The Bridgewater Case Read online

  I make a tired mental note to try and remember to ask him if he’ll show me his full collection of records sometime, and then I walk further into the room. The thought of laying down is far too appealing to ignore a second longer. His bed is nothing and yet everything I thought it would be. The platform that supports his mattress sits low to the ground, the black upholstered headboard not the least bit surprising. He seriously has a thing for black furniture. His comforter and sheets are navy, and they look so soft and inviting. Everything about this room, which has got to be at least half the size of my entire apartment, is somehow both sexy and sophisticated—just like the man himself.

  When I reach the end of the bed, I lower myself down and slip off my shoes. I don’t even give a thought to taking off my jacket or changing my clothes—I simply lay back, my feet still planted on his plush, warm carpet. I smile, my eyes falling closed as I think about how nice it’ll be to get up in the morning and not have to worry about whether or not I kicked my socks off during the middle of the night.

  The bed dips on either side of me, but I don’t open my eyes. I don’t have to. A second later, Dane’s lips are pressed against mine. He kisses me softly at first, as if he wishes only to make me aware of his presence; but then the instant I part my mouth open, his intentions quickly shift in an entirely different direction.

  He kisses me long and hard, and I feel the mattress lift a little before one of his hands slides around the side of my neck. He uses his thumb to tilt my head back, positioning me in such a way that he can kiss me deeper. As he plunges his tongue inside of my mouth, I whimper, blindly reaching for his shirt in order to pull him closer. He doesn’t comply, but rather moves his hand from my neck to wrap his fingers around my ribs. His thumb traces the underside of my breast, but I’m wearing too many layers. I can hardly feel it.

  I arch my back, wanting more, wanting to feel everything, and he grunts before greedily palming my breast. I lose the feel of his hand at the same time that he drags his lips away from mine. Kissing his way over my jaw and down my neck, he reaches for the belt around my waist. It isn’t until he has it unbuckled that I remember why I’m still wearing the jacket—why I haven’t taken it off all night.

  My eyes shoot open, and I press my hands against his chest as I pant, “Wait!”

  With one fist still planted on the bed beside me, he pushes himself up, his aqua blue eyes sexier than I’ve ever seen them as he looks down at me. It makes my stomach clench, and I have to press my thighs together as I lose my breath for a second.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I just—I, well—” I cut myself off, knitting my eyebrows together, wishing we could have had this embarrassing conversation long before now. All I want is for him to strip me down naked and do as he wishes with me. Though, I’m guessing my pink Playboy bunny costume will be a bit of a show stopper.

  “Sigourney, I’m not going to lie to you, I thought this was going to—”

  “It’s my costume, okay? It’s embarrassing. I thought it would be sexy, but then I wasn’t so sure, and then everything that happened happened, and now I just feel silly and,” I pause, blowing out an exasperated sigh. “Don’t laugh, okay?”

  With him still on his feet, his legs straddling mine, it doesn’t take much for him to push himself up to standing. I prop myself on my elbows, not entirely certain how to interpret the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  “Babe?” he asks, folding his arms across his chest.

  “Yes?”

  His smirk stretches into a grin before he confesses, “Saw the ears in your purse when we were at the station.”

  I seal my lips together, fighting a blush. I had completely forgotten about the ears.

  “I didn’t dress up as a Playboy Bunny,” I mutter, my tone a bit more defensive than I intended. He quirks an eyebrow at me, and I can’t help but laugh. “I mean, I did, but I didn’t. I was meant to be Elle Woods.”

  “Elle Woods? Isn’t your sister’s name—”

  “No,” I giggle. “I mean, yes, Elle—or Ellery—is my sister’s name. But her surname is Reinhart, and I’m positive she’d never wear anything like this. Elle Woods is from Legally Blonde.”

  Still grinning, he asks, “Am I to assume this is some silly, Hollywood movie that has something to do with lawyers?”

  All of my embarrassment melts away as my jaw falls open in shock. “You haven’t seen Legally Blonde?”

  “Is it a chick flick?”

  “Oh, my god. I’m making you watch it. You’re totally not going to get my costume at all.”

  “Babe?” he repeats on a chuckle. “Something tells me, when you take off that coat, the last thing I’m going to be worried about is some damn movie.” Propping himself above me again, he runs his nose down the length of mine before he whispers, “And I promise you, when you take that jacket off, it’ll be the last thing on your mind, too.”

  A shiver races down my spine, and suddenly, I’m no longer even a little bit self-conscious about my costume. If the look in his eyes is any indication of his promise, I’m more than ready to hold him accountable. I pucker my lips and kiss him sweetly before I whisper, “Well, since I went through the effort, I sort of think you should get the full effect.”

  “You won’t hear me complaining.”

  He stands and then offers me a hand. Holding the jacket closed with an arm circled around my waist, I accept his offering to help me up. As soon as I’m on my feet, he sits on the edge of the bed and then watches me move around the room. I slip my feet into my heels first, and then walk over to my purse, left next to my suitcases. I’m not entirely sure what my hair looks like at this point, but I don’t give it too much thought as I adjust the ears and then slide them over my head.

  Peeking over my shoulder, I see Dane is staring right at me, an excited grin on his face. I swear my heart skips a beat. I remember the first time I ever saw his grin. It wasn’t pointed at me, but at Ava. Never did I imagine that we’d one day be here, that he’d make me as happy as he does, or that I’d ever be the recipient of his gorgeous smile in a moment like this. Yet, here we are; and in spite of our ruined evening, I still want him—right now—more than I’ve ever wanted him before.

  “Close your eyes,” I insist.

  “Sigou—”

  He starts to protest, but I don’t let him as I playfully demand, “Close your eyes!”

  “Fine,” he sighs, turning his head toward the wall of windows in front of him. He closes his eyes, clasping his hands in his lap, looking more patient than I know he is.

  Quickly slipping out of my jacket, I hurry to stand in the spot in front of him, wanting to strike a pose while I’m still feeling brave and sexy. Standing with my legs parted and my hip popped to the side, I grab hold of my waist and take a deep breath before I whisper, “Okay. Open.”

  I watch as his eyes meet mine before they plummet to my feet. Slowly, he works his way up my body, and I’m sure I’ve never been more aware of someone’s stare the way I am aware of his. It’s as though he’s physically touching me, turning me on a little bit more every time his gaze stops and lingers on something he likes.

  He doesn’t speak a word. When his eyes connect with mine again, he stands to his feet and closes the distance between us. Wrapping one of his arms around my waist, he pulls me flush against him, and I can feel his erection as it presses against my lower belly. Somehow I know, this is his way of telling me that my costume isn’t silly—it’s not silly, at all.

  I GRUNT WHEN I crash my lips against hers, sliding my hands down and around her ass. I grip her tightly, holding her against me as close as I can get her, all the while thinking that she almost wore this fucking costume out in public. Just imagining it turns me on and pisses me off at the same time. I feel like a possessive fuck, but I don’t even care. No way in hell would I have lasted more than fifteen minutes with her at my side wearing this shit.

  My dick jerks when she moans into my mouth, twisting her tongue with mi
ne as she circles her arms around my shoulders. Her grip is almost as desperate as mine, and I’m without a doubt that this is only going to end one way. I bend down and grab her thighs, spreading her legs as I lift her from her feet. That’s all the instruction she needs to wrap herself around me. As I turn to make the short trip to the bed, my cock strains against the confines of my pants, and I can’t remember the last time I needed to be inside of a woman the way I fucking need to be inside of Sigourney.

  I press a knee into the mattress, gently easing her down onto her back. She starts to unfasten the buttons of my shirt as I kiss and nibble along the column of her neck. She whines pathetically when I lower myself out of reach.

  “Dane,” she begs, burying her fingers in my hair.

  I ignore her, lost in the taste of her skin. I trace my tongue along her collar bone before dragging my lips toward the slight swell of her tits.

  “Dane!” she cries, yanking a fistful of my hair in a desperate attempt to capture my attention.

  Grinning slyly, I lift my gaze to meet hers.

  Fuck me.

  Those eyes. My grin slips as I read the uncontainable lust in her hooded gaze. I’m never ready for the bewitching power of those fucking gorgeous green eyes.

  “What is it, babe?”

  “You’re wearing too many clothes,” she states matter-of-factly.

  Laughing softly, I dip my chin, catching sight of her peaked nipple poking through the fabric of her corset top. I capture it between my teeth and bite down, causing her to squeak as she wiggles beneath me. I grin, enjoying the way her body tells me what she likes, even if her mouth says nothing of the sort. While she wiggles, her legs tighten around me and she arches her back. With this enlightening insight, I couldn’t agree with her more—I’m wearing too many clothes.

  And so is she.

  I push up onto my knees, and her legs fall on either side of me before she sits up. As I rid myself of my shirt, she makes quick work of my belt. I watch as she unfastens my pants and shoves them down and out of her way. My dick tents my boxer briefs, and my ache for her intensifies when I watch her hesitantly wrap her small hand around my hard shaft. She squeezes me, and a groan crawls up my throat.

  The next thing I know, she’s curling her fingertips into the waist of my underwear and slowly peeling them off of me. She sucks in a breath when my cock springs free, her jaw falling open momentarily before she quickly snaps it shut and bites down on her lower lip. As she peeks up at me from beneath her lashes, I know I won’t be able to play this game for long.

  I move away from her so I can finish undressing. Climbing back into bed a moment later, I encourage her to return to her reclined position in the process. Smoothing my hand up her stomach and the center of her chest, I wrap my fingers around the furry neckline of her top and tug. “How do we get this off?”

  She lifts an arm, revealing a zipper along her side, and I’m quick to yank it down. When I rip the thing from underneath her, she moans, shoving her chest up as I toss the garment to the floor. My nostrils flare as I suck in a deep breath, her bare tits within reach of both my hands or my mouth. As much as I want to take my time right now, I don’t stop to play with them, knowing it won’t be enough.

  Needing no instructions with her panties, I pull them down her legs, smirking when she kicks her ankles free. Her stockings are next. As soon as I’ve discarded them, along with her shoes, I trail a hand up the length of her leg, my fingers tickling the inside of her thigh before teasing her center. Positioning myself at her side, I prop myself up on my elbow as I wrap my mouth around one of her nipples. I suck and lick, playing with the hardened bud as I slip a finger into her wet pussy. I stroke her a few times before leaning over to capture her opposite nipple between my lips, then I ease in a second finger.

  “Dane,” she whispers, her legs falling open a little more as she sinks her hands into my hair.

  I rub against the rough patch inside of her in a come-hither motion, and her breath catches in her throat before she starts to pant. When she begins to roll her hips, seeking more, I lift my head to get a glimpse of her face. Her cheeks are pink, her eyes hooded, and her longing perfectly clear. Her eyes roll in the back of her head when I start to rub circles around her clit, and she spreads her legs even wider as she reaches to grab hold of the pillow behind her.

  “You’re gonna make me come—oh, god! Please don’t stop.”

  Now more anxious than ever to see her undone, I pump my fingers faster, rubbing her clit with purpose. When her legs start to tremble, I can’t take my eyes away from her. She bucks her hips, her jaw slack as she whimpers.

  “Oh, yes,” she moans when her pussy clenches my fingers, her orgasm finally surfacing.

  The walls of her core are still fluttering when I yank my hand away from her and roll out of bed. Listening to the sound of her rapid breathing only serves to weaken my already severely hindered patience. I dig through my pants in a hurry as I search for my wallet. I don’t have time to worry about the fact that I’ve only got one condom inside. Then, when Sigourney calls my name, it’s as if such a reality doesn’t exist in the slightest. All that exists is her.

  Ripping open the package, I turn to face her once more. She’s taken her bunny ears off, leaving her totally and completely naked for me. We stare at each other as I roll the rubber over my length. When she plants her feet on the bed, spreading her knees wide in invitation, I know I don’t have to ask whether or not she’s sure, if she’s having any second thoughts, or if she’ll live to regret this in the morning. There’s no stopping us now. She’s mine. Even if neither of us says it, we both know it.

  I wrap my hand around myself, giving my dick a hard squeeze, sure that this won’t last long. It’s been months since I’ve been inside of a woman; but that’s not how I know my limits in this moment. The fact is, I knew from the second I laid eyes on her that she was gorgeous. But now, I know I didn’t see shit that first day. Now, with her beautiful, naked body splayed out before me, her eyes silently pleading with me for more, all the while promising that she intends to give just as much, I recognize that I was no match against her.

  “Dane, come ‘ere,” she murmurs, reaching for me.

  Crawling between her legs, I slip into her tight, wet heat without hesitation.

  “Fucking hell,” I groan, dropping my forehead to rest against hers. I seal my eyes closed, willing myself to keep it together as I work my way in. She’s tighter than I thought, and it takes me a couple strokes before I’m fully seated. Panting, I look down at her as I ask, “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” she assures me with an excited nod. “You feel good, don’t stop,” she pleads.

  I roll my hips slowly at first, but it’s not long before I’m pounding in and out of her, unable to control my desire to chase after my release. When I come, I bury myself as deep as I can go, throwing my head back as my pleasure explodes, spreading through my veins. It isn’t until the muscles in my body start to relax that I look down at Sigourney and find her trying to fight a grin.

  Shaking my head slightly, still working to catch my breath, I mutter, “What?”

  I lower my lips to press a kiss against hers before she can reply. Then, speaking against my mouth, she cups her hands around the sides of my neck as she tells me, “You’re kind of beautiful when you come.”

  Chuckling, I bring my lips to her ear before I whisper, “You only think that because you don’t know what you look like when you come.”

  She giggles as I tickle her neck with my tongue, and I feel my dick starting to get soft even as she squeezes her knees against my hips, her pussy tightening around my length. I think maybe she wants to go again, but then she murmurs, “Dane?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Would it be all right if we went to sleep now? I’m sorry, I suddenly feel like I could fall asleep on you any second.”

  “You’ve had a long night. Sleep’s not a bad idea.” I press another kiss to her lips before I get up, severing our bodies’ co
nnection. Offering her my hand, I instruct, “Come on. We’ll get cleaned up.”

  “’Kay.”

  Ten minutes later, when I hit the lights and crawl into bed behind Sigourney—when I wrap her in my arms and she relaxes into me—all I can think about is how scared she looked when she stepped foot into the penthouse tonight. I’m not worried about the lines we crossed a little while ago; I’m not worried about how much I liked being inside of her; I’m not even worried about the range of emotions she evoked in me in just one night. It doesn’t matter. I’m not afraid anymore.

  As I hold her closer, I’m certain of one thing—I never want to see that look of fear on her face again, and I’m committed to the task of making sure I never do.

  I WAKE WITH a start, roused from slumber by a sensation that’s so unfamiliar, I almost feel as though I might still be dreaming. Then I feel it again, and I can’t silence the moan that spills from my lips. I’m on my back, Dane’s luxuriously silky sheets caressing my naked skin as his tongue licks through my center—starting at my entrance and ascending until he flattens it over my clit. His hands are holding my legs open as he grips me from beneath my thighs. While he’s being gentle, I wish he would push them apart farther, straining my muscles to open me wider. I want to feel his tongue everywhere.

  Even though I know it’s his body hiding beneath the sheet, I lift it anyway to catch a glimpse of him. He looks up at me as he sucks my clit between his lips, flicking it with his tongue, and my whole body shudders. I pull the sheet over my head, arching my back as I whimper in delight. I can’t keep still—he feels so good.