Double Dare

I hesitated, looking upwards, still tempted to protest, scream, do something to embarrass them. But suddenly, Derek stood too, his blond form on the other side of me, holding out a hand as well.

“Life will be fine,” he assured. “I promise, it’s not so bad with us.”

And I took a deep breath. Because again, my art’s been suffering lately. I’m unable to get anything new out, unable to paint, to express myself. So maybe this turn was a good thing. Maybe by experiencing something new, I’d be able to break through the impasse and create something great.

Taking a deep breath, I looked up at the two men, brown eyes pleading, even begging a little.

“Don’t make me regret it,” I said softly. “Please don’t make me regret it if I come with you.”

And the promise in two sets of blue eyes was my answer. Because I knew they weren’t going to kick me out of school, they weren’t going to rob me of my job. This was an adventure, and with the two alphas, I’d be exploring the great unknown, filled with sensuality, desire, and maybe even something more.

“You won’t regret it,” ground out Derek.

“Absolutely not,” finished Mason. “You’re with us honey.”

And taking a deep breath, I took their hands. There are no happy endings in life, not for a girl like me, a round wallflower. But before I became aged and grey, there was still the opportunity to live a little, to experience youth, excitement, and everything that life offered. I was seizing the opportunity now … with no regrets.

CHAPTER SIX

Derek

Katie was curiously quiet as the elevator whooshed us downstairs. I threw her a glance, and she was even more beautiful than before. Sure, a woman’s seductive when she’s naked and glistening, begging for your touch. But there’s also something overwhelmingly beautiful about a female done up prim and proper.

Because yeah, Katie was gorgeous. The outfit couldn’t hide the lush femininity, the ripe fertility that was all female. But even more was the look of determination in her eyes, the set of that small chin, how she straightened her shoulders as the elevator door hissed open, collecting her thoughts. And suddenly, the press was on us.

“Mr. Major, Mr. Smith!” they called, microphones pushed into our faces. “What’s the story with Major Corp.? What’s gonna happen? Is Major closing its doors, folding up shop?”

Mason was on it in a sec, every bit the powerful CEO with a commanding air, towering above the pack.

“Naw,” he drawled. “We got plenty of cash, we got plenty of resources. We’re not closing our doors, not by a long shot.”

But the journalists were relentless.

“What was that about your grandfather’s will?” a particularly nosy woman cawed, red fingernails gripping a recorder. “That you can’t get the money you need unless you get married? We haven’t seen any women with you for ages now, Mason, not since that redhead last year.”

I shot my buddy a warning look. Any mention of Priscilla puts him in a bad mood, but my friend was all smooth confidence this time. Maybe he’d gotten over that bad episode now that we had something new and ten times better on our hands.

“You haven’t seen me with any women because my private life is exactly that. Private,” he said dryly. “But we’re ready to step out of the shadows because I’m happy to announce that one, I have a fiancée, and two, we’re expecting. Come here, honey,” he said, gesturing to Katie, who stood a half-step behind him. “Come on baby, it’s time to meet these jackals,” he rumbled, indicating the reporters following his every move.

And I swear, as Katie stepped into the limelight, a collective hush descended. It’s rare for professional reporters to be stunned by anything since they’ve seen it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly. All sorts of scandal, all sorts of salacious news and mean gossip, these folks are often the cause of a lot of hurt. But for once, they were cowed.

Because Katie was absolutely stunning, glowing almost. Ripe, lush and curvy, the brunette smiled a sweet smile, demurely appropriate in that purple dress, like a mother goddess come to life.

“Hi,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m Katie Jones, Mr. Major’s fiancée.”

The female reporter was on it in a second.

“When did you get engaged? How do you know Mason?”

The questions were like gunshots coming hard, fast and relentless, but our girl is a smart one. She merely smiled mysteriously, looking the cameras straight in the eye and enunciating with clarity.

“I’m an art student at the Union League, and Mr. Major is a patron,” she said. “We’ve been seeing each other for a while, but kept it under wraps because we knew you guys would be interested. But now,” she said, turning to Mason with a glowing smile, “we’ve decided to go public because I’m pregnant,” she said. “I’m pregnant and Mr. Major will have his heir.”