Page 92 of Defend Me

My answering chuckle is low and throaty. “Maybe. You are my girlfriend, after all.”

The words send a thrill through me, and Von’s cheeks flush. “Yeah,” she murmurs. “I am.”

I know there’s a lot of stuff we need to discuss—like how ourlives will work once the trial is over and she goes back to New York. I don’t even know what I’m going to do once I’m freed. What my life will look like if I’m not a member of the MBSD anymore. But I don’t want to think about that right now. I just want to enjoy this moment with Von.

My fingers skim over her exposed shoulder and she shivers. Her hand flattens over my stomach and she grips the fabric of my hoodie, tilting her head so that I can kiss my way down her neck. My hand comes up to stroke her breast over the soft cashmere, and oh god, she’s not wearing a bra. I hear that low purr in her throat, a noise that sets my cock throbbing. I bring my mouth to hers as I grip her breast, feeling that perfect nipple harden beneath my palm as she moans against me. When I slide my hand under her sweater and over the warmth of her skin to pinch it between my thumb and forefinger, the little gasp she makes drives me wild.

As I lean back to look at her, I know in this moment I will never tire of being with her. I will never want anyone the way I want Siobhan Everton. Her hair falls around her in a glinting red waterfall, her skin shimmering like a pearl in the firelight.

She bites her lower lip, a faintly nervous gesture, and it sets an ache blossoming in my core.

“What?” she whispers.

I want to tell her I love her. That I’m falling hard—harder than I ever thought possible. But now doesn’t seem the time.

“You’re beautiful,” I reply, placing my palm on her chest so I can feel her heartbeat. She leans down and kisses each of my fingertips.

“Take me to bed,” she whispers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

VON

By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, I’m eager to get this trial started—and over with.

Patrick has been prepped, the whole town has been interviewed, I’ve got my own fingerprint expert at the ready. There’s nothing else concrete that ties him to the crime scene. I could drive a truck through the reasonable doubt. And with Patrick and Dale’s testimony, there’s no way Noah will be convicted. In fact, I’m planning on moving for a dismissal after Patrick testifies.

Noah is still hung up on the sheriff. I can tell he feels betrayed—I do too, if it turns out the sheriff is the true culprit. But I’m not as emotional as Noah. The lawyer in me needs more before jumping on that bandwagon.

Harold has been calling, asking how things are going. I know he’s eager to have me back to work. I feel that same pinch in my stomach, worry about the future. What happens when I return to my job, to my apartment, to the life I had before Noah? I’ll go back to defending mostly guilty, mostly wealthy men. Will Noahstill want to be with me? Being a lawyer is who I am. I’m not compromising on that or giving it up.

Dev and Reggie are keeping me updated on their adoption process. One of my classmates from Columbia knows the adoption system inside and out, and she agreed to work with them for a discounted fee. I’ve started helping Mrs. Greerson with her will. Stan was right—there are many people in this town who could use legal help.

And I have a boyfriend. A secret boyfriend, but still.

This Thanksgiving, I feel I have a lot to be thankful for.

Dad invites his usual select associates and partners to our family celebration and holds court with them in the front parlor. But there’s a new crowd of people invited this year too. Charlotte and Noah are here, as well as Isla and her family. We drink wine and gorge ourselves on smoked salmon and roast artichokes and other fancy canapés in the sunroom. Alistair engages Isla’s parents in conversation while Finn tries to get relationship advice from Caden.

“Lisette has been telling me single men don’t win elections,” I hear him saying.

Caden chuckles. “How romantic, taking dating advice from your campaign manager,” he says. “Finn, if you want to find someone, you need to get yourself out there.”

“I’m out there,” Finn says indignantly.

“I could introduce you to some people,” Alistair calls out, a wicked gleam in his eye.

“Absolutely not,” Finn says.

“Expand your circles, Finn,” I say, patting him on the shoulder. “You never know. You might meet someone you actuallylike. Romance isn’t a business transaction.”

Finn raises an eyebrow at me. “Really?You’regoing to lecturemeabout romance? When was the last time you dated someone who wasn’t preapproved by Dad?”

My cheeks flush and it takes a lot of effort not to look atNoah. Isla is watching me in that way she has, where I feel like I’m being X-rayed but with warm fuzzies attached.

“Hey, Croquem-douche,” Charlotte says, coming up to us and slapping Finn hard on the back before popping a deviled egg in her mouth. “This food is insane. Who does your catering?”

“Please stop calling me that,” Finn says through gritted teeth.

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