by Katie Dowe
When they were together it was like nothing else existed. He wanted forever with her and he'd met her late in life but he knew that he wanted to be with her and no one else. He just had to convince her that she wanted that as well. His hands gripped the wheel as he thought about her reaction if she found out that she was pregnant. Getting pregnant at my age would be madness! The words reverberated inside his head. What if she was right? He knew the risks of someone her age getting pregnant. It would be a high risk pregnancy for both her and the child. He stood the risk of the baby having complications. Could he deal with that? Could he do that to her? He sighed heavily as he got out of the vehicle. It was worth a shot.
Chapter 7
He'd spent the past week thinking about it and had gone on the internet and done his research. He'd even spoken to a doctor friend of his and he'd told him the risks.
“I'm not saying it's impossible, Blaine,” the man had told him seriously. “But there are a lot of risk factors and I think you should bear that in mind.” He'd given him a curious look. “Why now?’
“I met someone,” he'd told him briefly.
“And she's fifty-one you said?”
“Yes. She told me she doesn't want kids.” He shook his head ruefully. “If only we'd met ten years or more ago.”
“There are other options.”
“Adopting?”
“Or having someone carry the child for the two of you.”
“Surrogacy. I don’t want to get anyone else involved in this.”
Now, sitting in the living room after having dinner with her two friends he watched them in conversation. He was going to have to tell her what he'd been up to. He couldn't do this to her.
“So Blaine, what do you think of the high level of crime in the downtown area?” Deloris asked him. “You're restoring an apartment building in the area, but that particular street is known have high drug activity. Have you had any problems so far?”
“A few,” he said with a nod. “I was approached by what I assume was the leader of the gang that hangs out on the corner and was told that I needed to pay protection money.”
“Baby, you didn't say anything to me!” Skylar said, her eyes widening.
“I didn't want to scare you.” His expression softened as he looked at her. He wondered if she realized that she'd called him baby. “I'm used to dealing with people like him.”
“What did you say to him?” Angela asked him curiously.
“What I told him can't be repeated in polite company,” Blaine said lightly, with a twinkle in his green eyes. “Suffice it to say that he hasn't been back.”
“Good for you!” Deloris said in approval. “We've been getting complaints about that particular area. As soon as one gang is squashed another one rears its head. Hopefully the restoration you're doing will somehow manage to lift the image of the place.”
“That’s the thought,” he told her.
*****
“What?” he asked her later as she sat there staring at him. Her friends had left an hour earlier and they'd turned in for the night. She was sitting on her vanity stool rubbing the cream into her skin and he was seated on the sofa taking off his shoes and socks.
“There are still so many things I don’t know about you,” she said softly as she rubbed the cream into her skin.
“What would you like to know?” he asked her.
“Your favorite movie.”
“Rocky,” he said without hesitation.
“Which one?”
“All of them,” he told her with a smile. “I'm a Sylvester Stallone fan. And I already know you like sappy romantic stuff.”
“I do.” She nodded as she came over to sit next to him. “I make no apologies for that.” Her eyes met his as she pulled the sweater over his head. He stopped her as she was about to pull the white t-shirt over his head.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Uh-oh.”
“It’s not bad.” He shrugged and his eyes met hers. “It depends on how you will look at it.”
“I'm listening.”
He took a deep breath. “I've been thinking about us having a child.” He lifted a hand as she was about to speak. “Just let me finish. I was thinking about it and was going to do something about it.”
“What does that mean?” she asked him with a frown.
“I was going to stop using a condom,” he admitted.
She stared at him for a moment and then got to her feet and went over to the vanity mirror and pulled the pins from her heavy dark curls. He waited for her to say something, his heart beating fast.
“Skylar?”
She met his eyes in the mirror. “I cannot have children,” she told him quietly.
“I changed my mind. After I did the research and realized how dangerous it would be I decided against it. I just wanted to let you know.”
“You don’t understand. I'm menopausal.” She turned around to face him. “If you want children, Blaine, you shouldn't have hooked up with a woman in her fifties. It's not too late for you. You're a man so you could get involved with a much younger woman and it could happen for you.” Skylar didn't look like she was happy to say it.“I won't stand in your way.”
He got to his feet and came over to kneel in front of her. “I don’t want that,” he told her sincerely. “I've never felt this way about another person before and I doubt that I ever will. It was this insane moment that I had and it went away. I want you Skylar and I realize that I don’t want kids after all.”
She looked down at him and, lifting her hand, she placed it against his cheek. “You're just saying that because of what I just told you. I want you to find someone who can bear children with you. You're a billionaire and you work hard to make it happen. You're going to need someone to carry on your legacy.”
He took her hand in his. “It will mean nothing if the person means nothing to me. I want to be with you. I—”He shook his head. “—I've never been this happy in my life! I met you and for the first time I realized that I'm with someone who gets me. I'm with someone I want to come home to and be with. I'm with someone who makes me want to leave what I'm doing and come home and be with her. I want to cuddle with you by the fire, take you out to the movies, travel the world with you and see places and discover new things. Maybe buy an island together where we can escape and spend some time there, just the two of us.”
“And island?” she asked, lifting a brow.
“Why not?” he asked, grinning at her recklessly. “Our own island where we can build a getaway place and be by ourselves.”
“And island sounds nice,” she mused. “In the Caribbean, though.”
“Of course.” He almost sighed with relief at the fact that she wasn't upset with him. “We could sun ourselves totally naked; get that tan all over our bodies without anyone watching us.”
She stared at him. “We could always adopt,” she murmured.
He shook his head. “No. I wasn't thinking and I know that there are thousands of children out there who are dying for the chance to be adopted into a loving family but I'm not sure that I'm able to be a father. I'm damaged inside and I haven't been able to put it behind me. I didn't tell you the part about me asking my dad why he didn't leave when the marriage was so hopelessly lost. He told me that I came along and he was forced to stay.”
“Oh, Blaine,” she cried.
He shrugged. “I made sure I used protection in the past when I was with a woman. You were the first woman I didn't care whether or not I was using anything with.” He pulled her down onto the carpet and cradled her in his arms. “You're the only woman I've felt halfway normal with and I don’t want to screw it up.”
She pulled back and looked up at him. “For the record, I think you would have made a damned good dad.”
“Thank you.” His green eyes roved her face. “I want you in my life, Skylar. I don’t know what that means to you but I don’t want to be without you.”
“We'll figure it out,” she t
old him softly.
*****
Blaine stared at himself in the mirror. His knee had been throbbing for the past few weeks now and he hadn't been to the doctor. He knew it had something to do with the cold weather and also knew he couldn't risk taking anything for it. He hadn't been completely honest with Skylar. He'd busted his knee up pretty badly during the war and had come back home and started treating it. But he'd become addicted to painkillers and had been for years until he'd almost overdosed on them. That was when he knew he had to get help. He'd gotten clean and had never looked at another pill during that time. But the pain was getting to him. He stumbled away from the mirror and sat heavily on the stool there. He'd told the men that he was going to a meeting and had gone over to his apartment where he hadn't been for the past several weeks. He'd opened the bathroom cabinet and stared at the bottle of ibuprofen sitting on the shelf for a very long time, tempted to take a couple just to get rid of the pain. But he was afraid of falling off the wagon. He'd finally found someone he wanted to spend what was left of his life with and he had no intention of screwing it up. He ran long fingers through his hair and dug in, his eyes closed as he tried to wait out the pain. He'd been standing for too long and he knew that had a lot to do with it. He was going to have to stay off his feet for a little bit. He lifted his head and stretched out his left foot carefully, wincing as he felt the pinching. He knew what the doctors were going to say. Maybe an operation to see what was going on and more painkillers for him to take. He was fifty-three and wasn't as young as he used to be. He exercised a lot and didn't smoke or drink much, but the fact remained that he was over fifty. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His phone rang and he reached for it.
“Hey,” he forced himself to sound normal.“Are you okay?”
“A play.”
“What?”
“How do you feel about taking in a play in New York this weekend?” she asked him.
“I'm not much for plays.”
“You're going to enjoy this one.”
“You already bought the tickets,” he said in resignation.
“You know me too well,” she said with a laugh. “Come on, Blaine! It will be fun and it will take our minds off our issues.”
“What issues?”
“The ones we refuse to discuss in detail. I know even though you think you poured your heart out to me several nights ago there's still more. So what I'm suggesting is that we get out of town and make a weekend of it.”
“When?”
“We can leave Saturday morning.”
“What about the store?”
“I have capable employees and so do you. What do you say?’
“I say that I'm finding it very hard to say no to you,” he said wryly. “If I fall asleep and start snoring, don’t blame me.”
“I'll pinch you awake,” she said teasingly. “So we're going?”
“We are.”
*****
It was a musical by the name of ‘Pretty Woman’ and Blaine found himself being drawn into it and giving the play his rapt attention. He felt Skylar reach for his hand and thread her fingers through his. He found himself lifting their joined hands and kissing the back of hers automatically. He'd gone all out for the trip by borrowing one of his fellow club member's private jet to make the four-hour trip to the city. He'd iced his knee at his apartment before he'd left and had spent the next few days staying off it. He was intent on giving her a wonderful time. He'd stocked up on condoms and had even shopped for her, giving her the package during the plane ride. A diamond and sapphire necklace and bracelet and another coat, this time one made of pure wool and in a deep hunter green. Their hotel was a five-star one where they were greeted at the front and their bags were whisked away. He'd paid for the penthouse suite which had suddenly become available when they saw who he was. He didn't usually use his wealth to get what he wanted but he'd been determined to do whatever it took for her. After the play they'd stopped to have dinner at one of Kane Takahashi’s exclusive restaurants and then had gone to Central park to take a walk, even though it was freezing cold. He'd wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they strolled, and he felt as if this was the beginning of his life.
Now they were back at the hotel and the stage had been set. He'd ordered champagne and strawberries and the Belgian chocolates that she loved.
“Now what?” she asked as they stepped into the bedroom.
“Now I start the seduction,” he said with a smile as he took off his black jacket.
“Oh, so there's a seduction?” she asked, her eyebrows lifting.
“Definitely.” He pressed a button and music filled the air.
“Jeffry Osborne,” she whispered. “You do know me.”
“And I want to know you better.” He came forward to stand in front of her. She'd worn black jeans and knee-length black boots with a flaming red fitted sweater and the coat he'd bought her. Her hair was loose around her face like the time he'd met her at the bar several months ago. And she was wearing dangling silver earrings. He tilted her chin up. “I want to spend the rest of the time I have left getting to know you better.”
She put her hands on his chest. “I have no objections to that. But there's something I want to do now.”
“What?”
“Set the mood.” She slipped out of his arms. “Give me a few minutes,” she said with a seductive smile as she went to grab her overnight bag.
“If you're not out in a few minutes I'm coming in to get you,” he told her.
“Fair enough.”
He smiled as he sat on the sofa to take off his boots and his socks. He got to his feet too suddenly and bit off a cry as the pain flashed through his injured knee. He had to take several deep breaths as he waited out the pain. He couldn't allow her to come out and see him in pain and he was determined not to spoil the night. Taking a deep, steadying breath he got rid of the clothes and walked slowly over to the bed, easing his way onto it as he waited for her to come out. He wasn't going to be able to get on top of her. He plopped himself on the mound of pillows and waited for her. His gaze sharpened as she stood posed in the doorway of the bathroom. The light from the room outlined her curves clearly in the champagne-colored teddy she had on. “What do you think?”
“I think you should get over here fast before I lose my patience,” he told her hoarsely.
“I agree with you.” sShe walked forward slowly. “But first I want to do something that I always fantasize about.”
“What's that?” he asked her, his eyes trained on her breasts which were clearly defined through the lace.
“Strip tease,” she said impishly.
“I'm not sure my heart can take it,” he said half-seriously.
“We'll just have to find out,” she whispered as she slid the straps off her shoulders slowly. His eyes followed the movements of her hands as if hypnotized. She took her time to slide the material off her breasts, just holding it for a moment against her nipples before letting it slide down her stomach. She placed one hand over her exposed breasts as if shy to let him see her so exposed. She did that for a moment before moving her hand and slowly stripping away the material. She hesitated before pulling it all the way down. Blaine wished his throbbing knee would allow him to get off the bed and scoop her into his arms. He was as hard as a rock and his body was on fire. “You're killing me,” he said hoarsely, one hand going to his erection and directing her gaze to the stiff and aching penis.
“I know the feeling,” she whispered as she stepped out of the flimsy material and walked towards the bed. “How did you know I wanted to take the lead tonight?” she asked as she climbed over him.
“I wanted you to.” He groaned as she slowly slid onto him. He guided his penis into her, his eyes narrowed to slits as she took him inside her an inch at a time until she'd completely impaled herself on him. He gripped her hips, his eyes going to her nipples which were stiff and waiting for his lips.
“Go ahead,” she whispered as she leaned f
orward. He lifted his head and his tongue touched the tight bud, causing her to arch her back and dig her short nails into his muscled chest. He eased his aching knee aside carefully as he guided her hips, thrusting into her slowly and carefully. He pulled the nipple into his mouth, his teeth nibbling at the hard flesh, his fingers biting into her flesh as he felt the tremor going through her body.
*****
“Blaine!” Skylar felt as if every bone in her body had suddenly turned to water. “Jesus!” she moaned as he continued to pull on her nipple and as he rotated her hips to meet the thrust of his body against hers. The man certainly knew what he was doing, she thought hazily. He eased up onto the pillows without skipping a beat and brought her closer to him. Skylar wrapped her legs around his body and dug her fingers through his hair, digging into his scalp as the emotions between them spiraled out of control. He released her nipple and looked down at her, his eyes bright and feverish.
His head bent towards hers and she welcomed his lips, the moans coming from her throat captured inside his mouth as he continued to move inside her. His work-roughened hands skimmed her waist and over her back, going back to grip her taut buttocks as he brought her down hard against him. He lifted her off him for a moment before bringing her back down, pushing into her until he was deep inside her. Skylar tore her mouth from his, her heart pounding so hard inside her chest that she felt her body shivering from it.
“Blaine,” she whispered.
“I know,” he whispered back as his mouth wandered over her throat and her neck. His tongue tasted her flesh above her left breast before his teeth nibbled at the skin, sending her into such a spasm of desire that she called out his name in a long drawn-out sigh. She grabbed at his hair as she felt the pressure at the base of her stomach.
