Page 4 of Fatal Love

His formalities made me cringe. Maybe the attraction was one sided, which would make remaining professional easy. “I think you can call me Rachel unless we’re in court—seeing as we’re already acquainted.” I shot him a wicked grin, expecting him to be stone faced. He wasn't.

His eyes were smoldering as he sucked in his bottom lip. “Of course, Rachel. You have the order?”

I couldn’t tear my gaze off his lips. His chuckle cause me to snap out of it and I turned toward what I assumed was his office. “Oh yeah—and dinner. I thought…” my voice trailed off. What was I thinking by bringing dinner to the enemy’s office? He was the enemy, right?

The sound of his footsteps told me he followed me. “You brought dinner, too?”

Setting the food down on the desktop, “I inconvenienced you by making you stay late. This is my way of apologizing. I know we are on opposite sides, but we both want the same thing. The truth.”

“And what is the truth? My client acted in self-defense, yet your department wants to throw her in jail. I know they have a hard-on for the Anastasi Family, but this is crossing a line.” I turned my body and stared at him.

He was right in the fact that they were using Riley to break the family—or specifically, Vincenzo Anastasi, the man she had fallen in love with. This was their way of getting him to crack or slip up.

“You’re right. But that’s why I asked for more time. Either I’ll find evidence proving the charges or her innocence.” I turned back toward his desk and started pulling the containers out.

Michael stepped closer and I could his body's heat as he pressed in behind me.

His breath brushed against my neck. “Let me help you.”

He reached around me and set down some plates. When he did, his arm brushed against mine. Tiny electric tendrils danced across my skin, making me suck in a breath. Every nerve was firing on overdrive, making my head spin in confusion.

“Sorry.” I whispered. “I should go… this was a mistake.” I slipped beneath his arm and started toward the door.

“Rachel. Wait.” His long legs had him standing before me in two strides. “Tell me you feel it.”

Michael stepped forward and cupped my face. “Feel what?”

My eyes closed as his thumb brushed across my bottom lip. “I know this is probably fucked up, but I want you. The moment you walked into my office I was hit with the same need to possess you as before." His hand tilted my head up. "The tension—the pull." He licked his lips, his eyes darkening as he moved closer. "You still feel it too, don’t you?”

“Yes." I whispered, my gaze never leaving his. "But I’m the prosecutor on your client's case. It’s a bad idea.”

He drew his bottom lip into his mouth, a battle waging in his head. “Fuck it.”

Michael’s head descended, his lips pressing against mine as he took what he wanted—what we both wanted. I whimpered as my body melted into his hold. The kiss consumed me like flames burning through a forest, leaving nothing but ash behind. His free hand tugged my hip, pulling me even closer as his tongue slipped between the seam of my mouth. His kiss demanded ownership, taking control of every rational thought I might have had. Michael's growl, coupled with the ever-growing bulge pressing against my belly had me pulsing with desire. He was turning me on like one ever had before.

The vibration of my phone inside my pocket, was like a bucket of cold water. It jerked me from the disaster in waiting and I took a step back. A look of confusion marred his features—the same one I was sure was painted across my face

Pulling he cockblocker from my pocket, I pressed it to my face. “Hello?” My gaze never wavered from Michael’s as I listened to the voice on the other end. I was still caught between heaven and hell, not really registering their words before I hung up. “I have to go.”

Turning without a word, I hurried through the office and out the glass door. Michael was still staring at me from behind the glass when I finally glanced back. What happened was wrong—but god it felt so right. His expression was one of hurt and confusion, but what I didn't see was regret. And that left me lost. Slipping into my car, I slammed the door and pressed my head to the steering wheel. These muddled feelings between us could ruin me as an attorney—and destroy any case against Riley.

I stopped my car before pulling it onto the road and glanced in my rear-view mirror. I'm not sure why I did, but my breath hitched when I found Michael still watching me. Even from my car his piercing green eyes bore into me, begging me to turn around. I glanced away, pulling out of the parking lot—and drove away from the man that could ultimately destroy me. As much as I wanted him, it couldn’t happen.

Not now.

Maybe never.

Two

Antonio

Fuck.

I stared down at the water bubbling up from the wooden floorboards. A pipe had burst, creating the monsoon of water pouring out. I'd been the last worker here when the catastrophe happened. After calling Miguel and letting him know one of his crew had fucked up and hit a pipe, I began tearing up the floor. I glanced at my watch, praying Rachel wouldn’t get home anytime soon. I'd avoided seeing her in person since she fired me. A few days ago, she spotted me on her roof and nearly came unglued. She was pissed an Anastasi was on her property and threatened to have me arrested. Miguel tried to smooth it over, saying it was purely coincidence since I worked for him. But we both knew that was a lie.

Being here in her house had enabled me access to her outside of her working career. From what I'd learned, Rachel lived a normal life—except for the dirty side of her Michael dug up a few months ago.

Michael.

---