Judge (Breeding #5)(14)

“So, tell me about school,” I say, and you would think me telling her I’m going to fuck her was more of a shock, but again she’s got the round eyes of surprise when I ask her about her day.

I just can’t fucking win.





Chapter Eight





Nora





How can him asking me about school be the most shocking thing he’s said to me? Maybe it’s because no one ever asked how my day was. “It was long,” I admit, looking down at my food and suddenly feeling shy. He reaches out to cup my cheek, and I raise my head to look at him.

“Kitten. What’s wrong?” My eyes meet his.

“It’s silly.” I shake my head. He pulls me into his lap.

“It’s not silly. Tell me. I don’t want you keeping anything from me.” His face turns soft, showing me the man behind all that power. A softer side to him. There is still so much we don’t know about one another, but somehow he is the closest I’ve ever been to having someone in my life.

“I don’t want things between us either.” I admit. He gives me a smile, but I see a warning in his eyes. He won’t let me keep things from him. One way or anywhere he’ll get it from me.

“That’s real good, kitten, because there isn't going to be.” His words melt my insides. He’s not only won over my body but he’s stealing my heart easily.

“I was thinking that I can’t recall anyone ever asking me that.” His eyebrows draw together like he’s thinking.

“No one’s ever asked you how your day was?” he asks, shock clear in his tone. I try and think back on it, but nothing comes.

“Not that I can recall. Maybe someone who worked for my father in passing, but no. Not someone who actually wanted to know and wasn't asking only to be polite.” I give him a soft smile. “I don’t think you ask questions to just be polite.”

He throws his head back and laughs. It’s deep and rich and for the first time I don’t see a tightness to his body. That edge he always carries around isn’t so hard now. “No, I don’t ask questions to be polite, kitten.” He shakes his head, still smiling. “God, you’re refreshing. A breath of fresh air I didn't even know I needed.” He lets out a long breath and his body relaxes.

“That’s fucked up, but you know I’m not sure my parents ever asked me either. They left those things to nannies when I was younger. The only time my father showed interest was when he’d ask about school—if I was fucking up or when it was time for me to move on to a better school.”

“They mapped your whole life out?” I knew those kinds of parents. I’d seen a lot of them at my old school.

“Yeah, I’d gone along with it even though in my head I had other plans.” He lets out a humorless laugh. “But he’d gotten what he wanted in the end.” He gazes into my eyes. “There’s still time, though. I think I can still have what I had in mind. I’d thought I’d gotten off track but now I’m thinking I was only waiting.”

I wiggle in his lap, wanting to get closer to him. “Time for what?” I ask, wanting to know everything I can about him. Everything about him pulls at me and I want all of him. He’s mine to have. I know it.

“I wanted to be lawyer. I just didn’t want to be like them. I didn't want my career choice to be my life. I wanted what other families had.” His hand moves to my hip, holding me close to him. “I wanted to show my father he’d done it wrong. He could have the career and still have a family that you could be close to. That you didn't have to pick one or the other.”

“No, it’s not too late,” I agree. That’s what I’d always wanted. A family that cared about one another. Wanted to spend time together. Not because it was what they were supposed to do from time to time but because they wanted to.

“It’s why I bought this house. It was my first step. I got it right when I became a judge. I’m still not sure if my father was happy about that. He never liked that I chose to work for the city and not go into the family practice.”

“Why did you?”

“It was what called to me. When I get my eyes locked on a target I can become a little bit of a bulldozer to get what I want.”

“I hadn't noticed,” I tease, fighting a smile but losing the battle.

“But then it was all I did. I got the home but nothing called to me, so I kept on working. I started to think maybe I was just like my father. I only chose not to get married so there was no one to neglect.”

“Is that why you wanted me to know that you’d meant to pick me up today?” I ask. I was surprised when he’d said that.

“I really am sorry, kitten.” I see the guilt all over his face.

“Hey, you’re new to this,” I try to reassure him. I don’t want him to lump himself in with his father. “I mean, whatever this is,” I quickly add when I realize what I said, because to be honest, I have no idea what we are. I feel my cheeks warm.

“Don’t do that. Nothing between us, remember? I was talking about you when I said maybe I’d been waiting. That’s why I hadn't taken the next step in my life. Waiting for a little thief to come and steal my…” He pauses for a moment. My heart starts to pound. I want him to finish his sentence. Steal his what?