I don’t believe all men are the same. That’s not what I’m saying. But the odds are against me. Logan is young. He can’t know what he wants for the rest of his life. He can’t blow his chance at having a family and I can’t give him one. He’s gorgeous. He should replicate those genes with some young girl who will be more than happy to give him whatever he wants.
Oh God, that hurts.
We’ve spent so much time together. This doesn’t feel casual anymore. I’ve been reckless with his heart and careless with my own. I’ll speak with him soon. But not yet. I can’t bear to be without him just yet. This is the happiest I’ve felt in so long. I just want to feel it a little longer.
Today, Daddy and I meet with Baker to go over the final divorce papers. He’s tried to play hardball but our attorneys are better and better paid than his, they’re not backing down. Not only is the house beyond his reach, he may now have to pay my attorney’s fees if he doesn’t go away quietly.
Walking into the room, my stomach churns at the sight of him and Phoebe. Why he would bring a date to his divorce, I’ll never understand, but that’s not my problem anymore. Her huge belly is probably meant to make me feel bad or bitter. It doesn’t. I don’t care how badly I wanted children. I’d rather go without them than carry his smug-faced seed now. She’s stuck with him and she can have him.
That’s right, sister. Enjoy the shitty sex. He’s too stubborn to learn any new tricks.
Sitting down across from him, my blood boils for the time I wasted. Shooting him an icy glare, he stiffens and grabs his girlfriend’s hand. His tactic has not worked. The only thing on my mind is Logan. Beautiful, tall, hot, ripped, hung, Logan. Getting out and going home to a mustache ride is motivation enough to keep my composure. I will not lose my cool.
In an odd move, urged on by his client, Baker’s attorney pours out a sea of photographs.
I’ve been followed.
They’ve got Logan and I having coffee, drinking a beer, holding hands, walking into my building, sharing an ice cream near the park, buying groceries, petting a neighbor’s dog and if you can believe, attending Sunday mass. Everyone is confused but Baker appears triumphant. His attorney is mortified. My attorneys snicker under their breath. He’s such a fool. I roll my eyes, but Daddy is elated.
Reaching for a photo, Dad grins from ear to ear. “Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell me you and Logan were seeing one another? I would have invited him to our dinner Sunday evening.”
Ignoring my father’s delight, Gregory, the lead attorney, gathers the photos and tosses the divorce papers on the table. He’s had enough. I’ve had enough. And by the look of Baker’s attorney, he’s had enough, too.
“Mr. Nelson, I’m not sure what you were trying to accomplish besides invading my client’s privacy. You and she are legally separated. You could have photographs far more incriminating than these and it would make no difference.”
Incapable of conceding, Baker argues that my affair with Logan began before the legal separation, but since they shot every single photo during the last three weeks, he has no evidence to back up his assertion.
“Sign the fucking papers, or I will bill you for every hour you have wasted dragging this out. You committed adultery. Ms. Emmerich has been more than generous. You did not have a pre-nuptial agreement. She could have taken you to the cleaners which is what I recommended. Sign them or we will go to court.” Gregory slams his fist on the table, and the only one who doesn’t jump is my father, who is still thumbing through the photographs.
After a quick conference with his exasperated attorney, Baker Nelson signs the papers and becomes my ex-husband. Well, they need to be filed, but I’ll remember this moment as the end.
Good riddance.
Chapter 13
Logan
“You’re making this harder than it has to be, baby.” I prop her shaking foot on the railing and position her, angling her ass just above my hips.
“Someone might see us.” Her voice is fraught with anxiety as she grips the ledge and turns to face me.
I’m doing this for her. She recently revealed a longtime fantasy about public sex. There’s no way that’s happening. But since she lives on the 18th floor and her balcony faces the park, she can get a taste with no real risk of exposure.
“That’s the fun, sweetheart. The thrill of being caught.” I lift her skirt and smile when I feast my eyes on her full, luscious ass.
“Where are your panties?” I groan, gripping and squeezing her perfect cheeks.
“Logan! You said to take them off before we came out here.” She makes a face, horrified that I’m judging her.
“Oh yeah, sorry. It’s your ass, baby. One look and I forget where I am and what I’m doing.” I lean into her back and chuckle into her ear.
While we kiss, I run my hand down her slit, gathering her wetness in my fingers before seeking her swollen clit. As soon as I make contact, she moans into my mouth, nodding then whimpering.
“Tell me what you want, baby?” I whisper, unzipping my pants while I wait for her reply.
“Give it to me.” She begs, sealing her lips to mine.
I shake my head. “Give you what, Kendra? Say it. Tell me what you want.”
She freezes and gazes up, mortified that I’m asking her to speak words when my hand is glued to her pussy.
She’s so adorable.
“Logan... you know.” She tries to give me puppy dog eyes. That will not work in this scenario.
I remove my hand and she winces, pouting with frustration.
“Say it, baby. What do you want?” I rub my hard cock down her slit, wetting it down, teasing her clit until her eyes fly open and she offers me her version of dirty talk.
“That. Please, give it to me. Put it inside me.”
I frown. “What’s that? Say it. Don’t be shy with me. You’ve had it in your mouth. You’ve sucked the come right out of it and begged me to give you more. You already have a dirty mouth, honey. Now, say it.”
She gasps in horror that I’ve called her out, but when I pull my dick away, she concedes with a vengeance.
“Your cock! Give me your cock. Please, Logan. Please, fuck me.” She pushes back, but I hold her steady.
“You dirty girl.” I chuckle and she gasps, squirming to pull away.
Hugging her waist, I ease in, savoring the way her walls make way for me, clenching my shaft as she welcomes me into her body. Purring with pleasure, she grips the ledge and lifts her ass higher, giving me a better angle.
Such a thoughtful girl.
“You know I love it when you’re my dirty girl. The dirtier the better.”
I thrust harder, grasping her breasts to steady myself and pinching her nipples to help send her over the edge. Listening to her soft moans, caressing her sweet ass while my cock is buried deep inside her, makes me lose my mind. Fighting my release, I slow down, but she doesn’t put up with it. Whimpering, she drives harder into me, wailing my name, before lunging forward as her first orgasm ravages her body. Lost in erotic oblivion, she begs me to keep going.
“Harder, Logan. Fuck me, harder.”
“Baby, you’ll fly over the edge. Come here.”
I pull her away from the ledge and position her against the wall. My nasty girl wastes no time. She sticks her ass out, spreads her legs and pleads for another orgasm.
“Just one more, Logan.” She cries, shamelessly.
“You, greedy girl.” I grip her hips possessively and plunge into her sleek pussy.
She surrenders completely, lost in ecstasy as waves of passion consume us. As always, we move together, captive to our pleasure and lost to desire. I’m so in love with her, I can’t help but whisper it as I feel her writhe aimlessly, shattering in my grasp.
“Baby, I love you. I love you.” My strained voice is hardly audible only seconds before I growl my release, thrusting deep and pushing her to stand against the wall.
I know she heard me, but she remains silent.
Turn
ing to hold me up, she kisses me sweetly, but says nothing in return. It’s okay. I know she feels it. I know she does.
Lifting her trembling body, I carry her into the house for round two.
Chapter 14
Kendra
“Did you forget your 2pm phone call?” Della barges into my office, tablet in hand, ready to review my schedule.
“2pm?” My mouth hangs open. I have no earthly idea what meeting she’s referring to.
“With Walter Kingwood. You made this appointment two weeks ago. Don’t worry, I told him you were out sick.” She narrows her eyes and examines me from head to toe. “What’s wrong with you?”
“My back is killing me. I think I injured myself fooling around with Logan on the balcony two nights ago.” I duck my head shamefully, but a part of me enjoys saying shit to shock her. I’ve had to listen to her sex stories for the last year and all I ever talked about was my stupid divorce. It feels good to contribute nasty stories to girl talk again.
“Serves you right. Stealing my man.” She smirks. She hasn’t completely forgiven me yet. If I wasn’t her boss, she might have made a bigger stink. Apparently, her possible engagement to another man didn’t extinguish her wandering eye. Della was hedging her bets, and I ruined her Plan B.
“I will not apologize again. Logan was never yours. He’s not mine either. We’re just dating.” I stop talking. It hurts to talk about him like that. I don’t know what we are. He says he loves me but we’re not compatible long term.
“Yeah, whatever. Listen, we have a long day. I’m having food delivered. What do you want?” She stares at me and hands me a few menus.
“Ugh, not Thai.”
“You love Thai.” She frowns.
“Not today, I don’t. I feel queasy. Not barbecue, too smoky. Not Italian. I’ve had some heartburn lately and I think the marinara will make it worse.” I hand off the menus and continue. I nix Chinese, Korean, sushi and when I get to Cuban, she finally growls in anger.
“That’s enough! What’s wrong with you?”
Before she can get out another word, I slap my hand to my mouth and run into my bathroom. Something about the mention of so much food turns my stomach and for the first time in years, I vomit. Hugging the toilet for life itself, I hurl everything I had for breakfast, bits and pieces of last night’s dinner and when I have nothing left, I expel bile. Della is horrified and attempts to be helpful. I’m utterly disgusted and incredibly clueless.
Stumbling to my sink, I brush my teeth and sip some water. While I stare in the mirror, wiping my eyes and mouth, I retrace my food steps. What did I eat? This feels like food poisoning. But I haven’t felt like myself lately. Maybe it’s a virus. Lost in thought, I neglect the reflection and sharp gaze of the blonde-haired girl standing behind me
She looks stunned and for the first time in weeks, a little less judgmental.
“Hey, Kendra. When was the last time you had your period? You’re late, aren’t you?” Her huge blue eyes grow twice as big.
I knit my brows. “No, I’m not late. I haven’t been regular in years.” Mentally, I count the days. I can’t remember when I had my last period. It must have been before Logan and I began fooling around. I’ve yet to take a bio break from sex.
“You’re pretty regular. You’re typically a week after me. I know because you’re always in a shitty mood and complain about being bloated. I didn’t think of it until now, since I’ve been hating you, but I had my period three weeks ago. You’re two weeks late.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’m not... are you sure?” I think back. Maybe I am regular. I don’t keep track of these things. When you’re not sexually active and infertile, there’s no need to keep up with your period. It comes. It doesn’t. Who cares?
Oh shit. My boobs.
I cup my breasts and wince. My bra feels tight. It’s felt tight for days. My boobs have been tender, but I thought it was because Logan can be overzealous in his devotion. Pregnancy was the furthest thing from my mind.
“Do your boobs hurt?” Della leans in, whispering as if someone is nearby.
I nod. “Yeah. But I can’t be pregnant, Della. I tried for years with Baker.”
“Did a doctor ever tell you you were infertile?” She pries, but I’m so panicked I don’t notice.
“Not exactly. No. He said he couldn’t find a medical reason I couldn’t conceive. I think he believed it was Baker, but Baker tested his sperm, and they were fine.”
She paces. “But maybe it wasn’t about his sperm. Maybe he lacked the ability to propel them into your cervix. You know, like they had no kick.” She mocks a kicking motion and I die a little inside.
I fake laugh. “I can’t be pregnant. I’m thirty-seven years old. The odds must have gone down. Surely, Baker’s boys work fine if he knocked someone up. I’m probably sick. Yeah, I’m just sick. I better go home.”
Grabbing my jacket, I race down the hall to the elevator before Logan sees me. He’ll know something’s up. I’m terrible at hiding shit from him. Like a cat out of hell, Della rushes up just before the door closes and flies in after me.
“You’re going to the drugstore, aren’t you?” She groans.
“What of it?”
“I’m coming with you. I don’t trust you to do this right.”
“Give me another one.” I demand, reaching for the box of six.
“Kendra! You’ve taken three! All of them came back positive! How do you have any piss left in you?” Della scolds and holds the box away.
“If you don’t believe the sticks which by the way, are 99% effective, then go see your doctor.” She shoves the box back in her bag and gives me a pitiful smile.
“Kendra, you’re pregnant. I know it’s not the way you wanted, but it’s a baby. You said you wanted that more than anything.” She grabs my hand and squeezes it.
I think of nodding, and saying yes, but the words won’t form. How can this be? It makes no sense. If I’m two weeks late, I might be four weeks pregnant and if I’m four weeks pregnant, he knocked me up that first week. Maybe even the first night.
Magic Man. He really is a magic man.
I hear Della make a call from the kitchen. She’s sassing someone, dropping names and bullying whoever is on the other side to get her an appointment in the next twenty-four hours or else.
“What the hell was that about?” Still dazed from my tests and possible news, I slouch down into the couch and think about what to do.
“I got you an appointment at your gynecologist for 5pm this afternoon. It wasn’t easy and they’ll probably give you attitude when you get there, but I don’t want you daydreaming about babies and then have this be some kind of fluke. I read in a magazine once where a woman thought she was pregnant, and it turned out to be a cancerous tumor in her ovaries.” She glances at her watch and tells me to hurry.
I hesitate. Maybe I want to daydream for one day.
Sensing my fear, she softens her expression. “Kendra, that isn’t you. I think you are pregnant. And if you are, please let me be the one to tell that asshole Baker he might need to take a paternity test. I think Phoebe may have used a sperm donor.” She winks and grabs my purse.
Chapter 15
Logan
For three days in a row, she’s made excuses not to see me. I’m headed to her place now. First, she said she was sick. I offered to come over and take care of her, but I can understand, sometimes you just want to be alone. Today, she returned to work and hardly spoke two words to me. We had an executive meeting, and she avoided eye contact with me for thirty fucking minutes.
Thirty fucking minutes!
It finally dawned on me. I know what’s wrong with her. I’m no idiot. She’ll have to explain herself, her plans and why those include cutting me off. I know this isn’t what she wants. We’ve been happy. You can’t fake something like that. And this... well, this is what she’s always wanted. Why would she push me away?
She takes a few minutes to come to the door, and she doesn’t
want to let me in. Cowering in the doorway, she seems tired and sad. She’s been crying.
“Baby, we need to talk.” I gently push the door open, and she gives in, walking backwards, as if I frighten her. When I step closer, she stops, drops her shoulders and cries.
“Sweetheart.” Taking her in my arms I lift her off the floor and carry her to the sofa.
“Logan.“ She takes a deep breath, then whimpers. “You’ve been good to me. I’ve... loved...” She chokes on her words as her lip trembles with sorrow. She can’t finish.
“Kendra, why are you trying to break up with me?” I already know the answer, but it makes no sense.
Her eyes pool with tears as she tries to compose herself long enough to say the words. I’ll make it easy for her.
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” I take her hand, kiss her knuckles and then hold it to my heart.
She’s stunned. Reaching for me, she pulls me closer and shakes her head. “Logan, I don’t know how this happened. I didn’t plan this. You know, I didn’t.”
“Baby, we know how it happened. We were both there. Do you think I don’t want to be a father? I knew we were taking a chance.” I hold her tightly in my embrace and wipe her tears.
“You’re twenty-eight.”
Narrowing my eyes, I sneer with irritation. “I know how old I am.”
“I mean, I’m not sticking you with this. This is a lot for you.” She looks away, clutching her heart. I don’t know how much she means it, but she’s pissing me off.
“Sticking me with my baby? Are you joking?” I can’t keep from scowling. What the hell is she talking about? Does she plan on raising our baby on her own? Is she out of her goddamn mind?
She stands and tries to walk away, weeping without restraint. She’s a mess, but she won’t let me make it better.
Magic Man Page 4