Chapter Forty-One
Hayes
I’ve created a monster. I can’t keep her hand off my cock the entire drive into the courthouse, and I’m about to cum in my pants by the time I park.
All she wants is to fuck, and I’m garnering all my self-control to keep her from being late to work. This is an important case, and I can’t be the reason she’s distracted.
If it were a different day, I would have bent her over her couch and slapped her ass raw as I fucked her.
My balls tighten against me at the thought… Focus… Focus…
She’s pouting in the passenger seat, and luckily, she’s so adorable that it helps distract me. “Time to be a lawyer, you sex fiend.”
“I can be both.”
“I know you can, but today is a big day. I’ll make it up to you later.”
“You better,” she grumbles, grabbing her briefcase from the floorboard.
I smile as I meet her around the back of the car and take it from her hands. “I’ll follow your lead. Everyone will still see me as personal protection, an employee. Nothing more. But if you need me to spank your ass behind closed doors, I’ll oblige happily.”
“I’ll decide if you deserve that or not,” she snips, but smiles as she struts in front of me.
I follow behind her like the obedient dog I am, trying not to make it obvious to onlookers that I know how it feels to be buried inside of her. Better yet, that I know how big her heart is, and I’ve never been more infatuated with her.
As soon as she’s through her office door, a switch flips, and her professionalism is at an all time high as she readies herself for trial.
Someone knocks on her door, and my spine stiffens because something about this trial today is putting me on edge. “Who is it?”
“Sheriff Malec.”
Liv rolls her eyes as I go to unlock the door. “Jackson, you don’t have to use your formal title with me,” she says.
“Sorry, seems weird announcing my first name at your office.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I was going to update you on some stalker stuff, but I can wait until after the trial.”
“No, it’s okay,” she says too quickly, and Jackson looks at me questioningly.
“Tell us.”
He hands Liv a paper. “Landon Arkett lives in Oregon. There is nothing that shows me that he’s been out of that state in years. Unless he’s traveling across the country by car and only using cash, I don’t think he’s been here.”
“Really?” I ask skeptically.
“Yeah. I even called his current employer. I didn’t let them know why I was calling, but they were happy to offer up that he hasn’t missed a day of work.”
“So he isn’t my stalker?” Liv breathes in relief.
“No, I don’t think it’s possible.”
“Mr. Arkett isn’t my stalker,” she mumbles in disbelief this time, plopping down in her seat. That still means that someone else is.
My eyes flash to Jackson. “Then who the fuck is it?”
“Unfortunately, it seems like someone who knows more about your life than you’d like, Liv.
I looked into Miley’s boyfriend, Landon Smith.
It’s a false name, and the number she gave is now disconnected.
When I asked her about it, she started crying.
Apparently, he broke up with her after he found out about my interview.
I think this guy created a false identity to plant himself near you. ”
I scrub a hand over my face, trying to rein in my frustration.
“I didn’t want to tell you this before the trial, but I don’t want you looking over your shoulder for Arkett when your stalker is still out there and unidentified.”
“No, I understand. Thank you.”
“We’re all in your corner, Liv. Good luck today.”
“Thanks, Jackson.” She waves as he leaves her office, but her eyes find mine.
“Are you okay?” We both ask at the exact same time.
I huff a laugh and sit down on the stiff couch to keep myself from pacing. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”
She tilts her head as she looks at me from her desk. Too far away.
“Come here.” I watch her closely as she walks across the room, stepping between my legs. I pull her in close because I don’t care who walks through that door next. I need her in my arms.
“Talk to me, don’t keep it bottled up,” she says softly, stroking her fingers through my hair.
“I’m fucking worried about you, Liv. Every damn minute, I worry about you.”
“I know. I’m worried, too. I’m so tired of feeling ten steps behind this guy. I’m scared that…” She trails off, but her frown deepens. She opens her mouth but closes it again.
“Liv,” I press, not wanting her to hide anything.
“I’m afraid that you won’t handle bad news well,” she whispers, and I let my head fall against the back of the sofa.
“Because I can’t control my temper?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not a kid anymore. I might be a hot head sometimes, but I know there’s a time and place for everything.”
She nods, but it falls flat.
“You don’t trust me?”
“No, I do.” She says quickly, trying to convince herself as much as she’s convincing me, and a heavy silence falls between us.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and she shifts to let me look at it. “Curtis is here. I’m going to help him to the courtroom. Stay here until I come back for you.” I stand stiffly, pulling her to her feet.
She might love me, but she still doesn’t trust me, and that stings.
“Wait,” she starts, but I shake my head as I cross the room.
She might want me in her life, but I won’t be the reason things go south. I won’t let my feelings screw with her head.
“Time to be a lawyer, Liv. Don’t worry about me.”