Piper blinked back the tears that burned in her eyes. “It wasn’t. It makes me scared about this, though. About doing it again. What if—”
“Piper, there is probably no reason why you shouldn’t have a perfectly normal pregnancy. That’s why you’re here today.”
Piper nodded. “There’s one other thing,” she continued. “I’ve been working overseas for the past few years, volunteering with aid organizations. I contracted malaria a while back.”
May reached across her desk for the folder in which she’d been making notes before and made a few notations. “How far back?” she asked.
“Just under four years ago.”
“Any recurrences?”
“Not so far.”
“Okay,” May said, making a few more notes. “What sort of work were you doing?”
“Grunt work, for the most part. I’m not skilled in anything but you don’t need a degree to help where it’s needed. I basically just did what I was directed to do. Sometimes it was handing out food, other times holding an infant whose mother had just passed away.”
“It sounds like heartbreaking work.”
“It was at times, but at least I felt I could make a difference.”
“I can see why that would have been important to you. Right,” May said, standing up and putting her pen and folder back on the desk. “Let’s get you up on the examination table and check you over.”
To Piper’s relief the rest of her check went smoothly, inasmuch as something so intimate could go smoothly. May remained efficient and professional as she examined her thoroughly, occasionally asking questions and making notes as she went. She printed off a lab request and gave it to Piper.
“Take this through to the lab so we can complete these tests and then you’re all done. I’ll give you a script for some prenatal vitamins and folate. As soon as you’ve had the blood and urine tests done, you can fill the prescription and start taking them.”
“So you don’t see any problems with me falling pregnant fairly quickly?” Piper asked.
“Every case is different, but you’ve been pregnant before and there really isn’t any reason why you should have any worries this time around. The only thing that could be a concern is the malaria. Should you relapse while you’re pregnant, it could make treatment difficult and cause problems for the baby.”
Piper swallowed. She’d contracted the illness in Africa, early on in her volunteer work. It was her own fault in blithely ignoring the warnings and not keeping her antimalaria routine up-to-date. The wake-up call had been a harsh one. She’d been fortunate not to experience a severe relapse since, but there were no guarantees she’d continue to be so lucky.
“Problems?”
“Many of the drugs used in the treatment of malaria are contraindicated during pregnancy. Have you experienced a relapse since your infection?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Then let’s hope that continues, hmm? We’ll monitor you carefully, though.”
May continued on with some further instructions for Piper on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By the time Piper found herself back in the car park, her newly filled prescription clutched in one hand, Wade’s car key in the other, her head was spinning. What had she let herself in for? The ramifications of what she’d agreed to were suddenly all too real and with that reality, fear of failure stole anew into her heart.
During the drive back home she considered their agreement in-depth. This was a monumental thing she had consented to. She had to make sure that this worked, for everyone’s sake, but most importantly, for that of their child.
Wade let himself in through the front door later that night and heaved a sigh of relief to be home. As cute as May and Paul’s daughter Maggie was, a whole evening with her was enough to wear out the hardiest of men. She was going to be a heartbreaker when she grew up, though, that was for sure. A feeling of intense protectiveness swamped him—as if he’d ever let anyone near enough to Maggie for her to break their heart.
It worried him sometimes, this fierce need to protect a child who wasn’t even his. If he was this bad now, how would he feel about his own? He knew, better than most, how hardy children were. How they needed to push boundaries and find their paths in the world. But right now the idea of wrapping little Maggie in cotton wool and tucking her away somewhere safe for the rest of her life was inordinately appealing.
He couldn’t wait to be a father. His own had been no role model and he was determined to prove that he could not only be more successful than the man who’d refused to continue to raise him, but he would be a far, far better parent. No child of his would ever be discarded. Not for any reason.
He cast a glance upstairs. From here he could see the door to Piper’s room. The landing was dark with not so much as a glimmer of light from beneath her bedroom door. He was relieved she was in bed already—goodness knew every interaction they’d had so far had been fraught and contentious. After the day he’d had in the office where nothing had seemed to go right, and the evening with Maggie, who’d been way more demanding than usual, he was in no mood to go another round with Piper.
He turned toward the library so he could put his briefcase and laptop by the desk for an early start in the morning. As he opened the door he was surprised to see a movement in the darkened room. Only a slight glow from the fireplace lent illumination, casting a golden light across the very last person he wanted to see right now. She was dressed much as she’d been this morning, in her nightgown and her father’s robe. Except the robe had fallen open as she’d dozed with her feet drawn up under her on the wingback chair, revealing smooth tanned skin and the slight swell of one breast exposed by the open buttons of her pristine white cotton nightgown.
She must have sensed him in the room because she shifted in the chair, her eyes opening, searching for him. “Wade?”
She sounded drugged with sleep.
“You were expecting someone else?” he countered, dryly.
And just like that she was wide awake. “Don’t be ridiculous. I wanted to talk to you about the agreement. There’s an addition I’ve made.”
“An addition?”
When was she going to understand that she really didn’t call the shots in this situation? He shook his head wearily.
“Piper, the agreement was drawn up in accordance with our earlier discussion—including your specific conditions. You cannot keep on amending it.”
“It’s just one change.”
“Well, spit it out.”
“I’d rather you read it, actually.”
Piper walked over to his desk and picked up the folder she’d obviously put there. She opened it and took out the agreement, flicking through the pages until she found what she was looking for. He reached across the desk and flipped on the lamp, the sudden illumination revealing just how sheer the cotton of her nightgown was and how exquisitely shaped her nipples were as they pressed against the fabric.
His mouth dried and, if he hadn’t known better, he would have thought all the blood in his body had just headed south. Wade tore his gaze from her and forced himself to accept the document. He leaned down over the desk, fighting his awareness of her standing next to him, desperately trying to ignore the alluring shadows of her form. As if she was aware of the torture she was putting him through, she grabbed the edges of her robe and wrapped them tightly across her body, tying the sash firmly at her slender waist.
Wade felt a momentary tug of regret before forcing his mind to the matter at hand. Her closely formed handwritten notes used clear and succinct language. Very clear and succinct language, he thought with an inner smile. So she didn’t want him seeing other women. Given her response this morning it shouldn’t surprise him. She’d been prickly when she’d thought he had a booty call rather than a babysitting assignment.
Knowing she was jealous of his other women was strangely satisfying, but the knowledge was, at the same time, a little unsettling. How did he really feel about that? Did he honest
ly want to pursue an exclusive relationship with Piper? Relationship should be the wrong word, but just the thought of it was enough to fill his chest with an unexpected warmth. He quelled the feeling almost immediately. This was Piper Mitchell he was talking about. He’d learned his lesson once, the hard way. He wasn’t masochistic enough to involve his emotions with her again.
He straightened from the desk abruptly. Piper took a step back in reaction.
“Is that all?” he asked quietly.
She looked startled. Had she expected him to argue with her? To refuse to sign? Did she have no concept of what this child meant to him? Or how important it was that he regain from her what she’d taken? He’d have all but signed away his soul to get what should have been rightfully his all along.
“Y-yes,” she stammered.
“Fine, I’ll get my PA to witness my signature at work tomorrow and we can get down to business.”
Even in the muted light he could see how she’d paled at his words.
“Business?”
“Yes, Piper,” he said, stepping closer to her. So close he could see moisture glisten on her lips where she’d nervously swiped them with her tongue. “The business of making a baby.”
She swallowed, dragging his attention from her lips to the long graceful sweep of her neck.
“Right. But we’ll have to wait for the health check results to come back first, won’t we?”
“Piper, seriously, if I didn’t know you better I’d think you were nervous.”
She swallowed again. “No, I’m not nervous exactly. I was just thinking today that we hadn’t really gone into the mechanics of how we were going to create this child.”
“Mechanics?” He smiled. “Well, it’s been a while but I’m assuming people still do it the same way they have always done. You know—”
“So you don’t want to go for artificial methods?” she interrupted.
Her voice had pitched even higher. She sounded a little scared. Such a change from the fearless girl he remembered. He was starting to feel bad about winding her up so much. It had always been so good between them, why would she be scared of that? Maybe she needed a reminder.
“Now, why would I want to do that, when we can enjoy this,” he replied.
He reached forward, cupping one hand at the back of her neck and drawing her toward him. He bent his head, catching a glimpse of shock in her eyes before his lips captured hers. Her eyelids fluttered closed as he traced the seam of her mouth with his tongue, her lips parting on a gentle sigh. He deepened the kiss, pressing home his advantage and trying not to remember the last time he’d touched her like this. The last time he’d wanted her like this—with a force that threatened to consume him.
He swept his tongue along her lower lip before suckling it between his teeth, scraping softly on the tender membrane before releasing it again. Her body sank into his, the softness of her breasts crushing against his chest. The curve of her hips, her mound, aligning with his painfully hard erection. He craved her with a need he’d thought long suppressed. Wanted nothing more than to sweep the contents of his desk to the floor and to take her on that hard polished surface—to push up her nightgown over her waist and to sink between her glorious long legs, to her inner heat where he could lose himself, lose this overwhelming burning desire.
But, with a control borne of years of practice, he reined himself back, focused instead on nothing but their kiss, on inciting her to want him as much as he most definitely wanted her. Because when he took her to his bed, he wanted her to be a full and willing partner—physically at least. He would settle for nothing less.
Seven
Piper struggled to gather her thoughts, but they spun out of reach until she could only feel. Wade’s kiss was a mastery of seduction. His lips a tantalizing tease across her own. His tongue a hot wet rasp of torment. She wanted more than this, more than a kiss. She wanted to feel his mouth on her body—her breasts, her belly, lower.
She squeezed her thighs tightly together against the swell of longing that ached at her core and wrapped her arms around his neck so she could press even more firmly against his length. His body felt different from how he’d been before. More heavily muscled through his torso, his legs stronger. But one thing remained the same. She recognized the feel and shape of a specific part of him as if it were only yesterday.
She trailed one hand down his chest, to the waistband of his trousers where she fumbled with his leather belt, desperate to test the weight and size of him in her hand. To feel his silken hardness, skin to skin.
He groaned into her mouth as her fingers pushed past the elastic of his briefs and brushed the head of his penis. His erection jumped against her palm before she closed her fingers around his width and stroked. She felt the shudder go through him, heard him groan again as he tore his mouth from hers and fastened it anew in the curve of her neck.
And then the firm grip of his hand was at her wrist, gently pulling her away from him. Pushing her away from him. She fought to control her breathing, to get some semblance of control over her wayward behavior. Her body felt heavy, lethargic—aching with longing.
Her reaction to him—to the feel, the taste, the sheer craving she had for him—made her realize something that she hadn’t wanted to consider in a very long time. She still had feelings for him—very deep feelings. The thought was a sobering wake-up call. That Wade desired her, she had no doubt. She’d felt the throbbing heat of his passion in her own hand only seconds ago. But could she hope that his feelings for her would ever again be more than the disdain he’d so clearly expressed?
She took a step away from him on legs that felt about as substantial as threads of cotton. Piper looked up to Wade’s face. The light from the desk lamp cast shadows across his features. For a split second she thought she’d glimpsed something there, something from when she knew she’d held his heart in her hands as he had held hers. Before she’d systematically destroyed everything they’d had between them without realizing how much she would ultimately hurt them both. But that glimpse gave her a tiny shred of hope. Maybe they could make this work. Maybe, just maybe, they could build something new out of the ashes of their old relationship.
“I think we’ve proved we won’t have any trouble on the compatibility score, don’t you?” he said.
And there it was, back in full Antarctic chill. That aloofness that told her that while she might be able to affect him on a physical level, there was no way he was going to let her back inside on an emotional one.
She nodded, lost for a response.
“So there’ll be no more talk about artificial conception?” he pressed.
She shook her head.
“Then I think you’d better get off to bed, don’t you? You have a long day tomorrow at the office to look forward to.”
Finally, she found her tongue. “Will we travel in together?”
“No, I need to be in early. I’ll leave the car for you if you like.”
“Or I could use Dad’s,” she said.
“Rex’s Daimler was sold last year. There’s the hatchback the Dexters use but they’ll probably be busy with it tomorrow. What’s the matter, didn’t you like driving the Porsche? I can easily book a driver to take me into work.”
She shook her head again. “That’s not the point. What will everyone think if I turn up in your car? They’ll assume the only reason I got a job there is because I’m sleeping with you.”
He gave her a piercing look. “And that bothers you, that people might think—” he reached a hand out to trace her cheekbone “—we’re on intimate terms?”
She jerked her head back but it did nothing to stop the tingling awareness on her skin.
“Yes, it bothers me. I meant what I said about learning to work there from the ground up. I need to learn to stand on my own two feet. I don’t want any dispensations just because of who I am.”
He chuckled but the sound lacked humor, and made the fine hairs on the back of her neck prickle in reaction
.
“No dispensations like walking in off the street to a job even though you have no experience and no qualifications? Why does that not surprise me?” He rubbed his eyes with one hand. “Go to bed, Piper. I’ll make sure you have sufficient means to get to work tomorrow. Means that ensure no one will think any the worse of you, I promise.”
“Thank you,” she said stiffly. “Good night.”
“It’s night all right,” she heard him mutter as she walked past him and out the door. “Not that there’s anything good about it.”
Piper woke the next morning to the sound of Wade’s car purring down the driveway. She stretched and rolled over to look at her clock. 6:00 a.m. He certainly wasn’t kidding about heading to the office early. She rolled back into her previous position, seeking oblivion for perhaps another half hour, but the moment was gone. She couldn’t get back to sleep. She was starting work today and the prospect thrilled and terrified her in equal proportions. What if she made a total fool of herself? What if everyone hated her when they found out she was Rex Mitchell’s daughter? Would anyone still remember her or her reputation?
There were so many “what ifs” her head started to spin. She pushed aside her bed covers and flicked on the overhead light. Her eyes caught on the clothes she finally decided to wear for work. A plain pair of tailored navy trousers, teamed with a cream-colored blouse and a matching camisole underneath. She really needed to do something about getting some new bras, she thought. She couldn’t go braless forever. She’d considered, again, the idea of padding up one of the bras in her drawer with tissue paper but had discarded it as quickly. She didn’t want any other worries to occupy her mind while she started to learn the ropes of this next stage in her life.
Piper gathered her things and went through to her bathroom, a bubble of excitement beginning to form in her belly. She was starting work, paid employment, for the very first time in her life.
She stopped and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She’d changed so much since she had left here. Reinventing herself several times over from capricious daughter to single party girl to tireless aid volunteer. Now she was on the cusp of reinventing herself again.
The Pregnancy Contract Page 8