Chapter 17 #2
I go back to nuzzling her neck—one of my favorite things to do. It allows me to breathe in her scent, like I’m taking her very essence into my lungs, and make her weak in the knees at the same time. I’m all about the win-wins in life.
“Look at us, being all progressive and taking the next step. We should celebrate.”
“Mm,” she hums, and the vibrations against my lips make my dick hard.
Hell, most everything she does makes my dick hard.
I have to put my suit jacket on anytime I get up from my desk at the office now, just in case Addison says or does something to give me a semi.
Like when I walked into the break room to find her bent over at the waist, retrieving the Clorox wipes from under the sink.
I’d barely bit back the curse perched on the edge of my tongue when I realized Maggie was sitting at the table with her lunch.
I’d pretended my cell vibrated in my pocket with a call and headed straight back to my office to compose myself—and put my suit jacket back on.
“Speaking of progression and next steps…”
“Mm-hmm,” I say in encouragement as I nip at her jawline, liking where this is going.
“I have a new client for the firm.” I stop. That’s definitely not where I thought this was going. Pulling back, I look down at her, and she says, “Sorry, this isn’t the time, right? I should leave work at work and—”
“No, it’s fine,” I assure her, tucking some hair that escaped her braid behind her ear. “I’m always interested in hearing about new clients. Who is it?”
“It’s a wrongful termination suit. She’s a family friend and she was fired because her boss, the VP of the company, had the hots for her—and his wife caught wind of it.
They gave her bullshit reasons about not adhering to dress codes and trying to incite sexual harassment suits with male coworkers with her provocative attire. ”
“Damn,” I say, quickly running through the potential for the case if the client’s claims hold true. “Okay, I can meet with her next week and we’ll get the ball rolling.”
She chews on her lip for half a second and then blurts, “I want it.”
My brows draw together. “Want what?”
“The case. I want to take the lead on this one.”
Fuck. In the back of my mind, I knew that eventually our work life would bleed into what we were attempting in our personal life and cause some friction, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon.
I’m in a really difficult spot right now, and if I don’t handle this delicately, at best she’ll boot my ass out of her apartment, and at worst she’ll go honey badger on me and claw my eyes out.
The good thing is that Addison is pretty levelheaded, especially when it comes to her career, so there’s a chance I’ll survive this.
She truly doesn’t want any special privileges or treatment which she wouldn’t have received before we got together.
I don’t care what other people think about what I do, and that goes for who I decide to date.
But she was absolutely adamant that we keep our new relationship to ourselves (though, I doubt we’re fooling Maggie; nothing gets by that woman) so that no one can accuse her of having any advantages because she’s screwing the boss.
I, of course, pointed out that she’s getting plenty of advantages, and backed up my argument with concrete proof by making her come with my mouth three times then twice more with my cock before I followed her into oblivion.
That two-hour session had nearly drained me of all my strength, and it’d been a Herculean task to get dressed and drag myself home afterward.
Uncharacteristically, I’m really looking forward to spending some nights together.
I want to pull her into my arms after fucking ourselves boneless and fall asleep listening to her soft snores, which I know she makes from a rare nap we took one lazy Saturday afternoon.
I want to wake her up with my fingers between her thighs and my lips on her breasts.
Somehow I have to find a happy medium between the boss who has to do what’s best for the firm and its clients, and the lover who wants to support his woman and indulge her every whim.
“What’s the name of the company?” I’m hoping it’s something small; something that would make a great first solo case for her like a start—
“LevelUp,” she says.
I give a low whistle, immediately seeing the dollar signs a settlement like that would bring in.
LevelUp is the opposite of small. It’s a business and employment social networking company that operates through the internet and apps.
A worldwide corporation whose headquarters are here in Chicago and whose CEO happens to be golfing buddies with… oh, fuck. “Who’s the opposing counsel?”
Again with the lip chewing. She’s not a naturally fidgety person. Her nerves aren’t helping me feel any better about this. Finally, she winces a little as she drops the bomb. “The other William Reeves.”
“Jesus,” I say in a forced exhale. Grabbing my beer, I drain half of it and step back until I’m leaning against the breakfast bar that separates the living space.
“Addie, you’re a fantastic lawyer, but you still have a lot to learn.
If this goes to trial, my father will tear you apart without breaking a sweat. ”
“I know, but I don’t think it’ll go to trial.” Her voice is firming up, once again filling with the confidence I admire in her. “From everything she told me, I think I can get them to settle out of court.”
I lift the bottle to my lips and finish it off. I know I’m stalling, but playing devil’s advocate is never fun. Setting the empty down, I grip the edge of the counter behind me and pin Addison with a stare that says I want her to think about this.
“And if you can’t?” I ask seriously.
“Then I’ll turn lead over to you for the trial. But I really want my shot at this. I’m ready, Roman. Let me show you that I’m ready.”
“This might not be a high-profile murder that gets splashed across national headlines, but it’s a Fortune 500 company. If it goes to trial, and probably even if it doesn’t, the media will take notice. Losing would—”
She rushes to interrupt. “I know, and believe me, I don’t want to do anything that could damage the firm’s reputation—”
I wave my hand, not letting her finish, either.
“I’m not concerned about the firm. Cooper and I already have established reputations.
Our ratio of wins to losses alone is enough to sell people on hiring us, and that’s not taking into account our ability to close the deal in the consultations.
” Erasing the few feet between us, I take her hands and hold them.
“I’m concerned about you. If you lose, it’ll hurt your reputation before you even get the chance to build one. I don’t want that to happen.”
She stares levelly at my chest, and I know her wheels are turning, so I wait it out until she meets my gaze again, determination pouring from her. “If Martin were the one asking—if he felt ready for this, knowing that you and John could back him up if need be—would you tell him no?”
Fuck. She’s right. We’d probably let the kid do it, with Cooper guiding and prepping him, of course.
But Addison and Martin aren’t interns, they’re attorneys.
Inexperienced ones, but attorneys nevertheless, and they’re sharp, fast learners.
It’s why we hired them to begin with. The whole point was to groom them to be as good as us, to help them stand on their own and grow their own clientele, thereby allowing us to grow the firm.
Holding them back isn’t going to help them.
It isn’t going to help Addie.
On one hand, I know my father better than anyone, and know exactly what she’s in for if she takes him on.
He doesn’t play nice, and the thought of him tearing Addie apart in a deposition, much less court, makes my stomach turn.
But that’s the man in me wanting to protect what’s his.
It shouldn’t be relevant in this decision.
On the other hand, I know my father better than anyone.
If she’s going to go up against anyone, who better than the man who taught me everything I know, a man whose tricks are up my sleeve every bit as much as they’re up his.
And Addison might be young, but she’s damn good. She might just surprise us all.
“Okay, you can take point on this.” Her aqua eyes light up, but I hold my hand up to let her know there’s more.
“When we’re with the client, I’ll take a backseat and be there to observe and answer any questions you have.
I’ll help you build the case, and then when it comes time to face my father”—I pause, drawing her closer to me and pressing my forehead to hers—“I want you to release the honey badger and kick his smug ass.”
Addison gasps with a tiny squeal before crushing her mouth to mine and jumping up to wrap her legs around my waist. I chuckle, preventing a decent seal with our lips, but it doesn’t matter because it only lasts a few moments and then she’s peppering my face with happy kisses that make my chest swell.
“Thank you so much. You won’t regret it, I promise.”
I drop my voice, intentionally changing the mood. “There are better ways of thanking your superior, Ms. Paige. Much better.”
I grab her ass and roll her over my hardening cock, causing her breath to hitch and her pupils to dilate. “If you want my gratitude, Mr. Reeves, you’ll have to carry me to my bedroom. Then, with you laid out on my bed, I can thank you properly.”
She starts leaving wet kisses on my neck, and I’m already striding out of the kitchen when I say roughly, “I’m intrigued. Tell me more.”
“I’ll start by sucking your cock and licking your heavy balls.” I feel a sharp sting on my earlobe from her teeth, and I groan appreciatively as I enter the short hallway that leads to her bedroom. “Then I’ll let my naughty tongue wander even lower…”
“Fuck.” Addison knows I like ass-play—nothing serious, but shallow play with fingers and tongue—because yesterday, during a blow job, I grabbed her by the hair and shoved her down, demanding she lick my taint and asshole like a good little kitten.
What can I say? I was in the fucking moment.
I shudder with anticipation at the memory—poets could write sonnets about her tongue—and toss her on the bed. “Let the gratitude begin.”