Chapter 13 – Rhiannon #2
He steps closer and my breath betrays me. I hate that my body remembers him kindlier than my brain does.
“You left it in the courtroom. I was going to call your lawyer after my last case but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. I would’ve texted, but you said no personal info. So, really, you’ve only got yourself to blame for the fact that I couldn’t reach you.”
I roll my eyes and reach for it, but he yanks it back at the last second, smug as hell.
“Oh, goodie. We’re going to be mature about all this.”
His grin deepens, and a single dimple appears in his right cheek—one that I don’t remember from before.
Maybe because the last two times I saw him, he was either groaning, going down on me, buried deep inside me, or the room was too dark to notice anything beyond how good he felt.
But seeing that playful little indent does something to me.
My heart stutters, twisting itself into a shape it shouldn’t, trying to see him as something he’s not.
This guy is evil. Lawyers get off on destroying people’s lives. I would know, because if not for Leo helping us when our parents died, our whole house would have been seized by the state of Connecticut, and Eden would have been forced into the foster care system.
Cain also called me a nobody and practically begged the judge to make an example out of me by allowing Madison and Matt’s case to go forward. So… yeah. Evil.
“Was your meeting eventful?” I bite out, swiping the clutch from his hand and succeeding this time. My fingers brush against his, reminding me just how large his hands are. Just how large everything is on him. “I’m sure your client loved realizing she got beat by a non–entertainment lawyer.”
His gaze lingers, slow and heavy. Those warm green eyes of his rake over me with the same quiet intensity they had that first night in Bryant Park, except now, there’s something else behind them. Something that feels tender, a bit curious and wholly dangerous.
He’s looking at me like he knows me now. Or worse, like he wants to know me.
I wish he wouldn’t look at me like that. We weren’t supposed to ever see each other again. It should be illegal for a man with that kind of moral deficit to look that good.
“I see you did your research.”
“Don’t flatter yourself I did it during lunch with Leo. But clearly you didn’t do your due diligence, or you would have known I’m not just some ‘random nobody’ with nothing better to do than make videos online.”
He rubs at his jaw, studying me carefully.
“How did you get Leo’s phone number anyway?” I press.
“Court records.”
“Hm.”
“I’m glad I didn’t have time to text him. It’s better we met here for this exchange.”
I raise a brow. “And why’s that?”
“Wouldn’t want you getting any ideas. Seems like every time we’re alone…” He smirks. “We end up naked.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t worry. That won’t be a problem now that I know who you really are.”
His eyes narrow like he hates that response and I just shrug. “It was fun, but I told you, Suits aren’t my thing.”
He huffs out a breath. “Well, they certainly seemed to be your thing the last two times we ran into each other. In fact, you were quite fond of them.”
“Fond of them? What are you, seventy years old?”
“Thirty-five.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, that was before I knew you were an entertainment lawyer with no morals who liked making big, scary threats to random, innocent women online forcing them into legal debt just to fight back. You’re lucky my best friend’s a lawyer and took this case for free.”
“Ah, a pro-bono case. Though I can’t say defending you was for the public’s good, so that brings the legitimacy of his license into question. I enjoy supporting charity cases, too.”
“I’m not a charity case.”
“Would seem that way if you can’t afford to pay your friend for his time.”
I clench my fists and glare at him. I walked straight into his stupid, legalese trap. How is it possible this is the same guy who once had me on my back moaning his name? Ridiculous.
“I get the feeling Leo’s used to you dragging him into trouble,” he continues.
That causes my anger to flare. He knows nothing about me or my relationship with Leo and what we’ve been through.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shrugs casually. “You sit at home all day, making silly little videos disparaging influencers’ content, then get your best friend to bail you out for free when the consequences of your actions turn legal.”
My mouth drops open. “Disparaging? That’s a bold word choice. I think that you mean simply providing an alternative point of view that was never directed at Madison and Matt’s posts.”
“You’re intentionally providing the polar opposite of what they’re sharing.”
“I’m pointing out that life isn’t all black and white. That there’s shades of grey to most things and no one view, or perspective is right. That you don’t have to shell out a bunch of money to live like an influencer.” I stomp my foot like a child. He doesn’t even know me!
“So, you’re into fifty-shades of grey, huh? If I’d have known that our nights spent together may have gone differently.”
“Oh, here we go.” I roll my eyes. “You going to tell me you have a sex swing installed in your swanky apartment? Into being a Dom? And what if I am? Is it so wrong to have an interest in kink, and alternative interests when it comes to sexual pleasure? God forbid a woman enjoys having sex.”
He steps forward, his eyes flashing with intensity. The air around us crackles with tension, and my breathing quickens as I feel the heat radiating from his puffed-out chest. I can’t tell whether it’s the proximity of him or the frustration that has my pulse racing.
I’m frustrated that he’s still defending Madison and Matt, even after losing their case, frustrated that maybe there’s something more than professional between them, and frustrated that it feels like he’s implying that kinks are something to be ashamed of.
“No, Rhiannon, there’s nothing wrong with taking an interest in kink and I firmly believe that all women should enjoy every sexual encounter they have,” he says, his voice low but firm.
“In fact, I’m also interested in the many ways to bring sexual pleasure to a woman.
Maybe we could explore that together. Again. ”
I cross my arms tightly over my chest, trying to hold my ground and ignore all the highly inappropriate things that he just said in a very public location.
“To answer your previous question about whether this is something I do all day, no, it’s not. I’m a sex therapist when I’m not online creating ’disparaging content’ for your girlfriend.”
He scoffs, disbelief in his eyes. “Who the hell needs a therapist to tell them how to have sex?”
Interesting that he completely ignored the girlfriend comment.
“I’m not telling people how to have sex. I’m helping them improve their relationship by addressing everything from initiation and foreplay to, yes, sometimes actual sexual intercourse. It’s about connection, communication, and making it better for both partners.”
“Sex isn’t that complicated.”
I roll my eyes because that’s such a typical dude response. “Well, it must be, considering the fact that I’m currently providing treatment to fifty virtual clients who need support with their relationships.”
“What?”
I smile proudly. “You know, I bet I could teach you and Madison a few things to improve your relationship, you two seem way too wound tight. I can practically feel the relationship issues radiating off you. Are you not satisfying her needs?”
He laughs, deep and hard. “I don’t need any help pleasing a woman.
I’m quite successful at that. Something I know you’re aware of.
Also, though your comments don’t deserve my attention, I guess you need me to spell it out for you.
Madison and I are not in a relationship so please stop calling her my girlfriend. ”
“Bullshit.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Because I saw the way that she was looking at you. Totally ‘we’ve had sex together’ eyes.”
He raises a brow. “Because that’s the way you look at me?”
“Not even close.”
He chuckles. “Why do you care so much?”
“I don’t.”
His eyes narrow at me. “You do.”
“I don’t.” I’m practically growling while he’s smiling.
“Rhiannon, are you interested in knowing about all the women I actually have had sex with?”
“No!” I shout. “Ugh, gross. Why are we talking about this? Of course, you’re just out here sleeping around catching diseases from the Northeast crowd. Thank God I had my annual exam to get tested last week after our last little rendezvous.”
“Yes, because I’m just crawling with STDs.” He rolls his eyes sarcastically. “Says the girl who seems to love dry humping with strangers all over New York City.”
“That was one time!”
“Yes, but one time too many.”
“You seemed to have fun. And” I lower my voice, “you came.”
“Yes. In my lucky boxers. The ones that you stole.”
“I’ll mail them to you, fuck! Apparently, you need them more than I do considering you just lost your case.”
He smiles at me. “I like when you’re flustered like this. I haven’t seen this side of you yet.”
I press my lips together. “Yet? You say that like you’ll see me again.”
“Aw come on, not interested in round three? Or are we on round twenty now?”
“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’m going to sleep with you again.”
We stand there, in a silent standoff, chests heaving, eyes narrowed. If there was ever a chance that Cain and I would hook up again, that just flew out the fucking window along with my dignity.
“The truth is, I did steal your boxers.”
He throws his hands up in the air dramatically. “I fucking knew it!”
“They’re back in Brookhaven, nailed to my bedroom wall and I’ve been doing some moonlit rituals on the dried up cum stain to impact your career.”
He throws his head back, laughing hard. “You know what, hell yeah. I honestly believe that.”
“Now you’ll never have luck again.”