As soon as the water came into view, her eyes widened, mouth hanging agape in disbelief.
I’ll admit, the view is truly spectacular, especially with the moon hanging overhead, turning the waves into a chariot of racing stars that crashed into the wet sand. To the left was a small cottage, tastefully decorated with Christmas lights, reindeer on the roof, and of course, a wreath on the door. The trees on either side of the entrance housed sparkling ornaments that shone brighter with the headlights.
“Is this where you live…?” She asked in disbelief.
“No.” I chuckled. “This is where I come to relax. Welcome to my private beach.”
“You have a private beach?” She spat, looking at me, eyes bugging out of her skull. “You’re kidding me.”
“Why would I?” I leaned forward, hand cupping her cheek. “I thought you might want to enjoy this little Christmas getaway. I never get to share it with anyone else.”
“But… why me?” She glanced at the cottage, fingers tugging at a loose thread in her skirt. “I don’t understand why you would bring me here.”
“You deserve it,” I answered without hesitation. “You’ve worked hard for me for many years. It’s about time I show you my… appreciation.” I purred the word, gauging her reaction.
Almost on cue, her cheeks turned a shade darker as her gaze fell to her lap, a bashful expression painting her face. I loved how this woman could be fiery one minute and shy the next. It made me want to keep her in my arms forever – to learn her ever tick and kink – to make love to her – to make her scream.
But, I was getting ahead of myself. One thing at a time.
I got out of the car, opening her door and helping her to her feet. Without thinking, I laced our fingers together.
She squeezed my hand, following me toward the cottage. Silence wrapped around us like a warm blanket. Typically, when I was alone with a woman, she filled every moment of quiet with incessant chatter, but Tanya was different. She seemed to be soaking in the scene, taking in everything with those bright green gems she called eyes.
God, it seemed like every time I looked at her, she managed to become even more beautiful.
How was that possible?
Soon, we were on the back porch. It was built like a pedestal that overlooked the ocean, making anyone who stood there feel like royalty. “Do you want anything to drink?” I asked, arms wrapped around her waist, bodies pressed together as we leaned against the railing. I don’t know how we ended up in that position, but it was a natural progression, like two puzzle pieces that came together by accident.
My lips were close to her neck, tempting me to lean down and leave behind a trail of kisses. Her scent wafted up to my nose, sweet and intoxicating. Between my legs, my dick came to life. I wondered how long it would take Tanya to notice and if she would say anything in response.
“N-No…” She whispered.
“Are you sure? There should be a couple of wine coolers in the fridge. Don’t be shy. I don’t mind if you drink. We aren’t at work anymore. Just relax…” I tightened my grasp around her waist, loving how curvy she was. Holding a woman with substance was nice. It sure beat the model-thin girls I had dated – or rather, fucked – in the past.
“I’m fine.” She said, voice soft and shaky.
“Do you want me to let go?”
“No.” This time, her answer was immediate.
I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder, looking out at the water.
If this had been anyone else, we would have been in bed by now, but with Tanya, things felt different. I wanted to make her comfortable – to make the night unforgettable and… romantic.
I didn’t know where this impulse had come from but being alone with Tanya made me feel like a whole new man – someone who wanted to please and impress.
“You know, I used to come here when I was a teenager. Whenever my father would upset me, I’d sneak over the gates and sit by the water. As soon as I could afford it, I bought the property from him. It’s still my private hideout.”
“Why’d you bring me here?”
“I already told you.”
“But…”
I turned her head, so we were looking at one another, noses touching, eyes locked. “Because I wanted to.” My answer was simple but true.
There was just something about her that made me want to hold her a little tighter, to show her the world, to make her heart pound.
I had a plan for her, but it was starting to be so much more than that.
At that moment, something inside me changed.
Chapter 7 (Tanya)
We looked at each other for a long time – so long that it felt like the entire world had come to a screeching halt. My heart had even stopped, my lungs burning for air as I held my breath.
I was so sure that he was going to kiss me, but all too soon he pulled away.
“Everett, be honest with me,” I spoke with a level voice, trying to appear confident despite the confusing swirl of emotions inside of my head.
“Hmm?”
“Is it just me or is there something going on here?”
He smirked, his devilish blue eyes sparkling like a pair of diamonds I’d never be able to afford. “I was wondering when you’d say something.” He leaned forward, lips pursed for a kiss, but at the very last moment, he turned his head, pressing his lips against my neck instead.
I gasped, a surge of electricity firing through my spine, settling right between my thighs.
His lips lingered there for a moment before moving to my ear, nibbling on the lobe.
I shivered, feeling his hands settle on the small of my back.
Was this really happening or was I just inside a dream?
“I need something from you.” He whispered, voice silken and seductive.
I nearly fell for it, but I managed to keep a grasp on reality. He needed something. Of course. I should have seen this coming. All this teasing and flirting was just a leeway into a favor. Everett didn’t want a girl like me.
“What is it?” I asked, almost afraid of the answer.
“I need you to have my baby.”
What?
I blinked, waiting to wake up in my bed but I never did.
Somehow, this was real.
But, it couldn’t be.
“Um… What did you say?” My lips felt incredibly dry as I asked him to repeat himself. Certainly, I had just misheard him.
“I need you to have my baby.” He said once more as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
“You’re kidding, right?” Quickly, I pulled away from his hold, fleeing to the opposite side of the porch.
“No.”
I shook my head. “That’s crazy. You have to be joking.”
“I'm serious.” He stood up straight, adjusting his cufflinks.
“What the heck. Where did this come from?”
“Look. I’m not getting any younger, and I want to continue my legacy. I’m not going to wait any longer for the right girl to walk into my life. At this point, I don’t even know if that’s possible.” He sat down, a dark shadow passing over his features, lips pressed into a hard line. “So, I need a donor.”
My head spun. Surely, this could not be happening. Was he downright insane?
“So, what do you say?”
I ran my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath to try and steady myself. “I just don’t understand…”
“What is there to understand? You’re capable. Attractive. From the looks of it, you have childbearing hips.”
“Childbearing hips?” I repeated. I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation.
“Yes.”
I stared at him. “How long have you been planning to ask me this?”
“For a while now.”
Slowly, I lowered myself onto a nearby chair, legs turning to jelly.
“Does it bother you?”
That was the problem. The idea was crazy and yet, a part of me felt pure joy
at the thought of carrying this man’s baby. What the hell was wrong with me?
“No…” I admitted, blushing deeply. “I just don’t understand why you’d pick me. I mean, you’re a billionaire. You could pay anyone to have your baby. You could find someone better…” Before I could continue, he cut me off with a kiss.
It came so suddenly that it took me by surprise. One second, we were sitting on two different chairs and the next, he pulled me onto my feet, his lips dancing against mine. His grip was tight on my arms, holding me close as passion radiated between us, getting hotter and hotter with each passing second.
My head turned to mush as I melted against him.
Damn. I never thought anything could feel this good. My heart was beating so hard that it threatened to burst from my chest at any moment.
Just when it felt as though my lungs were going to give out, he pulled away, looking deep into my eyes. At first, he didn’t say anything. He just continued to look at me as if I were the only girl in the world. For a second, I thought that maybe, just maybe, there could be something real between us.
“I want you and no one else.” He said, voice firm.
My heart skipped a beat.
This was more than just a favor. I was sure of it.
“I’d pay you handsomely.”
And then, my daydream shattered.
What was I thinking? Everett was just making an efficient business choice. As his assistant, I was a perfect choice. He could check on me and make sure everything went as planned. That’s all it was: convenience. Emotions had nothing to do with it.
I shook my head. “I don’t know…”
“Would a million be enough?”
I nearly choked on my tongue. What? Did he just say a million?
“Of course, I’ll pay for any medical expenses.”
I just stared at him. What the hell was I supposed to do? It felt wrong of me to accept such a lump sum for having someone’s baby – let alone my boss’ baby – but, at the same time, that kind of money would be more than enough to pay off my student debt. I’d even be able to quit my job as an assistant and pursue my passion for the arts. I thought of my mother. She had always told me to follow my dreams, to never put my paintbrush aside for work I didn’t love. But, what would she say in this situation?
“I…” My tongue swelled in my mouth, making it impossible to speak.
“Do you need some time to think it over?”
I found myself nodded. That’s exactly what I needed. Right now, my head felt like it was spinning a thousand miles an hour. Soon, it would pop right off my head.
“Alright. Why don’t you give me an answer at the Christmas Ball?”
“So, in two days?”
“Exactly.” He smiled, his hand resting on my hip. Suddenly, I felt a bit self-conscious about them. Were they so wide that he would consider them ‘childbearing?’ “I hope you give it some serious consideration.”
“I will,” I assured him with another nod.
“Good.” His smile deepened. “In the meantime, let’s just enjoy the night, shall we?” Without another word, he took my hand, pulling me back through the house. Soon, we were standing on the sandy shore, water lapping at the ground only a few feet away.
For a moment, I forgot about the crazy offer and just enjoyed the breathtaking scenery that laid before me. “It’s beautiful.”
Everett squeezed my hand.
I looked up at him.
“It is.” He whispered, our eyes locked. My heart thumped in response.
He wasn’t talking about the ocean.
Chapter 8 (Everett)
I thought about kissing her, to press my lips against hers, our bodies pressed together, but I held back. I wanted her to make the choice on her own. If I kissed her, she would be swayed unfairly in my direction. If she was going to bear my child, she needed to want it as much as I did.
Still, it was hard to resist, especially when she looked up at me with those gorgeous green eyes, lips pursed ever so slightly. It almost seemed like she was doing it on purpose, body tempting mine every time I looked at her.
It took every ounce of my will to let go of her, bend down, and take off my shoes.
“What are you doing?” She asked as I tossed them to the side. They were my most expensive pair, and she knew it, but that didn’t matter. I could always buy another pair if they were ruined. When you’re as rich as I am, shoes are insignificant.
“I thought we could enjoy the sand between our toes,” I answered, rolling up the hem of my pants, feeling like a teenager – well, almost. In those days, I would shed every stitch of clothing and jump into the water, no matter how frigid.
“What…?”
“Come.” I took her hand, pulling her close. “Stop acting so tense. Right now, I’m not your boss. I’m just Everett. A regular guy.”
She shook her head. “I can’t…”
“Don’t make me take off your shoes for you.”
“What…?” Before she could stop me, I was already down on one knee, undoing the ankle strap. My head was so close to her leg that I was tempted to leave a trail of kisses in my wake. Her smell was delicious and practically irresistible. I never thought controlling myself would be this hard. I was so used to getting everything I wanted that holding back was almost a foreign concept.
“Everett… I don’t think…”
“Shh.” I threw her heels to the side. “You worry too much. Just… relax.” As I got up, I wrapped my arms around her waist, locking our hips together.
She gasped, lips parted seductively.
Oh, she was making this hard… oh so very hard.
I took in a deep breath, trying to redirect the blood flow back to my head but it continued to stir between my legs, bringing my member to life. I did not doubt that she could feel my girth against her thigh, getting increasingly excited by the minute.
Knowing I would lose myself in desire if I continued to hold her, I hesitantly let go, settling for her hand as we walked along the shore. Neither one of us spoke a word. Out of the corner of my eye, I noted her pensive expression. She was mulling over my offer. I was curious how she would handle it. Hopefully, she’d agree. Of course, I could just hire a donor, but Tanya felt like the right choice. I didn’t quite know how to explain it – a gut feeling – the same feeling that had guided me toward success all my life. I didn’t think it would lead me astray this time around.
Finally, we doubled back, heading for the cabin. I didn’t bother to offer her a ride home. She belonged here – by my side. I could feel it deep in my heart, like a primal instinct that made me want to protect her from all the harms and evils of the world. I was an alpha, and she was the mate I’d defend with my life. I could go on denying it all I wanted, but feelings this strong never lied.
I just needed her to feel the same way.
“You must be tired,” I commented, leading her toward the guest bedroom. “So, I’ll let you sleep. If you need anything, I’m just across the hall. Don’t hesitate to ask. Bathroom’s around the corner. Kitchen stocked with snacks. Make yourself at home.”
Tanya looked at me for a moment, lingering by the doorframe, looking like she wanted to tell me something. But, in the end, she just nodded her head, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“Goodnight,” I said.
“Goodnight.” She returned, slowly closing the door in my face.
I remained in the hallway, half expecting her to reappear but she never did. I sighed. Why was I holding back? I could just go in there and take exactly what I wanted – just like I handled everything else in my life. But, for some reason, that kind of tactic seemed wrong in this situation. I wanted her to want me.
Eventually, I walked into my bedroom, stripped down to my
underwear, and slipped into my bed. Usually, I was able to fall asleep just as soon as I settled into the mattress but for some reason, I couldn’t get comfortable. I tossed and turned, thinking of Tanya. She haunted my thoughts like a phantom I co
uldn’t quite catch. I wanted her. Hell, I needed her. But, I was starting to fear that the feelings weren’t reciprocated.
What was I to do then?
No one ever told me ‘no.’
Would Tanya be the first?
What then?
Fake Bride: A Billionaire Boss Fake Marriage Romance Page 16
