by Leslie North
The heat exploded, sending her vision spotty and dark. Her head fell back, and she cried out—shouted really—his name and plenty of expletives and the whole time the orgasm just steamrolled through her. Her whole body quaked, which was almost embarrassing, except Brian held her steady, kept her pinned against him while he fucked her. He didn’t let up, not even after the orgasm had receded into a pleasant numbness, which prompted even more residual waves of pleasure to emerge from hiding.
She was a gooey, useless mess. All she could do was gasp and hold on.
He grinned down at her, squeezed a breast for good measure, and then stilled, raw pleasure creasing his face. He groaned, his body spasming triggering another mini orgasm as she clenched and released his cock.
Connie lay in a weak, trembling heap. Unable to think. Unable to look away. Unable to even comprehend how superb that orgasm had just been.
“What—” she began.
Brian propped himself up on his palms before groaning and sliding onto his side beside her. He watched her with a lazy grin, one that bore both mischief and the heavy fog of satisfaction.
“Holy shit.” He dragged his fingertips up and down the swell of her hip. Nobody spoke for a long time. She rolled onto her side to face him, heart still beating wildly.
“Commendable?” she asked.
His laughter boomed through the room in a way she might never forget.
“Absolutely exquisite,” he said, then gave her a kiss that tasted like whiskey and bliss.
4
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Almost there.”
Brian stared down at his phone, rereading the text over and over again. The text was from Felicia, the owner of an AI development company he’d met at a recent mixer in San Francisco. The business connection had been instant—and after two months of meeting up, texting, and the occasional romp in the sheets, they were officially dating, too.
He typed out a quick response. “Can’t wait.”
Except the words rang false to him, even as he watched the words materialize on the screen. Felicia was everything he should want. Successful. Rich. Blonde. Killer figure. The two of them had alluded plenty to what a perfect match they were. And the best part about it was that her company was on the verge of making an enormous breakthrough in AI technology.
Brian wanted a piece of that pie. He wanted to acquire her company, stat.
And that was part of what he was going to bring up today. The formal offer: Let’s merge. In both business and romance.
If anything, the proposition he planned to make today felt more like the marriage proposals of olden times. This made good business sense, the two of them linking up. If she became his wife and his company swallowed hers, then they’d both have everything they ever wanted. Enough money, prestige, and trophy spouse photo ops to choke on.
So why wasn’t he more excited about it?
The money part excited him. He pushed up from his desk chair and started pacing the far windows. Connie flashed through his mind, as she tended to do. Their one, spicy night together still haunted him, no matter how much he tried to remind himself that she’d tanked the original dream deal. Brian didn’t necessarily want to get married, but there was no other way to secure Felicia’s company without signing away his last name, too.
Still, he thought about Connie way too much. And he forbade himself from contacting her. No good would come from reaching out to her, especially after she’d slunk out of his apartment in the middle of the night. No note. No nothing. He could find her number through her work file, but that seemed…desperate. No, if she’d wanted to stay in contact, she’d have left her phone number.
It was best to just leave it a one-night stand.
One that he’d think about for the rest of his life.
Brian busied himself with work until Felicia showed up. The soft knock on the door, followed by that bright, plasticized smile that she used for all the cameras at business outings. Her waxy blonde hair was pulled back in a low bun. Her black pencil skirt and silky, pink dress shirt accented her curves in all the right places. She was picture perfect. He stood and went over to her, wrapping an arm around her low back.
“Finally,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek, which made her snicker. He guided her to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Felicia eased into the seat, smoothing her skirt down while he resumed his spot behind the desk. She tilted her head, that sharp jawline snagging his attention. Every inch of her was glossed to perfection. He should be dying to put a ring on her finger.
Except he wasn’t. Not really.
“You’ve been dropping hints about some exciting idea all week,” Felicia said, gently touching the sides of her hair, like checking the integrity of her hair style. “I can’t imagine what this must be about.”
“You and I…” Brian drew a fortifying breath, gaze careening over the scant objects on his desk. He just needed to say it. She’d agree—he was positive she would. So why was it so hard to initiate signing away the rest of his life? “We make an amazing couple. Two months in, and I already know this.”
“Yeah, I think we’re pretty great.” Felicia’s eyes twinkled. She knew where this was heading.
“And from a business perspective…” Brian drummed his knuckles against his desktop. “We’re even better. The opportunities the two of us have—together—are limitless. I mean…we could practically take over the world.”
She crossed her legs, leaning back in the chair. “Go on.”
“I want us to merge, Felicia. Our businesses. Our lives. Our futures.” He leaned over the desk, pinning her with his gaze. “Felicia, will you merge with me?”
A laugh ricocheted out of her, dainty and contagious. “You sure like to move fast.”
“I know what I want when I see it. I know a good deal when I see it.” He paused, raking his gaze over her. “I know a good woman when I see her.”
“God, you’re such a businessman,” she said, examining her nails.
“That’s why you’re with me.”
She pursed her plump, pink lips, eyeing him. He could tell she was considering it.
“You know, this proposal was definitely business-focused.”
“That’s because we’re business-focused.” He sighed, leaning back into his chair. “Let’s be honest. You’re with me because of who I am in the business world. Because I own O Developments. Not because you think I’m terribly funny or great at sports or anything like that.”
“Well you are hot,” she conceded.
“Fine. Maybe even exquisitely hot?” He countered, hating that the inside joke with Connie had infiltrated his words. Felicia sent him a come on look.
“You’re hot, but you’re definitely the lucky one of us both,” she said.
Ouch. Maybe she was right. “Fine. You can be the hotter one. But we can both be the billionaires.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “One of the first things you told me when we first met was that you didn’t do relationships because you didn’t have time for feelings.”
“It’s true. I have a business to run.”
“Me too. Let’s just wipe all of that crap away and focus on business.” Brian turned over his hands, lifting his brows. She had to see this was as perfect as he’d envisioned. “I really like you. And since neither of us want, or are even looking for love, let’s just go with what makes sense. This.”
A smile crept across her face. “Dammit, Brian. You know how to sell.”
He grinned. That was the closest he would ever come to getting down on one knee. “So I take it you like the idea?”
Felicia sighed, tilting her head back and forth. “I do. But we need to hammer out some details. Get a prenup in place, obviously. And I don’t think we should announce it quite yet. I’d like to see more of a casual courtship for a while.” She paused, biting at her bottom lip. “Truthfully, I’m not ready to be exclusive yet.”
He s
hrugged. “Totally fine. You just let me know when is good for you.” This was the least romantic marriage arrangement in the history of the western world. And he couldn’t have cared less. “In the meantime, we can get all the details arranged. I’m just happy that you like the idea.”
Felicia checked her watch, grinning. “So on board. Hey, listen, I’ve got another meeting in town today. Are we still on for dinner this evening? I was thinking sushi.”
Brian nodded, gaze swinging to his computer screen. He hated sushi. It was practically all Felicia ate. But whatever secured the deal. “Sure thing.” Brian’s desk phone rang, interrupting him. His receptionist. He snatched it up. “What’s up?”
“Brian, I’ve got a visitor here to see you, no appointment.” Heather sighed through the phone. “She said it’s urgent. I think she used to work here.”
Brian looked over his calendar. He had about another half hour free before his next appointment. “Who is she?”
“Constance Bonner.”
Brian froze, the name slinking through him, inspiring both curiosity and trepidation. Connie showing up at her former workplace…this couldn’t be good. Though maybe it was because she wanted to see him. Maybe their night together had burned itself into her memory just as much as it had his.
“I’ll see her next,” he said, then hung up the phone. To Felicia, he offered a conciliatory smile. “I forgot about an appointment. I need to take it now.”
“No problem.” Felicia stood, blowing him a kiss, scooting quickly toward the door. “See you at six thirty.”
Felicia left behind a trail of expensive perfume, like red carpet–grade flowers. He frowned, drumming his fingers on his desk.
A few moments later, the door opened. Bright, soulful blue eyes peered into the office. Jet-black hair pulled back into a long braid. Connie stepped tentatively into the office.
“Hello?”
Brian regarded her quietly, unsure how to proceed. “Well…hello. I…wasn’t expecting you.
“Right.” Connie shut his office door behind her, eyes darting everywhere but him. “That was the essence of the unscheduled appointment.”
He cracked a smile but squashed it quickly. “Have you come to ask for your job back? Because I can’t do that.”
“No.” She cleared her throat, picking at the cuticle of her thumb as she walked slowly toward his desk. Nervousness clung to her. “Nothing like that, actually.”
“Ah. So just a social visit.” He gestured toward the chair in front of his desk that had moments ago been occupied by Felicia. He practiced not thinking about their mind-blowing sex. That can’t have been why she’d returned.
“Sorta.” She paused by the chair and then slid into it. Confusion was written across her face, brows drawn together. “Brian, I’m pregnant.”
He watched her for a few moments. The meaning didn’t sink in at first. “Okay. Are congratulations in order, or something else?”
She blinked. “It’s yours.”
The words hit him then, bulky and strange. They hurt, for some reason. He frowned.
“I used a condom. How?”
She shook her head, gaze fastened on her hands. “Any chance it broke?”
A long silence stretched between them. This was the most awkward follow-up to his meeting with Felicia imaginable. “I don’t actually remember. We’d had a lot to drink.” He winced at his response. Having a child, now, wasn’t in his long-term plan. Was it ever? Yes, he did want kids. Someday. But not yet. “I don’t know what to say.”
Connie shrugged, pressing the back of one of her hands to her mouth. Her worried eyes skated up to meet his. Longing seared through him, but it vanished instantly. Something he didn’t quite understand whispered inside him when he looked at her. Almost like nostalgia. Like they’d had something, and he’d lost it. If they’d had anything, it was one amazing night together. And that was it.
“I just wanted you to know,” she finally said. She squeezed her knees, gnawing on her lip. “I thought you should know. I’ve never been pregnant before, so I don’t know how…this works. I mean, I know how this works. We clearly figured out how pregnancy works by getting me pregnant. I just figured that if I was you, I’d want to know. I’m not a man, obviously. I’m a woman. I mean, I’m a pregnant woman.” She laughed incredulously. “I’m pregnant. It’s just…crazy, you know?”
He let her words gush out and over him, and he fought a smile. So maybe he’d missed her personality a little. He could allow himself that. “It’s a biological function. Not terribly crazy.”
“No. It’s crazy.” She sliced a hand through the air. “It’s like…completely batty.”
He leaned back in his chair, liking the sparring emerging. “I don’t know why the bats have to get involved.”
Connie snorted, her eyes drifting off. “Wouldn’t it be funny if we like, gestated upside down, wrapped up like bats?” She blinked, her gaze snapping back to meet his. “Okay, ignore that. I didn’t mean to say that. I honestly was just thinking it.”
Brian laughed. “I mean, yeah. It would be funny. Pretty much all of society would be different.”
“Yeah. No more sitting in waiting rooms at the OB office, if you’re a gestating human-bat. Which, by the way—” She pointed at Brian. “I’m looking into scheduling my first appointment.”
Brian nodded. “Do you want me there?”
A strange expression crossed over her face. As though she’d never even considered it. “I…don’t know.”
“You want the baby.”
Connie nodded. “Yeah. I’m not…no. The other option is not an option.”
“Fine. So let me help how I can.”
She studied him for a long time, those crystalline eyes skating over his face. “Okay.”
“I want to help. I can’t not help.” And it was true. There was no way he’d let her fend for herself, however unexpected this pregnancy was. If she wanted to keep the baby, then he’d assist. It was as simple as that. What remained to be seen was how it would fit into the puzzle of his personal life. The deal with Felicia was so fresh it could smear. He needed to talk this over with her.
“I appreciate that,” Connie said.
“There is someone else who needs to know about this, though.” Brian paused, willing himself to say the words. “My girlfriend.”
“Oh.” Connie’s face fell slightly. Or maybe that was his imagination. “Was she…I mean…did you…like…cheat?”
“No. Not at all. We started dating soon after you and I…” He trailed off. Fucked seemed crass now that she was pregnant. But also, that night had been just a little bit more than a one-night stand for him. And clearly so. It was so much more that it had created a child.
“Okay. Cool.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “She’ll probably be pissed, huh?”
Brian tilted his head. “I don’t know. But she needs to know.” He ran through options in his head. Where to tell her. How this might be best—and most delicately—handled. “Can you stop by the apartment tonight? She’s in town. I think we should all chat then.”
Connie shrugged. “Sure. As long as you can promise she won’t, like, maul me or something. I’m pregnant. As you are already aware.”
“Correct. Bat-human gestation, if I’m not mistaken.”
Connie’s smile sliced between them. They grinned at each other like dopes for just a few seconds too long.
“Just text me when to come over or whatever.” She pushed to standing, grabbing for her handbag.
“I need your number first.”
“Right.” Connie rattled it off to him, then nodded toward the door. “I’m gonna go. See you soon, Baby Daddy.”
He fought the grin. “Okay, maybe you shouldn’t call me that in front of Felicia.”
“Oh, her name is Felicia?” Connie clucked her tongue as she walked toward the door. “Fine. Mental note: don’t call her Step-Mamacita.”
Connie sent him one last smile before shutting the door behind her. Brian st
ared at his desk for a long time, letting the weird particles of this afternoon settle around him.
One thing was for certain.
He was a helluva lot more excited about Connie coming over than Felicia.
5
Connie had never dreaded anything in her life as much as this pending visit to Brian’s apartment.
She hated how he called it his “apartment” too, like it was in any way regular. It was the penthouse and took up most of the top floor. It cost at least one million, maybe more. Calling it an apartment made it sound like it was within her price range.
And after two months of freelancing with no health insurance and zero initiative to snag a new full-time job in her field due to her condition, even her own apartment wasn’t within her own price range.
Connie wasn’t sure what she expected when she’s first told Brian about the pregnancy. Admittedly, a part of her wanted him to jump at the chance to be a full-time dad, but Felicia had put an instant wrench in that pipedream. Now, she hoped he’d still choose to be a father to her baby, in whatever way he chose. She didn’t want to ask for monetary support, but she needed to be realistic. She needed financial help.
During the drive over to his place, she imagined her feet dragging behind the car. That was how little she wanted to go there. And Felicia…his girlfriend. She scowled as she hung a left onto Brian’s street. The sandstone exterior of his building screamed “Wealthy professionals!” and “Upper crust relaxation!” Who might this girlfriend even be? She hated how her stomach had knotted up at the mention of her. Hated even more that she’d been disappointed.
Fine. So he was off the market. But Connie was carrying his baby. Hopefully Brian knew how to pick good girlfriends, because the mother of all relationship testers was headed her way.
And maybe their relationship can just fail, and Brian and I can ride off into the sunset.
She sighed as she eased up to the intercom at the gated parking garage. She pressed the penthouse button, waited a moment as Brian had instructed, then the gate lifted. She chose the closest spot to the front doors. She was pregnant, after all. Pregnant and hormonal, which could explain her recent desire to secretly pine for Brian.
