The Baby Contract

Her gray eyes looked at me with vulnerability. "Do you really like it?"

I held her tighter. "I love it." I love you. "I can't believe you designed this. That’s not to say I don't think you're incapable. I didn't realize this was a talent of yours."

She shrugged. "I didn't do all the mechanical or technical aspects. I just designed it. The watchmaker did say that he thought it could be replicated and sold." The tone of her voice told me that the watchmaker's praise pleased her.

"And are you going to?"

"Not this watch. This watch is one-of-a-kind and only for you."

Her gaze was on the watch so I couldn't know if those words had a deeper meaning. But oh how I wished they meant that my efforts to win her heart were succeeding. I reached my hand up, cupping her cheek, and pulling her to me for a lingering kiss.

“Thank you. This is incredible.”

"You’re welcome. I enjoyed designing it. I was thinking that I could start my business idea now that I have the money you paid me. I've been working on more designs. Not very many watches, but several pieces of jewelry."

Every time she talked about the money in terms of my paying her, it made me wince. It was a reminder of our agreement.

"Can I invest in it?" I asked about her business.

She smiled. "I don't need investors now."

I shrugged. "Even when you have money, it doesn't hurt to have investors. Many of the projects I work on use other people’s money. That way I’m able to spread the risk. So if you change your mind and decide you’d like to have an investor, I hope that you’ll ask me first."

She gave me a sheepish smile. "I think I would have to ask Harper first. She offered first."

I nodded as I managed a smile, while inside I envied my sister. Did she know how loyal Anne was to her?

The mention of Harper was a reminder of the obstacle to our being together. I was a fool to think that I was going to come away from the situation having everything that I wanted.

The truth was, I might walk away with a child, but I'd also walk away with heartbreak.

But I pushed that away. I didn't have to think about it now, so I wouldn’t. Instead, I focused on the beautiful, generous and amazingly talented woman sitting in my lap. "How about we have some hot chocolate in front of the fire."

She laughed. "Shouldn’t it be snowing or cold outside for that?"

"You want snow? I’ll arrange it. Or I could turn down the thermostat to make it cold here."

“If it gets cold, I’ll need more than the fire to keep me warm."

I stood, carrying her in my arms to the living room. "That sounds like a fine idea."

By the time I laid her on the thick rug in front of the fireplace and got the fire going, I’d forgotten about hot chocolate. The only delicious tastes I craved were Anne.

“I don’t suppose Mr. Joseph will interrupt us, will he?” Anne looped her arms around me as I lay over her.

“If he does, he’ll be discrete.” I kissed her nose. “Of course, you’ll be so lost in your passion, you won’t notice.”

“Your arrogance is showing.”

I ground my still clothed dick against her pussy. “Am I wrong?”

“No. Make me lost in passion, Bran.”

“With pleasure.”

I kissed her as we worked to get our clothes off. I sat on the rug, and pulled her to sit on my thighs with her legs wrapped around my waist. I pulled the loose tie from her hair, watching it cascade down her back.

The light from the fire cast a magical glow over her skin. I leaned in to kiss her shoulder as I pulled her closer, so close, my dick rested along her hot, wet folds.

“You’re so beautiful,” I murmured against her skin. I looked up at her, her gray eyes filled with passion and something else I hoped to hell was emotion.

“You’re so fucking beautiful.” Would she know what I was really saying was I love you?

Dammit.

Why couldn’t I say the words specifically. The doubt and fear got in my way. I was stuck with showing her how much I loved her. With my hands and lips, I caressed and kissed, pouring my love into her.