Page 134 of Winning Bid

I take her wrists and pin her to the hot shower wall, kissing her soft lips, her determined chin, and her delicate throat. I want to devour this woman’s every inch. Her moans echo through the room. I nibble across her collarbone and to her tits, those glorious things. Licking up the valley between them, I take my time and enjoy the way she shudders from my touch. I love knowing the effect I have on June.

Come what may, this is what we’re fighting for. I’ll never stop.

I kneel in front of her, bringing a leg over my shoulder to open her up. Her gasps kick up when my tongue hits her clit. She’s already wet for me. Her sweetness is all I need, and I drink from the source as she digs her nails into my scalp. My name and curse words are on her lips as she rocks against me. I love bringing her to the precipice.

But I love sending her over it more.

Just as I feel her pulse on my fingers, I stand up, hoisting her until she’s stuck between me and the wall, her legs around my waist. I thrust home, and we both shake from the sensation. But then I am trapped in her stare. That dark intensity is all mine. I pump into her, and she rolls against me until we’re moving in sync, puffing breaths and gasping for more. Heat surges through me when she cries out. Her pussy milks me, crashing me into my climax as I kiss her fiercely, ravenously.

As we clumsily pry apart, I pray this isn’t the last morning that starts like this.

62

JUNE

“What do you mean they’re still deliberating?” I squeak at Dana. We’re in her office—it’s the way we’ve started most days since the trial began.

She sighs. “Precisely what I said.”

“Is that a good sign or a bad one?” Anderson asks.

“To be honest, at this point, I’m not sure anymore. But when I hear something, I’ll call you.”

“What do we do until then?”

Dana smiles at me like I’m simple. “You’re newlyweds. I’m sure you can figure something out.”

So, we do. For two days, we make love in every way we can imagine. I tweak my neck, and Anderson does something to his back, so by the time we’re due back in court, we’re both walking a little funny. Considering what we’re facing, I hardly care anymore. How we walk now has no bearing on what the jury has already decided.

But Anderson has this unsettling resigned look in his eyes. It makes me wonder if all that talk about hope and justice was just talk. Maybe he’s been saying those things to keep me calm. I hate that for him. He should be able to tell me his feelings, but if they’re scary, he tries to keep them inside. It’s something he would do for me. I know he would.

The sweet liar.

I take his hand in mine as we go in, and he gives me a sad smile when he looks down at me. Today is the day. We both know it. It’s all or nothing.

Once we’re seated, Judge Ackerman gives a come hither gesture, saying, “Councilors, approach.”

That can’t be normal, right?

The three of them confer with each other, and I look at Anderson. He had more criminal law classes than I did back in school, so maybe he knows what’s happening. Only he looks as confused as I am.

No one on the jury will make eye contact with me. They only look at the judge. Except for the one guy who’s been ogling the clerk this whole trial.

The lawyers are sent back to the tables, and I try to get a vibe off of Dana, but she obviously can’t say anything. She doesn’t even doodle on her notepad.

This can’t be good.

The judge begins, “Madam foreperson, I understand deliberations have come to an uneasy conclusion.”

“Your honor, we have not been able to reach a verdict.”

What?

“Do you think further deliberations are necessary?”

“We are deadlocked, your honor.”

Oh my god.

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