I tried again to fight him off, to get away from his scent and his embrace, but it was no use. His arms were like iron bands, my first taste of the imprisonment he had planned for me.
"Jonesy is wrong." He said it with an acid inflection, but then his tone changed to soothing. "I am looking into your clients. That's true. But I've never had my sights on you, professionally speaking, anyway."
"I don't believe you." My tears slowed. I wanted to believe him so badly. I felt like I was starved for the connection we had. It felt like I'd been going along for years, blissfully unaware that a feeling like this even existed. But now, after only being with him for this short time, I didn't want the connection to break. If it did, I was sure, something inside of me would break right along with it.
He reached up and stroked my hair but still held me fast with his other arm. "What can I do to make you believe me?"
"I want to see all your files."
He chuckled. "Try again. Ask for something that won't get me disbarred."
I tried a different tack. One that would give me more insight than anything legal he could offer.
"Was your story about how you got the scar true?"
He didn't hesitate. "Yes. Every last word. You can call my brother Wash and ask, if you want. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to tell you what a son of a bitch I am."
His admission made me feel better. He was telling the truth. I had a pretty good bullshit indicator, and it wasn't even beeping. It never did with Lincoln.
"Angel, this is nothing more than a case of cockblock à la Jonesy."
"No, it isn't." I pulled back and he let me. I wanted to see his eyes. "He was right about you looking into my clients and me."
I noticed the five o'clock shadow that graced his angular jaw. I wanted to feel it rub against me in all the right places. But first, I had to know the truth.
"Yes. That's true. But I've never been after you. Do you think Wood would let me do that? He practically worships you."
Of all the things I'd heard that night, that one shocked me the most. "Wood? Really?"
"Really. I'm surprised he doesn't have an Evangeline shrine in his office. I mean, I'm sure Jonesy beats off to you every chance he gets, but Wood genuinely thinks you are the best criminal defense attorney in this town."
My bullshit detector remained silent.
"Why are you looking into my clients?"
"I'm not going to tell you-"
My anger flared again. "You said-"
"You didn't let me finish. I'm not going to tell you, but Drew came by and picked up all my discovery docs today. I assume you have someone in your firm collecting all the victim information for you? I'm sure an attorney of your caliber doesn't do the grunt work."
"Yes. I have associates on it."
"Then all will become clear in short order. Trust me. If I was able to figure it out, you'll figure it out in half the time."
I leaned back into him and laid my head against his chest. His steady heartbeat was strong, a comforting thump-thump. I felt the fear falling away. I hated the feeling of fear, the emotion. There was a time in my life when I almost let fear destroy me, and I refused to let it ever happen again.
I wanted to believe him, to maintain our tenuous connection. Even if it was only for one more night. Even if tomorrow I found out all my worst fears were well founded and he really was looking to get my name in front of a grand jury. For tonight, I just wanted him. His steady strength.
He stroked down my back.
"It's okay, angel. I promise."
"Why do you call me angel?" Even I heard the weariness in my tone. My adrenaline was fading fast.
He scooped me into his arms and took me the ten steps to his bed. He scooted his wine-colored covers down and sat me on the edge of the mattress before taking my shoes off and kissing the arch of each foot. A thrill shot through me at the touch of his warm lips.
He stood. I couldn't help but notice his erection tenting his pajama pants. He noticed, too, and tucked it into the waistband of his boxers. I groaned in irritation.
"Arms up." He ordered.
I did as I was told, and he pulled my blouse over my head. He unclasped my bra and peeled it from me. His eyes paused on my nipples, already beaded and rosy. Then he pulled me to my feet and unzipped my skirt. He slid it down my body, dotting kisses over my stomach and legs as he did so. I was warm in all the right places. His touch made sure of it. He pushed me back so I landed on my ass.
"Lie down."
I did, and he threw the covers over me and hit the light switch. I saw nothing in the new darkness.