Sensual Chocolate
Page 7
He waited as he wondered what could be so arduous to get out.
Jolie lowered her gaze to her hands folded on her purse, then her topaz eyes rested on him. “I’m pregnant.”
If someone had walked in the door and struck him over the head with a croquet mallet he couldn’t have been more stunned.
“Are you sure?”
“I confirmed it with my doctor yesterday.”
If it had been any other woman he would have asked if it was supposed to be his, but not with Jolie. However, even with it being this woman who he’d thought about for weeks he still couldn’t help feeling the manacles of fear surrounding his heart.
“I don’t understand how it happened.”
She tilted her head. “I never figured I’d have to give you the birds and bees speech.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her. “That’s not what I meant. We were careful.”
“Not every time.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to contradict her and then he recalled the morning he couldn’t force himself to leave. The shower. Shit, he should have left. “Aren’t you on a pill, ring, IUD or something as a back up against slip-ups?”
She made a disgusted sound. “If I had been having any kind of normal sex life before…” Her hand waved back and forth between them. “I would’ve been. You’re Mr. Sexually Sophisticate, I would’ve thought suiting up was second nature to you.”
It always had been until her. However he didn’t say that. Rising he moved to the window beside his desk and stared out at the skyline. The bands around him tightened even more and he fought against them, lashing out at Jolie. “So, what is it that you expect from me?” Allowing his accent to drip heavily from every word, he continued, “Happily ever after and the white picket fence? Is not that the American dream? Trust me; other women have tried to get me to offer the same thing without the baby.”
He knew he was being a complete git but he couldn’t stop himself.
Her gasp drew his gaze back to her. Pushing herself up to her feet, Jolie stood before the chair one hand holding her purse and the other clenched at her side.
Despite her apparent anger her voice was low. “Let’s make one thing clear, Mr. Rayner. I can take care of myself and any child. I don’t need you for anything.” She closed her eyes and inhaled, then exhaled loudly. When she opened them they were filled with pain and sadness. “I just thought that for once in your life you wanted to put aside your hurt and anger and really live.”
Trenton didn’t know what to say as he stood there taking the set down she was giving him. He knew what she wanted from him, but he wasn’t sure if it was even in him to give.
Shoving his hands deep in his pocket he watched her reach inside her purse.
“Whenever you decide you’re ready to be a father. Whether that means once a month or never—” she tossed a small card on top of the paperwork he had been reviewing on his desk, “—ring me. The ball is in your court.”
Pivoting in her sexy boots, she strutted to his door and walked out.
She’d pulled one of his tricks on him. One of many things he did to keep a woman off balance and make her come to him, a way of showing her that he was confident enough to wait her out. It was what he had done to Jolie even, played her like any common bird. However he’d been the one flummoxed when it was over.
Stepping to his desk, he picked up the brown card with gold script embossed on it.
He was the one who had pined for her like a love-sick bloke, no matter how he tried to deny it. At this moment, he was allowing her to leave his life, carrying his child. All because of the choices his father had made to ruin his own marriage. Now, he was going to sit back and let Atherton Rayner ruin his life even more.
Trenton thought about his child in some activity, staring into the crowd, searching for a father who would never come.
The dinging of the elevator was like a wakeup call. Pulling himself together, he dashed out of his office and down the hall. A few people milled around chatting, but Trenton didn’t care. His only focus was the woman who was about to get inside the elevator and leave him for good.
“Jolie!” He called to her loud, to stop her. When it didn’t appear that she would heed him, he shouted her name again.
Trenton thought he wouldn’t make it before the doors closed, but suddenly he saw one knee-high black boot step out. Finally, he made to the elevator as Jolie’s beautiful curvaceous body exited it. Not pausing to consider his co-workers and what they would think of the man that never showed emotions and never dated the same woman twice, he pulled Jolie into his arms and kissed her.
Initially, he could feel her resistance then she melted into him and allowed him to deepen the kiss. Cheers went up around them and still Trenton ignored the onlookers.
When it ended, he said, “I want to be a father. I need to be a father.”
“You didn’t have to kiss me for that,” she grinned.
He noticed the tears running down her cheeks. She’d put on a strong front, but he’d hurt her. Lifting his hand he swiped the water away with his thumb. “I know. But the baby isn’t the only person that I want.”
“Me?” she whispered as if afraid to hope.
“You.” He rubbed her back, still holding her. “I thought I’d erected enough stone around myself to keep from feeling, from falling, but you chiseled right through it. I couldn’t get you off my mind and you made your way into my heart.”
Her arms slid around his neck. “I knew the moment I met you, you were a man I could easily fall in love with. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop it from happening. I love you.”
His heart swells and warmth flooded his body at her confession. “Oh, sweet duckie. I love you.” He cupped her face. “I cannot promise to get this ‘feeling thing’ right every time.”
“I’m not expecting perfection, just commitment to me and our baby.”
“I definitely can promise that.” He scooped her up and carried her back to his office. “I’ll need your word that we’ll have many more sensual chocolate nights.”
He noticed her features took on a weird look and her nose scrunched up. “That may have to wait until after the baby is born and I can take the smell of chocolate again.”
He kicked the door to his office closed behind them. “You got it, my love.”
About the Author
Yvette loves romance and writing it is one of her greatest and guiltiest pleasures. She enjoys creating happily ever after stories with lots of HEAT. The hotter the better! Life is busy. It would be great to have a chance to sit down and enjoy a long read. Since that is often not the case, she brings you Short and Sexy, Sensual Erotica. Just long enough to help you meet the need. She was talking about your reading needs—where’s your mind? As an erotic romance author, she tries to show that every woman, no matter color, age, shape or size, deserves a high level of passion in their life. Whether you like to see them spanked, tangled in a menage or simply falling in love, she’s got it. So, if you like diversity and a good read, check out one of her books.
For more information on other books by Yvette, visit the author’s official website:
www.YvetteHines.com
Also by This Author
A Piece of Me, Romance Management, Inc
A Gentle Christmas, Tease Publishing, LLC
Holiday Fantasy, Tease Publishing, LLC
The Club, Total-e-Bound