by C. M. Steele
“Are you fucking serious? I don’t even understand what this is all about. I didn’t steal anything from you. I still don’t even know who you really are.”
“I’m the man you left in our bed as you ran like a fucking thief in the night.”
“I didn’t steal shit. I need to go. In fact, I can give you my bank records, and you’ll see that I don’t have extra money. Excuse me.” She stood up unsteadily taking a step back and grasping a file folder in front of her. Before she could cover herself with it, I saw the most unmistakable sign that she didn’t leave Italy alone. She came home with another piece of me.
“Sit the fuck down right now, Charlotte,” I roared, rage and jealousy roaring through me. She sat her ass back on the edge of the table, biting her bottom lip.
“I swear, I don’t know what this is all about,” she exclaimed.
“Really, at this fucking point, I don’t give a shit about the books. I want to know one simple question. Are you pregnant with my kid?” She froze, her eyes wide, then nodded. I stood stock still at the realization, then a myriad of questions flooded my brain.
Chapter 9
Charlotte
“Yes, I am.”
“Why did you leave me?” Ian asked, looking painfully upset as he raked his eyes up and down, focusing on my belly. I hated this. I wish I had a do-over button so I could take away the hurt in his eyes that I put there.
“I thought it was for the best,” I tried to explain, but this was too unexpected, and he looked ten times better than I remembered. I thought I’d memorized every inch of his face before I left, but nothing could have prepared me for seeing him again. His face had a much thicker scruff, and his hair was a little longer like he let it grow out. It worked for him.
He stalked closer, standing inches from me with his legs between mine. His hands running through his hair. The wildly furious look on his face should have scared me, but it didn’t. “The best? Leaving without any goodbye, no contact information or anything is for the best? How the fuck could it be for the best? You’re carrying my baby, and you think that somehow this was for the best?”
“I didn't think I’d be pregnant. My life became a wreck the day before we met. I’d just been…” I played with my hands, tucking my head down and away, looking at a small nick in the wall where a chair had scraped the trim.
His hand came up, cupping my chin and lifting my face to look at him. “What? You’d just been what?” he asked. The softness in his eyes and words begged for the truth.
I bit my lip, afraid to tell him what happened. It stung, and it embarrassed me more than I cared to share, especially with someone I’d missed more than anything, the man who hated me. He waited for me to speak, his expression showing his growing impatience. “My parents abandoned me, checking out of the hotel without me.”
“I can’t believe it,” he snarled out completely livid.
“I’m not lying,” I answered defensively, hating for anyone to think that I lied. My heart was already begging him to forgive me for running. I couldn’t take him hating me. God, he was still so gorgeous, even when angry.
His hands slid into my hair, and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to mine and sighed, “I didn’t say that, Charlotte. I just can’t imagine parents like that.”
“Well, if anyone was stealing from you, it was them. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d used my social and name to get out of trouble.” I hated that my parents had become so selfish. Shit, they weren’t really my parents. It was hard to stop calling them that even in my thoughts.
He ran his hand up my arm, slowly and ever so torturously. My body didn’t even care how mad he was with me. It knew the pleasure he could bring and came to greedily claim more of it. “I’ll deal with them later. You, on the other hand, are coming with me,” he stated firmly, grabbing my wrist and tugging me off the conference table.
“What? I can’t. I have to work,” I blurt out even though I want to be with him this very moment.
“Where?” he asked.
“I’m the receptionist here.” I tilted my head towards the door. He stopped pulled me into his arms with his hard cock against my belly. A low groan escaped his lips.
“Well in that case, as of this moment you’re done working.”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” I argued.
Having enough, he pushed me back onto the conference table with his hands planted firmly on the surface, caging me in. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’ve stolen more than one thing from me. If you think I’m going to let you sneak away again, you’ve got a lot to learn, Charlotte.”
“I didn’t steal anything.” I tried to sound strong and vehement, but it came out as a tiny squeak.
“You did, and we’re leaving right now,” he stated, brushing his nose down my neck. I melted in that spot. His dominance and insistence sent a trail of need straight to my pussy.
Chapter 10
Ian
She didn’t move. I’d never hurt her, but she was testing a man possessed. I had her pinned to the conference table with my body leaning over her delicious one. Staring into her eyes, I cupped the back of her head. “This thing between us won’t end until the day we die. I’m not letting you go.”
“Just because I’m pregnant.” I kissed her before she could finish the idiotic bullshit excuse she planned to toss out. Maybe she needed a fuck load of reassurance, but right now, I was ready to lose my fucking mind if I didn’t get deep inside her. She moaned, throwing her arms around my shoulders, then thrusting her hands into my hair and returning the kiss like she needed it to exist.
I reached between us, parting her fucking thighs and dipping my finger under her skirt. She was soaked. “Your pussy still remembers what I could do to her.” I could get used to fucking her on any surface, but I didn’t want an audience. There were too many people nearby, and anyone could walk in. One day though, I planned to drill her to my desk.
I wrapped her legs around my waist, grinding on her. “You’re mine and so is our baby. You fucked up, Charlotte because the only way I see this going is you paying me back with a life.”
“We don’t know each other,” she exclaimed, finding another reason to fight me.
“I don’t care. I know what I’ve felt from the first time I saw you in the market. It hasn’t changed. I’ve been hunting you down all this time.”
“You have?” Did she really think I wouldn’t hunt her down?
“Yes, and now that I’ve got you, I’m not letting you go.” I slammed my mouth back onto hers, just as the door to the conference room opened. I pulled back and tried to hide her from view. She was still dressed, but I didn’t like the thought of anyone seeing her on the cusp of passion.
“Whoa. Now if all my clients settled things like this it would save me a big headache,” Mitchell laughed.
“Fuck off, Harper. She’s done working here. I ought to kick your ass knowing she’s been here all this time.”
“She hasn’t. We only found her a month ago. She’s been working here for about a week.”
“You could have called me,” I argued, fucking pissed that I lost time with her. It was irrational and crazy, but I loved her.
“You were dealing with your dad and busting your ass to stay on top of the company.” Yes, and having her by my side would have done me some good.
“My dad has been home for a long time, and I only worked like a damn dog because I couldn’t get her out of my fucking mind.” I didn’t need to keep explaining. I had to get her home and play with her belly after I fucked her into an orgasmic coma. “Come on, Charlotte. We’re leaving.”
“What do you want to do with the theft?” Mitchell called out as we reached the door.
“Damn,” I grumbled, “Fuck, I forgot about it. Since it doesn’t involve just me, I can’t let it go.”
“Sit down. We all need to talk about it.” I took a seat at the head of the table and sat her on my lap.
“Um, there’s a room full o
f chairs,” she tossed out, attempting to get up, but I had her right where I wanted. My hands gripped her hips and held her still.
“I know, and this is the best one for both of us. Don’t give me shit, woman. I’ve had months of unnecessary stress.”
Mitchell ignored our little argument and got to the point. “Down to the business at hand. Mr. and Mrs. Cross are robbing not just Knight Publishing, but they have several other aliases. They are on the run. It looked like they were aware that the walls were starting to close around them.”
I rubbed her side down to her hip and back up. “What do you want to do, Charlotte? They’re your parents.”
“They’re not actually.”
“What do you mean?” I shouted out.
“They’re my aunt and uncle—if what they said was even the truth.”
“That’s something else we need to talk about. Sydney found out more about your real parents.”
“What?”
“Well, when they died, they left you insurance money. It was given to the Crosses because they were raising you, but they squandered it before you were ten.”
“That sounds pretty normal for them. We always seemed poor. They were struggling to make the ends meet. I had to work since I was fifteen to pay the bills. As long as they didn’t kill them, then nothing else would surprise me.”
“They didn’t.”
“Thank goodness. Do what you please with them. They left me in Italy by myself with just a good luck note. When I came home, I had another saying my belongings were in storage and the house had been sold. I had nowhere to go.” I seethed inside, hearing what they did to her. She’d been forced to fend for herself. That explained the way she acted in Italy. She just had her world turned upside down when I came in and stole her virginity. God, I felt terrible for my fucking need to claim her. She needed the love and affection she’d lost out on, and I’d fucked her on the cold, wet, broken ground.
“If that’s all settled, please have them charged. I’m sure you know where they are. You guys know everything. Charlotte and I have a lot to talk about.” I scooted my chair out and set her on her feet before standing. “Sweetheart, lead me to your desk so we can get your things.”
She left the room without saying anything, and I followed behind. She grabbed her purse and a light coat. I took her hand and led her out to my truck. Helping her in, I kissed her hand. I have to show her what she means to me.
Then my hand came over her rounded belly, rubbing where my baby was at. Fuck, it made me hard knowing she was tied to me all this time. A territorial desire coursed through my veins and straight to my cock that throbbed in my pants, leaking precum onto my boxers. My eyes moved to her beautiful woman’s parted lips. Fuck, I want to watch them wrapped around my dick, sucking me off like I’ve dreamed about for months. Her gaze dipped down as I grip my cock hoping to calm down. We were in the middle of the dark, underground parking garage, but I want her in my bed.
Her hand reached out and skimmed over my cock, giving it a greedy squeeze. “Wow, it’s bigger than I remembered.”
“Well, I’m sure as fuck going to refresh your memory. Damn, my cock aches so bad. I want to slip it past your pretty red lips until my cum is dripping down your chin. Then I’m going to eat your cunt until you soak my face with your orgasm. Would you like that?” I slid my hand down between her thighs under her skirt and grazed my fingers over her soaked panties.
“Yes,” she stuttered.
“Do you want me to fuck you right here, right now, Charlotte?”
“Please,” she moaned. I pulled my hand away and helped her back out of the SUV and into the backseat.
“Take your panties off.” She did as I commanded. I couldn’t take my eyes away from the tiny pink panties gliding down her slender legs. A low, guttural rumble escaped from my chest, and I jumped in the backseat, locking the door behind me.
“Open your top. I want to see your tits.” I lost all sense of right and wrong. Four months without her had nearly destroyed me. Seeing her eyes filled with longing turned me into a beast, and she was lucky I didn’t want to drive around town with her ass naked because I wanted to tear off her clothes.
She popped the first three buttons, showing me her bra and the supple flesh underneath. I undid my belt and tugged on my zipper. Charlotte's tiny hands took control and pulled it down and slipped my cock out of my pants. Groaning from her touch, I watched as she stared at the bead of cum on the tip. A low moan came from her before her mouth closed around me. Fuck. I hadn’t expected that.
“Yes. Just. Like. That. Suck my fucking cock like a good girl. You’re going to make me come if you keep that up.” Gripping her hair, I pulled her off my cock. “You can suck me later. I want your pretty lips around my cock all day long, but I need your pussy.” I wanted to paint her pussy with my cum first. She can suck every drop out in the shower when we get home.
I grasped her waist and lifted her to straddle me. I pressed the tip at her entrance. “Slide down onto your personal pole.” She didn’t hesitate, impaling herself on my dick.
“Fuck, you’re so damn big.”
“Get used to it, baby. You’re going to be riding me every fucking day.”
“Yes,” she dragged out, dropping her head back and biting her bottom lip. Her tits jutted forward in my greedy face. Yanking the cups down, I pull her nipple between my teeth, causing the sexiest cry from her lips.
“You like that?”
“Yes, don’t stop, Ian.” Her pussy pulsed, tightening like a vise around my shaft. I sucked on her sensitive breasts, marking her tits with my bite. She began to rock her hips, grinding her clit all over my base. Losing control, I grabbed her hips and held her still as I pumped up into her snug slit. My release built to the point of pain as I thrust into her. I cupped my hand around her neck with one hand sliding down to her ass and then brought her lips to mine, kissing the fuck out of her. Our tongues glided and danced together as I fucked her.
“Ian, I’m coming,” she cried against my lips while her body froze then shook as her orgasm ripped through her sweet cunt.
“Good, come with me.” I roared, coming with her.
She dropped her head onto my chest, breathing as hard as I was. My heart pounded so loudly in my ears I wouldn’t know if a freight train was coming, but when it cleared, I heard the soul-crushing sound of her tears.
I pressed my thumb to her chin and lifted it to see her lovely eyes. “Shit, Charlotte, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t hurt me. I’m the one who needs to apologize for leaving. You and the baby are the only bright spots in my life.” Fuck, my dick jumped at her revelation. I wasn’t going to have to fight to keep her. Not that she’d win anyway. There was no way I’d ever let her go again. “Charlotte, please tell me what you’re thinking. I want to take care of you and our baby.”
“Ian, I just don’t want to be a burden. My family has been robbing you, and now I’m bringing an unplanned baby your way.”
“Listen to me. I want you, family warts and all. I want to wake up next to you every damn day. I can’t wait to hear our baby’s heartbeat and see it kick. I want it all. I’ve wanted that from the start. I knew that I fucked your pussy unprotected that day and it was because I was certain that you were mine. I love you, Charlotte.”
“Do you?”
I kissed her softly then continued, “Yes. I know I should have waited to make love to you, but I didn’t know how vulnerable you were. All I knew was that I wanted you to be mine. You deserved better.”
“I didn’t tell you. I could have stopped you at any time but didn’t because it was what I wanted. I needed you and begged you to take me. It was the most wonderful experience of my life, and it was selfish of me to leave. That time in the ruins and the rest of our night had been perfect—too perfect. Frightened that you would leave me too, I did the running. I’m so sorry about that. I regretted it the whole way home. Landing in Boston had been a harsh reality. I thought
about flying back but figured it would be too late.”
“Damn, how I wish you had.” The sound of a car alarm reminded us of where we were. “Button up baby. We have to get out of here before someone sees you less than dressed. I might have to bust someone’s jaw.”
We straightened up our clothes and then I helped her back into her seat. This time though, I rushed over to mine. As soon as I start the engine, I asked, “Tell me, where have you been staying?”
“I had enough to rent a room in an old lady’s home.”
I brought her hand to my lips, kissing it with a promise and a request. “You don’t have to worry about that again. All I want you to do is take care of yourself and our baby. And maybe fall in love with me, but that’s it.”
“Well, I guess that’s all taken care of, then. I fell in love with you that night.”
“I fell in love with you before I knew your name.” I leaned over and stole a kiss. A honking horn forced us apart. I lifted my gaze to glare at the bastard to see Mitchell laughing like a dick. I flipped him off and kissed her once more before pulling out of the parking spot.
“Now, let’s get you and my baby something to eat. We can clean out your room tomorrow and move you into my place.”
“What is your family going to say?”
“You’ll meet them this weekend since we’re having our usual get-together. They’re going to love you.”
“What did Mitchell mean about your father?”
“He had a heart attack shortly after I got back. It left him with a lot of issues to recover from. My mother has gone on a mission to make him take it easy. He’s ready for work again, though.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay. He’s improving, and the news of the baby will probably drive him to heal faster. My parents are going to so damn excited and probably start buying baby stuff as soon as we tell them.”
“Oh goodness. I’m showing up pregnant. They’re going to think I’m a tramp.”
“No, they won’t. They know about you. I told them, or rather my dipshit older brother mentioned you to them after he coaxed it out of me. They’ve been hounding Mitchell for information on finding you, too.”
