Frank left, and Rex sat back in his chair. It would explain why he was so protective of her. Frank had given everything to this firm. Deep in his core he was a family man, and had been unable to have children with Lidia. It would seem that Rex's thoughts about Nora were true. Like Rex had thought, she was like the daughter Frank never had.
"Hey," Nora said, standing in his doorway.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Oh, I tried calling you. I felt so much better. No more sick feeling at all, and I don't like sitting around all day. I know I can be useful around here. I've already rescheduled Mrs. Richmond. I know you want to get her out of the way.
He didn't know what to say or do. Guilt consumed him. "You don't think it's a little odd that you were sick in the morning but are fine now?"
She shrugged. "Don't know, don't really care right now. We've got work to do, and I know Frank is anxious to get this case out of the way."
"You just missed Frank," he said, getting up, and moving in front of his desk, leaning up against it.
"Crap, I did. What did he want?"
"Wanted to know how you were finding work, and if you'd found somewhere new to move on."
She sighed.
"You're still looking, aren't you?"
"You said that I could still look. That our deal doesn't affect what I want to do."
"You still want to leave?"
Nora blew out a breath. "I don't know what I want anymore. How is that for crazy?"
"It's hard trying to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life." He reached out, taking hold of her hand. He didn't care who could see. He had to hold her, touch her.
"Did you always want to be a lawyer?"
"More or less. As a kid I wanted to be an astronaut."
"Ah, shooting up to the moon, exploring."
"Yeah, then I realized I like keeping my feet firmly on the ground."
"Floating around in space can be really overrated." She stepped closer to him. "I got you a couple of presents at home."
"When have you found the time?" he asked. His heart was pounding, and as he stared into her beautiful eyes, he just knew that she was the one for him.
Crap.
He had known a hell of a long time.
I'm just like Alaric.
His best friend was digging his romance with a woman named Bella into an early grave.
"I have my ways, and with us spending Christmas together, I think it's only fair that I get you a little something."
Rex couldn't remember the last time he had celebrated Christmas, or even enjoying putting up the tree. Now his home had a tree that they had put up together, and there were twinkling lights around his fireplace, along with many other decorations.
He hadn't gotten her a present yet, and guilt swamped him.
"What's wrong? You seem sad?" she asked.
"It's nothing. I've got some finer details to work through."
"Okay." She headed toward the door.
"What are your thoughts on kids?" Rex asked.
She paused, frowning. "They're cute. Why?"
"You want some?"
"Someday. Not any time soon, I don't think. They're a lot of work, and besides, I've got to fall in love first."
"Still trying for the fairytale?"
She shook her head. "No. Just hoping that there is at least part of a fairytale waiting out there for me."
Nora left his office, and Rex went and dropped down into his seat. It was all too fucking much. Firing up the pregnancy website, he saw there were tests, and blood tests in order to determine if she was pregnant.
There was no option available to keep the testing secret. Unless he drugged her, got a doctor to take her blood, and then got the results without alerting her.
Never going to happen.
He was screwed. There was no way about it. He was royally screwed, and he'd not even given Nora the warning that he'd not been using rubbers. He'd always made her crazy wanting him so that she never asked.
You're the monster here.
You fucked her on purpose.
You wanted her.
Now, like Alaric was going to soon, he was about to face the music. He loved her, and she didn't love him. This was his torture. His burden to bear.
Chapter Eight
Nora lay in bed, and waited for the wave of sickness to pass. She had already rushed to the toilet, and spewed up everything she ate the night before. She wondered if there were any available spots to see her doctor. This close to Christmas, she didn't know how lucky she would be. The sickness was horrible, and she hated waking up feeling like shit first thing in the morning. The rest of the day she was more than fine.
Glancing over at Rex, she saw that he was awake, and staring at the ceiling.
Rex had been acting strangely the past couple of days, and when they went to bed at night, she had noticed he had started to stroke her stomach. He was always in deep thought, and he wasn't happy anymore either.
On Wednesday morning she couldn't take it anymore, so she rolled over, and looked at him. "Are you going to tell me what is wrong?" she asked.
He turned so that his head was resting on his hand, and his other was on her stomach.
"You won the Richmond case, and I couldn't believe what an evil bitch his wife was." Nora had sat during the meeting, hearing all the vile things the woman had spewed in Rex's direction. It was hard for her not to rush to his defense. It amazed her how fast her thoughts about him had changed. There was a time she'd have gladly rushed to his opponent's side to help.
Rex was a good man, a kind man. He just fought it, and wouldn't let anyone close enough to see it. "She's not the first woman who is threatening me, believe me. She won't be the last either."
Silence fell between them, and it reminded her a little of when they were first working together.
"Is everything okay?" she asked. "You seem distant."
"I'm fine."
She bit her lip waiting for him to say or do something.
"Do you want us to end?" she asked.
His gaze turned to her, and she saw the frown. "What?"
"You don't seem all that interested. If you don't want to carry on with our relationship, that's fine. I can go to Frank, get transferred or I can take a job offer." She had three of them, and as yet, she hadn't made up her mind. Staying or going was one of the hardest decisions she had ever made.
"I don't want you to go."
"Then what is it?" she asked. "Come on, Rex, you're freaking me out. You're not even telling me how awful I am or anything. I don't know where I stand right now."
The hand on her stomach glided up, touching her face. "It's fine," he said. "It's all fine."
He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. She was really pleased that she had brushed her teeth, otherwise she would have been in for a very embarrassing time of it. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip, and moved between her thighs. The blanket was pushed out of the way, and she couldn't resist a moan as his cock rested between the lips of her sex.
"You're always so wet for me."
Her cheeks heated. She was. Even at work when he wanted to play with her, she was ready. Nothing ever stopped her. Her body was always on fire for him.
It was hard for her to deny him anything. Her body was the lock, and he was the key. Rex kissed down her neck, sucking on her pulse before taking her nipple into his mouth. She cried out from the pleasure that went straight to her clit.
He pulled back, and had her spread open. "Touch yourself."
Reaching between her thighs, she stared into his eyes as she teased her clit. His tongue peeked out, licking his lips as he watched her. She loved his eyes on her, the way he pulled her in.
The more time she spent with him, the harder it was for her to hate him. She had heard many times people say there was a fine line between love and hate. She had hated him, and now more than ever she was sure that she loved him.
Was it possible to fall in love with someone you hated?
She didn't think it was until she stared into Rex's eyes, and then she was sure. There was just no denying her feelings for him. Every single day they grew a little more.
Stroking over her clit, she thrust up, wanting his touch. Rex captured her hips, and held her up, leaning down to take her clit into his mouth. He slid his tongue down, going to her entrance, and plunging inside.
She cried out his name, teasing herself as he tongued her at the same time.
"Look at me, Nora," he said.
Opening her eyes, which she had closed, she watched his tongue flick across her clit. It didn't take much, and she came, thrusting up against his face, smearing her juices on his lips. He didn't give her a chance to wait though. He released her hips, and she dropped to the bed.
He grabbed his cock, and placed the tip at her entrance. Slowly, inch by inch, he began to sink inside her.
Each thrust stretched her, making her ache for more.
Rex grabbed her hands, holding her down as he slammed the last couple of inches inside her, making her cry out once again. He didn't like silence when he fucked her. There had to be noise, and if she wasn't making any, he wasn't doing it right. At least that was what he said to her.