My head snaps up. “Why?”
“I can’t prove anything,” Richard says, “but it suggests familiarity, possibly influence.”
I nod once. “Leave that with me,” I say. “You focus on the asset transfer.”
He stands, gathering his things. “Ray . . . don’t do anything reckless. We can’t afford mistakes right now.”
I don’t bother to answer because I can’t make that promise.
I wait until he’s gone, then I look at Dale. “Get me everything you can on that judge,” I say quietly. “I want leverage.”
Dale’s mouth curves slightly. “And Malone?”
I pick up the photograph and finally look at Luke’s wife. She looks as stupid as she sounds. I drop it back on the desk.
“We slow him down first,” I say, “then we deal with him.”
By the time I get home, the apartment is in darkness. I pop my head around Anika’s door and see she’s sleeping. I go to my own room to shower before climbing into Wynter’s bed. I’ve barely seen her these last few days, and despite my raging erection, I just need to feel her against me, so I wrap her in my arms and breathe in her sweet smell. My eyes drift closed as I welcome the calmness she brings me.
For the first time in months, I sleep soundly, not waking until Wynter stirs beside me, stretching out and untangling herself from me. I groan, pulling her back into place.
“It’s six o’clock.” She giggles, and my erection prods at her entrance. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Isn’t it your day off?” I mumble, refusing to open my eyes just yet.
“Yes, but I have to go to the gym. I promised Holly and Joel.”
My eyes shoot open at the mention of another man’s name. “Joel?”
“And Holly,” she says, laughing.
“But Joel?” Joel, who’s the same fucking age as her and gets a woman into bed by just winking. Joel, who she tells me makes the best hot chocolate in the world.
Not a fucking chance.
I ease into her, and she gasps. “Ray, I have to get ready.”
I kiss her neck, wrapping my arms around her waist tightly and thrusting up into her. “I can give you a workout here.”
“You work muscles I didn’t know I had, partly why I want to start working out at the gym.” She moans, and I feel her tremble against me.
“Then we’ll work out together.”
“I thought you wanted me to make friends,” she says, laughing.
I roll her onto her front, staying with her. I make sure my weight is supported on my elbows as I fuck her hard. She balls the pillow in her fists, making small mewling noises.
Jealousy is at the forefront as I slam into her. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.
“That was before you had me,” I whisper in her ear. “And I own this body, so it’s up to me to get it into shape.”
“Own?” she repeats, adding a frustrated growl when I slow my thrusts.
“Who else fucks you like this, Wynter?” I ask, taking a handful of her hair and tipping her head back so I can nip at her jaw. “Who else gets you coming as hard as I do?”
I thrust forward hard, moving her up the bed and taking her by surprise. “I need an answer, Wynter.”
“No one,” she whispers, crying out as another thrust takes her closer.
