THE BILLIONAIRE'S BABY (A Secret Baby Romance)

by Mia Carson

  As we reached a spot with a path down to an area of the beach that had tidal pools with starfish, anemone, and other marine creatures, I noticed Lexi’s cheeks were red and she seemed to be getting winded, though she tried to hide it. I slowed and stopped. “Let’s stop for a break, then head back along the beach. We can go right to the parking lot from there.”

  She stopped and put her hands on her sides as she tried to catch her breath, eying me, and said between breaths, “Okay, that… sounds like… a plan.”

  I was normally a bit out of breath myself after I ran, but since I usually ran with Adrianna, who was several inches taller than Lexi and went faster and further, I was breathing at a completely normal rate. I waited for Lexi to recover for a minute, then led the way down the steep rocky path to the tidal pool area on the beach.

  “You need help?” I turned back and offered her a hand.

  “No, I’m good, tha… ah!” She slipped on a loose set of rocks and crashed into my back, which threw me off balance enough for me to topple forward. Though I took several quick steps to try and stop, we both fell flat on the ground. Her soft body crushed into my back, which actually felt really good except for the fact that my legs and chest were pressed into hard little rocks mixed with grainy sand.

  “Oh, my God… Braden, I’m so sorry,” Lexi cried out as she fumbled to get herself off me and grabbed my upper shoulder to help me up.

  I pushed up and brushed off the sand and pebbles. I felt only a slight sting on one of my knees and an elbow where it was probably scraped. I looked at her worried, apologetic expression and smiled. “It’s okay, no serious injuries.”

  We walked onto the sand near one of the pools, and Lexi frowned at my cut knee and arm. “Those look painful, though. We should get you some band-aids, or at least clean them out with ocean water.” As Lexi spoke, she bent to look at my knee and traced her fingertips gently along the side of it, outside my cut, then glanced up at me.

  The way she looked at me from under her thick lashes and the soft touch of her finger caused my blood to heat and threaten to pool between my thighs. Her pretty pink lips were level with my groin, which didn’t help. Sensing my raging hormones, Lexi’s face colored and she quickly stood up and took a step back. I waved off my injuries and said, “No band-aids necessary, but maybe I should rinse them with salt water.”

  I headed down to the waves rolling in with frothy white bubbles, and teased, “Remind me to let you go first downhill next time, or at least hold your hand.” She narrowed her eyes at me as she stood a few feet away while I scooped up some water and splashed it across my cut elbow and knee, attempting to not wince from the pain.

  “If you put me in front, I’ll just pull you down with me again.” She smirked and looked to our right down the beach. “Maybe we can just walk back? You know, because of your injuries and everything,” she added, though I was sure she was tired from the jog. From what I knew of her, Lexi probably chose surfing over running as her exercise most of the time, and while both were physically demanding, running had a different kind of impact that she wasn’t used to.

  I didn’t mention any of this, though, simply rinsed my cuts one more time and said, “I think that’s a good idea.”

  We walked along the surf as the sun rose higher in the sky and chatted casually about topics ranging from tidal pools to our families and our favorite foods. Our conversation was nice and relaxed, and before I knew it, we’d reached the parking lot. She paused outside her car, keys in hand.

  I didn’t want to leave and had the urge to ask her for lunch or coffee—anything so we could hang out. However, since we would see each other for dinner at my mom’s later and I needed to show her I wasn’t purposefully breaking our relationship rules, I decided against the urge to ask her to lunch.

  “Thanks for running with me. You still want to come to dinner at my mom’s later? You really don’t have to, but I can give you a ride since it’s in Pasadena if you want.”

  Lexi nodded. “I want to come, and a ride would be nice. Sorry about your injuries again.” She gave me a sheepish look and opened her car door.

  “No problem. And I’ll pick you up at five-thirty—your apartment. Bye, Lexi.”

  ***

  “That’s such a pretty dress,” my mom gushed to Lexi as she sat with her on the kitchen’s bar stools while Adrianna uncharacteristically helped me prepare chicken parmesan over zucchini noodles and fresh garlic bread. I had noticed myself just how pretty—not to mention sexy—Lexi’s dress was when I’d picked her up just an hour ago. It wasn’t overtly sexy, just a simple, classic, sleeveless, light green sundress that flared out to just above the knee, but it fitted her snugly.

  “Thanks. It’s super comfy, too.” Lexi beamed back at my mom, who sipped Chardonnay. Adrianna stood next to me as she chopped fresh garlic while I peeled the zucchini with a special Julienne-cut peeler that turned the zucchini into noodle-like strips. My sister bumped my hip with hers and gave me a pointed smile.

  She was excited that Mom and Lexi seemed to get along well, but I didn’t want her to be too obvious and gave her a subtle warning look. I refocused on peeling the zucchini noodles, which were a healthy, tasty alternative to regular spaghetti—besides the fact that I was trying to impress Lexi with my culinary skills.

  The chicken baked in the oven behind me with bread crumbs, freshly made marinara sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan, and everything would be ready soon. My insides had glowed since Lexi met my mom and they’d taken a liking to each other. Lexi had snuck glances at me as she and my mom sat at the kitchen counter bar stools. I’d refused to let either Lexi or my mom help me cook, though they’d offered, and Addy had stepped up to the plate to help.

  Lexi sipped her wine and looked at me, her green eyes vibrant and sparkly. “That smells amazing. I can’t wait. I’m not the best cook,” she explained to my mom.

  Mom looked slyly from Lexi to me and back. “Well, Braden could give you lessons, you know. He’s an outstanding chef,” she bragged. Lexi and I exchanged a knowing glance as her ears turned pink and my own face flushed, both of us remembering the cooking lesson in my suite in Rio.

  Ten minutes later, we sat down to eat at the back porch dining table since the weather was gorgeous with a cool evening breeze fluttering through the yard. Lexi sat directly across from me with my mom on her right at the end of the table and Adrianna to her left.

  “So Lexi,” my mom started after we’d all taken a few bites. “You seem like a beautiful, smart, and sweet young woman. Are there any guys in the picture right now?”

  I half choked on my Chardonnay and looked at Lexi, who’d paused mid-chew and looked from my mom to me. “Mom, that’s a little personal,” I intervened with an embarrassed smile. Adrianna watched with an amused expression, no help at all.

  Lexi swallowed her bite and responded. “No, it’s a perfectly fine question. Don’t worry.” She turned from me to my mom and said, “I’m not seeing anyone right now. I’m focusing on my career and my family at this point.”

  My mom nodded approvingly and obviously couldn’t help but add, “That’s very commendable and sensible. Though sometimes, love happens even when you’re not planning it.” Mom smiled and looked very pleased with herself as she turned from Lexi to me.

  Great, Mom, way to be subtle about it, I thought wryly.

  An awkward silence fell as Lexi simply nodded in response. “This is seriously delicious, Braden—and Adrianna.”

  Thankfully, the conversation flowed nicely from hobbies, like my mom’s painting, to family. Lexi talked about her dad and how he had MS, her brother and his soccer talent, and she even brought up the fact that her mom had passed away and what it was like with one parent.

  Adrianna and I were able to relate since we’d basically been raised by one parent as well. Our dad had been away a lot, busy with work and, well, being a playboy, and then there was the divorce. We talked comfortably, even about these deeper subjects, all through the made-from-scratch crème
brûlée dessert.

  Afterwards, my mom took Lexi to see her herb garden, flowers, and trees in the backyard, then to the room off the garden that had been made into an art studio so Lexi could see some of her paintings. While they were off, Adrianna and I cleaned up.

  “Okay, Mom’s totally smitten,” my sister said in a low voice. “You two are so cute together, and you’re positively glowing. Lexi feels the same way, I can tell.”

  I handed her a saucepan to dry and said, “Hold on there, Addy. Before you and Mom start making wedding invitations, let me actually figure out how to go from strictly work to a romantic relationship, okay? I need to let her take the lead.” I whispered all of this as I glanced nervously to the right several times to make sure Lexi and my mom weren’t on their way back.

  Adrianna studied me for a moment. “I don’t know, Braden. I mean, yeah, you shouldn’t push her too much, but there should be some push and…” She trailed off as Lexi and my mom walked in from the hall.

  “Give me two minutes to finish up and I’ll drive you home, okay?” I told Lexi.

  ***

  I sped up to get through a yellow light in my Ferrari and turned onto the street with Lexi’s apartment. Seeing her with my mom and Adrianna and how naturally they got along had gone straight to my heart, and it killed me to hold my feelings back. Once I’d parked, Lexi unbuckled and turned to me.

  “Thanks for dinner—again. Honestly, if you ever want to quit the production business, you could be a gourmet chef.” She smiled at me and changed the subject. “You ready for the big meeting tomorrow?”

  I grinned and said, “Yeah, I’m sure it’s nothing. Well, not nothing, but nothing we can’t handle. I know they’re not happy about Keith’s behavior, but that’s nothing new.” I paused as my thumb nervously tapped on the steering wheel. “You know, Lexi, I’m really glad you got to meet my mom and sister and be a part of our family dinner.” I glanced at her as a rush of warm feelings shot through me, and I wondered if I should say anything about my deepening feelings for her.

  Her eyes locked on mine and she said, “Me, too. I had a lot of fun, and your mom and Adrianna are great. I like them a lot.”

  I nodded and licked my lips before I plunged ahead. “That means a lot to me, because, well, you’re starting to mean a lot to me, Lexi. And I wanted to ask if you’d consider re-evaluating our relationship agreement—about possibly being something more than boss and employee, and more than just friends?” I couldn’t believe what I was saying, but the words seemed to come out of my mouth without much control.

  Lexi sat still, hand poised over the door handle as she regarded me with blazing pink cheeks and startled eyes. What felt like several long beats passed in silence before she answered. “Braden—wow, I don’t know. Let me think about it, okay? I gotta go.” She jumped out of the car and into her building before I could respond.

  ***

  The conference room was silent except for the hum of the air conditioning and my pen clicking in and out repeatedly. Everyone but Lexi and I had left by that point. It was closing in on four in the afternoon. I shook my head and pulled my hands through my hair, annoyed for getting chewed out by Shawna Young in front of my department heads and Lexi.

  I turned my gaze to Lexi who sat on my right at the oval conference table. She watched me with concern. “She’s always on my case about my womanizing image and how it’s bad for Huntington, so add in Keith’s bad behavior—man, Shawna has a vendetta against me now,” I groaned in irritation, and added, “I mean, I’ve been known as a playboy, but I’ve never trashed a hotel room or gotten kicked out of bars for brawls—she shouldn’t group me with Keith.”

  Lexi nodded in agreement. Shawna had appeared to have a personal dislike of Braden and gave him a verbal slap in the face at the meeting. As I sat there and stared into Lexi’s sympathetic green eyes, my stomach churned with mortification. I felt sicker than ever of a reputation I’d earned by default, and mostly because I never bothered to correct it.

  And Lexi still hadn’t responded to my request yesterday after dinner at my mom’s – about trying for a more-than-friends relationship. I felt the issue needed a little push. “Braden,” Lexi’s voice cut into my thoughts, “I’m sorry. Shawna’s totally out of line. Is there something I can do? Do you want some coffee—food, anything?”

  I continued to stare at her silently for several seconds, then I raised one eyebrow. This was the perfect opportunity to give that extra push. “Coffee? Actually, could you go get the bottle of single malt scotch I have locked in the liquor cabinet in my office? Bring two glasses. I could use a little help to unwind.”

  I fished out my keychain and held it by the small key to my cabinet, and her eyes widened with surprise as she nodded, took the keys, and walked to the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Lexi smiled and was gone. My instincts had taken over and told me to take advantage of her desire to help.

  Minutes later, Lexi returned, and I noticed she locked the door behind her. She placed the bottle and two glasses on the table. “I figured you wouldn’t want anyone popping in here while you’re drinking,” she explained.

  I nodded. “Good thinking. I guess that wouldn’t be so good for our company image—both the notorious playboys, me and Keith, getting crazy, drinking and stuff.” I smirked as I poured us each a neat glass.

  “Well, here’s to the hell with your image—and Shawna Young,” she said with a full-on grin that had my stomach doing flips as we clinked glasses. We took a long sip, and I let out a breath and shook my head.

  I took another long drink and savored the smooth alcohol sliding down my throat. I cunningly rubbed the back of my neck and said, “Man, I’m stiff.” I watched Lexi out of the corner of my vision as she scraped back her chair and moved behind me, and I had to suppress an evil chuckle at how easily I had manipulated her.

  Two soft, strong hands kneaded my hunched shoulders. Her fingers pressed out the knots of stress. I felt a new, acutely pleasant sensation rush through my body on top of the scotch-induced buzz. Without a second thought, I reached back and enclosed one of her hands in mine and kissed her fingertips. I heard her breathy gasp and swiveled around in my chair to take Lexi’s other hand and pull her towards me.

  She didn’t resist at all and surprised me when she climbed straight into my lap and straddled me with one leg propped up on either side of the chair. The next moment, her lips came down on mine, urgent and hot. My hands slid around the back of her neck, and we were kissing deeply and passionately.

  Lexi

  I don’t know if it was because Braden looked like a little boy who’d been scolded for stealing candy or my pent-up sexual attraction for him combined with the scotch. Whatever the trigger, I could no longer refrain from acting on my feelings. I allowed myself to fall into the electrifying heat between Braden and me as I straddled his lap in the conference room.

  His hands were hot and roamed all over, from my jaw down my arms to my waist and sliding up my thighs as he hiked up my charcoal gray skirt. His fingers played with the edge of my panties. I could hardly get a breath as his touch sent waves of molten fire through every inch of my body.

  I arched my hips and pressed into his groin, where I felt his hard-on. I crushed my breasts against his chest through the fabric of my silky green button down-shirt and his suit jacket. We kissed urgently, deeply, with no hesitation. Hardly breaking contact, Braden leaned forward in the chair, shrugged off his suit jacket, and pulled off his tie with my help. He tore my blouse apart at the middle, popping several buttons off.

  As he pulled my shirt off, I worked on taking off his button-down and the white tee underneath so that, within a minute, his solid chest was completely bare and I was in my lacy purple bra. In one swift, smooth motion, Braden unhooked my bra and pulled my hair out of its neat bun so that it cascaded down my back and over the tops of my naked breasts.

  “Hot damn,” Braden whispered as his fiery blue eyes raked from my heated cheeks to my bared tits, which w
ere on full display right at his eye level. His eyes trailed back up to meet mine, burning through me with their intensity and raw hunger. We stared at each other, frozen for several beats. His hands were in my hair, and his hot, full lips captured mine as his tongue slid in and explored my mouth. His hands moved to my back and pulled me into him.

  In the back of my mind, I was thankful to have locked the door. Another thought tried to push through as well—one that screamed in protest at how heedlessly I’d broken our rule and given into my desires. I ignored those warnings again as Braden’s tongue ravaged my mouth, and my hands slid down his steel abs to the bulge in his pants.

  Braden’s breath caught, and he pulled an inch back, his eyes bright with lust and mild surprise as I held his gaze. My fingers undid his pants button and carefully pulled down the zipper. I didn’t have time to blink as Braden stood up, lifting me with him. He placed me on the conference table and pulled down both his gray dress pants and boxer-briefs.

  I sat half-naked on the long side of the table, and my eyes eagerly took in the stunning sight of a fully nude Braden. My gaze lingered on his full, hard erection. He moved with the stealth and strength of a puma when he reached up my skirt and pulled my soaking panties off and tossed them aside with the other clothes strewn around the floor. I watched in a haze, dizzy from the pure testosterone emanating off Braden combined with my own blazing hormones.

  In an unexpected move, Braden grabbed my waist and turned me over on the table so that my chest was pressed against the cool, hard surface and my ass and vagina were at the table’s edge. I heard a low growl as he stepped closer and his erection pushed, hot and throbbing, against my thigh and ass cheek. He leaned over my back and began a hot trail of kisses from my neck to my shoulder and down my back.