly. Speaking just centimeters away from my lips, “Yes, she was incredibly sexy in this skin tight suit. Her ass looked amazing in the skirt,” he said cupping my butt and squeezing.

“This girl sounds amazing. She also seems like she has really great taste in fashion,” I said smiling into his passionate kiss.

“You have no idea,” Colt mumbled.

“I thought we could “hang” around here for a little while, and then go grab some dinner?” Colt suggested.

“I would love that. So what does this “hanging out” entail?” I asked in a questionable manner. Colt began pulling up my skirt, right there in the kitchen, exposing my bare ass. “Looks like someone was feeling confident today,” he said pulling my skirt all the way up.

“I figured, if I lost today, at least I had something to look forward to when I was done,” I said seductively unbuttoning my blouse.

“You know what?” he said ripping my blouse off my body.

“Fuck this, I’m tired of waiting,” he said pulling me up and wrapping my legs around his waist.

Walking back to the bedroom was a challenge, but it was definitely worth it. Kicking the door open with his foot, he laid my body down on the bed. Pulling him to me with his shirt tie, we were tangled in a sea of tongues. He tasted like strawberries. He teased my lips not allowing me a single kiss until he crashed into me. Breathing heavily, it felt like we didn’t even need to have sex. The kissing was enough to push me over the edge alone. He drew in my bottom lip and tempted me with a nibble. I want more.

Untangling his tie from his neck, I tossed it across the room. Just like he had torn my shirt off its buttons, I gripped and ripped sending the pieces flying. Diving into his chest, I ran my lips across his incredible chest while touching every inch of his sculpted abs. His smell was intoxicating and it lured me in. As our limbs intertwined with one another, I worked my way down caressing his chest slowly hovering over his belt. I wanted to enjoy ever minute of this.

Brushing the strands of hair away from my eyes, “You look so beautiful right now,” Colt professed. Instead of giving him a cheesy line, I blushed and kissed him slowly and methodically.

Rolling him over I sat on top of him straddling his sexy frame. He ran his delicate hands up my stomach, reaching under my bra and massaging my breast. Reaching behind me, I unclasped my black, lace bra letting it tangle around his fingertips. Leaning forward, Colt guided his arms around to my back rolling his fingers to the zipper of my skirt. Stealthy unzipping it, he kissed me deeply and softly. Pulling my skirt up and over my head, I extended my arms over his head and clenched his fingers. Trapping him under my body, I pushed forward laying my breast on Colt’s wet mouth. Delicately he inhaled my breast one by one. Tickling and sucking on my nipples, I felt them perk up in his mouth. Grinding into his hips from the pleasure, Colt flipped me onto my back. I could feel is manhood pressing hard against my sex, teasing me against taking him too fast.

Not wanting to pull our bodies away from one another, Colt stood and hitched his fingers at the hips of his boxer briefs. Letting them fall to the floor, I couldn’t help but marvel at this gorgeous man in front of me. His chiseled body was perfected by this lower V. As he sprang free from his briefs he had a look in his eyes like a man needing to take his woman. Starting at my feet, he kissed my arch working his way up my legs. Kissing my inner thighs he wrapped my legs around his neck, and pulled my eager sex to his mouth. Lovingly he began running his tongue across my slit, and trailing his soft tongue up to my clit. Tenderly he began circling my sweet spot while taking his time to nibble sending shockwaves up and down my spine. Lapping up my love, he placed his tongue at the entrance of my sex and slid in gently. Building up for my release, Colt added two fingers into my sex to intensify my pleasure. He was a very selfless lover. He took the time to make sure I was completely and totally satisfied. Massaging my clit with his tongue, he began to probe my sex. In and out, slowly building my climax. Feeling I was ready for release he nipped my sweet spot sending me spiraling into an incredible orgasm.

Riffling my hands over his head, I pulled him up my body. Wanting to touch him and feel his hardness on me, I drew his lips into my mouth. Tasting myself on his tongue, I sucked taking in my juices. Pulling back, Colt grabbed a hold of my thighs and gripped them as he ran his amazing mouth over my exposed neck. Dragging his lips down the right side of my neck, across my collarbone, he made his way up the left side of my neck stopping to kiss the skin behind me ear.

Whispering in my ear while touching every inch of my body, “I love you, baby. This body is mine; this mind is mine, this heart is mine,” he said tracing his fingers over my heart.

“I love you too, baby. Make love to me, Colt,” I said with desperation.

Looking into his hypnotizing blue eyes, he dove in for a kiss. Devouring my swollen lips he thrust inside my sex. I was completely drenched and wanton. Not taking his eyes off me, we rocked back and forth to the rhythm of our breaths. Circling his hips, he was hitting places I had never felt before. Arching my back, I pressed my sex deeper, taking all of him inside of me.

Colt didn’t just love my body; he cherished and worshiped every inch of it. Claiming every inch with a single touch or kiss. Feeling the love between us at that moment was exactly what I had always been waiting for. This man, this moment, was all I desired. Nothing else mattered, but me and this man. My friend and my lover.

Moving my greedy hands all over his body, I ran my nails down his back making him buck. Moaning with increased pleasure, my body shivered building up to my climax. Feathering kisses across my cheeks, eyelids and lips I moaned hungry for more. Drawing me close I could feel my sex starting to clench down as I exploded with pleasure. Growling into my neck, Colt found his release and collapsed on my sweaty body; we lay there basking in our ecstasy.

Lying there staring at this man, I couldn’t imagine my life without him in it. Maybe we could make this long distance relationship work. Knowing we needed to have this conversation made my stomach do somersaults. Taking a mental picture of this moment I latched onto the memory of his soft face laying on the pillow. I wanted to remember this exact moment. The moment I felt totally, completely and utterly in love with this man, I knew I had to bring up moving back to New York City at dinner, so this might be my last memory of our justified love.

Mimicking someone taking a picture with a camera, I made a clicking noise again.

“I love that you do that,” Colt said brushing a hand on my check.

“It’s a memory I always want to remember.”

Getting dressed after our sexcapade, I was trying not to be so obvious of what was about to come. I hated to surprise Colt, but he had to know it was coming too. Before hopping in the truck, I grabbed Colt’s wrist and kissed him anxiously.

“You keep that up, and we won’t make it to dinner, baby,” he said with a smile.

“I just can’t get enough of you and those luscious lips,” I said trying to deflect the real reason for my sudden need to be near him.

●

Pulling out my chair for me, I sat, complimenting his sweet gesture, “Why thank you fine, sir. You’re such a gentleman.”

“Only the very best for my, southern belle,” he said giving me a satisfying wink.

“You are too sweet,” I said placing my hands over his. Colt had gotten a table at the swankiest joint in Avery.

“I’m surprised you picked this place,” I said to Colt.

“Well, it was a fantastic day, and I wanted to celebrate with my girl,” he said pulling out the menu. When the waiter came over, Colt interjected first to order a bottle of champagne to celebrate our victory.

“Well, look at you, Mr. Fancy Pants,” I said as the waiter left the table. Coming back fairly quickly, he poured us two flutes.

Lifting our glasses, “What should we toast to?” I asked.

“Here’s to kicking ass today, saving the farm, giving Granny closure and being my best friend and girlfriend.”

“I will toast to that.”

●

Pushing my plate away feeling content and full, I sat back and relaxed with Colt.

“I know our relationship has been far from traditional with the court hearing and all, but I want you to know you have grown to be my best friend. Your understanding and compassion throughout this entire ordeal only solidifies my love for you.

Signaling the waiter, he came back with the biggest blueberry muffin I had ever seen. Atop the muffin was a single candle glowing from its illumination.

Taking my hands into his, he kissed my palms laying them gently on his cheek.

“Carrington Mason, I just want you to know that I will never think of you as Muffin Top Mason, and I wanted to show you how much I love you. This muffin is us saying goodbye the old you and to a new future with me. Here’s to many more kisses, dates, memories and a lasting relationship. Make a wish.

Although I didn’t want Colt to know, I wished for the same exact things. Things were going to perfectly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring up New York. I knew it needed to be addressed, but I wasn’t ready for it. I was enjoying this perfect moment with the man I loved the most. My anxiety started to mount as I decided to approach the subject.  What I didn’t expect was to see Ms. Tuckett approached our table.

“Carrington, I hate to interrupt your meal, but I just wanted to tell you something,” she said staring at me.

“Ms. Tuckett it’s good to see you again. I know you were only part of the jury today, but I truly appreciate your verdict,” I said with genuine admiration.

“Carrington, I just needed to tell you face-to-face how incredibly proud I am of you. I may have only been your algebra teacher, but to see you grow and mature into this woman before me, makes me so proud. You coming back has changed a lot of people’s lives. I know you may not understand, but I just needed you to know,” she said getting teary eyed.

“How? I’m only one person, Ms. Tuckett. I don’t understand,” I said confused.

“Colton, no offense, but your father is an appalling man. He has swindled so many people in this town, and just getting a little bit of victory today made a lot of people happy. Stopping that monster from building a shopping mall saved this town. A lot of people would have been out of a job, and our town would have fallen apart. The last thing we need is another big shot company taking the revenue from our town. I know you are headed back to New York, but I just thought I should let you know how much you influenced this town,” she said letting the tears fall.

Standing to give Mrs. Tuckett a hug, “I would have done it for anyone in this town ma’am.”

Seeing Ms. Tuckett walk away, I felt a wave of emotion start to build in my chest. All of the emotions I had been suppressing were finally coming to the surface.

“Colt, can we get out of here? I need air,” I said standing from my chair. Running out the front door while Colt paid the tab, I let the tears roll down my face. Colt rushed out the front door and ran straight to me. Falling into his open arms, I sobbed like a child.

“Baby, what’s wrong? What can I do? How can I make this better?” he asked confused and upset.

“I just can’t take it, Colt. Seeing that look on Ms. Tuckett’s face, just made me think of everything going on between us. I’m completely and utterly in love with you, but I also have a life in New York. I’m terrified to go back. I’m terrified you won’t want a long distance relationship. I’m terrified I’ll never find another love like I have with you. To be honest, I don’t want to find another love. I’m so confused. I don’t know what to do,” I said pouring out my heart to him.