When we got to the restaurant where Margot worked, she opened the door with an excited gleam in her eye. Once inside, I gasped. All of the tables had been pushed aside except for one long table in the center, which was loaded with flowers and candles.
“Ben told me that you hate fancy stuff, but it’s your wedding,” Margot explained. “You gotta be a little fancy,” she added matter-of-factly.
I blushed. “It’s beautiful,” I admitted. “Really.”
“But not too fancy,” Margot said. She was still grinning as she let out a whistle. Seconds later, the kitchen doors opened and several waiters came out, each laden with trays. When I saw the food piled on plates, I laughed.
“Oh my god,” I said. “This is too much!”
Margot pointed at each plate, smirking as she narrated the contents.
“Buffalo wings – three spice levels! – and sliders are here,” she said, pointing at a platter loaded with more wings than I’d seen in my entire life. “And down here, we have loaded potato skins, mozzarella sticks, and a taco bar.”
I burst out laughing, then pulled Margot into a bear hug. She was laughing too by the time she pulled away.
“It’s just perfect for you,” Jared trilled. “My super-classy sister!”
Everyone laughed except for Ben, who stood there shaking his head and pretending to groan.
We all sat down and started eating – Ben, of course, ate his buffalo wings with a knife and fork and Olive, of course, made a mess of her entire face, her dress, and even her white tights.
As I sat there, surrounded by the people whom I loved most in the entire world, I was so filled with happiness that I thought I would burst. Reaching for Ben’s hand, I laced my fingers with his.
He turned to me and smiled. “Are you happy, baby?”
“Happier than I’ve ever been,” I said.
And it was true. Circumstances beyond our control had ripped Ben a half world away from me, but he’d managed to find his way back.
And now that we were officially together for good, a family, I knew there was nothing stopping the rest of my life from being beyond perfect.
Epilogue
Jessie – One Year Later
“Mommy, when do I get to stop going to school?” Olive asked from the passenger seat of the Land Rover, interrupting my train of thought. I’d just picked her up from kindergarten, and we were swimming through traffic on the way home.
“What?” I asked, turning to her. “Sorry. Mommy wasn’t paying attention,” I admitted. Because I’ve got something much, much more pressing on my mind, I thought guiltily.
“I asked about school,” Olive said. “When I do get to stop going to school?”
Her serious demeanor brought me out of my own head and I laughed shortly, turning to look at her. Olive gave me a funny look.
“What’s so funny,” she asked suspiciously. “Aunt Margot said she didn’t finish school. Do I have to finish school?”
I groaned, making a mental note to ask my dear sister-in-law to stop giving academic “advice” to my five-year-old daughter.
“Yes, sweetie,” I said. “Aunt Margot had a really hard time in life because she didn’t finish school. You don’t want that, do you? You’re going to go to college and everything.”
Predictably, Olive wrinkled her nose.
“But how long,” she whined.
“Well, you’ll be seventeen when you finish high school,” I told her. “And then twenty-one or older by the time you finish college.”
Olive looked horrified. “That’s forever,” she said.
I laughed. “It’s not. It goes by really fast. And honestly, being in school is way better than working.”
Olive didn’t look satisfied with the answer I’d given her. She pouted as she flopped back against the seat.
“Did you have a bad day, honey?” I asked.
Olive didn’t reply. She looked out the window and traced her finger along the pattern of raindrops.
“You know, you can tell me anything,” I told her, feeling slightly silly. “I’m your mom, right?”
Olive turned and nodded. “I ... don’t like being away from you and Daddy,” she said finally. “It makes my tummy hurt. I feel funny,” she continued.
I felt a swell of love in my heart and I reached over and petted her head. Over the last year, she’d shot up in height – she was the tallest kid in her class – and she’d become a lot more restrained.
I was so proud of her. It was clear that Ben’s influence was working wonders, and her life had become so much more stable since we’d gotten married.
“I miss Grandma,” Olive said suddenly. “Can we go see her soon?”
Inwardly, I sighed. After a year, relations with my mother were still frosty. She’d never apologized – and she still made comments about my weight every time we saw each other. In a way, it was funny: she’d gotten exactly what she’d wanted, which was for a daughter of hers to marry into a rich family ... but admitting that she’d wanted that in the first place was what had strained our relationship beyond repair. For Olive’s sake, I was trying.
But sometimes, it was hard.
It was hard with Ben’s parents, too. When his mother realized that Olive was Ben’s child, she demanded he take a paternity test. He’d refused instantly, and not spoken to them for over six months. But I was starting to soften to them ... and once they met Olive, they were so charmed with her that they spoiled her rotten. Whenever she’d go visit “Gammy” and “Pappy”, she’d come home with so many new clothes and toys and books that eventually, Ben had to ask his mother to dial it back.
I turned down our street and started up the long drive of our house, a Queen Anne-style mansion from the nineteenth century that Ben had surprised me with after our wedding. Every time I saw it, it took my breath away and made me realize just how lucky I was. The house had so many little details – nooks and crannies, a hidden staircase that had once led to a maid’s room in the attic, even a library that Ben had restored to its former glory and filled with all of my favorite books. Working on the house with him had been a labor of love.
“Home!” Olive chanted.
When I saw Margot’s car in the driveway, I frowned.
“What’s your aunt doing here,” I wondered aloud. Hopefully not visiting to give my daughter any more ideas of dropping out of school while she’s still in kindergarten, I thought guilty. Then, I laughed. Margot and I had gotten so close over the last year, even if we did have our differing opinions. She was a breath of fresh air, and I still smiled every time I remembered the wedding “feast” that she’d surprised me with.
“Aunt Margot,” Olive said, looking out the window and enunciating very carefully. “Aunt Margot.”
“Don’t ask her about school again,” I warned as I slowed the Land Rover and parked it next to Margot’s red coupe. Olive and I got out of the car – she had to leap to the ground – and walked up the front steps, where Margot was sitting on the porch. When she saw me, she looked guilty.
“Don’t tell Ben I got here early,” she said. “He’ll kill me.”
“Why?” I squinted. “What’s wrong?”
Margot flushed and looked uneasy. “Nothing,” she said. Turning to Olive, she smiled brightly. “Hi, Sunshine,” she said. “What’s new?”
Olive ran up for a hug and before I could wonder too much about what my husband was planning, his Porsche shot up the driveway. He parked behind me and climbed out, stretching as he did so.
“You’re home early,” I cried happily, running down the steps and throwing myself at him for a hug.
Ben smirked at me. “You look gorgeous,” he said, running his hands down my back and squeezing my ass. I giggled and leaned in closer, pressing my lips to his in a light kiss.
“What’s Margot doing here?” I asked.
Ben groaned. “It was supposed to be a surprise,” he muttered.
I raised an eyebrow. “Ben, I adore your sister.”
�
��But we see her all the time.”
“What’s the surprise?”
Ben reached into his Porsche and pulled out the biggest bouquet I’d ever seen, filled with peonies and roses and lilies. Then, he pulled out a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates from a local artisan.
“Margot is going to watch Olive tonight,” he said. “While I take you out on a date. Wherever you’d like,” he added.
I giggled happily. “Even Taco Bell?”
Ben nodded sagely. “Even Taco Bell,” he replied. “Lady’s choice.”
I tapped my chin as I pretended to ponder, rolling my eyes up and making an ‘hmmmm’ sound under my breath.
Leaning in, Ben kissed my cheek. “No rush. It’s only four,” he said. Then, he blinked at me and narrowed his eyes. “Wait,” he said. “What were you doing picking Olive up? Doesn’t she always take the bus? Did she get sick?”
I shook my head. “I had ... um, something with Henny,” I lied.
Ben looked skeptical, but just as he was opening his mouth to ask another question, Olive came bounding up and hugged him. Ben scooped her into his arms and flung her around in the air before gently setting her back down on her feet.
“Daddy!” Olive cried.
“I missed you, too, honey,” Ben said as he ruffled Olive’s hair. “Did you have a good day at school?”
“Oh, yes,” Olive said, nodding enthusiastically. I smiled – the two of them were so close that it melted my heart every time I watched them interact. Despite being more stern than I was, Ben was the “fun parent” because he worked such long hours ... whereas I always had to be the disciplinarian, the one nagged Olive to finish her homework and eat her veggies at dinner.
“How about hanging out with Aunt Margot tonight and having pizza for dinner?” Ben asked Olive.
“Fun,” Olive replied happily. She took one of Ben’s hands and I took the other as the three of us walked towards the house, where Margot was still sitting on the steps. She smirked when she saw Ben and the giant bouquet that I was holding.
“Date night?”
Ben nodded.
“TGI Friday’s?” Margot teased.
I laughed, then pretended to think it over. “Maybe Red Lobster,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But only if they still have Endless Shrimp.”
Margot and Ben laughed while Olive looked confused.
“Come on,” Ben said, opening the door and letting everyone inside. “I’m gonna go take a shower.” He turned to me. “You think about where you want to eat, okay?”
I nodded. As soon as Olive and Margot were settled down with a board game, I climbed the steps and went into the master suite. Ben was just getting out of the shower and his muscular body, clad only in a thin towel, sent a hot spike of lust through me.
“Hey, you,” I said, wrapping my arms around his waist and nuzzling my face against his shoulder blade. “I missed you today.”
Ben turned around and held me against his chest. His skin was hot and damp from the shower and I closed my eyes and inhaled deep, just to get a whiff of his body wash.
“I know I’ve been working crazy hours and I feel so bad,” Ben explained, kissing the top of my head and stroking my back. “I just wanted to do something nice for you, just the two of us.”
I tilted my head so that I could look deeply into his blue eyes. Every time we locked gazes, I felt as if we were the only two people in the world.
“That’s so sweet of you, baby,” I said softly. Stretching on my tip toes, I gave him a tender, deep kiss. When we pulled away, my heart was pounding with desire and I could feel that I was getting wet.
“So,” I said, biting my lower lip and running my hands down Ben’s bare chest. “I ... I actually have a surprise for you, too.”
Ben cocked his head to the side. “Oh, yeah?” He asked. “And what would that be?”
I blushed hotly. “I lied,” I said. “I didn’t have a thing with Henny.”
Ben narrowed his eyes at me. “I knew it,” he said. “Lemme guess – you were out with another man, because I’m working so much?”
I burst out laughing at the joke. “Obviously,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“What is it, really?” Ben asked. He took my hands. “Do I need to be worried?”
I took a deep breath, holding it for a long time.
“Only if you don’t want to be a father again,” I said softly.
Ben’s eyes widened.
“I was at the doctor,” I said. “I’m pregnant. Ben, we’re going to have another baby.”
“Oh my god,” Ben said. “Jessie, that’s fucking amazing!” He hugged me tightly, gripping my body against his and kissing me hotly on the mouth. I felt his tongue slip between my lips and I moaned softly, whimpering as his hands stroked my curves through the thin cotton dress I wore. My nipples stiffened and tingled as Ben’s hands roamed over my breasts, cupping and massaging them. His hands roamed further down my body, over my hips and ass and thighs, pulling the hem of my dress up to my waist and touching me gently through my panties.
I whimpered softly, running my hands down his body and pulling the towel away from his hips. Underneath his cock was already hard and throbbing and the feel of his erection against my fingers made my clit throb with passion.
“Jessie,” Ben growled in a lusty voice. “I need you. You make me complete, you’re my entire world. You know that, don’t you?”
I was breathing hard as I answered him.
“Yes,” I said softly. “And you are mine.
Boss’s Baby
Description
He’s my dad’s best friend.
The father of my (secret) baby.
The only man I’ve ever loved.
Ever wanted.
And now…
Now he’s my boss.
Working for a powerful man like Elliot is stressful enough.
And having a past with him only adds to the pressure.
He’s always been gorgeous.
He’s always had that power over me.
It’s why I gave him my V-card on a silver platter.
Little did I know that I’d end up pregnant.
I couldn’t get myself to tell him about his daughter.
It’s been four years since my little girl has been reminding me of our night together.
Four years since I’ve been wondering if I did the right thing.
Maybe Elliot deserved to know.
Maybe he didn’t.
But I’m about to explore this forbidden relationship again… and find out for myself.
Prologue
Annie – Present Day
“You wanted to see me?” I asked, unable to stop myself from smiling coyly at Elliot.
He stood behind his desk, looking down at a sheaf of shiny flyers, with his eyes narrowed. When his head lifted and his flashing green eyes met mine, I felt a lick of desire between my legs. Elliot’s dark brown hair was brushed away from his high forehead and his strong jaw was clenched. The silver that threaded his temples only made him look sexier, and I felt my palms grow damp as his eyes traveled the length of my curvy figure, lingering on my bust and hips.
“Yes,” Elliot said curtly. “It’s about the TIME magazine profile – I wanted to get a second opinion.”
I blushed hotly. There was no way that this could be true – I was an assistant, several levels lower than Elliot, who was on the board of the company. He wasn’t even my direct boss. He was my boss’s boss’s boss, and there was absolutely no way he’d consult with me about something so high-level.
But I had to play it cool. He obviously had ulterior motives for calling my cubicle and asking me into his office.
“I see,” I said as I inched closer to his massive desk. “What can I help with?”
Elliot’s eyes flicked over my shoulder, then back to my face.
“Shut the door,” he said. “And come over here.”
His powerful, commanding voice sent a thrill shooting through my entire body
. There was something so strong about Elliot’s mere presence – his toned, muscular body and his sharp green eyes were enough to send me into a spiral of desire, and I had no choice but to obey his every command.
I closed the door behind me and then crossed the room to where Elliot stood. He smelled of dark, intoxicating cologne and beneath that, I caught a hint of his natural smell: musky and salty, almost briny. My heart fluttered in my chest and my stomach did a nervous, excited flip when Elliot put his hands on my waist and pulled me close.
“You’re driving me crazy, you know that,” Elliot said in a low voice. His lips brushed my ear, sending an electric shiver down my spine.
“I’m not doing anything,” I teased.
Elliot’s hands moved lower, until he was cupping my ass through my tweed skirt. I shuddered with arousal as my nipples tingled inside of my bra and my clit began to throb. I could feel that my panties were already wet by the time Elliot placed a scorching, searing kiss on my lips and squeezed my ass.
Moaning softly, I pressed my body against his strong figure and wrapped my arms around his neck. Elliot groaned into my mouth and pushed his hips against my body. I felt his cock, throbbing and hard, inside of his pants, and I couldn’t wait to wrap my hand around it and pleasure him.
The kiss grew deeper as Elliot’s tongue slipped into my mouth and explored. He nibbled and suckled on my lower lip, and I moaned softly as a hot flush broke out over my whole body. Elliot’s hands wasted no time – he lifted the hem of my skirt, pushing it up over my round hips, thighs, and ass until it was bunched around my waist. Without breaking the kiss, he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of my tights and panties and pulled them down in a single, smooth motion that made me gasp.
Elliot gently dragged his nails up the insides of my bare thighs, and I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out. He knew just how to touch me, just how to drive me insane, and I whimpered softly as his fingers reached my bare pussy lips and began stroking me. Spreading my legs was awkward – my tights and panties were around my knees, and I grunted with effort as I opened myself to him. Immediately, the scent of my wet pussy filled the room, and I moaned softly as Elliot stroked my nether lips, then spread them. His thumb found my clit and began stroking it in slow circles – the way he always did, the way he always knew just how to drive me insane. I gasped as he pushed two fingers inside of my wet pussy and began rocking his hand back and forth, still rubbing my clit as he fingered me.
Forbidden First Times: A Contemporary Romance Collection Page 81
