Numbly, I nod.
“And this.” His thumb presses on my clit. “Right?”
We’re nearly in the street. Anybody could see us. He doesn’t care. I have to get out of here. Worse yet, I’m getting even more aroused. I give a quick nod.
He shakes his head. “More, Rosalie. You pushed, now you pay.”
I hate him. And kind of want him. Wouldn’t mind another orgasm, even though I’m so sore. He flicks my clit. “Fine. I’m yours,” I whisper. I’ll kill him later. Yeah. That’s a good plan.
“What’s this?” He leans in, his nose almost touching mine as he twists his fingers inside me.
“Yours,” I whisper, out of my element completely.
His gaze searches mine. “Good girl.” Whatever he sees in my eyes, which has to be a plan to kill him, makes him smile. He fixes my clothing and then swivels me back around behind him.
With that, he twists the key and the engine roars to life.
My clit lights and I suck in a breath, biting my already sore lip. It was a little swollen, and I’d managed to find a soothing cream-type of lipstick. The bites on my breasts still ache, as does my entire body. I try to convince myself that he’s just playing a game and doesn’t really consider us together. Consider me as belonging to him. I can’t go around with bite marks all the time. Or bruises. Even if they are in erotic places. “We need to talk about this.”
“We just settled everything. Stop pushing me.” If anything, he sounds bored as he opens the throttle.
When did everything get so out of my control? I wrap my arms around him and lean in, holding tight. His rain and oil scent fills my senses. I shiver.
His low chuckle echoes back on the wind.
TWENTY
Alexei
Ilike the efficiency of the court’s docket. I sit in the seat next to Rosalie as she stands and argues to have my conviction overturned with prejudice instead of the way it was—meaning they can’t try me again and I’m free for good.
She looks stunning in the navy-blue suit with light-pink shell, her hair up. It was a glorious mess when we arrived on the motorcycle, so she pinned it up smoothly, her gaze not meeting mine. I’m fine with that. She’ll accept her fate soon enough. We definitely fit.
Last night had cemented both of our fates. I’ve been with hundreds of women, maybe more, and she has permanently made me forget all of them. From now until my end, there will only be Rosalie.
I glance over at the prosecutor, who’s a young guy with blond hair. He might be pushing thirty and wears a gray Armani suit with a red power tie. I try not to pull against Garik’s shirt. The worn cotton is the nicest one he has, and it’s too small for us both. If today goes well, I will change our status. In fact, I need funds to pay the men who had agreed to be on my payroll, at great risk to their own lives.
Rosalie flips her papers. “There’s no other solution here, Judge,” she says. “The corruption of Judge Sower and the prosecuting attorney has been well-documented and well-proven. While Mr. Sokolov’s conviction has been overturned, granting him a new trial, I must argue that said order should’ve been granted with prejudice. The state must not be allowed to try him again. I’ve just given you more evidence, but you already know there’s no other option but to overturn the conviction ... with prejudice.”
The judge flips through her file folder. The prosecuting attorney already argued that I received a fair trial, and will get another one, but the judge questioned him rather harshly about the corruption.
The prosecuting attorney seems young and earnest, so I doubt he worked here seven years ago. We have no actual proof that the judge was dirty in my case, but so many payments were logged into his offshore accounts that it is impossible to tell where the money came from.
I bet Hendrix paid him plenty to rule against me the way he had on every motion or objection my lawyer had issued—not that he did much.
Judge Lahaska looks up. She’s a woman in her sixties, and her gaze lands on me. There’s no softness or kindness or even understanding in her blue eyes. Her lips are pursed and her jaw is tight. Even so, I can read her easily. She can’t stand me.
“All right.” She clears her throat. “I agree with the order overturning Mr. Sokolov’s conviction without prejudice.”
That figures.
The prosecuting attorney leaps to his feet. “In that case, the state fully intends to retry the convicted felon.”
Rosalie turns to face him, her eyes sparkling and her color high. “My client is no longer a convicted felon, so I suggest you watch your mouth, Counselor. I’ve been looking for a good slander case to take on.”
Pride filters through me and I smile, allowing her to see my amusement. Her intelligence is impressive, and I find that I like that more than I expected.
The judge taps on a keyboard. “All right, why don’t we go ahead and set this thing for a preliminary hearing. Counselors?”
