Caught Crossing the Line (3 page)

I worked the shit out of Ryder today. When I left the office, he was still there. I smiled at him and started to walk away.

“Hey, Caleb, can I have a word with you?” Matthew asked as he jumped up from around the desk.

I turned back and walked into his office, closing the door just in case he needed to discuss something private. He was immediately in my face. Did he plan to get fired? Or just knocked the fuck out?

“Listen, this isn’t about work, it’s about Sophia. I ended it with her today. The thing is, I like her, and I hurt her by cutting her off so harshly. So, whatever it is you got for her, it better be more than just a roll in the hay because if that’s it…I’m not going to back off,” he threatened. Well, I wasn’t a pussy, and I’m the Alpha here.

“You will back the fuck off. I’m still your boss so watch how you fucking speak to me. Second, when it comes to Sophia, it’s none of your business now. She’s mine and that’s the way it’s going to stay. I’m not going to cross the line without the knowledge that I’m going to make her my wife.”

“That’s good to know because she deserves more than that.” He took a step back from me, and I knew he understood me completely. I wasn’t playing. He just took care of that for me; claiming he’d take her from me if I didn’t treat her like I should. I wanted to break his jaw. I was looking at my newest sparring partner if he tried to come after her.

“Yes, and she’ll get everything she fucking wants. If you don’t stay away from her, other than for business, you’ll be fired fast as hell for pissing me off. Then I’d fucking beat your ass. Ethical or not, she’s mine,” I roared, getting all in his face before giving him a shove with my shoulder and walking out of his office.

I got home and decided it was time to lay out my game plan. I noticed her blush and shiver when I touched her, so I knew she was attracted to me. Whether it was enough to stop her from telling me to fuck off and charge me with sexual harassment was another thing, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me.

When I got a moment alone with her, I’d test the waters and see if she’d give me any more vibes. If she did, all bets were off; she’d be gracing my bed every fucking night. Up until I met her sleeping alone was fantastic, but since the Italian beauty came into my life, sleeping alone fucking sucked.

~~~~~~~~

The moment I made it to the office, I was accosted by my annoying-ass sister-in-law and brother.

“Can I help you two pain in the asses?” I asked in irritation. I had a feeling it was going to be about Sophia. My brother had that fire-breathing look on his caveman’s face.

I didn't have to wait for a response, Malcolm said, “First, dick, stop being a shithead to my wife. Second, you need to be fucking careful. I heard about you and the new lawyer.”

“So, we’ve bumped heads and I made his ass work harder. What’s the big deal? I’m the fucking boss and he’s got to do what I tell him.” I didn’t care for the insolence lately from all the people involved. The only one not giving me too much shit was Sophia.

“I’m not talking about Matthew. I’m talking about the tail you’re chasing,” he stated.

“Don’t call her that,” I roared.

“See. You do know things could go completely wrong for you if you pursue her, right?” Malcolm asked indignantly. Kristen just watched us, ready to stop us from getting too crazy with each other. I haven’t kicked his ass in years, but it doesn’t mean I still won’t.

“Just quit it. I got this. Just leave it be, bro,” I warned him.

“No. You know she was let go in Chicago because she was fucking her boss who was married,” Malcolm snapped.

I got in my brother’s face, and roared, “You’re lucky you’re my brother because I’d knock your ass out. I believe her when she said she wasn’t fucking him. She explained it to us.”

“You’re blinded by her beauty,” he refuted.

“It’s more than that,” I stated. It was a hell of a lot more than that. I wanted to marry her, something I’d never wanted before.

“You better be sure,” my brother warned. I knew he was looking out for the firm and me.

It was then that they left me alone to think about her. There was no doubt in my mind about what I was going to do because I couldn’t give up the need to have her.

Twenty minutes later, Kristen was back in my office.

“What now?” I growled at her.

“Don’t be a dick. I came in here to tell you what I just overheard.”

“What?” I instantly knew it was about Sophia, and some heads were going to roll.

“I walked into the kitchen and two of the guys were talking about Sophia and how they’d nail her. Then another one claimed to have done it already.”

“Who said that shit?”

“Lee, Everett, and Rudy.”

“Do you know of any other shit she’s been dealing with?”

“I heard them say that she’s after you. That’s why Malcolm was pissed this morning.”

I jumped up from my chair. “I need to speak with Jackson and then Sophia.”

The moment I got to Jackson’s office he could tell I was irate. I told him what Kristen said and that we needed to take action.

“Of course, Caleb. We can’t have our firm looking like a sexist environment and ruin its reputation,” Jackson replied to my outburst. He calmly stood up, fixed his suit jacket, and added, “Let’s get to the bottom of this. Have Sophia meet us in the conference room for a discussion in five minutes. I want this nipped in the bud.”

“Perfect,” I said then walked out of the room to get the ball rolling. Kristen called her into the conference room while we sat and waited for her. The moment she came in we both stood up and Jackson articulated for her to take a seat in between us.

He started the discussion because I was still just looking at her. “Sophia, Caleb and I are wondering how things are coming along for you? It’s only been a few days, but we’ve noticed that you have been singled out by some of the employees since you are our first female lawyer in this office. Are you having any problems?”

She blushed as she looked up at me, then spoke directly to me. “Nothing but guys being guys. They have been having their fun, seeing which one of them I would take home. I had some of this kind of flirting back home, but I ignored it, for the most part.” It was clear she was trying to brush off the insults and rumors, but it was something that I couldn’t deal with. I would not be having any of that in this office, especially when it came to her.

“That’s intolerable. You tell me who has been bothering you, and I’ll make sure they are so busy for the next year they won’t have time to call their mommas,” I exclaimed angrily.

I knew Jackson was trying not to laugh, but hell, he was after jailbait. My Sophia was a woman, a beautiful, sexy, and brilliant woman. “I’ll handle this, Sophia. Let me know if you are not being welcomed by anyone, and I’ll deal with it,” I added, still seething with rage.

She was immediately trying to diffuse the situation and my temper. “Please, Mr. James, you don’t need to worry. I don’t want to ruffle any feathers. I would rather you not bother.” Looking into her eyes, I wanted to kiss her lips and take away the stress I saw in her chocolate orbs.

“It’s Caleb, and I won’t worry, I’ll plan. I’m going to listen and walk in on one of their conversations and straighten this out. I am a partner here, and my word is only superseded by Jackson’s. So, I won’t let these jackasses act like teenage boys.” I placed my hand on her slender, smooth hand that was outstretched on the table.

The change in her expression communicated to me what I needed to know; she was nervous around me and interested. Jackson needed to go find something else to do. There were plenty of cases and his little woman to take care of.

“I have to go, Sophia. You let me or Caleb know if you need anything, and welcome again. Caleb, I’ll see you this afternoon.” I nodded to him and turned back to her to squeeze her hand tighter, her eyes meeting mine in surprise and delight.

Once he closed the door, I caressed her hand, rubbed it slowly. “Mr. James,” she whispered in admonishment, but I disregarded it. I reluctantly took my hand off hers and said, “It’s Caleb. How many times am I going to have to remind you?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” she murmured, dipping her head in shame.

My hand rose, gripped her chin softly and lifted it up so her eyes met mine. “Don’t be sorry, Sophia. I’m the one who should be sorry,” I admitted before I lifted both her hands to stand up with me. Moving my arm quickly around her waist, I tugged her to me and dropped my mouth just above hers. “For this,” I murmured before taking her sweet, full lips with mine. She mewled in my mouth as I slipped my tongue into hers. My hands slid up and down her back with a mind of their own. Actually, they were in cahoots with my dick who wanted to expand on the kissing. I gripped her ass and pressed her into my cock, letting her feel my thick ridge that needed to be inside her—soon.

It took a moment for reality to hit her before she pushed herself angrily away from me. “What is wrong with you? You should be ashamed of yourself, kissing me like that,” she screeched.

“Like what? What about the kiss didn’t you like? Did I do something wrong?”

“Something wrong? You’re married!” she cried out in frustration. She walked away from me and started pacing before she yelled at herself. “I can’t believe I made out with a married man. Damn it!”

I started to chuckle, and she turned to look at me with pure outrage and disgust on her face. I didn’t like that look, but I had a way to fix it. I knew she wanted me and she just proved it. Her fate was set in stone and nothing but our death would change it. Walking up to her with my agenda written on my face, she started shaking her head.

“Don’t shake your head at me.” I continued to move in on her space as she continued to walk back away from me. My approach was faster than she expected, and now she was trapped. I had her backed against the far wall of the conference room, my hands on the sides of her lovely face. “I’m not married, and I don’t know where you got that from.”

“You’re not married?” she asked softly.

“I’m not married and have never been,” I declared sensually, hungry with the need to possess her in every way possible. I would be married soon and so would she.

Relief colored her face, and that was my cue. My mouth returned to hers, kissing her deeper than before. I groaned when she started to sigh with desire. Our bodies were pressed against each other, feeling all we could with our clothes on. I wanted to fuck her against the wall, but I would prefer her all to myself without the chance of interruption.

If I didn’t back away now, I’d be buried inside her. My cock was already leaking, and I couldn’t take much more before my pants were down and her skirt was up. With the modicum of control I still possessed, I pushed away from her.

“Fuck,” she moaned as she looked up at me.

“Yes, we will, tonight,” I warned. She was going to be under me, over me, and filled with me.

“I’ve just ruined my career. I have to go.”

She tried to get away from me, but I put my arm out to stop her. I pulled her back into my chest and placed a slow, languid kiss on her lips before I whispered, “Sorry, babe. You’ve worked so hard only to give it all up for me.”

“So, you are going to fire me?” she asked disbelievingly.

“No, but as the mother of my children, you can’t be working for too hard or too long.”

“The mother of your children? A bit presumptuous?”

“No. You’re mine. I crossed a line in ethics I’d never thought I would, and you’re my penance.”

“Penance? That’s rather insulting,” she bitingly replied before trying to get away.

“It’s not nice. I’m going to have to suffer a lifetime of trying to keep a brilliant and beautiful woman happy and satisfied. I’m going to have to spend a lifetime teetering on the brink of being on the opposite side of the law whenever another man looks at you. I’m going to have to spend a lifetime with this gut-wrenching feeling of anxiety because having you with me seems like a fucking amazing prize that at any moment could be taken from me.” And just like that she was mine. Her eyes moistened, and I was certain her panties were flooded. I was a lawyer, pleading my case was easy, especially when it meant everything to win.

“You don’t play fair,” she hissed with a pout.

“No, I don’t, but it doesn’t change the outcome now, does it? You’re mine, and that’s the way it is. Now give me a kiss and let’s get our day done so I can fuck my baby into you.”

“I’m on the pill.” I didn’t respond because I didn’t like the idea of her needing the pill before me, but it didn’t matter because soon she’d get off of it and knocked up. Couldn’t have her leaving me for one of these lawyers here because an orange jumpsuit would definitely be in my future.

The moment I let her walk out of the conference room, she had to run into one of the other lawyers, Lee Kent, a fucking muscle head who was either working a case or his mattress out with his latest. For all involved, she dismissed what he was going to say and walked back to her office. He looked at her ass as she walked by him, then back up and saw me glaring at him. I was on him in an instant, not in his face, but close enough he actually flinched.

“Kent, if your ass wants to keep your job, I suggest you keep your eyes off hers. As a matter of fact, don’t speak to her again. She isn’t going to warm your bed, so think again.” I didn’t care if he took it to mean she was mine because she was, and if I caught anyone of these supposed professionals fucking with her, they were going to be panhandling on the street corner.