The Expectant Executive

“Well, you clean up pretty good yourself, cowboy.” She placed her hand on the arm of his black tuxedo. “You look incredibly handsome in formal attire, Travis.”

He grunted. “I feel like a trained monkey in a side show.”

“I think you’re a very handsome monkey,” she said, laughing.

“Well, take a good look because I won’t be wearing this thing again,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll take it home and hang it in the closet, never to see the light of day again.”

“Never say never.”

“I think this is one time it’s a sure bet to say never.” His arm tightening around her to draw her close and his low chuckle caused every cell in her body to tingle to life. “A jackass will sprout wings and fly before you see me in this thing again.”

As they left the lights of The Tides behind and the intimacy of the night closed in around them, Travis reached over and pushed the button to raise the privacy panel between them and the driver. “How are you doing?” he asked. “I know today was an emotional roller coaster for you and you have to be drained.”

“I probably should be, but surprisingly I’m feeling pretty good.” Slipping off her high heels in an effort to get comfortable for the two-hour drive, she added, “Now that my pregnancy is no longer a secret, I’m more relaxed than ever.”

When he gathered her close, a wave of goose bumps shimmered over her arms at the feel of his warm breath stirring the fine hairs at her temple. “I told you your dad wouldn’t say anything.”

“There wasn’t a lot he could say after Jessie made her little speech.” Touched beyond words at the enthusiasm and support her daughter had shown for her pregnancy, Fin smiled. “She’s going to be a wonderful big sister.”

“She’ll have the poor little thing spoiled rotten.”

“And you won’t?”

He chuckled beneath her ear and tightened his arms around her. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t.”

They rode along in a comfortable silence for several minutes before Travis spoke again. “Have you come to any conclusions about how we can handle your pregnancy and the distance between us?”

“With all of the last-minute details for the wedding, I haven’t had time.” She shook her head. “What about you? Have you come up with anything?”

“No, but we’re going to have to figure out something.” He touched her chin with his index finger to tilt her head back. When their gazes met, he gave her a smile that had her toes curling into the thick carpet on the limo floor. “This is all pretty new for me, but when I told you I’d be there with you every step of the way, I meant it. And I wasn’t just talking about raising the baby once it gets here. I intend to be there for you through the pregnancy, as well.”

Before she could respond, he lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss so gentle it brought tears to her eyes. The soft caress of his mouth as it moved over hers had her quickly feeling as if the temperature in the car had gone up several degrees. But when he coaxed her to part for him and used his tongue to mimic a more intimate mating, a spark ignited deep in her soul and the heat flowing through her veins spread throughout her body.

Sparkles of light danced behind her closed eyes and a longing began to build in the most feminine part of her when he slipped his hand inside the plunging neckline of her evening gown and pushed the built-in cup aside to caress her breast. The work-hardened calluses on his palm chafed her sensitive nipple, sending tingling streaks of pure delight to every cell of her being. But when he traced the puckered tip with his thumb, her heart skipped several beats and her breathing became extremely difficult.

As he gently rolled the peak between his thumb and forefinger, he continued to tease her inner recesses with his tongue and her insides quivered with need like nothing she’d ever known. Heaven help her, but she couldn’t have stopped a tiny moan of pleasure from escaping if her life depended on it.

“Does that feel good, sweetheart?” His smooth baritone vibrated against her lips and fed the pool of desire gathering in her lower belly.

“Mmm.”

Lifting her to sit on his lap, she felt the hard ridge of his erection against her thigh, and her own body’s answering need left her feeling light-headed from its intensity. The tension building inside of her was maddening and she wanted nothing more than to surrender herself once again to Travis’s masterful brand of lovemaking.

His groan of frustration penetrated the sensual haze surrounding her when he tried to shift them into a more comfortable position. “It’s been a long time since I made out in the backseat of a car, sweetheart.” He eased her back to sit beside him on the limo’s plush velour seat. “And for what I want to do to you, we’ll need more room than there is in the backseat of this damned limousine.”