The Consequence He Must Claim (The Montero Baby Scandals 1)

“I believe a raise of some kind is in order,” he murmured, and slowly began to lift her skirt.

She closed her eyes, instantly seduced by the warmth of his hands sliding up the outsides of her thighs, taking the hem of her skirt up, up, up. Her stomach fluttered. Cool air washed across her thighs. A moan of excitement began growing in her throat.

“Did you lock the door?” he asked, pausing.

“I am an extremely efficient PA, sir. The door is locked and the girl has been sent for a long lunch. The phone is going to voice mail.”

“I love you,” he groaned, hands finishing the job then splaying hotly across her buttocks. “You’re naked!”

“I took them off in the ladies’ room down the hall.”

“You want to kill me, don’t you?”

They almost killed each other. Two hours later, they were sprawled in a tangled heap across the sofa where they’d first made love, naked, champagne open on the table, bodies lethargic with sexual satisfaction, when they heard a thump beyond the door.

“If my ears don’t deceive me, that’s the sound of a handbag going into the desk drawer,” Sorcha murmured.

Cesar cursed and they both sat up to reluctantly begin gathering their clothes.

“Oh, um—” She shot him a sheepish grin as she wriggled her skirt up her hips. “I had another reason for coming into the city today.”

He sent her a disgruntled frown. “This wasn’t a special trip for me?”

“I’ve been planning this for ages,” she assured him with a flirty peck on his mouth. “But I was able to get an appointment this morning on short notice so it was convenient to take it.”

“Where?” He glanced down at her skirt and she could hear him wondering who else had seen her in it. It wasn’t that racy. He was the only one who saw it as a sexual invitation.

“The doctor,” she replied. “Remember that thing we talked about a month or so ago? About whether Enrique would like a little brother or sister?”

He froze in tying his tie. “Are you serious? And you let me ravage you on the desk? Sorcha!” he scolded, coming across to pull her in close. His hands slid over her as if searching for damage.

“I’m fine!” she assured him. “I liked it.”

“Well, we’re going to be more gentle from now on. Dios, really? A baby? Feel my heart.”

She pressed her palm to his chest, laughing at the race of it. Her own had been dancing since she’d begun to suspect.

“I’m going to be with you every minute,” he promised.

“I know,” she said, believing it. Excited for what was to come.

He was with her. He even napped alongside her after the midnight birth, waking to fetch their son when he cried and bringing him to her to nurse.

“Ha!” he said as he turned on his phone, ready to advise the world of their blessed event. “Look what came in from the Ferrantes while we were in the delivery room.”

He showed her a photo of a blissful Octavia holding their newborn daughter.

“Good thing we didn’t meet them in London,” Sorcha said.

Octavia had jokingly invited her to, once they’d shared their pregnancy news with each other.

“They might have mixed them up again. You could have wound up with a girl,” Sorcha teased.

“I would love a girl,” Cesar said, cupping a gentle hand behind his son’s head. “I love my boys, but a girl would be nice sometime in the future.” He kissed her. “If you’re up to it.”

“Do you hear yourself?”

“I do and I’m astonished. But unashamed. I love my family. Thank you, Sorcha. Thank you for breaking your promise not to have sex with me.”