by Tamara Adams
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She frowned and pulled her knees into her chest. She should have brought her sweater. He was insane for wanting to make love to her out here in broad daylight.
"You're shivering. Come inside."
She threw him a mutinous look but knew she shouldn't argue. Especially when she was so damn cold! But something in her made her want to resist. He sighed impatiently holding out his hand.
"Come. I want to discuss something with you. That's why I came out here."
She pulled her jeans back up, afraid to look at him. He had come out here to talk to her? And then he did this?
Maybe he wanted what she did, maybe he wanted something more than just sex. The desperation she'd seen in his eyes when he was about to take her just now spoke volumes. Kendall felt a glimmer of hope inside her that he was going to let her see inside those thick walls he kept around him all the time…
She followed him through the house and into his office. She stared around the opulent room and sat across from him. He slid a stack of papers across the desk.
"It's just a preliminary document."
She reached out and picked it up.
"What is it?"
"It's an extension of your contract. Two children. Or more, in the case of twins."
She inhaled sharply, flipping through the pages. It was longer than her first contract.
Much longer.
There was very little about procreation in here. Only that she was to be available to him twenty four hours a day, seven days a week regardless of her condition. That meant- he meant to have her whether or not she conceived.
After she'd conceived. Dear God. This was insanity. He just wanted permission to fuck her.
All the time.
At the bottom was a new figure. Ten million dollars.
Ten million dollars.
A wave of sadness washed through her. She put the paper down on the desk, tears stinging her eyes.
"Well?"
"It's not right. I can't- I'm sorry but this whole thing was a mistake."
"Why? Because I hurt you? That won't happen again. I'm- I'm sorry for that. I will wait longer in between going forward, I promise."
She looked up at him in surprise. There was a look on his face she hadn't seen before.
"No, it's not that. It's just- it's not right for a woman to just abandon her child. That's why. And I thought I could have sex and not feel or want anything- but I was wrong. I wan't more in life than that."
He was silent, staring at her across the table. Abruptly he stood and walked around the desk until he was standing behind her. He leaned down, his breath caressing her ear.
"What if I want more too?"
She swallowed as he reached over her and picked up the contract. He sat on the edge of the desk, staring down at her. Slowly, he tore it into strips and let the paper rain down around them.
"You do?"
He smiled sensuously and leaned forward, running his fingertips over the bare skin of her arm.
"Yes Kendall, I do."
She smiled at him then, feeling that she had the upper hand at last.
"Perhaps we can work something out."
Six Months Later
Stephen Westland stood at the head of the aisle that led to the gazebo, waiting impatiently. There were flowers strung from every conceivable place, making the structure look a bit like a parade float.
A very, very expensive parade float.
About eighty people looked on as he forced himself not to pace. Surprisingly he wasn't nervous. He was just ready to get the show on the road.
It was a small wedding, considering that he was one of the wealthiest men in the world. But he'd only invited those who he worked with on a regular basis and those who he'd tentatively started to socialize with.
For the first time in his life, he had friends.
Kendall was to blame for that.
The other half of the wedding guests were of a different sort altogether. Kendall's friends and family were boisterous, fun. Even worse, they were casual. They were not impressed by his suits or his money. They were not put off when he stood stiffly in their hugs. No, they kept hugging him until he'd learned to like it.
Stephan Westland was now a hugger.
The music started, making him turn to face the audience. There she was, standing at the far end of the lawn. His beautiful bride. The woman who had changed everything.
She looked stunning as usual. But today there was something extra in her big beautiful eyes. Her skin glowed against the white lace gown where it billowed out around her.
He couldn't help but smile at her.
The Bride was six months pregnant.