Simon coughs gently into his fist. “It is. Any reason you’re asking?”
“Reese, a word.”
“Really?” Her head comes up abruptly. “You’re so rude all of the time. You don’t shake my hand. You barely speak to me in the office, and now you’re interrupting my date because you want a word? Say it right here.” She juts out her chin.
Simon’s eyes grow wide at this outburst.
As for me, all this show of spirit is turning my dick into a pole of steel. Simon doesn’t miss that and coughs again. Reese’s face grows pink, but I can’t say whether it’s because my dick could poke her in the eye if it escaped my jeans or because we’re causing a scene. Could be both.
“I didn’t shake your hand because—” I cut myself off before I say something I’m going to regret. I’ve come to the realization that I’m going to bed Reese Meadows, sooner rather than later, and telling her that I didn’t shake her hand before because I didn’t want to get caught up in her pretty net is a fast track to her legs being closed tighter than a miser’s fist on Christmas Day. I’m not that dumb.
“Because—” she prompts.
Simon looks on with great interest.
“I’ll explain it outside.” I nod my head toward the doc. “Sorry. This one’s taken.” I pick up her chair and carry it outdoors. Reese is sputtering, telling me to put her down and I am a Neanderthal and how dare I and this is humiliating, but I keep walking until I’m clear of the front door that Nina so helpfully held open. As I pass her, she mouths she wants a raise.
Once I reach the sidewalk, I set Reese down. She jumps out of the chair immediately. “This is ridiculous. How dare—”
I kiss her. Once my lips touch hers, I know there is no going back. It’s why I’ve made it a point not to touch her. Justice men are cursed. So I’ve been told all my life. That curse is always wrapped around the woman they fall for. The fall is always hard.
I delve my tongue into her mouth, sweeping the hot and sweet taste of her into my mouth. Under my hand, her heartbeat quickens. She leans into the kiss. Her hands come to my shoulders; her mouth opens wider; her tongue parries mine.
I pull her in and press my iron shaft into her belly. Lust grips me hard and hot, pummeling my brain like a hammer. I could take her on the sidewalk. I need to take her. I need to mark her with my brand so that all the Simons and Justins and Sew Be It ladies know that Reese Meadows belongs to me. She whimpers under my assault, and I swallow it, taking that small, erotic sound inside of me.
I lift her up until the crux of her sex is level with my cock. With my hands on her ass, I rub her cloth-covered pussy over and over until I swear I feel wetness seep through all the layers that separate us. Next time this happens, there won’t be anything to stop me from driving my rod into that honeyed haven. I order myself to get a grip because we’re standing outside of Gino’s in the middle of Edison. Even if I could take her on the street, I wouldn’t.
I pull my head away from hers and let her stagger back into the chair. I plant one hand on either side of the chair’s arms and lean close. “So the word I wanted with you? That word is mine. You’re mine. No more Justins. No more Simons. No more dates set up with the Sew Be It circle. You’re mine now.”
CHAPTER 10
REESE
I stare up into Blake’s handsome face and wonder if he’s lost his damn mind. I thought the man didn’t like me. I was almost positive he thought I was below him or something.
“You hear what I’m saying, babe?”
“Do I hear what you’re saying?” I repeat. “Babe?” I close my eyes and open them again to make sure I’m not dreaming or something. Maybe I’ve lost my mind, and none of this is really happening. But when I open them, Blake is still standing there.
For some reason, he’s the one with an irritated expression on his face. “I’m not one of your livestock. You can’t just grab me and put a brand on me. That’s not how this works.” I might be saying those words, but I have to admit that even though he’s a jerk, him trying to lay claim to me has my heart fluttering like a love-struck schoolgirl.
“Trust me. I’m well aware of that.” Heat rushes to my face. His very hard cock is pressed against my stomach still.
“You’re a jerk.”
“Not typically, but you seem to be drawing it out of me.” Without thinking, I lift my hand and try to smack him. He catches me by the wrist before I can make contact. “You’re going to hurt your hand more than my face.”