Bryan guided me into his bathroom. His fingers undid the buttons of my blouse, and his hands pulled it over my head. He released my breasts from my plain bra. He removed my jeans and cotton panties, groaning under his breath.

And I let him.

I let every part of this happen. He was in control, and I wanted that. Needed that.

For once in my life, it was so goddamn nice to have someone else take control. To handle things. To care.

To look after me.

After this day, I likely wouldn’t let it happen again. The control thing, at least, but for now, it was perfect. I was his, right now. I was pressed up against his chest, his dick hard against my soft flesh, and there was nothing more that I wanted in the world.

You love him.

I swallowed at the thought. It couldn’t be true. I couldn’t allow it to be true. But it was, of course. I’d fallen for this gruff man, even with the bad-boy past, the anger, the connection to Marcus. I was in love with my boss.

“Come,” he said and walked me into the shower, already steamy from when he’d turned it on a few minutes before.

Bryan pressed me up against the wall, the water showering over our skins, washing away the fear and sweat, and leaving nothing but us. Together.

“Oh god,” I whispered.

Bryan peppered kisses down my neck, swept my wet hair back from my face, and worked his way back up to my lips again. He licked them, then pressed his tongue into my mouth and claimed me again. God, how many times had we done this? I’d lost count.

I loved every single moment of it.

Him taking me, bringing me to the brink, holding me there, then delivering me softly into pleasure with steady hands. How had I survived before this?

I hadn’t lived or breathed. I’d existed. That was the difference.

Bryan pinched my nipples, and I gasped, jerked on the spot.

“Mmm, that’s better,” he said, and lifted one of my legs, wrapped it around his body. “Lean back, gorgeous.”

I leaned against the cool tiles, inhaling again, but holding it there, relishing the moment. “We’d better make this quick,” I whispered.

“Quick, huh? Is that what you want, sexy? A quickie in the shower?”

“Fast and hard. Fill me with your cum,” I replied. He brought out this side in me. Nothing was off-limits. Talking dirty had never been a thing for me until we’d had sex. “I need you. Every inch.”

“Turn around,” he growled and unwrapped my leg from his hip. He spun me on the spot, and I planted my palms on the shower wall, condensation dripping over it, and between my fingers.

Bryan entered me, one smooth stroke, parting my lips, filing me so completely it hurt a little.

“Jesus, you’re tight,” he said and slapped his hands onto my hips. “Lower. Yes, baby, just like that. Here, put one leg up on the bench. Fuck, yes, let me see that pussy.”

“It’s all yours,” I said, water dripping over my lips, running down my chin, my throat, over the slopes of my breasts, and dropping from my nipples.

“Finger your clit. I’m not coming until you do,” he said. “Tell me how you want it.”

“Slow at first.” It was the surefire way to make me come. That slow, deep stroke, sent shivers through me, and sparks of pleasure from my pussy up to my mind. “Oh, yes, please. Just like that,” I whispered, circling my clit with my finger, and pressing my other palm to the wall to keep myself upright. “Oh, Bryan. Oh!”

He grabbed one of my breasts and squeezed, and a sharp shoot of pain shot through me. What the hell? That’s never happened before. It hurt, but that pain only drove my pleasure higher. “Do that again,” I whispered. “Play with my tits, please.”

“Anything you want,” Bryan replied, gruffly, each word strained. He massaged my breast and sent more shocks of pain through me, pleasure mixing with it, equal parts. I cruised toward the brink of my orgasm, moving my ass into him as he fucked me slow. So super slow, his tip scraping against my g-spot and driving my senses higher.

“I’m coming,” I said.

“Good,” he growled and squeezed my breast, hard.

I yelped and soared over the edge, into my orgasm full-on. My pussy clenched around him, and he kept the exact same pace, though he grunted at the pressure of it.

“Jesus, Riley, you’re going to make me come just like this. Fuck, I love this cunt. So fucking juicy.”

The naughty words only took me higher. “Hard,” I managed. “Fuck me hard, and fill me now.”

Bryan immediately fell into the rhythm he loved, driving into me again and again, working his shaft like a goddamn porn star. His grunts became low groans and hitched breaths as he reached his own peak.

“I’m gonna come,” he breathed and plunged into me again. He pulsed inside me, emptying himself, slapping one hand to my ass as he did and pressing himself as deep as he could possibly go, holding himself there. “Fuuuuck,” he muttered. “Fuck.”

We stayed like that for another minute, both lost in the satisfaction of what’d just happened. Finally, Bryan pulled out of me, a low, throaty chuckle echoing from his lips and off the bathroom walls. “Wow,” he said. “Quick and delicious.”

“Perfect,” I said, and he helped me up, turned me in his arms.

He kissed me full on, then looked into my eyes. “I’m too deep with you, already,” he said. “I want you to know that this… wasn’t what I planned for us, Riley, but damn if it isn’t our own little version of perfect regardless.”

I love you. But I didn’t say the words. I didn’t want to be that gal.

We washed quickly, got out, and Bryan dressed in a pair of jeans and a shirt. “I’ll go down and sit with Carly. Join us when you’re dressed?”

“Of course,” I replied.

I waited until he’d left then grabbed my clothes off the bathroom floor, and darted out of the master bedroom and down the hall, clutching the fluffy towel around myself, walking on tiptoes. Bryan and Carly’s voices traveled from the living room. Carly giggled hysterically. “He farted!” she yelled. “Dad, he farted. Ha ha, wait, wait, you’ll see him fart again.”

I snorted a laugh and slipped into the guest room, quietly.

Five minutes later, I entered the living room, grinning at the sight that greeted me. Carly had both feet up on the sofa and rocked back and forth, pointing at the TV. “See the big yellow one? He’s the farty one. He always farts.”

“I saw, honey,” Bryan said, with a chuckle. “It’s funny.”

“Hey,” I said.

“Riley!” Carly hopped off the sofa and hurried over. She threw her arms around my waist, and I hugged her back, tight. “I missed you. Where did you go?”

“Oh, I just had a visit with a friend,” I said, “but I’m back now. What are you watching?”

“It’s called Larva, and it’s so funny. The yellow one keeps farting and the red worm smacks him with his tongue.” Carly gave a giggle. “Come watch with us.”

I sat down on her other side and glanced over at Bryan. He wasn’t looking my way, in fact, he’d pulled back the sleeve of his shirt and checked his watch. I frowned, but shook it off, turned my attention to the TV instead.

The show was pretty darn hilarious. The two worms chased each other around on the screen, the red one yelling wordlessly while the yellow one farted again and again. Carly shrieked another laugh.

“Hmm, does anyone want some popcorn?” I asked. “Some sodas?”

“Ooh, I do, I do!” Carly stuck up her hand, then put it in her mouth and tugged on her front teeth. She’d lost one a week or so ago, and now she was obsessed with when the others would come out.

“What about you, Dad?” I asked, smiling at him.

“Actually,” Bryan said, “I’ve got some work to attend to.”

“You need me to bring some coffee to the study?” I asked.

“No, I’m fine. I’ve got to go into work for this, anyway. Want to prepare for the late meeting I have tonight.”

Shoot, I’d forgotten about that. “Ah, OK.”

“Don’t wait up, either of you,” he said. “I’ll see you in the morning, all right, Carly?”

“OK, Daddy,” she said but didn’t so much as look up from the screen.

“Carly, honey, give me a hug goodbye,” he said, and drew her into one. He kissed the top of her head and shut his eyes for a second, holding on for a second longer than usual. What was that about? Finally, he got up and walked from the living room.

“Be right back,” I said, to Carly. “I’m going to get that popcorn.”

“Yay!”

I followed Bryan out into the hall caught him disarming the alarm. “Hey,” I said.

“Hey,” he replied.

“Everything OK? You seem a little tense.”

“I’m fine, Riley,” he replied, turning back toward me. He didn’t smile, didn’t beckon to me. “I’ve just got some business issues on my mind. I’ll talk to you when I get back, if you’re still awake. Just, uh, keep the house locked up and the alarm set, all right?”

“Of course,” I replied.

With that, he grabbed his briefcase and slipped out into the garden, shutting the door behind him. Every red flag I had went up, and I scuttled forward, brushed the curtain at the front window aside and peered out at him.

He marched toward his SUV, checking his watch again.

“What the hell?” I muttered. This didn’t feel right. None of it did. I shifted, brushing one hand across my chest as I did, and winced. What the heck? Why were my breasts so damn…

My eyes widened, and I swallowed hard, thoughts of Bryan dismissed instantly. “No, no, you’re fine,” I muttered, counting back in my head, days, weeks. When was the last time I’d had my period, again? Usually, I got a little breast sensitivity, but this wasn’t normal.

“Not possible,” I said. “You’re being ridiculous. You just want everything to get out of hand.” I walked over to the alarm pad and typed in the code, set it. “No way is this what you think it is.” But my gut twisted regardless.

I was on the pill. Surely, it wasn’t possible that I could possibly be pregnant. Not a chance.

And it would definitely be the worst possible thing that could happen right now. That was probably why I’d fixated on it.

Still, I couldn’t help but worry about it. Wonder. Fear.

What had happened the other day? I’d been about to fix lunch for Carly and the mention of something had made me so nauseated I couldn’t even think straight. And this morning, at breakfast had been the same. The smell of coffee made me physically angry.

Was that a thing?

“Stop, stop, stop,” I muttered, and pushed off from the wall, walking back through the house and into the kitchen to prepare the popcorn.

But I couldn’t stop. Now, that my mind had latched onto the possibility, it just wouldn’t let go.

I brought my cell out of my pocket and typed out a message. “Hey. I need your help.”

Beverly’s reply was instant. “What do you need?”

This would be the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I had to be sure. Even if it pissed off my best friend. “I need a pregnancy test. Can you get me one?”