Page 109 of Barristers & Bones

Alexa got right to the point. “We have an idea about your father and how to smoke him out.” We discussed what she and Ivan had been working on for the next hour while plowing through pasta and wine. When I looked up from the decimated plates on the table, Ivan and Roman walked in together. When Alexa looked up and saw Ivan, she flushed and went quiet. That’s when I started to worry.

The next morning as I made coffee, I turned to Roman. “What’s going on with Alexa and Ivan? After declaring her undying dislike for men since I’ve known her, Sylvie says she’s practicallylivingwith him.”

He took my coffee cup and put it on the counter, then pulled me to him and wrapped his hands around my hips. “It’s their business. You need to let it go.”

But I didn’t let it go. She seemed withdrawn, and I was concerned. Alexa stopped answering my calls and texts after telling me she didn’t know what I was talking about, and everything was “just fine.” So, I went back to badgering Roman.

He eventually lost his patience one evening out by the pool as we sat in the loungers.

“I told you if you asked me again, I got to pick your punishment.” He grinned and stood, pulling his belt out of his belt loops and grabbing my wrists. He flipped me around and deftly tied my forearms behind my back.

“What are you doing?” I squirmed as he wrestled me into place on the lounger.

“Giving you something else to think about.” He pulled my leggings and thong off, pushed my upper body onto the lounger, and palmed my ass. Then he spread my thighs as far apart as they would go and spanked my pussy with his large, rough palm.

“Ouch, Goddamn it, you fucking caveman!” I ruined my outrage by laughing breathlessly and trying to wiggle away.

Leaning over me, he murmured in my hair. “I warned you, Sweetness, but you kept at it. I think you’re craving a hard pussy spanking.” He reached in and cupped my wet slit, running his fingers through the moisture there. His next smacks targeted my inner thighs until I was a panting hot mess underneath him. He understood what aroused me, and I knew he needed to tie me up and control my pleasure sometimes. We were a match made in hell. My thoughts spun away as my body absorbed the erotic stings and dark pleasure.

I moaned as he worked two fingers inside me, pumping hard while I panted beneath him. Arching my back, I pushed myself against his fingers. “Fuck, that feels so good.”

“Your soaked, swollen pussy tells me you don’t mind being tied up, pussy-spanked, and finger fucked. I’ll remember that.”

“Please, I want to come,” I whimpered. He hadn’t touched my clit, and I knew it was on purpose.

“You’ll come when I want you to come–with my cock buried so deep inside, you won’t be able to walk tomorrow without feeling the wreckage.” He smacked my thighs, then ran his palms over the sting.

His hands disappeared, and I heard him unzip his pants and shed his clothes. Then he pulled my hips up. “Spread your knees wider, my sweet little cock slut.” He slapped my ass, and I cried out. Then he drove inside me as he held my hips immobile, working his cock deep, just like he’d promised.

My pussy was so tender and sensitive, I shivered when he stroked me as he took me hard and deep from behind. Groaning, he wrapped his hands on my shoulders as he pounded into me. Moments later, when he finally reached around and stroked my clit, I came, screaming so loud he wrapped his other palm across my mouth. He orgasmed seconds behind me.

It took a few minutes to settle down, and he undid the belt he’d cinched around my forearms and grabbed a towel. After cleaning up, he held me while we watched dusk turn into night. A cool breeze picked up, and he grabbed a plush cashmere blanket and draped it across us.

A few stars appeared in the darkening sky as he kissed the top of my head. “I know you’re worried, but they need to work it out. Alexa will find you and Sylvie when she’s ready to talk. But if you want to keep bringing it up, I have a few other ideas.” I could hear the grin in his voice, and my pussy clenched.

Chapter 36

Luna

I didn’t throw up this time. My mother came to Las Vegas again, and we’d agreed to meet her at Ezra’s office the next morning. The night before, I suffered another nightmare. Roman woke me up as I gasped and struggled against him. Then he sat with me on his lap, trailing his fingers along my skin until I calmed.

“I’ve got you, love. Neither of those fuckers are going to hurt you,” he murmured into my hair. I turned my face into his neck and breathed him in. Only my father appeared this time, and thankfully my dinner stayed down.

When we arrived a few minutes late that morning, coffee and a plate of scones were on the desk. Ezra was always the consummate gentleman, and he believed in manners, even when his guests didn’t deserve them.

“Luna, are you going to help me or not?” my mother asked impatiently seconds after we arrived.

I ignored her and walked over to hug Ezra. “You and Sylvie should come to dinner tonight.”

He smiled. “She’s working this morning, but I’m sure she’d love that. The apartment is lonely without you and Alexa there.”

“Thanks for allowing us to use your office.”

Ezra squeezed my arm. “No problem. I’d step out and give you some privacy, but I don’t trust a woman who leaves her child for dead and doesn’t contact her until she wants something. Pretend I’m not here.”

Evelyn sniffed but didn’t respond. I turned to her and crossed my arms. “Why are you here?” Seeing my own green eyes in her cold, annoyed face was so odd. A wave of gratitude swept through me toward Ezra and the Spade family for taking me in and loving and nurturing me. If they hadn’t, I probably would have turned out as frigid and unhappy as this woman.

“I need that information. He’s getting worse, and I’m afraid of him.”