by Ella Jade
“We don’t need anything.” I straddled him, rubbing my sex along his cock. “I’ve taken care of that so if you have no objections...”
“None.” He grabbed my hips and lifted me up, positioning me over him. I lowered myself onto his shaft, taking my time, inch by inch until he was sheathed in my hot, wet arousal. “Fuck! I’ve never...” He grasped my hips and moved me up and down at a fast clip. “Never done it this way.”
“What do you mean?” Putting my hands behind me, I rested them on his thighs, trying to steady myself. “Which way?”
“Bare.” He sat up, wrapping my legs around his waist. “You feel fantastic.”
“You’ve never...”
“I’ve never been close enough with anyone.” He kissed my neck, trailing his tongue along my throat. “It’s different with you.”
“You drank too much.” I pressed my lips to his, trying to get him to stop this line of conversation. I didn’t want him to say anything he didn’t mean. No empty promises.
“I know what I’m saying.” He thrust his hips upward. “You must know too.”
“I know I like what we’re doing now.” I held onto his shoulders, when the building inside my core could no longer be ignored. “Miles...” I frantically moved my pelvis, slamming down on him until I shook with an uncontrollable force.
A few moments later, he climaxed inside me, twisting his fingers in my hair and tugging my head back. “Look at me.” The intensity in his gaze went right through me. It was as if he could see every vulnerability in my soul. “It is different with you.”
I nodded.
He kissed me softly as he ran his hand through my hair. The fierceness of our encounter faded away and seemed to be replaced with tranquility. I kissed him one last time before rolling off him. He collapsed onto the bed, releasing a contented sigh.
“Do you feel better?” I asked.
He drew back the comforter and scooted under, placing it over his waist. I moved closer, sitting next to him. “Being with you always makes me feel better.”
“Maybe you should get some sleep now. You’ve had an eventful night.”
“I don’t usually drink when I have a problem.” He didn’t make eye contact with me. “I saw what that kind of behavior did to my brother. It wasn’t good.”
“We all need a vice now and then. I’m sure whatever was, or is bothering you, won’t seem so monumental in the morning.”
“There’s a possibility that Mila could be mine.”
“My patient?”
He stared at the ceiling.
“Miles?”
“Cassandra and I were together casually. I met her...” He placed his forearm over his eyes. “She was a stripper when we met. I’d been to her place of employment for a bachelor party. We hooked up later that night.”
“You had a one-night stand?”
“Not exactly.”
“You dated?”
“We had sex a few times. I’d go watch her dance. We went out for drinks a few times but we weren’t together. The last time I was with her was a year ago this month.”
“When Mila would have been conceived?”
“I think.” He rolled to his side, gazing into my eyes. Why did he have to look so inviting? I could count all the reasons why this man was so wrong for me. “She never said anything. I haven’t seen her in a year. I didn’t know she was married or had a baby until I saw her today. If Mila was mine, wouldn’t she have told me?”
“I can’t pretend to know her motives. I have met her husband. They seem really happy.”
“And Mila?”
“I can’t discuss Mila.” Of all the women he could have knocked up, it had to be someone in my practice? “I’m her doctor.”
“This is really fucked up.” He closed his eyes. “The tequila is wearing me out.”
“You should probably get some rest.”
“Wait.” He reached for my hand when I tried to get out of bed. “Why don’t you ever spend the night?”
“Because that’s not who we are.”
“That stupid arrangement.” He let go of me and settled onto his back, closing his eyes. “Why did I ever agree to that?”
Yes, that stupid arrangement. Why did I think I could pull off something like this? I’d gotten on birth control for him. If that didn’t scream intimate relationship, I didn’t know what else would. I watched as he drifted off to sleep. His jaw relaxed and his breathing slowed. The delicate rise and fall of his chest indicated he was asleep. Slipping out of bed, I found my panties and shoes. I quietly put myself back together, staring into the mirror. What am I doing?
I went into the large master en suite and found the aspirin and took a water bottle out of his mini-fridge under the counter. A refrigerator in the elaborate bathroom. A total bachelor. He would need both when he woke up. I set them on his nightstand, stopping to stare at him one more time.
In that moment, I realized two truths. One, I was falling hard for Miles Clark. The rich, handsome attorney with the charming smile and dazzling personality. He was easy to be around, made me laugh, and when we were together he treated me as if no one else existed. What woman wouldn’t want a man like him?
The second truth was a little harder to swallow, but when a woman was a realist, she knew what had to be accepted. Miles Clark was not the man for me.
Chapter Eight
Miles
I sat on the park bench overlooking the river, trying to process my morning. It had been interesting for a few reasons. I was glad that Kirsten had agreed to meet me here during her lunch break. My drunken, late night confession wasn’t something I ever thought I’d have to tell her. When Cassandra and I went our separate ways, I thought we were done. If Mila was mine... I didn’t want to go there. Just because I had sex with her around the time she conceived didn’t mean I was responsible.
“Hey.” Kirsten sat down next to me. She set two bottles of water and a take-out bag between us. “Want to share my lunch?”
“I’m not really that hungry.” I stroked her cheek before kissing her. “Thanks for meeting me.”
“You sounded upset on the phone.”
“I wanted to apologize for drinking as much as I did last night. That’s not how I deal with problems.”
“We all have our moments. You don’t have to apologize. No harm was done.”
“You might not think so in a minute.” I took out my phone and brought up Ellie’s article. “I wanted to show you this.”
“Oh.” She took my phone and read the fluffy, nonsense piece. “Ms. Hawk works fast.”
“She usually does.”
“The sexy pediatrician and the hot AF political consultant heat up the bar scene.” She shook her head after reading the headline. “She’s quick with her camera too.”
“I should have been more aware of my surroundings. I shouldn’t have put you in my lap and kissed you like that in public. I was off my game last night.”
“Understandably so.”
“You’re not mad?”
“This isn’t your fault.” She handed me my phone. “I wasn’t complaining when you were kissing me. I didn’t expect someone to be spying on us for the purpose of an article. Hopefully not too many of my patients’ parents will see this. I try to keep a low profile.”
“You’re extremely professional. I’m sure no one will think anything of this. My mother has already called Ellie to remind her of the rules. She’ll back off for a bit. Once Max comes in for the wedding, we’ll be old news.”
“Max doesn’t care what she writes?”
“I never did until...” Ellie Hawk could write whatever she wanted about me. I didn’t give a shit what people thought. Well, until I started seeing Kirsten. She was smart, sophisticated, and stayed away from men like me for a reason. “Look, in the last twenty-four hours I’ve only proven why you wanted a non-relationship with me. My life isn’t this complicated. Usually. The Clarks save the drama for Jameson and Max. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect
you from people like Ellie.”
“You don’t have to explain. You don’t owe me anything. We’re not complicated, remember?”
“Can we forget about that for a moment?” I took her hand, hoping she’d understand. “I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have drank that much.”
“You had your reasons.”
“Which brings me to my next point.” I hated to involve her in any of this. “I shouldn’t have blurted out my suspicions about Mila after we were together. It had been on my mind all night but I tried to keep you out of it.”
“This whole situation is a little odd so I can’t blame you for how you handled it.”
“I didn’t handle it well.”
“Cassandra contacted me this morning, so I’m glad you told me. I would have been blindsided.”
“I spoke with her as well. She called my office this morning as I was trying to get in touch with her. She’d gotten a new cell, so I was in the process of having my investigator locate her. In the middle of that and Ellie’s stupid article, Cassandra reached out to me.” I was surprised when my assistant said she was on the line. “She said her husband, Brian, knew there was a possibility that he wasn’t the father. They met, got together, and she ended up pregnant shortly after. They seem like they’re really in love. I don’t want to screw anything up for their little family but I have to do the right thing.”
“I think that’s admirable of you. Some guys would run in the opposite direction and not look back especially if another man was already taking responsibility.”
“I can’t do that.” I didn’t know what the future held, but if I had a daughter, I’d have to be in her life. “I need to know before I can make any decisions.”
“Cassandra has given me permission to discuss the paternity test plans with you,” Kirsten said. “I offered to handle this matter.”
“You have?” I never would have asked her for her help but knowing she would be with me during this process made it a little easier. “Having someone I trust involved makes this bearable.”
“I can do the swabs on all of you. I’ll contact a colleague of mine at a private lab and put a rush on the results. There’s no need to prolong this.”
“I’ll take care of any costs incurred for Cassandra, her husband, and Mila.”
“Cassandra believes that Brian is the father.”
“She expressed that to me and I really hope she’s right. She said she knew there was a possibility with the timing of when we were together but didn’t want to face it. I’m not looking to disrupt their lives but I can’t drop this until I know. If Mila is my responsibility, I have to own up to it.”
“I agree.”
“I’m sorry you have to get in the middle of this.”
“Mila is my patient.”
“Of course.”
“I want to be there for you.”
“You do?” I’d usually confide in Jameson for something like this but we were so busy with the firm and he was in the middle of planning the wedding of the year in D.C. I couldn’t bring myself to burden him. “That’s very kind of you.”
“Miles, I’ve seen what you’ve done for your brothers. You keep the peace and look out for them but as strong as you are, even you need a shoulder to lean on.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t deserve this woman. “I’m trying to be rational but the whole situation is a bit of a shock.”
“I can understand that.”
“How long before we have an answer?”
“Cassandra is bringing Mila in this afternoon with Brian. Stop by my office tonight and I’ll swab you. Because tomorrow is Friday, we probably won’t know until Monday.”
“That’s not too bad, I guess.”
“I’ll get the results back as fast as I can.”
“Thank you.” I kissed her cheek. “You’re amazing.”
“Do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Split this sandwich with me.” She held out the paper bag. “It’s from Luca’s deli.”
“What is it?” I glanced inside the bag.
“Chicken salad on whole wheat toast.” She took the sandwich out. “It’s too big for just me.”
“I’d love to share your lunch with you.”
“Okay.” She giggled the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
As she separated the sandwich, I gazed at her stunning profile. Did she have any idea just how traditional we were becoming?
“What?” She looked into my eyes, a smile gracing her lips.
“Nothing.” I took half the sandwich from her. “I have a feeling I’m going to remember this day for a very long time.”
***
Kirsten
I tossed my phone in my bag as we pulled up to the Clark home. The media circled the gates in front of the estate. Our driver slowly made it through the entrance once the security guard, hired for the evening, verified it was Miles in the car.
“Is everything okay?” Miles asked.
“What?”
“You got a text. Was it the office? Do you need to call in?”
“No, I’m not on call tonight.” I smiled, feeling a little guilty that I didn’t tell him the lab had messaged me to say they were sending over the paternity results. There wasn’t anything we could do about them now. I couldn’t give him the results without Cassandra and her husband. There was no need to upset his evening. We could go in tomorrow and read them when all the parties were together. “There’s more press here tonight than there was at the actual engagement party.”
“The wedding is getting closer. They’re getting more aggressive. Someone shows up at the firm everyday looking for Jameson to answer questions and reveal the location of the ceremony.”
“I’m guessing your mother is on it?”
“And my father, Jameson, and myself. We’re keeping them in check.”
“CC is so calm through all of this. I would be a wreck.”
“If you were marrying a Clark?” He smirked. “There are a couple more of us.”
“No, I just meant that... well, Cecilia handles all of this with such grace. I’m not sure I could.” How did we get on the subject of me marrying a Clark?
“I’m certain you could.” When the car stopped he took my hand. “I know you had to come here tonight because you’re in the bridal party, but I’m glad you’re with me.”
“Where else would I be?” I was totally taken by him. Even if we weren’t in this wedding together, I’d still want to be by his side.
When the driver opened the door for me, I stepped out of the car. Miles was next to me within a second, taking my hand and walking to the front door. I’d heard the reporters yelling for him, but he didn’t even turn his head.
“I hope you’re ready.”
“Ready for what?” I asked as he opened the front door.
“My mother read Ellie’s article and now she thinks we’re a couple.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me into the house. “I couldn’t exactly explain what we are to one another.”
“Well, there are two of us so I suppose that makes us a couple.” I kissed his cheek. “Thanks for the warning.”
“There you are.” Mrs. Clark greeted us in the foyer in a stunning designer gown. I knew fashion. I’d been to Paris and Milan several times when I was with Ross. I grew up in a modest home, so I never would have dreamed that I would one day wear clothes that debuted on the runway.
“Hey, Mom.” Miles kissed his mother’s cheek. “How’s it going?”
“Fabulous.” Her diamond bracelet sparkled in the rays of the setting sun shining in from the windows. “Kirsten, you look incredible.” She hugged me. “But you always do.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Clark. You look beautiful.” There was an elegance that flowed through her and projected wherever she went. I’d seen her do television interviews and read magazine articles when she was representing a high-profile client. Not only was she a classic beauty but she was a fierce attorney.
/> “This one’s a keeper.” She winked at Miles. “I want to apologize for Ms. Hawk and her unfortunate article. I’m sorry you had to experience that so early on in your relationship with my son. I’d like to say it won’t happen again but I’d be lying.”
“It’s fine.” The piece hadn’t presented a problem. If anyone in my office saw it, no one mentioned it.
“You’re a prominent doctor with a thriving practice. You deserve a private life. If you have any trouble because of that article, please let me know. I’ll take care of it.”
“Mom,” Miles said. “I’ve handled Ms. Hawk.”
“She’ll be back,” his mother said. “She always finds a way to pester us.”
“She isn’t here tonight,” Miles noted. “That’s progress.”
“What did you do?” I asked. “How did you get her to stay away from here?”
“Called in a favor with the owner of the paper. He wants his cousin to be reelected and that can’t happen without me.”
“Miles has been keeping that favor in his back pocket for quite some time.” His mother grinned at me. “You must be really special to him.”
“Mom.” Miles stopped her from saying anything else. “Where’s Jameson?”
“He and CC are out on the patio. Go join them.” She rubbed my shoulder. “My son may be embarrassed to talk about it but I know you’re special. He’s very taken with you.”
“Thank you.” I hugged her. “I think he’s pretty special too.”
“Let’s go.” Miles took my hand and led me through the grand foyer. “I need a drink.”
“Me too.”
“Really?”
“I don’t want to deceive your mom. She’s so sweet. I haven’t even been honest with CC and Rayne when it comes to us.”
“We’re seeing one another. That’s not a lie. No one has to know the details.”
We stepped out onto the elaborately lit patio. There were tables dressed in soft pink linens and high, glass vases filled with pink and lavender roses. Upon further investigation, I spied roses and white, twinkling lights all over the backyard. The pool was even filled with rose pedals and glowing balloons.
