Claiming His Nine-Month Consequence

A strange emotion filled him. Something he didn’t want to define. Something that he hadn’t let himself feel in a long, long time.

Then he shook his head, clawing back his dark hair. Of course Ruby wouldn’t let him spend money on her. Not ostentatiously and blatantly like this. For a man who’d arrogantly planned a tactical seduction, he thought, he was really off his game.

Why did he have to keep reminding himself that the easy charms that always worked with other women wouldn’t work with Ruby? He gave a low, rueful laugh.

She looked discomfited. “What’s so funny?”

“I’ll send it all back.” Coming closer to her, he pulled her into his arms. “And I’ll arrange college tuition for Ivy. As for the rest, have I not made it clear enough that you should never worry about money again?”

“But—”

“I mean it, Ruby.” His voice held an edge. “You insult me with your worry. You insult my very honor as a man. I will provide for you.”

She stared at him, then muttered ungraciously, “Fine.”

With a deep breath, he gentled his tone. “Later this afternoon, I’ve made you an appointment with the best obstetrician in New York.”

Her eyes went wide. “You did?”

“If you’re up to it. If you’re not, I can reschedule.”

“What time?”

“We’d need to leave at one thirty.”

“I…I think that’s all right.”

“Then I’ll leave you to rest.” He pointed toward the intercom. “If you get hungry or need anything at all, press that button and Mrs. Ford will assist you.” He tilted his head. “Would you care to join me for lunch downstairs at noon?”

She gave him a crooked smile. “In that huge formal dining room?”

“Try it.” His lips curved. “You might like it.”

Her dark eyes were huge in her beautiful face. Her teeth bit into her pink, delectable lower lip. Suddenly, all he wanted to do was take her in his arms. His blood was raging for him to kiss her. And more. He’d wanted her for too long. Having her so close, in his house, alone with him in this bedroom, he wanted her so badly he shook with it. The bed was right there.

“All right,” she whispered. “Lunch.”

It took all Ares’s willpower to leave her bedroom, closing the door behind him. For a moment, he stood in the hallway, staring at the door. Then he forced himself to turn away. He hoped Ruby would enjoy her bubble bath.

As for him, he’d be taking his shower cold.

* * *

It was ten minutes past noon when Ruby rushed down the hallway in a panic. In spite of Ares’s earlier tour, she’d still managed to get lost twice on her way to the dining room. And she was already late.

After a nervous night tossing and turning on his private jet, racked by fitful, sensual dreams of him that left her shivering with desire, Ruby had taken a long, leisurely bath, then fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She’d woken to discover it was already past noon.

With nothing clean to wear, she’d grabbed lacy undergarments and a black shift dress out of the closet in desperation. But one swift glance to the mirror had told her the elegant dress made her skin look ashy, with a boxy cut that made her shapeless and wide, instead of pregnant. New leather sandals felt tight on her feet, and she’d been scared to even touch the Hermès bags. Her old floral canvas bag hung on her shoulder.

Her heart was pounding as she looked for the dining room in increasing panic. She was late, later by the second, which was so rude, and all because she couldn’t even find the stupid dining room in this hideously huge mansion that went on forever and had too many hallways that looked exactly the same and…

“Ruby,” his voice called gruffly.

Relieved, she turned and saw Ares through a doorway, sitting at the large antique table. She went into the dining room with a sigh. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”

Ares set down his newspaper with a smile, which froze when he saw the shapeless dress. He recovered quickly. “I trust you had a good rest?”

“Yes, thank you.” Flinching, she waited for him to make some comment about how she looked, probably using words like shapeless and sack. She couldn’t blame him. How could she, when she’d been so honest about not liking his house?