The Ruthless Heir

JUDGE’s [POV]

“Fuck I will. You forget who you’re dealing with. I’m not some courtesan working the Cat House. I’m Erica. De La Rosa. You don’t simply get to dismiss me.”

“Is that so?”

I turn to her and close the door. There’s a finality that comes with that sound. Shifting in the air, a weight to it.

I peel her hand off my arm and walk her back to the wall, setting my hand against it and taking in the difference in size between us. I lean in close and scan her eyes, her flushed cheeks, and her mouth, noting the subtle signs of arousal. Both of her hands come up to grip the towel tight.

“You don’t want me to dismiss you?”

Her pulse thrums at her neck.

“Alright. Do you want my attention? You have it. Now drop the towel.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

She swallows audibly but doesn’t obey.

“Drop it. Now.”

Slowly, she does it, letting it fall to the floor and baring herself to me. I look down at her breasts and flat stomach. Then the slit of her sex. I return my gaze to hers.

“You’re very beautiful. But you already know that, don’t you?”

She bites her lip.

“And perhaps we’re both forgetting the reason you’re here.”

“Judge”

“Turn around and put your hands against the wall.”

Goose bumps rise along her arms as she stares up at me, trying to understand what’s happening. I’m not sure myself, to be honest. But I can’t have her asking questions about my past.

About the wound that almost killed me. So I will distract us both. And I’ll put her firmly on the opposite side of the boxing ring while I’m at it because that’s safer for her. For both of us.

“Do it.”

She turns, hands shaking a little as she sets them against the wall.

“Now walk backward but keep your hands where they are.”

“Judge, I”

“Don’t stop until I tell you.” I give her space and watch as she does what I say, her fingertips trailing down the wall as she moves her feet farther from it, bending at the hips. “Stop,” I tell her when her torso is parallel to the floor. “Spread your legs wider.”

She glances back at me, eyes nervous but curious. She spreads her legs to shoulder width.

“Wider.”

She hesitates but then does it, and from between her ass cheeks, I see the inviting mound of her sex. The glistening pink folds of her lips open. The tiny shadow of her other hole.

I swallow hard, pressing my palm against the length of my erection before moving closer to her and sliding my fingernails over the curve of her hip. With my other hand, I take a handful of hair and twist it around my fist. I press myself against her ass.

She gasps, but I don’t move. Let her feel me. Let her know exactly the beast she’s toying with.

“This is what the women at the Cat House do for me,” I say in a low voice. “For starters. And anything else I ask.”

Nothing. Not a word.

I tug the fistful of hair, straightening her, and wrap my other hand around her stomach to hold her to me.

“Is this what you wanted? You are curious about the Cat House.”

“Let go.”

I hold her tighter. “Tell me.” She shudders as my breath caresses her ear. “Tell me, Erica..”

“So I’m no different than a whore to you?” she asks instead of answering me, but I do hear the tremble of her voice.

I bring my jaw to her cheek. I haven’t shaved yet, and I rub the scruff of it against her soft skin. “No, little monster. You are nothing like them. But you are impulsive and spoiled and arrogant. Those things I will break you of.”

“Let me go.”

“You sure you want that?”

“Let go, you fucker.”

I snort and tug her head backward, forcing a cry from her. “Do I scare you?”

“What the hell do you want from me?” she yells.

“Are you ready to listen?”

She grunts, twisting against me.

“For starters, I’d like you to get dressed.”

With a grin, I let her go and step backward. She spins to face me.

“Yet you’re the one who keeps stripping me naked. What the fuck is that about? We’re not in your courtroom, Judge.” She emphasizes my name and my position.

“Get dressed, Erica. And eat your food. I’ll be back tonight before dinner, and when I’m back, I’m going to ask you again why you’re here. If you can’t answer, you’ll be spending another day locked in your room tomorrow. After cleaning the stables, that is, so I suggest you think hard. Can you do that for me?”

“I’ll do nothing for you.”

“For yourself then.”

Her face falls, that vulnerability exposed again, at least momentarily. She hangs her head. I just reminded her exactly why she was here and what she did. All that talk about walking through the dark? I’m sending her there alone. She may be strong, but I get the feeling she’s also been alone for a very long time, and I don’t want that for her.

I sigh. And I decided to give her something. “Would you like to see the boys?” She knows instantly I mean the dogs. She loves them. I noticed that the last time she was here, which was shocking, considering, well, the dogs themselves are a frightening brood to behold. But Erica took to them instantly and they to her.

She glances up at me with both suspicion and hope in her eyes. She nods once.

“Get dressed. Lois will bring them up.”

She doesn’t say anything, but I’m pretty sure she thinks I’m lying. I walk to the door, open it, and step out into the hall. When I glance back, I find her still standing there, still staring at me, her forehead furrowed.

“Get dressed and eat. Understand?”

She nods.

Fuck. What am I doing with her?

I dress in my room, my usual three-piece tweed suit for the rare days I don’t have to be in the courtroom. I could work from home, but I go to my office in town. I need to get away from here, away from her. Even with a wall dividing us, I feel her presence. And it’s fucking with me.

It’s my damn fault. I should know better. Santiago trusted me to take care of his sister. He has put his faith in me. I’m sure showering with her wasn’t something he imagined I’d be doing as part of her discipline. And the thing after? Against the wall? What the fuck was that?

I look up from the work on my desk and scrub my hand through my hair. It’s the little things she does. When I woke her, how she curled into me, leaning into my hand, and moaning. The way my body reacted when she ran the tips of her fingers over my chest and abdomen.

What having her near me does to me. It’s nothing I’ve ever experienced with any other woman. And it’s not just the fact of my dick getting hard at the mere thought of her. It’s more.

There’s so much more to Erica than anyone knows. Then even her brother, the person closest to her knows.

There’s a vulnerability inside her. She tries to hide it and usually succeeds, but I know she wants to give it over. Give it up and be held in arms strong enough to carry her and give her space to breathe.

I want to be that person. A part of me has always wanted to be that person for her.

But it’s out of the question. I meant what I said. I’m dangerous for her. I have no intention of marrying. I know what I’m capable of, and I won’t do that to her. But I can’t ruin her for another, even if the thought of any other man touching her makes me want to punch my fist through a wall.

I’m reading the same document for the umpteenth time when my phone rings. It’s my secretary. I push a button. “Yes?”

“Judge Montgomery, I’m sorry to bother you, but your mother has called three times. She insists she needs to talk to you.”

My mother. Wasn’t last night enough? “You’re paid to handle things like this, Meredith.”

“I’m so sorry. She’s just…”

I sigh. Meredith is sweet, and I’m sure my mother bulldozed right over her. “It’s all right. I know.” I lean back in my chair. “Put her through.”

“Right away, sir.”

“Well, finally you can find time in your busy day to take my call,” she starts.

“Mother. Good afternoon to you.”

“Afternoon. It’s evening. I’ve been calling all day. That dim-witted secretary you have-”

“What can I do for you?” I ask as I check the time. It’s a little past seven. I didn’t even realize how late it was. And Meredith was probably too nervous to say anything. I’ll make sure she receives overtime for the extra hours.

“We didn’t finish our conversation last night,” she says.

“No, we didn’t. And there’s a reason for that. My brother is a grown man. I think it’s about time he speaks for himself, don’t you?”