Page 45 of Joint Custody

I dropped my pen on my desk, clasping both of my hands underneath my chin. “Mm-hm? I’m listening.”

He allowed himself to speak a little louder as he remembered that the mentorship thing gave us something to hide behind and that made our exchange a whole lot kinkier. I bit my bottom lip as he turned a smiling head away from me.

“As your mentor,” he said again, and I closed my eyes, letting the sound of the word “mentor” tease my skin. “It’s my duty to help you figure out how to balance your work and your life. Because, look, if you’re looking for your workload to ease up so that you can get a bit of spare time, that’s not going to happen. Look at the field you chose.” He gestured.

“You make a good point.” I nodded.

“You’re a lawyer. Long hours are part of the job,” he said before dropping his voice a lot lower. “But does that mean that you should suffer without a bit of fun?” he asked, lifting one eyebrow. “Your work will suffer if you don’t find time outside of it to live a little, and your life will suffer if all you have time for is work,” he said. “So, I guess what I’m really saying is that if you come with me, I’ll be helping to improve your quality of life and work,” he said.

I burst out laughing. “I mean . . .” I started.

And he kind of stopped playing around as he started to bargain with me. “Okay, look, I promise you, all I’m asking for is a few minutes and we’ll come back out, and I’ll help you get your work done,” he groaned.

I smiled. “You know, you already sold me on the whole ‘improving my quality of life and work’ bit, but if you’re throwing in the help too, I mean, you just sweetened the deal.” I rose from my chair. “To make sure it’s a fair trade,” I said, whispering as I stood in front of him. “I’ll pay you extra well so you don’t forget what you’re working for.” I grinned, unsure if that made sense. I was far too hot and bothered to think straight plus I wasn’t quite so versed on sexy talk yet.

“Trust me, I know what I’m working for, and I can’t wait to put in the work.” I heard him murmur behind me, and I fought the giggles as we walked past everyone, trying not to attract their attention.

As soon as we were in the file room, Mario shut the door behind us and pressed his body against mine, kissing me softly, biting on my bottom lip and pulling me forward as he pulled his lips away. I groaned low in my throat as I moved toward his jacket and his hands found their way beneath my dress.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about last night,” he said against my lips, cupping my head once I’d set his arms free of his jacket.

Somehow, that didn’t just flash me back to our moment in the car, but I was also bombarded with the images of Anthony and our hot sex being interrupted by him and my brother, plus the guilt I felt for not saying anything to him. His lips on my neck had me panting as his hands moved to pull my underwear down. I wondered if now was the best time to say something to him, if I should wait until he’d sexed me so good I found it hard to stand to say anything. I felt his hand cup my exposed labia and it was that exact moment my conscience decided that it would be unfair for me to let him continue without confessing.

I gripped his wrist, breathing so hard from how much I wanted him to keep touching me, afraid he’d be mad at me if I said something. “Wait,” I said, staring at him, wondering if I should just override my conscience and keep going.

“What is it?” he asked, pulling his hand from beneath my dress and holding me around the waist as he stared down at me with hungry eyes.

I gulped, caressing his cheek before dropping my hand to his chest, hoping this was not the moment when I lost him. I didn’t want to risk not kissing his lips again. I nibbled my lip and decided to be brave regardless because a part of me felt like I owed it to him. “I know we’ve just met,” I began, fiddling with the lapels of his shirt, avoiding eye contact with him.

“Yeah?” he groaned, leaning down to try to see my eyes with a subtle hint of worry in his tone.

I dodged his attempt to check in with me, closing my eyes. “And I know you’re not my boyfriend, so it shouldn’t really matter,” I continued.

He cleared his throat. “Okay?” he asked, sounding a lot more worried now.

“But I have something to tell you,” I said.

I heard him take a deep breath and felt his thumb stroking my lower back. “Right. What is it?” he asked.

I pushed through my fear to look up into Mario’s eyes, my brows attempting an upside-down arch as I confessed. “I slept with Anthony,” I said, holding my hands to my chest, bracing for impact, waiting for his arms to fall from my waist, to hear the door shut behind him as he stormed off, to have him never want to speak to me again as I stayed in here a blubbering mess, regretting saying anything.

But he still hadn’t moved. He was still holding me and looking into my eyes. In fact, I thought I saw a smile making its way onto his lips.

“I know,” he said, raising his brow.

I froze, staring at him, speechless before trying to find my voice. “Wait, how . . . what? When? Did he tell you?” I asked, mortified.

He laughed. “Hell no. He wouldn’t tell me that and risk me saying something to Chris. I’m not dumb, Tiff, I saw the state you guys were both in last night. I put two and two together. Got four,” he said with a head shrug.

I couldn’t believe he was laughing. I felt like there was a twist somewhere, about to jump out of the file boxes at me. “So you’re not mad?” I asked, my voice a sound of wonder.

“No,” he groaned, moving in to kiss me again.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

One of his hands came up to cradle my cheek as he murmured against my lips. “I’m sure,” he said with a slow, sensual kiss.

“You still want me after?” I asked, dizzy from his kisses.

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