The Billionaire's Daddy Test

by Charlene Sands

  “We didn’t sneak behind your back.”

  “Got it.”

  Though in Adam’s rule book, he’d never go after his brother’s girl, broken up or not. “Now, can we talk about Mom’s birthday?”

  “Sure...” Brandon smiled with a gleam in his eyes, reminding him of the young boy who’d always gotten away with stealing the last cupcake in the batch.

  * * *

  Adam tiptoed up the stairs after he and Brandon hashed out the details of their mother’s birthday party. An hour had passed since Mia had taken the baby up to bed and he was certain the baby had already fallen asleep. Just watching Rose sleep was a relaxing balm, a way to calm his nerves and smooth out the kinks going on in his brain. She did that for him. He loved her with all of his heart, and it unnerved him how much she already meant to him.

  He walked into the nursery lit by a Cinderella night-light and peered inside the crib, only to find it empty.

  Slowly, he turned and crept out of the room. The door to Mia’s room was ajar. He peeked inside and found the two of them asleep on the bed. Mia wore the same dress she’d had on during dinner, the hem of soft periwinkle cotton hiked up to her thighs. Her tanned legs were exposed and bent at the knees, protecting the baby with her body. She lay on her side facing him, two perfect breasts partially spilling out of her neckline and long raven strands of hair tickling her flesh as she took easy breaths. As sexy as she was in sleep, Adam only saw beauty now as she lay beside his child swathed with pink-and-brown teddy bears on her nightdress. Her breaths were strong and steady.

  Tears stung his eyes, and the allure of their peaceful sleep brought him into the room. He stood over both of them for several seconds and recognized the yearning eating at him. He hadn’t spent any time with Rose today. He’d missed his nightly ritual of holding her as she slept and laying her into the crib. It was such a small thing. One he never wanted to miss.

  Nimbly, Adam kicked off his shoes and lay down on the bed. The mattress groaned and he winced, freezing in place. When no one stirred, he took great precautions stretching out his body, inching his way, trying not to wake either of them. Then he positioned his body exactly like Mia, a matching opposite bookend to complete the fortress around Rose’s little sleeping self.

  She was so small, so precious. Moving only the muscles necessary, he wound a curl of her blond hair around his finger. It was soft and as fine as silk. His eyes closed. He wanted to plant a loving kiss on her sweet cheeks. He wanted to speak to her, without her going ballistic on him, and tell her eye to eye how much he loved her.

  When he opened his eyes, Mia was staring at him, those jade shards of ice from before melting to a bright warm glow. “Hi,” she whispered over the baby. He could barely hear her.

  “Hi.”

  “We tried to wait up.”

  So that’s why they are on her bed tonight. After all her blistering, she thought enough to try to wait for him.

  “Thanks. It took longer than I thought.”

  “You were grumpy tonight.” She moved hair off her face, pushing the strands from her eyes. God, she was beautiful.

  “My brother brings that out in me. He’s gone. For now.”

  “Do you want to put her down in her crib?”

  “Will that wake her?”

  Mia glanced at the slumbering baby. “I doubt it. She’s pretty tired.”

  He nodded. “Okay, then.”

  “You go on and do it. I’ll stay here.”

  He stared at her for the beat of a second. “You’re sure?” She wasn’t going to oversee him putting the baby to sleep? He’d never done it without her watchful eye before.

  “Yes.”

  Mia was a mystery to him. She’d lied to him, pretending to be an innocent bystander on the beach when they’d first met, and had kept up the deceit for days. Normally, Mia was extremely possessive about Rose. He didn’t know what to make of her sudden generous attitude toward him. He certainly didn’t trust her. Days earlier, he’d put the wheels in motion to find out what he could about her. More than she was willing to tell him. And he’d be interested in learning who Mia D’Angelo really was. Did she have any skeletons in her closet? He felt justified in his investigation because she had great influence over his daughter. A father had to protect his child, even from possible unknown threats.

  Never taking his eyes off Rose, he slipped gently from the bed and bent to scoop her up. Fitting her little body across his arms, he braced her head with his right hand. She smelled of fresh diapers and baby shampoo, innocence and sweetness. He cradled her closer, absorbing all that goodness. She stirred from his movements, her hands fisting and her body arching in a stretch. He rocked her back and forth the way Mia had taught him, and she settled back into a peaceful sleep. Then he headed to the nursery and stood over the crib, hating to give her up. These were the only minutes in the day he could be this close to her. He could hold her all night and not tire of it, but he couldn’t chance waking her. He laid her down, and she immediately turned her face toward the wall. She slept the same way he did. He smiled and after a few minutes inched away, his eyes on her as he backed out of the room.

  Mission accomplished. He’d put his baby down all by himself. He felt over the moon.

  Mia was waiting for him in the hallway. “Is she down?”

  “Yeah, she stirred for a second but didn’t wake up.”

  She smiled. “She does that.”

  Adam gazed into the warm glow of Mia’s eyes again, the love shining through clearly despite the dim lighting. She looked mussed, a little tumbled and sexier than any woman he’d ever known.

  “I’m glad you were able to put her down tonight.”

  “You waited up for me. Why?”

  She shrugged. “You ordered it.”

  He took a step closer to her. Dangerous but he couldn’t help himself. “If it came out that way, I apologize.”

  “I’m teasing, Adam. Do I look like a woman who’d cave to bullying tactics?”

  “Definitely not.” She looked like a woman who needed to be kissed and then some. “Why then?”

  Her delicate shoulder lifted. “You were so tense around your brother, I figured you’d need Rose to soothe you.”

  “Oh, so she soothes me? Not the other way around. Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Uh-huh. Are you denying it?”

  After a moment of thought, he replied, “No, I can’t deny that.”

  “I didn’t think so. Adam, what’s up with you and your brother?”

  He sighed and gave her a long look. He didn’t want to have this conversation with her. He didn’t want to have any conversation with her. “I don’t want to talk about Brandon right now,” he whispered, taking a step closer. “There are better things to do.”

  She gulped, and her gaze dipped to his mouth and lingered.

  “Thank you for waiting up for me.”

  “It wasn’t anything—”

  “It was plenty,” he whispered. His lips hovered over hers. Her breath smelled sweet and minty and when she sighed over his mouth, he could almost taste her.

  “Adam,” she whispered. A warning?

  He thought she’d deny him a kiss, but instead she reached for his shirt collar and then slowly glided her fingers to the back of his neck. She locked her hands in place behind his head. The woman was unpredictable, and it only made her more appealing. Roping her around the waist, he pulled her closer.

  She gazed at him, her eyes filled with the same warm glimmer she reserved for Rose. Resisting her now was impossible. He’d seen her laughing with Brandon, and that was all it had taken. If he had anything to say about it, Brandon wouldn’t get within a mile of her.

  He pressed his mouth to hers, and she fell into his kiss with a whimper of longing. A shudder ran through him. She affected him. And he couldn’t help himself.

  Her lips parted, and he didn’t hesitate to plunge deeper and sink into the sweetness of her mouth.

  He hadn’t forgotten about that
night in her apartment. He’d been lost in her and the heady way she’d responded to him. He’d touched the most intimate parts of her body, and she’d loved every second of it. During these past few nights, he’d lain awake in his bed thinking about her sleeping down the hall. Thinking about where that night would’ve led, if she hadn’t dropped that bombshell on him.

  There would be no bombshells tonight and he was ready to finish what he’d started.

  Eight

  “Adam, we can’t.” The words fell from her lips limply. They were, and she was helpless how to stop it.

  His palm flattened against the center of her chest as he forced her back up against the wall. She was trapped by his body, cocooned in his heat. It was so unexpected, so thrilling a move her heartbeat began to pound up in her skull. His aggression excited her and his kisses wiped out any idea of a real protest. “Mia, tell me you don’t want this and I’ll back off.”

  He pulled away from her lips to trail hot moist kisses on her throat, gently nipping at her skin with his teeth. A path of fiery heat sprinted down her belly. She was dying with want, her traitorous body giving in to his passion, while a banner across her mind shouted no.

  He whispered in her ear, “I’ll take your silence as a yes.”

  A shiver ran through her, yet her mouth refused to open.

  Adam kissed her then until she was breathless. His fingers fumbled with the spaghetti straps of her dress, sliding them down. Then with a few hastened tugs, the garment fell to a puddle on the floor around her feet.

  She stood before him in her black bra and French-cut panties. He scanned over her body with a sharp intake of breath. “Mia,” he said almost painfully. “What am I going to do with you?”

  She had a pretty good idea and it didn’t scare her. Well, just a little bit, considering who Adam was. He’d been her sister’s lover once. She’d resigned herself to that already and didn’t relate the mystery man she’d searched for with this living, breathing, sexy man who’d just picked her up into his arms.

  He kissed her again and she held on to him as he carried her to his room.

  She was lowered down on the bed, and he stood in front of her, flipping the buttons of his shirt. His chest appeared before her eyes, toned, rippled and solid. She sat there shaking, in awe of his upper body. If the lower half matched his brawn...

  His eyes bored into her. “Come here, Mia.”

  The tone of his voice insisted on full obedience. Not that she would’ve disobeyed his command. She knew what she wanted and rose from the bed.

  And then her world tipped upside down. Adam claimed her lips again and again and then he found other places to tease and torture with his mouth. His touch was magical, his hands knowing how to please, his fingers strumming her like a finely tuned instrument. Those firm demanding lips took her to heaven and back. He wreaked havoc on her body, one hand holding her in place while the other elicited moans of agonized pleasure.

  “That’s it, Mia. Fall apart in my arms.”

  His urgent command did the trick. The magician made her come apart at the seams, and she crumbled into a thousand wonderful satisfying pieces. She had the feeling Adam was just getting started.

  He held her against him, cradling her so close she heard his rapid-fire heartbeat. Her hair was gently pushed off her face, tucked behind her ear and he placed easy quick kisses there to soothe her. She was loose like a rag doll and beautifully sated.

  “Do what you want with me,” he whispered.

  Another thrill traveled south to regions of her body just satisfied. To have him at her mercy made liquid of her bones. Trembling, wicked thoughts entered her head. She was needy and throbbing again, and as she reached out to touch his slick moist skin, her hands shook. He was perfect, trim and muscled and as firm as granite. He shuddered under her hands, and she gazed into his eyes. They were soft, wistful, almost pleading. She had power over him. It was a heady notion and the biggest turn-on.

  She lifted up to kiss him as she continued to probe his body. When her splayed hand reached beyond his belt buckle to tease the tip of his manhood, his breath came out as a sharp potent gasp. He was firm and large below the waist, another big-time turn-on.

  “Touch me, sweetheart.”

  It was as much a dare as a request.

  Mia wasn’t one to back down from a dare. She covered the length of him with one hand and stroked over his trousers again and again. Oh my.

  A deep barrel of a groan rose from his throat. And then she was being lifted again, Adam’s soft curses ringing in her ears about enough foreplay or something. She hid a grin and was lowered rather unceremoniously onto a massive bed. “You said do what I want with you.”

  “And you’re going to pay for that one.”

  “I’m waiting,” she shot back. Where did she get her nerve?

  He unbuckled his belt and removed his pants in a rush and joined her on the bed. Oh my, again. He had impressive architecture.

  He rolled away from her and fiddled with a drawer in the end table. While he was doing that, she calmed herself by looking over the amazing bedroom. The corner room was angled and two entire walls were windows that looked out to sea. The rooms were tastefully decorated and—

  He dumped five condom packets on the bed.

  Her brows lifted. She had no idea Adam had such lofty plans for her. “Still waiting.”

  He groaned and grabbed her waist, lifting her above him. She settled, facing him in a straddle position over his thighs. “I want to see your face when I make love to you.” Reaching up, he unhooked her bra and signaled for her to remove her panties.

  No more fooling around. This was serious. He was serious, and the intensity in his eyes scared her a little. Her arms were braced by his hands and he began to massage them, up and down, caressing her limbs as if she were a precious jewel. It was pure heaven, and her anticipation grew. With a simultaneous tug of her arms, she fell forward, and he captured her mouth and kissed her soundly on the lips. The tips of her breasts touched his chest. The coarseness of his skin abraded her nipples, making them pebble up. He flicked his thumb over each one, and a shot of liquid heat poured down her body. She was beginning to ache in pleasant, searching ways. Adam kept it up, kissing her, touching her, making her come alive again.

  She couldn’t ignore his need, pressing firm against her belly. She touched him there and more soft curses rang from his lips. Hot silk in her hand, she pleasured him as he’d pleasured her, his moans and grunts encouraging her to go on.

  Adam’s eyes were wild now, smoky and dangerous. He hissed through his teeth, a warning for her to stop. Then his palms were on her waist, guiding her up onto him. They were both ready. She sank down into his heat and two instant moans of relief fell from their lips.

  “So good,” Adam muttered.

  It was. She was filled with him, and it was only more beautiful when he began moving, his hands still on her waist, leading her, helping her find a rhythm that suited them both. He moved with her, slowly building up to a speed neither could maintain for too long. His hands went to her hips, and he rose up partway, encouraging her to wrap her legs around him. And it was like that for a while, each coming together, moving, looking into each other’s eyes as he drove farther and farther.

  He kissed her breasts, her throat, her chin, and when he reached her lips, he fell back against the pillows, taking her with him.

  He arched his hips and pumped, keeping his eyes trained on her. Her hair spilled over the sides of his face and once again, he pushed the strands back, maintaining eye contact.

  “Are you there?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  And then he unleashed the power of his body, sinking farther into her. She whimpered, her cries oddly quiet. It was so damn good, she was stunned almost silent.

  Adam climbed with her, his body taxed but relentless. She let go a powerful release, and this time her mouth opened to a scream of pleasure.

  Adam, too, made manly noises that seemed to promote hi
s inner caveman. He huffed and grunted, and then she fell on top of him in a heap of boneless rapture.

  By far, Adam Chase had given her the best night of loving in her life.

  * * *

  Mia rose from Adam’s bed and tiptoed past the nightstand, where two remaining condom packets were left untouched. She was sore in places she hadn’t been sore in years, but that wasn’t the worst of it. She’d managed to have sex with Rose’s father three times during the night. After the first time, the baby had woken and Mia went to her. Adam hadn’t been far behind; he’d apparently become a light sleeper, since Rose had arrived here. Adam had warmed her bottle while Mia diapered her. Together, in the night-lighted room, they’d taken care of the baby. Once Rose had fallen back to sleep, Mia handed her off to Adam to put her down.

  She’d been halfway to her own room when Adam took her hand and led her back to his big master bed. She hadn’t gone kicking and screaming, and that was part of the problem. It had been so good between them she hadn’t wanted the night to end. Adam hadn’t let up on her and she’d met him touch for touch, kiss for kiss. After bout three, Adam held her tenderly in his arms, whispered soft words of her beauty, but he hadn’t asked her to stay the night with him.

  And once he’d fallen asleep, she’d returned to her own bed.

  Now footsteps approached her room, and she listened carefully. Her door creaked open and Adam poked his head inside. They made eye contact and the door opened wider. Adam stood in the threshold, gazing at her in the predawn light. Disapproval marred his handsome features. “I’m going for a swim,” he said. “Mary’s not due for three more hours.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll listen for Rose.” If that’s what he was getting at. She always listened for Rose, and this morning was no different.

  He nodded, his gaze sharp on the covers she held up to her throat. After what they’d done to each other last night, it was a silly thing to do. But she felt vulnerable now and didn’t know what he was thinking. Or feeling. Adam wasn’t one to show emotion. Even now, after the passionate night they’d shared, his face was blank, his eyes unreadable, except for that note of disapproval she couldn’t miss.