Do Bad Things Read online

  “It might help me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Think of all the women who might feel sorry that my campaign consultant stole my girlfriend.”

  My patience was wearing thin. Conrad was hardly senate material. I should have gone with my instincts and told my father I couldn’t take him on. “We’re going to be keeping her out of the spotlight.”

  “I’m sure Miles can spin it in my favor.”

  “According to your current poll numbers, you’re not influential enough to even warrant sympathy at this point. I suggest we reevaluate your position. Possibly consider running next term.”

  “No.” He tapped the table with his fingers. “That’s not an option.”

  “It’s not as if this is a surprise. We discussed the possibility that if I didn’t think you had a solid shot we would come up with another plan. That’s what you pay me for.”

  “If this is because of CC...” He shook his head. “There’s no hard feelings. You can have her.”

  “Be careful.” He was dangerously close to me dropping him all together. “She’s not an object and I won’t allow you to use her as a pawn in your campaign.”

  “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “This has nothing to do with her but I suggest you lose her number.” I straightened my posture. “You’ll do the state tour with Miles. If we can’t raise your numbers I’ll have no choice but to suggest you wait a few more years to pursue this.”

  “I don’t agree.”

  “You don’t have to agree but it’s my job to give you the best advice. I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. You could find another firm to represent you. No hard feelings.” Don’t fuck with me.

  “Let me work some magic on the campaign trail.” He stood as Cecilia approached the table. “I can do this.”

  “I’m sure you can.” I got up and shook his hand. “I’m just leery of the timing, but I’ll have Miles check in with me in a few days.”

  “Sorry to interrupt your dinner,” Conrad said to her as he pulled her chair out. “Jameson is a lucky man.”

  “You’re not interrupting.” She took a seat. “I know how important your campaign is.”

  “Get in touch with Miles,” I instructed him. “He has the itinerary set.”

  “Enjoy the rest of your evening.” His gaze lingered on Cecilia much longer than I would have liked. “Talk to you soon.”

  “Well, that was awkward.” She placed her napkin in her lap. “When I didn’t hear from him after that article I assumed he wasn’t interested in me.”

  “He’ll leave you alone now.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I helped him understand you are not available to be his fake girlfriend.”

  “Why is that?”

  “There is nothing fake about you.” And you’re already mine.

  ***

  Sitting in my study, I went over some numbers. It was after eleven and they were starting to blur. What an exciting life I had. Saturday night, home from a date with the hottest woman I’d ever met, and I’d be crawling into bed alone. Taking it slow sucked.

  Getting up from my desk, I gazed out the window. The city was still buzzing with cars and people. The bars were probably packed. Even the stadium wasn’t done emptying out after the game went into extra innings. My restlessness kicked in when I dropped Cecilia off. That good night kiss wasn’t enough...

  Walking her up to her porch, I didn’t want to let go of her hand. She turned, her long, golden hair tumbled over her shoulder as she looked into my eyes. What was she searching for when she looked at me so intensely? Would I allow her to find it?

  “Do you want to come in?”

  “We probably should call it a night.” Didn’t she know if I went inside I wouldn’t leave tonight?

  “Okay.” She let go of my hand and opened her bag, probably looking for her keys.

  “I want to come in.” I pinned her against the solid door behind her, taking her waist in my hands. “I want so many things.”

  “I do too.” She ran her delicate fingers through my hair. “I like being with you.”

  “Good.” I tilted my head, my fingers digging into her flesh. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You’re being very patient with me.”

  “I get that we have some issues to work through.” I trailed my lips along her jaw, working my way to her mouth. “A good night kiss will have to be enough for tonight.”

  “I dream about those kisses.”

  “So do I, gorgeous.” Sliding my hand up her side and to her face, I tangled my fingers in her hair. “I dream about much more than a kiss.” Nipping at her bottom lip, before crushing my mouth to hers, my cock ached to be inside her. It had been too long since I’d taken her. When I moved away, I released her hair but pressed my forehead to hers. “You’re always on my mind. Your scent lingers on my skin, my mouth aches for your kiss and my body burns full of desire for you.” I let go of her, knowing I had to leave or I’d talk her into sex. Not because I didn’t respect her wishes, but because I simply needed her. “Good night.”

  She let out a long, slow breath, nodding as I walked down the steps and to my car. When had I ever walked away from sex?

  Pacing my study, I willed away my erection. The very thought of her aroused me. I had nothing to take the edge off. I laughed at the irony. Last year I used her as a diversion from my addictions. Now I needed a distraction from her.

  I picked up my phone from the desk. If I text Miles he’ll think I’m using. I would call him at all hours of the night when I was drunk or high. He often came to my rescue when I needed a ride home from a bar or I’d gotten myself in trouble. Scrolling through my text messages, I stopped when I got to CC’s name. My fingers itched to type a message. I wouldn’t ask her to come to me. I just wanted to say good night. Again. Tossing my phone back on the desk, I shook my head. What the hell was wrong with me? Give her time. She said she liked being with me. I was gaining her trust. That was more than I thought I’d get when I asked her to have dinner with me a couple of weeks ago.

  It was time for me to go to bed. I needed to settle down and collect my thoughts. I had too much work to do with my company to be so preoccupied with my personal life. Eventually, she would want to take the next step and it would be worth the wait. I had to be patient.

  As I made my way up the stairs, there was a soft knock at the front door. It was odd that someone would be here this late. Maybe Miles needed to decompress. Sometimes he’d pop in when he needed to bounce some ideas off me. Conrad was probably more than he could handle and he wanted to get my opinion on his next move. Personally I wanted to drop the idiot. I was hoping Conrad would do something stupid and end our misery.

  When I opened the door, I didn’t expect to see her standing there in that memorable lavender shirt that revealed a hint of her tempting cleavage. But there she was, in my entryway looking shy and innocent, but I knew better. I knew what she was capable of doing to me, especially when she showed up here late at night.

  Maybe I didn’t have to be so patient. Perhaps she was here to take the next step after all. And what a step it could be...

  Chapter Ten

  Cecilia

  The security guard in the lobby of Jameson’s building recognized me. He said my name was still on the list to go up to the penthouse. I didn’t know what I was doing here as I made my way to his front door. I wanted to take things slow but that wasn’t working for me anymore. I craved his touch. I needed to feel him inside me.

  My hand trembled when I knocked on his door. There would be no turning back once he opened it. He would consume me just like he had before. I would lose myself in him and when the sun came up I wouldn’t have a single regret. That was what made him so dangerous. I never regretted him.

  When he opened the door, his gaze traveled along my body until he stared into my eyes. I swallowed hard, hoping he wanted me to be here. I sure as hell wanted to be here. A dryness coated my throat a
s I took in his bare chest. I could count his abdominal muscles as they disappeared into his pajama bottoms.

  “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “So you thought my place was the best place to go?” He smirked and my heart slammed against my chest, rattling my core. “I suppose that makes sense since we never did much sleeping here before.”

  “I didn’t want you to leave me tonight.”

  “I didn’t want to leave you.” He leaned against the doorframe. “I need you to be sure of what happens next.”

  “I want to be sure of you, Jameson.”

  “Come inside.” He took my hand and brought me into the foyer. The foyer I didn’t usually make it past. Except that one time when things changed between us. “This isn’t like before.”

  “You’re under the assumption that I can’t get past what we were to one another.” If this was going to work between us I had to tell him why I was so apprehensive. “While I’m not proud of what we were to one another before I know that’s not what we are now.”

  “You do?”

  “What we’ve shared these past two weeks has helped me to see that you’re not looking for the arrangement we had. If you were I don’t think you’d be investing all this time in me.”

  “I screwed up last time.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I’m trying to prove this time isn’t the same.”

  “I know you are. I’ve been afraid to trust you.”

  “That’s understandable. I treated you poorly and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret that.”

  “I don’t want you to have regrets but I have to be sure that you won’t disappear like you did last time. I haven’t been holding back because of that stupid arrangement. I was just as much to blame for that as you. I’m afraid to take the next step with you because I don’t want you to hurt me like you did before.”

  “I won’t,” he whispered. “I didn’t realize the impact you would have on me. That night at the cafe I walked out because I wasn’t good enough for you. I thought you deserved better than me.”

  “Shouldn’t that be my choice?”

  “If you’re worried about me leaving you again you shouldn’t be.” He gently kissed my lips. “I’ve come to a realization.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I belong to you.” He slowly kissed me, running his hands along my sides and across my breasts. “All of me.”

  “I want you to have all of me.” I draped my arms over his shoulders. “Make love to me.”

  “There’s something I need to tell you before I take you upstairs.”

  “What is it?” He could tell me anything now that I knew we were going to be together.

  “I saw your name on the list for the charity benefit.” He brushed his lips along my jaw. “I knew you were going to be there. That’s why I came.”

  “You were stalking me?”

  “You have no idea.” He lifted me up and carried me to the stairs. “I usually send Miles to those things for me because I have to avoid social settings with alcohol, but when I saw you were escorting Conrad I couldn’t let it go. A year was too long. I had to see you.”

  “I thought about you so many times but I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” I cuddled into his broad chest. “I didn’t think you wanted to see me again.”

  “Now you’re stuck with me.” He kissed me as he went up the steps. “I can’t be away from you.”

  “You don’t have to be,” I assured him. “I came here tonight because I want us to work.”

  “We work.” He set me on my feet by his large bed, running his hands up my arms and to my shoulders. “You wore the shirt.”

  “I thought you should have the honor of taking it off me.” I slipped off my shoes, stepping back I sat of the edge of the bed. “Undress me.”

  “I don’t remember you being this demanding.” He came toward me, dropping to his knees between my legs.

  “Not demanding, just impatient.” I laid on my back as he unbuttoned my shorts. “I remember how good it feels to have you inside me.”

  “I missed being inside you.” He shimmied my shorts down my legs before taking them off me. “The nights have been long.”

  “Mmm...” I clutched the comforter when he kissed along my thighs and to my center. The heat of his breath sent a hot chill through me as he pressed his tongue to my slit. Propping myself on my elbows, I gazed at him as he removed my panties and hiked my leg over his shoulder.

  “I’m keeping these for my collection.” He twirled my panties around his finger.

  “You still have the others?”

  “It was my way of keeping you with me.” He leaned forward and kissed my stomach. “They would remind me how amazing it was to be with you.”

  “You’re still the only one who has ever done this to me.”

  “You have no idea what that does to me.” He grazed his stubble along my inner thigh on his way to my mound. Spreading me open, he pushed his fingers inside me. “I’ve dreamed about doing this.” He lowered his head, gliding his tongue along my opening, blowing his warm breath over my wetness.

  I arched off the mattress when he slipped his hand under my backside, bringing me closer to his mouth. His fingers and tongue worked simultaneously as I teetered on the edge of some kind of erotic madness. He didn’t back down as my muscles coiled tight inside my stomach. His name tumbled from my lips as I rode out a climax strong enough to make me shudder against his face. Rocking my hips into him, he gently licked and kissed me. I collapsed onto the bed as he made his way up my stomach, unbuttoning my shirt as he went. Spreading open the fabric, he caressed my breasts with his fingertips. My breaths were choppy and rough, but he was soft and sweet.

  “You’re beautiful.” He unclasped my bra, dipping his head to my breasts. My toes curled when he trailed his hand along my side as he took my nipple in his mouth. Biting down, he swirled his tongue.

  “I’m on fire for you.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “Please.”

  He lifted up and stared into my eyes. I once thought I could see into his soul. I was finally learning the man I desperately wanted to know. All of his complexities were laid out for me but there was more. I no longer saw a flawed person when I gazed into his green depths. Now I was beginning to see him and he was far more intriguing than I could have dared to imagine.

  “I have to get a condom.” He gently kissed my lips. “I’ll be right back.”

  “No.” I reached for his hand, keeping him with me. “I’m on the pill.”

  He continued to stare at me and I wondered if I had assumed too much.

  “I haven’t been with anyone since you and before you there was just one other person. I always used protection with him.”

  “You’re so sweet.” He cupped the side of my face in his hand. “You’re the last woman I was with.”

  “Really?”

  “Don’t seem so surprised.” His genuine laugh made my heart soar. “No one would ever measure up to you so I decided not to even try.”

  I kissed his palm understanding exactly what he meant. “I didn’t want to be with anyone else either.”

  “If you’re certain that you don’t want me to use anything I’d like to make love to you now.” He tugged down his pants, revealing his impressive erection. “I want to show you how it’s supposed to be between us.”

  He took my hand and guided me into a seated position, taking my legs he secured them around his waist. “You said you were afraid of me leaving again.” He pushed inside me, gritting his teeth and moaning until he was fully sheathed in my heat. “That would be impossible for me.”

  Holding onto his upper arms, I closed my eyes and moved with him. Tangling his fingers in my hair, he kissed me, pouring all of his passion into the encounter. Lowering me onto the bed, he climbed on top of me, hitting me deeper, taking his time so I could feel every inch of him. All of him... that was all I had ever wanted. He made me wait for it but it was worth those twelve months.

  His soli
d form covered me, warming me, solidifying that there could never be anyone else. Not now, not ever.

  “Jameson...”

  “Open your eyes,” he mumbled.

  I blinked a few times before focusing on his chiseled jaw and distinct cheekbones. When he smiled at me, I reached up and circled my finger over the dimple on his right cheek. There were so many things I hadn’t noticed the last time we were together. So many things I couldn't wait to explore.

  “You feel fantastic.” When he bit his sexy bottom lip, I spiraled into another climax.

  Clenching tight around him, I screamed out his name, clawing into his back and thrashing beneath him.

  “I’m going to make you come all night,” he whispered. “In so many different ways.” He smirked as he pumped in and out of me. “I can be really creative.”

  I took his face between my hands and kissed him, swirling my tongue inside his mouth. “You’ll get no complaints from me.”

  “Vixen.” He thrust inside me, stilling his movements and tightening his hold on me. “CC... I...”

  “Let go.”

  Jameson

  “Damn, woman.” I collapsed on top of her. “That was fantastic.”

  “It was.” She rubbed my back with long, tender strokes. “I’m glad I decided to intrude tonight.”

  “You’re never an intrusion.” I slipped from inside her, immediately feeling her absence. “Can I get you anything?”

  “I just want to be with you.”

  I helped her up to the top of the bed and threw the comforter back. When we were both under, I positioned her onto my chest. She rested her head on me as I took her hand and interlocked our fingers. It had been a long time since I shared my bed with anyone.

  After a few moments of silence, I gazed down at her peaceful face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly parted. “Did you fall asleep?” I asked quietly in case she had.

  “No.” She opened her bright, brown eyes. “I like being in your arms.”