by Mia Carson
After I’d talked it over with Clara and Beth, who were the only ones who knew, I’d decided I should tell him but insist on a simple system where he just paid child support, nothing more. I was working up the courage to contact him and set up a time to meet over lunch when he showed up Sunday at my dad’s and asked me to dinner.
I’d had the perfect opportunity to tell him, and had just been about to reveal the big news before dessert when I passed out. It had been terrifying, and Braden had been forced to hear the news as I told the paramedics… And now, he looked furious as we sat side by side on the bench, looking out at the crashing waves lit by a half-moon.
I wiped a few of my tears away and tried to steady my breathing before I said, “I was just about to tell you before I passed out, Braden, I swear. I know you’re mad I didn’t tell you, and you have every right to be, but I’m not asking much. Just the state-mandated child support amount, and if you want to see him or her, you can—”
I stopped my speech as Braden turned to me and did the most surprising thing. He sighed, smiled, got down on one knee in the sand in front of me, and pulled out a black velvet-covered box. You could have knocked me over with a feather. I was so completely stupefied, blinking down at him as my pulse went wild. Was I still dehydrated and hallucinating or was Braden…?
“Alexandra Montgomery—Lexi, I am mad you didn’t tell me. But I’m also elated that you’re carrying our child because I really and truly am in love with you.” He opened the box to reveal a round-cut diamond, big and sparkly and glittering up at me in the moonlight. Braden finished with a serious expression and intense eyes. “Lexi, will you marry me?”
For a moment, all was silent except for the sound of rolling waves and distant classical music from the restaurant above. I just couldn’t believe it—this gorgeous, rich, sweet man who I was in love with, and whose baby I was pregnant with, was actually proposing to me.
“Are you serious?” blurted out of my mouth as I brought a hand to my chest.
He chuckled and nodded. “Without question. I love you Lexi. I was going to propose to you tonight without knowing about you being pregnant. Why else would I carry a diamond ring around with me?”
His eyes danced up at me and tears ran down my cheeks as I smiled from ear to ear and said, “Yes, Braden Huntington, I will definitely marry you.”
*****
Twenty minutes later, after many elated and passionate kisses, I sat in a love-seat in the sitting room of Braden’s Malibu mansion bedroom, which was ridiculously big and beautiful. I still felt like I was in a dream, half afraid I’d wake up in my little Santa Monica apartment alone. Though I was slowly starting to accept that I was going to be Braden’s wife and we’d raise a baby together… in just eight months, nonetheless.
A moment later, Braden, who’d gone for celebratory drinks, came back in with two champagne flutes filled with sparkling apple cider. He sat down next to me on the love-seat, and we clinked glasses as he said, “Here’s to being together always and to our beautiful new baby.” We sipped, Braden’s sea-blue eyes intent on me the entire time, holding a mixture of elation and heated passion.
He took the glass wordlessly from my hand and put both flutes on a side table, then scooted closer to me—much closer. “Are you feeling better?” he asked in a low voice, his face inches from mine as his hands snaked around my waist. I swallowed hard and nodded, a strong wave of prickly hormones firing through my veins, heightened by the pregnancy.
His lips crushed mine, moving slowly and seductively with teasing nibbles on my bottom lip until I opened my mouth and his tongue moved inside. My fingers, my left ringer finger wearing the gorgeous diamond, ran up his back and sank into his hair as I kissed him fiercely. All the pent-up longing for him from the past month rushed through me.
He let out a growl, pulled back, and picked me up carefully, carried me over to his attached bedroom, and set me down in the plush navy-blue covers of his king-sized bed. He tugged on the hem of my green dress, and I helped him pull it off along with my bra, panties, and shoes.
“God, you’re radiant,” he mumbled, taking in my body, naked save for the sparkling ring, hungrily.
Unable to hide my eagerness for him, I leaned forward and started unzipping his pants, and he quickly tore off his button-down shirt and under tee as I pulled down his slacks and boxer briefs, taking off his shoes and socks before sliding it all down. He was iron-hard, his erection pointing ramrod straight at my mouth.
A devious expression overtook my face as I looked at Braden through my lashes and moved forward to take his cock in my mouth. His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he closed his eyes with a groan as one of my hands started moving up and down his shaft while my lips nibbled at the tip. I licked up and down, teasingly, before taking his entire dick in my mouth, sucking greedily as it hit the back of my mouth.
“Lexi, holy shit,” he breathed, his head falling back in ecstasy. “Okay, I can’t take it anymore,” he grunted. He lifted me further onto his bed and pushed his cock inside my pussy all at once, and waves of heat flooded my body.
The other times we’d had sex, it was smolderingly hot, but this time had a deeper sense to the actions. Now that we’d declared our love and were engaged, I could let loose entirely and open up to Braden with no reservations, both physically and emotionally. So as he pulsed in and out of me with increasing strength and speed, a dizzying state of boiling heat and satisfaction overtook me.
As he pounded faster into me, his head moved to take my sensitive right nipple into his mouth, sucking and flicking it with his tongue until I thought I’d go wild with desire, every nerve ending in my body shooting with an electric charge. “Braden, please… more,” I begged as he pulled back to give me a pirate look, his eyes glinting with danger.
“You know I love it when you beg. I love you,” he said in a deep, raspy voice. He took my other nipple in his mouth, sucking hard, and pushed faster and faster, deep inside me with his rock-hard dick, hitting all the right spots inside my pussy. A moment later, I gripped the plush bed covers, arching my hips up and tilting my head back with closed eyes in pure bliss.
I cried out his name over and over as I came repeatedly, my body rippling with each fiery wave of pleasure until I collapsed. Braden pulled out and fell next to me. Several shudders ran through my limbs afterwards as he wrapped his arms around me from the side and trailed soft kisses from my jawline to my mouth, both of us breathing hard and covered in glistening sweat.
“I love you, my wife-to-be,” he murmured in my ear before kissing it.
“I love you, too,” I said simply, relishing the warmth and complete contentment I felt in this moment. We fell asleep in each other’s arms and slept soundly through the night.
Everything was finally coming together in my life. I had the job of my dreams, my dad was receiving the treatment he needed, and I was in the loving embrace of the man I was going to marry and have a family with—the man I loved with all my heart.
*** BONUS BOOK #1 ***
SECRET BABY
(A Billionaire
Romance)
By
Mia Carson
COPYRIGHT © 2016
All Rights Reserved
Mel
“I’m on my way!” I exclaimed as I climbed into my car.
“I can’t believe you haven’t left yet,” Nikki grumbled through the cell, which was pressed to my ear.
“I know, I know, but I’ll only be five minutes late. You won’t even have time to order drinks,” I answered as I pulled out of my driveway. “But if you do, order me whatever you’re having!”
Nikki laughed and replied, “I’ll order you a shot for every minute you’re late.”
“Um, no,” I answered, giggling. “And aren’t we going to Hibachi? Do they even have shots?”
“Sake, maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never ordered drinks there,” Nikki reasoned. “Regardless, we’ll have something. Now move your ass!”
“Stop being so
bossy, birthday girl. I’m ten minutes away.”
“See you soon!”
After she hung up, I tossed my phone on top of my bag in the passenger seat. I smiled as I drove, so happy that it was a Saturday. The football game had been more than an hour’s drive away, so I didn’t get home until almost 1:30 the night before. Thankfully, my dance team rode with the band, which meant I didn’t have to drive. After unloading, my girls had wished me a good night, and I had trudged to my car and driven the fifteen minutes home with almost closed eyes.
But after sleeping late, I was refreshed and ready to party with my teacher pal, Nikki. I pulled into the parking lot of Hibachi a few minutes later and parked in a space so far away from the front door that I worried my shoes might wear out. Worth it, I told myself as I walked to the front. I had choreographed the dance for the pep rally earlier in the week, so I had sat on my couch all day and watched several recorded programs on my DVR rather than working out like I normally do.
I walked inside, and a hostess greeted me immediately. “Hello, miss. Will there be only one today?”
“No, I’m with some friends. They should already be here,” I informed her. I straightened the straps of my blouse as she glanced at her list. My skinny jeans fit perfectly on my long legs, which was why I’d chosen them, and the bright red blouse with giant, white flowers was just right for this kind of evening. Warm fall night, drinks, and good food. And I hoped, after dinner, a little bar-hopping to end the night.
“Ah, you must be with Nikki and her party?” the hostess asked, her eyebrows raised questioningly.
“Yes,” I replied, smiling.
“Follow me, please. I’ll take you right back,” she told me as she turned and hurried in the other direction.
I heard my friends before I saw them, and giggled. I tapped the hostess on the shoulder. “I can find them.” She smiled at me and nodded, handing me my napkin-wrapped silverware before leaving me.
The restaurant, one I rarely went to because of the high prices, was beautifully decorated in red and black glass. Tasteful wooden centerpieces surrounded by black placemats bedecked the tables. I glanced around the main dining area as I headed for the more private, secluded tables in the back. I saw no one I recognized and felt relieved. It drove me crazy when I ran into students at restaurants. Or anywhere in public, really, which is why I didn’t live in the same town as where I taught.
I stepped into the enclave where Nikki had reserved a table for eight. I raised my arms over my head and yelled, “Dear Lord, what is all this racket?” Everybody at the table turned and laughed, and hugs were exchanged all around. I plopped down in the seat next to Nikki and handed her the gift I’d brought.
“I told you no gifts! Ooooh, it’s heavy!” Nikki laughed as she opened the bag and tossed out paper. I smiled when she pulled out a blue elephant figurine for her collection. She shrieked, “Mel, it’s perfect! Thank you so much!” She threw her arms around my neck, nearly giving me a concussion with the heavy figure.
“I saw it and knew you’d love it. You have an empty spot on your windowsill at school,” I told her as I placed my napkin in my lap.
“Ugh,” she replied, rolling her eyes dramatically before looking at me. “Mrs. Smith told me I have too many figurines. She said they’re a fire hazard because they block the window.”
I joined her in the eye roll, a temporary scowl on my face. “Are you kidding? Didn’t she get her principal’s certification last week?”
“Principal Smith,” Nikki giggled. “That sounds absolutely awful! She sure thinks she is the principal. Has she said anything else to you about your outfits?”
“Not a word. I’m the dance teacher, not an English teacher. I can’t wear heels and a skirt while teaching square dancing to a bunch of whiney teens.”
Nikki laughed. “As if she has room to talk. Did you see the jeans she wore yesterday?”
“Moose knuckle!” I screeched, making the universal hand gesture for the tight jean phenomenon, and we collapsed into gales of laughter. “Those pants were so tight her vagina was outlined!”
Our laughter subsided, and she introduced me to the people she’d invited—mostly friends from college who I learned quickly were all married and would not be joining us for drinks after. The waitress brought our drinks. Nikki had ordered us both gin and tonics. Grateful, I tasted the drink and looked around at Nikki’s friends. I lapsed into silence and listened. Two were new moms, and two had only been married a short time. Nothing but baby talk and married-life talk. I need another drink, I thought as I controlled my facial expressions.
Nikki caught my eye and winked. She knew exactly what I was thinking. But she and I were at an age when all our friends were either getting married or having babies. I was sick of baby showers and bridal showers and weddings. I’d been to three over the past year and had just about decided to ignore the next friend who got married. Jealousy was beginning to rear its ugly head in my heart, and avoidance was my best option.
“Hey.” I summoned Nikki’s attention with a wave of my hand, “I just noticed your sister isn’t here.”
“She just texted. She’s running late, and she’s pissy,” Nikki sighed, her happiness dampened, hopefully only briefly.
“What’s she pissy about?”
“Who knows? I just hope she cheers up for my birthday dinner,” Nikki murmured quietly so only I could hear it. I nodded sympathetically. Jenny, her sister, was a real Debbie Downer and could ruin an evening faster than Principal Smith’s jeans could chafe her inner thighs.
Twenty minutes later, Jenny hurried in and threw herself into an empty chair across from Nikki. She didn’t say hello to anyone. She stared pointedly at Nikki, who was watching the chef prepare our food over the fire. Finally, Nikki stood and walked around to the other side of the table to speak to her sister, which irritated me. Why hadn’t Jenny walked around to Nikki? As I watched, the sisters shared a quiet conversation that ended with Jenny crossing her arms while Nikki tried to calm her.
That damn woman is going to ruin Nikki’s fun, I grumbled internally. Again. Jenny notoriously caused issues at social gatherings. She always needed attention and was so different from Nikki that I often wondered if one of them was adopted. I never voiced that opinion, of course. Nikki and I were pals, but that was a comment only said to a best friend.
Nikki moved back to the seat beside me, looking miserable. When Jenny left the table for the bathroom, I leaned over. “Everything okay?”
“She’s pissed that we didn’t wait for her,” Nikki mumbled unhappily.
“She was twenty minutes late, Nikki. She shouldn’t expect that,” I told her quietly, determined for Nikki to see that she wasn’t in the wrong.
“I know, but I still feel bad. She’s my sister.”
“And she’s doing her best to ruin your night. Don’t let her,” I ordered. We were close enough that I could say that.
Nikki looked at me, a defense ready on her lips. My expression plainly told her my feelings, as it always did. She nodded. “You’re right. It’s my night, not hers. I deserve to have fun.”
“That’s the spirit!” I quipped, throwing a fist into the air excitedly. “I’ll order us two more of these gin and tonics, and we’ll keep this party going,” I told her with a wink and signaled our waitress, who scurried off quickly to retrieve our drinks and those for a couple other gals at the table.
The chef was hilarious, tossing food into our mouths and making slightly inappropriate jokes. Everyone laughed and responded with more inappropriate jokes. Luckily, our table was at the back of the restaurant. Jenny made sure to huff occasionally and refused to laugh or even smile. Her scowl was a constant reminder to Nikki that she was unhappy. Nikki ignored her, for the most part, and I was proud of her for enjoying herself.
As we tucked into our meals after the chef left, I ordered a water to make up for the two drinks I’d already had. My phone pinged in my pocket, and I thought about ignoring it, but I’d been waiting on a t
ext from my mom about her dog, who had been sick. I glanced down at my phone and saw a name I hadn’t seen in a few months. Richard.
Hey, gorgeous! What are you doing tonight?
Nikki had seen me read the text. “Who’s that?”
“Richard.”
“Really?” she asked with a sideways glance.
I rolled my eyes, a little annoyed. “Don’t get excited. I’m not getting involved in that mess.”
“Yeah, but would it hurt to see what he’s doing? Maybe he has some single friends we can go hang out with.”
I groaned in indecision. I didn’t want Richard assuming I wanted to see him. I’d made it clear I had no interest in dating him. He had way too much baggage—the man had left his wife over a year ago but wouldn’t divorce her. I’d been furious when I’d found out and so grateful I hadn’t slept with him. Just gone on a date, which had made me feel lower than pond scum.
Nikki reiterated, “Come on. Just see what he’s doing. If he’s hitting you up for a booty call, tell him to fuck off.”
