I shook my head to the tune of a long sigh from him. “It is my house. I’ve lived there my whole life, but if it makes you feel better, I was already planning to look for my own apartment or something.”
He gnawed nervously on the corner of his mouth.
I didn’t like the way he went stiff under my hands. “What?” I whispered, not feeling brave enough to be louder.
“Uh... I’m not sure I’m ready for that, to move in with you permanently. I’m sorry.”
Nodding, I swallowed hard. I hated this. I was so excited to be around him every second I could and wanted to order him to do it and be done with it all. What was the right choice here? “What are you ready for?”
Seconds ticked by and turned into minutes, and finally he took a deep breath that startled me and smiled. “Being yours, Sir. Other than job-hunting I can focus on you. I don’t know much about the... type of life you have in mind.”
Moaning, I kissed him. “You want to learn how to be mine all the time? My Rookie? My sub?”
He nodded and gave me a shy smile that made my heart flip.
“But you don’t want to move in with me yet?”
He glanced down to stare at my chest, and I brushed my thumb along his cheek. “If things go well for a bit, sure. But... I don’t want to trap you with someone who doesn’t even have a job right now,” he mumbled, and that had me feeling better.
“You’re not saying to wait because you’re worried about me fucking you over?”
“What?” His mouth fell open and he hugged me tight. “No. I’m worriedforyou, not so much about you.”
“That is sweet,” I whispered in his ear. “Don’t.”
He leaned back, and this more irritated and slightly resigned expression was familiar and had me chuckling. “Yes, Sir.”
Glancing around at the room, I sighed. “Let me text Jury. He can help us move all these boxes. Maybe he can even get Bryce to help.” I grinned and tugged my phone out of my pocket to send him a quick text.
“The librarian?” he asked, eyebrows furrowed. He was so confused and cute, all I could do was laugh. “You do realize he might’ve been the first one to see the video that got me fired?” He didn’t sound upset so much as amused, and my brain shut down. I licked my lips and stepped back to look down his body. His thick, spent cock hung between his thighs, and I wanted to suck him until he was hard. The man was beautiful.
“Do you think we could demand this video?”
He stared into my eyes.
I looked right back.
He snorted and laughed, cheeks going pink as he stood from the desk. I slid my phone into my pocket and bent to help him with his underwear and pants, and that blush stayed on his face while I tucked him away and zipped him up. He took over and buckled his borrowed belt, and I was still very satisfied to see the leather that belonged to me wrapped around his body.
“Sir, would you like me to ask?” His eyes twinkled. “There’s a chance they might provide the recording if I ask for it as proof of misconduct.”
“No, don’t do that just because I’m a horny asshole,” I muttered, but he grinned and winked and part of me hoped he did. I wasn’t stupid enough to think the next few weeks would be easy with him at the house and my papa and dad in our business, but I didn’t care. I wanted him around, and while I felt guilty as hell, him staying with me would give me plenty of opportunities to make this right.
Somehow.
13
FLYNN
I’d neededJudge and he’d given me what I’d desired. While he’d questioned me out of concern, he’d made me feel whole. He’d fucked me until I could still feel him in me hours later, on the way to River’s office. We’d gone to Judge’s home on Vert Island, which was empty, and showered and had a snack before getting back into the car. I’d told him I needed to talk to River, and he’d offered to drive me there because my car was still out of commission.
The ride to the edge of the city was quiet, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the peaceful music that whispered from the speakers. We didn’t have far to go since River had moved his office to the outskirts in northwest New Gothenburg, closer to Vert Island. He’d needed to expand his work space after taking on a ton of new cases, and in turn, a couple of new lawyers. I’d never been prouder of my friend. I’d always secretly worried River was too much of a perfectionist to trust people enough to run a real firm. Did getting into a relationship change him?
Judge had his fingers entwined with mine on the console between our seats, his thumb caressing my hand as he drove. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this lingering sense of tranquility that reached into my soul. It was as though teaching was a heavy weight on my chest I hadn’t recognized was there until it was finally gone.
“Want to talk about it?” Judge whispered.
I smiled and opened my eyes, glancing at him. He was handsome this way, hair windswept and cheeks with the permanent flush I’d come to adore. I’d never met anyone who had cheeks like his, except his twin, of course, and I loved it. “That job was stifling.”
