by Tia Siren
Sarah burst into laughter. “You were kind of a bitch to him. I’m surprised rude is all you got. Be nice to the guy. He just found out he has a three-year-old kid.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled.
I leaned back against the couch before turning to look at her. I was suddenly nervous about the meeting.
“Relax,” she said, leaning back to sit next to me, our shoulders rubbing. “Tyler seems like a decent guy. He’ll see Tommy on occasion and give him all the things you can’t.”
I nodded my head. “Maybe that’s what I’m afraid of. Tyler can spoil Tommy like I can’t. What if he loves him more and decides he wants to live with him?” My voice hitched at the thought of losing my son.
She nudged my shoulder. “Now you’re freaking out over nothing. Tommy loves you. You are his mommy. Nothing is going to change that. He is going to be happy to have a daddy, but he is not going to kick you to the curb. Tyler might be the shiny new toy for a while, but you’re his rock. You’re his mommy, the one he knows, trusts, and depends on. Don’t take it too personal when he wants to see his dad. He’s still your son,” she assured me.
I nodded my head, a small lump of emotion in my throat as I thought about how happy Tommy would be to have a father in his life.
“I think I’m going to go pick him up from daycare early. I want to spend some time with him before our entire lives change,” I said, sitting forward and wiping my face.
“Are you going to tell him?” Sarah asked softly.
“Not yet. I’ll wait until after Tyler and I have worked something out. I don’t want to get Tommy’s hopes up only to find out Tyler isn’t able to see him for weeks.”
“Good plan. Okay, I’ll be back later. This is a good thing,” she said, wrapping me up in a hug. “It’s going to work out. You’ll see,” she promised.
I wasn’t quite as convinced but hoped she was right. I took a few minutes to pull myself together, not wanting to appear stressed in front of Tommy. The kid was observant and would know if I was upset about something. I was worried and relieved at the same time. I had been waiting for this day for four years. Now it felt as if one burden had been lifted from my shoulders and another one plopped down.
“Be careful what you wish for,” I said to myself, walking down the dark hall and out of my apartment building.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tyler
I had walked around work all day like I was floating. My sour mood that had pretty much been a fixture in the office all last week had vanished. I was done with the show. They had all their footage and were cutting and pasting together what they called scintillating television. I didn’t care. I had a son.
I had a son!
Images of Tommy reading the books and playing with the toys at my house flashed through my mind. I was going to get him his own room set up at the house. I needed to learn more about him to find out what he really liked, and then I would hire a designer to give the kid the best room a three-year-old could ever have.
My mind was whirring with the things I wanted to do. I finally had something worthy to spend my money on. I was going to be very careful and do my best not to spoil him rotten, but I wanted to give him everything. It was going to be tough to hold back.
“You look happy,” Alex commented as I strolled toward the waiting car.
I smiled. “I am.”
“Good. I’m happy for you,” he said, grinning. “You were having a tough time last week.”
I chuckled. “Sorry about that.”
“Its fine, sir.”
“Alex,” I said, stopping just outside the car, “I have a son.”
He looked at me and smiled. “Congratulations. Tommy?”
I nodded my head. “How did you know?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “It was only a suspicion. I’m very happy for you.”
“Thank you,” I said and got into the back seat.
I couldn’t wait to see Emily and work everything out. I was going to make her listen to me. I wanted her in my life right alongside Tommy. I knew I could be a commanding force when necessary, and if it called for that, I would do so tonight. She was not going to walk away from me until she heard me out. I had a bottle of champagne to help calm her nerves as well. That and a buffet of food. She had said she didn’t want to eat dinner, so I’d had the cook create a finger-food buffet that I hoped would at least get her to stay, kick back, and be a little more open to what I had to say.
I headed straight for my room and quickly changed into jeans and a T-shirt. I wanted the mood to be relaxed and not so formal. The woman had been a bit prickly as of late, and I wanted to do everything I could to set her at ease.
“Your guest has arrived, sir,” my security guard announced.
“Great. Thank you,” I said, strolling to the front door.
She walked into the foyer, looking nervous as hell. She was dressed in jeans and a pretty sweater, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The woman looked gorgeous even though she barely had a drop of makeup on. It was these times, when she looked low-maintenance and natural, that I thought she looked the best.
“Hi.” I greeted her with a smile and attempted to kiss her but was rebuffed.
Baby steps.
“I’m only here to talk about Tommy,” she said, her invisible walls up. “This meeting isn’t about us.”
“We can talk in the sitting room. I know you said you were going to eat, but I came straight home and didn’t have time for dinner. My cook prepared some snacks,” I told her, leading her into the sitting room that had a long table covered with a white tablecloth off to the side. There was a spread of food and a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice.
She turned to look at me, suspicion in her eyes. “What’s this?”
“I’m celebrating. I just found out I’m a dad. That’s a big deal. Join me or don’t, but I’m having a glass of champagne,” I said nonchalantly, taking the bottle out of the ice and going to work on the cork.
I poured myself a glass and looked at her, waiting for her answer, and she gave a slight nod of her head.
Score!
I handed her a full glass.
“Thank you.”
“Did you want some cheese or crab puffs? Strawberries?” I asked, gesturing to the spread of food on the table.
She shook her head.
“All right, well, let’s toast first before we get into the heavy stuff.”
She smiled. Finally! “I’m glad you’re happy about this.”
“I’m ecstatic!” I said, feeling a goofy grin spread across my face. I held up my glass. “To Tommy!”
Her glass clinked against mine, and we both drank.
“All right, let’s have a seat.” I gestured to the white loveseat that faced two wingback chairs with a fluffy black rug between them.
Instead of sitting on the small sofa with me, she took a seat in one of the chairs. It wasn’t exactly what I’d been hoping for, but at least she was willing to talk.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. I mean, I didn’t know who you were before the show, but I should have told you as soon as I found you,” she blurted out.
I shrugged a shoulder. “It’s fine. I mean, I wish you would have told me, but I know now. Why did you hold back?” I asked, wanting to understand her reasons, especially since I had asked several times.
She took a drink of champagne, and I could see how nervous she was. “I wasn’t sure you would want a child, and then I wasn’t sure you would be a good influence on Tommy.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t know me.”
“I had some ideas about you when I heard about the show,” she said sheepishly. “Then, I was worried you would run in the opposite direction when you did find out.”
“I didn’t. I’m still here and I want to be a part of his life, and yours, Emily,” I told her with honesty in my voice.
Her green eyes bored into me. “Stop saying that,” she whispered.
“No.
You need to hear me out,” I said, not willing to back down. She could hate me if she wanted, but she was damn well going to hear my side of things.
“I don’t want to.” She pouted, and I damn near jumped off the couch and wrapped her up in my arms to kiss the pout away.
“It wasn’t because I wanted to,” I said. “I didn’t go out with either woman because I wanted to. I had to, or it was going to cost a lot more money than I was willing to part with—a ridiculous amount. I should have had my lawyer do a better job with the contract. I didn’t think anything like this would happen. I was stuck, but it’s over now. I was able to negotiate down to two more dates and a finale. So, I’m off the hook. I want you, Emily. It’s always been you I wanted. The whole reason I went looking to arrange the show was so I could find you!”
She heaved a long, dramatic sigh. “I wanted to believe you, and I did. But, Tyler, those pictures, and you lied to me.”
I shook my head. “I never lied.”
She rolled her eyes. “You certainly didn’t tell me the truth.”
I grinned. “But I didn’t lie.”
“Really? That’s your defense?” she said, and I could see a faint smile playing over her lips.
“Emily, I didn’t want them. I wanted you. I still want you.”
I could see the emotions crossing her face. “I don’t think we’re looking for the same thing. Your world is so different than mine. I want you and Tommy to have a relationship.”
“And us?”
“I don’t know. You’re dating other women. I’m not that kind of person.” Her voice was soft as she looked me straight in the eyes. “I don’t expect you to change for me. You are who you are.”
I heard a vibration noise and immediately assumed it was my phone. I felt my pocket, realized I didn’t have it, and looked around. Emily was digging in her purse. She pulled out her own phone and read the screen, and I watched her expression change to anger.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “Fine. I should get going.”
“Not yet. We haven’t talked about Tommy,” I reminded her.
She sighed. “I’ll tell him. I think we need to ease the two of you together. I mean, you’ve seen him a couple times, but I was here.”
“I want you to be here when I see him because I want to see you as well,” I said, putting down my glass and standing.
She looked up at me as I walked toward her, taking her glass and pulling her out of the chair. She rose willingly. We stood there, facing each other, our bodies close as I stared down into her eyes.
“Tyler,” she whispered.
I reached my hand out, my fingertips barely brushing over her cheek, pushing away a strand of hair. Her eyes held mine as my other hand reached out to rest on her hip. I brushed away another hair before moving my hand to the back of her head and lowering my lips to hers.
I heard her release a breath a second before my lips touched hers in a gentle joining. It felt like coming home after being gone for a week. I inhaled through my nose, absorbing the scent of her as my lips moved over hers.
Her hands moved to my chest, pressing me back. “No. I didn’t come here for that. I came here to talk about Tommy.”
I looked at her and could see the desire. Her mouth said one thing but her expression said something else entirely.
“Emily, why fight it? There is something between us. You can’t deny that,” I told her, my voice much lower than normal as I fought to keep control of my passion.
She shook her head. “Because you make me a little crazy,” she gushed out.
I grinned. “You make me crazy too. Let me show you how much.”
“I don’t want to be one of your many women,” she whispered, and I could hear the emotion in her voice.
“You’re not,” I told her, my hands moving to her face, holding her cheeks gently as I looked into her eyes. “I promise you, that isn’t what this is. You’re different. I’m different with you.”
I kissed her again, this time letting her feel the passion I had for her and her alone. My hands held her face in place while I moved over her mouth with all the intensity of a starving man. The second her hands moved into my hair, I dropped my hands and lowered them to her hips, holding them in place while I ground my pelvis against her, letting her feel the evidence of my arousal for her.
“Tyler.” My name escaped on a moan as I moved my mouth over her neck, nibbling at her ear while I worked my hands over her body.
I took her by the hand and led her down the corridor, up the stairs, and into my room. She didn’t protest or argue about what we should or shouldn’t do. She was mine to do with as I pleased, and I planned on doing everything.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Emily
Somewhere, way back in the dark corner of my mind, there was a little voice telling me not to do this. That voice was easily drowned out by the heat coursing through my body. It was from the passion only Tyler could ignite. I had to have him one last time. For one last time, I wanted him to set my body on fire with his touch.
“Take off your clothes,” he said, dimming the lights in his bedroom with a quick touch on an electronic pad near the door.
I looked at him and didn’t hesitate. I pulled my shirt over my head, before moving to the buttons on my jeans and slowly sliding them down my hips. I stood in front of him in my matching purple satin panties and bra, waiting for him to take off his own clothes.
“Take it all off,” he ordered, leaning against the doorway and watching me with rapt desire in his eyes.
I slowly nodded my head, reaching up and unclasping my bra, letting it fall to my feet before hooking a thumb in my panties and pulling them down my legs.
He watched, not saying a word, staring at my nude body in a way that made me feel as if he were touching me.
“Let your hair down.”
I reached up, pulled out the scrunchie, and let my hair fall around my shoulders. He moved away from the wall, stopped in front of me, and then stepped around me. I turned to watch him move, completely silently on the plush carpet, in the dim light of the room. He kicked off his shoes before putting his hands on one of the overstuffed chairs positioned in front of the fireplace in the room.
He turned the chair, looked at me, and patted it. “Sit.”
I raised an eyebrow, a little hesitant, but walked naked to the chair and sat down. He moved back to the electronic pad by the door, pushed a button, and the fireplace roared to life and the lights in the room went out. He strode toward me, pulling off his shirt, exposing his lovely chest as he did. My eyes focused on the muscular chest, and I felt desire pooling between my legs.
He dropped to his knees in front of the chair I was sitting in. I reached out and ran my hand over the chest that had been filling my dreams for years before running my hand over his square jaw and into his thick brown hair. My mouth closed over his, my tongue swishing inside his mouth, tasting the champagne from earlier.
The kiss started out sweet and tender and almost immediately changed to a ravenous, mutual mauling of one another. He pushed me back in the chair, using his hands to yank me forward before slamming his mouth over my core, his tongue pushing inside me with no warning at all. I screamed out at the intense pleasure under the assault of his rough, lapping tongue parting my folds and pushing inside my body.
His hand moved to my knee, opening my legs wider before his long fingers climbed up my leg and joined his tongue inside me.
It was more than my body could take. I shattered into a million pieces, my back arching awkwardly in the chair as I held on to both armrests. My body violently shuddered as I exploded. He stood, yanked me up, and spun me around, placing my hands on the armrests as he moved behind me.
“Your pants,” I squeaked when I felt the rough denim press against my bare backside.
“I’m not ready yet,” he rasped out. “I come too fast when I’m near you. I want to make you come over and over before I take you.”
&n
bsp; Hearing him say the words heightened every one of my senses. Everything felt raw and gritty as his hands snaked over my back, kneading my ass before spreading my legs and sliding his hand over my pussy. One finger slid over my swollen clit, touching nerves that were still tingling from my orgasm.
“You’re so wet,” he groaned, leaning over me.
One of his big hands moved up to knead my breast. He slid his finger inside me, pushing high, pulling a long moan from deep inside my chest.
“I’m going to make you come again and again,” he growled, his mouth next to my ear.
His finger worked in and out while his other fingers pulled and tweaked my nipple. When he pushed in a second finger, I went up on my tiptoes, trying to escape the invasion while demanding more.
“There you go. I can feel it. You’re close, Em. Give it to me.”
He plunged in and out, pinching one nipple and then the other before his mouth clamped down on my neck, biting and sucking at the same time.
“Oh!” I screamed as the mix of pain and pleasure tore through my body. I held on to the chair for dear life, afraid to let go. The heat from the fireplace was too much.
My body was shaking, and I was barely able to stay on my feet. He pulled his fingers out of me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close against his body.
“I’m hot,” I panted.
He started moving to the large French doors on one side of his room, his thighs pressed against the back of my legs, spurring me forward. When he reached down and open the doors, the cool air washed over my body, causing goosebumps to pop out all over my skin.
“Better?” he whispered.
I nodded my head, unable to speak, relishing the cool air blanketing my body.
He pushed me out onto the balcony.
“What are you doing?” I hissed, realizing I was completely naked and outside.
“Shh,” he said, pulling away from me and undoing his jeans.
I turned to face him and watched him strip in the faint moonlight, the orange glow from the fireplace providing a sexy backdrop. When his underwear was down and his cock sprang free, I moaned at the sight of his huge dick. In an instant, I was wet and ready for the man, and this time, I didn’t want his finger. I wanted all of him.