Emma let her head fall back against the chair’s headrest and sighed. “You’re right. I am feeling too much.” She blew a strand of hair out of her face and gazed over at Casey. “Why does everything have to be so damn hard on me? Women everywhere can drop their panties and have mindless sex, but no, not me. I have to get emotionally invested in a douchenozzle who is only willing to knock me up for his own pleasure.”
Casey laughed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Even I have to admit that the douchenozzle, as you call him, does have some serious seduction game. Hell, I might’ve even been tempted to feel a little more if he took me to dinner, gave me lingerie, and stayed the night.”
“I need a new strategy. I’m going to have to keep it purely physical from now on out. I’ll go in, do the deed, and get the hell out of there.”
“That’s my girl.”
7
On Wednesday when Emma stepped into Aidan’s office, he glanced up from his paperwork and drank in every aspect of her appearance. She knew she appeared so different than how he had left her the other morning—practically naked under the sheets with her long auburn hair splayed across the pillow. Today she appeared every bit the seasoned professional woman in her thin gray pencil skirt, black frilly blouse, and serious heels. She’d also swept her hair into a loose knot, but even as finely dressed as she was, she might as well have been naked with the way he was staring at her.
Get in and get out quickly, and you don’t get hurt, she tried reminding herself. She met Aidan’s hooded eyes and blushed. “Hi,” she said shyly.
“Hello. To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you?”
Deep breath, Em. You can do this. All he can do is say no…and then potentially embarrass the hell out of you for suggesting such a thing in the middle of the day. Not to mention he could potentially file a sexual harassment charge… She glanced around. “Um, you aren’t busy right at the moment, are you?”
“No, I’m in between meetings. Why?”
She chewed her lip, once again unsure if she could actually approach him like this. From the moment she took her ovulation test in the bathroom, her mind screamed how crazy she was to even think of propositioning Aidan while they were at work. The entire elevator ride up, her conscience worked in overdrive, calling her a brazen slut for even considering a booty call in the middle of the day.
She tuned the voices in her head out. “Well, you see, my temperature spiked a little while ago.”
Aidan’s brows furrowed. “You came up here to tell me you’re sick?”
With a nervous laugh, Emma replied, “No, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s just…” She drew in a breath, trying to still her nerves. It did little to help her shaking knees, especially since she was going to have to talk about more alleged unmentionables again. “You see, I’ve been taking these tests to tell when I’m ovulating and when I’m most fertile. And well…it’s now.”
He stared at her, unblinking and barely breathing for a moment before a smirk curved on his lips. “Oh, so you came up here for a fuck?”
Emma cringed. “Do you always have to be so crude?”
He chuckled. “I’m sorry. Would you prefer I call it an afternoon delight?” he teased, seeming to enjoy the fact she was now squirming in her heels.
“Please stop,” she murmured. Testing her courage, she stepped closer to his desk. Miraculously, the legs that felt rubbery actually supported her. With him acting like such a sex-crazed ass, she didn’t have to worry about not feeling anything for him. This was the despicable Aidan she remembered from the Christmas party, not the one who had spooned with her the other night. She realized she needed to file away this kind of behavior in her mind for whenever she started slipping into the emotional minefield of feeling more for him.
Drawing on more willpower caused her to inch around the side of the desk. When she met Aidan’s leering gaze, she sighed. “Could you please act the way you did the other night?”
“And how was that?”
She ducked her head. “I don’t know…just not like this.”
“I’m sorry, Em. It’s just I’m not used to being made to feel like a piece of meat in the middle of the day.”
She met his amused gaze. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like that. I would much rather have waited for tonight. You can’t imagine how hard this is for me. To come up here and proposition you like this is absolutely terrifying, not to mention mortifying, but as much as I hate it, I need you to help me conceive—and I need you now.”
Aidan shifted in his chair, and Emma could tell her plea was having an effect on him. “I have to admit that you needing me like this is one hell of a turn-on, Em,” he mused. Motioning to the door, he instructed, “Lock it.”
Emma scurried to ensure nobody would interrupt them. When she returned to his side, Aidan pressed the button on his phone and his secretary’s voice came over the speaker. “Yes, Mr. Fitzgerald?”
“Marilyn, please push back my 3:00 meeting. I’ve had something unexpectedly come up.” He winked at Emma.
“Yes sir.”
“And please make sure I’m not disturbed for the next thirty minutes.”
“I certainly will.
Once Emma was sure he had hung up, she shook her head. “Half an hour? Someone sure thinks highly of himself and his stamina.”
Aidan laughed. “Never doubt my stamina.” Rolling his chair back, he swiveled around to where his knees knocked into hers. Desire burned in his eyes as he brought his hands up and laced his fingers around the back of his head. “Okay then. I’m all yours, babe. All you have to do is take me.”
Emma’s eyes widened. “But aren’t you…” She trailed off, her gaze flickering over to the leather couch.
He slowly shook his head back and forth. “You’re the one who needs me. The ball’s in your court.”
Mortification and anger rocketed through her. He would make this harder on her than it had to be. “Fine,” she huffed. Without taking her eyes off of his, she jerked her straight skirt up to her hips.
Aidan sucked in a breath when she flashed him a view of her lacy thigh-highs. “Damn, those are sexy,” he murmured.
After she slipped off her panties, Emma eased her skirt back down a little and stepped over to him. She would have loved to smack the smirk right off his handsome face. The amused glint in his blue eyes told her he was enjoying her embarrassment way too much. With more force than she needed, she knocked his legs apart with one of her knees. She then bent over him, bringing her fingers to his belt, and saw that his erection already tented his pants. After quickly unzipping him, she started to ease down onto his lap.
“What, no foreplay?” Aidan asked, his voice vibrating with humor.
She scowled at him. “This isn’t about getting off. It’s about getting what I want,” she countered, her hand slipping into his underwear to grip around him with her fingers.
“Sorry babe, but if I don’t get off, you don’t get what you want.”
Rolling her eyes, she guided his erection between her thighs. As she slid slowly and deliciously down the length of him, Aidan groaned and brought his lips to her neck. Once he was all the way inside her, he licked a moist trail up to her ear, sucking on her earlobe. “Hmm, someone’s so wet and ready for me without even a touch. I must have some effect on you, babe.”
Emma ran her fingers through his hair, jerking his head up to meet her gaze. With a smile, she said, “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s clearly biology. It’s the hormones and estrogen, not you, that’s got me this…”
He gripped her hips tight, his fingers splaying into her flesh. “Say it.”
She hesitated before whispering, “Wet.”
Aidan growled and thrust his tongue into her mouth. Emma shifted her rhythm to ride him faster. His hands eased from her hips to the waistband of her skirt. After he untucked her shirt, his determined fingers worked their way down the row of tiny pearl buttons.
Emma bit her lip when his hand slipped inside the lacy cup o
f her bra to caress one of her breasts. As his thumb pinched her nipple, she couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips. She hated herself even more when Aidan smiled triumphantly up at her. He was determined she would want him for more than just procreating, and it pissed her off that she had given in to him.
Anger pushed her to rock harder against him, hoping to finish him off quicker, but Aidan must have anticipated her. He gripped both sides of her buttocks firmly in his hands and then scooted to the chair edge. Emma squealed and gripped her legs around his waist to keep from falling. “Hold on,” Aidan said. In one sweeping movement, he was on his feet, sending Emma’s arms tight around his neck. His chuckle warmed her ear. “Ease up a bit, babe. I’d still like to breathe.”
“Sorry,” she whimpered.
He gently eased her down on the edge of his desk then brought his lips to hers. Kissing her hungrily, he pushed her onto her back. She shifted her hips and once again wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing him in even deeper. They both groaned against each other’s lips at the sensation. “Fuck, Emma,” he murmured as he thrust into her.
Keeping a steady pace, he tore his lips from hers to start kissing down her neck. His mouth replaced where his hand had been earlier, tonguing and sucking on her nipple. Emma closed her eyes. Her resolve not to feel anything faded as she panted and pushed herself farther into his mouth. When he moved to the other breast, she knew she was close to the edge of coming. “Aidan,” she panted.
He raised his head from her breast to watch her as she came. “Seeing you do that drives me crazy,” he said. He thrust a few more times and then he was done. “Christ!” he cried out.
They lay motionless for a few seconds, both coming down off the shared high. Aidan raised his head and gave Emma a lazy grin. “As usual, that was pretty damn amazing.”
“Yes, it was,” Emma replied, her breath still coming in heaving pants.
“Any chance of your temperature spiking again today?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Damn.”
She giggled. “Sorry.”
Aidan kissed her before prying himself away. As he pulled up his pants, Emma slid off the desk. She readjusted her bra and then shimmied her skirt back down. “Oh, my pantie,” she murmured, glancing around the floor.
“I got them,” Aidan said, bending over beside the desk. He eyed the lacy black thong with the pink rosebuds before handing it over to Emma. “Too bad I didn’t get to see you in just that.”
“There’s always next time,” she quipped with a smile.
He laughed and started tucking his shirt into his pants. Emma slid up her panties and then smoothed down her hair. “Um, would you mind if I used your couch for a little while?”
“For the boys?”
She nodded.
“Of course not. I need to head on down to my meeting anyway.”
“So, see you Friday night?”
Aidan winked and then smacked her ass. “See you then.”
8
Two Weeks Later
Emma tried with every fiber of her being not to eye the date circled in red on her desk calendar for the hundredth time. Her period was late—two days, two sleepless nights, seventeen hours, and fifty-two minutes late, to be precise. Since she had always been like clockwork, her frayed nerves were working in overdrive. Sure, it was physically possible for the first time to have been a charm, but was it also possible her body was so ready to be a mother and Aidan was such a sex god they had experienced immediate success?
If the glaring circled date wasn’t enough to send her over the edge, there was always that day’s heart-encircled one. She wondered why she felt the need to mark it when there was no possible way she could ever forget its importance. It had been seared and branded on her heart and soul.
Today was the two-year anniversary of her mother’s death.
Just as anguished tears pricked her eyes, Casey popped her head in the door. “Come on, chick. I’m taking you to lunch.”
Emma smiled. She didn’t bother hiding the fact she had been crying. Casey knew the importance of the day as well. Last year, she had plied Emma with alcohol and chocolate and then spent the night, holding her in bed as she wept uncontrollably. “That’s sweet of you to offer, but really, I don’t mind just staying here.”
“And what kind of best friend would I be if I left you here alone on today of all days?”
“The kind who recognizes how I shut down emotionally during times of duress and withdraw from my family and friends?” Emma asked hopefully.
Casey snorted. “Nope, it’s not happening. You need a bottomless margarita, some highly fattening food, and a dessert dripping in chocolate and calories, and I’m going to have the immense pleasure of supplying all of it.”
Emma knew it was pointless to argue with Casey. Besides, she really did want to get out of the office and try to get her mind off things for a while. So, she rose out of her chair and smiled. “Fine then. If you’re paying, then I’m going to eat, drink, and be merry.”
“That’s my girl.”
As they started down on the elevator, Casey asked, “You don’t mind if Nate joins us, do you?”
“Of course not. I haven’t gotten to see him in forever.”
“You and me both. Ugh, I think I’m going to have to start running over to the hospital on my lunch break for a quickie.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “You’re terrible.”
When they arrived at the restaurant, Nate already had a booth waiting for them. He rose out of his seat to hug Emma. “How are you holding up, Emmie Lou?” he asked. She fought the urge to smile at hearing her granddaddy’s childhood nickname on Nate’s lips. It was one Travis loved to tease her with, and when Nate had overhead him, he’d thought it was hysterical and automatically adopted it.
Thankfully, Emma knew his question related to her mother’s anniversary, not her late period. “I’m hanging in there. Some days are better than others.”
He nodded and patted her back. As he resumed his seat, Casey nudged Emma to sit beside him. She knew Casey didn’t want her having to sit alone. “No, no, you guys hardly get to see each other,” Emma protested.
“It’s better this way. I can stare into Nate’s eyes sitting across from him.”
“Most of all, it will keep her from molesting me under the table,” Nate replied with a wink.
Emma snickered and slid in beside him. Casey eased down across from them. After the waitress left with their drink orders, a sharp pain seized Emma’s abdomen and she gripped her menu tighter.
Casey immediately picked up on her distress. “What’s the matter?”
She cut her eyes over at Nate and then back to Casey and shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to discuss womanly issues in front of him—medical intern or not. Even though he was more than just Casey’s fiancé—he was a good and trusted friend—it still bothered her. “Oh nothing.”
“Shit, you aren’t cramping, are you?”
Emma felt her cheeks warming as she tried to hide behind her menu. “I said it’s nothing.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “Oh for fuck’s sake, Em. Nate knows all about vaginas and ovaries, so quit acting embarrassed in front of him.”
“I’m not acting embarrassed…I am embarrassed,” Emma replied.
Ignoring Emma, Casey looked pointedly at Nate. “You know how Em’s been hitting it with Aidan to get pregnant?” He nodded. “Well, she’s two days late for her period now.”
Emma closed her eyes, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Nate cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. “If you are cramping, it could be a good thing. Sometimes when the egg implants into the uterine wall, you’ll experience moderate to severe pain that is similar to menstrual cramps.”
Casey gave Nate a beaming grin. “Baby, you’re so sexy when you spout that medical jargon.”
Emma snorted as Nate leaned over the table to give Casey a lingering kiss. “You guys are seriously si
ckening.” Once they had stopped making out, she smiled at Nate. “But thanks for the information. I’m hoping that’s what it is.”
“I’m hoping for you, too. You’ll make a wonderful mother, Emmie Lou. God knows you deserve some happiness,” Nate replied, squeezing her hand.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” She was interrupted by her phone buzzing in her purse. She glanced at the text and smiled.
I don’t know if you’re still speaking to me or not, but I’m thinking of you today. No one besides my own mother meant as much to me as yours did. She always loved and accepted me for who I was, not to mention she made the best damn chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had! I love and miss you, Emmie Lou.
It was from Connor, and he had even used her nickname. When she started to text him back, Casey cleared her throat. Emma snapped her gaze up. “Sorry, I didn’t think—”
Casey motioned over Emma’s shoulder. When she turned around, Connor stood with a bouquet of lilies—her mother’s favorite flower. Tears filled Emma’s eyes as she popped out of her seat and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here!”
“I’m just glad you’re hugging me rather than slugging me.”
As she pulled away, Emma giggled. “I guess I left things pretty bad between us, huh?”
“Dude, I thought I was a goner, between you and that guy—oh what was his name again? The one who thought I was your boyfriend and was going to kick my ass?”
Casey snickered. “His name is Aidan, but I think we can refer to him as Em’s prospective baby daddy.”
Connor’s eyes widened and he staggered back. “You got that guy to be your sperm donor?”
Emma shot Casey a murderous look before jerking her out of the booth. “No, not exactly.” She motioned for Connor to have a seat. “I think I need to fill you in on some things.”
Connor waved the waitress over before sitting down. “I’m going to need a beer…actually, go ahead and bring me a pitcher!”
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