Her laugh could keep me enthralled for hours, but there was a nervousness to the scattered sound and the way she darted quick glances toward the street below was a clear sign of how on edge she remained.
“He can’t hurt you, Valentina. You helped make certain of that.”
The slight smile was laced with anxiety, but seconds later, she visibly relaxed. “I know; I’m just… How can people prey on innocent people? Do they not have respect for life? Do they hate their own so much they need to blame someone? People must be born with evil DNA.”
I didn’t want to tell her the man killed wasn’t innocent. He’d been involved in drug dealing for years. However, taking his life had been a heinous act.
“In some cases, I have no doubt. However, I wish I could tell you there’s a clear delineation between those who commit heinous crimes and those who would never consider it, but I think we all have a line we would cross if necessary.”
She was thoughtful, taking a sip of her wine. “I guess you’re right. I would do anything to protect my family even at the risk of my own life.”
“The major difference is that you wouldn’t seek to hurt anyone.”
“No, of course not. Neither would you.”
I cocked my head. No one had ever made me question my values or morals except for maybe a couple of professors in college. From what I knew about myself, including serving in the military, I obviously had a dark side that needed control mechanisms from time to time.
“Why don’t we talk about something else.” She leaned further forward, lifting her gaze. When her tongue darted out to moisten her soft lips, well, fuck me.
Following her lead, I did the same. Now we were close enough I could easily reach out, laying claim to what didn’t belong to me.
It was funny how I was forced to remind myself of the obvious fact more than once.
There was a stillness in the air that hadn’t been there before, the voices and the music coming from other restaurants, all the street traffic fading into nothing but a dull hum. There was only the two of us and the way she was looking at me, pensive yet inviting.
Listening to snippets about her life she offered, sharing joys and personal preferences in everything from food to movies became my only focal point.
Food was ordered and eaten, the bottle of wine consumed and time passed yet neither one of us seemed fettered by the need to leave.
When the plates were removed, I sat back, allowing the ice to clink in my glass of whiskey. She was even more magnificent than I’d believed weeks before. She’d seemed demure in court, wearing the appropriate conservative attire with her long hairpulled into a tight bun. She’d been coached into keeping makeup at a minimum and her attitude relaxed and full of confidence.
The woman sitting in front of me was entirely different. As the minutes had slipped away, I’d gathered more of a sense of careful confidence. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, but would likely never be caught boasting or rudely criticizing others. I was so used to being around legal people that this woman was refreshing.
She was also becoming an issue. My cock had remained as hard as a rock the entire time.
“This is truly a beautiful location,” Valentia said, taking a deep breath and studying the ocean’s water.
“Yes, she is.”
It took her a moment to realize what I’d said. Even in the warm, sweeping glow of the candlelight and string lights illuminating the palm trees, I noticed the immediate blush. As with her nervousness before, she chewed on her bottom lip and I suddenly wanted to be the one tasting her lip gloss.
“Are you flirting with me, Judge Armstrong?”
“What if I am?” Ordinarily, I’d say at this point for her to return to using my professional title meant she was closing the door.
Not this time.
She was merely handing over the reins of control, fueling a hunger that already knew no bounds.
“I didn’t say I minded. In fact,” she murmured and looked down at her glass while slowly rimming the edge with her index finger, “I was kind of hoping you would.”
I watched the seductive action for a few seconds.
When she lifted her heated gaze once again, there was no denying the desire brimming in them, the intense longing keeping her breathing labored.
“Then I’m glad.” With careful consideration, I reached over with my finger curled, brushing my knuckles along the underside of her jaw.
Her shiver was exactly the way I felt, a need that soon neither one of us would be able to control.
