Reciprocity

CHAPTER 18

Lila was stuck in a strange state between relief and fear for the weeks following the trial. Adam had been found guilty on all charges, but there was still sentencing to go. She was teetering on an edge¸ and I knew things would tip when the ruling came down.

Our little getaway helped, but the countdown to sentencing was excruciating. We were both ready for it to be done, over. Put the crap in the past and move on to the future.

“Lunch today?” Lila asked as we rode the elevator up to the office.

My face scrunched up a bit at the uncertainty in her tone. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”

She looked down to the floor. “I just didn’t know what your schedule looked like.”

“Sunny with a chance of afternoon Honeybear.” I winked at her.

That got a smile to peek out and an elbow into my ribs. The damn dark cloud was washing over her again. The effect it had on her was hell to watch, and harder every day to combat.

One fucking day left before Adam’s blackness wouldn’t be able to touch her anymore. I hoped the judge would give him the full extent of each charge.

The elevator opened, and I linked my fingers with hers, pulling her along and out of her head.

“Sorry.” She sighed and leaned against me as we walked down the hall.

“Don’t be. Stop being sorry. It’s his fault. He’s the one who should be sorry.”

“I hate that he still has a hold on me.”

I stopped, and she looked up at me. I caressed her cheek, giving her the reassurance she needed. “He won’t after tomorrow.”

She leaned into my touch, relaxing and even resting against me. The wall she was unknowingly building between us was collapsing. “I’m not paying you the attention you deserve. It should be you who consumes my every thought.”

“Me and my dick.”

Her eyes widened and she looked around, then smiled and nodded when she saw no one was watching. I couldn’t stop myself from leaning forward and kissing her. She let out a small gasp before gripping my jacket and pulling me closer, deepening it, opening her mouth and seeking out my tongue with her own.

“PDA! Ewwwww.” Owen laughed as he passed us by.

I broke away from Lila and flipped Owen the bird as he continued on down the hall. Even Lila was snickering. I couldn’t think of a better replacement for me. Owen was a good guy and had a way of keeping the atmosphere light—something Lila needed.

“Come on.” She pulled on my arm, and we continued.

I kissed her again at her door before continuing down the way to my office. Twenty-four hours. Things would change then—we just had to make it through the next day.

There was a clink as I threw my bag onto my desk. I’d almost forgotten that I remembered to bring a photo for my desk. I already had one from our wedding, one taken at my parents’ house, and another from the holiday party, but the newest one could possibly be my favorite of all.

I pulled the photo set in its new frame from my bag and placed it on my desk, next to my monitor. It was bound to get me in trouble, causing a constant hard-on looking at her lust-filled face every day.

Lila still pleaded with me to keep it at home, but I was set on what I’d said at Disneyworld. I wanted to be able to see it, see her, all the time.

I needed the good times to help me get past the days like today, when the world weighed down on my shoulders.

It was a beautiful day, which hopefully meant good things were coming our way. The late April day was not filled with showers, but rather a crystal clear blue sky and bright sun. Even the temperature was perfect for the day—sixty-five degrees.

“We just have to get through this, and it’s done. Over,” Lila said to herself in the mirror as she did her makeup.

I wanted to say something, anything to reassure her, but at the moment everything failed me. We were both wound tight. The last few months had been a constant up and down, and we both desperately needed Adam to be gone and our lives to even out.

My mind couldn’t stop playing out the devastation of Adam getting the minimum, which would have him out in less than ten years. I honestly couldn’t gauge my reaction if that happened. Would I crumble along with Lila, or would I fucking lose it and do anything I could to kill him?

Part of me wanted that. His death would make her world a better place, and I would do anything for her.

Darren was very concerned about that reaction—afraid I might go off the deep end and snap. What was worse was that I could see it playing out in my mind. The satisfaction of watching the life bleed out of him, out of his eyes.

The need to protect her at any cost, even above my own life, was severe.

I pulled my suit jacket on and straightened the collar in the mirror. “Ready?”

Her reflection froze still as a statue. I turned toward her, waiting.

“Tell me everything’s going to be okay.”

Fuck. I was already failing her today.

“Everything’s going to be great. In a few hours, Adam will be in prison for a very long time.” I couldn’t even convince myself with the tone I spoke in, so how the hell was I supposed to convince her?

Adam would be out of our lives, but for how long? Could I handle the decision if it wasn’t as good as we hoped?

She turned to look at me, her demeanor shut down, and I fell apart.

I covered the few steps between us and scooped her up in my arms, crashing my lips to hers. She shook in my arms, fingers scratching at me as they wrapped around my neck, teeth clacking as the frenzy built.

How could I forget the easiest, most simple way to get us out of our heads?

Touch.

Hands, bodies, mouths—skin against skin.

I turned her and threw us down on the bed. We were both fully dressed and ready to leave, but there was no way we could go as we were.

I was driven with need as I pushed her knees open and ground my hips against her, my cock begging to be inside. My teeth dug into her skin as my fingers tangled in her hair, pulling back. Lovey hugs weren’t strong enough on a day like today, and not when we both needed a connection.

She was moaning, her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. I reached between us as I claimed her mouth again and pulled down the zipper of my pants to get my cock out. I moved her panties aside, happy to find her soaking wet and ready, and shoved my dick into her pussy.

My eyes rolled back, and I grunted as her tight warmth surrounded me. Fucking perfection. I could spend every moment of every day between her legs.

There was no time to waste. We were both going crazy. No words, no talk, just our moans and groans of want filling the air. I drove my hips into her harder and faster, trying to force the demons out of us. Lila was screaming, pleading with sounds, begging me to take it all away.

Everything was static except the pleasure. A crescendo in her sounds sent a ripple through me. My balls were pulled high, so close to giving me the release I needed. Her pussy tightened, her walls clamping around me. So close.

Harder.

Teeth clamped down on my neck, and my cock fired off without warning. I bucked into her, my whole body tingling in an almost pain.

Everything was gone. The whole world ceased to be. All that was left was fuzzy, tingling, white nothing and Lila caging me in.

Strength failed us both and we collapsed onto the bed. Heavy breaths, satisfied bodies, and clearing minds. After a minute, I tilted back to look at her.

“Hi.”

Her lips twitched. “Hi.”

“I think we may have to change.”

She let out a giggle that made the last of the tension fleeing from me.

“Considering your come is sliding down my ass right now, I’d have to agree.”

“Fuck.” I sat up, both of us moaning as my cock popped out, and stared down, watching me seep out of her. I licked my lips, loving the sight of pearly white covering her pussy. My cock twitched, wanting to do it again.

“Get back in.” She pouted at me. “I wasn’t ready for you to leave.”

I smiled at her and slid my still hard but softening cock into her. “Sorry. You know that’s one of my favorite things to see.”

“Pervert.” She nuzzled my neck, and I hissed when she moved over her bite. It was going to be a dark one.

“I almost feel bad for the drycleaner.”

She let out a small laugh. “Yeah, I’m on my third one since meeting you.”

“Third?”

“The first gave me dirty looks every time she saw one of your spots. You need to learn to aim better.”

I laughed out loud and kissed her hard. “I get so excited I can’t contain it.”

She kissed me, and we sat there for another moment, taking in the peace. When we pulled apart and looked down, I was also covered in a mixture of us.

“Looks like we’re both changing.”

“That’s what happens when you don’t push your pants down. But I also love seeing you with just your cock sticking out of the opening.”

“Me too.” I glanced at the clock. “Shit, we’re late.”

She tilted her head to look over. “No coffee then.”

I shook my head. “Nope.” I held my hand out to help her stand. “Come on, Mrs. Thorne, we need to get out of here.”

A half hour and one clothes-change later, we walked into the courtroom and sat down behind Lawrence.

“Good morning,” he said with a smile. “Ready for this to be over?”

I blew out a breath. “You have no idea.”

“I have a good feeling.”

I let out a nervous chuckle. “I’m glad one of us does.”

He gave an understanding nod and turned back to the file in front of him.

Lila was silent beside me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and she leaned in to me, her lips pressing against my neck.

It was just the two of us as everyone had already taken time off for the trial. The sentencing was so short that we promised everyone we would call them when it was over. There were only a few sparse people sitting around. So few, in fact, that Lila’s father and stepmother made up nearly half.

I tried not to look over at the bald fucker across the aisle, but I couldn’t keep my glare away. He stared straight ahead, not even giving a hint he noticed our presence. It was a good idea on his part, because I was more than prepared for another beat down of his ass. It was probably due to the restraining order. He was allowed near us at that moment only because the case involved his stepson.

The bitch on the other side of him, however, was shooting daggers.

It was then I finally took a good look at Cheryl Mitchell-Palmer. She looked like a cross between suburban wife and trailer park trash, which was a strange combination. Her once-black hair was riddled with gray. She was almost sickly thin with long, fake nails, overdone makeup, and an overpowering smell of cigarettes.

The smell had me craving a puff or two, but I’d been good and avoided smoking for the past few months. I wasn’t going to let her of all people make me fall off the wagon. If Lila could squash the nicotine call, so could I.

A smile crept onto my face as the door opened and Adam was let in wearing a bright orange jumpsuit and shackles. It was fitting, and the image gave me a much-needed boost. He kept his gaze down, barely glancing at his parents. I was getting wound up at the idea of him looking our way and imagining ways to hurt him if he did—waiting for him to so I’d have an excuse to let loose.

The judge entered a few minutes later and sat down. My grip on Lila tugged her closer just as her fingers locked down on mine. He took a moment to look over some papers in front of him, then turned his gaze to the room.

“We’re here today for the sentencing hearing of Adam Mitchell.”

I tensed, my breath almost stopping. Months boiled down to the next words out of his mouth.

The judge cleared his throat, then looked over to Adam. “Mr. Mitchell, you have been found guilty on multiple charges by a jury of your peers. As I reviewed all the charges again in combination with the testimony, it was shocking to me.”

My muscles tightened, hope rising from his words. Lila was the same, leaning forward a bit in anticipation.

“Your all-consuming hatred for Delilah Thorne is profound, and I can find no basis for it. After she was taken from her father’s home years ago, you were sent to jail for attacking her. Once released, you continued in your violence against others, unrepentant of your actions.”

It felt like I was about to burst, begging him to get to the damn point. Was he drawing it out to torture us?

“Thirteen years passed in which you had no contact with her, and yet you still hunted her down. You tricked your way past her security and brutally attacked her.”

I flinched, a memory of that night flashing.

“Your lack of remorse is astounding. It is my ruling that you need to serve the full extent of each charge against you, reaching a total of twenty-seven years. It is your actions that have put you here, and no other’s. Take responsibility for yourself.”

A harsh breath left me. Disbelief followed by relief filled my body all in the same moment.

We did it.

Lila was still staring at the judge, almost as if she was waiting for him to change his mind. When he stood and exited the room, she remained silent.

I stood, smiling, and held out my hand.

“Thank you so much, Lawrence, for all your help.”

“I think I should be the one saying that. It’s not often I get to work with other lawyers, and it’s usually a disaster when I do.”

I laughed at that. “Yeah, lawyers don’t make the best clients.”

“But you did.”

We waited a moment for Lila’s father to leave first, then walked out with Lawrence. I waved goodbye as he headed off, but Lila wasn’t beside me.

I looked over and froze as I stared at her. “Baby?”

Lila’s whole body shook and she leaned over, one hand pressed against the wall for support. A choking sob came from her. Her reaction confused me, and I rushed to her side.

I pulled her face up to look at me and sighed in relief when I saw a smile on her face—it was a cry of joy. Her nightmare had the fairy tale ending we hoped for, and the evil monster was banished from the kingdom.

She threw her arms around me and cried into my chest. Happy tears.