Pride & Precedents (The Park Brothers #2)

14. Henry

Chapter fourteen

Henry

I t's been hours, my last meeting has long since finished, and I'm still reeling from my conversation with Naomi. I assumed she sought me out as her attorney—if you want to stick it to your ex, I am the best. Now it seems she's had another agenda all along. The way she tossed in that she never loved Tanner? Thay she didn't know a good thing when she had it? What am I supposed to do with that? So far, the answer has been "obsess about it all day until the pages of your brief bleed together and you have no choice but to go home". I'm sure I'll obsess over it some more there, too.

My knight in shining armor instincts kicked into high gear at what sounded like a damsel in distress in my office. A damsel I know intimately, and after months of living like a monk. I almost reached out to hold her, complicated history be damned. Thank God I controlled myself. Taking on Naomi's case was already an ethical gray area; that meeting threatened to send me all the way to black.

All that was on the heels of Mila calling things off, which was… fine . I mean, I did masturbate furiously to her last night—and probably will again tonight—but she's right. I have rules for a reason, even if I seem to forget them every time she brushes past me and I catch her scent, or whenever she pouts those luscious lips when she disagrees with me but thinks I don't notice. It's taken all my energy to convince myself we would be nothing but a complete catastrophe.

I allow myself a ten second pity party over my day from hell, but look up in time to see Camila heading toward the elevator. I'm on my feet a moment later.

"Ms. Sanchez!" Am I yelling? I'm not trying to scare her, for God's sake. I take a quick breath and try to compose myself. "Are you heading out?" I ask in a much less desperate tone.

She scowls briefly before schooling her face into a neutral expression.

"Yes, sir. I have an engagement this evening."

I don't bother to hide my displeasure.

"I thought you said the cold shoulder treatment was over, Ms. Sanchez."

She looks at me confused and takes another step towards the elevators.

"Uh, it is, Mr. Park. I've had this commitment on your calendar since last week."

I come within touching distance of her, relieved she doesn't pull away.

"Really? I don't remember seeing anything."

She folds her arms, and that adorable pout is in full bloom.

"Yes. Really. And if I don't leave in the next ten minutes, I'll be late."

She turns to leave again, and I catch her arm by the elbow. I would worry I'd crossed a line if I didn't see her eyes dilate at my touch.

"Just a moment, Ms. Sanchez. I'll ride down with you."

She rolls her eyes but still waits as I grab my suitcase and lock my office door. I'm not getting anything done anyway.

We walk towards the elevator in silence, and I push the down button. I see her sneak a glance at me and hide my smirk. Your words say "let's keep things professional", but your body clearly wants a repeat of last night, Camila.

Too bad it looks like she's on her way to a date. I should have known. Today's velvet, indigo dress that catches the light and barely reaches mid-thigh has been doing a number on me all day. I follow her onto the empty elevator, sensing her nervousness as the doors close behind us.

"So…Hot date tonight?"

I miss "casual" by a mile and she rolls her midnight eyes at me again. Someone's earned a spanking.

"If you must know," she sighs irritably, "I have a meeting with my TA to go over some questions I had after the last exam."

"TA? Exam? Are you in school, Ms. Sanchez?"

She shifts uncomfortably, glancing at the numbers as they count down the floors.

"Y-Yes, actually."

I turn to face her, but she refuses to make eye contact.

"Well, Ms. Sanchez? Are you going to tell me what you're going to school for, or do I have to guess?"

She's worrying her bottom lip between her teeth now. Why wouldn't she want to tell me?

"I'm in l-law school actually," she admits hesitantly, her eyes still locked on the descending numbers.

I stare at her, mouth agape. A light breeze could knock me over, like the one from the elevator doors as they finally open. Camila dives out, eager for an escape. I recover just as the doors start to close, stopping them with my briefcase. She's already halfway across the lobby.

"Ms. Sanchez." She keeps walking. "Camila!" At her first name she reluctantly turns around. I quietly savor the pleasure I know she gets from hearing her name on my lips.

"Do you want to tell me why you would hide the fact that you're in law school from your boss, who just so happens to be a partner at a law firm?"

Her eyes dart between me and the revolving doors of the lobby.

"Mr. Park, I really do need to get going. Office hours end at seven."

I walk ahead of her and gesture to my car waiting out front.

"Murray and I will give you a ride. You can't drop news like that and think I won't have follow-up questions."

Her shoulders slump in defeat as she heads towards the car. Murray opens the door and I scoot in behind her, doing my best not to notice the way her skirt rides up as she steps in.

Murray automatically raises the privacy screen once he has the address. I make a mental note to add another zero to his Christmas bonus and then turn to Camila, who's staring out the window.

"So, do you want to tell me why you've never mentioned you're in law school? What school? What year are you?"

She keeps her eyes on the passing city blocks as she answers me in a small voice.

"I'm doing the online program at Syracuse, and I'm in my last semester."

All the air whooshes out of my lungs as I fall back against my seat.

"Your last semester ? You've kept the fact that you're going to law school a secret for three years ?"

She smiles at me sheepishly.

"Five years, actually. The online program takes a bit more time when you have to juggle a full-time job."

I let out a humorless laugh.

"Wow. If I ever need an accomplice or help hiding a body, I'll keep you in mind. Your lips are sealed like Fort Knox."

Her smile drops at the thick sarcasm in my voice and she lays her small hand on my forearm. I'm too pissed to enjoy the contact.

"Mr. Park, are you…upset that I never told you I'm going to law school?"

Before I can answer, the car pulls to a stop. Murray's voice filters in through the intercom.

"We've arrived, Ms. Sanchez."

She gives me a worried look before silently stepping out of the car.

I keep telling myself it shouldn't hurt that she kept law school a secret. She's a grown woman, and what she does outside of work is not my concern. In fact, everyone at BBS the old Camila is still in there, buried under seductive clothes and makeup.

"You'll learn that I prefer to take my time."

I tease the seam of her sex through her panties before slipping a finger beneath the flimsy fabric. She drops her hands from my shoulders to grip the counter, throwing her head back in a silent moan. I kiss along her neck and collarbone, venturing lower still to the generous cleavage revealed by this infuriating dress.

"Henry… God . Stay right there. Don't…move."

I smirk at how ravenous she is for me, and maintain my tight strokes of her clit. I feel her get wetter under my touch, and a corresponding wet spot begins to form on the front of my pants.

Still indulging in her cleavage, I use my teeth to pull down her dress and reveal the dark chocolate nipples that have been haunting me since last night. She has breasts like this and seriously thought I would let her walk away?

Her hips are unconsciously moving with my fingers, amplifying her pleasure along with my torture. From the slight tremble of her thighs against me, she's close.

"Henry, I'm going to…ah…I'm going to cum if you don't stop soon."

I smile against her skin and increase the pace of my fingers on her clit. She whimpers in response.

"That's the idea."

The trembling in her thighs gets stronger and I plunge two fingers into her aching pussy without warning. Her warm wetness grips my fingers and I press down strongly on her clit with my thumb, pushing her over the edge.

"Fuck, Henry! F-Fuck!"

She screams into my shoulder as her orgasm overtakes her and I have the sudden urge to beat my chest like a caveman. Her ecstasy is tantalizing, and I'm now painfully hard and leaking like a faucet.

Her breathing slows as she comes back down from her high. She lifts her head and looks up at me shyly. She gestures to my raging hard-on.

"Sorry to leave you hanging. I don't usually like to cum alone, but you caught me by surprise."

I shrug, happy to let my climax take a backseat in favor of her satisfaction. She reaches for my belt buckle.

"Here. Let me—" I take both her hands in mine and kiss her softly on the cheek.

"There's no need. Honestly, that was perfect."

She worries her lips between her teeth.

"You don't want me to…?"

I shake my head and give her hands a reassuring squeeze.

"I told you I like to take my time, Ms. Sanchez. Have a good evening."

I step away and head for the door, leaving her panting in her kitchen. Sure, I've got blue balls now, but I can tell from the feel of her, from the sound of her, from how she responded to my silent instructions, that she's worth the wait.