He pouted. “Cancel it.”
“You have no idea how much I would love to do that. But I need to get it over with.” I paused and looked into Merrick’s eyes. “I’m having lunch with Christian.”
He froze. “Come again?”
“It’s not what it sounds like. Christian agreed to drop the lawsuit if I have dinner with him and hear him out. My lawyer negotiated it down to a lunch. It’s the last thing I want to do, but I also don’t want to be buried under legal costs just to defend myself in a ridiculous lawsuit.”
“Fuck that. I’ll pay your legal fees.”
“That’s very sweet of you. But I can’t let you do that.”
“Then I’m going with you to lunch.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want any reason for him to back out of this deal. So I’d rather not antagonize him.”
Merrick frowned. “I don’t like it.”
“I understand. And I’m sure I’d feel the same way if the shoe was on the other foot.” I cupped his cheek. “I promise to make it up to you when I get back.”
“What time do you have to go?”
“I’m meeting him at a diner in Midtown at twelve. So I need to get out of here by eleven thirty.”
Merrick reached over to the nightstand next to him and grabbed his phone. “I’m messaging my driver. He’ll take you and wait for you to get done.”
“That’s not necessary.”
He ignored me and continued typing. When he was finished, he placed it back on the nightstand. “I told him to come at eleven forty-five. It’s Saturday, so traffic will be light. Plus, I need the full hour to help you get ready.”
I arched an eyebrow. “You’re going to help me get ready? Like blow dry my hair and do my makeup?”
“Nope. I’m going to make sure you smell like sex, and my cum is inside you while you’re sitting with that asshole.”
I chuckled. “Possessive much?”
“You have no damn idea.” Merrick crushed his lips to mine, and it didn’t take long before I was lost in the moment. He broke the kiss but kept my bottom lip between his teeth and tugged. “I want to come inside you. Not use protection. Can I do that, Evie?”
I swallowed and nodded. “I’m on the pill.”
Merrick trailed his knuckles down my cheek. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He buried his head in my hair and nuzzled my neck, sucking along my pulse line as he made his way to my ear.
“I’m going to apologize before we even start,” he said. “Whether I have any right to or not, I feel territorial right now knowing when we’re done, you’re going to meet another man. So I need to fuck you hard.”
I liked the sound of that. Spreading my legs wide beneath him, I grinned. “Well, get to it, bossman.”
Merrick didn’t need to be told twice. He licked his hand and slipped it between us, making sure I was lubricated. But I’d been ready since he’d said the words I want to come inside you. His pupils dilated as he realized how wet I was. He aligned his swollen head with my opening and pushed inside with one deep thrust. His eyes closed as he stayed in place, looking like he’d found nirvana. When they opened, he began to move—like he’d never done before. Merrick pulled almost fully out and slammed back in hard, over and over again.
“Fuck, Evie. I’m going to fill this pussy so it’s still dripping out of you when you go.” He pulled back to look at me and groaned as he sank in. “Mine.”