Liability (Alfha Law Firm 2)

“We’ll be in touch in a few days,” Officer Murphy says, handing me his card before I close the door behind him.

Turning, I come face-to-face with my beautiful girl, who once again has tears in her eyes that are dripping down her cheeks and onto my shirt.

Seeing her standing there, looking vulnerable, makes something within me twist and a pain to hit my chest. I’ve never cared when a woman has cried before, but I can’t stand to see Fern with tears in her eyes.

Closing the distance between us, I pick her up in my arms and carry her back to the bedroom, following her down onto the bed, where I kiss away each tear as they fall.

Chapter 5

Carter

“I’ll get that, baby. You go get changed,” I tell Fern, kissing her forehead, watching her eyes close as she nods before walking to the bedroom in her simple black dress, carrying her shoes in her hand.

Picking up the concierge phone in the kitchen, I tell them to send up our guest. Today, we went to Mr. McCauley’s funeral. I knew before leaving the house this morning that it was going to be difficult for Fern to be there, but after seeing the way her grandmother snubbed her nose at my girl, I had to pray for patience to make it through the service. Especially when Fern got up to say her goodbyes and her grandmother rolled her eyes. I admit I didn’t know much about Mr. McCauley, but I’m starting to understand not everything was as it appeared to be on the outside.

Once the service was over, we were approached by the family attorney, Mr. Ramos, who is well known in the city for estate planning. He explained he needed to have a sit-down with Fern, regarding her grandfather’s will. Fern didn’t want to wait, and neither did I, so I asked him to meet us here.

Loosening my tie, I pour myself a finger of scotch as I wait near the door. This is the last thing on Earth I’d like to be doing right now; what I want to do is go into the bedroom, strip my beautiful girl down, and make love to her. Having her in my arms the last three nights, holding her while she sleeps, and waking up to her scent surrounding me has been a test of my willpower. I know she’s grieving the loss of her granddad, but I don’t know how much longer I can wait to have her.

Opening the door for the lawyer when he knocks, I’m surprised and a little pissed to see Fern’s grandmother standing next to him.

“Come in and have a seat,” I say, leading them to the living room then moving to the bedroom door, catching a glimpse of Fern’s flat stomach as she pulls her shirt down when I step into the room.

“Your grandmother decided to show up as well,” I tell her, watching as her teeth clench tight. I hate that look on her, and I’m determined to replace it with something else.

Closing the door behind me, I take the two steps separating us, wrapping her in my arms and covering her mouth with mine. Her gasp of surprise allows me to slide my tongue into her mouth while I heft her up into my arms until her legs wrap around my hips.

“I need to be in you,” I groan, pressing her into the wall of windows. “I need to know what it feels like when your hot little cunt grabs hold of my cock,” I growl, hearing her whimper as I lift her higher then lazily move my hands under her shirt to cup her breasts. “I can’t wait to see these full of milk after I fill you with my cum.” I kiss her again while pulling her nipples between my fingers.

Pulling my mouth from hers, I look down between us, where my erection is testing the limits of my pants and I can feel the heat coming off her core.

Lifting my gaze to hers, I press her back into the windows and move her hair out of her face while pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Tonight, I’m taking what’s mine, Fern,” I say, watching her eyes slide half closed. “Tonight, you’re giving yourself to me. Right, beautiful?”

“Yes, Carter,” she agrees, which earns her another kiss.

“Now, let’s go see what the Wicked Witch of the East Village wants,” I say, making her smile and shake her head.

Taking her hand, I lead her to the door then stop when her hand in mine tightens.

“What’s up, baby?” I ask, watching as she comes to stand in front of me.

“I just... Thank you for everything,” she says, leaning up on her tiptoes, barely reaching the underside of my jaw, where she places a gentle kiss, which causes another pain to hit my chest.

“Anything for you, Fern,” I tell her, watching tears fill her eyes. She leans up once more on her tiptoes, and this time I meet her halfway, giving her a soft kiss before swinging the door open and leading her out of the bedroom.

“It took you long enough,” her grandmother huffs as we walk into the living room.

“If we could get this over with, we have plans for the rest of the day,” I state, taking a seat and pulling Fern down next to me, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

“Fern, as I said before, I’m very sorry about the loss of Bill. He was one of my dearest friends, and I know he loved you greatly,” Mr. Ramos says as Fern’s grandmother scoffs.

“He babied her.”

Swinging my head to look at her, I growl, “This is my home. If you disrespect my woman again, I’m going to ask you to leave.”

“Do you see the way he talks to me?” She waves her hand in my direction while looking at Mr. Ramos.

“Karen, let’s just move along so we can all carry on with our day.”

“Fine,” she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest, glaring at me then Fern.

By the time Mr. Ramos has gone over the first page of the will, I know half the money is going to end up being donated, because one of the first stipulations is about her not getting married until after her twenty-first birthday, which doesn’t work for me. I want...no, I need her to have my last name. Another is her not having a child until after the age of twenty-five, and seeing how I plan on having her pregnant as soon as humanly possible, I know she may as well kiss this money goodbye. Not that she will need any of it; I have plenty. She will never want for anything.