Page 56 of Barristers & Bones

I’d been kidding. “It doesn’t matter. Klim said he’d move me next week. If you prefer, we could call this my last day.”

Ivan grinned. “Nice try.”

“If you’re still holding out for Arthur Thorgeson, he’s coming here.” Roman informed me, watching my face carefully. “After listening to you discuss water law issues and the amount of money involved, we decided to bring him on board to mentor another attorney before he retires.”

“The Firm is buying Artie’s practice out, and you’re branching into water law?” I asked slowly.

Roman nodded. “We researched it, and you’re right—it’s important, and there’s a fuck-ton of money involved.”

“Why?”

“I just explained it to you.”

My mind took a few seconds to process what he was telling me, and then anger started to bubble in my chest as I stood. “On Saturday night, you told me you didn’t want to be my mentor anymore. And when I informed you I’d finish my internship with Thorgeson, you decided to buy him out. Why are you doing this?”

“Ivan, give us a minute.” Ivan stood and headed to the door, shaking his head as he walked out.

I folded my arms. “I’m done playing your games. Why are you trying to ruin my life? What do you want?”

Roman straightened and stood in front of me. “I want everything,” he murmured.

The intent in his gaze was clear this time, and naked, predatory lust stared back at me. I slowly licked my lips, as if trying to taste his phantom touch. Why did I have to be attracted tothis fucking man? He insulted me, ran roughshod over my wishes, and seemed to enjoy frustrating and mocking me. But he also stimulated my mind and answered my questions, and the sparks between us burned white hot. Roman reached out and grasped my suit jacket, gently pulling me closer. My breath quickened and my pulse hiccupped.

Gazing up at him, I carefully rested my hands on his arms. “What does that mean?” I whispered.

His sculpted biceps felt hard and warm through the fabric of his dress shirt, and his heady scent surrounded me. He leaned in. “I want you, and I plan to have you. But I don’t want guilt, repercussions, or consequences to cloud this, so you’re no longer my intern, and I’m not your official mentor anymore.”

“But… you hate me.”

He shook his head and pulled me closer, pressing my breasts against him. “I tried to, but I don’t. We’ll spend time together outside work. We’re also going to fuck, Luna, many times, in every position, and on every feasible surface.”

“You give me whiplash,” I whispered. “You don’t like me, but you still want to have sex with me?”

I pulled back and searched his eyes. He grasped my face, running his thumbs across my cheeks. “I don’t hate you, Sweetness. And yes, I absolutely want to fuck you.”

Roman leaned in slowly and ran his mouth along my jaw, causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin and making my nipples go stiff.

“Oh, God,” I whispered.

I felt him smile as he ran his lips across mine, and then he kissed me. Soft and probing at first, but when I opened my mouth to him, he surged inside. I whimpered as his tongue breached my lips.

Roman tilted my chin up and devoured my mouth, our tongues tangling as heat slashed through my core. He pulled back but kept his mouth on mine, then dragged my jacket halfway down, trapping my arms. His hands slid up and cupped my breasts, palming and squeezing them just enough to ache. I moaned into his mouth at the contact as I arched into his touch. The feeling of being bound while he plundered my mouth made my heart race, and when his fingers brushed across my nipples, sharp need and hot lust sliced through me. He worked his mouth down my neck and ran his tongue along the hollow of my throat as he expertly undid the buttons on my shirt.

When he peeled it back, uncovering my flesh-colored lace bra beneath, he looked down and groaned low. “Jesus Christ, you’re magnificent.”

He licked across my hard nipples through the lace, then bit down. My hips bucked against him as his cell phone rang on his desk. I crashed back to reality, remembering where we were.

As if sensing the change, his head came up and he studied my face. Slowly, he buttoned my shirt up and pulled my jacket back in place, freeing my arms.

“This is happening,” he murmured, ignoring his phone.

My heart pounded so hard in my chest it almost hurt. “You think so?” His arrogance pricked me, but my raspy voice took the bite out of my words.

His lips pressed together as if trying to suppress a smile, and he reached over to adjust my collar. “Yes, Sweetness, I do.”

Chapter 18

Luna

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