Sugar Mama

by Tuesday Morrigan

  Theodora was surprised at her strength, surprised that she had been able to utter the word “girlfriend” without choking on it. She couldn’t help but think of the many times Alejandro had forced her to say that she was his girlfriend. What a fool she had been to think that there was anything real going on between them.

  There was a moment of pure shock. Alejandro glanced at the woman beside him. Ling smiled back at him, obviously pleased. He glared at her and then turned an angry face to Theodora. “She’s not my girlfriend, querida.”

  Theodora’s hard smile crumpled at the sound of the very personal endearment. It was the last thing she wanted to hear from him. So she masked her pain and shrugged one rounded shoulder. “Whatever,” she murmured.

  Alejandro’s jaw tightened. He glanced at her hand, took in the bottle of champagne, and then glanced at her face.

  Theodora stood stoic, waiting for him to finish looking her over. It was the hardest thing she had ever withstood. Alejandro muttered something in Spanish and turned to Ling. “I think it’s about time you left. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”

  “That’s no way to talk to your girlfriend.”

  The look in Ling’s beautiful eyes at her words made Theodora want to cut off her very own tongue with a rusty knife. There was so much pleasure in the other woman’s gaze. And the sight cut Theodora deeply. Somehow she managed to pretend she was indifferent.

  Ling looked from the cool mask she wore to Alejandro’s face. Her wide smile slipped.

  “Good-bye, Ling,” Alejandro said through clenched teeth. He was angry. Theodora could see a tic pulsing in his jaw. She was mildly surprised by the fact that the sight brought her just a little pleasure.

  At least she wasn’t the only one unhappy with the situation. Although he had nothing to be angry about. She was the one who had caught him with another woman.

  Ling jerked like she had been shot. The look in her eyes made Theodora feel for her for a moment. Apparently she too had believed that Alejandro Alba had scruples.

  Poor thing. The man was obviously a soulless bastard.

  Thankfully, Theodora was finding that out before she fell head over heels in love with him.

  Uh huh. Right.

  Ling quickly gathered her clothes, dashing around the living room picking up the scattered articles of clothing.

  Theodora glanced at her wondering if Ling knew she was practically naked. Almost as if an afterthought, the young woman pulled out a pair of jeans from the pile and pulled them on as she stood in front of the door. She grabbed the handle and looked over her shoulder at Alejandro. Whatever she saw there made her already tight face crumple into a grimace. The door slammed behind her.

  A tight, heavy silence descended on the apartment. In the stillness of the room Theodora could hear the soft tick of the wall clock as it announced the departure of time.

  “You should learn how to treat your girlfriend.”

  Alejandro’s chiseled jaw hardened further. She could see him clenching his teeth. After a few tense moments he spoke. “I told you she’s not my girlfriend. Ling is a barracuda. You are mine, Theodora. You are my girlfriend, querida.”

  For one foolish, heart-blinded second Theodora believed him. And then she remembered the sight of Ling’s body tangled with his. She lifted the champagne bottle in her right hand. She was slightly surprised by the fact that her arm moved. Her whole body felt numb. She knew her fingers were clenched tightly around the neck of the dark green bottle but she could not feel a single thing.

  It’s probably best that way, her heart screamed to her mind.

  “It’s better this way, Alejandro.”

  He stilled. “This is not happening,” he gritted out.

  She looked away, away from the anger she could see in his gaze. “We both knew the score. It was never supposed to be anything more than sex. And…” She trailed off, unwilling to admit that she, herself, had already taken things too far.

  Theodora feared she had fallen in love with Alejandro.

  She’d broken her own rule to keep things in perspective.

  She needed to get out now…before she did her heart any more damage.

  “And you don’t want to feel anything more than lust for me. Isn’t that right, Theodora? I’m good enough for a hard screw, but not good enough for anything more.”

  She shook her head at the anger she could feel coming off of him, the rage she could feel seething in the air. He was livid. “That’s not true and you know it.”

  “I know nothing,” he yelled. “Because you keep everything bottled up. I have to fight you for everything. Hell, I had to fight you to get into your bed and that was after we signed that damn contract.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

  He strode across the small space that separated them, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her until she was forced to look up at him. A dark fire shined in his deep amber eyes. “Are you really, Theodora? Tell me are you really sorry, because I get the feeling you’re very comfortable where you are.”

  She jerked out of his hands. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You might have left the corporate world, but you’re still using the rules of business in your new life.”

  “Excuse me?”

  He laughed, a chilling sound that made her break out in goose bumps. She shook her head and took a step back. Theodora had underestimated Alejandro. He wasn’t just angry. He was hurt. But it made no sense.

  He had nothing to be hurt about.

  He took a step forward, not allowing her any breathing room. “You want a bakery, you sign a contract, rent a building, and start baking. You want a baby, you sign a contract, rent a stud, and start fucking. Tell me, Theodora, am I at least a thoroughbred?”

  She stared at him aghast, trying to figure where she’d gone wrong. What had she done to bring on such strong emotion? She opened her mouth to say something, anything to let him know she had not meant to make him feel like a whore being paid for his services.

  “What are you doing here?” he said before she could formulate the words.

  “I was on my way to Katarina’s to celebrate,” she lied through numb lips. She would die before she told him she had rushed here, to his house in her excitement to tell him her good news. “I just wanted to stop by and pay you. You’ve done your job. Thank you.”

  Alejandro stared at her face for several seconds and then blinked. She could almost see his mind working. He had just realized what she’d said.

  “What do you mean I’ve done my job, querida?” he asked slowly. The words, the tone told her he was angry and barely hanging on to his self control.

  Like she gave a damn! Every time he called her querida, she fought an insane urge to reach low, grab him by balls and pull until she took away his manhood. Maybe then he would feel an iota of the pain she felt before him, pretending that her heart wasn’t breaking apart into a million sharp pieces, each one cutting her deeply.

  “I’m pregnant, Alejandro.”

  Theodora immediately turned away and placed the lukewarm bottle of champagne on the side table beside her and opened her purse. Almost mechanically, she pulled out her wallet.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Writing your check.” Theodora didn’t bother to hide her irritation when she responded. She was obviously pulling out her checkbook. She was sure he could see the white unicorn background on the top check.

  “What the hell are you writing a check for?”

  “For services rendered.”

  She could feel him staring at her for several, long seconds. Her skin felt hot and her palms itched, but she sat there with her heart beating rapidly in her chest, letting none of her discomfort show.

  “Services rendered, huh?”

  Theodora didn’t dare look up at him. She was afraid the emotion she was desperately trying to hold back would be in her eyes. “The deal was to get me pregnant. I’m pregnant. What else is
there?”

  “What about what we have?”

  Her gaze snapped to his. She stared at him for several seconds, memorizing his beautiful, lying face. She couldn’t even conceive that he was telling her the truth. She couldn’t for one second think that there was really something going on between them. The single thought would bring too much pain and it would be fruitless.

  They had nothing and whether she liked it or not she had to face the truth. She had seen the proof of what they had earlier. The truth was that he had a girlfriend and she…she had a baby growing inside of her that she had to be strong for.

  “It was just sex, Alejandro. We both know that. There’s no point in pretending it was more than that. There’s no point in getting emotionally attached. It just wouldn’t work out.”

  Theodora walked across the room on rubbery legs and handed him the check.

  Alejandro didn’t move to take the check from her hand. His dark eyes bore into hers. After several moments it became apparent he didn’t like what he saw. He growled. The sound was low, deep, and deadly.

  “It wasn’t just sex, damn it, and you know it.”

  Theodora shoved the check at his chest. He automatically grabbed her hands, caging her to him.

  She swallowed thickly, pushing aside the desire to claw her hands out of his grip. She didn’t want his hands on her, touching her, making her vividly aware of how much of a fool she was for starting to think there was something actually going on between them. But she didn’t want to give Alejandro the satisfaction of seeing her break down.

  “Stop running away from what you feel, querida. We both know you can’t outrun yourself.”

  She gave him a tremulous smile. “I’m not blind, Alejandro,” she whispered softly, her gaze glued to his broad chest. She didn’t dare look up, didn’t dare allow him to see the turmoil swimming inside of her.

  “Ling is not…she doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”

  “Let’s be honest. This isn’t about Ling.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For admitting that much.”

  Theodora’s eyes fluttered shut at the emotion she could hear in his voice. The problem was she couldn’t decipher what his tone meant. She wanted to believe he wanted her and was hurt that she was walking away from him, but she couldn’t ignore the niggling feeling that any man, even one who’d agreed to her stipulations would be offended when push came to shove that she was paying him for getting her pregnant.

  “Thank you, Alejandro,” she said, unsure of saying anything more.

  “For the orgasms or the baby?”

  “For both,” Theodora thundered before wrenching her hand from his grasp. She turned and grabbed her purse.

  “Damn it, Theodora. So I shouldn’t have said that, but you’re being foolish.”

  She shook her head, braids flying everywhere. “I’m being smart. I got exactly what I asked for.”

  He glared at her for several seconds before gritting out, “You are a coward.”

  “No, Alejandro. I’m a woman who knows that getting exactly what you paid for is more than plenty. I never had delusions about us being anything more than a business arrangement. I paid for something. I got that something and now our association is over.”

  Alejandro stared at her, shocked at her words for several seconds. Then, red heat rose in his face, highlighting his sharp cheekbones. He stalked over to her, heavy footsteps sounding despite the lush carpeting. He held the check out she had given him. “I refuse to be bought. You cannot pay for me, damn it.”

  Theodora stared as Alejandro ripped up the check into tiny pieces of confetti. She turned, opened the door and looked over her shoulder. “In a week you’ll be thinking more clearly. I’ll mail you your check then,” she said before closing the door behind her.

  As she ran down the stairs to her car, Theodora heard the distinct sound of something shattering. Alejandro had obviously lost his temper. He had thrown the vase sitting by the door against the wall.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sour Comfort

  Theodora held the lukewarm bottle of champagne up in front of her face. Behind it she could hear Kat sputtering when she opened the door and found the green glass bottle in her face.

  “Interesting way to say hello,” Kat grumbled when she took the bottle from Theodora’s weak fingers.

  “So what are we celebrating?” The smile that had been on her face crumbled when she saw Theodora’s face.

  “I’m pregnant,” Theodora whispered softly.

  “Whoohoo!” Kat screamed. Her arms captured Theodora in a lung squeezing, gut busting bear hug. “Hot damn. You’re pregnant. You’re actually pregnant.” Her arms loosed slightly, just enough so Theodora could breathe, and took a step back. She loomed over Theodora and leered. “I knew that big, gorgeous lug was full of sperm. Figured if he couldn’t get you with child no one could.”

  Theodora gave her a tremulous smile and cocked her head to the side. “Can I come inside?”

  “Damn. Look what good news does to me.” Kat stepped back and allowed Theodora to enter the apartment.

  “Yes, he did the job I paid him for. I’m going to be a mother, a single mother.”

  Kat closed the door behind her. “Exactly what in the world do you mean by that?”

  Theodora dropped onto the couch. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. I told you I was paying Alejandro five thousand dollars for his services.”

  “For his services?” Kat gaped at her. “Don’t tell me you actually think you were paying him to sleep with you. You didn’t think the five thousand was for that, did you?”

  “That’s exactly what the five thousand was for. Do you really think a man like that would sleep with me without the promise of thousands of dollars?”

  Kat stood in the middle of the room and braced her hands on her wide hips. “What exactly is going on in that pretty little head of yours? You weren’t talking like this last week.”

  “Last week I didn’t know that Alejandro had a girlfriend.”

  “Okay, you’re going to have to explain that from the beginning.”

  “There’s nothing to explain. It’s over. It’s done. And I’m pregnant.”

  Kat stared at her for long seconds. “Damn it, Theodora. What did you do?” she thundered suddenly.

  “Oh no you don’t. You don’t do this to me. You’re supposed to be there for me. I’m your friend, remember?”

  “I remember exactly who I am. That’s why I’m asking you what is going on. You’re not telling me everything.”

  “I caught him with another woman, his girlfriend to be specific.” Theodora’s gaze caught Kat’s. “She was wearing only a bra and panty set. I had come there, champagne in hand, to celebrate my good news. Guess I should have called first.”

  Kat turned on her heel. “I think we’re going to need something stronger than champagne for this conversation.”

  “I second that,” Theodora yelled at Kat’s retreating back. “I need the fucking hard stuff. Something to drown out the pain,” she muttered to herself.

  When Katarina entered the room she was holding two bottles of alcohol. In one hand she held a light wine with more flavor than alcohol. In the other was large dark bottle of Tennessee whiskey. Kat handed Theo the larger, darker bottle.

  Theodora wrenched the cap of the bottle with a savage, angry movement. She lifted the bottom to her thirsty lips. With a raging cry she slammed the bottle on the wooden coffee table in front of her.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Katarina asked with large, frightened eyes.

  For a second Theodora feared that a giggle would escape from her quivering lips. But she tamped the feeling. Kat was obviously worried about her sanity.

  She screwed the cap back on the bottle and pushed it away from her with regret. “I can’t drink. The bastard got me pregnant, remember?”

  “Oh.” Katarina’s full red lips were a shocked circle. “I totall
y forgot that you were…”

  “You’re not the only one,” Theodora finished with an angry laugh.

  “Huh, I guess we’ll have to get used to not getting drunk,” Kat admitted softly.

  “Among other things.”

  Katarina eyed her for several seconds. “I’m not sure…”

  Theodora gave her a small smile. Kat was at a loss of what to do to continue on this road of bonding and man hating when there was no alcohol. Theodora tried to make it easier. “We can just go to step two and get something horribly bad for us. Got any cake?”

  Kat shook her head. “I’m on a diet, remember?” After several seconds she burst from her seat. “I got a bag of M&Ms from a coworker the other day.”

  Almost immediately memories assailed Theodora. She could feel Alejandro’s hungry mouth moving over her, nibbling her tender flesh, sucking the melting chocolate off her belly, licking, devouring her as he ate the melted chocolates off her body.

  “Shit,” Theodora growled when she realized her eyes were watery with tears. Large tears slid down her cheeks falling to land on her shirt. When Kat came back in the room she was openly sobbing. The sound was heart wrenching, painful, and desolate even to her own ears.

  “It will be okay, sweetheart. Don’t cry,” Kat murmured as she wrapped her arms around Theodora’s quivering shoulders.

  “Like hell it will be,” Theodora growled vehemently. “If you even knew what I let that bastard do to me, you wouldn’t be saying that.”

  “Don’t think about it, honey.”

  “I can’t help it, Kat. Can’t help but think about how I got pregnant.”

  “Think about the baby. Don’t think about him. He’s not worth it.”

  “Damn right, he’s not. I hope it’s a girl.”

  “It will be. A beautiful girl.”

  Silence descended between the two friends and only Theodora’s sniffles could be heard. Just when Theodora had started to fall asleep, Kat pulled away.

  “I think we should order in.”

  Theodora smiled at her best friend. She knew how hard Kat had been working to stick to her diet. “It means a lot that you’re willing to kill your diet for me.”