Mercy(White Collared Part 1)(26)

He was the first man she’d dated since . . . well, she’d never actually dated before Tom. Smart and stable with his life planned from his residency to retirement in Santa Fe. He’d understood her drive for success and didn’t complain when she’d fall asleep on his couch with a law book on her chest. They’d settled into a comfortable routine. At least until she’d begun interning for Nick.

Between school, studying, and work, she’d had no time or energy for dinner and a movie followed by a ten-minute session of missionary-position sex. But as she’d learned a decade ago at age fourteen, sex had nothing to do with love. So what if their sex life was a bit boring? They loved each other. Supported each other’s careers. Shared common interests.

In the scheme of things, the sex wasn’t important. They were friends. Yet he knew little of her past. Didn’t know her real name. And he had no idea she was planning on going to a sex club as her client’s submissive. It was confidential, but even if it wasn’t, he’d never approve or understand how far she’d go to prove Jaxon’s innocence. After all, he didn’t know the truth behind why she’d decided to become an attorney.

Her boyfriend conveniently lived a few blocks from her apartment, but his was spacious and a whole lot nicer than her dump. It was also an extra $600 a month. He’d asked her to move in with him, but she wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment.

A minute later, they approached Tom’s building. “It’s that one. On the right,” she said, pointing to the apartment.

He veered the car to the curb in front of the building before placing it in park. She unbuckled and then pivoted to say good-night, but he spoke first. “Your boyfriend . . . it’s serious?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Forget I asked. It’s none of my business.”

No, it wasn’t. But how she wished it was . . .

“Good-night, Jaxon.”

The inclination to kiss his cheek was overwhelming, and she leaned forward. He stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder. “Sleep well, Kate.”

Tonight he wouldn’t allow her to kiss his cheek. Tomorrow he was taking her half naked to a sex club where he might have to touch her most intimate places. Why did she think this plan would work?

Departing his car, she was greeted by the hot, sticky evening air, the kind of air that signaled an imminent rainstorm. When he drove away, she unlocked the front door of Tom’s building.

Running up the steps to the third floor, she raked her fingers through her hair, trying to tame it before she pounced on her boyfriend. The high humidity had frizzed her hair into a wild mess. Appropriate since that’s how she felt right now.

Jaxon had aroused a storm in her the size of a hurricane. Tom wouldn’t know what hit him by the time she was finished with him. She almost hoped she’d find him asleep so she could quietly crawl into bed and slide his boxers down his thighs. He’d awaken with his cock deep in her mouth, and then she’d impale herself on him before he could coax her into their typical missionary sex.

She rapped on his door and waited. When he didn’t answer, she figured he was either still at work or asleep. Either way, she’d surprise him. She unlocked his door and slipped inside his dark apartment. After setting her purse on the small table next to the door, she crept across the family room toward the back of the one-bedroom apartment.

The creaking of the bedsprings and Tom’s low moan alerted her to his presence. Shit, she’d interrupted him masturbating.

She paused by his closed bedroom door, aroused by his animalistic groans and grunts. Should she make some noise so he’d know she was there? She twisted the doorknob and cracked open the door, wanting a visual to go with the audio before she jumped him. And that’s when she heard her.

“You like my hot cunt, baby? It’s all yours.”

With her spine arched, her head thrown back in wild abandon, and her blond curls cascading over her shoulders, Hannah rode a blindfolded Tom.

Frozen in shock, Kate watched the scene, disgusted by their betrayal but, at the same time, aroused by their private dance. Each swirl of Hannah’s hips, each perfectly timed upward thrust of Tom’s pelvis against her clitoris was to a rhythm only they could hear.

They connected on more than a physical level. Their bodies gleamed with sweat, the scent of sex so thick in the air, it was almost visible.

This wasn’t a one-time mistake. Anyone could sense they’d made love countless times in the past.

And if it didn’t hurt so damn much to watch, it would have been beautiful.

“Tom! Tom! I’m going to come!” Hannah shouted, her pace increasing.