His Ex's Well-Kept Secret

by Joss Wood

  It was a fantastically bad idea. That was indubitable. But she wanted him. So—what the hell?—she was going for it.

  Jaeger undid the button on her skirt, and the length of fabric dropped to the floor. She stood before him dressed in her lingerie, glasses and boots. She thought she’d feel ridiculous, self-conscious, but Jaeger’s frank appreciation chased embarrassment away. The open admiration on his face, and the massive rod in his pants, told her he really, really liked what he was seeing. Feeling more confident now and a little naughty, Piper slowly spun around, showing off her teeny tiny thong.

  “God, Piper, you’re killing me,” Jaeger muttered. When she faced him again, her hand on her hip, he shook his head. “You are truly spectacular.”

  “Keep talking dirty and I’ll let you have your way with me,” Piper breathlessly quipped. She pushed her glasses up her nose and thought the dorky gesture was in complete contrast with the vamp she so longed to be. She pulled her glasses off and threw them onto the couch.

  Jaeger smiled, stepped toward her and scooped her up to hold her against his chest. Piper linked her arms around his neck, reveling in his hard thighs beneath hers, his wide chest. His masculinity made her feel so utterly feminine.

  “Let’s take this to the bedroom. As much as I want to make love to you on this couch in front of these windows, I’d hate for Beck to walk in and get an eyeful.”

  “Your brother lives here too?” Piper asked, pulling back.

  “Temporarily,” Jaeger told her, walking down the hallway to what she presumed to be the master bedroom. Piper dropped her eyes from Jaeger’s face to look ahead, and her mouth fell open when she looked right to the glass wall of the hall and noticed the view of the Hudson River flowing between two sets of city lights. Dear God, she had been so worried, so focused on her problems, she’d missed this amazing view!

  “Oh my God, your view is phenomenal!”

  What else had she missed? Piper stretched her neck to look over Jaeger’s shoulder, back into his apartment, and she noticed the oversize, vibrant artworks, the clean lines of his modern, very expensive furniture, a metal sculpture. She realized the sculpture was of a horse and the artist had captured the elegance of the animal’s movement. Only one artist had the chops to do that; it had to be Latimore, one of her favorite artists.

  Ever.

  “Is that a Latimore?”

  “Now she notices the art,” Jaeger muttered.“No more talking about art or views or anything else. Got it?”

  “Then I’m going to have to find something else to do with my mouth.”

  Above hers, Jaeger’s lips curved into a bone-dissolving smile. “I most definitely can help you with that.”

  His big arms tightened his hold on her, melding her to his muscled body. The art could, very definitely, wait.

  She couldn’t. “Kiss me, Jaeger.”

  At the end of the hall Jaeger dropped her to her feet and pushed her up against a door, his mouth slanting over hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth. All thoughts of art and views were forgotten, and Piper released a deep groan in the back of her throat.

  This was what she wanted, needed.

  One of Jaeger’s hands fumbled for the knob behind her back, and the door opened. He banded an arm around her waist and pulled her up and into him, holding her against his body as he walked her into the room. Piper felt the edges of the bed against her calves, and Jaeger gently lowered her and followed her down. As her back hit the cool covers, he lifted his head, and his eyes glittered with desire and need.

  Jaeger lowered his mouth to hers, sucking on her bottom lip and sliding his tongue into her mouth. His hands skimmed her sides, his knuckles rubbing over her ribs, and she arched her back in a silent plea for him to touch her breasts, to pay attention to her aching nipples. When Jaeger finally, finally, sucked her lace-covered nipple into his mouth, she let out a low sound and clasped her hand behind his head to keep him in place.

  This was what she’d craved during those long, lonely nights—this hot, delicious, mindless sex. She needed him to touch her everywhere, to slide into those neglected, lonely places and chase away the doubts and the darkness. She needed the oblivion, to step out of her life. But even as he touched her, as his mouth moved down her body to explore her belly button, to drag warmth over her lace-covered mound, she knew she couldn’t, mustn’t, become addicted to him, to this.

  He was a temporary fix, not a permanent repair. She couldn’t rely on him to be there in the future, not for her and certainly not for Ty.

  He was about pleasure, and he did pleasure so well.

  Jaeger quickly divested her of her underwear and, sitting on his heels, he looked at her, naked except for her boots. “As sexy as these are, I want to see you, all of you.”

  He grabbed the heel of one boot, pulled it off and repeated the action for the other. There was something incredibly intimate about being naked when your lover was still fully dressed, Piper thought. She kept her eyes on his face, watching the emotions sliding in and out of his eyes. Lust, desire, crazy attraction, they were all there, but the romantic in her thought that under the crazy, she could see affection, a little fear, a lot of anticipation.

  Romance had no part in this. Tonight was about sex and escapism.

  Jaeger pulled away from her to stand between her legs and lifted his hand to grip the back of his shirt. He pulled it over his head in one easy, fluid movement. His wide chest was lightly touched with hair, hard with muscle. Long, lean hips disappeared beneath the low band of his pants, and Piper sucked in her breath when he hooked his thumbs into the waistband and pushed his jeans down long, muscled thighs. And there he was, utterly masculine, hard, proud—needing her.

  Naked, Jaeger grabbed her around the waist and boosted her up the bed. When she was where he wanted her, he lay down on top of her, chest to chest, his erection finding its natural place between her thighs. He reached across her to yank on the bedside drawer. Ten seconds later he’d pulled a condom out of its packaging.

  Oh, God, she didn’t have much faith in Jaeger’s condoms. Somehow—who knew how?—she’d managed to become pregnant despite him wearing one. It wouldn’t happen a second time, would it? That would be like winning the lottery twice, Piper thought.

  Jaeger sheathed himself and skimmed his thumb over the spot between her eyes. “Second thoughts?” he asked.

  Uh, no. Her ankles were already curved around his calves and she was lifting her hips, trying to push his tip further into her. She needed him now, immediately.

  Pregnancy and condoms flew out of her mind as his chest brushed hers, her nipples teased by his chest hair.

  “Quick question?” she asked.

  His eyes bored into her. “Make it very damn quick.”

  “I was just wondering how long you are going to tease me?”

  “This long.” Jaeger entered her with one fluid stroke, burying himself to the hilt. Yeah, this was what she remembered, this feeling of being filled, completed. Then Jaeger kissed her, his mouth echoing his body’s movements and Piper forgot to think.

  All she could concentrate on was the warm, sparkly sensation building, each spark igniting the rest until a million tiny fires danced under her skin. When Jaeger placed his hand under her back and yanked her up as he plunged inside, those fires joined and created an explosion burning her from the inside out. She thought Jaeger stepped into the fire with her, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was this heat and light and warmth.

  She hadn’t thought sex could be better than what they’d shared in Milan. But it was—better, hotter, brighter. And that, Piper thought when she crashed back down to earth, was a big, huge, freakin’ enormous problem.

  Seven

  Version one of fantastic sex was pretty much immediately followed by version two—Jaeger hadn’t needed much time to recover. But as muc
h as she wanted to, Piper knew she couldn’t hang around for version three. Ceri had agreed to watch Ty for a few more hours, but Piper had to get home; Ty was her first priority.

  Piper slid out from under Jaeger’s arm and sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor. She needed to call a taxi, dress and gather her scattered thoughts and belongings. Piper felt his hand on her back, his knuckles running down her spine.

  “I’ll drive you home when you’re ready.”

  Piper spun around and looked at him, long-limbed and naked, sleepy and satisfied. “That’s not necessary. I can take a cab.”

  “You can, but you won’t.” Jaeger stretched, sat up, dropped a kiss on her shoulder blade and rolled out of bed. He reached for his jeans and tossed her panties and bra onto the bed beside her. Then he nodded to his en suite bathroom. “Would you like to take a shower before you go?”

  She should, but she knew if she did, there was a good chance they’d get distracted and she’d be even later than she already was. Piper cradled her lingerie against her chest and shook her head.

  She stepped into the modern, luxurious bathroom and quickly cleaned up. She pulled on her lingerie, ran her fingers through her curls and touched her puffy lips. Yeah, the fact she’d had sex—fantastic, mind-blowing sex—was written all over her face. On the plus side, she had taken nearly a week to fall into Jaeger’s bed and arms instead of thirty-six hours. In a century or so, she might be able to resist him altogether.

  Piper splashed some water on her face in an attempt to take her color down, and when the water didn’t help, she stuck out her tongue at her reflection. When she stepped back into the bedroom, Jaeger was shoving his feet into a pair of scuffed sneakers. Her skirt and shirt lay on the rumpled bedding, and Piper murmured a quick thank-you to him for retrieving the garments for her.

  Jaeger seemed lost in thought, and his silence made Piper uncomfortable. But really, what was there to say? “Thanks, that was great. I’ve got to get home to your son?”

  Earlier she’d thought that keeping Ty a secret was the right thing to do, but now...she’d somehow crossed a line she hadn’t intended to cross. She felt downright guilty. Maybe Jaeger had a right to know he was a father...

  But she had the right—no, the duty—to protect Ty from anyone or anything that would harm him, physically and emotionally. Even his own father.

  Having a father who didn’t want him would hurt Ty, just as it had hurt her as a girl, and she wasn’t going to let that happen.

  But if she continued sleeping with Jaeger and she kept the truth from him, the guilt would devour her. And now that they’d become intimate again, how would he react if he ever found out about Ty? Would he be hurt, livid, disinterested?

  God, she didn’t know. Piper recalled Fuseli’s eighteenth-century painting and sympathized with Odysseus facing the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Like the Greek god, both options sucked, but which choice would hurt the least?

  Piper quickly dressed and finally felt a little more like herself, a lot more in control. As they walked into his living area, her eyes were again drawn to the horse sculpture. She walked over to it, her hands running over the smooth metal shaping the horse’s rump. “Oh my God, he’s fantastic.”

  “Yeah, I like him. My siblings bought him for me for my birthday,” Jaeger said, picking up his phone and keys from the wide, shallow pottery bowl on the granite island separating the kitchen from the living area.

  “Lucky you,” Piper murmured, envious.

  “Latimore’s new exhibition is opening tomorrow night,” Jaeger said, walking to the door and picking up her coat.

  Piper got her laptop bag and sent the metal horse a final look. “I know. I plan to go in a couple of weeks.”

  “I’ve been invited to the opening. Do you want to go?” Jaeger opened the coat for her, and Piper slid her arms into the sleeves. Jaeger lifted her hair over her collar as she turned to face him, his eyes amused.

  “Yes, I’d like to go! Are you kidding me? That would be awesome...” Piper mentally flipped through her schedule and scrunched up her face, disappointed. “I can’t. Ceri has plans and Rainn has to study. I have no one to look after Ty.”

  And really, by accepting Jaeger’s offer, was she not adding another layer of complication to the crazy? She and Jaeger weren’t dating!

  But it was Latimore, her inner art tart replied. Latimore!

  Jaeger pulled her laptop bag off her shoulder and opened his front door, standing back to let her pass. When he stepped into the private elevator after her, she sighed heavily. “Damn, I would love to go with you. Latimore is always innovative and controversial.”

  “Oh, I’m not going.”

  Piper raised her eyebrows. If he wasn’t going, then why did he invite her? Before she could ask for an explanation, he spoke again. “Linc strong-armed me into babysitting my four-year-old nephew, Shaw, for the evening. My brothers are going to see the Knicks game without me, the bastards.”

  “You have tickets to that, too?”

  Jaeger scowled. “Courtside tickets. I am not happy.” The doors to the elevator swished open, and Piper realized they were in the parking garage. Except the garage only held Jaeger’s luxury SUV and a dangerous-looking superbike. “You have a private garage?”

  Jaeger nodded as the lights on his vehicle flashed. He placed his hand on Piper’s back as she moved between him and the open passenger door of his very expensive car. “Sage, my sister, is going. I think you’d like her, and she’ll definitely like you. I’ll get the name on the invitation changed to yours in case you manage to find someone to sit with Ty.”

  Jaeger slammed her door closed and walked around the hood of the car. When he was behind the wheel, Piper turned in her seat. “I really appreciate the offer, but—”

  “Just think about it. I can see how much you want to go, so consider taking a couple of hours for yourself.”

  “Thanks, but I can’t,” Piper said, her decision made. She’d taken a couple of hours for herself just now. She’d see the exhibition when the rest of the art lovers of the city did. Her place was at home, with Ty.

  She had decisions to make, a path through the sea monsters of guilt and duty to navigate. In one night he’d advanced her three million dollars—gulp!—rocked her sexual world and offered her an opportunity to see her favorite artist’s new show. She had to find a way to simplify this complicated and convoluted situation.

  Keeping her distance and not getting naked with Jaeger again would be a very good place to start.

  * * *

  The next evening, Piper sent an anxious look toward her phone and wondered, for the hundredth time, whether she’d imagined the conversation with Jaeger about the advance. He hadn’t mentioned it again when he dropped her off last night, and he hadn’t contacted her today.

  She needed to make a firm offer for the house, but she didn’t want to call Simms until she spoke to Jaeger. She didn’t think he’d go back on his word, but until she had something tangible—money in her bank account would work—her hands were tied.

  Could she call Jaeger and ask him? Piper rested her forehead against the cool door of her fridge and wished she hadn’t slept with him. Sleeping together made the conversation about money so awkward...

  “Thanks for the Big O’s, but can we talk money?”

  “It was a fantastic night, but can you transfer the cash?”

  Man, being with Jaeger spun her world off its axis. Being in his arms, being kissed and touched by him, changed her internal universe. Nothing mattered but being naked with Ballantyne. Hell, being with Ballantyne, naked or not, terminated all rational thought.

  Not clever when she was risking Ty’s emotional well-being and her battered heart.

  Piper banged her head on the door and closed her eyes. And that was why sex and business shouldn’t mix.
If she hadn’t heard from him by early Monday morning, she would have to initiate another conversation about the sapphires. For now she had a baby to feed and laundry to do. Reports to write. Friday night excitement, she wryly thought.

  As she tossed vegetables and chicken into the blender for Ty’s supper, she thought about Jaeger’s invitation to Latimore’s exhibition. If their affair in Milan had ended differently, she’d be in her bedroom now, pulling on her sexiest thong, her strapless bra. She would feel Jaeger’s hot eyes on her as he watched her dress. When she sat down in front of her dressing table in her lingerie to put on her makeup, she’d watch him button his shirt behind her.

  She could see him in gray suit pants, a light gray shirt with his sleeves rolled up and a gray vest. Black tie. She would pull on her stretchy LBD with its skinny spaghetti straps, liking the way the darted triangle bodice showed off her boobs. She’d slowly, oh so slowly, bend over to put on her sexy silver sandals, and Jaeger would run his hands between her thighs. His finger would sneak under her thong and he’d be touching her and, damn, she could feel the heat spearing into her stomach...

  The doorbell interrupted her very far-fetched X-rated fantasy, and she jumped, inadvertently flipping the switch to the lidless blender. Vegetables volcanoed across the kitchen, splattering her white T-shirt, the counter and the floor.

  Puree dripped off her chin, so she grabbed a kitchen towel. She shook her head at the mess. Behind her in his playpen, Ty was chattering to his soft toys, incomprehensible baby talk.

  She looked at the screen and saw Jaeger standing at her front door, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket, looking hot enough to melt glass. She, on the other hand, looked like hell.

  Yes, she needed to speak to Jaeger, but not when she was looking like a refugee from the Baby Feeding Wars.