Chapter 33
For the first time ever, I woke up feeling rested. My body was calm, my mind was still, and I felt at peace. It was an unusual feeling for me. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how I had slept so well.
Then the most beautiful woman in the world, still fast asleep, wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled herself closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder. As if it had a mind of its own, my hand went to her silky blonde hair and I let my fingers slip through the soft strands. Before pulling her closer to me and then rolling so I was on my back, and she was asleep on my chest.
Closing my eyes, I thought back to the previous night, the rounds of fighting, sex, more fighting, and a lot more sex.
I, like many men in my position, have had plenty of experience, but nothing had ever compared to the primal heat between us. It was sensational. I had lost count of how many times we had argued just for it to end up with one of us kissing the other and then me pushing into her tight little body or her pushing me down so she could ride me.
My particularly favorite moment of the night was when she told me to go fuck myself, and I responded that if she said something like that to me again, I’d wash her mouth out. She said it again, and I grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to her knees and shoving my cock in her mouth. She responded by grabbing my hips and holding me still as she deep throated me with such enthusiasm and vigor it was like she was taking out her anger and frustration with me on my cock.
It was life-affirming.
After I had washed her dirty mouth out with my come, I tossed a bottle of water at her, giving her a second to catch her breath before throwing her on the bed and telling her she absolutely did not get the last word in this argument. Then diving between her thighs and using my tongue and fingers to make her come so hard that her own juices dripped from my chin.
“Good morning,” she said as she opened her eyes and looked up at me.
Even first thing in the morning, she was still absolutely stunning. She didn’t need designer clothes or high-end makeup to look glamorous. All she needed were her bright green eyes, soft golden hair, and pink lips that were still a little puffy and bruised from my attention.
“Good morning,” I said, my voice a little gruff. “How did you sleep?”
She made a low purring sound in the back of her throat as she slid off me and stretched her arms and legs, arching her back enough that the sheet fell away from her perfect breasts.
“Good, but I am in desperate need of a shower and a cup of coffee before we go into the office.”
“Oh, we’re not going into the office today,” I said.
She looked up at me. Her eyes got wide, and I swore there was hurt shining through them.
“I thought you said you wanted me back on your desk to help with this case.”
“Oh, I do, but we’re not going into the office. We’re going to work from here today.” I climbed out of bed and stood, completely naked. “Why don’t you go hop in the shower, and I’ll make the coffee. Then meet me back here, and we’ll get to work,” I offered while stretching my arms over my head, trying to get the rest of the sleep from my limbs.
When I didn’t get an immediate answer, I turned around and caught her checking me out. Her gaze was traveling up and down my body, her eyes wide and her tongue running over her top lip. Even after everything we had done last night, she was still checking me out. My God, didn’t that do great things for a man’s ego?
“Counterproposal, counselor?” she said, shaking herself out of whatever fantasy was playing in her head.
She bit her lip and looked up at me as she sat up in the bed, letting the sheet pool at her waist.
“Go ahead.”
* * *
“How about yougo make a large pot of coffee and then come join me in the shower?” She kicked the sheet down the bed.
“Agreed.”
It took all of the discipline I had to walk away from Eddie, naked and sprawled out on my bed, to go make a pot of coffee, but she needed caffeine and I wanted to provide. For the first time I realized that I wanted to get her everything. I wanted to be the one that provided for her, not because she was sleeping with me, but because I wanted her needs to be met and I wanted to be the one to do it.
There was a strange tightness in my chest that I tried to rub away while walking into the kitchen. I didn’t know what this girl was doing to me, but I decided right then and there that whatever it was, I was going to let it happen. It didn’t matter to me anymore that Eddie might not be good for my career. That was ridiculous, anyone who spent five minutes with her knew that she was absolutely brilliant.
Eddie was not the same type of woman that Catherine was. Catherine was made to be the wife of a strong man, she was meant to be a tool to help someone’s career. She came with political ties, a pedigree that could not be argued with, and a trust fund that could build an empire. She was a Barbie made for a powerful man.
Eddie was so much more.
Eddie was the girl who didn’t work to further someone else’s career. She had her own. She would work tirelessly toward her own objectives, and anyone smart enough to be her partner would align their intentions with hers. Eddie would be an equal, not an accessory. I wanted to give her the chance to reach her goals and build the life she wanted at my side. If that meant that I didn’t run for office, so be it. I would open up my own law firm, and she could practice whatever law she wanted to right beside me.
She was my female counterpart. In a courtroom, she would be a warrior like I was. Her arguments would be brilliant and brutal. No one would face her and win. I could see her not only having a near-flawless record but, like me, there would also be a secret tally. People would count how many lawyers went up against her and lost so badly that they left the profession or turned to something spineless like contract law.
She was the Valkyrie to my Viking—the Amazon to my Gargarean. I suddenly understood what Luc and Marksen were talking about when they called Amelia and Olivia their partners. I didn’t want to break Eddie. I wanted to help her fight and win every battle we came across.
The only thing I had left to figure out was how I was going to convince her to stay by my side.
I guessed I just had to spend the weekend showing her what a life with me could look like.
When the water started in my shower, I abandoned the coffee pot and went straight into the bathroom.
We spent over an hour in the shower, kissing and washing each other, making sure every single inch of the other one was clean. By the time we got out, I had made her come two more times, each while moaning my name, and she had used the soap to give me the most amazing hand job I had ever had.
Still, I promised her coffee, so while she took her time shrugging into my black cashmere robe, I went into the kitchen with a towel snug around my hips to make her coffee.
I went ahead and loaded up a tray with everything she could need for her coffee, as well as a little breakfast spread of some fruits and cheeses from my fridge. I wanted to make sure she had everything she needed because I did not want her leaving my bed for as long as possible.
When I set the breakfast tray down on the bedside table, she was still in the bathroom, humming happily to herself. God, I loved the way that sounded. She was comfortable in my home, and for a moment, I wondered if she would be comfortable making this her home. I loved the idea of waking up to her in my arms and hearing that adorable, off-tune humming coming from my bathroom as she got ready for work every morning.
Quickly, I went into my home office to grab the files that we needed, as well as my laptop and a tablet for her. And spread everything out on the bed.
“What’s all this?” she asked, stepping out of the bathroom. The robe was hanging off her shoulders and cinched tight at her waist. I loved knowing with one single pull her body would be mine again.
“Ms. Carmichael, do you think that just because I said we weren’t going into the office, you would have the day off?” I arched an eyebrow at her. She smirked right back.
“I figured at least we would be working in your home office.”
“I’m sorry, is my bed suddenly not up to your standards?” I crossed my arms over my chest and had to press my lips together to keep myself from laughing.
“Oh, but Mr. Astrid, what would the other secretaries say,” she said in a breathy voice before erupting into a fit of giggles.
I walked around the bed until I stood in front of her and grabbed her still-warm hair to tilt her head up and meet my eyes.
“Don’t ever let me hear you calling yourself a secretary. You are so much more.”
“Sorry, paralegal,” she corrected.
“Come, let’s get some work done and drink our coffee. Then maybe if you are a really good girl, I’ll reward you for a job well done.” I gently pushed her toward the bed, then handed her a cup of steaming coffee and a file.
“Yes, sir.” She gave me a playful wink before taking the file from me and sipping her coffee.