“But you won’t know that until you take the leap. Now stop being a scaredy-cat and show him what kind of panther on the prowl you are.”
I shook my head. “I’m not a cat.”
“Then prove to me you’re not a pussy, Ainsley. Man up and pounce him hard!”
“You’re relentless!”
“And you love me! Come on, I’m off the rest of the day. Let’s go shopping and find you something sexy to wear into the office tomorrow.”
With a sigh, I nodded in agreement. I did enjoy shopping, and hanging with my sister always put me in a better mood.
Tomorrow would be here soon enough. And if Everly had her way, she’d dress me up in something way too sexy for the office…and a part of me wanted her to do just that.
Chapter Eight
Chase
The very next day after we won the case for Lance Vanderbilt, our PR firm was already hard at work at clearing his name. Some firms frowned upon us, as we represented defendants, but if the person was innocent, I considered it an honorable challenge to prove it.
I lived for the adrenaline that pumped through my veins when I heard “not guilty.”
I haven’t lost a case yet, but I also didn’t represent people who weren’t innocent. And what many failed to realize was that I had resources at my disposal to help victims of crimes. I might not have represented them, but I also didn’t want to see them suffer.
Ainsley hadn’t been to the office—that I could see anyway—since I won the case. I wasn’t sure if she was avoiding me or if she was following up on other things. I hoped it was the latter. I wanted to see her, talk to her, devour every inch of her.
I crossed my office to pour another cup of coffee, when I heard the front door open.
“Good morning, Ainsley,” Amy, our receptionist, called.
“Good morning. How are you?” Ainsley returned.
“Fine, and you?”
“I’m good, thank you.”
“Hey, new outfit?” I heard Amy ask.
“Yes, thanks for noticing. It’s not too much, though?”
Now curious, I peeked out my door and could only see Amy’s backside.
“Not at all. It’s beautiful. I wish I were bold enough to wear red like that. You look stunning!”
“Well, thank you, then.” Ainsley’s heels struck the tile as she made her way down the hallway. I leaned against the counter next to my coffeemaker and sipped my liquid gold, and I almost choked on the hot substance when she passed by.
Ainsley had on candy-apple red pants, a black satin top, and a matching red dress jacket. She wore black and red heels that complemented the outfit and carried a black purse. Her hair was pulled to the nape of her neck in a twisted bun with red and black pearl pins holding it in place. She looked like she’d just stepped off a runway.
She glanced over to me through the entryway, and it was as if time slowed. Her red lips pulled into a smile as she passed and continued down the hall.
Instantly I grew hard. What the hell was this woman doing to me? How did I not notice her, her body, her tits, her ass, her lips, her legs…her…before now? Once she was out of sight, I reached down with my free hand and adjusted my growing erection.
Last night, I’d opened a bottle of Scotch and had a few drinks while I reread her letter…again. I’d imagined she was there with me, stroking my cock as she sat on her knees. It wasn’t often I masturbated to thoughts of a woman, but last night I had. Once at my desk and again in the shower.
In the shower, I would have pressed her hands to the tile and pulled her hair back while I took her from behind. Her perfect ass slapping against my pelvis while we fucked with hot water streaming over our bodies.
“Mr. Newstrom?”
Speak of the devil as her voice filled the silence of my office. I looked up to Ainsley standing in my doorway with her red and black outfit. I smiled, and it took every ounce of power I had to hold her gaze. I wanted to run the length of her body with my eyes, imagine her naked, legs around my face and then my waist.
“Yes?” I asked through a crack in my voice. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Yes, Ainsley?”
“All the documentation has been completed and turned into the court.”
“Very good.”
“Will there be anything else I can do for you today?”
Whoa…
Yes, there’s so much you can do. Come drop to your knees and let me fuck your mouth. Then lie on my desk so I can fuck you the way you need to be fucked.
“No, that will be all for now.”
She nodded and began to turn away.
“Ainsley?”
She lifted her brows and looked at me. “Yes?”
“You did really well on this case. You’re going to make an amazing attorney.”
She smiled, and it was genuine. “Thank you, sir.”
“Please, call me Chase?”
She nodded and crossed her hands in front of her body. “Thank you, Chase.”
Hearing my name on her lips caused my dick to twitch again.
Down boy.
“Can I ask you a question?” I started.
She nodded again. “Of course.”
“Step into my office first.”
Ainsley hesitated for a moment and then stepped inside.
I moved around her and closed the door behind her. She met my gaze. She absolutely took my breath away.
“Since we won this case,” I started and put some space between us, “I’d like to take you for a celebratory drink.”
Her face flushed, and she looked to the floor. She crossed her arms over her body and hugged herself. Ainsley bit her lip and then met my gaze.
She was so beautiful. There was a beauty about her I don’t think she realized she had. Still, I could kick myself for not seeing it before now. I took a hesitant step toward her, and Ainsley blinked and slightly backstepped.
“A drink?” she asked.
I nodded and took another step closer. “The Vanderbilts won, and we should celebrate.” Although I rarely did this for other cases, this one was different. And this wasn’t about the case but about getting Ainsley out from the office in a more private setting.
“Is that such a good idea?” she asked in a small, soft voice, her eyes never leaving mine. Fear did not appear in her eyes, but longing…maybe desperation…did. She raised her brows and parted her lips. I could see the crest of her teeth, and then her tongue quickly darted out and licked her upper lip.
“I’d like to think so,” I offered. As much as I wanted to press her to the wall and kiss her, I decided to keep some space between us. It was better for her since we were still in my office. The last thing I ever wanted was to ruin Ainsley’s reputation before her career even started or for her to feel pressured into anything with me.
I could smell her floral perfume, so light yet so intoxicating. It had become something I wanted to smell every day.
“Chase,” she whispered. “About the letter—”
“Don’t,” I cut her off. “I want to thank you for what you did.” Double entendre—thank her for her help on the case and thank her for opening my eyes to seeing her for the first time. There was also a hint of rejection. I could see it, feel it. I didn’t handle it well, but with Ainsley, I could be a patient man.