“Come here, kitten.” He cradled me into his chest and stroked my hair. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”
I let myself relax in his arms, another first. None of my previous boyfriends wanted to be seen leaving my place. Of course, that was when I was still living at home. No one could blame them for not wanting my brothers to catch them with their little sister. Still, it would have been nice to have someone hold and cuddle me after sex the way Aaron was right now.
I was going to be sore in the morning, there was no doubt about that. I still felt the throbbing between my legs. If I wasn't afraid of not making it to work tomorrow, I was tempted to ask him to fuck me again. Maybe if we got some sleep tonight, I could tempt him to repeat his performance in the morning. Would that constitute a one-night and one-day stand? I found myself drifting off as his body heat penetrated me. I was warm, comfortable, and content. I hoped he would be there in the morning.
When I was asleep, would he sneak out, and would I really care if he wasn't there for breakfast?
Chapter 9
Aaron
I awoke to the sound of my cell phone. The second I opened my eyes and saw the mess of soft curly strawberry blonde hair splayed across my chest, I knew it was not a dream. My little kitten was real. Fuck, she was going to hate me by the end of the day. There was no way I was going to be able to hide who I was after today.
She didn't do one-night stands, but would she do a morning quickie—one for the road? I knew it was going to be the last time she would ever let me touch her after today.
After I became her boss.
I knew I’d better answer my cell before it woke her up. Text from Richard, board meeting changed until afternoon. Hitting The Boutique first.
Got it, I texted back. I put my phone on the nightstand and it went off again. She stirred in his arms.
“It’s mine this time.” She reached over and took her phone off the nightstand. She opened one eye, glanced at the screen, and then threw it on the bed. “What time is it?”
“It’s still early—only seven.” I brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.
She returned to her position snuggled in the crook of my shoulder. “Work or wife?”
I should be offended that she thought I would cheat if I were married. She said it nonchalantly, like she already knew the answer. I raised my hand and wiggled my finger to indicate ‘no ring.’
“Work.”
“Me too.” She sounded disappointed. Maybe she was hoping for a quickie this morning?
“My meeting is postponed until this afternoon, so how about that breakfast?” I winked and she smiled up at me.
“You’re going to have to settle for coffee. I have to go in first thing. The boss lady says get my butt in ASAP. It’s something big. I’ll put the coffee on before I shower.” She pulled away, but I held onto her hand.
I knew exactly what the something big was. The potential new boss was coming in today to meet everyone. In other words, Richard was going to announce that I might be taking over.
My chest instantly clenched, reacting to the loss of body heat—her body heat. I had never mourned the loss before. I had always been pleased when a woman would leave my bed, take the money, and go. No questions, no complications, no regrets.
What the fuck had I done? I knew this was a bad idea—a very bad idea, but what I was thinking of doing next was worse. I pulled her back onto the bed.
“How about I settle for a helping of bacon and legs?” I said with a low growl of lust.
She slapped my hand and rolled off the bed. She grabbed the robe lying on the chair and covered her beautiful naked body. The robe was fluffy and oversized on her small frame, as if it didn't belong to her. Damn if it didn’t make her look like a soft furry kitten.
With a swift response, I had her sitting on my lap on the bed. I took her mouth with such a force I was afraid I might have drawn blood. I ran my fingers through her hair—good God, I was actually petting her—and she was responding.
I was behaving like a horny teenager who’d snuck the prom queen into my room. Was it her innocence that had me yearning for something I’d never had the opportunity to experience? The horny teenager in me wanted to fuck the prom queen senseless.
With one hand, I held her close to me, while the other traveled down her body. She was wet and warm, and her slickness made me hard. “Are you sure we don’t have time for a quickie?”
I knew I was going to need more time to prepare her for my massive cock. There was not going to be a quickie this morning. Of course, that didn't mean I couldn’t make her come for me one more time.
She passionately returned every one of my kisses as I continued to work on her pussy and clit. It wasn't going to be the explosion she’d experienced when I fucked her brains out, but that didn't matter. My goal was give her one more orgasm and leave her wanting more. If she wanted more from me, she might forgive me when she found out my true agenda.
I could hear the low purr of her contentment. I wanted to take her all the way, but I knew when I did, my time with her would be over. I was teasing her, and she let it go on for a while.
“Aaron, if you can’t finish, I’ll have to do it myself in the shower.” She was panting, almost begging. I thrust my fingers vigorously and massaged her clit. Her walls began to spasm, and she quietly came, purring in my arms.
She pulled away, and before I could capture her mouth, she put her hand and over mine. I nipped at her hand, but she pulled it away and squealed. She pushed me back onto the bed and jumped to her feet.
“Aaron, I have to get ready for work.” She was scolding me teasingly.
“Spend the morning with me in bed, kitten.” I tried to entice her by patting my hand on the empty side of the bed. She groaned, and I didn't like that sound coming from her. I wanted to hear her purr. I wondered what it would take to make her scream again?
She bit her bottom lip and gave me a deadly glare, and again came the exasperated groan.
“We’re not all independently wealthy and able to reschedule meetings on a whim. I still have rent to pay,” she said, walking away.
“Katie, what do you earn at The Boutique?”
“Enough to pay my rent, why?” She sounded more agitated than curious.
A brilliant idea came to me. Why hadn’t I thought of it earlier? “I’ll pay you double what you would have earned today to stay with me.”
It was a good thing I had excellent reflexes since I had to duck to avoid the book thrown at my head.
“What the fuck, Aaron—did you just offer to pay me to have sex with you?”
Shit! Hearing her phrase it that way gave it an entirely different meaning.
“What? I have a drawer full of condoms, so I must be a prostitute? Is that how you treat all your one-night stands?”
She stood nude, hands on hips, her firm breasts jutting out proudly. She was spitting nails and had every right to. How was I going to tell her that, yes, it was exactly how I treated them? She stared me down, head tilted to one side. Not only was my kitten spitting nails, she’d grown some claws, and it looked like she was ready to scratch my eyes out.
What did it matter now if she knew? She wasn't going to let me touch her again—not this morning and not after my tour of The Boutique.
“I don't do one-night stands,” I told her.
“Oh, hell, you are married, aren't you? I slept with a married man… fudge sticks!”
“No, no,” I responded before she could throw another book at me. Then I blurted out, “I only sleep with call girls—until last night.”
She sat on the end of the bed, silent. No more book throwing. This wasn’t the response I was expecting. Should I hold her or try to explain? I hated complicated, and this… this was becoming complicated.
“Okay,” was all she said.
“Okay?” Now I was really confused.
“Yes, it’s okay.” She leaned in and kissed me gently. “Next time—if there is a next time
— don't offer to pay.” She stood up and added, “Unless you’re supposed to. Now, I really must shower and get ready for work. Coffee will be ready in five. If you want, you can take a shower when I’m done.”
“We could shower together,” I drawled, eyeing her backside as she walked naked into the bathroom.
“No, we can't,” she sang out and left me sitting alone on the bed. The cold empty bed.
I was standing in her kitchen in only my jeans, drinking coffee, when she finished her shower. When she joined me, I noticed my kitten had turned herself back into a future trophy wife.
“There’s milk and cream in the fridge.” She reached for a travel mug and poured herself some coffee.
“I drink it black.” I watched to see what she put in hers. Hmmm, black—a woman after my own heart. Most women wanted their coffee with nonfat whipped soy or some other crap. This one drank hers black like I did. What else did we have in common? Did it matter?
She could be my soulmate, but after today, she was never going to forgive me. I didn't exactly lie to her, I reasoned. It was just a lie of omission—and boy, did I omit some key information from her last night.
Just thinking about last night had me wanting to rip the netting holding her soft curly strawberry blonde hair off its too-tight bun. I wanted to yank the buttons off her starched white blouse to see if she was wearing a lacy bra underneath. Was she wearing a matching thong under the straight pencil skirt that hugged her perfectly round ass? These were questions I needed answered.
She walked over and gave me a passionate kiss. “I have to go, so make sure you have everything with you when you leave. The door will lock automatically behind you and you won't be able to get back in.”
“You’re going to leave me alone in your house?” She was certainly innocent and trusting.
“What could I possibly own that you can't buy yourself?” She laughed and picked up her purse and keys. She gave me one last kiss, this time on the cheek. “Thank you for last night. It was really…” she paused, “nice. I don’t do one-night stands, but if you happen to be in town, I might make an exception.”
Did she just give me a way in? For the first time since I’d woken up this morning, I wasn't dreading her finding out I was not leaving—not yet anyway… maybe not ever.
“Goodbye, Aaron,” she said cheerily, and then she left.
I finished my coffee and headed to the bedroom to retrieve my stuff. I would shower at my own apartment and dress to face what was to come. She said she would make an exception. Would I be willing to make an exception to get into her bed again? I didn't do relationships, and choir girls like Katie… they wanted relationships.
Choir girls like Katie wanted the whole package—marriage, white picket fences, and children. How many of my own convictions would I be willing to compromise to hear my kitten purr… to hear her scream?
Would she forgive me for my omissions? If there was going to be a next time with her, there was more I needed to confess than just my position as her boss.
Chapter 10
Katie
Leaving Aaron half-naked standing in my kitchen was the hardest thing I had ever had to do. It was a one-night stand, and it would not have been fair to let him think it could be anything more. He had been honest with me this morning about me being his first one-night stand. I couldn't be upset with him for how he conducted his personal business. It must be hard for someone like Aaron to know if a woman wanted to be with him for who he was, or if they were simply after his money.
At least with call girls, he knew.
I was glad he’d worn a condom. I wasn't worried about getting pregnant, and now I wouldn’t have to worry about any of the other consequences of unprotected sex. Amazing sex. The best mind-blowing sex of my life.
I might as well ask for the crazy cat lady starter kit for my next birthday. I was never going to be satisfied by another man after what Aaron gave me last night.
It wasn't about the sex. It was about the man who’d given it to me—and boy did he give it to me—again and again. I stopped counting after the fourth or fifth. How long had he lasted inside me?
I was still swollen and sore, and yet the sight of him this morning, standing barefoot in the kitchen in only his jeans, made me wet. Thinking of him made me wet. When would I be able to think of him without wanting him to do nasty things to me?
I got to work an hour earlier than usual. Leona’s text had sounded important. Otherwise, I would have spent the morning in bed with Aaron. It had been my original intention when he told me he wasn't sneaking out in the middle of the night.
I was disappointed things hadn’t worked out.
I had often read in romance novels how the loving couple held each other during the night. Aaron had mastered the art of spooning, but that wasn't the only thing Aaron was masterful at. I had one incredible night with my Adonis. I would remember it fondly and be grateful I had experienced it at all.
I entered The Boutique and went in search of Leona. What was so important that I had to forgo the opportunity to enjoy Aaron’s company this morning? As great as it was, sex would never interfere with my career. I had to be able to support myself. I was not going to be someone’s trophy wife—chances were I was never going to be anyone's wife. I had only myself to rely on.
I reached Leona’s office, knocked on the door, and opened it.
“Good morning, Katie.” Leona’s voice was chipper for this early hour. She must have had a tall Americano—or two, I would wager, by the way she was bouncing off the walls.
“Come in, sit down.”
“Good morning to you, too. You’re quite chipper this morning.”
“I’ve been up for hours working on logistics.”
“Logistics?”
“Yes, logistics.” Leona came out from behind her desk and hugged me. “Congratulations, you have just been promoted to manager.”
“What happened to Haley?” My voice cracked with panic.
“No, no. It’s nothing like that. Haley’s doctor thinks it’s best if she doesn't spend eight hours a day on her feet. She is going to work with Aleksander at the main office behind a desk, so you’re being promoted early.”
I sat stunned. Had I blown off Leona’s text and spent the morning in bed with Aaron, Leona might have thought me unreliable and she might not have made the offer. Thank God common sense had prevailed. With the extra income, I would be able to pay off my student loans early, and I’d no longer need to fleece my brothers at pool for extra cash.
Now I would do it just to stick it to them.
“What about my internship?” I needed to put in the hours at the main office to complete my degree. How would that work?
“You will be getting credit by mentoring other interns. You will have to go to the main office later today and sign a contract with Aleksander. You’ll spend one morning a week at the main office and the remainder running things here.”
“Thank you, thank you.” I got up and hugged Leona.
“Don't thank me. Thank Haley when you see her. She’s the one who chose you as her successor and made the arrangements so it won't affect your internship.”
“If both of you hadn’t given me a chance in the beginning, I wouldn’t be here, so you deserve it, too.”
The front door chimes went off and I jumped. “We’re not open!”
“Don't worry, it’s Richard and his brother. Remember, he’s coming in to see if he wants to take over for Richard.”
“I knew someone was being considered, but since when does Richard have a brother?”
Leona just laughed and headed out of her office and into The Boutique.
I felt totally out of the loop. I had grown up in Tranquility and had never heard anything about another Van de Graaf sibling. Everyone knew about Richard and Evonne. Who was this secret sibling and where had he been hiding?
Boarding school, I assumed. And now this spoiled, self-entitled, rich son of Mr. Van de Graaf, who had never so much as stepped fo
ot into the building, thought he could fill Richard’s shoes? Richard, who had spent his entire life committed to this company?
I shook my head in disbelief.
It was a shock to everyone when Richard announced he was leaving to run a bed and breakfast on some island with his girlfriend, Mackenzie. I liked Mackenzie. She understood how hard it was for me when I lost my father since Makenzie herself had lost hers only a year ago. After meeting her, it was easy for me to understand how Richard could fall in love with her. She was beautiful inside and out.
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Better put on my best VIP smile. After all, this guy could possibly be my new boss. I was a designer, only helping in The Boutique while Haley was on maternity leave. I would eventually be returning to the main office. If I didn't like the new guy, I could always decide to work on the men’s line. I liked Haley’s husband Aleksander. I could work for him. At least I had options.
I followed Leona out into The Boutique. I heard voices and recognized Richard’s bold laugh. At least the new guy had a sense of humor.
I stopped in my tracks when I heard another familiar laugh. It couldn't be. It had to be a coincidence or my overactive imagination. I was thinking about him, so naturally I was going to hear his voice everywhere.
My smile faded quickly when I heard Leona squeal, “Aaron, it’s been too long!”
It might have been a coincidence to hear a laugh like his, but someone with the same name? This was bad… very, very bad. Shit, I swore to myself. This was why I didn’t do one-night stands. His name was Walsh, not Van de Graaf. Had he lied to me about his name?
No. It was Haley who had told me his name was Walsh.
I slept with the new boss.
The thought sent my heart plummeting to my stomach and I swallowed back a surge of nausea. I took hold of the display table on my right. I was going to vomit. I was going to vomit on his new size fourteen Boardroom and Beyond shoes.
I took several deep calming breaths. I could not let it rattle me. I would put up a good front and then deal with Mr. Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing in private.
Bastard Heir (The Heirs Book 3) Page 6