Another

I scowled, holding the cup close to my chest. “No.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “All right then.”

I took another long drink and looked him over. He made the loveseat in my office look minuscule under his big body. A body I could remember every inch of. A body I wanted to be under again.

Suddenly, I was hot, and having a hard time prying my eyes from his crotch. The way he lounged back with his legs spread invited my eyes there perfectly. God, he’d been big. Like a tripod. And he’d known how to use it.

I missed sex. I missed sex with Ian. Once wasn’t enough.

“Carina?” His soft voice called my name like a siren, but also snapped me back to attention. Needing to form words before I asked him to try and have sex with me, I said the first thing I could think of.

“I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.” The words were aggressive like I’d shot them out of a gun. His brows rose high, and I rushed to follow it up in a softer, I’m-not-imagining-your-big-dick, way. “If you wanted to come.”

He smirked like he knew what I’d been thinking, but thankfully he let me off the hook. “I’m there.”

“We won’t get to see the baby,” I warned.

“Carina,” he sat up, resting his elbows on his knees, focusing his laser attention on me. “I’ll be there, no matter what.”

“Okay.”

The silence stretched as I considered how serious he was. Ian was a smooth talker, and I was a little off my game right now, with my hormones hijacking my body, so I was easily misled. But he didn’t give the slightest indication that he wasn’t in this all the way.

“I have a favor to ask you,” he began, breaking the silence.

My eyes narrowed. “Okay.”

“I’d like you to meet my parents.”

“Oh…” That wasn’t what I expected. “Umm…okay.”

“Are you sure?”

Was I sure I wanted to meet my baby-daddy’s parents? No. “Yeah,” I answered instead. “I guess I’ll meet them soon anyway. When were you thinking?”

“Tonight?”

“Umm…okay.”

“Good, because I told them we’d be there.”

“What if I was busy?” I asked, pursing my lips.

He gave an arrogant smile just to get a rise out of me. “You’d make it work for me.”

I rolled my eyes—a typical move around him. “You’re so presumptive.”

“I like to get my way.” He shrugged unapologetically.

“Good luck with that.”

“I don’t need luck. I’m getting skilled in the ways of Carina.”

“Please. I could crush you.”

“And I’d like the fight.” The words were low and almost a growl reminding me of all the other things he’d growled in my ear that night.

I tried to lift my chin and give him a regal ice stare, but my body was on fire.

He slapped his hand on the side of the couch, making my heart try to jump out of my chest. “Okay, I have to go. I’ve got a meeting I can’t miss. Erik would throw a fit if I made him meet this client on his own.” He rolled his eyes but smiled. “Can I pick you up?”

“I guess.”

“Good. See you at 6:30.”

Maybe by then, I’d be less of an over-heated, lust-filled mess.

A girl could hope.

11 Ian

“Thanks for doing this.”

Carina turned her head and smiled from the passenger seat, the descending sun shining through the windows, lighting her up. God, she was gorgeous.

“Of course. Family is important to me. So, it’s good for me to know Peanut’s grandparents.”

“They’re excited about the baby. Not so thrilled with the way it’s playing out,” I muttered. “But thrilled nonetheless.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess…” I took a deep breath, considering my words to explain my parents without the bitterness seeping out. “I guess they’re more traditional about family. Their first question when I told them was when the wedding was.”

I tried not to let Carina’s snort from beside me sting, but something about her complete denial of me as a husband pinched a nerve.

“It wouldn’t be that terrible.”

One eyebrow slowly rose above her doubtful eyes. “Ian. Come on.”

“We’ve been good lately,” I defended.

“When? The few handful of times we’ve been around each other? Of course, our track record is good if we don’t actually see each other to bicker.”

I gave her my best charming smile. “I’ll just keep plying you with cheeseburgers, and it will all be fine.”

The small giggle she let free at my joke sank deep in my bones and settled, filling me until I thought I’d float away. All from a single laugh.

I’d felt heat and desire and passion. I’d felt need. Need to fuck, to touch, to taste. But this warmth building in my chest was new, and it scared me enough to change the subject.

“So, I’ve met your dad. What about your mom? Is she a mogul of another company somewhere?”

The smile died from her face before she looked out the window, hiding her reaction. “I don’t know. She left shortly after having me.” Another laugh, but this one was full of resentment that mirrored my own. “She tried for a while. But you could say my dad’s traditional views were a lot for her free spirit.”