CHAPTER TEN
– HELENA –
I did it. Satisfaction is making the sated smile on my face bigger. Taking a deep breath, I slowly release it and stare at Ballard. He gives me a slow grin and leans in to gently brush his lips against mine.
He reaches for his laptop and types out the word, “Magnificent.”
My cheeks hurt from the grin on my face. “So very true.”
I kiss him again and slightly shift, allowing his dick to slide out of me. My eyes go wide with the feel of the mess between my legs. Shit. Clearly, I wasn’t thinking.
Pulling back, I murmur, “Bathroom.”
The corner of his mouth twitches and the man closes his eyes. I could hug him. Feeling self-conscious, I slip off his lap and keep watching him as I reach for my pants. Slowly, I back out of the room and slip into the bathroom.
A deep sigh flows from me. He didn’t look.
I know it’s not a perfect solution, but at least it gave me the strength to have sex.
The first step was kissing, intimacy, and now?
I had sex. I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
The smile on my face reflects the thrilling power I’m experiencing basically feels like a personal victory.
I quickly clean up, pee, and get dressed before walking back into the room. Ballard is dressed and watching my every move as I walk toward him.
Raising one of my eyebrows in challenge, I ask, “Regrets?”
A fierce look slides across his face and his arm flashes out, fingers tightening in my hair as he roughly pulls me to him for a kiss.
I moan into his mouth when his tongue rubs against mine.
He pulls back and connects our foreheads, making the move intimate when he gently rubs his nose against mine.
“So, that’s a no on regrets. Gotcha,” I murmur. “Good, because I kinda needed the confirmation after the whole ‘magnificent’ statement after you just blew a nut.”
He brushes his lips against mine. Damn. I don’t think this man would be as thoughtful and tender if he had a voice. Then again, he’s still the same man.
A man who needs to know, “If we’re doing this again...well, you coming inside me might have already sealed the deal...but...ugh. I’m not on birth control. We clearly didn’t use a condom, and...”
I moan into his mouth when he kisses me hard. Hands cupping my face to slightly tilt my head so he can deepen the kiss. I cling to him, fisting his flannel shirt. For a few more heartbeats I allow myself to be consumed by this man before I regretfully pull back.
Groaning, I grumble, “We have work to do. Maybe we’ll be back here soon enough, but I really hope to find a lead. Even if I’m looking forward to having sex again, I’d rather see my family behind bars.” I wince. “Okay, that sounds totally weird.”
The man’s grin is intoxicating.
I take a step back. “Keep your distance, buddy. You’re too potent, even after we had sex a mere moment ago.”
Turning, I don’t get to walk away when his front is covering my back.
One of his large hands is covering my belly and I freeze.
He places a kiss on my neck and I shiver.
This man doesn’t need to use his voice and can show what he’s thinking with emotion and touch.
My chest tightens and I quickly try to lighten the mood, because these deep feelings are way too soon.
“You might be ready to turn the fake pregnancy announcement into reality, but I want to handle one major life thing at a time.” My voice is a mere whisper when I add, “Even if I’ve always dreamed about a family of my own.”
Ballard takes my hand and leads me to his computer where he starts to type.
“I never so much as thought about a relationship, kids, or settling down. I lived from assignment to assignment, enjoying life in between. With what happened my life came to a stop until you barged in and didn’t take no for an answer.
Now I’m not taking no for an answer. I want you.
I want it fucking all if it involves you, and I’m going to make it a damn reality. Even if it’s one thing at a time.”
My cheeks seem to hurt from smiling a lot when I’m around Ballard. Holy shit. I stare at his words and my throat clogs due to the emotions he just unleashed.
I close the laptop and turn to face him. “Fine, try to knock me up at lightning speed, see if I care. Though, right now isn’t an option, we have work to do.”
He tries to lean in for a kiss and I giggle as I dash away from him. Grabbing my purse and coat, I head for the door. Ballard follows me and locks the cabin while I wait near his truck. It’s a long drive to my sister’s, but between the comfortable silence we still have our own conversations.
When we arrive at my half-sister’s place, I turn to face Ballard. “Let’s see if we can get inside and I’ll try to keep her busy while you excuse yourself. Go snooping. Find her office, go through her desk and please be quick. She’s a bitch and we don’t have much to talk about.”
Ballard gives me a tight nod and I ring the bell. We wait a few dragging minutes where I ring the bell again until finally the door opens. Jolene looks a little disheveled.
I plaster a smile on my face. “Hey. We were in the neighborhood, and I thought we’d swing by for some coffee.”
Not giving her a chance to deny and close the door, I take a step forward and force her to let me pass. Ballard follows me, and I make sure to walk straight into the living room.
Plunking down on the couch, I ramble, “I said coffee, but I’m trying to keep it to one cup a day. Do you have some juice instead for me? Water will do fine as well. Gosh I need to pee. Sorry, long drive.”
Getting to my feet, I rush to the hallway and head for the bathroom. I wasn’t kidding, I do have to pee. When I come back, I catch Jolene sitting close to Ballard while she hands him a notepad and a pen.
“You just write down your words for me, okay? Have I mentioned my ability to make people feel comfortable in all situations? Yes, it’s my specialty.” She fucking beams up at him.
Jealousy isn’t a new or foreign feeling when it comes to me and Jolene. She’s always tried to kick me down. Hissing in my face how my father was a real one to her and couldn’t care shit about me. My mother who picked her and left me to be raised by my grandparents. Yes, the list is long.
I grit my teeth and push past the need to grab her hair and hit her face-first into a wall.
Instead, I make my voice sugary sweet as I stride to them. “Did I mention you have a lovely home? This is the third time I’ve been here, I know, but the place looks different without hordes of people in it.”
I can’t look at them. I might be able to curb the jealousy in my voice, but I’m not an excellent actor. Which is why I find myself staring out the window.
“Do you handle the garden yourself?” I wonder.
Soft footsteps let me know she’s walking toward me before I hear her voice, “Yes. I have someone who takes excellent instructions.”
Which means a big fat no to doing the gardening herself. I frown and wonder where the butler is, only now realizing she opened the door herself.
“Are you cutting down on personnel, or is your butler sick?” I wonder.
I turn to face her and Jolene is busy removing an invisible speck from her blouse when she says, “I gave him the week off to visit family overseas. So, I’m going to grab you and Ballard a bottle of water myself. I’ll be right back.”
She strides out of the room and once she’s gone, I rush to Ballard and whisper, “That woman doesn’t do shit herself. Like seriously doesn’t even change the toilet paper. That’s how high maintenance she is. Something is wrong.”
I glance at the door and rush back to my spot in front of the window, right before Jolene walks back into the room.
She hands Ballard a bottle of water and walks toward me.
If there’s something Jolene likes more than annoying me, it’s talking about herself.
Which is exactly what I need to keep her attention on me to allow Ballard to wander off and search the house.
After I take a sip of water I ask, “So, you’re becoming a notary. That’s amazing.”
Her face lights up and I know she’s going to rattle for an eternity, the woman enjoys hearing her own damn voice a little too much. Which happens to work out in our favor right now. Hopefully, Ballard finds something before she gets suspicious, or our whole sting operation will blow up in our face.