21. Scarlett
Jesus fucking Christ. How was I going to get out of this? I glanced at my watch. It was already after four o’clock and I had no way of knowing how much longer the police were going to keep us. Spending the night at the Four Oaks Police Department was not what I planned.
The foyer area we were in was barely big enough to accommodate the nearly one hundred protesters that had been rounded up from both sides of the demonstration.
Instead of individual cells, we were all packed together on hard benches lining the bare walls. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, but either way, my ass hurt from sitting on the bench for two hours.
“I’m so, so sorry about this.”
This was about the twenty-seventh time Marissa had apologized and I was about done being polite about it. “It’s fine. I’m your lawyer. It’s my job to uh…” Drop everything and race the hour and a half from Esperance to stop her from getting arrested? Along with the other members of ASS. It hadn’t worked, and here we were.
“But I’m really worried about that.” Marissa gestured to my face, where I was pretty sure a nice big bruise was already coming through. It hurt like a motherfucker, not gonna lie. “You should really get it looked at.”
I gritted my teeth so hard I’m amazed my jaw didn’t snap. Like I could just wander out of here at my leisure. “They had someone look at me when we were brought in, remember? It’ll be fine.” No sign of concussion, no bleeding.
I couldn’t even say the other guy came off worse. He was on the other side of the room, leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his fat belly. Every time I glanced at him, he was watching me. Eyeing me with a hard stare. Asshole. He’d hit me and yeah, maybe it had been an accident, or I just got in the way of whoever he was actually trying to whack. But it had started out as a perfectly peaceful protest, with Marissa and others chaining themselves to an ancient oak tree to prevent it from being cut down. It had quickly spiraled into a fight when a bunch of dudes in huge pickups had turned up with bolt cutters.
Who do you call when your protest goes bad? Your lawyer, of course. One of the other Alliance members, Gerald, had picked me up on his way through. We arrived just in time to witness the dudes trying to cut the protesters free. Marissa was distraught, yelling and trying to kick anyone who came near her. Somehow, I’d ended up in the melee and had been hit moments before the police arrived.
“You don’t know you’ll be fine. Your cheekbone might be fractured.”
“It’s not.”
“Or there could be permanent damage. Scarring. You could sue someone.”
Jesus Christ. Marissa was still talking when I got up from the bench and approached the counter.
I cleared my throat loudly, trying to get the cop’s attention. He ignored me, just clicking away on his computer like I wasn’t there. After a few moments with no response, I spoke up politely.
“Excuse me, officer?” He finally glanced up at me with a bored expression. “Do you have any idea when we’ll be released? Some of us have been here for hours already.”
He shrugged lazily. “Not my call. You’ll have to wait for the sergeant to finish processing everything.”
I frowned, feeling my frustration building along with my headache. This was completely unacceptable. “With all due respect, keeping us detained like this for so long is a violation of our civil rights. I’m an attorney, and I can assure you this will not stand.”
The cop smirked, clearly unfazed by my words. “Is that so? Well, you can take it up with the sergeant when he’s done.” He turned his attention back to the computer, effectively dismissing me. Asshole. There were assholes everywhere I fucking turned in this place.
Gritting my teeth, I spun on my heel and rejoined Marissa on the bench. She gave me a questioning look, but I just shook my head, too riled up to repeat the useless interaction.
Fuck, my face was hurting more and more by the minute. And I was hungry. Was I feeling light-headed because I needed to eat, or because of my head injury? Or just because I was growing two humans, and I needed to take care of myself?
“Are we at least allowed to make a phone call?”
The cop shrugged. “Do what you like.”
Pulling my phone from my bag, I closed my eyes for a moment, working through how I was going to ask Rhett for his help.
Part of me didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of admitting I needed him. But the throbbing pain in my face and the cold metal bench under my ass made the decision for me. I hit call.
The line clicked after a few rings. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite tree-hugging attorney,” Rhett’s smooth voice came over the line, instantly making me roll my eyes.
“Rhett, I...” I glanced around at the crowded holding area. “I’m in a bit of a situation here.”
“What sort of situation?”
I clenched my jaw, instantly regretting this. “I’m at the Four Oaks police station...in a holding cell.”
There was a pause before Rhett let out a low chuckle. “You’re kidding.”
“Does it sound like I’m kidding?” I snapped. “I got arrested during a protest for trying to stop them from cutting down an ancient oak.”
I could practically hear Rhett’s grin growing wider.
“You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?” I snapped. “This is serious, Rhett!”
“Oh, I’m sure it is, my girl,” he drawled. “Getting yourself thrown in the slammer for civil disobedience. Very principled of you.”
“I didn’t do anything! I was just the legal counsel there to make sure everything was above board.” I huffed out an exasperated breath. “You know what, never mind. This was a mistake.”
“Now, now, no need to get your panties in a twist. Where exactly is this delightful establishment holding you hostage?”
“The Four Oaks precinct, but forget it. I’ll figure something else out.”
“You think I’m going to miss the opportunity to see you, with my own two eyes, in the lockup? I’m already in the car, sweetheart.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he had already disconnected the call. Dropping my phone into my purse, I shook my head. Of course, he would find this whole ridiculous situation amusing. Part of me hoped he would just stay away. The other part... well, that was the part that had called him in the first place, wasn’t it?
It wasn’t even twenty minutes before Rhett walked into the station. His eyes found mine across the crowded room and a slow, cocky grin spread across his face. He tipped his head, indicating that I should join him at the counter. I walked over on stiff legs, wincing at the aches in my body from sitting so long.
“Aren’t you just a regular rebel without a cause?” His eyes roamed over me in that possessive way that made my skin prickle with awareness.
“Don’t start with me, Rhett. This is serious.”
Then his gaze zeroed in on the bruise blossoming on my cheekbone, and his cocky grin faded into a tight line. “What the fuck is this?” Before I could respond, his large hand came up and cupped my chin, tilting my face to get a better look at the bruise.
“Oh, um, it’s nothing. Just got caught up in the crowd, and um, I don’t really know…” I let my words trail away, unable to tear my eyes away from the intensity in his.
Rhett’s jaw clenched. “And they just let him walk away after assaulting you?” His tone was low, dangerous.
“Well, um, he’s…”
“Sir—”
Now the cop behind the counter decided to take some action. Unfortunately for him, Rhett was having none of it. “Don’t you fucking sir me. Why is my woman standing here with a bruise like this on her face?”
My. Woman. Holy Jesus fucking Christ.
“I’ll have your fucking badge for this. Where is the cunt?”
Gasp.
When the officer just stood there with his mouth hanging open, Rhett let me go and turned around, facing the room. Every eye was on him. “Who’s responsible for this?” He gestured to my face.
“Rhett, it’s?—”
“Quiet.”
Oh.
“I said, Who. Is. Responsible. For. This?”
Without a word, the people standing near the man that hit me shuffled silently away from him. Rhett zeroed in on him like a hunter sighting his quarry. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he glared at the guy, his entire demeanor radiating barely contained fury. “Get over here.”
The guy shuffled nervously towards Rhett, his eyes wide with fear. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This guy was twice Rhett’s size and had at least fifty pounds on him, but he definitely had his tail between his legs.
He opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out, Rhett’s fist lashed out with startling speed, connecting with the guy’s face with a sickening crack. His head snapped violently, and he stumbled backward from the force of the hit.
“Rhett! What the fuck are you doing?”
He didn’t even glance at me. His eyes were locked on his target. The man cowered, hands raised in a feeble attempt to protect himself as Rhett moved on him again.
“You think it’s okay to hit my woman?” He snarled, grabbing a fistful of the man’s shirt and yanking him forward. “You need to be taught some fucking manners.”
“Rhett, stop!” I pleaded, my heart pounding with panic. This was spiraling out of control, fast.
The cop behind the counter shouted something, but Rhett wasn’t listening. With his free hand, he landed another brutal punch. There was a sickening crunch and a spray of blood.
Oh god. Did he break his nose? The man crumpled to the floor, whimpering and cradling his face as blood gushed between his fingers.
Chest heaving, Rhett stood over him, hands clenching and unclenching like he was warring with the urge to kick the man while he was down. I had to stop this before it went any further.
“Rhett!” I grabbed his arm, pulling him back with all my strength. “That’s enough! You’re going to get yourself arrested.”
For a terrifying moment, the fury in his eyes didn’t waver as he glared at me. Then, finally, some of the tension drained from his face and his shoulders relaxed. Turning to the cop behind the counter, he said, “You gonna arrest me?”
“Um, uh, not tonight. But I’ll need your details.”
“Fine.” Fishing in his pocket, he pulled out a business card and slapped it on the counter. “That fuckhead had better still be here tomorrow. He’s not getting away with this.” Then he threw a terse, “Let’s get out of here,” to me.
Without waiting for me to respond, he grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the exit. I had no choice but to hurry along behind him.
As we burst through the front doors into the fading evening light, I couldn’t stop the shaky laugh of disbelief that bubbled up. Only Rhett would come storming into a police station and start throwing punches to defend my honor. And then walk out like he was leaving a business meeting.
Part of me knew I should be furious at his caveman antics. But another part... another part found it recklessly thrilling to have this infuriatingly arrogant man fight for me so ferociously. That part was feeling all sorts of hot and bothered, and like she couldn’t wait to be alone with him.
Without asking my opinion on the matter, Rhett drove me to Raleigh. Normally, I would have been fucking annoyed, but right now, with Raleigh being less than half an hour away, it was by far the better option.
After he’d asked me if I was hungry and I’d answered yes, he hadn’t said another word. Just gripped the steering wheel and stared at the road ahead. I may as well not have been there. On any other day, that also would have annoyed me. But tonight, it gave me a lot of time to go over everything in my mind.
He pulled up in the valet parking of his condo building, climbed out, and threw his keys to the waiting valet. “I’ll do it,” he almost growled when the guy stepped forward to open my door.
I couldn’t believe what I was feeling. The neanderthal act had always been a total turn off for me, but not tonight. Maybe it was the hormones. Yeah, that made sense. I could do what I was about to do and blame it all on the hormones. Fucking excellent.
I let Rhett guide me through the lobby with his hand firmly planted on my lower back. The heat from his palm radiated through the thin fabric of my shirt, raising goosebumps along my skin. I couldn’t deny the thrill that zinged through me at his possessive gesture.
The moment we stepped into the empty elevator car, Rhett crowded me against the wall, caging me in with his arms. His woodsy cologne enveloped me, the scent achingly familiar and intoxicating. I tilted my head back to meet his intense gaze, my breath catching at the burning desire blazing in them.
“I’m so fucking hot for you right now,” he rumbled, his voice a deep rasp that did sinful things to my insides. He leaned in until his lips brushed the sensitive curve of my ear. “You would not believe what I’m going to do to you.”
Heat pooled low in my belly at the dark promise in his words. Part of me wanted to put him in his place. But the larger part, the part that had been starving for his touch for far too long, yearned to submit to whatever deliciously wicked punishment he had in mind.
I curled my fingers into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer until our bodies were flush against each other. My nipples pebbled, brushing against the hard planes of his chest with every ragged breath I took.
“How about you tell me?” My voice was a husky rasp that I barely recognized as my own.
Rhett’s lips quirked into that infuriatingly sexy smirk that never failed to make my heart stutter. “I’m going to fuck you three ways to Sunday.” His large hand slid down to grip my ass, giving it a firm squeeze that had me arching into him with a soft whimper.
The elevator dinged, but neither of us moved. I was lost in the heated promise flickering in Rhett’s darkened gaze, my core clenching with need. “That sounds like a lot of fucking. You’d better make a start,” I breathed, the words a daring challenge.
A low snarl rumbled from Rhett’s chest as he claimed my mouth in a searing kiss that left me dizzy. His tongue swept past my parted lips, stroking and exploring with a hungry intensity that stole my breath. I fisted my hands in his hair, holding him to me, giving as good as I got.
When he finally wrenched his mouth from mine, we were both panting harshly. His pupils were blown wide with lust, his jaw ticking with barely restrained hunger. “Be careful what you wish for, my girl,” he ground out in a voice made rough with desire. “I just might give you more than you can handle.”
With that, he gripped my hand and tugged me out of the elevator, leaving me flushed and throbbing with desperate, aching need. I had no idea what I’d just unleashed, but I couldn’t fucking wait to find out.
I let Rhett pull me into his living room, my pulse thundering with a heady mix of anticipation and trepidation.
His eyes blazed with an intensity that stole my breath as he dragged me into his arms. The heat rolling off him in waves had me flushed and aching.
“You’ve been a very bad girl, Scarlett.” Pressing me up against the back of the couch, he leaned in until his lips were a whisper from mine, his warm breath fanning across my tingling skin. “Do you know what I do with bad girls?”
A shiver of delight oozed down my spine. Part of me wanted to be defiant, to challenge him, but I was well past that. I tilted my chin up, holding his smoldering gaze. “Punish them?”
His lips curved into that sinful smile that never failed to make my toes curl. “That’s right.” He brushed his lips lightly across mine, teasing me. “Bad girls get punished.”
With those words, he reached for the top of my blouse and, in one movement, ripped it open. I whimpered. I’m not proud of it, but what are you gonna do? Shoving the shirt off my shoulder, he kissed me again, dropping my shirt to the floor and unclipping my bra all in one smooth movement. His tongue swept between my lips, stroking and exploring with hungry intensity until I was dizzy. “Naked. Now,” he said against my lips. I toed my shoes off and hurriedly shimmy out of my skirt, stepping out of it when it pooled at my feet.
He hauled me against him and I clutched at the hard muscles of his shoulders, pulling him closer.
When he finally tore his mouth from mine, we were both panting harshly, and he’d somehow removed my panties. His eyes were dark with primal need. “On your knees,” he rasped in a tone that there was no arguing with.
My core clenched with anticipation and I sank obediently to my knees in front of him.
Rhett’s large hand cupped the back of my head, his fingers threading through my hair. His other hand drifted to the bulge straining against the front of his pants as he gazed down at me with scorching intensity. I knew exactly what he was telling me to do, so I reached up and unbuckled his pants, sliding my hand in and wrapping my fingers around his rock hard cock.
“Open,” he ordered. I parted my lips, already quivering for him. Fuck, the way he groaned deep in his chest as he guided himself into my waiting mouth almost undid me.
I swirled my tongue around him, tasting his arousal on my tongue. He threw his head back with a guttural curse. “Fuck, Scarlett. Your mouth feels so goddamn good.”
Desperate to please him, I hollowed my cheeks, increasing the suction, reveling in the way his hips jerked in response. His fingers tightened almost painfully in my hair as he began to move, thrusting in a steady rhythm that had me swallowing around him with each deep stroke.
This was what I’d been craving. Not just the physical joining, but this dark, primal give and take of pleasure and control. Rhett was unraveling me, his dominance stripping away all my inhibitions until I was nothing but raw need.
I whimpered around his thick length, the sound muffled but needy. Rhett’s hooded gaze found mine, holding me captive.
“You want more?” At my breathless nod, he tightened his grip and increased his pace, fucking my mouth with deep, hungry strokes that had me moaning. “Take it all, just like that. Such a good girl.”
His words seared me, branding me as his. I sank into the delicious possession, in surrendering myself so completely to him. I wanted to drown in his dark intensity, to let it sweep me away to that blissful place where nothing existed but his touch, his voice, his exquisite dominance.
My lashes fluttered closed as I gave myself over fully to the dizzying sensation of being claimed, owned, taken. Rhett’s movements grew more frantic until finally, with a harsh grunt, he exploded in hot pulses down my throat.
“Fuck,” he gritted out, still thrusting shallowly. “Swallow every drop, Scarlett. Show me what a good girl you can be.”
I did as commanded, sucking him through the final tremors of his release until he had to tug free with a hiss. He was barely done before hauling me up and into a melting hot kiss, groaning when he tasted himself on my tongue. Then he scooped me into his arms, striding towards what I assumed was his bedroom.
“Don’t think I’m done with you yet, my girl. The night is still young, and you’ve got a lot of punishment left.”
He dropped me onto the bed, his eyes raking over me as I lay sprawled before him.
“Scoot up.”
I did as I was told, lying back against the pillows.
“I want your hands above your head.” He was undoing the buttons on his shirtsleeves as he spoke. “Hold on to the headboard railings. Yes, exactly like that. You’re such a good fucking girl.” He shrugged out of his shirt, then dropped his pants before sitting on the edge of the bed.
My blood was humming, and I was fucking desperate for him to touch me.
“You want a burger and fries, or pizza, or noodles, or something else?”
“Wh-what?”
“You’re hungry. What do you want to eat?”
The sudden transition was jarring, and I just stared at him for a long moment, dazed and confused. From the look in his eyes, he fucking knew it. The bastard.
“How about I choose, then?”
He grabbed his phone from the pocket of his pants and glanced at me. The hunger in his eyes had been replaced with a calculated nonchalance that left me feeling strangely bereft. God, he knew just how to play me.
Shooting me a devilish grin, he dialed a number. “You’re going to love this place. Best takeout in the city.”
While he waited for the line to connect, his free hand began to wander. His fingers trailed lightly over the curve of my breast, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my core. When he ran his thumb over my nipple, it hardened into a tight peak. I wanted to grab his hand and guide it lower, but I remembered his earlier command to keep my hands above my head. I gripped the railings of the headboard tighter, my knuckles turning white.
“Hey, I’d like to place an order for delivery.” He rattled off his address, playing with my breast the whole time. “Yeah, that’s right.”
I couldn’t believe he was doing this right now, touching me like this while he was on the phone with a stranger. It was outrageous, but also such a fucking turn on.
I bit my lip, trying to suppress the moan building in my throat as his hand abandoned my breast, sliding down my trembling stomach. My heart was pounding, my body aching for more of his expert touch.
“I’ll have the supreme pizza. Double order of garlic bread and some hot wings.” His voice was smooth and composed, as if he wasn’t currently driving me out of my mind.
His hand moved lower, and I hissed out a breath. He was so close, and I was so desperate for him to move just a fraction lower. “Open your legs,” he commanded, his voice low and raspy.
I complied without hesitation, my body acting on instinct as I parted my thighs for him. His fingers stroked and circled my clit with a maddening precision.
“Fuck, you’re so wet,” he murmured, his eyes darkening. Then he turned away, speaking into the phone. “Sorry about that. I was just... distracted for a moment. Yeah, extra hot for the wings would be great, thanks.”
I couldn’t believe how he managed to stay so calm while expertly driving me towards the brink of ecstasy. My breaths were coming in short, ragged pants now, my hips matching the rhythm of his hand as I chased the release I knew was just within reach.
“Yes, that’ll be all,” he finally said into the phone, hanging up without another word. He tossed the phone aside, his full attention now focused solely on me. “Now, where were we?”
Before I could so much as whimper a reply, Rhett’s fingers slid inside me, curling just right to hit that perfect spot that made my vision blur. His thumb continued its sweet torment on my clit, circling and pressing until I was a writhing, incoherent mess beneath him.
“You’re such a bastard,” I breathed, reaching for him. “I want you inside me. Now.”
Chuckling, he captured my wrists in one hand, holding them easily above my head. “Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” Teasing circles of his thumb sent sensation skittering through me. “But I don’t think you’re in a position to be making demands. Are you?”
I tried to glare at him, but it was hard when my body was singing with pleasure. “Fuck you,” I gasped out.
“Maybe if you’re nice to me, I’ll let you come.”
I wanted to hold out, to try to win, but I was on fire. All my nerve endings were lit up and I just wanted to explode. “P…please.”
He let me, fucking me hard and fast with his fingers, using his thumb to rub my clit. “Let go.”
My body obeyed without question, shattering into a million pieces as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me.
As I lay there, gasping for air, Rhett withdrew his fingers and brought them to his lips, licking them clean with a satisfied smile. “Delicious,” he declared, his eyes gleaming with triumph and something else—something that looked a lot like affection.
But that couldn’t be right. Could it? After all, this was just sex. Incredible, mind-blowing sex. But just sex, nonetheless.
Right?