Mr. Big Daddy (Mr. Big 3)

"I have lots of money, but for these kinds of project you need more than one company or one that's so huge it can do it on its own. Astra Investments isn't big enough -- yet. For what we want to do, we need to team up with someone really big. We need to get a couple of investors together as a consortium, and approach one of the really big companies. It's all about power."

"I'm sure things will work out," I said and started ripping up leaves of lettuce. "You just have to give it time. I know you're excited about this and want to get going right away but you've got your entire life ahead of you."

"I know, I know," Luke said and took a long pull on his beer. "I'm just impatient to get going. I wanted something in place by the time the baby comes so I can spend the first six months with you looking after the baby. I don't want to be distracted from our time together."

I put down the lettuce, dried my hands and went around the island to where he sat. I slid my arms on his shoulders and leaned in to give him a nice warm kiss.

"You are so wonderful," I said. "I am so looking forward to those first six months with you. Don't worry, things will work out. I have faith in your ability. Your enthusiasm will help you find some investors. If not, you'll find them after the six months are up. We have our whole lives ahead of us."

"I hope you're right," Luke said. "I just want everything to work out."

We took our beers and went into the living room, plopping down on the sofa in front of a roaring fireplace. Above it, the flat screen showed the latest basketball game. To pass the time while we waited for our supper to be ready, we watched the Knicks.

Later that night, after we had finished cleaning up from supper, Luke put on some music and pulled me into his arms.

"Let's dance," he said his voice soft. "Pretty soon you'll be so big we won't be able to so I want to enjoy you as much as I can.”

I laughed and slipped my arms around his neck. I kissed him and then nuzzled his nose with mine.

"And by dance do you mean dance or something else?"

I narrowed my eyes and met his. He laughed out loud at that.

"Guilty as charged," he said. "You know me too well. You know that when we dance, it usually always leads to something else."

"I do know you so well," I said. "And I love you."

"I love you, so much."

We danced until we decided we didn't want to dance anymore. At that point, Luke took my hand and led me to our bedroom, a gleam in his eye the entire way.

"Do you want a bath first or afterwards," he asked.

I smiled. "It's up to you."

"After," he said. "Just feeling your body against mine made me impatient and I don't want to have to wait to taste you."

That sent a wave of desire through my body.

Luke began pulling at my clothes and so I reciprocated, removing his as well. We were both smiling, happy at how the evening had progressed. Before long, we were both naked, and he pushed me down onto the bed and laid on top of me, his erection hard against my thigh.

He kissed me deeply, his tongue finding mine. Soon, I forgot all about everything except Luke, his hands and mouth and tongue.

Later, after we were finished, we lounged together in the huge bathtub in the bathroom off our bedroom, the water warm and soapy. I sat across from him, my body submerged in the bathwater, while Luke held my foot in his hands and massaged it, kissing each toe in turn.

"So, what's new in the world of international relations? What are you teaching your students about the nuclear arms treaties?"

I smiled. It was the absolute last topic of conversation I was interested in discussing, after a three-hour seminar on it.

"I'd rather talk about your birthday party," I said, and tickled his ribs with the toes of my other foot. "Who are we going to invite? Of course we want Dana and little James. John and Felicia, your father and Candace. Mara and Jan. Who else? Mr. And Mrs. Thorpe?"

"Yes to all of them," Luke replied and squirmed away from my toes. "It'll be the first birthday I spend without Mother."

"I know," I said and pouted, trying to appear to feel bad. "I'm sorry things fell apart between you."

"It's her own fault," Luke replied. "She chose to be a total bitch about us. If she wasn't so controlling and actually accepted that I loved you and nothing was going to change that, she would be invited."

"It's still hard for you," I said.