Keep My Baby Safe

by Bella Grant

  She returned to the bedroom and stripped, grabbed the vibrator off the bed, and walked into the steamy bathroom. After putting her hair up in a messy bun, she tested the water, which was warmed to perfection. Her splurge on bath bombs a couple of weeks ago had not been taken advantage of, so she had three scent choices. She chose one called Ocean Spray, which sounded like the juice but was deliciously beachy in its fragrance once it exploded in the water. She missed the beach and hoped to go somewhere this summer. She hadn’t been on a trip of any kind since her honeymoon to Cancun, a gift from Travis’ parents.

  Diana placed the wine and the vibrator where they would be easy to reach, slipped into the frothy water, and slid down until most of her torso was covered. The bathtub was woefully small, and because of her height, she often propped her legs up on the wall so her body could stay warm. She did so now, and rather than cross them comfortably, she propped one foot on the wall to her right, while the other leg lay over the ledge of the tub. Sighing, she sipped her wine—gulped really—before grabbing her vibrator and switching it on.

  She let her mind wander, and rather than replaying an old sex scene she’d shared with Travis, she invented a new one. The vibrator splashed a little as she eased it into the water and over her clit, her usual masturbation technique. Rather than the impersonal toy massaging her clit, she imagined Travis’ tongue. He’d always had such a talented tongue.

  He flicked it against her clit, sucking hard, then flicking it forcefully until she was writhing. He slipped a finger, then another, into her pussy, moving them gently back and forth as his tongue drove her to madness. Her head tossed back and forth as an orgasm built more quickly than even she had been able to produce, and with a cry of passion, she released the climax and felt her pussy clenching around his wet fingers.

  Travis lifted over her, smiling, but he didn’t speak. In his hand he held her vibrator and guided her to hold it on her clit. He pushed her legs wider, holding one with his forearm so her foot was in the air, and plunged into her pussy with a cock she remembered as being larger than average. The man used his cock like a weapon of passion, driving it into her as her clit pulsated with the vibrator and her pussy began to clench tightly again.

  She forced her eyes open to look into his, and when their eyes met, her orgasm clashed like cymbals and she cried out his name, letting the delicious sweetness of her pleasure and passion take her. He cried out as well, bellowing her name as he spilled his seed into her body.

  Breathing hard, Diana frowned because the fantasy had barely started and she’d already come twice. She had always been a lucky woman because her body responded well and quickly to certain stimuli. She could come as many as three or four times if the man was talented enough, and Travis had been so good they’d set a record of eight in one three-hour session. With breaks, she heard Travis remind her in her mind and chuckled.

  Sighing, she set aside the vibrator to clean when her bath was finished, lifted her wine off the counter, and relaxed again into the water, feeling content but not as pleased as she wanted to be. The vibrator wouldn’t cut it much longer; she needed the real thing soon.

  Monday at the office, Diana was preparing her boss’ coffee though he often told her waiting on him wasn’t part of her job description. She didn’t mind, though, and wanted to butter him up so she could ask to leave early Wednesday. She doubted he cared, but a perfectly made cup of coffee first thing on a Monday morning couldn’t hurt her chances.

  Cameron walked in at five minutes to nine, his usual entrance, and she had his cup of coffee on his desk waiting for him. He lifted it immediately and sipped, then hummed in satisfaction. “Thank you, Diana. I needed this today.”

  “Didn’t sleep well?” she asked politely, though from his slightly ruffled appearance—which was odd for him—she knew the answer was yes. His hair, a beautiful brown, was clipped short and styled perfectly by his boyfriend. This morning, he had a cowlick in the back, and while his suit was perfectly ironed, his shirt was slightly rumpled and his tie was crooked.

  “Well, you know Ronnie is out of town, which just screws me up,” Cameron reminded her as he flopped into his chair. “If I had a big case going, I’d lose my mind.”

  Diana chuckled, wishing for someone to love her as much as Cameron and Ronnie loved each other. Surprised by her random wish caused by the touch of jealousy she felt, she shook her head. “Where is he again?”

  “He went to Dallas for some convention,” he explained, eyeing her over his coffee rim. “Did you know hair stylists have conventions?”

  “Apparently everyone has conventions, except lawyers and their assistants,” Diana told him, grinning.

  “Too busy researching other people’s mistakes, I guess,” he grumbled. He shook himself, looking at her, and said, “I sound like I hate my job.”

  “No, you sound like someone who isn’t sleeping because his boyfriend isn’t home,” Diana corrected. “When’s he coming home?”

  “Thursday.”

  Diana gasped as she rose quickly. “I’ll run out and stock up on coffee. And chocolate. And maybe some wine.” She put her hands on her hips, an expression of epiphany on her face. “In fact, I’ll come stay with you since you’ll have all my favorite things at your house.”

  “Sit down, drama queen,” he said with a short laugh. “You’re impossible.”

  “I’m irreplaceable. I’m sure that’s the word you meant,” she told him as she sat across from him again.

  “Uh huh,” he answered, sighing as he rubbed his eyes, speaking without looking at her. “You seem chipper. Something brewing in your world that needs my attention?”

  Diana laughed and nodded. “Well, I had a date Saturday for lunch, and it went really well. We chatted Saturday evening and yesterday. He texted me off and on all day! Which sounds annoying, but it wasn’t at all.”

  “Ah, that means you like this one,” Cameron said, sitting up and sipping his coffee, ready for the gossip. “Do you have plans for another date?”

  “Um, yes, actually, which I wanted to talk to you about,” Diana began, sitting back and wishing she had her own cup of coffee for this chat. He’d arrived before she had a chance to make her own. “He asked me to go out Wednesday night and wants to pick me up by five.” The question was implied by the look on her face.

  Cameron waved a hand dismissively at her. “We aren’t busy right now. Leave at three so you’ll have time to get prettied up. Who is this lucky fellow?” Diana felt her face warm, and Cameron threw his head back and laughed. “He must be special if you’re blushing.”

  “Shut up,” she replied, giggling and coyly looking away. “I have no idea why I’m embarrassed. It’s Travis.”

  Cameron’s chuckling halted instantly as his expression changed to one of piqued interest. “Oh really? As in the ex-hubby Travis?”

  “That’s the one,” Diana conceded, a broad smile on her face.

  “Well, do tell,” Cameron cooed, leaning on his desk with his chin in both hands, much like a teenaged girl would while listening to a story about her crush.

  Diana quickly told him about seeing him Friday night on her birthday and his buying her a drink, friending her on Facebook, and getting her number. After a quick summary of lunch, she said, “And now we’re going out again on Wednesday.”

  “Oooo, where are you going?”

  “He said it’s a surprise,” Diana told him, lifting her shoulders in excitement, her hands clasped. “He knows I love surprises.”

  “Well, damn,” he breathed, watching her. “You’re absolutely smitten.”

  “Always have been,” she admitted. Grateful for a boss she was close with, she leaned forward and added, “I’ll be honest, I never stopped loving him. Which scares the hell out of me.”

  Cameron nodded knowingly. “I knew you hadn’t, even if you tried to hide it. That’s why you haven’t really dated since him.”

  Diana pursed her lips as she acknowledged the truth in his words. “Yes, I guess that’
s true.”

  “And it’s definitely okay to be scared. The two of you struggled with personal demons that destroyed your marriage. I know you’ve conquered yours,” he continued, eyeing her, “but has he conquered his?”

  Diana was no longer embarrassed when Cameron brought up her gambling problem. Part of the healing process, he always told her, was to talk about it occasionally to remind herself what she’d gone through.

  “He says he has, and I believe him. He’s taking me out on a Wednesday night at five!” Diana exclaimed, shaking her head in amazement. “He never would have done that before. Mostly because he was at the office until eight or nine, but you know.”

  “Oh, Diana, this is so wonderful! I’m very happy for you and hope it goes as you would like,” Cameron gushed. He slammed his hands down on the desk. “Damn. If Ronnie was here, he’d insist on doing your hair and makeup. The man wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

  Diana laughed. “I wish he was too! But I’ve got Alyssa. She’ll come over and help get me dolled up.”

  Cameron lifted an eyebrow at the mention of Alyssa. “That old bag. Hmph.”

  Diana huffed out a breath. “Come on. I know you don’t like her, but she’s my best friend. Has been since high school.”

  “I don’t mean any offense, but she rubs me the wrong way every time I see her,” Cameron explained for the millionth time. “I feel like she’s a bad influence on your good nature.”

  With a grimace, she admitted, “You know, Travis used to say the same thing.”

  “Aha!” Cameron threw a fist in the air. “We can’t both be wrong about her!”

  “I know, I know, but she helped me a lot when I got a divorce,” Diana defended. “I’ll keep her around a while longer.”

  “Well, all right. But I warned you.”

  “Yes, a million and one times, thank you,” she responded, offering him her sweetest smile and adding batting eyelashes to ease the mean girl tone she’d adopted. “Enough gossip. What’s on the agenda today?”

  “Ugh, more work, less gossip,” Cameron complained as he opened his appointment book to go through their schedule for the day and the week.

  Chapter 8

  On Wednesday at three, Cameron poked his head out of his office and told Diana to get out before he called security. She’d been trying to finish a document he needed for a client, but he had insisted it could wait until the next day.

  “But hey, no matter what you do tonight with your ex-hubby, you better be here,” Cameron said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

  Diana blushed furiously and waved her hand at him as if shooing him away. “Don’t harass me.”

  “Oh, girl, you wish this sexy bod would molest you,” Cameron called as he returned to his office. “Now get the hell out of here.”

  Diana finished gathering her things and headed for the door. Excitement buzzed through her, causing her steps to quicken as she left the building and walked towards her car. Alyssa had agreed to meet her at her house, though she was behaving petulantly and making snarky comments via text about Diana’s choice of date. Diana had no idea why Alyssa was so irritated by the reconnection, other than her irrational hatred of Travis, but planned to ask while she helped her get ready.

  She had splurged on a new outfit for the date, remembering Travis’ comment from Saturday that comfort was essential, but they would be going to dinner after the surprise. She had a perfectly respectable little black dress but didn’t feel right wearing that to a five o’clock date. Always practical, she had checked the weather for Wednesday before deciding on boots or heels, and long sleeves or short. The dark skinny jeans she’d chosen paired with strappy, four-inch heels and a flowing, shoulder-baring blouse was perfect for a late afternoon date. With a lightweight, matching jacket, the outfit could easily be perfect for an evening dinner. She hoped Travis hadn’t become fancy when he’d earned his first million.

  Cameron had tried to convince Diana to let him do a quick background check on Travis, which she felt was an invasion of privacy. He had rolled his eyes and told her he’d done it until he met his true love. She still refused, so he agreed to merely an internet search, what any normal person would do if going on a date with a stranger. They’d learned that Travis and his partner had created a company that was now worth millions, and that both men were individually worth almost as much thanks to investments in other companies that had paid off tremendously.

  Diana almost wished she didn’t know about the money. She certainly didn’t want Travis or anyone else thinking she’d traipsed back into his life so she could have access to his money. His parents wouldn’t believe that of her, she didn’t think. They’d always gotten along, and when the marriage had ended, his mother had called to check on her several times. Her mother hadn’t bothered until she thought about possible alimony checks. When she’d learned Diana had forfeited any and all alimony, she’d called her an idiot and disappeared again. Until the house had sold.

  Travis’ mother and father had always treated her like a daughter, though once the divorce was final, they had stopped calling her. Diana understood his mother was angry with her, and she had every right to be. Losing those two as her family had been incredibly painful, however, and she missed them almost as much as she missed Travis.

  When she reached her apartment, Alyssa was already inside, lounging on her couch with a glass of wine and another waiting. She had a key to Diana’s apartment just as Diana had a key to hers. They took care of each other since neither had much in the way of family.

  “You do know it’s not even four, right?” Diana asked as she dropped her bags on the kitchen table, chortling as she lifted the glass out of Alyssa’s outstretched hand and drank.

  “I always know what time it is,” Alyssa replied haughtily. “You ready to look beautiful?”

  “I know it’s a hard job, and I could never manage alone,” Diana sympathized, pursing her lips in a pout at Alyssa’s tone.

  “Whatever.” Alyssa groaned as she shoved off the couch and pushed Diana towards the bathroom. “Your hair already looks great, but we can pull a straightener through it to get rid of the strays.”

  “Okay. Did I show you my outfit?”

  “You sent me four pics while at the store, and another when you got home and tried it on. But”—she lifted a finger as Diana looked at her in the bathroom mirror— “I may have forgotten what it looks like. Is that it hanging from the shower curtain rod?”

  Diana saw it and laughed in self-deprecation. “I’m being ridiculous.”

  “Yes, you are,” Alyssa said as she grabbed the little stool Diana kept in the bathroom for while she was putting on makeup and pointed at it. “Sit so I can reach your hair, Amazon.”

  Diana laughed at herself and Alyssa’s comment. “Cameron wanted to do a background check on Travis,” she announced, wanting Alyssa’s opinion even though she could guess it.

  “Did you let him?”

  “No. We did search him on the internet, but even that felt like an invasion of privacy,” Diana told her as they waited for the straightener to heat up.

  “It kind of is, and if he was a complete stranger, I’d say do it,” Alyssa called as she left the bathroom. “Forgot my makeup in the other room.”

  “We can use mine!”

  “Girl, please,” Alyssa scoffed. “You have some mascara and”—she dug in the drawer where Diana kept her makeup— “some face powder, and an eyeshadow that looks ten years old.”

  “I have some lip gloss in my purse,” Diana defended half-heartedly.

  “What do you put on in the mornings for work?”

  “Face powder and mascara,” she responded, smiling at her friend.

  “My God, how are we friends?” Alyssa grumbled, dropping a bag on the counter and reaching for the heated straightener. “I’m so high maintenance, and you barely care.”

  “I care, just not enough to buy all that makeup. How much does that bag weigh?”

  “Probably five pounds
.” Alyssa shrugged. “And costs nearly five hundred.”

  Diana choked on her wine. “Jesus, are you sure you want to waste it on me?”

  Alyssa bent so their heads were even and smiled in the mirror. “It’s never a waste to help a friend look hot for a date.”

  Diana blushed and thanked her, wondering again how she and Alyssa were friends. They were very different, always had been, but their friendship was strong and had survived a lot: the deaths of Alyssa’s parents, the rocky relationship with Diana’s mother, Alyssa losing job after job because of her attitude, Diana’s divorce, Alyssa putting herself through cosmetology school and setting up her own salon, and Diana’s battle with gambling. They pulled each other through the good and the bad, and loved each other like sisters. And squabbled like siblings as well.

  “So, what made you decide to give Travis another chance?” Alyssa asked after several minutes of silence. She had finished her hair and moved on to her makeup, asking Diana to move to the kitchen table so they could both sit.

  Diana’s eyes were closed as Alyssa added a touch of eyeliner, claiming the baby blues needed to shine. “Well, he’s giving me another chance too.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question.”

  “True,” Diana mused, taking her time answering. “At lunch on Saturday, it felt like we’d never been apart. Despite the ugliness, we chatted like nothing bad had ever happened. And he said he could fall for me again.”

  “Again? You mean he fell out of love with you?” Alyssa asked sharply. Diana opened her eyes and looked at her, frowning. Alyssa picked up a brush to do Diana’s eyeshadow and opened a pallet. When she saw the look on Diana’s face, she defended her statement. “What I mean is, I know you never stopped loving him, even if you haven’t said it.”

  “I didn’t think about it that way,” Diana said quietly. If Travis had fallen out of love with her, had he ever loved her? As much as she loved him? A new form of nervousness filled her, concern for her heart and its safety in his hands. She stared off into space as she realized she might be putting herself in a situation that would end with her heart tearing apart like it had last time.