Page 119 of Resist

Vaughn’s body jolts to awareness from where she’s half-asleep on the couch. She snuggles in deeper where she’s lying between my thighs, head turned to watch some god-awful black-and-white classic movie on the television.

I don’t think I’ve ever lain on a couch with a woman in my life when I wasn’t fucking her. The thought creeps into my mind, and sadly, I’m okay with this. Perfectly fine, actually, because this woman can wear a man out.

Not that I wouldn’t try again if she asked.

But this is nice. Just . . . being together.

Jesus, Lockhart. You sound like a sap.

“Proud? Of what?” she asks.

“I took on a wife for the first time last week.” That sounds ridiculously stupid, but she’ll understand what I mean.

“That sounds kind of interesting,” she says through a laugh.

“A woman client, Vaughn. Client.” I tap a hand on her ass. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“You did?” She twists up and looks at me, surprise on her face and a smile on her lips.

And that smile. Fuck if it doesn’t do shit to my insides.

“I did.”

“What made you change your MO?”

You.

The answer stutters on my tongue as I realize it’s true. Something about Vaughn has given me more respect for women, for some of the bullshit they have to endure.

“Because I wanted to,” I murmur and then lean over and press a kiss to the top of her head.

“But why?”

“Because I’m working on being less of an asshole.”

“Lucky me,” she says and tickles her fingers against my side so that I squirm and hold her tighter.

“Lucky you.” I tickle her right back for a second only to get her to snuggle tighter on me. Doesn’t she realize that maybe she’s the reason I’m working on it?

And just as we settle back down, my eyes on the curve of her ass, she mutters, “Talk about assholes.”

“What do you—oh . . .” My words trail off as I see that when we moved, we inadvertently changed the channel to some news network. Senator Carter Preston is on the screen as the newscaster drones on about Carter’s nay vote on a Senate bill and the long-lasting repercussions of it.

Your ears burning, Senator?

Prick.

“What is it with you and him anyway?” I ask, even though I’m pretty damn sure Vaughn’s not going to say a word.

“He’s the reason you and I met,” she says softly, catching me completely off guard.

“Wait. What? I’m not following . . .”

Did she just let me in even more?

Vaughn shifts up onto her elbow to meet my gaze again, caution owning her eyes. “Lola.”

“Lola?”