Page 63 of Relentless Pursuit

“Wine and a hot bath with you? Sounds fantastic.”

“I’m glad you approve.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the doorway. “You’ve pleased me.” He gently kissed her. “Very much.”

“I might take you up on the name of that yoga instructor you mentioned at Jack and Caroline’s house.”

“I thought you might.” He smirked. “Because we’re just getting started.”

“I’m up for that challenge.” She touched his lips with her fingertips. “And any others you might have for me.”

If exploring more of this lifestyle kept them connected, she’d do it. Proving to him she could be exactly who he needed was her goal. Some force of destiny put them on this path together, but she believed there had to be more for the two of them. She could stick it out long enough to show him she was the only woman he would ever need. He would love her. Patience, a virtue she had no choice but to possess.

* * *

The distant buzzingstarted out slow, but Julian ignored it. Holding Kayla tighter, he breathed in her calming, vanilla scent. Images of the two of them in the bath settled into his sleepy mind. The room was warm and he was content. More vibration crept into his consciousness.

What the hell?

He peeked out of one eye, trying to acclimate himself to his surroundings. Darkness filled the space, but he could still see her. She slept soundly. Probably exhausted from their evening activities. The suspension cables seeped into his memory. She’d exceeded his expectations.

That damn buzzing. The phone. Fuck!

He kept one arm wrapped around her as he fumbled around the nightstand. The screen displayedBlakeacross it.

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat.

“Julian, sorry to call so late.”

“What time is it?”

“Huh?” Kayla shifted, tossing her arm over his chest.

“Not you, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head. “Go back to sleep.”

“It’s twelve-thirty,” Blake answered.

Only twelve-thirty? He would have thought they had been asleep for hours.

“What’s up?” Julian pried Kayla’s arm from him and slipped out of bed, moving away so he didn’t disturb her.

“We have a situation.”

“What kind of situation?”

“One that requires your legal expertise.”

“A client?”

“Connie,” Blake said. “She’s downtown.”

“Like the precinct downtown?” He squeezed the bridge of his nose before wandering over to his closet and retrieving a suit. “What’s the problem?”

The clientele at Sapphire usually kept a low profile. On occasion, Julian had represented one or two who had gotten mixed up in prostitution or drugs, but he tried to keep his legal career separate from his Sapphire patrons.

“Her ex is a drug dealer. She was picked up with him an hour ago.”

“And how exactly did we get involved?”

“She called Drew, the guy I matched her up with a few weeks ago. Of course, he wants nothing to do with this.”

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