First Class Justice (First Class Novels) Read online

  Mark still had her hand in his and they walked down the hallway to their room.

  "Funny," she grinned.

  "What?"

  "Last night I was hurrying down this same hallway trying to find you because I thought you were dying," she laughed. "And here I am, literally twenty-four hours later hurrying down the same hallway to the same room with very different expectations."

  "Hopefully I can live up to those expectations," he chuckled.

  "Let's see," she grinned.

  *****

  Once inside the hotel room, Mark shrugged out of his suit jacket and helped Katy out of hers. She excused herself and went into the bathroom. Leaning on the back of the door, she closed her eyes and then opened them hoping it hadn't all been a dream. But she was still in the bathroom in her new sexy red dress and she could hear Mark in the bedroom. It was real. Could it be her turn? Was her life taking the turn she had wished for? Hoped for? Mark really was going to be her knight in shining armor?

  Katy took a couple of deep breaths and opened the door. Mark was leaning on the wall between the small living room and the bedroom. He looked gorgeous. He had removed his shoes and his tie. His shirt was unbuttoned and hanging open, revealing his washboard abs.

  "Nice."

  "I aim to please," he grinned.

  "I hope you do."

  She closed the gap between them and he pulled her into his arms, his lips finding hers and quickly devouring her. His tongue danced with hers and she moaned as she tasted him. His arms slid up her back and into her hair at the nape of her neck. He pulled down, forcing her up to him so that he could have all of her.

  She clung to him, excitement pulsing through her body. She could feel his erection as she pulled his body closer to hers and that thought almost tipped her over.

  She pushed him back and tried to step out of his arms.

  "What?" he asked, fear in his eyes.

  Katy panted, trying to catch her breath.

  "I need a moment, or I'm gonna finish before we ever get started," she gasped.

  Relief flooded over Mark and he chuckled. "I hear ya."

  Katy smiled and took his hand and walked over to the sofa. They sat, Mark's arm securely around her, Katy's head on his shoulder.

  "Please don’t let this be a dream," she whispered.

  "It's not a dream. And you'd better not just get off me when we're done and run out of here like last time."

  Katy sighed. "You have no idea."

  "Tell me."

  "It's true what I said. I needed to have sex. It was therapeutic. But I only wanted it with you. No one else would ever do."

  Katy played with his trousers, running her finger up and down his thigh. "And it was more than I had hoped for, but you had said we were only friends so I had to get out before I said something embarrassing."

  "Hold on!" he said as he grabbed her hand from his leg. "YOU said we were friends and I agreed with you. We were friends. We ARE friends. But you said it!"

  Katy sighed. He was right. She had done all the talking.

  "Point taken," she admitted.

  "That was the best sex I've ever had," he smiled at the memory.

  "Me too," she giggled.

  "’til tonight," he added.

  *****

  Her shoes were already on the floor next to his. The satin of her dress fell to her feet, making a swooshing sound. Mark tossed it to the growing pile on the floor: his pants and his shirt and now her dress.

  Katy ran the back of her finger down his chest to the trail of hair hidden by his briefs. She leaned in and kissed his shoulder, taking a little bite. His body reacted with a slight quiver. She looked up to see him gazing at her.

  "I love you, Katy Miles."

  "I love you Mark Lathem."

  With fingers entwined in her hair, he pulled her to his lips and licked them with his tongue then kissed her with such passion she felt little butterflies in her belly.

  This is what it’s supposed to be, she thought. This is what I've been waiting for. She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled their bodies together, her legs inside his, his erection firm against her hip, her breasts heaving against his chest.

  "I want to feel you," he whispered and undid the hooks of her bra. With a flip of his wrist, it landed on the pile of clothes.

  Skin to skin, he caressed her back as her nipples pushed into his chest. He pushed her backwards ‘til the back of her legs were leaning against the bed.

  "Lie down, please?" he asked.

  Katy sat and scooted up the bed and then laid her head on the pillow.

  "Just like my dream," he whispered.

  "What dream?"

  “The dream I had the night before I abruptly left your house."

  "When I told you to get out?" Katy grimaced.

  "You didn't tell me to leave," he smiled. "But I knew after that dream I had to go. You weren't safe from me."

  "What did you dream about?"

  "We were on the beach, in Hood River," he said as he sat down beside her on the bed. "I walked out of the water and you were there in your bikini just lying there."

  "That wasn't a dream," she grinned.

  Mark climbed onto his knees beside her, looking down over her near-naked body.

  "And then I did this," he said as put his hand over her panties and caressed her.

  Katy gasped at the contact and arched her back.

  "And then I did this."

  Mark leaned over her and took one perfect nipple into his mouth and gently sucked, rolling his tongue over and over, his hand massaging her. Mark could feel the moisture through her panties and smiled as he released her nipple from his mouth.

  "Then what?" Katy asked breathlessly.

  “And then I woke up because I'd made a mess of myself."

  Katy laughed and Mark pretended to be offended.

  "You're hurting my manhood!" he teased.

  "No, you're more of a man than I’ve ever known."

  "You're strung tight," he whispered. "Let's fix that, shall we?"

  He pushed his hand inside her panties and found her very wet. He pushed two fingers inside her and she bucked to his touch. Then with his thumb he caressed her clitoris around and around and Katy closed her eyes and let go.

  "Ahh," she cried as her orgasm racked her body.

  Mark kept his hand inside her as her muscles slowly released all the tension they had been holding and he lowered himself down to her and kissed her with all the love he felt in his heart.

  "And that's how the dream should have ended," he whispered as he left little feather kisses over her nose, eyes and cheeks.

  Katy's heart was slowly returning to a normal rhythm and she opened her eyes to see that look; the look she longed to see for months. A tiny tear escaped and Mark kissed it away.

  "Don't cry, baby," he breathed into her mouth as he kissed her again.

  "I can't believe this is real."

  Mark pulled his hand away and sat up. He gently pulled her panties down her legs and pulled them from her feet. He threw them aside and removed his briefs and lowered himself onto her so that he was completely covering her body.

  "Am I too heavy?" he asked.

  Katy shook her head. "I like it," she whispered.

  Mark kissed her again, and again. Her arms wrapped around his waist and her fingers pressed into his skin, kneading him, feeling him. His hips pressed down and Katy moved her legs apart and brought her feet up, opening herself to him.

  "Please," she begged.

  His penis entered her slowly, pushing in and in and filling her completely. For just a moment they didn't move, just lay there together as one, their bodies and their hearts joined.

  "You are perfect," he breathed into her hair. "Be mine forever."

  "Forever."

  He pulled out and slid back in, the exquisite feeling of her accepting him, loving him, completely overwhelming him.

  "I love you," he said.

  "So you've said," she smiled.
>
  "I will tell you that over and over again because it's how I feel. I want you to always know how I feel."

  "I like the way you feel. I love the way you feel."

  Mark's rhythm built as he slid in and out and Katy grabbed his hips and pulled him in further and further. Over and over he thrusted and Katy threw her head back and held her breath as she tipped once more over the edge and spiraled down into a spine-tingling orgasm, Mark stiffening as he joined her in their glory.

  Panting and completely satiated, he collapsed on top of her and rolled over and pulled her into his chest.

  "’til tonight," he gasped.

  "Huh?"

  "It was the best sex until tonight," he grinned.

  17.

  They slept peacefully, Katy on Mark's chest, Mark's cheek on her golden hair. When Katy woke many hours later, she was thrilled to realize it really wasn't a dream. Her knight was lying next to her and he loved her.

  "Morning, baby." His voice was gravelly.

  Katy grinned. "Morning."

  "How did you sleep?"

  "Never better," she admitted.

  "Me too."

  Katy scooted out of his arms and left for the bathroom. Mark locked his fingers behind his head and couldn’t remember a time he had felt happier. Happy, he thought. I'm happy!

  Katy returned quickly and jumped back on the bed.

  "Katy?"

  "Hmm?" she said as she snuggled back into his side.

  "Marry me?"

  Katy's head jerked up and she stared at him.

  "Why?"

  Is she horrified? he thought as he saw her expression.

  "Because I love you and you love me. And because I want to be with you...forever."

  "We can have all of that and not be married," she said. She was serious.

  "You don't want to get married?"

  "No."

  "You don't want to get married or you don't want to get married to me?" he asked, afraid of her answer.

  "I was married once and it was the worst experience of my life."

  "So it's not me, it's the institution?"

  "Yes," her face softening into a smile. "It's definitely not you," she said as she placed her hand on his cheek.

  "Good," relief dripping from his voice.

  "I don't need a piece of paper that says we are committed to each other. So let's not talk about that right now."

  He pulled her close.

  "It doesn't mean that I won't ask you again though," he said.

  "Then make sure when you do, you're absolutely sure the time is right."

  *****

  They left the hotel that afternoon, Mark's suitcase and Katy's backpack in her Subaru, and headed for Portland. Mark was supposed to be in Seattle for a couple more days but ditched his plans to be with Katy. Now that she was his, he wasn't letting her out of his sight. Well, not yet anyway.

  The rain began as they drove through Longview, heading for the Columbia River and into Oregon.

  "I'm not sure I’ll like the winters much, but I guess I'll get used to it."

  "Why will you get used to it?" Katy asked.

  Mark was driving and was messing with the steering column looking for the windshield wipers. Katy leaned over and flicked them on.

  "Every car is different," he frowned.

  "You live in New York," she said.

  "Right…which creates a problem. There's not going to be a long distance romance, baby. We are together and I’m not going to ask you to give up your life here, so I guess I'll move."

  Katy was stunned, speechless.

  "What?"

  "I'll live here."

  "But..."

  "You don't want to live together? Just because I agreed to the ‘no proposal thing’ doesn't mean I'm not living with you."

  Katy looked out the window. "This is all very...very fast."

  Mark glanced over to see her body language. She hadn't retreated, thankfully, but she was obviously deep in thought. He didn't disturb her. He didn't want to force anything on her, but he also wasn't going to live without her. On that he was firm.

  They drove for a few miles.

  "So what are our options?" she finally said.

  "Options?" Mark asked.

  "Living arrangements," she clarified.

  "Together. No discussion."

  Katy grinned. "Okay. Got that. Options as to where."

  "Where?" Mark's eyebrows rose. "I guess in Portland or in New York."

  "Derek only has one more year of school, and I could work anywhere."

  "You don't need to work!" Mark scoffed. "Didn't we have this discussion last night? I’ve got money, Katy. Plenty of money. We can have dinner at the Space Needle," he chuckled.

  "I need to work, Mark. It has helped to define me for the past fifteen-plus years. I won’t give that up."

  "Okay," he agreed. "Where do you want to work? Does it have to be in Portland?"

  "No, it really doesn't. It could be in New York. And Janie's already there," she sighed.

  "Are you saying you would consider moving to New York?" Mark was shocked.

  "No."

  Mark was deflated.

  "I'm saying I will move to New York, with some conditions," she added.

  *****

  “I’m not questioning your decision,” Dr. LaVaughn said. “I was just asking why you made your decision so quickly.”

  Katy stood looking at the river in her usual spot in her therapist’s office.

  “I’d made the decision weeks ago. If there was even the slightest possibility that he could ever love me, I knew I would risk it all, walk away from everything that was comfortable and easy to be with him. Not because I need to have a man in my life, but because I need to have Mark in my life.”

  “So you’re sure?”

  “I have never been more sure. You know when you’re at a restaurant and you can’t decide between two entrees? So you order one and after the first couple of bites you’d wished you’d ordered the other one? Well, this isn’t like that.”

  Dr. LaVaughn smiled. “Your analogies are always interesting, Katy.”

  Katy turned and went and sat in the chair.

  “You were right,” Katy said.

  Dr. LaVaughn nodded.

  “About this one thing,” Katy added.

  “What’s that?”

  “That I was assuming that he felt about me the way I felt about myself. In order for me to be in a healthy relationship I had to understand and accept that what happened to me wasn’t my fault and that it didn’t make me any less of a person. As soon as I did that, I was ready to let someone in. And he’d been knocking the whole time. I just couldn’t see it.”

  “That sounds very healthy.”

  “I feel healthy. Emotionally and psychologically I feel the best I have felt in years. Maybe even my whole adult life! I deserve to be happy and I deserve a man who loves me. All of me, flaws, warts and all. Because I’m worth loving.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “So why not go? If I’m committed to him, which I am, heart and soul, why do I have to stay here? I did give him conditions though.”

  “And what are they?”

  “Well, to start with, I am going to find at least a part time job. I want to work. I need to work. And I’m not selling my house. I am going to list it with a property management company and rent it.”

  “Those are all good ideas. Rational too,” Dr. LaVaughn grinned. “Anything else?”

  “We agree that we don’t need a piece of paper to say we are committed to each other. I mean, more than half of the marriages end in divorce anyway. Look at me! So when he asked I said no.”

  “He asked you to marry him?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you said no?”

  “Of course I did! I’ve told you about my marriage. I would never do that again!”

  “Katy, let’s talk about that for a minute. Is Mark anything like Brett?”

  “Hell, no! Brett was an
idiot and Mark is a gentleman. He’s smart and kind and articulate and funny. He’s also gorgeous and rich, but they don’t even top the list. He’s considerate and honest and everything I could possibly want.”

  “And you? Are you the same person you were twenty years ago?”

  “Not even close!”

  “So if you are different now and the man is different, why do you just automatically assume that your marriage will be the same disaster?”

  “Why do you want me to get married?”

  “I’m not telling you to get married, Katy. I am saying that the circumstances are completely different. The people are different. There is no common denominator. You shouldn’t unilaterally dismiss the idea of marriage because the first one failed. You learned a lot from that marriage, I would hope. If nothing else, what you don’t want. So use that knowledge to make a decision based on relevant facts and not history.”

  Katy thought about the doctor’s words. There was truth in what she said.

  “And I think a change of scenery would do you a great deal of good. Start fresh. I can even recommend a good therapist in Manhattan. I think you should continue to see someone.”

  Katy agreed. As much as she hadn’t wanted to go to therapy, it had changed her life.

  “Okay. I guess I can keep seeing a shrink.”

  Dr. LaVaughn smiled. “I’m proud of you Katy.”

  “Oh, and I’d thought you’d like to know Shelby emailed pictures last week. She lives on a farm and has her own horse now. She seems really happy.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Dr. LaVaughn said. “I’m really glad that you keep in touch.”

  “I feel kind of like her big sister. I think I would have been a good big sister.”

  “Yes, Katy. You would have been.”

  18.

  When Mark and Katy stepped off the plane in New York, she felt instant relief to be officially starting her new life. The last three weeks had been like a whirlwind. There was so much to do and she wasn’t sure she would get it all done in time.

  First, she gave her two weeks’ notice at the hospital. Her supervisor was sad to lose her but understood her decision and was excited for Katy to begin a new chapter of her life.

  Just about a year ago, Katy had watched Janie sort through her house and decide what to keep and what to store and what to take with her to her new life in New York City. Now it was Katy’s turn to do exactly the same thing. Mark had stayed with her for a few days after they returned from Seattle but had left for a week to take care of some things at home. Katy had teased him he needed to clean his apartment before she got there. He’d arrived back in Portland a few days before she moved and had been a huge help in hauling pieces of furniture and boxes to a storage facility. Katy knew she wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the monumental task without him. And he’d arranged the boxes she was keeping to be sent to his apartment in New York.