Dios. He closed his eyes and raised unsteady hands to thrust through his hair.
He was going to be a father.
Of course he’d already had a couple of days to come to terms with the knowledge. Despite his taunt to Chloe about proving there was a baby, he’d known she hadn’t lied.
But nothing had prepared him for seeing the tiny heartbeat on the monitor. The tender, protective emotions that had rushed through him had been so intense and threatening that he’d done the only thing he knew how to do. He’d shut down emotionally and left rather than deal with them.
His gaze moved around his office. There were no pictures on the wall of family or loved ones. Nothing of sentimental value. He had been a confirmed bachelor, with no ties of a wife or child.
And yet now he would have one, if not both.
The image of Chloe this morning in her lacy underwear flashed through his head, stirring his blood. If Dr. Flores hadn’t been on her way over, he would’ve taken Chloe again. Reminded her exactly what they’d had, what they would once more have.
Cristo, but he wanted her with a ferocity that he wasn’t accustomed to. She brought out everything primal within him. And now that she carried his child, the desire increased to possess her on every level. And he would. All in good time.
He leaned back in his chair and looked out over the city, spinning a pen between his fingers.
Chloe knew her options to simply be his lover or become his wife. The question was which she would choose. And which did he prefer? When he realized the answer to what he preferred, it unsettled him more than he cared to admit.
Chloe watched in disbelief as another man walked into Andrés’s room, carrying a stack of clothing on hangers. This was the fifth man to bring in clothes for her.
“I don’t understand why he’s doing this,” she muttered and shook her head.
“Because he wants you to be happy, señorita. It is his way of showing that he cares.” Rosa patted her arm, beaming up at her. Then she turned her focus back to the men and began ordering instructions in rapid-fire Spanish.
Wanted her to be happy? Cared about her? She bit her lip to restrain the incredulous laugh that nearly escaped. That seemed incredibly far-fetched, but perhaps Rosa was simply a romantic at heart.
She watched the older woman take control of the situation, once again thankful for her presence. Rosa had been nothing but attentive and sweet to her today, and Chloe had already grown quite fond of Rosa. She hadn’t been fussed over quite so much since her mother had died.
Her heart ached again and she realized how much she missed her mom. Especially at such an emotional, confusing time when she would’ve given the perfect advice.
Chloe sighed and followed the men to the walk-in closet to further explore her new wardrobe. There were dresses, pants, and shirts of various sizes, some geared for pregnancy. But all were the finest quality and lacking price tags again.
Jerking her fingers from the red silk dress she’d been touching, Chloe closed her eyes, trying hard not to feel like she’d become Andrés’ latest purchase.
“They will look lovely on you with your coloring,” Rosa said warmly, approaching her again. “Can I bring you tea, Chloe? Or perhaps a snack? You barely touched your lunch.”
“I’m really not very hungry,” she murmured and folded her arms across her chest.
For a brief moment, she considered the crazy idea of begging the housekeeper to help her, explaining everything that had happened. Surely she would understand Chloe’s position and emotional resentment.
As if the older woman could read her mind, Rosa said, “Andrés is a good man, señorita. I promise. Give yourself a bit of time and I know you will see this.”
“A good man? Forgive me if I’m not in a hurry to agree.” Chloe couldn’t keep the bitterness from her tone.
The housekeeper stepped away with a wary look, her brows drawn together in a scowl. “There is much you do not know about him, señorita. Much you do not understand,” Rosa said, her voice low and unsteady. That she’d taken offense was apparent now. “You should not be so quick to judge.”
“Why? He certainly seems quick to judge me?” Chloe bit her cheek, regretting her outburst when she could use this opportunity to learn more about Andrés. “What don’t I know? Please, I only want to understand him.”
“No,” Rosa said vehemently, avoiding Chloe’s gaze. “I will say no more.”
With a groan of frustration, Chloe had to restrain herself from running after the housekeeper when she left the room. But what would be the point? Rosa wouldn’t help her or say anything further—she’d made her loyalties clear.
She considered trying to find a phone or a computer and then contacting her friend Martha to beg for help. But even if Chloe did manage to get back to the States, she could well imagine what would happen the moment the baby was born.
Andrés would descend on her with a legal team that would make her knees shake with terror. She’d go broke fighting to keep her child, and in the end he would still win. Just like he’d threatened. My God, she couldn’t even imagine. Just the idea of losing her baby or walking away after it was born made her stomach hurt. He’d left her no other choice than to stay. Maybe hope that Andrés grew a heart—or at least a conscience—and changed his mind.
Tears of frustration blurred her vision and she shook her head, walking to the window to again look out at the beautiful Catalonian countryside.
She might have been in the middle of paradise, but it was her own personal hell.
Andrés arrived home from the office in the wee hours of the morning. He’d been in multiple meetings and on numerous phone calls after what he’d thought was an airtight deal had fallen through just before the business day ended.
He’d rung Rosa and asked her to inform Chloe that he would not be returning tonight. Initially he’d planned to stay in his condo in the city, but then as the hours wore on, he’d found Chloe constantly on his mind. The need to see her and touch her had dominated his thoughts, until finally he’d had his chauffer pick him up and return him back to the villa.
When Andrés opened the door to his bedroom, he found all the lights turned off, with only the light from the moon pouring in through the high window. Sure enough, Chloe was in bed, sprawled out in the middle and obviously not expecting his return.
His lips curled into a slight smile as he loosened his tie and began to undress. As he approached the bed he realized she’d ignored all the expensive nightgowns he’d bought for her and wore a T-shirt instead.
When he stood above the bed he let out a silent laugh. His T-shirt, apparently. Amazing she’d found it. It was likely the only one he owned. The shirt had been a gift from the children’s football league he’d sponsored last spring.
Chloe had kicked off the sheets, and his gaze slid over her exposed body. Somehow his shirt, clinging to her breasts and ending mid-thigh, was much sexier on her at this moment than any of the dainty nightgowns he’d bought.
Had she worn it to defy him? Or perhaps because she’d missed him and wearing his shirt made her feel closer to him? He almost laughed derisively at the second idea. She hated him. Fortunately, some of the hate could easily be transferred into desire, which he’d proven time and time again.
Thrusting a hand through his hair, he gave a murmur of surprise to realize some of his stress had vanished at having simply watching Chloe sleeping in his bed.
Once he was undressed, he slipped into bed naked, never having been one to wear pajamas. He reached for her and pulled her back against him, wondering if she’d protest even in sleep. But she only stirred slightly and then snuggled back against him.
He slid his palm down to her stomach, felt the swell of her pregnancy, and was gripped with a powerful sense of content. Satisfaction.
Brushing a kiss at the nape of her neck, he tried not to think about how such a complicated woman could be such a balm to his soul.
When Andrés woke the next morning, he found Chlo
e asleep and curled up, facing him now. One hand splayed across his chest, while her head nestled against his shoulder.
Pleasure slipped through him and he blinked the rest of the drowsiness away, placing his arm around her lower back to draw her closer. It seemed natural waking next to her. Having her lush, hot body warming his.
She let out a soft sigh and tilted her head back, an unintentional offering of her mouth to him. And who was he to decline such a tempting invitation?
Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers, needing just a quick taste. She was soft and sweet, just like the moan she emitted at his caress.
His blood quickened and he deepened the kiss, parting her lips with his own to explore the temptation inside. He thrilled when she responded. Twisting her body until she was nearly on top of him and returning his kiss.
Dios, but he wanted her. Over the summer he’d experienced pleasure with her that was unmatched in any of his previous partners, a soul-deep connection that seemed far too intense to be healthy. And yet he couldn’t fight it. Would never be able to. And for over two months now he had gone without a woman’s touch, had lain in his bed and fantasized about their one passionate night together.
Now she was here in his bed, her body willing in his arms. Chloe was his. He’d been a fool to let her walk away, no matter her transgressions. Their passion had been real over the summer.
Cristo, he would wait no longer.
Andrés gave a soft growl low in his throat and tugged his shirt off of her. Then he rolled her onto her back, covering her body with his own.
Chapter 7
This simply had to be the most realistic dream yet.
Chloe moaned and kissed Andrés back, flicking her tongue against his more boldly than she could ever recall being. She didn’t want to wake up from the sensuality. Didn’t want to open her eyes to discover the wonderful weight of Andrés’s body wasn’t on top of her.
Even after hating him for his horrible treatment of her, she’d spent months wanting him. Tossing and turning in her bed at night, only to have sensual dreams of him when she did fall asleep.
But never were the dreams this vivid, this real. When his hands cupped her breasts, she gasped and arched into him, electric tingles shooting over her nerve endings. She writhed beneath him, begging him for more and to never stop.
“Sí, cariño. I will give you more,” he made the husky promise. “Anything you want, Chloe.”
His mouth covered one taut nipple and then the other, drawing upon them and spilling heat between her thighs.
So good. The dream was so good this time. So real. She thrust her hands into his hair and lifted her hips against his, needing him to touch her, to bring her release.
Rough hands caught her panties and plucked them from her body. Then his skilled fingers slipped between her legs. Stroking her, penetrating her, pushing her higher to the peak of pleasure.
Andrés’s strong, masculine thighs parted hers, and a moment later his thick erection probed the tender flesh between her legs.
Alarm bells went off in her head. No, it was too real. Her subconscious screamed for her to wake up, to end this dream.
She let her lashes flutter open…just as Andrés thrust into her. Her body bowed as shock ripped through her, mingling with a pleasure so intense it threatened to undo her. Awake. It was real.
“Andrés,” she whispered thickly, trying to shake her head.
“Yes, Chloe, say my name.” His gaze was hot enough to burn the depths of her soul. “Ah, cariño.” He sank another inch into her body, causing her to cry out with sensation.
She reached out to push him off her, but starving desire made her dig her nails into his shoulders instead. She lifted her hips to bring him deeper, her heart pounding as if she’d run a marathon. The blood in her veins sizzled with heat and need. And yet still, her mind wanted to fight it. To fight the consuming passion that ensnared both of them. “Please…we shouldn’t.”
“We should, cariño.” He began to ride her and when she moaned low in her throat, triumph flickered his eyes.
And then the pleasure consumed her, robbing her ability to want anything but him to continue. Wanting for him to fill that hollow ache that had existed since they’d been apart. She was back in Spain. In Andrés’ arms and his bed, and no matter how much she wanted to resent him, she couldn’t. Chloe gave a sob of pleasure and surrendered herself to him—body, mind, and soul.
She followed his rhythm, her moans mingling with his. He moved deep inside her, deeper than seemed possible. Her chest tightened and she gasped in air. Each thrust he made spun her pleasure higher and higher, until it toppled over and she was flying. She clutched him and gasped while he found his own release.
When she could finally breathe and the pleasure had faded to delicious tingles, she found herself cradled in his arms, Andrés lying on his side now.
His lips brushed against her cheek as he stroked a hand possessively down her back. “I think you will be happy here, cariño,” he murmured softly against her ear. “If you would just let yourself be.”
A wave of cold reality flushed through her at his words. Replacing the pleasure and soft aftermath of his lovemaking.
How could she have forgotten everything so quickly? Andrés had vowed to have her back in his bed, and he’d gotten exactly what he wanted.
Last night she’d gone to sleep both jealous and hurt, knowing he wasn’t coming home to be with her. That he was instead staying in the city. She’d been tormented with the image of him in bed with another woman, picturing the glamorous girls she’d seen on his arms in the tabloids.
And then it seemed he’d returned, after God knew where he’d been, and decided to take her. And she’d let him. She’d had no willpower to push him away, had clung to him like her life depended on it, begging him to make love to her.
But this wasn’t about love or romance. It was about control and lust. Andrés might call it making love, but she knew better. It was sex to him. It would always be sex. Her stomach clenched with the realization.
How could she possibly live like this?
“Please, Andrés, let me go home.” The plea spilled from Chloe’s lips before she could stop it. “I promise I’ll keep you involved with the baby’s progress.”
She knew he was angry by the immediate tension in his body, the way he stopped stroking her back but tightened his hand on her spine, keeping her firmly against him.
“I have made myself clear,” he said quietly and lifted his head to look into her eyes. His gaze was hard, with no traces of passion left, but a hint of frustration she knew he wouldn’t want her to see. “You will be well taken care of here, as was clearly demonstrated yesterday morning with Dr. Flores.”
“Andrés—”
“What more can I offer you?”
“You’re not offering me anything,” she cried, not caring if he saw the sheen of tears. “Can’t you see that? You’re taking. You don’t seem to give a damn what I want.”
His jaw clenched. “And what is it you want? I’ve offered marriage.”
“I don’t want a marriage without love,” she blurted and bit her cheek. Jeez, why hadn’t she held her tongue?
His expression became shuttered. The hand on her back moved up and into her hair. “I see,” he said flatly. “You want the one thing I will never be able to give you.”
Chloe flinched and struggled to breathe against the tears that were thick in her throat. Never be able to give her. Her stomach rolled violently. She tried to pull away, but he held her still. “Release me,” she muttered.
“If you would simply—”
“Release me, Andrés!” She used all her strength to jerk from his embrace, pressing her hand to her mouth. She stumbled from the bed and ran to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before she got sick.
A moment later she heard the door open and bit back a curse when Andrés crossed the large bathroom to crouch down beside her.
Oh, God, why hadn’t s
he locked the door? As if her humiliation wasn’t enough at being told he would never love her, now Andrés was going to hold her hair back while she dealt with morning sickness?
But he did, rubbing her back and murmuring soft words until she was finished. Then, mortified and weak to her core, Chloe waited until he’d left to curl up and cry.
Cristo, he was a complete bastard. Andrés paced his bedroom and cast another glance at the closed bathroom door.
Chloe had been in the bath he’d drawn for her for the last half hour. He’d left her in the bathroom after she’d recovered, giving her the privacy she’d obviously wanted but was too proud to ask for.
Had he upset her so much she’d gotten sick over it? Or was it the pregnancy? It didn’t matter which it was—the guilt still stabbed deeply.
After he’d told her he could never love her, her eyes had filled with disappointment and anger, but it was better than the tears he’d seen moments prior.
He’d had to bite his tongue to keep from grinding out the harsh admonishment to her silly girlish dreams. Love? She wanted love? The hyped-up emotion could rip your soul apart if you indulged in it.
What Chloe didn’t understand was that it wasn’t just her he could not love. It was anyone. He refused to let anything close to that crippling emotion take hold of him. Not since he’d been six years old and watched it completely destroy his father.
The bathroom door opened and Andrés turned to watch Chloe step out, looking all too frail wearing a silk robe, belted around her tiny waist. Noting the ashen color of her skin and slow walk, his frown grew.
“You should be in bed,” he said gruffly, striding forward to sweep her up into his arms.
“Andrés, please, I’m fine,” she protested weakly, clutching his chest. “I don’t want to go back to bed.”
She didn’t want to be reminded of what had happened this morning. She didn’t need to speak the words for him to hear them. Irritation slid through him, but he changed directions and brought her to one of the leather chairs near the fireplace, setting her down gently.
The Billionaire's Baby Bargain (A is for Alpha) Page 10