by Tia Siren
“Jesus, no,” he muttered under his breath. “Not Matthew's nanny for Christ’s sake. What kind of perv are you?”
The following day Jodie took Matthew into the kids’ pool and splashed around with him. Aaron pretended to be looking at his laptop, but his eyes weren't on the screen most of the time. Try as he may, he was unable to take his eyes from her long, sensual body. When he imagined her shapely legs wrapped around his back as he made love to her, he took off his T-shirt and jumped into the cold pool. It helped, but only for a while.
As the vacation passed, Aaron found that his feelings toward Jodie were developing in a way he had neither expected nor wanted. But he was powerless to stop them. She was beautiful, and kind, and he wanted her. He'd seen countless beautiful women on the island, but none had come up to her standard.
*****
More weeks went by, and Aaron began to hate himself. He hated himself for being totally and utterly in love with Jodie. He couldn't think about anything or anybody else. When he was at home in the evening, he always hoped she would come and sit with him, and when she didn't he sulked. He likened himself to a teenager. In fact, he felt just like he had when he'd met Lindsey as a sixteen-year-old.
“You've got to do something,” he said to himself. “You can't go on like this.”
The next evening he had too much to drink in a vain attempt to summon up the courage to speak to her about his feelings. He was the owner of a multimillion-dollar enterprise, but he was scared to death of talking to a young woman he liked.
“Are you okay? You look a little tipsy,” Jodie said when she appeared to go swimming.
“Sit down. I want to talk to you,” he said. The way he said it, she thought she was in trouble.
“Sorry, have I done something wrong?”
“No. Sit down. I want to talk to you.” She sat down and waited for him to speak. “I'm in love with you,” he said directly, “totally and utterly in love with you.” He would never have dared say it if he'd been sober. He was able to say it in an inebriated state, but he sounded like some sleazy guy chatting up a young girl at the end of a drunken night in a disco.
“I can't, Aaron, not with you. You're Matthew's dad. I like you, but I can't.”
“Why not? You would never have to worry about money ever again. You could have anything you wanted.”
“That's not the point. You are talking about material things. What's important is Matthew's welfare.”
“What would it matter? You would still be here for him. You just wouldn't be his nanny; you'd be his stepmom.”
“Jesus, you're drunk. Stop talking to me like that. I don't want it.”
“But I can't help the way I feel. I want you, Jodie.”
“No,” she said as she stood up and walked to the pool.
“I could make you.”
“What? What do you mean make me? Do you mean threaten me? Put a frog in my panties?” Her tone was taking on an angry slant.
“I always get what I want in the end.”
“I tell you what, I quit. You can find another nanny to molest. I'm sorry for Matthew, but he's your responsibility. You're a predator.”
The next morning Aaron woke with a thumping head and Matthew jumping up and down on his bed.
“Jodie,” he said. “Where Jodie?”
“Jodie's gone away for a while,” Aaron said. Matthew began to squeal as loudly as he could.
Aaron took Matthew to Kayla's and went to the office. When Megan saw him, she made him coffee and gave him two aspirin. After taking them, he picked up the phone.
“Jodie, it's me.”
“Yes,” she said harshly.
“I'm sorry. I was really out of order. It wasn't right of me.”
“No, it wasn't. You were drunk and saying things you didn't mean.”
“I was drunk. You are right. But what I said, I meant.”
When the line went dead, he looked at his phone and tried to call again. This time, she didn't answer.
He sent her a text: Please come back. I'll double your wages.
He got a reply: No way.
So, that was it. He'd blown it, and not only for himself but for Matthew, and he felt guilty about that. He could see that Matthew adored her. Jodie had put so much effort into him, and he'd made real progress. Aaron doubted whether he would have made as much progress with anybody else.
“What's the matter?” Megan asked.
“I've made a fool of myself with the nanny,” he said.
“You didn't...you know...”
“No. Not that. I've fallen for her, and I told her. Only I needed some Dutch courage first, and it all came out a bit wrong.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her I was in love with her.”
Megan scowled and sat down. “You are my boss, but I'm going to call you a fool.”
“Why?” he asked, a hurt look on his face.
“Because you are a billionaire. You're thirty-two, and you've got everything. What is she, twenty-two? And she's a nanny. She was probably intimidated by you. You should have done it gradually, played her like a fish and reeled her in.”
“Shit.”
“What do you feel for her?”
“I can't stop thinking about her. I love her, and don't tell me I have no idea what love is, because I do.”
“Then leave her alone. Either she'll think about what you said and come around, or she'll hate you and stay away from you.”
Aaron picked up a letter opener from his desk and pressed the pointed end into his palm. “I want her. That's all there is to it.”
“But she's not one of your business deals. She’s a person with feelings.”
“All right. I'll do as you say. Matthew is going bonkers without her, though.”
“Then get another nanny.”
“There isn't anyone as good as she is.” It was a sweeping statement, but for him and Matthew, it was true. There was no way Matthew would ever bond that way with someone else. As for his own feelings, he would try and do what Megan had suggested, although it wouldn't be easy. He knew how he felt, and that someone else could snap Jodie up was a thought he didn't want to entertain.
*****
“If you hear this message, Jodie, please call me. You may think I'm trying it on again. I'm not. Matthew is in the hospital, and we really need you.”
Aaron looked at his son in bed with some wire trailing from his brain to a machine he didn't understand. It had been weeks since he'd spoken to Jodie. She hadn't ever bothered to call and ask how Matthew was, but now Aaron had nobody with her experience to turn to. The doctor had mentioned something about seizures, but he hadn't taken it all in. He needed Jodie to explain it to him.
Nurses came and went, and a doctor checked Matthew. After a while, Matthew woke up and stared at the ceiling.
“Hello,” Aaron said.
“Jodie,” Matthew said.
“I know. I called her. I hope she will call me back.” Matthew had driven Aaron wild with his constant nagging about Jodie. Every waking hour he repeated her name over and over until Aaron could hardly stand it anymore. When Aaron had asked a new nanny to come and look after Matthew, Matthew had gone mad and the woman had left. Now Aaron had to manage with a schedule, which meant Matthew spent some days with Kayla and some days with Jean. But it wasn't good for Matthew. Aaron had no idea how he was ever going to get Matthew to accept another nanny. Aaron hadn't been able to go to any of the important meetings he needed to go to. Instead, he had to rely on his number two, something he didn't like doing. If only he'd either kept his big mouth shut or been much more gentle with Jodie and done as Megan had suggested, played her slowly.
When his cell rang, Aaron woke up. He'd been asleep in a chair next to Matthew's bed.
“Where is he?” she asked.
“St. Edward's.”
“And what happened?”
“He just went mad, rolling around on the floor, totally out of control. The doctor said something about s
eizures.”
“Okay. Just wait. I'll be there as soon as I can.”
When Jodie walked into the room, Aaron's heart lifted. “Hi. Thanks for coming,” he said.
“Poor little thing,” she said. She put her hand on Matthew's forehead and stroked his hair. Matthew opened his eyes and sat up.
“Whoa, steady tiger,” Aaron said. He tried to push him back down, but he sprang up again.
“Jodie, Jodie,” Matthew shouted. He was smiling and appeared to be his old self.
“Well, who would have believed that?” Aaron said.
“He's a little monkey,” Jodie said.
“What do you mean?”
“Has he been asking for me all the time?”
“Yes. He drove me mad.”
“He's faked this in the hope I would come back to him,” Jodie said.
“Jodie back,” Matthew shouted.
“Look, there's nothing wrong with him.”
Aaron looked at Matthew in disbelief. “Is he capable of such devious behavior?”
“Yes. Very much so. But to go to these lengths is pretty rare.”
“You mean he faked having seizures, or whatever it was, just so you'd come back?”
Jodie laughed. “It looks like it. You're a devious little boy,” she said to Matthew.
“Jodie back,” he shouted once more.
Aaron was stunned and relieved at the same time. He was stunned that Matthew would do such a thing and relieved that there wasn't anything seriously wrong with him. He took Jodie by the arm and maneuvered her into the corner of the room.
“What am I going to do? Will you come back?” Aaron asked. “He's mad about you.”
“I wanted to call, really I did. It's just...”
“I know. I came on far too strong, and you got frightened. I'm sorry. It will never happen again. Just please think about it, about coming back. Will you?”
“You know, I didn't completely dislike what you said to me that evening. I was just so shocked; I didn't know what to do or say. You're a high-power guy; I'm just a nanny.”
“But a brilliant one. One Matthew can't do without.”
“Thanks. Okay, I'll come back.”
Aaron gave a huge sigh of relief and kissed her on the cheek. Matthew saw it and clapped.
“We'd better explain all this to the doctor,” Aaron said.
“I'll do it. I think I'll be able to explain it better.”
In the car on the way home, Matthew sat next to Jodie in the backseat and put his head on her lap. When they arrived at the mansion, Jodie put him to bed and waited until he was asleep.
When she came back downstairs, Aaron was sitting outside where they'd had their argument. “Do you want to go for a swim?” he asked.
“I don't know. It's been a long day. I'm tired,” she said.
“Yes, it has been a hell of a day. But once again you saved us. I really appreciate it. And I'm sorry about what happened. I'm going to bed. Swim if you want.”
When Aaron was in bed, he heard Jodie dive into the pool. He smiled. She was back, thank God. He was so tempted to peek out of the window at her in her swimwear, but he was determined not to do anything more to upset her. He would get over it and meet someone else one day.
Aaron had the best night's sleep he'd had in many weeks. When he woke, he was refreshed and ready to do battle with the world again. When he went down to breakfast, he smiled when he saw Matthew and Jodie making eggs.
“Have you got some for me?” he asked Matthew.
Matthew shook his head. “All Jodie's,” he said.
“My word, I think I've completely lost my child to you.”
“He's an excellent judge of character, and a charming man,” Jodie joked.
“Just like his father then. He'll go a long way in life.”
Aaron had breakfast and left them to finish. When he arrived at the office, Megan saw that he looked more relaxed than he had in weeks.
“Great,” she said when Aaron told her Jodie was back. “Play it cool and reel her in slowly.”
“No. I'm not playing that game anymore. She doesn't want me in that way. I'll get over it, for Matthew's sake.”
*****
A few weeks went by, and Aaron managed to temper his enthusiasm for Jodie. Matthew was back to his old self and Jodie seemed to be happy again. Aaron did everything he could to keep things on an even keel. He threw himself into his work and went on the trips he wanted to. Matthew was making progress again, and everything was running smoothly.
“How was he today?” Aaron asked when he got home. Matthew had already gone to sleep.
“Great. You know, it will soon be time for him to go to school. Have you thought about that?”
“Yes. He's down to go to a school for autistic kids. He can't cope with mainstream school.”
“No, of course not. That's great. He's a really great kid, and I love him to bits,” Jodie said.
“Thanks for all you do for him. I think your love is mutual,” he joked.
That evening was warm, and Aaron sat outside and went through some paperwork. He fetched a bottle of wine from the cellar and opened it. Jodie came downstairs in her robe, intending to swim.
“Have you got one of those for me?” she asked.
“Sorry. I only got one glass. I'll get you one,” he said. “There,” he said when he came back.
“I see you have already forgotten what you said to me all those weeks ago,” she said.
“Sorry, but I don't quite follow.”
“You only got one glass. You could have gotten two and invited me.”
“Oh, sorry. Yes, I could have. How thoughtless.”
“Stop treading on eggshells. You're not that kind of man.”
“I'm frightened you will leave again if I do anything to—”
“Upset me?”
“Yes.”
“I've been thinking about it. You shocked me. But now I'm used to the idea, and I can tell you meant it. It wasn't just that you wanted to get in my panties. You really do respect me. If you didn't, you wouldn't be able to behave as well as you have the last couple of weeks.”
“What are you saying?” he asked.
“I'm saying I would be open to something more...er...I mean, if you still want me, I would like to explore how that would be.”
“So you’re saying you would like to get to know me better.”
She smiled. “Yes. In a sexual partner kind of way.”
“What has changed you mind?”
“Time, not being rushed. You. You are a wonderful man. Okay, you haven't got a clue about women, but you are nonetheless a lovely guy.”
“I don't suppose you are going to swim this evening?”
“I might.”
“Maybe we can swim together?”
“I'd like that.”
In the pool, it was Jodie that pulled Aaron to her. He was still in shock from her sudden change of heart, and he was still wary.
“Kiss me,” she said. He kissed her, and he loved the softness of her lips. Her breasts touched his chest, and they were firm, her nipples already hard.
As they kissed, she let her hand slip under the water and felt for his manhood. “Wow. That's quite some surprise,” she said when she felt him. She slid her hand inside his shorts and held him. Slowly, she began to rub up and down his length.
“Oh God,” he moaned. He'd waited for this for so long. He'd thought it would never happen, and now that it was happening, he loved it. He let her play with him; he was enjoying it too much to stop her. She too didn't want to stop. As her hand explored him, she felt a whole range of sensations: his hard shaft and the softness of his balls, their coarseness and the way he shivered at her touch.
“Take me to the shallow end and have your way with me,” she whispered.
He swam and pulled her with him, and when they could stand up, he stopped and pulled off her top.
She put her hands on his smooth chest and felt his tight muscles. Again she felt
between his legs, driving him crazy with lust for her. Unable to wait any longer, he spun her around and pushed her against the side of the pool. Her thin swim bottoms offered no resistance as he ripped them from her. When his hand rubbed over her under the water, she moaned and thrust herself against his hand.
“Do it,” she moaned. “Take me.”
He pulled her hips to him, placed himself where he wanted to be, and thrust into her with the force of a man who'd been waiting too long. Inside her, he stopped and kissed her neck, savoring the smell of her skin and the way her hair brushed his cheek. The water rippled as he started to move.
All the confusion that had played in Jodie's mind in previous months had disappeared, and she knew, more than ever before, what she wanted. She wanted this man. She wanted him to love her with all the intensity and desire he was now showing. The feeling of him inside her was the most intense sexual feeling she had ever had, and she wanted it to last the rest of her life.
He was thrusting hard now. She could feel his hot breath against her back as he clung to her. One hand held her hip as the other caressed her belly, pushing against the pressure that was building up in her. As soon as his hand slipped between her legs, she cried out at the intense feeling that shot through her. His fingers were playing with her most sensitive part, and she couldn't hold on any longer.
“Jesus,” she hissed as every muscle in her body tightened.
“You’re so sexy,” he muttered as he fought to control his breathing. She rolled her head violently as waves of pleasure rocked through her. He stopped and held her tightly to him as she shook. When she was still, he began to thrust again. His eyes devoured her as she felt him slapping against her, the strength of him taking her breath away. He rammed harder and harder until she came again, this time taking him with her. When she felt his desire seep into her, she was overwhelmed and couldn't stop the wave of emotion that engulfed her, sending tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Okay?” he asked as he clasped her to him.
“Never better,” she gasped.