Chapter 24
Ellianna
Trying to keep my attention on the briefs needing to be sorted by case that were piled on William’s desk—and not on the delicious sting that remained on my ass—I flipped through the latest stack of motions for a case that was supposed to take place in a few weeks. When I saw something that needed immediate action, I set it aside so William could give anything time-sensitive to Judge when he returned from court for the day.
“You seem restless, dear,” Petra commented from behind her desk.
I lifted my head from my task, offering her a smile. Petra had worked for Judge since he’d taken the bench. She was a barracuda when she needed to be—but a marshmallow for the most part. I adored her. “Sorry, am I distracting you?”
“Not at all. I just thought maybe you might need to stretch your legs, expend any built-up energy.”
I tried not to let my cheeks heat as I once again hoped that she and William had already left before Judge had made me scream in his office at lunch. But if she had heard me coming hard and loud, she didn’t let on.
“That’s the last batch of briefs we’ve gotten today. William is still in the law library doing some deeper research on one of the motions already filed. Some of those motions are marked urgent. Why don’t you walk them over to the courtroom and wait for Judge to finish up for the day so he can decide if anything in there requires an emergency hearing?”
A glance at the time told me that court would be adjourned for the day soon. Feeling a sudden thrill at getting a chance to see Judge in action, I took the excuse that Petra offered and picked up the stack of motions that were marked “urgent” in red. I’d seen him only two hours before.
He’d called a thirty-minute recess and had come back to the office. I’d taken one look at his heaving chest and known he was hungry again. Standing there in his judge’s robes, he should not have looked like a damn god. They were bulky, baggy, and completely unisex. Yet, I thought he was even sexier in them. I’d gotten a thrill out of the power that one item of clothing represented.
He’d barked an order for William to do some in-depth research on a brief that was supposed to be discussed the following morning and then sent Petra out for coffee at the bakery several blocks over. I’d watched as the door closed behind the receptionist before standing and walking into his chambers.
His door had barely closed behind him before he’d picked me up and carried me to his desk, where he’d spread me open and had his afternoon snack.
It was hard to believe I’d been a virgin only two days ago. Now, I couldn’t get enough. What was even harder to believe was how insatiable Judge was. He didn’t seem to be able to last a few hours without needing his taste of me. And I would have been lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying every minute of it.
As I walked down the corridor toward Judge’s courtroom, I lifted a hand to touch my throat. I had a few tender spots from where he’d grabbed my neck the last time. It didn’t hurt, but it was just enough to remind me of what had happened. I shivered when I cupped my hand around my throat the way he did. My palm wasn’t as big and my fingers were much smaller, but I couldn’t contain the dampness between my legs from the rush of memories the small contact produced.
A bailiff outside the courtroom stopped me at the double doors. I dropped my hand from my throat to flash him the badge I’d gotten that morning, showing that I worked for Judge Zachary Bennet.
He eyed it for a moment before stepping aside. “Keep your phone on silent, and don’t speak to anyone. Judge has a strict policy.”
I smiled. “I know.”
Stepping into the room, I took the first open seat at the back before allowing myself to look toward the front of the room. When I did, I had to restrain a gasp of wonder when I found his eyes drilling into me. All I could do was remember both encounters in his office—and how he hadn’t taken off his robes while he’d had me spread open on his desk.
Biting my lip, I arranged the stack of documents on my lap to keep from doing something dorky—like wave at him.
“Your Honor, I think it would be a good idea to end here and start fresh tomorrow. Emotions seem to be high at the moment.”
Recognizing the voice, I shifted my head until I found the speaker. All I saw was long dark hair that fell in waves down a slender back and ended right above an ass that her skirt couldn’t hide was a dream. Damn, I would have killed for an ass like that.
When she shifted, I saw her face in profile, and my fingers tightened around the edges of the papers.
What the fuck?
Slowly sucking in a deep breath to tamp down the sudden shot of jealousy that hit me with the force of a tsunami, I turned my gaze back on Judge, to find him still looking at me.
“Your Honor?” Rita spoke hesitantly when he didn’t immediately give a ruling. He was still watching me, and I lifted my chin, hating that I was jealous but wanting him to know how I was feeling.
I’d forgotten all about Rita and her visit to Judge’s office after hours the week before. More like, I’d refused to think about it and had buried the pain of seeing her in his chambers. Even an idiot would have known what was going to happen between them that night. And he’d come home late every night the previous week.
All too aware of how insatiable he was, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
But I’d thought it was just with me.
Stupid, Elli.
“Judge Bennet?” Rita said a little louder.
A smirk teased at his lips, and I was so tempted to flip him off. As if he could read my mind, he grinned and finally focused on the prosecutor. “I agree. We all need a break after the high emotions of the last few hours. We’re in recess until ten tomorrow morning.”
Pounding his gavel, he dropped it and gave instructions for the jury to leave first. A bailiff called, “All rise,” and I stood along with everyone else as the twelve men and women filed out a side door. Judge was still grinning, and I wanted to knock it off his handsome face.
Catching my gaze again, he inclined his head toward the door. For a few seconds, I thought about ignoring the silent command. But the briefs I held reminded me I had a job to do, and I gave a quick nod before exiting out the same door I’d come through only minutes before.
Walking around to his private door, I had to wait over five minutes before he exited. His grin was gone, replaced by frustration, but when he saw me, the grumpy frown melted away. “Miss Chambers,” he greeted, an edge to his voice that made me have to fight another shiver of pleasure.
“Judge Bennet.” I held out the motions without meeting his eyes. I was equal parts angry and hurt, but I could still be professional, damn it. “These require your immediate attention. Petra thought you would want to see them as soon as court was adjourned.”
He took the documents without looking at them. “Give me your eyes, Elli,” he commanded.
I flicked them to his face and instantly looked away. “If you don’t require anything else today, I’ll be going.”
“I require everything where you’re concerned, Elli.” With his index finger under my chin, he gently tipped my head up. “Why are you upset?”