“Right about what?”
“Sloan is a rabbit hole. We’re all living in a parallel universe. A rabbit hole just like Wonderland.”
James chuckled, the sound reverberating through her. One of comfort. Familiarity. Lord, she wished James would stay in the rabbit hole with her instead of leaving. But on the other hand, a person could go crazy in a place like this—if they stayed too long. Maybe that was why he intended leaving.
“You might be right, sweetheart. Some days Sloan sure as hell feels like a rabbit hole.”
Chapter Sixteen
James helped Alice climb into his SUV, a surge of protectiveness filling him. Every freckle stood out in stark relief on her face. He wondered if he should take her to the doctor since she’d had a shock. A rabbit hole. Damn if he didn’t think she was right. He settled behind the wheel and noticed she’d fallen asleep. Probably the best thing for her.
She slept for the whole journey, only waking when he pulled up outside his house. He helped her inside and removed her shoes and outer clothing before putting her to bed. He frowned, worried about her lethargy and paleness. James touched his hand to her forehead. Normal. Maybe she just needed to nap because she hadn’t slept well during the last week, the shadows under her eyes confirming her fatigue. Perhaps all she needed was rest.
Alice snoozed through the afternoon and early evening, waking briefly when he joined her in bed.
“Go back to sleep,” he whispered.
She rose and wandered to the bathroom before returning. “I’m not tired.” Alice stripped off the rest of her clothes, the ones he’d left on when he’d undressed her, and slipped between the sheets naked.
James pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, prepared to cuddle and do nothing else. Alice accepted the first kiss and sought more. Her lips were soft beneath his, teasing yet purposeful. Hell, he could take a hint. He wrapped his arms around her, stroking the smooth fragranced skin and fitting their bodies together.
His breath eased out. He’d become used to this, to having Alice in his bed each night. Sometimes they didn’t need to test condoms, but they made love anyway.
He tried not to think about what that meant. Alice hadn’t commented so he didn’t either. He went with the flow, enjoying the closeness and the feminine presence in his life.
The time on his contract was almost up and he’d leave soon. He’d taught Alice everything he knew about running the company. She didn’t need him anymore. James cupped Alice’s head and took the kiss deeper. He explored the interior of her mouth but kept it slow and easy. Their tongues twined, and he savored the rub of her breasts against his chest, the soft, fragrant hair beneath his hands. He loved the groans of pleasure and appreciation she made, her floral scent that he’d remember at the strangest of times.
“James, make love to me.”
Her hand crept between their bodies to pinch his nipple, teasing it until it burned, reverberating in his cock, his balls. James swallowed and nuzzled her neck. A sudden urge to mark her, to show the world she belonged to him blindsided him. He still intended leaving.
Sloan wasn’t for him.
He didn’t fit with the other people who chose to live here. Rabbits, to hear Alice talk. Nah, he was a traveler and soon he’d leave. That was his problem. He had itchy feet. This strange restlessness would fade once he left Sloan.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t go to sleep?”
“That would be a big, fat no,” Alice said. “Oh well. I guess I can seduce you. Just lie back and I’ll try to tempt you.”
James spluttered. God, he loved her sense of humor, the funny things she came out with, the way she handled the oldies. He didn’t like the way Luke looked at her…
Before he could take that thought any farther, Alice pushed him back on the mattress. Her hands trailed over his body, confident and cool, bringing a shudder of heat, a ripple of awareness. She kissed his mouth before moving down the bed. Her warm breath feathered across his collarbone and her teeth nibbled a path across his chest. His hips jerked at the sting of teeth, not because it hurt but because it felt so damn good. She teased one flat nipple, worrying it with her mouth until darts of pleasure rushed through him. Alice nipped his belly, unhurriedly making her way to his groin.
James tried to recall when a woman had taken such care with him, taken so much pleasure in exploring his body--giving instead of taking and gifting herself.
She blew across the tip of his shaft before tracing the length with her finger. She teased the sensitive underside, squeezing a groan from him. The reaction seemed to be something she wanted. The knowledge that she wrung him inside out with each touch. She cupped his tight sac, rolling his balls gently beneath her fingers and clenching his dick in her fist.
“Alice.”
“Shush,” she said. “Just enjoy.”
Alice crawled on top of him and guided his cock to her entrance. Slowly she pushed downward, impaling herself one slow increment at the time. He clenched his teeth to hold back a groan. The sweet, tight grip of her pussy felt amazing. James stared up at her and watched the play of emotions over her face. The flicker of pleasure. The sultry passion in her brandy-colored eyes. Steadily, she rose and fell on his cock, riding him and gripping him sweetly. She rocked, her breasts bouncing with each move. A prickle of awareness started at the base of his spine, building sweetly.
She moaned, her hands moving upward to pinch one of her nipples. Another moan resounded in the bedroom. It was a sexy sound that made his cock jerk. He reached for her then, slipping his fingers between her legs. Slick dampness met his touch. He strummed her swollen clit and fought to hold back his impending climax. The pending explosion built higher and higher until it reached the point of no return. Semen rushed up his cock just as she moaned again. Her vagina contracted sharply, clutching at his dick while he spurted into her with violent contractions.
Minutes later, she slipped off his body before rearranging herself at his side, cuddling into him like a sleepy kitten. James pressed a kiss to her cheek and gathered her close before falling into sleep.
* * * * *
He woke with his heart pounding. Something had woken him. He leaned over and groped for the bedside lamp, hitting the on switch on his second attempt. The bed beside him was empty. His gaze darted to his watch. Six thirty. Almost time to climb out of bed.
“Alice?” The unmistakable sounds of retching came from the en suite. James climbed from bed and went to investigate. After tapping on the door, he walked into the bathroom, the light gray tiles cool beneath his bare feet.
Another series of retches started along with a sob and a pitiful groan. When the noise abated, he pushed open the door to the toilet.
She stood, her shoulders slouched in fatigue. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and offered a weary smile. “I’m not feeling too good.”
“I noticed.” He went to her and pushed a lock of hair off her forehead. Clammy heat met his touch. Alice shivered and spun away from him, lurching for the toilet. Helplessly, James watched unsure of how he could help her.
When her shoulders stopped heaving, she stood and turned slowly to face him. “I need to tell you something.”
Pronounced shadows highlighted her extreme paleness.
“I think you need to return to bed.”
“No—”
“You can’t go to work in this condition.”
“James, will you listen to me?” Alice’s voice emerged in a sharp snap and demanded his attention.
“At least go back to bed.”
“I think I’m pregnant.”
He stared, his mouth dropping open in shock. “What did you say?”
“Pregnant. I think I’m pregnant.”
“But how?” He chastened himself for asking the stupid question as soon as it emerged. It was obvious how it had happened, but it shouldn’t have. “You’re on the Pill.”
Her chin lifted, her eyes flashing irritation. “Yes.”
God, this couldn’t b
e happening. He wasn’t cut out for fatherhood. He didn’t do relationships, dammit. He was a traveler, a wanderer.
“And before you make things worse, I’ve taken the pills religiously.” Alice snorted, a derisive sound, and pushed her way past him.
He followed a little more slowly trying to make sense of the riotous emotions that swamped him. With Alice at his side, Sloan didn’t seem quite as claustrophobic. Maybe…
Nah. No way.
He wasn’t going to get sucked into the family trap where he’d have to take up law again and live a responsible life. He didn’t intend to become his father.
“I’m not asking you to marry me,” she snapped. “I’m merely doing you the courtesy of telling you.” Her eyes flashed, and color seeped back into her cheeks.
“How long have you known?”
“I’ve missed my period and haven’t felt well.” She slipped an oversize T-shirt over her head, screening her body from his gaze.
“What did the doctor say?” James swallowed, emotions rioting out of control. Fear—no, panic—stalked his mind, worry that he was handling this situation wrong. He wanted to apologize, to start again, to tell Alice…
Hell, he didn’t know what he wanted to tell her.
That was the problem.
“I haven’t seen a doctor yet. I thought I’d go today.” Alice grabbed a set of clean clothes and returned to the en suite. She shut the door with a defiant click. A solid clunk confirmed she’d locked him out.
James dragged his hand through his hair. “Well, hell.” He grabbed a pair of jeans and stepped into them before heading to the kitchen. Maybe a cup of coffee would help settle his confusion. It tangled inside him, flaring with hints of anger and regret.
A child. Bloody hell.
Alice didn’t appear until he drank his second cup. He lifted his head and studied her, trying to see if she looked different. She didn’t. “What do you want to do?”
Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Who said anything has to change? I thought we’d carry on, me running Fancy Free and you traveling overseas.”
He gave a curt nod, feeling rejection instead of relief. Didn’t she even want him to stick around? To help her?
“I’m going to work now. There’s a lot to do, and I still need to see Luke to give him a statement.”
A flare of jealousy struck James. Was that why she wasn’t worried about him leaving? Because she had Luke waiting in the wings? His hand curled to a fist and the tension from wanting to lash out pounded through him. “Let me finish my coffee and I’ll drive you.”
“Thanks, but I want to walk. The fresh air will help clear my head.” Alice collected her handbag, slipped on her shoes and stepped outside, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.
James scowled at the wooden door. He didn’t believe it. She didn’t expect him to do anything except leave. Alice hadn’t worked through everything yet. She’d change her mind and try to trap him. She wasn’t any different from his mother, sister and the woman they’d tried to hitch him up with. Yeah, she’d sing a different tune once reality set in.
* * * * *
A few hours later, a tap on her office door made Alice start. Her pen dropped on to the floor and she scrambled after it, belting her head on the corner of her desk before she had the pen back in her hand.
“Ouch.” Alice rubbed the rapidly forming bump on her head, a rueful smile on her lips. An interruption to drag her back to the present, something to divert her thoughts from a possible pregnancy, James’ departure and her procrastination in ringing the doctor to make an appointment. She sighed inwardly. Another tap on the door sounded—a little louder this time. “Come in.”
The door inched open and Rodney stuck his head through the gap. “Do you have a moment?”
“Sure. Take a seat.” She gestured at the upright chair on the other side of her desk.
Rodney bore a worried frown that made her wonder if she shouldn’t worry herself. “Um…er…I…” He hovered in front of her desk instead of sitting.
Alice’s stomach flipped briefly before it settled. She wasn’t sure if it was because of morning sickness or because of the unease she sensed in Rodney. She regarded him intently, attempting to read his body language. Stuttering. Blazing red face. General reluctance to sit on the seat she’d indicated. It didn’t bode well. “Is there a problem with the Vibration?” Surely not. Not after all they’d been through so far.
“No, no. Everything’s fine. The first orders should roll out at the end of the month as planned.”
A sigh of relief whistled through her teeth. She consciously relaxed. Leaning back in her chair, she picked up her pen and prompted him again. “Then how can I help you?”
Rodney hesitated. He ran his hand through his hair and adjusted his frameless glasses, shoving them farther up his nose. “I want to hand in my notice,” he blurted.
“Why?” Caught off guard, she fumbled her pen again. It shot across the floor, ending up by Rodney’s foot. Things were finally going well at Fancy Free now that the dog and clown were in police custody. The company had managed to claw away at some of their overdraft and had hired extra people to help in the dispatch department to keep up with the new orders. But Rodney leaving—this was one possibility she and James hadn’t factored into the equation.
Rodney couldn’t leave.
Alice tried not to think about James’ imminent departure. “What are you going to do? Do you have a job with another company?”
“I’ve been listening to James talk about his trip. It made me think. I’ve never been out of New Zealand.” Rodney handed Alice her pen and fussed with his glasses again. “I’ve purchased my plane ticket. I’m going to Europe. I want to run with the bulls in Pamplona.” Spots of pink appeared on his cheeks when he added, “And drink beer in Munich.”
Panic struck, searing through her stomach with acidic sharpness. The company would fail if they lost Rodney. Because it was a small company, losing key personnel meant a huge upheaval. They didn’t have a backup plan. Alice glanced at her pen but refrained from picking it up. It would only end up on the floor again. Rodney couldn’t do this to her. Oh boy. That wasn’t very businesslike if her first thoughts were of how Rodney’s departure would impact her personally. Her throat ached with tension and a sharp pang started up in her chest.
Just when she’d begun to feel more secure, Rodney pushed her back out of her comfort zone into panic and uncertainty.
Heck, was it always going to be like this—her life out of control and her running behind to pick up the pieces?
Alice licked her lips, noticing at the back of her mind how dry they were. She swallowed and coughed lightly to clear her throat but the anxiety continued to grow. She stood and paced.
Breathe.
Think.
Then it hit her.
She was a selfish cow. This wasn’t about her. This was about the company and the board members who had become friends. They’d been through so much and worked together for the success of Fancy Free. When James left, she took full responsibility for the company. She had to sort out this problem. But how?
Inspiration hit and suddenly she knew what to suggest. “Rodney, what if you take a leave of absence? Go over to Europe and explore, and when you return home, your job will be waiting for you?” She beamed at him, pleased with her idea. Yes, the initial panic had hit and brought familiar insecure ghouls from the closet but she’d come up with a solution. Yes! She really had changed.
A knock sounded on the door an instant before it opened. James strolled inside, his familiar grin absent. Alice’s gaze skimmed his body before heading back to his face, regretting the tension between them. Last night he’d woken her from a sensual dream that had rapidly become reality. Skin sliding across skin. Wet, warm mouths. Drugging pleasure. She sighed. His grin flared and one blue eye closed in a wink, bringing forth a blush. Maybe he wasn’t angry with her after all.
James glanced at Rodney. “Is there a problem?”
“You’re leaving?” James cast her a worried look.
“I was just asking Rodney if he’d consider taking time off and coming back to Fancy Free in say six months.” Alice peered at Rodney in clear expectation. Please let him agree. Otherwise the company would lag behind their competition while they searched for a suitable candidate. Six months was the maximum time they could wait before employing a replacement. “Rodney?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll need to think about it,” Rodney said.
Alice wanted to shake the bespectacled man. How much thought did it take? She’d given up everything for Fancy Free. Alice forced a gracious smile, reminding herself that no one had compelled her to accept the conditions of her godmother’s will. “That’s fine. Can you let me know by the end of the week? If you decide to leave, I’ll need to start searching for a replacement.”
“Thanks. I’ll come and see you on Friday.”
Alice smiled again and watched him scurry from her office. James walked over to the door and shut it before closing the distance between them. He drew her near, seemingly forgetting about their words this morning.
“I’m proud of you,” he whispered against her hair. His large hand glided down her spine and came to a rest on her bottom.
Alice dwelled on the loss of Rodney for a few seconds longer. Somehow, she’d cope. The company would survive.
“Thanks.” Humor surfaced without warning and she pushed his chest so she could move from his grasp and view his face. She couldn’t resist stroking his cheek and savoring the rasp of stubble beneath her fingertips. “Did you know Rodney wants to do the run with the bulls in Pamplona? I should have reminded him to take out travel insurance.”
“I don’t want to discuss Rodney.” James placed his hand over hers and stopped her exploration of his face.
“No?”
“Have you made an appointment to see the doctor?”
“Not yet.”
James picked up the phone and handed it to her before rattling off the number. With a trembling hand she dialed and spoke to the receptionist.
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