"Will the kiss work if I take you home?"
"Later, maybe."
"Okay, I guess that'll have to do. Back to work." He pretended to push her off his lap. She leaned down and kissed him again before she budged even an inch.
"We have a date at nine in our bedroom." She gave him a seductive smile and got up. Looking at the clock on his desk, she told him, "I've got to go, honey. The kids will be home, and I want to spend some time with them."
"I'll see you at dinner, then. And Harper…"
"Yes?"
"Nothing. I'll see you later."
"You okay?"
"Yes, I am. We're on for nine. Don't forget."
"Like I could. Like you'd let me." She blew a kiss and gathered her things.
She walked out the door, leaving Parker befuddled. He'd almost said the three little words he'd been holding back all these months. He'd come quite close to telling her that he loved her. But that wasn't what this marriage was about, he reminded himself. Or was it?
Filling the tub with vanilla-scented bubbles, Harper eased into the warm water. The master bath had a large garden tub, giving her plenty of room to relax. She'd stretched out and was soaking in the bubbly water with her eyes closed when she heard Parker walk into the room. Opening them, she glanced at her husband.
"Whoops, I didn't know you were in here; I came in to shower." He started to leave, but she stopped him.
"I'll share my vanilla bubbles with you."
He looked at her as if he surely hadn't heard her correctly.
"You don't like vanilla bubbles, Parker?"
"You're serious?" he asked softly as he looked at her luscious body covered in bubbles.
"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't." She moved her legs to make room for him in the spacious tub.
He stripped out of his clothes quickly and joined her in the tub, wasting no time.
"Now, doesn't that feel just wonderful to soak in a warm tub?"
"Well, I can't say that I've ever taken a bubble bath in my life, Harper. But, yes, it does feel pretty good."
She picked up a bath sponge and began soaping his chest with the bubbles. Moving down, she found that part of his body she'd grown to love and began her sensuous assault.
"Harper?"
"Yes, dear?" she asked innocently.
"You know I'm going to smell like a vanilla ice cream cone. What is this stuff?"
"Vanilla bubble bath, silly, and have I ever told you how much I like vanilla ice cream cones?" She was growing bolder, feeling more comfortable with him every day.
He sighed and lay back, giving in to the vanilla and to whatever she had in store for him. As she moved closer, she ran her tongue over his chest and his nipples. He moaned as she moved down, down further, until she finally found in the bubbles what she wanted. Hungrily, she took him into the sweet warmth of her mouth, raising her head above the water and pulling him with her so she could breathe.
"Harper Bentley! Oh. My. God. What has gotten into you tonight?"
She didn't let up to answer him, but continued until he was almost to the brink, licking, sucking, caressing. She stopped then, to position herself to straddle him, taking him inside in one swift move. "Let it go, Parker. Oh, yes. Who is in control now?" she teased.
"Harper, oh, sweet Harper."
Together, they found their ecstasy, and when it was over, he pulled her to him and kissed her with a passion that spoke more than words ever could.
"Baby?" Parker looked at her and grinned.
"Yes?"
"What was that all about—not complaining, mind you—just surprised."
"My way of making it up to you for not trying out the desk this afternoon," she replied with a smile.
"You're something else, you know that? Who would have guessed that behind closed doors, that innocent little nanny I hired all those months ago would be such a tiger?"
"I guess, maybe, you made the right decision asking me to marry you then, huh? I'm not so sure I would have put out for you if I was just your nanny."
"But you told me you'd wanted me from the start. You don't think it would have eventually happened?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it; I do have some principles. After all, you were my boss, and I had to live in the same house with you. I don't know if I could have had an affair with you as long as you were my employer, no matter how hot I thought you were."
"Each and every day, Harper, you make me glad I cooked up the idea of marrying you. And did you just say you thought I was hot?"
"I'm glad, and, yes, honey, you're hot, but I'm getting out of this tub. The water is getting cold. Are you coming?"
"I already did, if you'll remember."
"Parker, I swear—"
"Okay, yes, I'm getting out of the tub. I'll be right behind you," he interrupted as she stood up and stepped out.
She grabbed a towel and ran into the bedroom, shivering. She dried herself quickly and slipped into a nightgown. Jumping into the king-sized bed, she was pulling the covers up around her as he walked into the room.
"If you're cold, I'll warm you up. And why do you always think you have to wear one of those wretched nightgowns to bed?"
"You sound like a husband."
"And that's because I am a husband, in every sense of the word. And, just in case you thought you were the one in control tonight, you weren't. Come here, wife." He crawled in beside her and pulled her into his arms, landing a sharp crack to her bottom before she completely drifted off.
Harper smiled to herself.
Chapter 9
Harper woke up to discover that Parker had already left for the office. He'd left a note on her nightstand telling her to sleep as late as she wanted, that he would get the kids off to school and she could take the day off. But he'd signed it simply, Parker. He hadn't signed it Love, Parker.
Will he ever fall in love with me? I've done everything I can to be the perfect wife, perfect lover, perfect mother, perfect business partner. There's nothing else I can do. I believe he's happy with me and that he cares about me, but I so desperately want him to love me.
Deciding it would do no good to brood about it, she got out of bed and dressed. When she went downstairs, Ellie was in the kitchen baking pies.
"Hello, Harper. Parker told me not to disturb you. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I guess he just didn't want to wake me." She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the bar.
"Well, you've been running yourself ragged lately. Maybe that husband of yours thought you needed a break. Can I fix you something to eat?"
"You go on with your baking. I'll make myself some cinnamon toast."
"Harper, you aren't pregnant, are you? You look really tired."
She looked up in surprise. "No, I don't think so, Ellie. We're using birth control, so I really don't think that's it. I must be coming down with a bug. I do feel pretty tired; that must be why Parker let me sleep. He must have thought I looked bad."
"He would never think you look bad. Why don't you take it easy today? You've really been burning the candle at both ends, you know."
"Yes, I guess I've been pretty much on the run ever since we got back from the beach house. I think I will just relax today. With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I need to be at my best."
"Once you get the big dinner over with, you have the whole weekend. Aren't you going away for the rest of the holiday?"
"Yes, we are. I don't know where Parker made reservations, but we're going to do some Christmas shopping and just relax, away from all the hustle and bustle for the weekend. That'll do us both good. All this mess with the company has taken a toll on both of us, I think."
"Parker gave us the weekend off, too, Friday through Sunday. He said that with both grandmas here, we could take some time to ourselves."
"That's wonderful. You two certainly deserve it. You take care of this house and family so well."
After she'd eaten her toast, she went into the den, picked a book from
the vast selection in the bookcase, and snuggled under an afghan on the sofa to read. Ellie brought her a cup of coffee with her favorite creamer a little while later, and after drinking the steaming hot drink, she fell asleep. That was how Parker found her when he came home for a late lunch.
"I was afraid of this," he muttered as he gently shook her awake. "Harper, are you all right? My God, you're burning up."
"What?" Harper groggily looked at him with fever-glazed eyes.
"I cleared my schedule because I was afraid you weren't well. You were feverish and chilling all night. And when the alarm didn't wake you this morning, I let you sleep. But you're burning up now."
"I just feel tired… so tired."
He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the stairs, telling Ellie to bring acetaminophen and ice water on his way up the staircase. He gently placed her on the bed, covering her with just the sheet as he pulled down the covers. When Ellie came in, he took two tablets from the bottle. Helping Harper to sit up, he put them in her mouth and gave her a sip of the cool water. He eased her back down and asked, "Baby, does anything hurt?"
"I'm achy and tired. I just have a bug."
"I'll let you sleep, but if you're still feverish in an hour, I'll call the doctor."
She immediately went back to sleep. Parker pulled a chair close to the bed and sat, nervously watching her.
"I'll bring you up a sandwich, Parker. Is ham and cheese all right?" Ellie asked quietly.
"Anything is fine. I'll have a cup of tea, as well."
A few minutes later, Ellie brought him a tray, and after he'd eaten, he sipped the tea, his eyes never leaving his wife.
An hour later, he felt her forehead. Relieved that she felt cooler, he went downstairs.
"How is she?" Ellie asked.
"I think she's all right. It seems the acetaminophen may have controlled the fever a little. I just knew this morning when I left she was coming down with something."
"She did look tired. She's been trying to do too much, if you ask me."
"Yes, she's trying so hard to do it all. But you know as well as I do, she wouldn't have it any other way. I've married a stubborn woman."
"Ah, but you've married a good woman."
"That I have, Ellie dear, that I have. I'm going to see if she's awake yet. Will you have John pick up the kids and keep them occupied when they get home?"
"Of course. I'll put a movie in for them to watch before dinner. They'll be fine."
He went back to the bedroom and found Harper sitting up in bed.
"Whoa, don't you think you should lie back down?"
"It's almost time for the kids."
"That's been taken care of. I'll get you some tea. You lie back down. You are not to get out of that bed for the rest of the day."
"Just what I always wanted, a bossy husband." She lay back down, silently thanking her lucky stars that she did, indeed, have a bossy husband who was taking good care of her.
He returned with the tea and helped her sit up. "Would you like some soup?"
"Maybe later. Lie with me?"
He lay down beside her, taking her in his arms. He rubbed her head gently and kissed her forehead. "Fever seems to be gone."
"I have to get well. Thursday is Thanksgiving, and our trip is Friday. I just can't be sick."
"You stay in bed, today and tomorrow, and I think you'll be fine."
"Parker, thank you for staying home with me this afternoon; you didn't have to do that."
"I wouldn't have gotten any work done worrying about you."
She went back to sleep in his arms, and a while later, he left her side for a few minutes to check on the children. When he came back with a tray for her, he discovered she'd awakened again.
"Where did you go?" she asked, pushing herself up.
"I was getting the kids settled for the night. I brought you some of Ellie's chicken soup." He helped her sit up, fluffing several pillows behind her for support, and began to spoon-feed her.
"I'm capable of feeding myself."
"Harper, the day after I proposed to you, I told you I was going to spoil you rotten. The day I married you, I said for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Right now, you're sick, and I intend to spoil you and take care of you."
"What did I ever do to deserve you?" she asked as she took a bite of the wonderful soup.
"You were just being you, and that's all it took, baby." He fed her some more soup and handed her the cup of tea, helping her to sip it slowly.
After she'd eaten, he handed her two more tablets, then undressed and got into bed beside her. Pulling her into his arms, he said, "Now sleep, my precious, sleep, so you'll be well for our weekend."
The next morning, Parker drew a warm bath for her and helped her into the tub. While she was soaking, he showered, shaved, and got ready for work. He'd already gotten the kids ready for school.
"Hon, you'd better help me out of the tub. You need to get going, and I'm still a little weak."
"The office can do without me for a few more hours." He helped her out of the bath, toweled her dry and carried her back to bed.
"I suppose you want one of those damn things you like to sleep in," he said as he rummaged through her drawer, pulling out a lilac colored satin nightshirt and a pair of lace panties. He dressed her and made sure she was comfortable. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Yes, I am, actually, but I want to rest another day, if you don't mind."
"That's a good idea. You rest; that's the best medicine. Do you want tea or coffee with your toast? I don't think you should eat much more than that."
"Tea, please, I don't think I can handle coffee, this morning."
He went downstairs and returned a few minutes later with her breakfast. "Are you okay if I go to the office? Ellie is downstairs cooking for tomorrow, but if you need anything, you can use your cell to call her. I'll put it right here on the table. And I brought up the book you were reading yesterday."
"Oh, I should be helping her, and Mom is coming in the morning."
"It's all taken care of. My mother is coming over this afternoon to help with the cooking and the kids. You are to rest."
"Okay," she said reluctantly, even though she wasn't sure she had the energy to do anything else, anyway.
"I know you aren't feeling well, or you'd be arguing with me." He leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Get well, precious. I'll try to come home early. And stay in that bed, or I will be smacking your butt for you tonight. That's a promise."
"Have a good day, hon. I promise to behave." She lay back on the pillow, too exhausted to argue or tease with him.
She slept most of the morning, accepted some soup that Mary brought up for her at lunchtime, and was sitting up in bed, reading, when Parker came in that afternoon.
"Mom tells me you had more soup."
"I'm feeling much better. I would like to get up but thought I'd better wait until you were here to help me."
"Good plan. You're learning. Two little munchkins have been asking when they can see their Mama Harper. Do you feel like going downstairs?"
"They're home already?"
"Yes, sweetie, it's after five. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Yes, let me get a robe on, and I'll go down."
He took her robe from the closet and helped her into it, then he carefully lifted her out of bed. She was a little woozy from lying in bed for two days, so she leaned on her husband for support when he stood her on the floor. After the dizziness passed, he helped her down the stairs and into the den, where the children were watching a movie.
"Mama Harper, you're okay," Ava said as she ran to hug her stepmother.
She looked questioningly at Parker.
"It's okay. You haven't had a fever since last night. I don't think you're contagious," he answered in reply to her silent question.
"Mama Harper, I missed you." Little Aiden put his chubby arms around her legs.
When Parker had pried t
he children from her, he walked her to the sofa. She watched the rest of the movie with the children. When it was over, Parker took the children into the dining room for their dinner.
"Harper, do you feel like eating?" he said when he came back to get her.
"No, I'll stay here. I will take some tea, though. I don't want to push too much food yet."
"Coming right up." He kissed her on top of the head and went to fetch her some herbal tea.
When he returned, she looked up at him. "Thanks. I don't know what I'd have done without you, these last two days."
"Just feel better. Big turkey dinner tomorrow, you know."
"Your mom gone already? I feel so bad that I planned this huge family dinner for our first Thanksgiving and have had to back out of most of the work."
"She went home to get some things; she'll be back. And don't worry about the work. Ellie prepares dinner every Thanksgiving, and Mom loves to putter in the kitchen, so I'm sure neither of them minded stepping in for you."
"Go eat, Parker."
"I will. I just want to make sure you're all right."
"I'm much better. Go."
He reluctantly left her and went to join Ava and Aiden. After dinner, he bathed the kids, read to them, and tucked them in for the night.
Mary had returned while he was with the children, and she came in to check on Harper. "How are you, sweetie?"
"I'm much better, just waiting on Parker to help me back upstairs. I'm still a little wobbly, but I think I'll be okay by tomorrow."
"Harper, you wouldn't happen to be pregnant, would you? I'm not trying to pry into your business. I just wondered if you might need to see the doctor to be sure."
"No, Ellie asked me the same thing. I'm sure that I'm not. We're planning to wait just a little while longer for that."
"I just wanted to make sure. I was worried about you."
"Don't get me wrong; if it happened, it would be okay. We're just not planning for it to happen yet."
"Enjoy this time of being a newlywed, Harper. You've only been married a few months, and it was such a whirlwind engagement, you deserve this time. Not that I wouldn't welcome a new baby in the family, but you're wise to wait."
Her Convenient Dom (Dominant Men Book 2) Page 13