The Proposition

by Katie Ashley

  “No, I was a pervert, too.”

  “I figured as much. I swear he looks and acts so much like you.” She giggled. “He’s another Fitzgerald player in the making.”

  Aidan’s cell phone started ringing, and when he glanced down at it, he grimaced. “Damn, this is the India office. I have to take it. Make yourself at home, okay?”

  “No problem,” Emma replied, scratching Beau’s ears.

  As soon as Aidan left the room, Beau hopped up on the couch with her. “Wanna find a chick flick to watch with me?”

  He licked her hand. She grabbed the remote on the table and started flipping channels. “Ooh,” she murmured when she saw one of her favorites, Nottinghill, was on. She snuggled deeper into the couch, continuing to stroke Beau’s shiny black fur. After awhile, her eye-lids grew heavy, and before she could stop herself, she nodded off.

  ***

  “Yes, I look forward to seeing you next month, Mr. Benwaldi,” Aidan said before hanging up. He rose out of his desk chair with a heavy sigh. In truth, he wasn’t too thrilled of the prospect of leaving the country for a month, but it had been a stipulation of his new promotion. Of course, he hadn’t thought to mention his imminent departure to Emma yet. He wasn’t sure how she was going to take him leaving in the middle of their baby-making quest. Maybe he could convince her to fly over for a few days if the next week’s try didn’t take.

  Wait, what the hell was he thinking? Emma wasn’t his girlfriend or his wife. Asking a woman to fly across the ocean was way past his level of commitment, even if it was more for her benefit than his.

  “Man, I’m the worst host ever. Sorry that took so long,” he said, as he walked into the living room. He skidded to a stop at the sight of Emma asleep on the couch with Beau beside her. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do. Should he wake her up and take her to get her car, or should he offer her the guest bedroom? Or should he take her to his bed? It wasn’t like they hadn’t slept together before.

  He eyed Beau and gave a frustrated grunt. When Beau gazed drowsily up at him, Aidan wagged his finger. “You know damn well you’re not allowed on the furniture.”

  Beau responded by yawning and then burrowing deeper to Emma’s side.

  Aidan bent over the couch, his hand sweeping across Emma’s cheek. “Wake up, Em,” he said softly.

  “Hmm?” she questioned without stirring.

  “You need to go to bed.”

  “No. Too tired,” she murmured.

  He rubbed her arm. “You’ll sleep better in bed.”

  She gave a short snore in response. Aidan rolled his eyes. Of course, she would have to make this harder on him. “Okay, fine. I’ll put you to bed.”

  He reached underneath her legs and then brought his arms around her back. With a grunt, he lifted her up off the couch.

  Emma gazed up at him through hooded eyes. “Are you my Knight in Shining Armor, now?”

  “Oh yeah, I’m a helluva knight,” he grumbled.

  “You’re making me break all my rules.”

  “Huh?”

  Her eyes closed, and he thought she’d gone back to sleep. “You make me feel too much…I’m just supposed to use you for sex like you use me.”

  His chest tightened at her words. Is that really what she thought of him? Even though it was usually the truth, he didn’t like hearing it from her…at least not now. “Em, open your eyes and look at me.”

  At his command, her drowsy green eyes focused on his. “Don’t you ever think I’m using you, all right? I may have always wanted to have sex with you, but I would never, ever use you.”

  She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, her lips grazing his cheek. “You’re a good man, Aidan Fitzgerald, even if you don’t want to admit it.”

  “You think so?”

  Her head bobbed lazily. “I never would have imagined you would take care of me like you did tonight, especially when there was no promise of sex. But you did.”

  Aidan rolled his eyes as he eased Emma down on his bed. “That makes me a real gentleman, huh?”

  “Umm, hmm,” she murmured, snuggling under the covers.

  “I’m glad you think so highly of me, Em.”

  “Just don’t break my heart,” she said softly.

  She was already breathing heavily when he replied, “I’m going to try my best not to.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Ten days after her dinner and sleepover at Aidan’s, Emma forced herself to throw her rule book out the window. Daily texts, emails, and phone calls from Aidan even made Casey a believer in resurrecting his potential boyfriend material. And now the red circled date on her calendar told her it was time to start Round Two of Baby-Making.

  This time Aidan insisted she come to his house. The “all business” parameters of their arrangement had been broken, so there was no point in meeting at a hotel. After running home to freshen up, she headed over to his house.

  He answered the door in boxers and a t-shirt. “Sorry, I just got out of the shower.”

  “Yeah, I just did the same,” she replied, as she followed him into the house.

  He grinned at her over his shoulder. “You should’ve showered here, and we could have killed two birds with one stone.”

  Emma laughed. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “A little.”

  “I can order in some Chinese.”

  Emma pretended to be horrified. “You mean you didn’t cook for me tonight?”

  Aidan chuckled. “Sorry babe, not tonight. Work’s been kicking my ass.”

  “The new promotion?”

  He nodded. “Even though the money is fabulous, I’m starting to wish I’d said no.”

  After digging in one of his drawers, he pulled out a menu and handed it to Emma. “Let me know what you want to eat.”

  Instead of looking at the food options, Emma was puzzled about what was different about Aidan. Then she realized what it was. “Boxers? When did you start wearing those?”

  He leaned back against the kitchen counter. “Well, I did a little research, and I found out that boxers are better for the balls and sperm counts.”

  “I see,” she replied, fighting the flush that was creeping across her cheeks.

  “Yeah, the article says it seems to help the swimmers with their mobility, and we want Olympic Gold this time around.”

  Emma’s heartbeat accelerated, and she sucked in a breath. “So you started wearing boxers to help me conceive?”

  “Yep. And I also read that it’s better to store up sperm to make them more potent.” He pushed himself off the counter and came to stand in front of her. “So I’ve held off on any sexual activity that might result in me wasting swimmers.”

  “Oh,” she murmured.

  “Does that surprise you?”

  She nodded. “I just assumed you were seeing someone or…”

  “Screwing someone?” When Emma didn’t respond, Aidan swept the hair away from her face and stroked her cheek. “There’s no one but you—not even my hand since I saw you last.”

  Her eyes widened when she got his meaning. “I guess it’s been a really long ten days, huh?”

  His expression became pained. “Frankly, I’m about to explode.”

  Emma laughed. “I’m really impressed with how serious you’re taking this.”

  “Whenever I attempt to do something, I intend to do it well and give it all I have. And that includes knocking you up.”

  She smacked his arm playfully. “You’re such a charmer.”

  Aidan laughed. “Let’s see if I can’t charm the panties off of you right now.”

  “What about the food?” she questioned.

  “We’ll work up an appetite,” he replied.

  The menu fluttered from her hands and fell to the floor. “Sounds good to me.”

  Staring into each other’s eyes, the electricity in the room shifted. Suddenly, it seemed Aidan couldn’t get her naked soon enough. He gripped the hem of d
ress and then pulled it up, jerking it over her head. She was glad she chose to change her underwear when his eyes roamed appreciatively over the green and gold bra and panties she was wearing. But he didn’t stare for long. Instead, he gripped her waist and hoisted her up to sit on the marble countertop. His fingers unhooked her bra and whisked it away as Emma wrapped her legs around his waist.

  Aidan’s lips hungrily met hers as his tongue darted in and out of her mouth. His hands cupped her bare breasts, kneading them like he knew she liked. She rewarded his efforts with a moan against his lips. Aidan’s hands left her breasts to grip the waistband of her thong. He stripped it off and down over her thighs.

  He then spread her legs, hooking her knees over his shoulders. When his tongue darted inside her heat, Emma threw back her head. “Mmm, oh God, yes!”

  “Say my name, babe,” Aidan murmured against her sex.

  With him continuing his teasing assault on her clit, she very quickly rewarded him with, “Yes, Aidan! Oh, yes, oh yes, Aidan!” Her shaky legs spread wider to allow him more access. She was rewarded by Aidan sliding his fingers in and out of her while his tongue lapped and teased at her folds. Her fingers gripped the edge of the countertop as she came hard and strong.

  When Aidan’s erection, rather than his fingers, nudged at her opening, her eyes flew open, and she jerked back. “No, not like this! Not here!”

  Aidan’s eyebrows shot up into his forehand. “Don’t tell me you have an aversion to sex on kitchen countertops? I promise they’re clean.”

  Emma felt her face warming. “That’s not it.”

  He ran his fingers through his already sweat-slicked hair. “Em, you think you could cut to the chase? I mean, I’m standing here with a raging hard-on right now, and all I want is to be buried deep inside you.”

  “I just don’t want to look back and realize my baby was conceived on a kitchen counter, okay?”

  Aidan stared at her for a moment before howling with laughter. “If my memory serves me correctly, I banged you on my desk at work after you worked me over in the desk chair.”

  “You wouldn’t go to the couch!” she argued.

  “But don’t you think babies have been conceived in worse places?”

  Emma crossed her arms over her bare breasts in a huff. “We’re not talking about other people’s babies. We’re talking about mine.”

  He rolled his eyes and then grinned. “Emma Harrison, you are going to be the death of me in more ways than one.” When he pulled her closer to him, she started to protest, but he shook his head. “Just hold your horses, princess. I’ll get you back to the bedroom, okay?”

  She grinned. “I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.”

  As he lifted her off the counter, she gripped her legs tight around his waist while he held her steady around her hips. “Hmm, just what are you suggesting?”

  She titled her head to the right, appearing to be lost in thought. “How does after we go a round, I give a lot of oral attention to your most prized possession?”

  Aidan groaned. “Worth every fucking step of hauling your sexy ass to my bed.”

  Emma giggled. “I figured as much.”

  “You’re so bossy and demanding, Em. I can’t believe I give into you.”

  “That’s because you want to give into me. Admit it. I’ve softened you towards sex.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Are you trying to say I’m a pussy in the bedroom now?”

  “Of course not, silly. I just meant I’ve had an effect on the way you think and act about sex, just like you’ve changed me. You’re tender, sweet, and thoughtful instead of just being about your own pleasure. Future women will thank me.”

  Aidan didn’t reply. Instead, he tossed her unceremoniously onto her back on the bed. She gasped in shock at his roughness. “Why Mr. Fitzgerald, how ungentlemanly of you,” she teased.

  He gave a sharp shake of his head. “Your little episode in the kitchen has made me wait long enough to fuck, Ms. Harrison. You can consider yourself forewarned that there will be no more Mr. Nice Guy!”

  She would have been lying if his words coupled with the gleam of desire burning in his eyes didn’t turn her on. He shoved her knees apart with his hands, widening her legs. His expression turned predatorily dark as he positioned himself over her. With one harsh thrust, he drove himself inside her. Impaled by him, she shuddered at his forcefulness. He smirked down at her. “Looks like your body is betraying that prim attitude of yours. Guess I’ve had an effect on you as well.”

  “I’m not the one denying it. You are,” she panted.

  He continued pounding into her, the smacking of their skin echoing through the room along with Aidan’s almost animalistic grunts. She knew he was screwing her like this to prove a point to himself, and she wanted nothing more to prove to him he had changed.

  So she brought her hands to his face, drawing his lips to hers. He momentarily stilled his thrusting when she darted her tongue into his mouth, sweetly stroking his tongue with hers. She swept her hands through his hair, tugging at the strands at the base of his neck. He groaned low in his throat.

  Emma’s hands feathered down Aidan’s back. Instead of raking her fingernails into his flesh, she swept deliciously slow circles over his ass. Now it was his turn to shudder. She cupped his buttocks, pressing him further inside her, while raising her hips. “Slow and sweet now, please?” she asked.

  His eyes flew open, and a smile curved on his lips. “When you ask that way, how can I say no?”

  ***

  With one round complete along with keeping her promise of oral attention, Emma woke up snuggled into the crook of Aidan’s arm. Pressing her ear against his chest, she listened to the gentle hum of his heartbeat. She had almost gone back to sleep when Aidan’s voice roused her.

  “Are you awake?”

  “Mmm-hmm,” she murmured.

  “There’s something I need to tell you, and I really need for you to be fully awake for this one, Em.”

  His words doused her with the same effect as a cup of coffee. She rose up to peer at his troubled expression. “Why do I have the feeling you’re about to drop a major bomb on me?”

  Aidan exhaled a ragged breath. “Because of my new promotion, I have to go to India to help start the new office branch over there.”

  Inwardly, relief washed over Emma. A million devastating scenarios had raced through her mind. Most of them involved him no longer wanting to see her or be a part of baby-making. “How long will you be gone?”

  “This is the part you’re not going to like…two weeks to a month.”

  Emma gasped. “But that means you might not be here next time to…” She ducked her head. “Well, you know.”

  Aidan rubbed his thumb across her cheek. “But I might be. I just don’t know how long it’ll take.”

  She nodded. “It’s okay. I understand.”

  “You do?”

  “It’s not like you’re just choosing to go on vacation or something. It’s work—you have to do it. I do realize you have a life besides me and my baby-making scheme.” She smiled. “Besides, it’s not like I can keep you chained to the bed for my own needs.”

  His chest vibrated with laughter beneath her. “Oh, Em, I didn’t know you could be so kinky.” Propping up on his elbows, he grinned down at her. “Anytime you want to handcuff me to the bed, you just let me know. I’ll happily oblige you.”

  Emma pulled herself up to straddle him. “I think we’re doing fine just like we are.”

  His fingertips feathered over her thighs. “Now why doesn’t your reply surprise me? If you find kitchen counters offensive for conceiving, I’m sure any notion of bondage is out.”

  “You told me before you didn’t go in for all that.”

  “That’s true. But for you, I’d make an exception.”

  Rolling her eyes, Emma leaned over, licking her tongue up his neck and along his jaw. When she was almost to his mouth, she pulled back. “Do you think you could oblige me in another ro
und?”

  Aidan grinned. “Why of course.”

  At that moment, Beau leapt onto the bed with Emma’s underwear between his teeth. “Beau! No, give me those!” she shrieked, grabbing for his mouth. Once she swiped the panties from him, his wet nose nudged against Emma’s thigh, trying to push her off Aidan’s lap.

  “Beau, you old cockblocker! Get down!” Aidan cried.

  Emma fell over on the bed giggling. Between Aidan’s comment and Beau’s antics, she could barely catch her breath. Beau began licking her face, and she had to push him away. “No, boy, stop,” she gasped.

  “Get down!” Aidan cried, trying to grab Beau’s collar.

  When Beau was successfully off the bed, Emma turned to Aidan. “What’s going to happen to him while you’re gone?”

  Aidan shrugged. “Even though he hates staying overnight, I guess I’ll board him at his Doggy Daycare.”

  Emma glanced over the side of the bed at Beau. He proceeded to give her the saddest hound dog face he could muster. “Aw, poor baby.” She turned to Aidan and smiled. “I could keep him for you.”

  Aidan grunted. “What the hell would possess you to want to do that?”

  “Because I love him, and I hate to think of him being unhappy for two to four weeks.”

  “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  Emma nodded. “Don’t you trust me with your dog?”

  He laughed. “Of course I do. And if you really want to put up with his smelly ass for two to four weeks, he’s yours.”

  She peered over the side of the bed again. “Did you hear that boy? You’re going to come and stay with me while Daddy goes to India.”

  Beau thumped his tail appreciatively while Aidan snickered. “I can’t believe you just called me Beau’s Daddy.”

  She gave him a wicked grin as she trailed her fingers up his thigh and then took his slackened cock in her hand. “Would you rather me call you Big Daddy?”

  He licked his lips in anticipation. “Oh yeah, that’s good.”

  “Which part? Me stroking you like this or calling you Big Daddy?” she teased.

  “Mmm, both,” he replied.