“What is it about, Halton?”
I sighed, finding her hand in the dark and kissing her knuckles before resting our clasped palms on my chest.
“My mother had severe mental issues. My father drank himself to death at an early age. I’m an emotional vacuum, Fee. There’s nothing there. I don’t want to pass that sort of DNA along to some innocent child.”
She was silent, only the press of her hand in mine and her sigh letting me know she was listening.
“I have nothing to offer anyone aside from material things, Fee. And to be honest, I’m too selfish to want to share those. I had to work hard to get them, and I have no desire to lose any of them to someone who would walk away.”
“You think so little of yourself, you don’t think anyone would love you enough to stay, Halton.”
Her words were a statement, not a question.
“I know myself—that’s all.”
She sighed and leaned up, pressing her lips to mine. Her touch was gentle, her voice tender when she spoke.
“I think you’re wrong, Halton. I think you have hidden parts of yourself away—even from your own mind. You are such an amazing man.”
I slid my hand up her neck, pressing her toward to my mouth. “You’re the wrong one, Fee. But thank you for thinking of me in such a way.”
Her whimper spurred me on. I couldn’t give her what she deserved, but I could give her pleasure.
We kissed endlessly. Slow, lazy kisses. Languid glides of our tongues that teased and touched. They deepened slowly, our breathing becoming deep and harsh. I tugged away the T-shirt with eager fingers, pressing her into my mattress. I hovered over her, nestled between her legs.
“Just me, Fee?” I rasped, dragging my cock along her wetness. “Can I have you again with nothing between us?”
She wrapped her legs around my hips.
“Yes.”
Fiona
From the vantage point of my desk, I watched Halton pace while he spoke on the phone. His long legs covered the distance of his office with ease, and he made the circuit on an endless loop. He tucked his phone between his shoulder and neck, his hands in constant motion, gesturing and waving as his voice rose and lowered during the conversation. He ran a hand through his hair, tugged on his beard, scrubbed his face, sat down, rose again, and paced. He was in constant motion.
I tried not to stare and failed. Dressed in his expensive suit, his hair brushed back from his widow’s peak and gleaming under the light, he was sexy, handsome, and irresistible. The draw I felt to him was intense. Undeniable. Unexplainable. Dangerous.
He caught me staring from the desk he had arranged for me in the library, and he winked, laughing in silence as I glanced down, embarrassed at being caught gawking at him.
His voice grew louder as he strode into the library and stopped beside my desk.
“Hold on one second, Phil.” He muted his phone.
I glanced up as he leaned down, level with my eyes. “I see you eyeballing me. You like what you see, Fee?”
I could only nod.
He grasped my chin and kissed me. “I like you looking at me.”
Then he left. I watched his departure with as much enjoyment as his arrival. He had a great ass. His well-tailored suit showed off all his assets. He looked every inch the successful attorney—cool, calm, and collected—but I knew what was below the finely woven material, the sinewy muscles and strong lines the cloth covered. I knew how he sounded in the heat of passion, the way he felt as he thrust inside me. His warm scent that amplified when he was close enough to touch.
And how I loved to touch him.
Scott had always been distant. Sex had been almost mechanical. Young and inexperienced, I thought it was me. That the whispers and talk of how amazing sex was had just been just that—talk. I had heard some women go on about amazing sex, while others appeared indifferent. Married to Scott, I had accepted indifferent as being my life. Later in our marriage, the absence of sex wasn’t an issue. Although I had been truthful when I told Halton it had been four years since Scott and I had been together, it was closer to six years since we’d had anything even somewhat normal. After what I had experienced with Halton, I now knew that sex with Scott was way below normal. On the other hand, sex with Halton was beyond anything I ever could have imagined it to be.
And now, I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to go back to indifference or even normal. Halton had woken something inside me that was powerful and addictive.
He was powerful and addictive. I craved him. Constantly.
Rene walked into the library, his hands full of files. “Fee, dear, I need you to sort these and get them prepared for Halton’s upcoming meetings.”
I took the files and added them to my pile. Halton had a very busy practice. His schedule was full, his hours long, and his dedication clear. He worked hard for his clients. Rene ran a tight office, making sure all Halton had to do was concentrate on his caseload, and I was glad I was able to help him.
“Unacceptable!” Halton snapped, shutting the door between his office and the library. His muted voice still carried, the tone displeased but the words private.
I grimaced. “I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that conversation.”
Rene chuckled. “No. Once Halton is angry—look out. His clients always benefit.”
“No doubt.”
Rene tilted his head. “You look well today, my dear. You must have had a good weekend. I’m pleased to see that, considering all that occurred last week.”
“Oh,” I mumbled. “Yes, it was a relaxing weekend.”
I supposed you could call constant sex, long naps, and eating junk food relaxing. I was going to stick to his description.
Rene cast his glance toward Halton’s closed door. “Halton looks surprisingly rested. More so than I can remember him looking in a long time. He must have had a good weekend as well.” He eyed me with a mischievous grin.
“Ah, I wouldn’t know,” I replied, but my voice rose toward the end of the statement, and my cheeks felt warm.
Rene’s eyes crinkled. “Of course not,” he stated. “It’s a simple coincidence the two of you both look well today. It does my old heart good.”
I picked up the pile of folders. “I had better get at this.”
“Right.” Rene reached into his pocket. “Halton asked me to make sure you had a copy of this.” He handed me a key. “His office. It works on all the doors leading in there.” He met my eyes knowingly. “There are three people with keys to his office. Halton, me, and now you.”
I accepted the key silently, shocked. I knew what it meant to Halton for him to give me a key to that room. It meant he trusted me—completely.
Rene patted my shoulder kindly. “Be patient with him, dear Fee. He is damaged, but below that veneer of rock is the heart of a man needing to be loved.” He lowered his voice. “I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time. I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”
I didn’t know what to say. He winked and left the library.
I sat back, the files momentarily forgotten. Rene didn’t understand. Halton and I were only filling a need for each other. Sleep and sex.
Halton insisted on it. He was very clear when he had set the ground rules and I had agreed to them.