Two Years Later Read online

  “I need you to trust me, Cat,” I whisper, pressing my cheek to her cheek, pulling back to look at her.

  “If I didn’t you wouldn’t be in this apartment right now, let alone pinning down my arms.”

  I reach down and unhook her bra, my hand caressing the material away to cup her breast; my lips finding that small space on her neck just below her ear, and I laugh, when moments ago I didn’t think I could. “I wouldn’t, would I?

  “No,” she whispers. “You wouldn’t because I think more of myself than being with a cheater, but you aren’t that Reese. You think more of us than that too, which is why you need to stop worrying about me and us.”

  “It’s why I can’t stop worrying about you and us.” I cover her mouth with mine, kissing her even as I pinch her nipples. I rotate her and drag the bra off of her shoulders and then grab my tie from the ground, sitting up on a knee and pulling her wrists together in front of me.

  “You have to test the trust, Reese,” Cat says when I wrap the silk around her and bind her hands. “It’s there,” she says. “You can do anything to me because I’m yours. You know that, right?”

  I cup her face. “Anything, Cat?”

  “Anything,” she whispers, no hesitation in her voice.

  I drag her to her back again and pull off her sweats and panties. When she’s naked, bound, and lying there, I lean over her, my fists on the couch on either side of her but I don’t touch her. “Do you know how much—”

  “Yes,” she says before I can finish. “Yes to anything you can finish that sentence with. Yes, I know how freaked out you were when you heard about Debbie. Yes, I know how angry you are. Yes, I know how worried you are about us and yes, I know you still have to do your job and it’s tormenting you right now. Should I go on?”

  I don’t know how any two people can know each other like we do. I stand up taking her with me, and again my mood shifts. I don’t want to press Cat to do more with me than she’s ever done. Not now. Now with people downstairs, and time ticking. I don’t need to make her prove her trust. That’s another mistake. It’s unfair. She’s not on trial. I untie her hands and toss away the binding. I just want to make love to my wife. I cup her face and her hands go to my hands.

  I kiss her and back her up against the glass of the floor-to-ceiling window and I turn her to face it, pressing her hands to the glass. Mine go beside hers, and together, we’re right here, above the city, in control of our world, the way we always are when we’re here in this place. My hands caress up and down her waist and gently tease her nipples. She moans, and I cup her breasts, molding them to my hands and she leans into me, lifting her face, offering me her mouth.

  I kiss her, and this time it’s one-part tenderness and one-part burning, barely-contained passion. “Don’t move yet,” I whisper, a soft command as I stroke her cheek and then release her.

  She stands there, hands on the glass, gorgeous as fuck, her skin perfect, her ass even more perfect, and that’s trust, too. Letting me look at her. Letting me stand behind her when she has no idea what comes next. I undress and I’m back to her without delay, my hand settling on her belly, my lips finding her shoulder, teeth scraping the delicate skin there. She breathes out, a trembling, delicate breath, and I brush her hair over her shoulder, my lips finding her neck, the way I plan to find every sensitive spot on her body before this night is over. Many now, before we go downstairs, back into the flames of hell. My hands drag down her shoulders and back up over her breasts.

  I go down on one knee, settling at her side, my hand on her backside, and the other on her belly. I squeeze her cheek and then slide my fingers lower, teasing her clit, while my teeth scrape her hip. She gives me one of those moans I’m after and I want more. I turn her to face me as I rotate to stand in front of her, but I don’t press my lips to that most intimate part of her. Not yet. I press my lips to her belly and when I look at up Cat, I’m almost certain I find tears in her eyes.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Reese

  The tears in Cat’s eyes undo me. Cat isn’t a crier. For her to do so now is significant and it’s because of me. I push to my feet and cup her face, stroking tears from her eyes. “God, woman, I do not want to make you cry. Ever. Any emotions that create tears is not what I ever want you to feel.”

  “I know that,” she says, her hands going to my face. “I’m not myself today. If I wasn’t in my current condition I’d handle it better.”

  “You’re sick and I’m trying to fuck you. Fuck.” I back up and take her with me, lowering her to the couch again on her back and settling at her side.

  She rolls to face me. “I want you to fuck me, Reese. I want to feel close to you right now. I need that, too, just like you.” She tangles her fingers in my hair. “So can we—”

  “You were crying, Cat.” I say. “We do not need to do this.”

  “I need it. Please ignore the tears. I’ve just never considered not being with you and—”

  I roll her to her back, settling on top of her. “You’re considering not being with me?”

  “No. No. I just had these few random thoughts that amounted to how badly you could hurt me. How badly you can hurt me.”

  “You could hurt me just as badly. That’s part of love and marriage. We could, but we won’t because we love each other. Because we’re best friends. Because there is no reality where we aren’t us and us is our reality.”

  “Kiss me, now,” she orders. “Kiss me now and—”

  My mouth closes down on hers, and I swear she breathes out and into the kiss as if it’s a relief. As if for some reason, until this kiss, she still wasn’t sure we are okay and I don’t know how to make that right. I deepen the kiss trying to let her taste how much I love her, how true every word I’ve spoken to her is, and as much as I want to kiss her all over, to take my time, I know Cat. The unknown is driving her crazy. She needs me inside her the way I need inside her and then we need to fix this, together. I cup her backside and lift her, the thick ridge of my erection pressing into the wet heat of her body, and this time, I think we both breathe into our kiss. This time, we’re connected, our bodies intimately joined, in a way we both need.

  For long seconds, our lips part and we just breathe together, a million emotions between us, before we are kissing again and this time we’re moving too, a slow sway that becomes urgent. We are touching and kissing, and every pump of my hips is a lift of hers. I can’t get deep enough or close enough. I can’t kiss her enough. I can’t get enough of Cat, but that is nothing new. I need her. I cannot lose her. I will not lose her and as if she understands, her leg hooks mine and she drags me tighter against her. I squeeze her breast and thrust hard, she pants, nails digging into my shoulders a moment before she’s spasming around me and that is all it takes. I tumble with her, shuddering into release, and it is over in a blink when I want an hour. I roll to my side and take Cat with me again.

  “I’m going to tell everyone to leave. We need us this evening. I’ll deal with the rest tomorrow.”

  “No, you’re not,” she says. “We have us. You have me. We need this dealt with and you know as well as I do, that you can’t wait for the bomb to drop. You have to grab it before it does. I’m fine. I needed this, us, this reconnect, but I’m okay now. I was really always okay. Let’s go figure out how to stop her from ruining your firm and career.”

  “Cat,” I say, my hand on her hip, fingers flexing possessively.

  “Reese,” she replies, pressing her palm to my cheek. “Let’s go deal with this together. That’s what we do. We do it together.”

  “I love you.”

  “And you don’t have to prove that just because some woman wants to blackmail you, but I love you, too.” She twists away from me and we both sit up on the edge of the couch.

  She grabs her clothes and starts dressing in her sweats and T-shirt. I walk to the closet and pull on jeans and a T-shirt, along with a pair of boots. I re-enter the bedroom to find Cat
back on the couch. I join her and sit down. “Don’t tell Dana,” she says turning to look at me. “There’s no reason to freak her out if you pay off Debbie. Dana’s life is on the line. She doesn’t need this now and it shows how selfish Debbie is that she would do this now.”

  “Try manipulative,” I say. “She chose now, with the cameras rolling, to ensure I have to protect Dana and the firm.”

  “You’re at your best under pressure,” Cat says. “Dana and Debbie won’t know that, but how much money are we talking and how can we be sure she won’t just keep asking for more?”

  “All we can do is write a tight contract and make her agree.”

  “And if she won’t?”

  “She will,” I say. “She wants money. That’s what this is about. For all we know the real father is in on this and it’s one big scam. Ruining my reputation won’t get her money. It takes away my reason for giving her money.” I stand up and take Cat with me. “Let’s go get this over with so we can get back to us.”

  She nods and we walk to the bedroom door and when I open it, I hear Cat suck in a breath. I pull her to me and kiss her. “We’ll make this fast.”

  “Everyone is going to question if it’s true. Everyone but me. I hate that.”

  “No, they’re not Cat. Everyone downstairs knows you rock my world. They know.” I kiss her. “You’ll feel it.” I take her hand and we start walking and soon we’re in the living room with Lori, Cole, Royce, and Savage waiting on us.

  Lori rushes at Cat and hugs her. “That bitch,” she says before pulling back and holding her arms. “She doesn’t know this won’t work. Everyone knows how devoted Reese is to you. Everyone.”

  “But we can’t let the firm take a hit,” Cat says. “We won’t. We have to pay her off.”

  “But then what?” Cole challenges as Lori rejoins him, standing by his side. “She gets pregnant again and says it’s mine? We can’t cave and accept this.”

  “I have a client on trial,” Reese says. “Her life and the life of every person we represent right now is on the line.”

  “We’ll take the hit and back her the fuck off,” Cole argues. “We’ll let our clients know we can’t be extorted and that’s a good thing for them.”

  I look at Royce. “What do we know?”

  “We’ve talked to her,” Royce says. “And the result wasn’t surprising. She wants money.”

  “Then give it to her,” I say. “As little as possible. Surely Cat screaming about her willingness to go public will help with that.”

  “She has a number in mind,” Royce says.

  “And the bitch is fucked in the head,” Savage says. “I say let me make her disappear. We’ll save the baby.”

  There’s a small part of me that thinks he’s serious, but of course, he’s not. “I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that,” he says.

  “That’s okay,” Savage assures me. “Cat heard me.”

  “Stop, Savage,” Cat pleads, her voice soft but crisp. “Please.”

  “How much?” I ask again.

  “One million,” Royce replies and the room fills with a combination of gasps and curses.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Cat

  One million dollars.

  In the midst of the curses and gasp, Lauren enters the room. “What just happened?” she asks, a cup of steaming coffee in her hand.

  “We all just got group fucked,” Savage replies dryly, and I’d laugh if the truth wasn’t more like Reese and I just got fucked because some woman from his past says he fucked her in the present. I fight the urge to rush out of the room. It’s an emotional response my hormones want to create in me. I need to be a grown adult and ask questions. I need to stand by my husband’s side and make decisions. He didn’t do this. I am not punishing him with my pregnancy-induced emotions.

  Reese’s hand settles low on my back. “We’re not paying her a million dollars,” he says. “Talk to us about options.”

  “You get her on tape extorting you for money and we take that to the police.”

  “I get her on tape?” Reese asks. “I don’t want to go anywhere near that woman. She’s liable to scream rape.”

  “I’ll do it,” I say. “I’ll meet her in public.”

  “No,” Lauren says. “You’re too close to this. It will hurt you. She’ll hurt you.” She looks at Reese. “And no, I do not believe you’re guilty and neither does Cat, but it will hurt her to sit with that woman. And if this woman is a stalker, her obsession with you will make her lash out at Cat.”

  “I can handle it,” I say, turning to face Reese. “I can do this. I’ll make her go away.”

  His hands come down on my shoulders. “Lauren is right. I’m not letting you do this.”

  “I’ll do it,” Lori offers. “I’m a female, an attorney, and I have a vested interest in protecting the firm.”

  Reese and Cole look at each other and I can’t tell what passes between them but I suspect Cole isn’t interested in putting his wife in danger, and I understand. I love Lori. I don’t want her in the line of fire. “No,” I say. “I don’t want you to wade into this quicksand.”

  “We’re in this,” Cole says. “It’s not a matter of us staying out of the quicksand. We’re partners and friends.” Cole looks at Royce. “Where is your head on this?”

  “I think I should do it,” Lauren suggests, before he answers. “Because I don’t have a vested interest and I’m married to a man who is surrounded by the kind of people that will put her in jail.” She steps in front of Royce now. “I can do this and you know I’m the best choice for all kinds of reasons.”

  She means my pregnancy and while part of me wants to blurt that out to the room, the other wants this problem to go away so I can just enjoy this time in our lives with my husband and keep his birthday surprise.

  Royce stares down at his wife and then looks at Reese. “She can do it. It makes sense.”

  Lauren rotates to stand by his side. “Reese? Cat?”

  Reese looks at me and I nod. “Yes. She’s a criminal attorney and it works. I think it works.”

  “When?” Lauren asks, looking at Royce. “The sooner the better. I can do it anytime tomorrow. I have to be in court at random times on Wednesday and Thursday. I’m more limited on all those days and I think we all just want this over.”

  “I’ll make a call,” Royce says, but he motions to Reese and Cole. “I need to talk to you both.”

  “You talk right here,” Reese says. “There’s nothing you can’t say in front of Cat and Lori.”

  “I need to see you both alone,” Royce repeats.

  I turn to Reese and press my hand to his chest. “I need some air. I’m going to the patio. It’s okay.”

  He cups my head and kisses me. “We’re going to make this go away.”

  “I know,” I say. “I do.” I turn away and hurry toward the hallway that leads to the second living area and the kitchen, bypassing both rooms to head to the patio where I exit and shut the door. I can’t get to the balcony rail soon enough. I grab it, holding on to my emotions with it.

  The door opens behind me and I turn to find Lauren shutting it again. “Lori wanted to check on you but I asked her to give me a minute.”

  I burst into tears, all the emotions I’ve held in to be strong for Reese overcoming me. “Oh honey,” Lauren says, rushing forward and wrapping me in her arms. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “I never cry.”

  “Or throw up,” she says, leaning back to look at me. “Welcome to pregnancy. This is a lot to deal with when your hormones are all out of whack.”

  I cry for a good two minutes before I swipe at my eyes and ease away from her, “I don’t like this part of pregnancy.”

  “It’ll get better once you get past the first few months.”

  “Months? How many months?”

  “After I get rid of Debbie for you, I’m sure it will be better.”

  “How m
any months?” I ask again.

  She purses her lips, reluctantly admitting, “I was bad for about three months which is another reason you need to tell Reese. He needs to understand why you aren’t yourself.”

  “I want to tell him on his birthday. I’ll wrap the journal and have him open it that morning. I want to do it that way. It will be special and perfect, but I need Debbie gone by then.”

  “We have three weeks. We can do it but can you wait that long to tell Reese?”

  “It’s the perfect time. He’ll be well into the trial. He’ll have a grip on what is happening. It’ll be a special birthday gift. Debbie will be gone. I love the idea of doing it then.”

  “I think it sounds special,” she says. “I’ll handle Debbie. I promise. You know he didn’t do this, right?”

  “Of course I know. I don’t doubt him. I don’t even doubt him one little bit. We’re too in love. Our sex life is amazing. We’re amazing which is why our baby will be amazing. But that’s why the way I tell him has to be amazing, and without Debbie.”

  The doors open and Reese appears, his handsome face etched in worry, his eyes dark, troubled. “I need to see my wife.”

  “Of course,” Lauren says as he steps outside.

  She’s walking past him when he says, “Thank you, Lauren.”

  “I’m with you both. Anything you need.”

  He nods and she disappears, shutting the doors behind her. Reese crosses to stand in front of me, backing me against the railing, his hands coming down on the steel, his legs caging mine. His eyes probing. “You’ve been crying.”

  “Reese—”

  “Cat. Talk to me.”

  “I had a small meltdown.”

  “You don’t meltdown. You’re afraid it’s true. I told Royce I want a DNA test no matter what it costs me.”

  “No,” I say. “No. That isn’t the problem and if you think that, then it will affect us as much as if I really distrusted you. You aren’t even thinking about your case. You have to be in court in the morning. Make everyone leave. We have to talk. You and me.”