by Lacey Silks
Stop it, Chloe!
“Can you feel it kick yet?” he asked. I lifted my body up onto my elbows and looked down to where his hand remained below my navel. Something about the way he smoothed his palm back and forth felt so right, I got chills over my arms.
“No, it’s too early. Another two months at least.”
“Does it feel different, knowing you have a human growing inside you?”
“It does. It feels special.”
“And you don’t want to tell the father?”
“Axel, please.” I pushed out from underneath him and sat up “I don’t want to talk about it. I never want to talk about it.”
“Did he hurt you, Chloe?”
I gasped.
“Son of a bitch—”
I’d already said too much. I bet that evening was written all over my face, and it wouldn’t take much more for Axel to put together the pieces of why I’d run away.
“It’s in my past and I’m not going back there again.”
“I’d never want you to go back there. I won’t mention it again. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Something beautiful came out of a bad night.” I smoothed my hand over my belly. “That’s what I want to remember. This beautiful baby that brings me so much joy and hope, and it’s not even born yet.”
“All the more reason why you need a day off, Chloe. Come to the concert with me. Have fun and relax. Once the baby is born, you’ll wish for a night off.”
Axel was right. I did feel more tired than usual. The doctor at the clinic said it was normal, but maybe some fun was a good idea. Especially when I was sure an evening spent with Axel would be absolutely amazing.
“Okay, I’ll go.”
“Awesome!” He jumped off the couch. “I wish I could stay, but I have an early meeting in the morning. I should get home as well.”
“You’re a hypocrite.” I threw one of the decorative pillows at him, which of course he caught as easily as if it were a football. “You want me to take a day off, but you’re not doing the same?”
“I don’t have a choice in this one. And I won’t be working in the evening.”
“What am I supposed to do all day?”
He removed a business card from his pocket and handed it to me, “This is my sister’s salon. You’re booked there from ten to two.”
“Four hours at a salon? Are you telling me I don’t look good?”
He looked at me from underneath his long lashes, drinking me in. “You look more than good, Chloe. Delicious, in fact.”
Holy crap!
“The appointment is not to make you look better because that’s impossible. It’s meant to help you relax.”
I sighed, looking at him adoringly.
“You’re a good friend, Axel.”
That’s what we were, wasn’t it?
“So are you, Chloe. So are you.”
That evening I went to bed with mixed emotions. It was no secret that Axel was a very sexy and desirable bachelor while also being the best employer ever. But he was sending me mixed signals, wasn’t he? Whatever feelings my hormones were sprouting, I needed to keep them in check around him. The last thing I wanted was to push the boundaries of our professional relationship. But bosses weren’t supposed to do all these wonderful things for you, were they? They weren’t supposed to care as much as he did — and that’s what made me confused. What if he did like me? What if he wanted more? It wouldn’t matter how much I’d fantasized about him, there was enough room for only one human in my life to care that much about, and he or she was growing in my tummy.
Chapter 9
The music was still buzzing in my ears. My voice was almost gone from singing along with each song. Axel was driving me home, and looking at my watch I couldn’t stop counting down the hours I had left before getting up tomorrow morning. Thank goodness Axel had arranged that appointment for me at his sister’s earlier in the day. I’d gotten pampered with a massage, manicure, pedicure, mud bath, and a facial. My body felt more rejuvenated than it had in ages, yet the tiredness wouldn’t ease. It was one of the joys of being pregnant.
“Are you in a hurry somewhere?” he asked.
“Yes, to get to my bed.”
He laughed. “I’m sorry. Maybe the concert was not that great of an idea for a pregnant woman.”
“Hey, take that back. I was fun.”
“That, you definitely were. I didn’t realize you could climb on someone’s back so quickly.”
Axel had lifted me onto his shoulders so that I could get a rose from Bon Jovi himself. Tonight was officially the best night of my life.
“You offered!”
His focus kept on drifting from the road to me.
“Pay attention, or you’ll get in an accident,” I said.
He laughed. “I’m glad to hear you had fun. But if I see your round ass out of bed before ten, I will personally come back and tuck you back in.”
The threat sounded more like a promise.
“I have to be up by nine. I have an appointment at the clinic.”
“On a Saturday?”
“What can I say, they’re workaholics.” I shrugged. So was I, in fact — especially when it involved decorating. I then turned toward him, wondering whether I should ask him the question that had been on my mind for a week.
“Would you come with me?”
He stilled. “To your appointment?”
“Yes. It’s my first official one, and I’m a little nervous.”
“I’d do anything for you, Chloe. And it would be an honor.”
“Thank you.” I reached for his hand over the gear stick. While the car was an automatic, Axel always kept his hand there. My touch made him tense up before he relaxed again.
“It’s my pleasure.”
Feeling a little bit nervous, I slowly let go of his hand and we drove the rest of the way in silence. Once we were at my door I asked, “Would you like to come in for some tea?”
He looked right into my eyes. The connection I’d felt to him, that deep desire and yearning mixed with hesitation, was back.
“I’d love to.”
I set the kettle on and made a pot of apple tea.
“Honey?” he asked as he poured the infused liquid into two mugs.
“Yes?”
“No, I meant, honey in your tea?”
Oh! Crap!
“That’s what I meant as well.”
I sealed my lips, but the burst of laughter couldn’t be contained. I was pretty sure I was close to peeing myself as well. I ran to the bathroom and emptied my bladder. By the time I came back, Axel was sitting on the couch, flipping through the channels. Two mugs of steaming tea were set on the table.
“I get nervous around you,” I blurted.
“Ditto.” He gave me that loving smile again, and I relaxed.
“Really?”
I sat on the couch beside him.
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Well, for one, you’re Axel Wagner. And two, you’re my boss, so technically I should be the one nervous around you – you know, just in case you want to get the whip out.”
“Don’t give me any ideas, Chloe.”
I laughed. “But as nervous as I am, I’m also very comfortable. It’s weird. It’s like one moment you’re my boss and then the next you’re a friend. A very good and very attractive friend, may I add.”
“Well, for me it’s backward. I find you attractive as my designer, my employee, friend, and whatever else falls under the umbrella of inappropriate thoughts.”
“You have inappropriate thoughts?” I gasped.
“I’m a man, and when you wear those tight leggings, the way they ride up your ass… well, let’s just say that I make good use of my alone time at night. You’re a gorgeous woman, Chloe. I can’t help it.”
Was he suggesting that he jerked off to my looks? The thought made me squeeze my thighs as I imagined the reverse — me getting off on him. It would be so easy to do so. Fe
eling the burn on my cheeks, I shut the thought off.
“Thank you, but we can keep our relationship professional, can’t we?”
“I’m trying to.” He shifted in his seat and adjusted his crotch. When he touched himself like that, I felt my thighs clench again and my own pulse race. Up until this point, I hadn’t thought what it would be like to masturbate, simply because all my energy had been focused on work and the baby. But now, all those images of Axel in his suit, then him after a shower, completely naked, were swarming around in my mind all at once.
“But sometimes you make it difficult to be just friends,” he added.
“I make it difficult?”
“Let’s just say that I have never been around a woman I’m attracted to for almost three weeks without doing anything.”
“What would you have done?” I was pushing the limits, and I knew it.
“Everything and anything to be closer to you, to touch you, to see your smile, watch you walk and lean over the counter when you need to reach your phone. You have that slow walk when you go up a set of stairs that makes me wonder if you’re inviting me for… more. You’re captivating, Chloe, and as much as I want to keep our relationship professional, I’m not sure I can. But you deserve better than some jerk thinking about you twenty-four seven.”
He waited for me to reply. There was so much going on in my mind I wasn’t sure what to say. I felt completely torn apart on the inside. Maybe if we had met at a different time in my life, we could have had a chance. But I didn’t want to tie Axel down with a baby, and I didn’t want to deal with the drama of dating when I had so much to do before the birth.
“As much as I welcome your honesty, I need to keep our relationship professional. I have to.” I lowered my hand to my stomach. “Don’t get me wrong. If it was a different time in my life, I wouldn’t have even hesitated.”
He grinned. “Totally understand. Now come here and relax.”
He wrapped his arm around me and brought me closer to his body. I took a sip of my tea and leaned against him. As hard as his muscles were, they were also very comfortable to rest on. The next thing I knew, the sun was hitting my eyes as I woke up in my bed.
Still wearing the clothes from the previous night, I looked around my room. Axel must have carried me in here and covered me with the blanket before leaving. The pressure in my bladder wasn’t easing, and I rushed to my bathroom. By the time I realized that I wasn’t alone, it was too late. As I peed, I lifted my gaze to see Axel behind a glass door. His back was turned to me. All the lean muscles on his back flexed as he rinsed his head. White soapsuds flowed down his shoulder blades and spine. I followed the path until it disappeared in the crack of his taut ass. And what a beautiful ass it was.
Well, fuck me sideways, then flip me over, please.
“Whatever you do, don’t flush.” I almost jumped on the toilet seat.
“I’m so sorry. I had to go, and I didn’t realize you were here.”
That was the lamest excuse I’d ever heard, but it was true. Hopefully he believed me. Axel began to turn around and I lifted my hand up to block the view that was about to shock me, “Don’t move. I’m almost done.”
“I’m not shy, Chloe.”
“But I am.”
“Okay,” he laughed. “I’ll wait.”
I wiped quickly and washed my hands. My eyes betrayed me when they looked in the mirror, though, and I saw the full side view of his perfect physique – including a healthy erection.
Holy shit!
As my gaze drifted upward, it met his. The urge to rip the clothes off my body and jump inside that shower grew stronger. We had the weirdest friend-and-employer relationship I had ever had.
“I’m sorry. I’m leaving.”
I ran away like a silly girl and got started making breakfast. Two minutes later Axel walked out of the bathroom, wearing nothing else but a towel. It was so low, I was afraid it would fall off.
“You stayed the night?” I asked nonchalantly as I flipped the coffee machine on. While I was a tea person, I’d learned that Axel preferred coffee in the morning.
“By the time I figured out you’d fallen asleep on me, it was late and I didn’t feel like driving. I took the room next to yours, but couldn’t resist using the shower with the jets.”
“I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“Stop apologizing. It was nice. Besides, nothing better for me than to experience this suite for myself. Whatever you’ve done to this place to get such a good night of sleep, the next tenant will be charged top dollar.”
It was true that it was absolutely amazing sleeping in this suite.
“Yesterday too. It was amazing. Best night of my life.”
“Next time you have a craving for a hot dog, I’m offering you mine.”
“You don’t have a hot dog, you have a sausage.”
“I thought you weren’t going to peak.”
“I couldn’t help it. Besides, it was hard not to notice.” I shrugged.
“I’m going to change and help with breakfast.” As soon as he turned around he yanked the towel off his hips and draped it around his shoulders. Why did he have to do that to me?
I stared with my mouth open as his tight ass disappeared around the corner. It didn’t take long for Axel to be standing at my side, cutting vegetables and shredding cheese for the omelets. Before I knew it, he’d completely taken over the cooking, and he made me wait at the table before serving me breakfast. I wanted to comment that I could have done it, but didn’t want to be rude. The gesture made me feel warm and worthy on the inside.
After breakfast, we took his car to the clinic.
“Do you like your doctor?” he asked on the way there.
“I do.”
“Because if you’d like, I know this private…”
“No, Dr. Sanders is amazing. I feel very comfortable with him.”
“Okay, just checking.”
“Okay.”
We sat beside each other at the clinic. If Axel was nervous, he didn’t show it. He flipped through a few pamphlets he’d picked off the wall, and I kept on staring at the pregnant ladies who were wobbling like ducks, amazed at how the body changed so much thorough pregnancy. I wondered how I would look and feel when my belly got that round and big.
Once I was called in, Axel stood up, took my hand as if it were the most natural thing to do, and we followed Dr. Sanders to a closed-off room.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Wagner. How are you feeling, Chloe?”
“Good. Tired most of the time.”
“Well, your body’s getting used to all the new changes. It should pass in a few weeks. I assume you’re taking your pre-natal vitamins, drinking plenty of water, and eating well?”
“I am.”
“Good.” He then turned to Axel. “Make sure she doesn’t exhaust herself with work.”
“Will do, doctor.”
After taking my weight and measuring my belly, he took out a little machine and turned to Axel. “Daddy, do you want to hear the heartbeat?” he asked.
“I’m not—” His gaze then flew to me, but he didn’t correct the doctor. “I would love to.”
My heart squeezed.
“Now, there’s a chance that you won’t be able to hear it, so please don’t panic. It’s still very early. If we don’t hear it at this appointment, we will on the next.”
“Okay,” I said, completely perplexed by the tiny machine the doctor was holding, waiting for the sound to begin. At the first thump, my mouth opened.
“That’s your heartbeat, Chloe. Give me one second.”
When I heard the quicker beat, Axel took my hand and squeezed it.
“There it is.”
A lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t stop the tears.
“Everything sounds great. Unless you have any troubles, I’ll see you in a month.”
“Great!”
Once we left the office, Axel lifted me up in the air and spun me. “Chl
oe, that was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had.”
I laughed, but when he set me down I straightened my shirt and became more serious.
“It was amazing, wasn’t it? I’m sorry for not correcting the doctor when he referred to you as the father.”
“That’s okay. I figured it was easier than trying to explain your situation. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
“Thank you for that. Thank you for coming with me and for caring so much.”
He took my hand so casually that it felt normal to be holding it as he led us back to his car.
“Now I’m the one who needs to ask you for a favor.”
“Anything.”
“Be careful what you agree to. For all you know, I could be planning to tie you up and have my way with you.”
“That sounds more like a promise than some malicious plot to use me,” I winked.
“You’re wild.”
“I used to be. Now I need to be a good mother.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, from what I’ve seen, I have no doubt that you will be.”
“Okay, what do you need?”
“Next Saturday there’s this realtor conference I’m going to, and there’s a party afterwards. Will you join me?”
“I would love to, but only if you don’t call it a date.”
“I wouldn’t dare. So, where to on this beautiful Saturday morning?”
It was beautiful: the sun was shining, the wind was warm, and orange and yellow leaves still covered the trees, some of them drifting around the bases. Nothing could go wrong. I should have counted my blessings that day and gone back to my apartment. Instead, I tempted fate by asking Axel to take me to the park because someone was craving a hot dog.
Chapter 10
We sat on the park bench. It was a perfect fall day and looked like everyone was trying to make the best of the season’s last warm weather. Axel’s arm draped around me as I downed my third hot dog. He looked at me in astonishment, but didn’t question a pregnant woman’s appetite.
“It’s not all for me,” I said with my mouth full.
“Hey, I already told you that I don’t judge. I’m just wondering how in the world you’re fitting that thing inside your tiny little body.”