Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
JASPER
Marsh cuts a dashing figure in the front of the courtroom. He has on a navy suit, what he’s told me one should always wear for a small town trial.
“The people on this jury will mostly have jobs and lives that don’t require a suit. It may even be something they would have to go out and buy for a funeral or other occasion, and if they are buying one, the default would be navy,” he told me that morning as I watched him from his bed, drawing out getting up until the last possible moment. Watching Marshall Caffrey trying to be Everyman was adorable. Watching him roam his eyes over me, even through the mirror, was heady. A hell of a way to start the day.
We are arguing motions and selecting the jury today. Marsh wants to make a certain kind of impression, and my brain once more wants to orgasm over the attention to detail. Is competence a kink? Do other people find that sexy?
Because watching him in front of the 1950s-style courtroom arguing our motion for three additional witnesses to be able to testify—witnesses that the Defense is dead-set against—is sexy. It’s also important to this case. Important to the justice that the family deserves. Lack of access to emergency care is a big deal. This may be a small town, but national media are already here to cover the case.
Marsh starts arguing again, citing cases that are familiar to me because I helped research them. He even uses the arguments that I found, too, making me feel less like an observer and more like part of the team.
“Well,” the judge casts her eyes back to the last rows of the gallery, where some media already has presence before the trial starts tomorrow, “I’m going to let you make your case, Mr. Caffrey. So, my ruling for now is that these witnesses can testify.” The defense attorney, a stern woman with sharp, angular features, begins to protest, but the judge hushes her with a look. “All I am ruling right now is that the witnesses can be called and sworn. The questioning will have to meet the rules of evidence just like any other witnesses. But, I can’t see anything that would prevent them from being called at all. We will deal with any issues of relevance the City has at trial. I will clear my calendar for the week, if that’s what it takes. However, I expect you can make your case in that time, Mr. Caffrey.”
Having made her ruling, she nods with finality when Marsh says, “Of course, your honor.”
Marsh turns from the bench, catching my eye as he moves to collect his things at counsel table. Marsh, who showed no emotion when handed a big pre-trial win a few seconds ago, flashes me a brief smile, his eyes warm.
When opposing counsel catches his arm he lifts a finger to me, silently asking me to wait before I head back to his car. Penny stands with the family of the deceased, our clients, and Marsh says something quick to them as well.
The exchange is swift, and Marsh’s hand guides me from the courtroom, down the stairs and into a small bathroom on the first floor.
He locks the door behind us, despite the bathroom having several stalls for multiple people.
Eyes dark and hungry, he pushes me against the door and kisses me hard.
“That was you, Jasper,” he buries his hands in my hair, kissing me until I whimper. “Beautiful work, beautiful.”
“Thanks?”
He chuckles, moving his mouth toward mine, only to take it away, like we are in one of those “don’t kiss” challenge videos on TikTok. His eyes darken at every pass where my mouth wants to follow his.
“You will be a brilliant lawyer,” Marsh says. “I want you to know that. Those cases, your research, was exactly what I needed.”
“This is your area of expertise. I was excited to help.”
“You did. Damn, you did.” He presses his hips against mine, the feel of him hard against me is heady.
“You want me to do something about that in the courtroom bathroom?”
He smiles. “Want? Yes.” He draws away. “But not a good idea.” He looks sheepish as he looks at me through his lashes. “There is a bit of a high that comes with courtroom work, seeing you there turned it into…” His eyes drag down my body, “Something else.”
I cup him on the outside of his pants and he groans, eyes rolling back.
“Too tempting,” he says with a kiss, pulling away to run a hand over his face and step back a few feet. “Here’s the plan. We will get ourselves presentable, then we will take the client to lunch as agreed upon and make sure they are ready for tomorrow. Then, we will look over our case, and make sure we are ready for tomorrow.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “And then?”
A wicked smile crosses his face. “And then whatever you want.”
Later that night, I’m more than ready to make good on his promise. I’ve intentionally not looked at when my flight leaves. I honestly can’t remember, but with the case starting, I know it is soon. Something niggles in the back of my mind about it, but with Marsh making his way across the bed, walking on his knees over to me, I really can’t think about much else.
I meet him in the middle of the tangle of sheets, our mouths and hands devouring each other. My heart skips a beat no matter how many times we have done this.
Marsh pulls away, hands running down my ass and to my knees and he flips me down on my back with a grin.
“Sorry about pulling you in the bathroom at the courthouse,” he says, placing kisses along the inside of my thigh as he stretches out my legs. “It was a rush. Like after a fight or a football game. I needed your lips on mine.”
My blood rushes south and my head starts to spin with how wonderful he is.
“Glad I could oblige,” I manage, closing my eyes before he reads too much there.
At least you had this, I remind myself. At least now I know what it’s like to have something like how we are together. Not only that, but the couples I’ve met in Bear Valley? It gives me a lot to consider as I think about where my future lies.
“Beautiful,” Marsh mumbles, his kisses at my neck now.
“Hmm?”
“Sex,” he smiles, “I want to top you. I know you said you like to bottom, but do you like that for tonight? We haven’t?—”
I cut him off with a fierce kiss. Yes, I want that. I want everything with Marshall, so I better take what I can get before this summer fling is over.