Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,246

your eyes I deceived you. I’m the person you relate to the worst thing that ever happened to you.” His voice is near, but he keeps his distance. “I was a fool to think it’d be easy for you. Like I could charm my way in and expect you to forgive me.”

Tears well in my eyes and I clench my hands into fists to stop them from falling.

“I don’t know what to think. My divorce wasn’t a picnic, but I don’t blame you. You weren’t the one who cheated. You weren’t the one who wanted everything of mine. That’s on Todd.”

As I turn to face him, I notice he’s resting on the bumper of his car, his sunglasses off and his eyes on me. “I helped him get it though.”

“You did what you were supposed to do, I suppose.” It’s hard getting those words out of my mouth, even if they are the truth.

“You don’t really believe that in your heart though.” The corners of his lips tip down.

“I get that it was your job, but you have a reputation in Chicago. One where you go after the other party with a vengeance.”

His eyes lock with mine. “I will never apologize for the job I do. I’m one of the best in my field and I take pride in that. I don’t deliberately take everything from someone, but I do make sure my client doesn’t get screwed over because their spouse is hiding money. There are laws, Hannah, laws that people like to break. When someone makes the conscious decision to walk down the aisle and promise their future to someone else, it should be taken seriously. When they decide to have a child, those responsibilities shouldn’t be taken away once they decide they want to move on to someone else. I’m sorry I represented Todd in your divorce, but he got to me first. I’m sorry you see me as a monster who stole from you, but I got him what the law said was his. That’s all.”

I keep my gaze locked with his.

“How can you make that argument sound so noble?” The corners of my lips tip up a bit.

He smirks. “You’re not the first person I’ve had to defend my actions to.”

I roll my eyes. “So, you’ve gone after a client’s ex before?” The thought nearly sends me into a rage.

Standing, he stalks toward me. “When are you going to understand?” he asks, gripping my upper arms.

“What?”

“You’re the only one I want. I wanted for you to be over that marriage for an entire year. I’ve never pursued another client or a client’s spouse. I’m no saint, granted, but I’ve never wanted a woman to wake up in my bed more than I do you.” He pins me with an intense stare for a moment and I think that maybe he’s going to lean down and kiss me. Then he frowns and his forehead wrinkles. “But I’m starting to think this just isn’t going to work. You’re never going to forgive me.”

He releases his grip on my shoulders and turns to walk back to the SUV. I miss his eyes on me immediately.

“I do.” The words rush out of my mouth.

He glances over his shoulder and he must see something on my face because he turns around fully, not touching me but stepping so close we’re nearly chest to chest.

Our breaths are labored and fast. “You do what?” His voice is low.

“I…I forgive you.”

Whatever space was between us disappears as one of his hands clutch the back of my head and he pulls me flush to his body.

“No takebacks,” he says.

Giving me no time to answer, his lips crash against mine with ferocity. With one hand holding me where he wants me, his other hand slides to my back. He takes control of the kiss and I melt into his hold. All the doubts and indecision evaporate as we devour one another. His hand glides down my body and cups my ass, positioning me flush against the bulge in his slacks.

I ground against him, desperately seeking more friction. All weekend he’s had me on edge and I’m done fighting the growing heat between my thighs. I’m starving for a scream-worthy orgasm and there’s no doubt that Roarke would deliver multiple times.

At some point, while we’re all lips, tongue, and pent-up lust, he circles us around and my back hits the SUV. Stepping into me, he skims his hand from my ass to my thigh and steps into