I started to scramble off his lap, but when I glanced down, my eyes were riveted by the sight of his hands on my belly. I never thought I’d feel his hands on me again. Not during any of the months I’d been gone. Not even after I found out I was expecting his baby from our one night of passion. And certainly not when I saw him at the door and knew he was the blind date Lisa had been prattling on about—something I’d managed to forget when his lips had landed on mine.
It wasn’t something I could ignore any longer, though. I jerked away from Declan, grabbing my top from the floor and pulling it back on. After a couple deep breaths, I turned around and faced him. “Yes, I’m pregnant with your baby.” His eyes jumped from my belly to my face, and I could have sworn they were filled with happiness, but it had to be wishful thinking on my part. I tended to babble when I was nervous, and this was no exception. “I literally just found out, barely more than an hour ago. I swear I was going to come see you tomorrow and try to explain how this all happened. After I figured out what to say, that is. I wasn’t going to keep the news from you, but I’m not sure I’m ready to talk to you about it yet. Not here. Not right now. I really wasn’t prepared to see you tonight, let alone on a date with another woman.”
“I already told you I wasn’t on a date,” he growled, uncoiling from where he sat on the red velvet couch and stalking towards me. “I’m not going to let you use a stupid misunderstanding as an excuse to avoid talking to me tonight. I’ve waited four long months for you to come home, and my patience has officially run out.”
He waited, what?
“I’m sorry Lisa was mistaken about my reason for being here tonight. I didn’t come for her. I came for you.” He yanked me towards him, tilting my chin up with one long finger.
“How is that possible?” I whispered. “I didn’t even know I was going to be here until this morning.”
“My best friend’s wife is friends with Lisa. She’s been trying to set us up for months. I wasn’t the least bit interested in her matchmaking efforts and barely paid any attention to her, but when she mentioned the reason behind the party tonight, there wasn’t anything that was going to keep me away.”
“Lisa seemed to have missed that memo,” I grumbled.
“She’s clued in now. Before I hunted you down in here, I made it extremely clear to her that I’m already seeing someone and have no interest in dating anyone else.”
“You’re seeing someone?” I croaked, feeling sick to my stomach at the thought.
“Fuck, baby. Have you not heard a word I’ve been saying?” His hands gripped me around my waist and tugged until I was flush against his body, his hardened length pressed against my stomach. “Yes, I’m fucking seeing someone—you, the woman who’s carrying my child.”
Ah, right, the baby. I guessed it made sense that Declan would want to attempt to build a relationship with me now that he was aware I was pregnant with his baby. I only wished he’d been this keen to try for one before letting me go four months earlier. The logical side of me knew it had been a long-shot, considering I hadn’t even known him a full day before I left for Europe, but my heart had yearned for him to ask if we could try the long-term thing while I’d been away. Only he hadn’t, and this was the first time I’d heard the word ‘relationship’ from his delicious lips. Although, he had said I was the only reason he’d come to the party in the first place, so that had to be a good sign.
Seriously, I was going to drive myself crazy over him. Right about now, I really wished I’d spent a little less time focused on ballet and a little more time interacting with guys who weren’t my dance partners. Straightening my spine, hoping to find the strength to resist him, at least for the moment, I tried to step away but he didn’t let me go far. Strong hands gripped my waist and held me in place.
“Now that we’ve gotten that ridiculousness out of the way, I’d like to focus on what’s truly important—you being pregnant with my baby.” I dropped my head against his chest as tears filled my eyes. Stupid hormones. “I know you’re probably scared, but I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
If he kept up with this sweetness, I was never going to be able to resist falling into his bed again. Even if he’d been an ass about the pregnancy, I still probably wouldn’t have been able to hold out for long. Sniffling, I breathed in the masculine scent I’d missed while I’d been gone. Part of me wanted to kick myself for falling into his bed so easily, but I couldn’t truly regret the most magical night of my life. All it took was one touch, one kiss, one smell and I wanted him. So much so that I had no idea how I’d ever be able to protect my heart when we were going to be connected for the rest of our lives because of the baby.
“Hey!” a feminine voice shouted through the door, interrupting my musings and startling me. “This is a public restroom, you know. The only one for women in this place, and some of us have to go. Like right now.”
“Maybe we should take this conversation to somewhere a little more appropriate,” I mumbled into his shirt.
“It’s probably a good idea, since the last thing I need is to be arrested for indecent exposure from being caught in here with you,” he chuckled. “The hospital would not approve and it wouldn’t exactly be a story I’d want to share with our children later on.”
“You look pretty decent to me,” I sighed, stepping away from him and sweeping my gaze up his body.
“If you keep looking at me like that for much longer, there’s no way in hell either of us will make it out of here with all of our clothes intact.”
Kaboom! There went my panties. Seriously, they were drenched and of absolutely no use to me any longer—which only proved he was right, damn him. This time when I tried to step away, he let me go but took hold of my hand as he walked with me towards the door. With a flick of his other wrist, the bathroom door was unlocked and I was mortified when it flew open and revealed several gawking faces as they caught sight of Declan and me. I couldn’t really blame them since there were rumors swirling around the company that I might be a nun in the making because I never date.
He ignored them all and hurried me out of the restaurant and into a waiting cab. The ride to his place was different than the last time, but also the same in a way. The chemistry between us still sizzled, and we were just as silent, but there was none of the kissing I’d enjoyed. Instead, Declan kept me cradled against his side while he stared down at his hand resting on my lower belly. It was just as sexy as the way he’d devoured my mouth when I’d last found myself in a cab with him. Then again, anything he did was bound to be sexy since he practically oozed sex appeal from his pores. I was no less susceptible to it tonight than I had been four months earlier, which might not bode well for me since it felt as though we were retracing our steps from that fateful evening as he led me into his building.
My legs trembled as I stepped into the elevator, remembering the way he’d practically taken me against the wall the last time I’d ridden it with him. He rubbed my back in a soothing gesture, but I barely felt it as I stared at the other side of the elevator and remembered how incredible it had felt to be wrapped around his muscular body with the heat of his erection between my legs.
Barely a minute or two passing before we reached the top floor where Declan’s penthouse apartment was located. By the time the doors opened into his foyer, I was trembling with need, my doctor’s warning about increased sexual drive during the second trimester playing over again in my head. This time around, it was me who led him straight to the couch and urged him onto the cushions. “This is all your fault, and you’re damn well going to take care of it.”
Chapter 4
Declan
“My fault?” I laughed. I let Juliette push me down onto the sofa and was more than happy to accommodate her when she straddled my lap.
“It’s the stupid pregnancy hormones! I need you, Declan,” she pleaded.
Holy shit. If this was what I had to look forward to during a pregnancy, Juliette would be finding herself knocked u
p for the foreseeable future. Of course, I wanted a big family anyway, and she’d mentioned the same when we talked on our night together. So, it was going to happen either way.
I wanted to do as she asked, in fact I was really liking the idea of making her beg me. My cock was more than ready to give her exactly what she wanted after the four-month wait. Jerking off was a poor substitute for sinking inside her silken heat, but it was all I had while she was gone. Waiting even one more minute was the last thing my body wanted, but it was exactly what I needed to do for our relationship—which meant I was forced to turn in my man card for what I had to do next.
She went in for a kiss, and I wrapped my fingers around her toned biceps to hold her slightly away from me. Hurt flashed across her face and I couldn’t stand it, so I shifted my hands up to cup her face and kissed her, releasing a fraction of the passion still pent up inside me.
As soon as she began to try and get closer, to press her heat against the bulge in my slacks, I set her away again. Now she just looked confused, and maybe a little dazed from lust. There was a flush on her skin that was so beautiful, I was tempted to fuck her first, then talk later. Luckily, I was able to talk myself off the ledge. I didn’t want anything hanging over us when I finally took her to bed. I wanted hours to worship her from head to toe, no interruptions, and no questions hanging over us.
“Baby, I promise, I will take care of you. Always. But, we need to talk first.”
Her cupid’s bow mouth turned down in an adorable pout, and I had to kiss it. She sighed and it sounded like a combination of exasperation and desire. Something so simple, and it did me in.
I captured her lips in a deep kiss and ran my palms up her thighs to her center. I brushed a finger across her panties and it was soaked right through. My groan was swallowed up by the tangling of our tongues.
“So wet. I’ll take the edge off for you, baby. Okay?”
She moaned and her head dropped back, her eyes closing when I slipped a finger underneath the fabric. It was in the way, so I curled my finger around the center strip and ripped it, leaving her pussy bare. She gasped and arced her back. I ran my finger up her slit and brought it to my mouth, proceeding to suck it inside and lick it clean. She tasted so fucking delicious. I needed more.
With my hands on her waist, I encouraged her to get up onto her knees, then to her feet, so she was standing on the couch. It was the perfect fucking height. Pun intended. I tucked her long skirt into its waistband and drank in the sight of her pink, glistening sex. I licked my lips and then glanced up to see Juliette watching me with lust darkening her eyes to a deep purple.
I took her hands and placed them on either side of my head, so she was gripping the back of the couch. “Hold on tight, Juliette.” Grasping the cheeks of her ass, I tugged her forward and buried my face in her pussy, inhaling and becoming almost delirious from her potent scent. My tongue plunged inside her and then ran up her center to circle her sensitive clit. “Ride me, baby,” I grunted raggedly. I licked and nibbled her into a frenzy, forcing her to lock her legs as she fucked my face.
I took her to the brink and kept her there until she was wild and desperate, then drove two fingers inside her tight pussy and sucked her little nub hard into my mouth. She shouted my name as her knees buckled, and I held her up so I could work her through her orgasm.
As the shudders subsided, I helped her down from her perch and back into her previous position. She was so beautiful sitting there on my lap, her cheeks rosy from coming, her amethyst pools hazy with satisfaction. I took a moment to relish the fact that she was mine. My eyes dropped from her lips to her tummy and a wide grin split my face. We were going to be a family. There were only a few things that would make this even more perfect. Speaking of ...
“You know I’m ecstatic about our baby, right?” I asked enthusiastically.
Her pout turned into a deadpan expression, wariness suddenly clouding her violet eyes. She attempted to climb off of my lap but I held her hips firmly, keeping her in place. She nodded stiffly and didn’t try to move again.
“Do you have an ultrasound scheduled?” I couldn’t wait to see our little one. The four month wait for Juliette to return was excruciating, and I needed to fill my time with hope. I may have done some research. I knew all of her (yes, I think it’s a girl) joints and limbs were fully formed and we might see her stretch, or suck her thumb, and we’d be able to see her facial expressions.
“Three days from today,” she said, her tone emotionless.
I was suddenly struck by an awful thought. “Juliette, please tell me you weren’t considering not keeping our child.” We’d only spent one night together, but I felt like I knew her—my body, my heart, my soul. I knew her with every fiber of my being. And yet, I had to ask.
She recoiled and her expression turned horrified. “No!” Her hands curled protectively over her belly. “Absolutely not. Whatever happens with us, I’m keeping this baby.”
I crushed my mouth over hers, happy to know I’d been right. When I finally pulled back, I felt it all washing over me once again and a million thoughts started colliding in my brain. “Cancel your other appointment and I’ll get one scheduled for you with Dr. Frazier.”
“But, I like Dr.—”
“She’s the best OB in the state,” I said, cutting off her protest. “Plus, her office is at my hospital, so it will make it easier for me to attend all of your appointments.”
She nodded, though she certainly looked put out over it. “Bossy,” she muttered. I mentally shrugged. She’d get used to it.
“I can’t fucking believe we are having a baby,” I breathed with awe.
“About that, how did you know it was yours?”
“What?” I was genuinely confused by her question.
“When you realized I was pregnant, you said ‘we’re having a baby,’ you didn’t ask if it was yours.”
It had never occurred to me, not even once, that my beautiful dancer would get involved with someone else, that it was possible she hadn’t felt the same strong connection between us. I frowned and glared at her sternly. “Because we both know you’re mine. You have been since the moment I laid eyes on you.” I was irritated when she didn’t agree right away, but she distracted me with her next comment.
“I have no intention of keeping you from the baby, just so you know. You can be as involved as you want.”
“I’m going to be there for everything, the Lamaze classes, the midnight snack runs, baby proofing the apartment. Although,” I mused, “we can tackle that after you’re moved in and we get married.”
Chapter 5
Juliette
I leapt off his lap like a startled cat, practically hissing with irritation at the backhanded way he’d brought up marriage. Something so sacred should be treated with more respect than a casual comment to the woman you’d knocked up during a one-night stand—even if I was the woman in question and a part of me desperately wanted to accept his proposal. Or his assumption that we were going to get married since he hadn’t actually bothered to propose.
“I can’t—you just—this isn’t—” I sputtered, unable to form a complete sentence.
“You can,” he snapped, snaking an arm around my waist and pulling me back onto his lap.
“You will.” He dropped a kiss on my lips when I tried to disagree with him.
“And none of this is up for debate.” His hand rested on my stomach, giving it a little squeeze for emphasis.
“Forgive me for thinking I should have a say in decisions that impact my future.” My sarcastic response earned me a little swat on my butt after he’d tilted me to the side. “Hey!” I yelped.
“I think you meant to say our future,” he rumbled. “Didn’t you, Jules?’
“Well, yeah. Kinda. Sorta,” I mumbled, flustered by the rush of heat in my veins from the sting his hand left behind. “I mean, obviously our lives will be intertwined from now on because of the baby, but that doesn’t mean you get to just proclaim that I�
��m going to move in and marry you. You can’t expect me to meekly follow your dictate like some brainless sycophant.”
“I never said I didn’t expect you to need a little time to agree with me, baby,” he chuckled. “Feel free to try and resist, as long as you keep in mind that it’s futile because you’re going to have my ring on your finger to go along with my baby in your belly. At least your defiance gives me an excuse to get creative when it comes to convincing you to say yes.”
“Creative?” I gasped as his palm slid up my thigh to cup me intimately.
“How else am I supposed to get you to mindlessly agree with me except to make you lose all reason?” His question was a rumble of sound against my skin as he kissed my throat and worked his way around to my ear. “It only seems fair since you’ve driven me out of mine for months. It’s a damn good thing our new fundraising campaign has decreased my surgery time because you’ve been hell on my concentration.”
“Really?” I whispered back, surprised to hear he’d thought about me enough to mess with his focus.
“I couldn’t seem to get you out of my head.” He gripped my neck to pull me closer and dropped his forehead against mine. “Not that I tried too hard. It made me feel closer to you.”
I melted, utterly enchanted by his admission. It was entirely unexpected and made me feel like maybe he wanted me for more than just the baby—and sex. I had no doubt he wanted me for that, not with the proof of his desire hard beneath me.
“And now that I have you back where you belong, you’re going to have a hard time getting me out of you. I need you too badly.” His tongue slid between my lips and caressed mine slowly. This kiss was softer than our others, more thorough, as he leisurely explored my mouth.
When he lifted his head, I was panting for breath and darn close to begging him to make me come again. Cradling me in his arms, he rose to his feet and carried me to his bedroom as though I was as light as a feather. When my back hit the mattress, I could only stare up at him helplessly. His dark eyes lit with appreciation as he looked down at me, making my nipples harden at the blatant arousal shining from his gaze.
Dance With Me, Baby: A Yeah, Baby Novella Page 3
