Justice

  “I wish I could have seen your face when she showed you her boobs.” Tiger snorted. “I wouldn’t have minded seeing them. How did you get out of that mess?”

  “I yelled for my secretary to come into office and chaperone the rest of the interview. You talk to the reporter. She may show her breasts again if she believes you’re gullible enough to believe she’s sincere in her sexual interest in you and thinks she can sweet-talk information out of you in bed.”

  “Hell no. I’m avoiding human females. I’m too smart for that.”

  Justice remained silent, unable to say anything since Jessie slept down the hallway, their mingled scent of passion still teasing his nose and keeping his dick hard from wanting her again.

  “I’ll deal with the vulture. I’ll tell her that you aren’t here but had to fly to Reservation for a meeting. Speaking of, Miles Eron called to remind you that you’re due at his office at nine in the morning.”

  “Great.” He refrained from snarling, tired of meetings.

  “They are worried about our image and that’s why we hired him.” Tiger paused. “They’ll ask you to dye your hair again. It’s getting dark. You know how our media consultants are.”

  “It’s torture when they mess with me. That shit stinks.”

  “That’s why I’m glad I’m not you. I’ll deal with the booby flasher and you get back to whatever you were doing.”

  Justice hesitated. “Can I ask you a favor?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m tired, Tiger. I’d like one night of uninterrupted sleep. Can you just handle anything that arises and make sure I’m not disturbed?”

  Sympathy welled in the other male’s tone. “Of course. You deserve that and so much more. I’ll take care of anything that comes up. Sleep and rest. That meeting in the morning is going to be hell and we both know they are going to have that woman at the office waiting to dye your hair. I’ll stay at the office and route all calls here for that reason alone.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Get some sleep and don’t worry. I’ve got everything handled and I’ll call the officers to make sure they steer clear of your house. I don’t want them patrolling too close and waking you.”

  “That isn’t necessary. I already told them to avoid my home.”

  “They worry about you and want to make certain you are safe. We can’t allow anything to happen to you.” Tiger laughed. “Nobody else wants your job. Everyone needs you too badly because there’s not one of us who could keep so calm regardless of what the humans say or do. You’re the most tolerant, well mannered of us all. We’d be in a world of shit if you were killed because no one else could hold it all together.”

  Justice’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t think that’s true.”

  “It is.” All humor left Tiger’s voice. “That’s why I’m going to make damn sure you get some sleep. We’re screwed without you. Sleep deep, my man.” He hung up.

  Justice closed his phone, gripped it in his fist and barely avoided crushing the thing. He stared down the hallway toward where Jessie slept. He’d never imagined wanting anything more than caring for his people and making sure they succeeded in merging with the world outside the testing facilities. One sexy, fiery redhead had changed his life. He wanted her but he doubted he could have both.

  He left his phone on the table in the hallway, closed her bedroom door and glanced at the clock. It was early to go to bed but he was tired of his life, exhausted from shouldering so much responsibility and heartsick that one day soon he’d have to give up Jessie for the good of his people.

  He crawled into her bed, inhaled her scent and pulled her into his arms. She murmured his name in her sleep, brushed a kiss on his chest when her face nuzzled against him and he wrapped his arms tighter around her.

  Being Justice North sucked but for now he was going to have the one thing he wanted most. He closed his eyes, determined to enjoy every second he could spend with Jessie.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “So when do we get to sleep in your bed?”

  Jessie put the last dish in the dishwasher and turned. Justice sat at the table with his laptop open. He’d slept every night at her house for the past four days but in the evenings he still had hours of work to complete. In the mornings he was gone before she woke and stayed gone all day. He left the office in time to share dinner with her and she appreciated it, knowing he was a workaholic. Her father hadn’t ever been that considerate when she’d lived with him and Justice obviously made the effort to spend time with her.

  He didn’t look up. “We can’t.”

  She frowned. “I haven’t seen your house yet and I’d like to.”

  He finally glanced up from his screen. “Jessie, I have too many people visiting my house. They are always dropping by for one reason or another and I have a Species male who cleans my home. You can’t go visit or sleep there.”

  “Why not?”

  “Anyone who entered my house would scent you and know you’d been there. The male who cleans my bedroom would definitely know we were sharing sex when he changed my bedding or grow suspicious if I began washing them myself.” He gave her an apologetic look before dropping his attention back to his computer. “No one has any reason to come here and it’s safe.”

  She watched him type until his cell phone rang. He blindly reached for it and answered. He spoke softly to someone about a banquet dinner and the security arrangements for about ten minutes. The phone rang a few minutes later—someone trying to set an appointment with Justice for an interview from what she could determine from his part of the conversations.

  Jessie left the kitchen while he dealt with them and sank onto her couch. She tried not to feel a little self-pity. He’d be on the phone and his computer until at least ten o’clock the last few nights. He used her dining room table for his home office and she sighed when memories of her childhood surfaced. She’d sworn she’d never fall in love with a man who was obsessed with his work the way her father was but Justice made all other workaholics pale in comparison. It was ironic as hell and she hated irony.

  She smirked. At least workaholics who had girlfriends could give valid reasons for taking a night off. Justice couldn’t allow anyone to find out about Jessie. She couldn’t see his house or spend one night in his bed. It had been her brainchild to stealth date but the reality of it sucked.

  It will get better, she consoled herself. He’s used to living alone, maybe he’s catching up on some of his workload to take a full night off again…and you’re so full of shit. He’s not going to change and if anyone knows it, it should be me.

  She stood, stretched and strolled to the sliding-glass door. There was a slight breeze as she slid it open and stepped into the backyard. Her gaze lifted to the starry sky, the nearly full moon and she crossed her arms over her chest.

  Relationships were hard, she knew that, and she’d fallen for a guy with a lot of responsibilities. It was part of the reason she loved him and it made him who he was. To expect him to drastically change would be wrong. She’d learned that firsthand with her marriage to Conner. He’d married the daughter of a senator—the image—but the real person hadn’t been quite to his liking. He’d bugged her to be more similar to the public figure she’d had to be for her father’s benefit until their relationship fell apart.

  “Jessie?”

  She turned to watch Justice step outside, frowning. He was off the phone and away from his computer. She smiled. “Hi.”

  “Dinner was great. I loved it. Thank you.”

  “I figured you did since you ate all of it and when I filled your plate again, you polished that off too.”

  “I’m sorry I was on the phone the entire time but it was an important call. We’re trying to buy some property in New Mexico. It’s never simple for us. We not only have to buy the land but we have to win local support and make sure the state is willing to work with us before we buy it. That’s why, so far, the only two properties we own are in California. We’re h
aving issues with some states.”

  “It sounds like a big hassle.”

  “You have no idea. Why are you outside?”

  “I’m hot. Maybe I’ll go soak in the tub.”

  Justice closed the distance between them, smiled and grabbed her hand. “Come with me.” He walked her deeper into the backyard toward the wall of the house next door.

  “Where are we going?”

  He chuckled. “Next door.”

  She stared up. “Why?”

  “There’s a pool and you said you were hot.”

  Jessie laughed. “Um, Justice? I think someone would mind us using their pool.”

  He turned and released her hand. “I’m going to lift you up. Straddle the wall. I’ll hop over first and I’ll lift you down. Ready?”

  “We’re going to get caught.” Jessie warned.

  “Are you ready?”

  She grinned, thrilled that he was doing something so spontaneous and risky to spend time with her. He gripped her hips and lifted her easily to set her on the wall. She threw her leg over and watched Justice remove his dress shirt after unbuttoning it. His tie and jacket were in her dining room, along with his shoes, which he always removed as soon as he came home. His swift, graceful leap over the wall took her breath away, impressed her deeply and she grinned when he lifted his arms to her.

  He gripped her hips, she leaned over to brace her hands on his shoulders, and he lifted her off the wall to slowly drag her body down his tall frame. It was sexy, so was he, and her libido instantly fired into overdrive. He wasn’t all business now and attached to his laptop or phone. He was the man who looked at her as if he wanted to ravish her, get her naked in a pool behind a dark house and she hoped he wanted to have his way with her.

  “We’ll go swimming.” He eased his hold. “Nice cool water awaits us.”

  She wouldn’t mind forgoing the pool to kiss him. A grin formed at the prospect of him naked and wet. The kiss could wait until then. “Don’t blame me when we get busted for trespassing if the owner comes home. You’re springing for bail money,” she teased.

  “I’m Justice North. Who’d arrest me at Homeland?” He chuckled.

  She lifted her arms when he gripped the bottom of her shirt and tugged it over her head. Jessie laughed and helped him get her out of her clothes. He discarded his pants and boxers, bent and swept her into his arms. She knew what he was going to do, grabbed her nose as he hesitated at the edge and met her gaze.

  She nodded and he stepped into the deep end. Cool water submerged them and he released her so they could swim to the surface. She laughed, throwing her hair back from her face and the moon shone enough to make it easy to see him. She treaded closer until he wrapped an arm around her waist, towing her toward the shallow end where he could stand. He held Jessie a foot from him with his hands on her hips.

  “Cooler now?”

  She smiled. “Nope. I’m hotter.”

  “Hotter?”

  Jessie reached between their bodies until she cupped his cock. She massaged it until it grew thick and hard. He closed his eyes in pleasure and a purr rumbled from his throat. Jessie twined her arm around his neck and wrapped her legs loosely around his hips and kept stroking him.

  “You make me hot,” Jessie whispered.

  Gorgeous eyes opened to stare at her. “You make me burn.”

  Her hand gripping his shaft positioned him under her and she used her legs to adjust her body. Justice threw back his head as Jessie took him inside her. He purred softly as she tightened her thighs around his hips, taking him deeper inside her pussy.

  “Just looking at you makes me wet. Feel?”

  “Yes.” Justice walked backward as Jessie moved on him, using her hold on his shoulders and hips as leverage to slowly fuck him. She moaned, moving faster and marveled over how good he felt driving in and out of her, hitting all those nerve endings. He felt hard and large inside her. Justice growled softly. He suddenly grabbed her and unwrapped her legs from around his waist. Jessie protested with a groan as Justice withdrew his cock. Her eyes flew open.

  “What’s wrong?”

  He flashed his teeth as he grinned and sat down on the stairs in the water. He turned Jessie in his arms until her back pressed against his chest. He eased her down on his lap slowly. Jessie moaned as he slid inside her again. Justice spread his thighs, forcing hers open wide since they were on the outside of his. Strong hands gripped the insides of her thighs from around her waist. Justice thrust upward. Jessie threw her head back against his shoulder.

  “Yes!”

  One hand slid lower and Justice brushed his finger over her clit from the front. He thrust upward at a faster pace, pressing against her bundle of nerves harder and moans tore from her lips. Justice purred from behind her, his hot breath fanning her shoulder as he lowered his head and bit her shoulder. Jessie came screaming when the sharp nip of pain sent her over the edge. Justice tore his mouth away and roared out his own release.

  Justice’s hands wrapped around her waist, hugged her tightly and nuzzled her neck. His sharp teeth scraped her shoulder and his tongue lapped at her skin. She smiled, glad he held her or she’d probably have melted right off his lap into the pool from how relaxed her body grew.

  “Did you make me bleed again?” She didn’t care if he had. “It’s okay if you did. It felt good.”

  “I didn’t break the skin,” he answered softly. “But I’m certain security will be knocking at your door again.” He grew solemn. “I think we were too loud. We need to get you back inside your house before they check on you. Leave the back slider unlocked for me and I’ll—”

  Something squeaked loudly and Justice tensed. His reflexes were quick as he jerked her off his lap, spun her in his arms and dragged her into deeper water. Her back hit the side of the pool, his big body pinned her there and he leaned in close, shielding her.

  “Get out,” Justice growled.

  “We heard a disturbance,” a man spoke from the other side of the yard.

  “Leave now.” Justice sounded furious.

  “But we heard you, Justice. Is everything all right? We heard a female scream.”

  “I’m not alone. Now leave,” Justice snarled.

  The gate slammed and Justice softly cursed. He sank lower into the water, allowing her to breathe more easily, and hung his head. She worried. He’d admitted to being with a woman in someone’s pool, to trespassing, but he’d kept the officers from hanging around.

  “Tomorrow I’m going to talk to them about the difference between doing their jobs and being annoying. I won’t have them rushing to find me every time I roar.”

  She hesitated. “Do you think he saw me?”

  “No. We are upwind and got lucky. The two males didn’t know it was you, Jessie. They will assume I drove one of our females through the back entrance to avoid them seeing her. I have a private way into the community.”

  “Look at the bright side. We aren’t in trouble for trespassing since we’re not under arrest.”

  “It’s my house and pool.” He suddenly grinned. “We were never in any danger of that.”

  Surprised, Jessie stared up at him. Her gaze shifted to the large, dark house. It was the largest one in the community and she felt a little dense for not guessing who it belonged to. Of course it would be his.

  “You moved me in next door to you?”

  “I wanted you close to protect.”

  She studied his face as he peered at her until he grinned. “I was hoping that you’d want me back in your bed. You have to admit this makes it easier for us to be together without anyone knowing. The cottage nearest to you is empty and nothing is on the other side of my house. It was designed this way for privacy for these two homes.”

  Jessie wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Why is there a house right next to yours if you were so concerned with not having a neighbor on the other side?”

  His smile faded. “I wanted a mate eventually and knew a female wouldn’t live in a
home with me. I had the cottage built to house my mate when I decide to take one. Women need their space and freedom. I just hope that she won’t have a problem being this close to me but I’d want her near enough to protect.”

  Jessie felt pain stab her heart. He’d moved her into a house that one day his wife would live in. She knew exactly why a female would want her own home and the freedom to live away from Justice. He was counting on his mate being Species. She’d caught the way he’d worded his last sentences—the source of her heartbreak. He had said hope, as in still wanted it. He’d never consider Jessie as someone to keep around. She was just sex to him.

  Jessie released his shoulders. “I’m tired and need to get home.” She pulled away from him to wade through the water toward the stairs.

  “Jessie? Is something wrong?”

  Besides you being a bastard? She wanted to say that aloud but didn’t, too afraid she’d reveal how much his words wounded her. “What could be wrong?” Pain twisted at her as she trudged up the steps. The air seemed chilly as she left the heated pool and rushed to her discarded clothing.

  “Jessie? What is wrong?” Justice sloshed out of the pool.

  She assessed the wall as she jerked on her shirt and pants, shoving her underwear into a pocket. It was too high to climb so she turned and spotted the lawn chairs. She lifted one, carried it to the wall and easily climbed it. Pain shot through her ankles a little when she landed on the soft grass in her yard and rushed to get inside, away from him.

  Justice easily leaped over the wall after her. “Jessie? Damn it, what is wrong?”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “What could be wrong?”

  She stepped through the still-open sliding-glass door and headed toward the dining room. A naked Justice followed closely behind, dripping water on her carpet but she barely noticed as she focused on her target. She closed his laptop, leaned down to grab the handle of his briefcase and laid it open on the table.

  “What are you doing?” Justice sounded irritated and confused.

  Jessie ignored him to slide his laptop inside his briefcase and carefully picked up the folders spread on the table. She shoved his cell phone in last and closed the case. She gripped the handle, spun around and lifted it toward him as her gaze finally met his.