Indulging in Irene (6 page)

Zolt looked up at me with a triumphant grin on his face.

“You taste so fucking sweet, Irelyn. God, I can’t wait until you let me fuck you. Do you know how good we’re going to be?”

“Soon,” I groaned and closed my eyes. In a weak moment, I opened my mouth to tell him yes, I had changed my mind, fuck me now. His mouth and that talented tongue silenced me before I could acquiesce. Tasting myself on his lips was fucking hot.

Zolt pulled back and cupped my face. “I won’t push this, Irelyn. I’ll wait for you to take care of whatever it is that’s keeping you from me. Please, make it soon. I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want you.”

“I’ll try,” I whispered. And I would. I had to find a way to get Marcus out of my life.

“What you did for me this morning…” he closed his eyes and exhaled. “It meant everything to me.”

“I just wanted to help you the way I didn’t before.”

“Oh, baby,” he said and stroked my face. “You did. More than you know. But if you don’t get that hot ass out of my bed, I am going to fuck you.”

I laughed a little and nodded. “Message received.”

After a few more kisses, I left Zolt’s bed, leaving my panties behind. I didn’t want him to forget me, after all.

I took a few steps toward the door, and then turned around. “Zolt, you should know Daddy’s testing you. The Aspen Holdings/Black Swan file settled two days ago for 3.5 million. The papers haven't been signed yet, but still I don’t know why he’s doing this. He has his reasons, I’m sure.”

Zolt sat up in bed and gave me a discerning look. “Okay. Thanks for the heads up.”

“I think he may have been testing me too, but whatever. Anyway, when you log on to the system, you won’t see any settlement docs because he had me put them in a password protected file. Here’s the thing. I worked briefly on this case last year but didn't get very far. When I asked Bennett, the attorney assigned to the case, if he'd researched the property law governing the transaction, he got really pissy with me and took the case back. He made me feel like an idiot for even asking. I thought about telling Daddy, but I didn't want to come off as the dumb blonde whose Daddy lets her come and play paralegal. I haven't given it another thought since.”

Zolt got out of bed and came over to me. Gloriously naked, he kissed me soundly. “You, Irelyn Wilkes, are not a dumb blonde. A fucking hot blonde? A blonde I hope to fuck soon? Abso-fucking-lutely. Dumb? No. Bennett’s an idiot for treating you that way. Perhaps it’s Bennett he’s testing. Thanks for telling me.”

I smiled at him and kissed him softly on the mouth. “I better go home. I’ll leave my number on the table in the guest room if you need to call me. Later, I’ll email you the settlement file so you can see what was agreed on. Oh, by the way, I’m keeping the shirt.”

I heard him laugh as I walked away.

As I drove home with a huge smile on my face, I couldn’t help but think about the man I’d just left. Something about him told me Zolt didn’t let people into his life often. He had extended an invitation, and I needed to find a way to accept it. The only way to do that was to get as far from Marcus as possible.

After Irelyn left, I smoked a few bowls and laid on my bed, thinking about what had happened. I’d had a lot of blow jobs in my life. Some good, some bad, but fuck me, nothing like what she’d given me. My dick hardened just thinking about her lips on me.

More than the blow job was the look in her eyes. Irelyn’s purpose had been to comfort me, take away the pain that woke me every morning. The expression on her face killed me. I have people in my life who care for me, but besides my mother, none of them were women. My relationships with the opposite sex haven’t been great. There was no point of getting to know someone when your only goal is to screw their brains out, and then send them away.

Irelyn was different. Damn it to hell, but I actually wanted to know her beyond sex. Feeling this way would probably end up causing me grief. She had a secret, one that kept her from giving herself to me completely. But the way she’d kissed me, and the way her body responded to me as if it hadn’t been touched in months told me all I needed to know. If she had a boyfriend, I’d be surprised. Any man that left a woman like her unsatisfied deserved to be shot in the head.

I wanted Irelyn Wilkes. In this moment, I would give almost anything to have her. I couldn’t let our connection slip through my hands, and I wouldn’t let her fade from my life without a fight.

That thought alone told me I needed to have my head examined. Good thing Brody was a psychologist. He was going to have a field day with this one.

Since I couldn’t lie in bed all day, I got up, swam some laps, and lifted some weights. After eating breakfast, I set to work on the Aspen Holdings/Black Swan file. When I looked up again, it was the middle of the night and my leg ached like a motherfucker.

The next morning, I was up early, pouring over my research. Irelyn had been right. Bennett had completely skirted certain property law restrictions. Sure, the transaction had been very complicated from a property law standpoint. But from what I could determine, it was possible that Aspen Holdings's complaints against Black Swan could make a great test case, one that could potentially cost Xot International—Black Swan’s parent company—millions if the courts found in favor of our client. The bigger issue, however was the possible conflict of interest between Xot and Black Swan since we were attorneys of record for both. All of this could potentially open the firm to a malpractice complaint from Aspen Holdings.

I sat back in my chair at my desk and rubbed the back of my neck. It didn’t make any sense. Though it had taken some digging, any attorney with a brain would have followed the same logical trail I did. Once I discovered that Black Swan was a subsidiary of Xot International, it all became fairly straightforward. I had to wonder what the hell Bennett was up to.

A few hours later, I picked up my phone and stared at Irelyn’s number. I wanted to hear her voice, but I didn’t want to wake her. So, I settled on a text instead.

Me: Hi, Irelyn. I hope I’m not waking you.

Irelyn: Nope. I’m awake. How are you?

Me: Good. You?

Irelyn: Not bad. Did you sleep well?

Me: I always sleep well, it’s the waking up that’s the kick in the face.

Irelyn: :(

Me: You were dead on about the Black Swan file.

Irelyn: Really?

Me: Yep. Possibly to the tune of millions.

Irelyn: Whoa!

Me: Our clients will be very happy. I wonder why Bennett didn’t follow the trail to Black Swan’s parent corporation, Xot International?

Irelyn: Xot International? Hold on, Zolt, I’m calling you.

With my eyes narrowed, I stared at the phone, waiting for it to ring. When it did, I answered it on the first ring. “Hi, Irelyn. What’s up?”

“Hi, Zolt. Xot International is Marcus Xavier’s corporation,” she said, and I thought I heard a tiny quaver in her voice.

“Okay. Who’s Marcus Xavier?”

Irelyn said nothing for a minute, and I looked at the display to make sure the call was still connected. “Irelyn?”

She released a long sigh. “Marcus is my boyfriend.”

“Oh,” I said as my heart dropped into my stomach.

Stupid idiot! Of course, she had a boyfriend.

“I’m sorry, Zolt. I really am.”

“Boyfriend. How long?” I knew I didn’t have the right to ask, and yet, I felt as though I’d been punched in the stomach. Now it all made sense.

Fuck!

“Uh, about nine months. I kind of inherited him.” She snorted derisively.

“I’m sorry, Irelyn, how do you inherit a boyfriend?”

“Marcus was Chris’s best friend. And I…” Her voice trailed off, and I held my breath waiting for her to tell me she was in love with him, or that they were engaged.

“You what, Irelyn?” I shifted in my chair and rubbed my shin. It was stupid that my leg suddenly ached. Not like she’d kicked it or anything. Or maybe she had. “Do you love him?”

“No! I don’t love him. Hell, I don’t even like him.”

Thank God,
I mouthed to the heavens.

“The problem is…” She paused again, and I heard her draw in a breath.

“What’s the problem, Irelyn? Yesterday, you said you felt stuck. Why is that?” I heard my voice come out much more forcefully than I’d intended, but I had a sick feeling about this.

“It’s just that he and Daddy, well, they have a very close relationship since Chris died. And I-I…” This time when she paused I heard her sniffle.

Fuck!
She was crying, and my sixth sense clicked into high alert.

“Tell me, Irelyn. You’re scared of him, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I mean, he’s never hurt me. It’s just that, I have a feeling he might.”

“Are you sleeping with him?” I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth. Again, I had no right to ask this. No right at all, but I had to know.

“No. Not for the last three weeks. He’s been in Europe, but he will be home tomorrow. Marcus will expect me to, but the thought makes me sick. I can’t.”

She paused and drew in a shaky breath.

“It’s never been good, ever. He is my first and my only lover. I did it because we were both grieving. I knew that night it was a mistake. I wanted to break it off then, but he clung to me. Then, he and Daddy grew closer. I kept waiting for the right time.” She sniffled again, and I heard her blow her nose.

“It’s never been the right time,” I added, somehow finding my voice. Whoever this Marcus Xavier was, I wanted to kick his ass.

“Zolt, I want out. I want to be with you. Saying no to you was so hard. If this scares you away, I’ll understand. But I feel a connection with you, a crazy, strong one. Maybe it’s because I was there that day. Or maybe it’s because I’ve thought about you for six years, wondering and hoping you were well. God, this sounds insane.”

“No, it doesn’t,” I admitted. “I feel it too.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. I do. I’d convinced myself you didn’t exist. That my pain-filled brain had conjured you to get me through the most horrible day of my life. You’ve been with me for six years, too. I’ve held on to the memory of your face and the way you looked at me that day.”

“Oh, Zolt. This is crazy, right?”

“Yeah, it is.” I gripped the chair’s arm at the thought of Irelyn being with anyone else. “You hate having sex with him, don’t you?”

She started laughing. “Zolt, you’re the only man who’s ever made me come.”

I had to smile at that. My instincts about her had been spot on. “I am?”

“Yeah. Marcus doesn’t love me. I don’t even think he’s attracted to me. I’m his possession. We don’t kiss, and there’s absolutely no passion. It takes him less than five minutes every time, and it’s always in the dark. I’m not even sure it’s me he’s having sex with. He uses a condom each time, though I’m on birth control. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s fucking someone else. And really, I don’t care.”

I snorted. “Well, that verged on TMI.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Though, seriously, I really didn’t need to hear about their sex life.

“The problem is I think Daddy wants me to marry him. I’m a trophy that Marcus wants. I know if Chris were alive, he wouldn’t want this. I’ve never understood why he and Marcus were friends to begin with. They were opposites. Sometimes, I think Marcus hated him. I don’t know. All I know is I want out. I want to tell Marcus to go away. Especially now, since you. But I’m afraid of what he’ll do. It won’t be pretty, and he won’t just let me walk. This last nine months has been hard with Chris’s death and the investigation. If I’d been in my right head, this would’ve never happened.”

“What about the investigation?” I asked, my sixth sense tingling again.

“Oh, I don’t know. I just feel as if Chris’s death wasn’t the robbery gone bad the police have deemed it. I mean, it doesn’t make sense. Chris was at our grandpa’s ranch miles from town. Why would someone go out there to rob it? Most people don’t know it exists. I feel certain there’s more to this, but I can’t prove it. The attack was brutal, personal. Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with us.”

“Irelyn, I don’t mind. But I need you to understand something.” This time I paused and inhaled, then exhaled.

“Maybe over the phone isn’t the best way to have this conversation, but here it goes. Since the injury, I’ve led a solitary life because I’m fucked up. I’m in pain most of the day due to permanent nerve damage in my leg. I smoke pot every day, and sometimes, I’m not fit to be around. You saw how I wake. I haven’t had a relationship with a woman for all those reasons. I despise being pitied, and usually, women seem to gravitate to that response. When I need to get laid, I pick a woman up at a bar, I fuck her in an apartment I keep for that purpose, and then I shove her out the door. That’s how I roll. I never fuck the same one twice.”

“Oh,” Irelyn said, and I could hear the disappointment in her voice.

“Here’s the thing, Irelyn, you’re different. You’re the only woman besides my housekeeper, Hannah, and my decorator that has ever been in my house. I want more than just a quick fuck with you. I’m willing to let you in my life because I feel as if you understand. When I look in your eyes, I don’t see pity. And I don’t have to explain to you what happened. You were there. On that fucked up day, we forged a connection. I want to see where that will take us.”

“So-so do I.” I heard her voice crack, and I knew she was crying again.

“I need to be very clear about one thing. I will not share you. Not with Marcus. Not with anyone. I want to know that when I let you into my bed, and into my life, that you’re going to be one-hundred percent mine.” I let out a long exhale as I waited for her to respond.

“I want that, too,” she answered after an excruciatingly long pause. “I’m afraid.”

“Oh, Irelyn, I hate that you’re scared. I wish you were here so I could hold you.”

“I’m glad I’m not. Not big on crying in front of people,” she sniffed.

“I won’t relent on this,” I said, making sure to keep my voice strong. “I understand that it’s beyond complicated because of your father. I’m willing to hide our relationship for a while if we have to because of that aspect. But I will not be the man you sneak around with on the side. If you want this, tell Marcus. I’m here for you. I have friends, Irelyn. I’m not afraid of Marcus, and I’m not afraid of losing my job either. I have enough money to last me for the rest of my life and yours if need be.”

“Zolt—”

“Just think about it. I’ll wait. You and I both know there’s something amazing happening between us. I’m willing to risk it all for you. I also realize how insane this sounds since we’ve just met. Again. None of this comes easy for me, and I don’t do this lightly.”

“Zolt, I don’t know what to say. More than anything, I want to see where this will go.” She laughed. “To see if we can even stand being around each other. You understand, Marcus notwithstanding, Daddy can destroy your law career. I’m not sure what will happen when I break it off with Marcus.”

The fact that she said
when
and not
if
made me hope Irelyn might actually follow through. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew there was a good chance Marcus may have a tighter hold on her than she’d be capable of breaking.

“Think on it, Irelyn. Decide what you want. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I want you, Zolt. I do.”

“I’m here, Irelyn. You don’t have to do this alone, but you do have to do it. We can’t be together until you do.”

“All right,” she said quietly.

“I’m going to go. I need to finish writing the memo for your father.”

“Okay. Bye, Zolt.”

“Bye, Irelyn.”

I disconnected the phone and threw it on the desk. That conversation was the last thing I’d expected.

Boyfriend! Fuck. Just fuck.

A boyfriend who scared her. Marcus Xavier was bad news. I could feel it in my bones. I picked up my phone and scrolled through the contacts until I came to T-bone Stanley’s number.

“This is Rick,” a deep, extremely intimidating voice answered.

“T-bone, it’s Zolt.”

“Zolt Hamil. What the fuck, dude? How the hell are you? How’s that bum leg of yours?”

I smiled. T-bone was one of the few people who knew the ins and outs of football and what the game could do. He’d been on my offensive line with the Cardinals. The day of my injury, he went Berserker on the linebacker, Joe Franklin, who had taken out my leg. He was the only one that I still stayed in contact with. Well, sometimes.