Tall, Dark and Charming

by Erika Wilde

  Her shocked gasp filled the tiny apartment, and her dismay returned as tears filled her eyes and she hugged her shoulders tighter. “I can’t do this right now, Aiden,” she said, sounding completely overwhelmed. “It’s too much.”

  He knew putting his feelings out there for her would be a crap shoot, and clearly it wasn’t enough to win her over, and now his greatest fear was that he’d gone too far, too fast, and he’d just lost all the ground he’d tried to gain with her this past month.

  He felt sick to his stomach at the thought of losing her. “It will always be too much if you don’t take a chance and try,” he said, his tone gentle but also firm. “There will always be excuses and fears and doubts to hold you back if you let them. But I promise you, if you take this chance with me, you won’t ever regret it.”

  She let out a laugh that lacked humor and valiantly tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill over her lashes. “You can’t make those kinds of promises. Nobody can.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, Daisy,” he said, feeling sad inside that everyone in her life had disappointed her on some level and given her every reason to be skeptical . . . from her father to her mother to the ex who’d deceived her. “I can make those kinds of promises, because that’s the kind of man I am. I’m a man of my word. I don’t say things that I don’t mean, and that’s something you should know about me by now.”

  Knowing there was nothing left for him to say, he turned around and headed for the door, hoping like hell she’d call him back and tell him it was all a mistake . . .but her painful silence spoke volumes.

  She wasn’t willing to risk her heart on him.

  * * *

  Daisy cried herself to sleep that night and woke up Sunday morning feeling no less miserable than she had the evening before. For the past three years, she’d lived by herself, but she’d never felt so alone as she did right now.

  She told herself her emotional upheaval was baby hormones, but she knew that was a lie, because her heart hurt, and that had nothing to do with the pregnancy. No, the pain in her chest was a result of watching Aiden walk out her door after she’d rejected his offer to move into his house and, ultimately, him.

  She’d even shunned the one thing she wanted the most . . . his love. And why? Like Aiden had said to her, she was afraid to trust and scared to open her heart and be vulnerable again. Yet over the past few weeks, there was no doubt in her mind that she’d fallen in love with Aiden, even as she’d tried to deny those emotions because she was terrified of being hurt, which was the last thing Aiden would ever deliberately do to her. He’d spent the past month making her feel safe and secure with him. He’d taken care of her and had given her every reason to believe he’d always be a man who would fight for her and be there for her . . . and that was something she’d never had in her life.

  He’d fought hard last night, yet she was on the verge of throwing it all away because of her own stupid hang-ups and insecurities. And she was potentially throwing away the love of her life and the chance for her baby—their baby—to have the best dad in their life every single day, instead of a part-time arrangement.

  A well of emotion filled her throat, and with effort, she forced herself to get out of bed. She went through her morning routine almost robotically—showering, getting dressed, and eating a light breakfast of yogurt and fruit—unable to forget the hope in Aiden’s eyes when he’d told her he loved her and his imploring expression when he’d asked her to take a chance on them and at least try.

  She wandered around her apartment, picking up things and putting them away, and came across the small purse she’d taken to his mother’s house yesterday. And inside, she found that silly tadpole USB drive with the playlist of music that Aiden had made for her and the baby. Despite how she was feeling, the gift made her smile, and she downloaded the playlist, then put her earbuds in and listened to the songs he’d chosen.

  It didn’t take her long to realize that this playlist had a theme. The first song was “All of Me” by John Legend, followed by “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, and on to “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, all beautiful, emotional, heartfelt lyrics that spoke to how he felt about her. She laughed when “Having Your Baby” by Paul Anka sounded in her ears, and couldn’t hold back her tears when, finally, lastly, “Marry Me” by Train came on.

  The entire playlist took her breath away and filled her heart with so much love she could barely contain it. In these songs, Aiden had essentially put himself out there, making himself vulnerable for her. Because he loved her and wanted her. How could she ever doubt otherwise?

  This amazing man wasn’t trying to take anything away from her . . . he was attempting to give her everything a woman could ever want and more. If she’d just take that leap of faith and trust him. She’d be crazy not to take that chance, because she had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

  She gasped as a light, tumbling motion happened inside her stomach, and she pressed a hand to her belly, knowing she’d felt the first movement of her baby, who seemed to approve of her decision to let go of the past and try with Aiden.

  “That’s right, little one,” Daisy murmured, rubbing her small baby bump with a smile. “I know I hurt your daddy horribly last night by pushing him away, but it’s time I listen to what’s in my heart, instead of allowing old fears to hold my emotions hostage for the rest of my life. And my heart tells me I love this man. That I want him, and we both need him.”

  The tadpole agreed with another fluttering sensation that had Daisy laughing softly and anxious to talk to Aiden.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Aiden flipped through the channels on TV, trying to find something to distract him from thinking about Daisy and to keep him from returning to her apartment today to talk to her again. But he couldn’t and wouldn’t do it. He’d seen last night that pushing her only made her retreat further, and that’s the last thing he wanted to do.

  Even though she’d let him walk out of her place, which killed him inside, he wasn’t giving up on her. Or them. For one thing, they had a baby together, and for another, he had to believe that Daisy would come to realize that he wasn’t going anywhere. Ever. The two of them were meant to be together. It might have all started because she’d gotten pregnant, but that unexpected surprise had led to him falling in love with her and wanting things with Daisy that he never thought he’d ever have in his life, with a woman who truly made him want to be a better man—for their child and for her.

  The doorbell rang, and thinking it was probably Dylan, who he’d talked to last night after everything had happened with Daisy, he answered the door. Standing on his front porch was the sweet, vulnerable woman he’d fallen in love with. Hope welled up inside him, but he immediately tamped it back down, because even though she was here, that didn’t mean she’d changed her mind about them. Hell, for all he knew, she’d come by to establish a new set of rules between them that allowed him to be a part of the baby’s life but not hers.

  Jesus. The thought made him nauseous.

  “Hey,” she said softly as she shifted anxiously on her sandaled feet. “Can I come in and talk to you?”

  “Of course.”

  He opened the door wider and she walked inside. She was wearing an oversized top and leggings, and her hair was up in a ponytail. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, but her skin glowed, and she looked incredibly beautiful, and he ached to reach out and touch her.

  Keeping his hands to himself, he followed her into the living room. She turned around and faced him, a combination of nerves and regret darkening her green eyes. “I’m so sorry about last night,” she blurted out.

  She stared at him, clearly waiting for him to respond, but he wasn’t sure what to say to that except, “What, exactly, are you sorry for?” He wasn’t about to assume anything at this point.

  She swallowed hard, making him realize how difficult this was for her. “I’m sorry for thinking for even one minute that you are anything less than an honorable man
who doesn’t do or say anything he doesn’t mean. I’m sorry for getting so caught up in my own fears and insecurities that I panicked when your mother made the comment about you wanting me to quit work to be a stay-at-home mom, instead of talking to you like a rational adult.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked ever so slightly. “Go on,” he urged, because with every word she spoke, the hundred-pound weight on his chest gradually eased in pressure.

  She smiled a little, too. “I’m sorry I let my mother mess with my head in a way that made me think I can’t trust a man, when you’ve shown me every reason I should trust you. I’m sorry I freaked out when you asked me to move in with you, because you weren’t trying to take anything away from me, you were offering me stability and a future for me and our child.”

  He exhaled a long, low breath. “Yes, I was.”

  She took a step toward him, close enough that she could brush her fingers along the stubble lining his cheek and jaw. In a trembling voice, she said, “But what I’m most sorry for is letting you walk out of my apartment last night without being brave enough to tell you that I love you, too. Because I really, really do love you, Aiden Stone. I think I have for months now.”

  He groaned, beyond happy and grateful.

  “So, with all that said, I’m going to ask that you please be patient with me,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Because I know I’m far from perfect, and that I still have those issues that might crop up from time to time. I know they haven’t magically disappeared, but I’m ready to let what the two of us have together be a new and fresh start for me. Because you make me happy. You make me feel safe and special and loved.”

  Then she smiled, radiant and confident and trusting. “You make me feel like I can have it all.”

  Dying to touch her, Aiden captured her face between his hands and held her gaze. “You can have it all.” Then he revised those words. “We can have it all.”

  “We,” she repeated on a sigh. “I like the sound of that.”

  “I’d do anything for you, Daisy,” he said, and meant it. “I’d give you the moon and stars and anything else you wanted or asked for.”

  She brought her hands up to his chest and curled her fingers into his T-shirt, a sexy grin on her lips. “Do you know what I really want right now?”

  “Tell me.”

  Lifting onto her tiptoes, she brushed her lips across his, soft and teasing. “I really, really want you to kiss me.”

  Still framing her face in his hands, he sealed his mouth to hers, his lips parting hers to accept the sweep of his tongue inside. She shuddered and moaned and slid her arms around his neck to deepen the contact even more, and he was more than happy to oblige. The kiss seemed to go on and on, as if they were making up for lost time, as if she never wanted to let him go, and he was totally good with that.

  But eventually, he did end the kiss, and now he was achingly hard with need. It had been four excruciatingly long months since he’d been inside of her, and it was the only place he was desperate to be right now, lost in the heat of her soft, willing body. Having her moan and writhe beneath him while he moved between her welcoming thighs.

  He brought his mouth to her ear. “Know what I really want right now?” he asked, turning the question around on her.

  “What?” she asked breathlessly.

  “I really, really want to make love to you.”

  She laughed lightly and moved back far enough to look into his eyes. Her own were dancing with mirth. “Look at you, being all sweet and romantic.”

  He smirked. “Don’t get used to it. I’m going to make love to you first, so damn slow you’ll be begging me to let you come. And a little bit later, I’m going to fuck you until you claw at my back and scream my name as your pussy squeezes around my cock, nice and tight.”

  Her eyes glazed over with desire. “Oh, yes, please. To both.”

  He smacked her ass, which made her jump in surprise, then a heated blush stained her cheeks. “Greedy girl,” he said, then took her hand and led the way to his bedroom.

  Once there, he followed through on his promise. He undressed her slowly, leisurely, and removed the elastic band from her hair so the strands were loose and his hands could tangle in them. Then he pressed her down onto the mattress so he could kiss her, starting with her mouth, then along her neck, and gradually moving lower to her full breasts that were sensitive to his touch, the light pinch of his fingers, and the gentle graze of his teeth across her nipples.

  He skimmed his lips along the curve of her belly, loving the changes happening in her body to accommodate the baby they’d created together. By the time he was settled between her spread legs and his tongue licked along her pussy, she was already begging and quivering and panting. She was so fucking sweet, still so uninhibited and sensual and passionate it made his dick pulse harder against the mattress. He sucked on her clit, and she slid her fingers into his hair and gripped tight, her entire body arching as she came against his mouth with a long, shuddering moan.

  It took him less than a minute to strip off his own clothes while she recovered from that first orgasm. Moving back between her thighs, he lined up his cock and sank into her, inch by slow, agonizing inch, just as he’d told her he would make love to her. Pressing his body against hers, he met her half-lidded gaze and groaned deep in his throat as the silken heat of her body clasped his dick.

  He moved in and out of her, rolling his hips and burying himself balls deep every time he ground against her pussy. She seemed to melt around him, so slick and warm and tight he knew he wasn’t going to last long.

  Jesus, had sex ever felt this fucking good? Yeah, it had . . . when he’d been with her in San Francisco. This woman had ruined him for all others, and he couldn’t have been happier or more content.

  He stroked a little faster, and he wrapped his fingers in her hair and tipped her head back a few inches, holding her gaze as he pushed them both closer to the edge. “This, Daisy,” he said gruffly as he anchored one of her legs high around his waist with his free hand, so that his next thrust buried him to the hilt. “This is what I want for the rest of my fucking life.”

  A playful smile managed to curve the corners of her lips. “Sex?”

  He laughed abruptly, his hips driving him into her harder, deeper. “You and me, together forever,” he rasped. “And yes, sex, too.”

  She laughed huskily. “That sounds amazing. I want that, too. All of it.”

  And that’s what he gave her . . . absolutely everything.

  * * *

  Daisy was right where she wanted to be and where she knew she belonged. In Aiden’s bed and wrapped up in his strong arms. Her head was resting on his chest, and the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear seemed to match her own. Happy. Satisfied. Content.

  “So, I’ve been thinking . . . ” Aiden said, his tone cautious, as if he was about to say something he knew she might be averse to. “Have you thought about going to see your mother in person to talk to her? I just can’t imagine her not wanting to be a part of our child’s life.”

  Daisy understood why Aiden had posed the question, because he was hoping that Diane’s scorn would miraculously thaw and she’d change her mind about welcoming a grandchild. But Daisy needed to face the cold, hard fact that her mother was who she was—a bitter woman who would never be happy for Daisy, because she’d never been happy herself. And that included accepting and loving her and Aiden’s baby.

  She’d never be able to change her mother or her negative attitude about everything, but Daisy, in her new quest to leave her insecurities behind and be a better person for Aiden and their baby, was okay with that.

  “I don’t think so,” she said softly as she caressed her fingers down Aiden’s firm stomach. “I don’t want our child to ever feel like I did growing up, and if my mother ever reaches out and wants to have a relationship with me or our baby, it will only happen if she’s truly changed.”

  “Fair enough,” he said, and kissed her temple. “
My mom will spoil this baby rotten, you know, because I doubt that Dylan or Leo will ever have kids.”

  Daisy glanced up at him in amusement. “You never know. You said the same thing about yourself.”

  “The tadpole wasn’t exactly planned,” he said with a wry laugh, then rolled to his side so he was looking down at her, his golden brown gaze warm and serious as he splayed his hand on her bare stomach. “That said, the best thing I ever did was knock you up. It made you mine, and I would have missed out on loving you if it hadn’t happened.”

  If Daisy had been standing, she would have swooned. How lucky was she that this incredible, gorgeous, sexy man belonged to her?

  “By the way, did you get a chance to listen to the playlist I made?” he asked.

  That made her smile. “I did. ‘Having your Baby’?” she said of the old and somewhat cheesy Paul Anka song he’d added. “Really?”

  He chuckled. “Hey, it totally fit the theme of the playlist.”

  “It did,” she agreed, and knew no matter what, she’d always treasure that compilation of songs.

  “So,” he said, seemingly a bit more nervous now. “Did you happen to make it to the last song?”

  She nodded, and her stomach did a funny little swoop. She wasn’t sure if it was her own hopeful longing or another baby flutter. “‘Marry Me,’” she whispered, saying the name of the song by Train.

  “Wait a second,” he said, and suddenly moved off the bed.

  Completely naked, she watched him walk to the dresser against the wall, and while he reached into a drawer for something, she let herself admire his backside . . . those broad shoulders and how they tapered into a trim waist, and it so wasn’t fair that he had such a firm, sexy ass that she wanted to smack. Hmmm, maybe she’d try that sometime and see what kind of reaction it got her, she thought wickedly.