Chapter 2 #2
When she smiled, the entire deck lit up as if blasted from rays of sunlight. She touched Marco on the arm, nodding toward me.
He glanced in my direction, offering his usual wide, welcoming smile, only if I wasn’t seeing things, his eyes reflected a hint of mischief.
The dress hugged her every curve leaving little to the imagination. Or maybe I had a filthy mind given my thoughts centered around peeling away the silky material and revealing the prize underneath. If I wasn’t careful, I’d go to hell for my salacious thoughts.
She moved slowly through the remaining tables, surprised when I pulled out a chair for her.
“Such a gentleman.” She was practically purring.
“You might be surprised.”
“No, I don’t think I would be.”
Chuckling, I immediately poured her a glass of wine. “I hope you like red because it’s the only type of wine I’ll drink.”
“I also knew you were a master of control. Red is perfect. Cabernet even better.”
“A woman of distinguished tastes and are you calling me a control freak?”
Her shrug was subtle, but the flash of her eyes was something entirely different. She was obviously in the mood to live as dangerously as I was given the fiery look in them.
“I’d call it utter confidence. However, you do command a room including a courtroom.”
“I believe in right and wrong with no in between.”
“Your reputation precedes you.”
Leaning over, I enjoyed the closer view as well as the indulgence in her soft, floral perfume. A provocative difference in her low-cut dress. “You have me curious. Tell me about my reputation.”
She leaned closer as well. “Arrogantly correct to a fault, refusing to take any shit, and demanding in every aspect of your life.”
I pressed my hand against my chest. “I’m not certain whether to be insulted, amused, or thrilled.”
“Perhaps a little of all three. I like a man who knows what he wants and refuses to take no for an answer.” Her eyebrows lifted. “I should add if they’re a good man. Monsters don’t qualify.”
“I guess I should be going since I’m not a good man.”
Her laugh could keep me enthralled for hours, but there was a nervousness to the scattered sound and the way she darted quick glances toward the street below was a clear sign of how on edge she remained.
“He can’t hurt you, Valentina. You helped make certain of that.”
The slight smile was laced with anxiety, but seconds later, she visibly relaxed. “I know; I’m just… How can people prey on innocent people? Do they not have respect for life? Do they hate their own so much they need to blame someone? People must be born with evil DNA.”
I didn’t want to tell her the man killed wasn’t innocent. He’d been involved in drug dealing for years. However, taking his life had been a heinous act.
“In some cases, I have no doubt. However, I wish I could tell you there’s a clear delineation between those who commit heinous crimes and those who would never consider it, but I think we all have a line we would cross if necessary.”
She was thoughtful, taking a sip of her wine. “I guess you’re right. I would do anything to protect my family even at the risk of my own life.”
“The major difference is that you wouldn’t seek to hurt anyone.”
“No, of course not. Neither would you.”
I cocked my head. No one had ever made me question my values or morals except for maybe a couple of professors in college. From what I knew about myself, including serving in the military, I obviously had a dark side that needed control mechanisms from time to time.
“Why don’t we talk about something else.” She leaned further forward, lifting her gaze. When her tongue darted out to moisten her soft lips, well, fuck me.
Following her lead, I did the same. Now we were close enough I could easily reach out, laying claim to what didn’t belong to me.
It was funny how I was forced to remind myself of the obvious fact more than once.
There was a stillness in the air that hadn’t been there before, the voices and the music coming from other restaurants, all the street traffic fading into nothing but a dull hum. There was only the two of us and the way she was looking at me, pensive yet inviting.
Listening to snippets about her life she offered, sharing joys and personal preferences in everything from food to movies became my only focal point.
Food was ordered and eaten, the bottle of wine consumed and time passed yet neither one of us seemed fettered by the need to leave.
When the plates were removed, I sat back, allowing the ice to clink in my glass of whiskey.
She was even more magnificent than I’d believed weeks before.
She’d seemed demure in court, wearing the appropriate conservative attire with her long hair pulled into a tight bun.
She’d been coached into keeping makeup at a minimum and her attitude relaxed and full of confidence.
The woman sitting in front of me was entirely different.
As the minutes had slipped away, I’d gathered more of a sense of careful confidence.
She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, but would likely never be caught boasting or rudely criticizing others.
I was so used to being around legal people that this woman was refreshing.
She was also becoming an issue. My cock had remained as hard as a rock the entire time.
“This is truly a beautiful location,” Valentia said, taking a deep breath and studying the ocean’s water.
“Yes, she is.”
It took her a moment to realize what I’d said. Even in the warm, sweeping glow of the candlelight and string lights illuminating the palm trees, I noticed the immediate blush. As with her nervousness before, she chewed on her bottom lip and I suddenly wanted to be the one tasting her lip gloss.
“Are you flirting with me, Judge Armstrong?”
“What if I am?” Ordinarily, I’d say at this point for her to return to using my professional title meant she was closing the door.
Not this time.
She was merely handing over the reins of control, fueling a hunger that already knew no bounds.
“I didn’t say I minded. In fact,” she murmured and looked down at her glass while slowly rimming the edge with her index finger, “I was kind of hoping you would.”
I watched the seductive action for a few seconds.
When she lifted her heated gaze once again, there was no denying the desire brimming in them, the intense longing keeping her breathing labored.
“Then I’m glad.” With careful consideration, I reached over with my finger curled, brushing my knuckles along the underside of her jaw.
Her shiver was exactly the way I felt, a need that soon neither one of us would be able to control.
“You’re a very powerful man.”
“Am I now?”
Her mouth rounded into a perfect O and all I could think about was seeing how my cockhead fit between her succulent lips. “You don’t like the word no. Do you?”
My deep chuckle caused her to wrinkle her pert nose. “No one dares tells me no.”
“And what if they do?”
Her questions were as weighted as my answers.
We were playing a game of cat and mouse, but if she thought for a second I would allow her to be the cat, she was dead wrong.
Even if I craved hearing her purr my name as she writhed underneath me.
“Then they’re punished, Valentina. Swiftly.
Sternly. And without remorse. Tell me. Do you consider yourself a bad girl? ”
I was eager to hear her answer, the anticipation keeping me on the edge of my seat.
“Yes.”
The one-word admittance meant much more than a single syllable. She was not only defining the moment but also her desires to surrender to a firm hand. Correction. To my firm hand.
Riveting.
She shuddered visibly, her long eyelashes skimming across her cheeks.
That was it. I wasn’t much good at playing games. I’d never been, even as a kid. As soon as I pulled out a credit card, flagging down the waiter, her breath hitched.
The young man came quickly, grabbing the card and I could tell by the look on his face he sensed I was in a rush.
A sly grin slipped across her face and she purposely dropped her gaze, pulling away as if playing coy. The air between us was suddenly stifling and my thoughts turned into something much darker than before.
We’d both admirably tried to avoid the intense connection. That wasn’t possible any longer.
With the card and receipt returned, there was nothing left but to take command.
“No dessert?” she asked coyly.
“I intend on having dessert, Valentina. Just not at the restaurant.” I stood, pushing back my seat and moving beside her. When I held out my hand, her breath hitched again before locking eyes with mine.
“Where are we going?”
“Does it really matter? You’re coming with me.”
“What if someone sees us?”
“Let them,” I growled. “Let the world see that you belong to me.”