Chapter 8

"May I come in?" She asked, knocking on the open glass door.

The heavy-set managing partner looked up from the contract he was perusing and gestured her into his office.

Taking a seat on one of the cushioned chairs in front of the desk, she crossed her legs at the ankles and forced herself not to fidget as she waited. She had spent the night tossing and turning on her bed, the scent of Antwan's cologne tormenting her.

She had woken up this morning feeling testy and miserable. She had taken a shower and decided to get an early start on the day.

"How may I help you?"

"When you promoted me to the position of COO, you told me you had the utmost confidence in my abilities, and you were confident that I could and would get the job done.

Marvin Kalder regarded her with an impassive stare, his thick dark brows lifted. "I sense there is a favor coming."

Gripping the thick folder, she lifted her chin and plunged. "I would like us to take on a class action suit."

A reluctant smile touched the man's lips, his dark brown eyes gleaming. He admired the young woman. April had come to the firm on fire and was full of conviction. He had served him very well as a legal secretary.

When she approached him with the demand to be made COO of the firm, he flat-out told her no at first. "We cannot afford to pay you more than you already earn. And we don't need anyone for that position."

But she had not backed down, only telling him that she was already running the goddamned place; she might as well get paid for it. And she was right. She was the person everyone – the partners, the associates, and the support staff went to when they needed something.

She knew what was happening in the firm before anyone else. She had her eye on the ball and was a keen observer. She anticipated his needs even before he knew he had one.

She was so valuable to the place that he quickly gave her what she asked for when she gave him an ultimatum. And he, as well as the others, had never regretted it. She was beautiful, sophisticated, and kind. She was also determined, and she went all in when she found a cause to fight for.

"Your latest project." He murmured.

"My latest project." She nodded in agreement.

"It would not happen to be the same class action suit. One of the associates approached me about it before, would it?"

"The same." Rising gracefully, she placed the folder on his desk. "I have read through the report, and there is no reason we cannot take it on. It involves children. The company bought several acres of land near the school and started a battery factory."

He glanced at the folder and, opening it, began to leaf through it, scanning over the various notes and recommendations.

"It says here that several children, as well as the teaching staff, were affected."

"When confronted by the school, the lawyers and CEO refused to take responsibility.

They claim their actions had nothing to do with why they are getting sick."

"And yet, they had ceased work on the property."

"Precisely. A clear admission of guilt."

He looked up at her with a smile. "You sound like a lawyer."

"I have been working as a legal secretary for several years. Some of the things have rubbed off on me."

"Kline Batteries is a formidable company with holdings worldwide." He pointed out.

"Which makes it very easy for them to come up with a tremendous amount of money to pay these people enough to get treated and compensate for emotional pain and stress."

His smile widened. "I really should get you to argue this in court."

"I can do the groundwork with the associate, which is the next best thing." She countered.

"You know why we don't usually take on pro bono cases."

"There is no guarantee of a win, and almost ninety percent of the time, the big companies tend to drown the firm representing them in paperwork."

"Precisely."

"But I know we have outstanding lawyers here, and Michael happens to be enthusiastic and thorough."

"Is that why he did not approach me himself?"

"He figured it would be better coming from me." She told him with a smile.

"He was right."

"It's also a positive image for the firm to show that we care enough to fight for people who cannot fight for themselves."

He nodded, a twinkle in his eyes. "You make a solid argument."

"Is that a yes?"

"It is. Get Michael to draw up the paperwork and do his research. Also- "

"Meet with the members of the school and get their stories."

He nodded. "Tell him to get on it."

Picking up the folder, she gave him a grateful look. "Thanks, Marvin."

"Don't think of me yet. This might turn out to be a pain in the ass, and we might lose."

"No, we won't." She had reached the door when he stopped her.

"Excellent job, April."

"Thank you."

Shaking his head, he went back to his contract.

*****

"He said yes?"

"He said yes." She leaned back in her chair and smiled at the eager young man who had rushed into her office to hear the outcome.

"I knew you could do it."

"Of course."

"I should take you out to lunch." Michael lowered himself into one of her chairs and gave her a hopeful look.

He was two years younger than her and relatively new to the firm, so he was not familiar with the fact that she had an iron-clad rule- never go out with anyone she worked with, especially not a lawyer. She had learned her lesson from that incident before.

"I usually eat lunch at my desk because I am away and swamped with work."

"Oh, come on, April. There is this charming bistro- "

"I happen to know the place. Where do you think I got my sandwiches from? And the owner happens to be a friend of mine."

"It is always nice to get out of the office."

"I happen to like it here."

"It's not a date." He persisted, light blue eyes pleading.

"That's good because I don't date people I work with."

"What if I change jobs?"

Her tapered brows lifted. "Would you stop practicing law?"

"You don't like lawyers."

"I like them from a distance."

"May I ask why?"

"You may ask." Shoving the folder towards him, she turned to her desktop. "We both have a ton of work to do."

"I am not giving up." Looking over at him, she smiled slightly.

"That's your right, now go away."

*****

"I am starting to feel invisible," Chandra murmured. "And you have yet to compliment me on the dress. It's new."

Staring down at her from his lofty height, Atwan smiled in amusement. "I am sure you had no shortage of compliments, not only from your very besotted husband but several men in the room."

"True," She inclined her head in agreement. "But nothing from you."

"How remiss of me. Darling, you look stunning if a tad is underdressed. I cannot believe my brother allowed you to step out of the house wearing this- this-

"Putting her an inch from him, he tried to come up with the right term to describe the almost see-through sage-colored dress with the thin straps and gaping neckline she was wearing. "This napkin posing as a dress."

Chandra grinned as he whirled her expertly in time to the music. "Allowed is not a word Andrew and I tend to use. And he almost had a heart attack when I removed my jacket."

"Meaning he had no idea this was what you were wearing."

"None," she admitted. "Until it was too late for him to do anything about it."

"I am assuming that's why he is keeping such close tabs on you and demanding that if he was not dancing with you, it should be Alex. I don't appreciate being used that way." He tried to sound stern, but it fell flat when she noticed the smile tugging at his lips.

"Noted." Her warm brown eyes reminded him so much of the woman he loved that he felt like he was drowning in need.

"Antwan?"

"Yes?" Shaking himself out of the unbearable sadness that had been cloaking him all night, he concentrated on her.

"Go to her." She told him quietly.

"I beg your pardon?"

She smiled because he sounded so much like her husband that it was uncanny.

"Your body is here, but your spirit is somewhere else, and we both know it. Go to her." She repeated.

"I-it's- "Giving up, he shrugged. "You are right." The song ended just then. "Make my apologies, will you?"

"Of course." Leaning up, she kissed him on the cheek. "Now go and be with your girl."

*****

Picking up her wine glass, April settled on the sofa and curled her legs under her. She had not heard from him. He had told her he had a function to go to and that chances were he might still need to drop by.

But oh, she wanted him to. She had come home from work and declined the invitation from Rachel to go clubbing because she was not in the mood, and she just wanted to be with him.

She was pathetic, she thought angrily. After what had happened the last time, she should be running away from him. But she could not seem to be able to help herself. The very thing she had sworn not to do again, she was doing it.

After Marcus, she stayed away from men like him, period. But Antwan was different, her logic argued. He was gentle, kind, and unselfish in his lovemaking. He made sure that she received pleasure – and speaking of pleasure, she felt it in waves and abundance.

Taking a sip of the wine, she frowned at a spot on the wall. She should tell him it's over, that they should not see each other again. She had just put the glass down when she heard the pounding on the front door.

It was nothing compared to the pounding of her own heart. It was him! Flying off the sofa, she raced out of the room and forced herself to slow down and take measured steps. A look out the peephole confirmed that it was him, and she could not help herself as she wrenched the door open.

"Hi. I left earlier- "That was as far as he got as she dragged him inside and slammed the door shut.

"It's- "

"Shut up." She was yanking at his bow tie and dragging at buttons. "Why the hell are you wearing so many clothes?" She complained as she sent the pearl buttons flying.

"It was a formal – here, let me help you." Shrugging out of the shirt, he dropped it to the floor and toed off his shoes.

He had not expected this kind of reception, and her eagerness to be with him was doing incredible things to his mind and body. She fumbled with the belt buckle, and he laughingly took over, dragging it out of the loops and dropping it.

"Let me." She yanked at the hook and broke it before easing the zipper down.

"Let me- "Hissing out a breath when she reached in to curl her fingers around the throbbing length hot shaft, he had to lean back against the door, his knees buckling. Finding the strength, he pulled down the dress pants and underwear, just managing to kick them loose before she launched herself into his arms.

"I was thinking we could go upstairs – Oh Christ!" the tortured groan escaped him when she reached between them and guided his throbbing cock and straddled it. Her feet were securely wrapped around his waist, her hands around his neck.

"I guess we are doing it here." He grunted, turning around to press her back against the door. His eyes met hers as he bent his head to brush his lips against hers. "Hi."

"Hi." She whispered. "How was the party?"

"Dull and boring." He traced the outline of her full bottom lip with his tongue, reveling in the tremors racking her slender body. "I couldn't wait to get out of there."

"You didn't see anyone you liked?"

"I like my sisters-in-law." He started nibbling and sending sparks streaking throughout her body.

"They don't count." Her body arched to meet his, fingers digging into his shoulders and back.

"I could not stop thinking about you." He had started moving inside her. "Missing you." His lips trailed a heated path up her cheek and back to the creases of her lips. "Thinking about this, anticipating being inside you- just like this."

She gasped when he wrapped his hands around her waist and strode with her into the living room. "Tasting you." Lowering her onto the sofa, he stretched out on top of her, his lips moving to her neck and her throat. "Suckling your nipples."

April cried out sharply, her fingers digging into his back when he pulled the nipple into his mouth and suckled hungrily. She felt the incredible sexual pull, the intensely powerful passion shaking through her as he continued to torment her with his mouth.

"I missed you." She whispered, unable to keep it to herself. "So damned much."

Letting go of her nipples, he raised his head so that he was looking at her.

"Yet you asked for two days."

"I did." Her hands cupped his neck and then his face. "I suffered as a result."

"So did I. Don't do it again." He ordered roughly.

"Antwan- "

"No.' Bending his head, he brushed her lips with his and started moving inside her, deep, slow strokes that sent her blood pressure skyrocketing.

"Oh, Antwan." She whispered against his lips, her body shaking.

"Let go." He demanded, increasing the pace. "I want to see what I can do to you. Let go, baby. Now." He drove into her, sending her head into the cushions. Her slender body arched, her lips parting, fingers digging into his back and shoulders.

"Tell me.' He urged.

"I can't."

"You can." Reaching between them, he started to tease the swollen flesh. She went flying, her heels drumming against his back as the climax slammed through her body with the force of a sledgehammer.

His lips claimed hers roughly, his climax coming on the brink of hers. The groan he heard was his own as he emptied himself inside her, his body shuddering, his mouth still fused to hers.

Ending the kiss, he buried his face in her neck and fought to control the shudders racking his body and the frantic racing of his heart. Her arms were wrapped around him, holding him close as she tried vainly to compose herself.

Lifting his head, he gave her a crooked smile. "Ready to go upstairs?"

She nodded, the emotions still swirling through her. Easing up, he lifted her, their bodies still intimately joined.

Effortlessly bounding up the stairs, he put her down and got in next to her.

"How was your day?" He asked huskily as she went straight into his arms.

"Good, hectic. I was invited out to lunch." She had no idea why she told him that, except she had the insane urge to see him jealous.

"Is that right?" he mused, shifting his head to see her face. "Was he between seventy and ninety years old?"

She laughed, feeling the contentment washing over her. "He was this fancy young lawyer, two years my senior, and has been plaguing me to go out with him since he first came on board."

"What's his name? Have you told him you are committed to a very handsome lawyer who is a dynamite in bed?"

Her tapered brows lifted. "A dynamite?"

"For lack of a better word. Now, back to this gentleman. What did you say to him?"

"That I don't people I work with, and I don't particularly date lawyers."

"Except me."

"We are not dating." She pointed out.

"You are quite right." Even though his tone was light, she knew his mood had changed, and she knew exactly why.

"Antwan- "

"We just sleep with each other."

"We hardly ever sleep," she said teasingly, trying to distract him.

"Right again. We are at your place almost every night."

"That's what we agree to."

"No, April, that's what you demanded."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to say that you will go on a date with me."

Dropping her eyes to his chest, she spread her fingers over his chest. "I am not ready."

"Will you ever be?" he asked her quietly.

Her eyes flew to his, and he saw the frustration there. "I cannot be in a relationship."

"What on earth do you think this is?"

"We are just having fun—wait!" She clutched at his arms as he started to push her off him.

"Please. Just—"Heaving out a breath, she tried again. "I need time."

"To do what exactly?"

"To process. I am not accustomed to any of this. The way you make me feel, the way I feel when you are not here. I just need to get used to it."

"How long?"

"What?"

"How long, April?" There was an implacable note to his deep voice that was scaring her.

"I don't know."

"That's not good enough."

"Damn you!" She cried. "Did I ask for this? No! I told you that I was not interested in a relationship, and you kept pushing and pushing until I- "

Tipping her chin up, he gazed at the tempestuous expression on her exquisite face.

"Until what?" He asked gently when her voice tailed off.

"Go to hell."

"Until what?"

"I need you." She whispered.

"I need you too.' He felt his anger draining away at her admission. "But I need more than this. I need to know who you are. I want to take you out on dates, lavish you with gifts, and tell the world you are mine."

She felt the tears burning the back of her eyes and wished she could just shout yes to everything he was saying to her. "I need time."

Tamping down his frustration, he continued to stare at her and observed the struggle on her face.

"Tell me something about yourself." He insisted.

Looking away, she stared at the padded bedhead. "My dad was a drug user." He felt his heart contracting at that.

"I am so sorry."

"He was handsome." A sad smile touched her lips. "He was such a charmer that he could do nothing wrong as far as me and my mom were concerned. No matter what he did, how late he would come home, or the fact that there would be perfume clinging to his clothes, we would be waiting for him with open arms.

He would read me bedtime stories and call me his princess. We would forgive him for anything. Mom knew he was using and turned a blind eye, just like she turned a blind eye to the other women."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, and Antwan wanted to wrap her up and protect her.

"She would say he was a perfect husband and dad and was under much pressure from his job. He was not being promoted, or his workload was too much, and we should take all of that into allowance.

When he was home, he was treated like a king, with his food taken to him wherever he was, and when he wanted silence, we would be like little mice." She shook her head sadly. "I used to ask my mom why his mood was high one time and low the next, and she would make some sort of excuse for him."

She started to drag her face away from him, and he allowed her only so that he could cradle her against him.

"One night, I found him in the living room sniffing white powder up his nostrils, and it was then that I realized. When he looked up and saw me, he merely smiled and told me it helped him to relax. I told my mother the very next day, and she blamed me for disturbing him."

"Christ." He whispered. "I am so sorry."

"He died of an overdose when I was fourteen, and she did not last a year after." She continued tonelessly.

Snatching her into his arms, he cradled her head against his chest, trying to absorb her pain.