Her Diamond in the Rough Read online

  Praying the cameras wouldn’t catch her, or him, or his arousal, she followed him grudgingly. Just for now, until they were out of camera shot. Imagine being the watchman on staff? She and Jack were quite an odd pair—sexy-as-hell Jack with his badass biker attitude, who wouldn’t know caution if it hit him between the eyes. And uptight Kate, with her buttoned-down, logic-driven, perfectly controlled existence—until Jack came into her world, along with the trial that brought them together, and threw her life into total chaos.

  With a good dose of sexual abandon thrown in.

  Was it her fault he was so damn irresistible? Or that he did unspeakably erotic things to her in bed?

  “Jack, we can’t.”

  “Can’t what?” With a falsely innocent expression, he coaxed her down the deserted hall, leading her toward a smoky-glass-paneled door that read: Ladies Lounge .

  “I can’t strip you naked…” he undid the third button of her top, “and bury my face between your breasts…” then he tugged at the side zipper of her skirt, “and lick your pussy until you forget what the word stress means?”

  As the back of his hand slid against the rise of her breast hovering over her bra, she groaned. “Exactly.”

  “You’re wrong, Kate.” He seized her breast firmly. “I’m going to prove it to you.” With his other hand he opened the bathroom door to reveal an elegantly furnished, old-fashioned powder room. He dragged her inside. “Right here. Right now.”

  The door closed. He locked them in.

  Kate’s lips parted in protest. “Jack—!”

  The stony determination on his features shut down her argument. Along with the forceful command that followed. “Take off your clothes.”

  Chapter 2

  Excitement and trepidation shivered through Kate. She let out a nervous laugh as he backed her into the restroom, past the carpeted lounge and onto the black and white tile. “Jack, you can’t be serious.”

  The command in his tone didn’t lessen as he prowled toward her. “Do I sound like I’m kidding?”

  Continuing to stalk her across the tiles, he plucked his sunglasses from the collar of his t-shirt. He flung them onto the porcelain bank of sinks to his left. Each booted step echoed in the space. He shrugged out of his leather jacket, throwing to the floor.

  Kate caught a glimpse of herself in a rectangular mirror above one of the sinks. Her cheeks were bright pink, her hair loosening from her up-do, her lips parted around rapid breaths. She looked like a woman begging to be ravished.

  Yes, take me now! her mind pleaded. “I don’t have time for this,” she insisted.

  “You’ll make time.”

  Kate blinked. His intense pursuit was an aphrodisiac. She hadn’t experienced his domination in three weeks. Her body cried out for him, begging for release. Heat swirled through her, settling in a steady throb of anticipation between her thighs.

  Before Jack, she’d been respectfully approached for dates by powerful men of political standing in her field. Or by tentative guys intimidated by her high-powered career and I’ve-got-it-all-together impression.

  Not Jack.

  He wasn’t impressed by any of it. She’d missed—no, craved—his indifference. He treated her as an equal, not a trophy or arm candy or a strategic political match. And in the bedroom, he became her lord and master.

  No one stoked the flames of her passion the way he did.

  I’ve missed you, Jack. I want you. “I need time to think—”

  “I’ll give you ten inches to think about while I’m pounding you.” He scanned her up and down as if she were his personal plaything designed solely for his pleasure. “Drop your skirt, Kate. Before I rip it off you.”

  Her nipples hardened as her lust mounted. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Don’t test me. Unless you want to see what happens when I’m denied.”

  Even though she knew better, she lifted her chin in defiance. “And if I refuse?”

  In the middle of the the bathroom, they stood in a stand-off.

  She wasn’t giving in.

  He wasn’t taking no for an answer.

  Jack had no intention of letting Kate back out now. Not when he’d finally gotten a sliver of confession out of her. It wasn’t enough, not nearly considering everything they’d been through together during this trial. Especially during the past two months, her in his apartment bent over his couch, taking his orders like he owned her.

  Funny thing was, she’d owned him in the process. His heart had caved to her, despite his best efforts to stay detached, make it strictly about sex.

  He knew the risks she took. Part of the reason he’d coaxed her into submission in the first place. Kate maintained a strict, staid outer appearance.

  Everybody else bought it, except him. He’d teased out the passionate, sexual woman beneath her blonde hair in a severe bun and her firm adherence to rules.

  Until he’d introduced her to his Jack’s Law. When he had, she’d bowed willingly. Their affair became intense, and he wasn’t about to let that—or her—go. Not without a fight. Or one last fling, if by the end of this he couldn’t convince her to stay. Damn it, he’d do everything in his power to make that happen.

  “Kate.” His voice dipped ominously low. “You know what I want from you.”

  She batted her eyelashes, pretending she didn’t understand his meaning. “I told you, this isn’t the appropriate place or time.”

  “This is what you get for ignoring me three weeks. I get what I want, when I want it. You know that, but you’ve denied me. Repeatedly. Now, you’ll pay the price.”

  Her eyes rounded. She stepped away, staring up at him warily as he backed her further into the lemon-scented bathroom.

  “Don’t play innocent. You knew this was coming.”

  She held up her hands. “I swear, Jack, I never meant to lead you on. You don’t understand the pressure on me right now—”

  “Like I give a damn?” He asserted his dominance role they’d established early in their sexual relationship. “You’re in my world to accomplish one purpose—to serve me. Then, I serve you.” Hell, he wanted way more than that, but right now she couldn’t receive him on any other level. Even though she clearly needed release.

  His voice dropped to a spine-chilling octave. “Stop. Right. Now.”

  Kate froze in her high heels.

  She knew that tone. She’d been taught with spankings and the rewards that followed what he demanded when he spoke in that voice.

  Reflexively, she dropped her brief case to the tile floor. Despite her feisty attitude and trial experience, she faced him reluctantly, unprepared for the sexy onslaught he always delivered.

  Today was different. Why couldn’t he understand that, cut her a break? “Damn it, Jack. You’re out of line. I refuse to—”

  “Unbutton your shirt.”

  Shocked at his persistence, she crossed her arms. “No.”

  “One button at a time,” he directed. “Starting from the top, all the way down.”

  His order, direct and uncompromising, called to the base instincts he’d honed in her during their illicit affair. He’d trained her to accept his orders, his dominance.

  At her core, she loved releasing her inhibitions. Letting someone else call the shots, someone else taking the reins over her perfectly controlled life.

  When he dominated her, she let go in a way she never had with any lover. With his tone, or a word, he snapped her to attention despite her instinct to fight him like an opponent in the courtroom.

  In his arms, he gave her permission to be someone else. Someone without the heavy weight of endless responsibilities.

  During their sexual escapades, the only person she was responsible to was him . She desperately wanted to give up control, to release her stress, right now. She couldn’t say no to him. “Yes, sir.”

  “Yes, master ,” he corrected.

  “Yes, master.” She reached for the zipper at his bulging crotch.

  He stepped away. “My o
rders first. I’ll tell you when you can touch me.”

  “Your wish is my pleasure.” She undid the buttons leader to her cleavage, which spilled out her barely contained breasts within her bra. The lower button popped open, her breasts coming out of her shirt. She continued to release her shirt buttons at his command.

  “Good girl.” He crossed his arms. “Now, slide off your skirt. Slowly.”

  Wiggling her hips, she gradually exposed her black lace panties, her garter belts, the lacy bands of her thigh-highs.

  The fire of approval in his black eyes scorched her. His gaze singed her everywhere it touched. “Mmm,” he murmured in approval. “I love it when you wear naughty little numbers like that.” Then his eyes snapped up to hers, dark, dangerous, filled with a territorial gleam. “Who were you planning to get naked for, Kate?”

  “No one,” she breathed. She draped her skirt over the edge of one sink. She stood before him in her unbuttoned shirt, panties and garters, hose and heels. “You know something? I wanted to feel powerful today,” she revealed. It was a huge admission, especially for her.

  He pulled his t-shirt from the waist of his jeans, revealing tanned skin covering toned muscle. He unbuttoned his fly. “Let’s see how powerful you feel on your knees, sucking me off.”

  A surge of adrenaline scored her insides. She arched an eyebrow, her tone provocative. “To have you in my hands, in my mouth, at my mercy? That’s true power.”

  As she sauntered toward him, his jaw tightened. “I want those beautiful lips wrapped around my cock.”

  “Is that all?” She went on her knees before him.

  “I want you to lick me from sack to tip.”

  A shiver of excitement traveled up her spine. “I love to serve you,” she said in a decadent tone.

  “Good.” His expression revealed more than welcome, he was a man who achieved what he wanted. “Get used to it.” He nudged his jeans down beneath the sexy indentations where his hips narrowed to his groin. His heavy length sprang free, bobbing, straining.

  Breath hissed through his teeth as her hands closed around his balls, massaging, tugging. Then she dipped her head and tongued the base of his sack. Her tongue made swirling patterns around his scrotum, up his shaft. She dragged her lips along his length, darting her tongue out to lubricate her gradual ascent. The head of his cock expanded with heavy throbs, turning magenta with pent-up need.

  He clenched her hair in his hands, the strands tumbling free. “Now, suck my cock.”

  She gazed up at him through heavy lids, her lashes a veil of mystery and seduction. “Yes, master.”

  Taking him deep into her mouth, she reveled in the firm silken texture of his dick. How the chorded muscles of his neck revealed the strain she put him through. How his jaw hung loose, hair swinging forward, his black eyes watched her mastering him.

  So hot, the way she reduced this huge virile male to staggered gasps.

  “Fuck.” He tensed. His nostrils flared. He tossed his head back. “Yeah, that’s it.” He cupped the sides of her face and guided her movements as he thrust inside her mouth. “Take it all, Kate.”

  He held her hair back and she brought him to the base of her throat. Mingled pain and pleasure twisted his features. At the back of her tongue she tasted a creamy bead of proof that his climax wasn’t far away.

  Suddenly, he pulled out of her mouth. He tore his shirt off, then bent and scooped her up from the floor. Her ass met the counter separating two sinks. “You liked that too much,” he growled. “Time to put you at my mercy.”

  Reality flooded in. Her heart pounded.

  She knew how he could be. Some nights he’d go down on her for hours. Where he got his oral stamina, she could only guess—and thank the heavens.

  However, if he was in one of his moods, she might never get back to court in time. She grabbed his thickly muscled, tattoo-encircled biceps, a frantic note in her voice. “Jack, please—”

  “That’s right, baby. Beg me.” He gripped her thighs and shoved them wide apart, standing between them. Then he yanked her to the counter’s edge.

  Her nails dug into his shoulders. “I’m the one in control here,” she insisted in her haughtiest courtroom tone.

  “Like hell you are.”

  Suddenly he was on his knees between her thighs. Pulling the crotch of her panties to one side, he descended open-mouthed on her pussy. A hot wet tongue covered her flesh. He stroked her slit.

  “Oh my God!” were the only coherent words she could form.

  Then thoughts melted, words faded. He wrapped her in a blanket of heat and lust with the relentless caresses of his tongue. He devoured her pussy, tasting and sucking her, lapping up every drop of desire he inspired.

  It was a slow, measured conquering. He knew exactly how good he was at this, and he wielded his sinful gift without mercy.

  She tried to shove at his shoulders. He didn’t budge. His grip around her waist only tightened. She tried to squirm away. That only encouraged him.

  He used both thumbs to pull the lips of her sex back, giving him full access to her clit. He zeroed in on the tight bud throbbing for more of his talented oral ability.

  “Jack…”

  “Uh-huh.” He had her right where he wanted her. A tremor shot through in her pussy. As his tongue caressed her slick folds, she let him lick her to orgasm.

  His tongue darted over her delivering light, rapid flicks, as his lips drew her into his mouth for added suction.

  “Yes…” came her heated murmur, “God, y es .”

  She curled her fingers through his hair, traced the curve of his ear, the side of his neck, felt the way his jaw moved as his mouth worked on her. She was almost to the point of surrender.

  Damn, I needed this . On that, her mind and body were in total agreement.

  With this case bearing down on her, and her self-imposed hiatus from Jack, she’d been wound up way too tight.

  Knowing she shouldn’t do this—but unable to stop herself from indulging in her enthusiastic lover—Kate slid into sexual abandon. She grasped the sleek rims of the sinks on either side of her. Her head fell back. She splayed her legs, arched back and pressed her pussy deeper into his mouth.

  A groan of satisfaction rose from his throat. The vibration made her cry out as her clit pulsed with another flicker of pending orgasm.

  As soon as he sensed how close she was, he gave one good suck and released her clit from his mouth. He tongued her opening, so wet, swollen, ready for him to plunge inside her.

  Then he pulled back and replaced his tongue with two fingers. He slid into her, fingertips to knuckles.

  Kate eagerly met the long thrust of his fingers with a roll of her hips. “Yes! Don’t stop…” The rhythm of his hand increased. But no matter how good it felt, she blurted out, “Jack, I need you inside me. I want you to fuck me.”

  “I’ll fuck you when I’m good and ready.”

  “Then lick my pussy,” she pleaded on a moan.

  He shook his head. “Touch yourself while I stroke inside you.”

  Instantly her fingers complied with his suggestion. Her middle finger found the aching tip of her clit. Her index and ring fingers rode the ridges surrounding the bud, begging for stimulation.

  She touched herself, watching Jack watch her. She’d never done this in front of a man, but considering the rush of wet heat that coated his fingers, it was a huge turn on.

  “You like how wet I make you?” he asked in a sexy growl.

  “Oh, yeah.” She nodded, breathing heavily.

  “You want more?”

  “Yes!” she half-screamed, as her hips jerked, her body greedy for more.

  He slid his fingers out of her pussy. “Beg me.”

  “Damn it, Jack. Put your fingers inside me and fuck me.”

  “I said beg, not command.” He captured her wrists in his hands. “Do you need discipline to remind you who’s in charge?”

  Her eyes flashed. “No,” she bit out, trying to jerk her wrists fr
ee.

  He held fast. “Defy me again, and I will put you in your place.”

  Aggression burned through her. He was pushing her limits. She hated it and loved it. Desire and defiance sparred like an erotic duel inside her.

  Why did he have to be so obscenely sexy, crouched between her thighs, his mouth and fingers poised to give her all the pleasure she craved—and more?

  She said through clenched teeth, “Are you going to make me come, or are we finished here?”

  “Not even close.” He maintained his shackling hold on one of her wrists, guiding it down until her fingers covered her pussy. “Touch yourself. I want to watch you get yourself off.”

  “I can do that without an audience,” she retorted.

  His face turned to stone. The only hint of warmth was the passion burning in his gaze. “I’m going to fuck you senseless for talking back to me.”

  At his sexy threat, heat shivered through her pussy. “Is that a promise?”

  “I might even slide my cock in your ass. Feel you clench around me, so damn tight…” He visibly trembled.

  A shock of empowerment flashed through her. “I might let you take me that way. If you give me what I want, the way I like it.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You need me. Admit it, Kate. No one else gives you what I do. Isn’t that right?”

  Her heart pinched and her body throbbed. The sheen that suddenly lined her bottom lashes spoke the words she couldn’t deny, but couldn’t admit aloud. It’s true . “Maybe.”

  “Am I right?” he demanded, his eyes fierce and searching.

  Did he need her reassurance as much as she needed his? Her mind put up a fight. No, don’t you dare rely on anyone. You don’t need him . It’s weakness, and you’re a strong woman, you don’t need anyone. You’ve always done it on your own. Strong. Independent. Alone…

  To defy her weakening resistance—and to answer her body’s needs—she pressed her hand over her pussy. Using the wetness he’d created, she circled her fingers in her juices and slid them up to her clit. The tight knot of flesh responded with a quick throb. Her hips strove in rhythm with the swirl of her fingertips. A groan of pleasure left her lips.