by Nadia Aidan
“Mmm,” he groaned against her mound, his face still buried deep in her pussy as he continued to eat from her cunt, setting off a firestorm of climax after climax, until she begged him to stop.
He kissed his way to her mouth, his lips curling into a self-satisfied grin, and she knew he relished the knowledge that he could so easily give her orgasm after blinding orgasm. He captured her lips with his, his tongue driving deep, claiming hers, as he shared with her the taste of her arousal, her fulfilment.
With his hands on her hips, he flipped them over so that she straddled him, and in one fluid motion, he pulled his hard shaft from his boxers and dragged her upwards so that she was poised above him.
Before she could take her next breath, he jerked her down, as he drove into her, filling her completely on one smooth stroke.
They groaned in unison, their bodies seamlessly weaving together. Maia rocked up and down on Chad’s hard length, stilted gasps escaping from her lips, as his cock went deep inside her on each powerful thrust.
His fingers dug into her hips, setting a hard, punishing pace until they both dripped with sweat.
“I’m coming,” he groaned as he impaled her on his hard shaft over and over again. She could already feel a ball of fire gathering at the core of her. They locked gazes, her hips still pumping, while he thrust deep into her. He came on a strangled groan, his eyes falling shut as he arched into her and exploded.
His climax triggered hers and she dug her nails into his shoulders, her head thrown back as she erupted around him, her juices drenching his still thrusting cock.
She collapsed against him, their bodies still convulsing with tremors. Maia lay there, her head resting atop Chad’s chest for a long while, listening to his heart beating until she eventually drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Their weekend together was over all too soon, Chad thought as he held Maia against him after another arduous bout of lovemaking. He struggled to gather his breath, his hand absently stroking her bare back.
“I better go,” he whispered against her ear after a long while.
“Already?” She groaned in protest, even as she lifted off of him to lay by his side. She was beautiful as she stared at him. Her luminous brown eyes heavy with sleep as she curled her lips into a sexy Cheshire grin.
He was romanticising again. That’s why he knew he had to leave. He’d stayed too long already, he thought, as he sat up.
“It’s Monday. I was supposed to go home last night.” He dragged on his pants. “If I don’t leave now, we’ll both be late for work.”
She gave him a sexy pout that always made his gut clench, and usually had the power to easily wrap him around her finger, but he knew already what she was doing and he shook his head.
“No, Maia. I have to go.” He softened his words with a small grin. “You better get up before you’re late too.”
She grumbled in protest, but still she rolled out of bed and wrapped a blanket around her body. She crossed the room to wrap her arms around him, and even though he knew this was not a good idea, that it could end up with them winding right back in bed, he pulled her against him and kissed her.
They’d spent the entire weekend making love, avoiding any discussion about them, their future. But there were times, just like this, when she held him to her, when she kissed him so sweetly, so tenderly that he felt her regret all the way to the core of him.
He wondered if he pushed her this time would she cave, would she finally open up to him, but he wasn’t sure if he could do that anymore. So many times he’d put himself out there for her, letting her know where she stood with him, that he cared about her, that he wanted a future, no, a lifetime with her, only to have her reject him.
He eased out of her arms, setting her gently away from him. No. He’d made up his mind. He and Maia were done, and he was finally determined to move on.
“Call me as soon as you have any news, okay?”
She nodded as she lifted her hand to cup his cheek, and what he read in her eyes made that tiny fist around his heart clench. He started to shake his head.
He couldn’t do this with her, not right now, not ever again.
“Maia—”
“What if I told you I loved you?”
He swore his heart stopped and he didn’t know whether to be furious or excited. It was somewhere between both as exasperation filled him.
“What do you mean, what if you told me you loved me?” He glared at her. “You either do or you don’t.”
Her eyes clouded, as if she was about to lose her nerve, but then she lifted her chin a notch.
“I mean, if you knew I loved you, would it change anything?”
He grasped her wrist, pulling her hand away from his face. “I’m not playing this game with you Mai—”
“I love you, Chad,” she said quietly, her voice so low that he’d struggled to hear her, and yet, he’d heard every word. “I know you don’t believe me, but I do. I do love you. And now I’m just hoping you will give us another chance.”
He closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, his heart hammering in his chest. So long he’d longed to hear her say those words, he’d waited so long for her to realise what he’d known for years. But it was too late. He opened his eyes.
“Another chance? Another chance at what?”
She blinked in confusion. “Well, I don’t know. I’m guessing we would date for awhile and—”
He shook his head. She may have realised she loved him, but she still didn’t get it.
“We’re planning to have a baby together and you want us to date?” He barely managed to keep the derision from his voice. “We’re well past dating, Maia. At the cabin I said I wanted marriage or we’re done. I haven’t changed my mind about that.”
Her eyes widened. “B—but I’m not ready for that.”
And he knew she never would be. In her perfect world, they would date, maybe she’d even relent and they would move in together, but she would never marry him. She would never truly give him the ultimate commitment. He knew that with a certainty. She truly loved him, but she was just too afraid to take that last step.
“You say you love me, that you want to have my child. But yet, you still can’t marry me—” She started to protest but he halted her with a single finger against her lips. “What you’re offering is not enough for me, Maia. I know what I want, and you know what I want from you. When you’re ready to give me that, call me, but don’t be surprised if I’m not waiting around for you to make up your mind.”
Her face fell and he hated the sadness in her eyes, that he’d been the one to put it there. He knew it was hard for Maia to put herself on the line, then to be rejected—he knew she would probably never open up to him ever again. But that was her choice. Maia may have gone further with him than she’d gone with any man ever before, but she hadn’t gone far enough. He wanted all of her. Not just her love, but her past, her demons, her failures and she wasn’t ready to give him that. She probably would never be ready to completely open herself up to him and be vulnerable with him, which was why he refused to accept the crumbs she now offered. When it came to Maia, he wanted all or nothing.
“I better go,” he said softly and when she nodded he turned to leave, quietly slipping out of her home, with the hushed click of the door closing shut behind him.
As he drove away from Maia’s home, he didn’t look back. Much like his relationship with Maia, it was behind him, in the past, or at least he hoped so.
Chapter Five
Maia was giddy with excitement as she turned on her car and pulled out of the parking lot of her art gallery.
“Congratulations.”
She replayed the doctor’s words over and over in her head, a sense of overwhelming happiness filling her.
She was pregnant. Finally. She and Chad had done it. She’d tried to call him as soon as she walked out of the doctor’s office, but his cell had gone straight to voicemail.
She glanced at the clock on
her dashboard. It was almost seven o’clock in the evening. If he didn’t have a business dinner or event, he should be done for the day. She couldn’t wait to share the news with him. Dialing his number again, she frowned when it rang several times and still she got his voicemail. She didn’t want to leave news like this in a message, but decided to say something so that he would know to call her back immediately. She waited for the beep.
“Hey Chad, it’s me. Call me when you get this.” She disconnected the call and dialed another number. It rang twice before Lena picked up.
Before Lena could even speak, Maia said in a rush, “Hey girl, it’s me. I have great news.”
* * * *
Chad fought the urge to slump down in his seat. He once again realised the reason why he hated meeting with clients. Preferred to leave these meetings to Dylan, while he went out and scouted new talent. He liked the rush of going to games, signing the next big athlete. He absolutely hated the business side of his job—this schmoozing, keeping the talent happy. That he could do without.
He should have been enjoying himself since he’d been the one to offer to take this particular client out to dinner, much to Dylan’s surprise. But Chad had figured this would be good for him, an easy way to test the waters, like a slow start to moving on from Maia. And who better to test the waters with? The beautiful brunette across from him was one of the hottest tennis players in the U.S. With her phenomenal talent and good looks, along with the expertise of his company, Gwen Eisenberg had become the darling of Nike and Gatorade. She was easy on the eyes, and she’d made more than a few hints that she wouldn’t mind a quick fling while she was in town. But as much as he wished otherwise, he thought glumly, her looks and charm were wasted on him, for no matter what he did, all he longed for was a caramel beauty with almond shaped eyes.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he glanced down. It was Maia again. He’d have to call her back after dinner. He made a habit of not taking calls during business meetings. If it was an emergency she would text him. But he knew it wasn’t. It had been two weeks since they’d spent the weekend together. She had news—news he’d been waiting for, news that he’d hoped for, and knew would change his life. But with that news would come the sad reality, that his relationship with Maia would finally be at an end, and no matter what they said, or what they wanted, there was no way they could go back to the way they were after this.
He let out a long sigh. Damn it. He wished he could cut out of this dinner, and grab a drink, a strong one, before he called Maia back.
“Chad, did you hear a word I said?”
He looked up. “I’m sorry. My mind seems to be elsew—”
His next words stuck in his throat. It was almost as if he’d conjured her. The very object of his thoughts was there in the restaurant. She stepped into the dining area, the burnished embers of the fading sun, casting a lovely halo around her. She was absolutely stunning, and he frowned as he looked around at some of the men openly staring—apparently he wasn’t the only one who thought so either.
Maia was all the way across the room, and he followed her every movement with his gaze until she stopped at a table where another woman was seated. The woman stood to hug her, and that’s when he recognised her dinner companion. Lena.
He turned his attention to Gwen. Damn it. He needed to get out of there. If Maia saw him she would be pissed, and hurt. He just couldn’t do that to her, not after the way they’d left things two weeks ago. Not after she’d finally revealed her feelings to him. Even though they would never work out, he still never wanted to hurt her. And as much as he talked about moving on, about dating other people, he realised now that he wasn’t ready to move on, and the thought of seeing another woman left a bad taste in his mouth. Eventually he would have to, but right now—right now, his feelings for the woman sitting across the room were just far too complex. Taking out Gwen had been a big mistake, and he knew if Maia saw him with her she just wouldn’t understand.
“I’m sorry Gwen. I need to cut our dinner short. I’m just not feeling very well.” He motioned for the waiter. Within minutes he was able to usher Gwen out of the restaurant without Maia seeing him—or so he thought.
“Is that Chad?”
Maia glanced over her shoulder, following the direction of Lena’s gaze. A frowned curled her lips as a slow churning stirred her belly. The dark wavy hair that curled against the nape of his neck, those broad shoulders that always filled out his suit, that confident gate. She couldn’t see his face, but she didn’t need to. She would know Chad anywhere, could easily pick him out of a line up without ever seeing his face. And the man escorting a beautiful brunette out of the restaurant, his hand intimately tucked against the small of her back, was definitely Chad.
“I couldn’t tell. I didn’t see his face,” she lied.
Lena frowned, her gaze still riveted on the entrance, as if staring longer and harder would somehow solve the mystery of the man’s identity.
“I could have sworn…” Lena’s voice drifted off as she returned her attention to Maia. “I’m sorry. We’re supposed to be celebrating your good news, and here I am insinuating that Chad is out with another woman. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Maia shrugged. “You didn’t. I couldn’t see the man’s face, but even if it was Chad, he’s free to do what he wants. After all, he is a single man.”
Maia shoved a forkful of spaghetti into her mouth, pretending that she was just fine, even as Lena’s gaze bored into her. What else could she do? Break down in the middle of the restaurant? Sob and cry like a fool at the dinner table? No, she wasn’t fine. Far from it. This was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, one she should have been sharing with the man who had made this all possible, the man who she’d created a child with.
But what could she do? Chad had kept his word. She was pregnant. He was officially free to date now. She just hadn’t expected it be so—so soon.
A tight lump welled up inside her throat, but she forced it back. She had no right to cry, not after the many chances Chad had given her. She hadn’t expected he’d move on quite so quickly, but could she blame him? He deserved to be happy, even if it could never be with her. She’d known this day would come. She just wished it hadn’t been today, of all days.
* * * *
After seeing Chad out on his date, she realised there was no point in keeping the news a surprise. It wasn’t like he was available to celebrate with her anyway, so she’d done what she hadn’t wanted to do. She’d left the message that she was pregnant on his voicemail and then she’d turned all her phones off. So Maia wasn’t surprised when she walked into her office the next morning and the phone on her desk rang not even a second after she set her purse down. She picked it up on the second ring, because she knew exactly who it was.
“The M Gallery, this is Maia Lee, how may I hel—”
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you all night and since dawn this morning. Why haven’t you picked up any of my calls?” Chad growled on the other end.
“Because I was tired last night and then I was running late this morning—”
“Liar. You call me to tell me you’re pregnant and then you turned your phone off? What game are you playing at Maia?”
“I’m not playing any games, I really was tired.” That was mostly true. After seeing him last night, all she’d wanted to do was go to sleep and hope that she wasn’t still an emotional wreck in the morning. The last thing she’d wanted to do was hear his voice.
He sighed into the phone, and she could hear the exasperation in his voice when he spoke. “Well, I just called to say congratulations. Are you free tonight? I would like to take you out to dinner to celebrate.”
The punch to her gut shouldn’t have been so excruciating, but it was worse. Had he not mentioned dinner and celebrating in the same sentence she was sure she would have been fine. But his words dredged up every painful memory of seeing him last night, out at dinner, with another woman,
when he should have been having dinner with her, celebrating with her.
“Too late. I already celebrated with Lena,” she said tightly.
“So what? Does that mean you can’t have dinner again, with me—”
“I already tried, but you were too busy having dinner with a lovely brunette.”
There was a pregnant silence, and she wondered if he would even speak, until he finally said, “What do you want from me, Maia?”
“What do you mean what do I want from you?” She snapped.
“You know what the hell I’m asking you,” he thundered. “One minute you want me, one minute you don’t. I’ve given you chance after chance, but you stubbornly refuse to change. You wanted things this way Maia, not me, so you can’t be upset if I date other people—”
“The hell I can’t.”
He sighed into the receiver. “Calm down Maia, this can’t be good for the baby,” he said patiently, and she silently fumed, desperately struggling not to remind him he’d been the one to snap at her first. “Besides, you’re blowing this way out of proportion. I’m not interested in Gwen.”
She was incredulous. “I don’t care whether you’re interested in her or not.” Okay, that wasn’t true. She cared. But that wasn’t the greater issue. “I’m pissed because you didn’t even wait to hear if I was pregnant before you took some woman out. You weren’t even available to celebrate the news with me, when you should have—”
“And, I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have been there.”
His apology should have tempered her anger, but it wasn’t enough, not now. Maybe it was her hormones, or maybe it was something else. She didn’t know, and she didn’t care.
