Three weeks later, Elena stood in her shower, making the water as hot as she could stand it. It nearly stung her naked skin as she stood beneath the thrumming pulse of it. Work had been horrible. Horrible. The blessing and curse of being a labor and delivery nurse was that when it was good, it was so good, witnessing the miracle of life being ushered into the world, swaddling the tiniest of babies in soft blankets, helping their mamas feed them and hold them… but when it was bad, it was bad. When tragedy struck, it was gut-wrenching, and she'd seen it all.

She did not work at a quaint hospital in the country where happily married husbands and wives came in together and birthed rosy-cheeked newborns. She worked in downtown Boston, and working at an inner-city hospital brought its own pros and cons. Whereas they were chock-full of the most highly acclaimed physicians in the country, fully equipped to deal with any type of medical emergency with state-of-the-art equipment, they were also home to pregnant mamas of all walks of life. And sometimes, it absolutely killed.

Tonight was one of those nights. They'd admitted a full-term mother high as a fucking kite, escorted in by a wide-eyed taxi driver who'd already called the police. Child Protective Services had been notified, and a Boston trooper stood guard at the door with his arms across his chest, ready to book the woman as soon as her baby had been delivered. Labor had been grueling. They'd had to restrain the mother as she howled and fumed against them, and when, finally, they delivered her tiny, sickly baby, whisked away immediately to the NICU, Elena had been ready to hurl.

And now she stood in her shower, hours later, wishing that somehow she could wash away the anger and helplessness she felt at times such as these. Staying in the shower until the hot water began to cool, she quickly rinsed the conditioner out of her long black hair, and shut the water off. She nabbed a huge, thick purple towel made from Egyptian cotton she'd scored for a song at Marshall's, reveling in the luxurious feel of the terry-cloth on her hot skin. She dried her body before tipping forward, twisting the towel around her head, and slipping into the robe she'd bought that matched the towel. She sighed, feeling better already, as she sat on the edge of her bed and nabbed her phone. Three missed messages. She hadn't changed the contact in her phone yet, enjoying the fact that no one but she knew who MisterHaven was. She smiled as she looked at the texts she'd received while in the shower.

MisterHaven: How's it going, baby doll?

Elena was hardly what one would call a baby doll, but somehow coming from the big bear of a man who was decades her senior, it felt fitting. Between not going to The Club, and her crazy work schedule, she hadn’t seen him as often as she’d have preferred, and she missed him. Her smile deepened as she replied to him.

Total shitty day at work, but I just showered and I'm feeling a bit better.

MisterHaven: Sorry you had a shitty day. Just showered? As in, you're still in a towel “just showered?”

She grinned as she replied. Seriously? You ask me how my day was and the first thing your mind goes to is me, naked, in a towel?

MisterHaven: Naturally.

Heat suffused her cheeks as she laid back, and her robe fell open, displaying her pink, cleanly-shaven legs. Biting her lip, she spread the robe open wider, barely covering her, and pulled it down over her breasts so her cleavage spilled out over the top. She snapped a selfie, satisfied it was one helluva pic. She grinned as she hit send.

Elena's heart tip-tapped a steady rhythm as she waited for him to reply. She jumped as her phone buzzed in her hand. It wasn't a text. He was calling, the name MisterHaven flashing on her screen. She swallowed hard. Was he going to lecture her for being inappropriate? Scold her for taking a risk and putting a lascivious picture of her out there where it could be intercepted by… hackers or something? She hadn't given it much thought until she saw his name pop up on her screen, and she could practically see his scowl, while he loomed over her, arms folded across his huge chest. Shit.

“Hello?” she said, her voice sounding oddly choked as she answered.

“Babe.” God, she loved to hear him talk. His voice was a shot of whiskey, smoldering embers, well-crafted leather. She closed her eyes.

“Yeah?” she whispered. Is this how he'd begin his lecture? Her breath was coming in gasps, and she felt suddenly way too warm even though her robe had practically fallen off.

“Where are you?” he growled.

“On my bed,” she continued in a whisper.

“Oh yeah?” he said, his own deep voice dropping. “Open the robe all the way, gorgeous.”

Closing her eyes tight, she did what he said, slowly tugging so her robe opened.

“You shaved smooth, little girl?”

“Fuck yeah,” she said, a slow, wicked grin spreading across her face.

“Touch yourself,” he said, his voice taking on a hard, commanding edge. She threw her head back and gently stroked her folds. She gasped, shocked at how slick she was, her finger easily gliding over her clit. “Circle,” he growled. Closing her eyes, she circled her clit as he said, an involuntary moan escaping.

“Oh, yeah, baby,” he growled. “That's what Daddy likes.”

Her stomach clenched. Fuck yeah. He continued talking in his low, gritty voice. “You've been a naughty little girl, Elena. So naughty. And now it's time you were punished.”

Her eyes widened, and her hand froze. Was he serious?

“Close your eyes, babe,” he crooned. “That's a girl. I've just dragged you into my office for mouthing off to me. Do I like mouthing off, little girl?” His voice took on a harder edge, and she stroked faster.

“No, sir,” she whispered, grinning.

“Someone's gonna remember to watch her mouth every time she sits down for the next fucking month,” he growled.

Faster, harder, her hand moved as his words went on. “I shut the door and lock it, and bring you to the overstuffed chair in the corner of my office. I sit down and haul you over my lap.”

He paused as she stroked, the tension mounting, her hand shaking.

“You with me in this?” she whispered.

She heard his growl on the other end of the phone. “Fuck yeah.” God, she'd never gotten a guy off on the phone, but the very idea of him with her, fisting his cock as she…

“You're gonna lose that skirt, little girl,” he growled. “I'm pulling it off, and baring your ass over my knee.”

Harder, faster, fuck she was gonna come.

“You're fighting me, but I'm stronger and you're not gonna win this. I pin your hands down, and spank you.”

Her hips rose as she stroked, and his words kept coming, deeper, forced. “I slap your ass and my handprint brands you, my pink fucking handprint straight across your bare skin. You scream, but I keep at it, spanking your ass until your skin is burning, and you're begging me to stop.”

He breathed low in the phone. “Toss the phone on speaker, grab your nipple with the other hand, baby, and squeeze.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. She was going to die, she was so close, but she did as she was told, hit “speaker” and dropped the phone to the bed as she grabbed her nipple and squeezed, her other hand still working between her legs, bringing her to climax.

“Before you come, you ask me,” he ordered.

“Please,” she pleaded. “I'm ready now.”

“Beg me.”

“Please, Blake, fucking hell I'm gonna die if I don't come—”

“You come before I give you leave, I'll take my belt to your ass,” he barked out, which only made it even harder to hold herself back.

“Please,” she begged.

“Pump your finger while you squeeze your nipple,” he responded.

Fuck. Shit!

“Gawwd,” she moaned, listening to his own groans on the other side.

“I give you one final spank so hard you scream and lurch, but I hold you fast over my knee.”

He paused.

“Touch your clit. Come for me, Elena.”

Her world exploded as she came, her hips writhing beneath her own hand, heat suffusing her cheeks, moaning out loud as she heard his own groans on the other end of the phone. It was the most intense orgasm she remembered ever having, lasting so long she collapsed on the bed, her hand falling to the side.

“Good girl,” he crooned. “What a very good girl.”

She snuggled up on the bed and sighed contentedly, suddenly overcome with exhaustion, as she disengaged the speaker and put her phone up to her ear.

“You there, baby?” he asked.

“I'm here,” she breathed, sighing. “God, I needed that.”

He chuckled, deep and low. “Your spanking?”

She giggled in reply. “I could use that, too.”

“You free tomorrow?” he asked. “I'm manning the floor tomorrow night. Most of the Dungeon Monitors are off. I know we’ve been asking you to stay away from The Club, but screw that. I’m tired of having to squeeze time in between your work schedule and mine. Park in the back and I’ll come get you when you come. You’ll be safe if you’re with me. Are you cool with coming here? You wanted to get to know each other more.”

She smiled. “Yeah,” she said softly. “I miss going to The Club. I’d love to go again.” What she didn’t tell him was that it turned her on to see him, her man, in charge of the teeming BDSM club, and she loved seeing him on “his turf.”

“I have to work until three, then I have a shift at the clinic,” she said. It was somehow oddly satisfying to be talking about just normal, everyday things with him after they'd had epic phone sex.

“Come to me when you're done. Got it?”

She sighed at the command. She loved the command.

“Yes, sir.”

“You sound tired, honey,” he whispered. Her eyes felt heavy, so heavy.

“Mmmm,” she said.

“Okay, baby. Put the phone down but leave it on, and go finish getting ready for bed.”

“Mmm,” she mumbled. She did not want to get up right now, when she was perfectly content and comfortable where she was, but the next words that came through the phone had her leaping out of bed to obey.

“Now, Elena, or that scene we just played out will happen for real when I see you tomorrow. You're tired, but you'll do as you're told.”

She opened her eyes, and spoke into the phone. “I'll be right back.”

Leaving the phone on her bed, she went back to the bathroom to take out her contacts and finish getting ready for bed. Opening her medicine cabinet, she reached for the bottle of contact solution, but realized she was out. Sighing, she looked under the sink for a spare bottle, and a box of tampons tumbled onto the floor. She picked them up, starting to shove them back into the cabinet, when she froze.

They'd been in there… for a few weeks. Or was it a month?

She raced back to her room, flicked her phone screen back on, and tapped open the app she used to track her cycle. No, no, no, no, no!

It opened up, bright red lettering at the bottom of the chart. Seven days late.

“Elena?” Blake's voice came through on the speaker of her phone.

“I'm back,” she breathed. “Hey, I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed now, okay?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Sounds good. You have a good night, honey. See you tomorrow?”

She gulped. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Tomorrow. Night.”

She disconnected her phone, laid back on her bed, and dragged her arm over her face. God! It wasn't possible. No way. How?

They hadn't used protection when they'd had sex in his office, but she was on birth control. She practically ran a women's health clinic, for crying out loud. How could she have gotten pregnant?

But even as she went through the thoughts of denial, the conversation she'd had a million times with women who came in her clinic ran through her head. “Is the pill effective?”

There's a small chance of pregnancy, even with regular, consistent use of oral contraceptives.

She loved being on the pill, because it regulated her periods, but until a few weeks ago, it had been months and months since she’d even been with a guy.

Could it really be that in the heat of the moment, with her bottom striped by his leather belt and his huge hands gripping her waist, that the one time they got it on in his office would be the one time she'd get knocked up?

Shit, shit, shit.

She knew she'd have to talk to Blake, but she was not going to talk to him until she'd taken a test. God! What was she thinking? She didn’t know him, know him, like “let’s have a baby together” level knowing someone. She just wasn't okay with freaking him the hell out when there was no need.

She felt her breasts. Not really tender. Was that a pang of nausea? No, not really. She put her hand on her abdomen, as if she'd suddenly feel a baby kick to confirm she was pregnant. No, she was overreacting. She wasn't nauseous, but she was very, very tired. No, the exhaustion came from having a long, shitty day at work, not from being pregnant for God's sake.

Didn't it?

* * *

Elena pulled into the parking lot of the clinic. The day had passed in a blur, and thankfully the majority of the work she did was “business as usual.” She’d needed to throw herself into what was familiar and routine, because her mind was teeming with questions. As she’d held a tiny baby with a shock of hair, swaddled in a blanket in the nursery, she’d caught herself wondering.

Is it a boy? Is it a girl? Would he want a boy or girl? Then she’d caught herself mid-thought. God, she had to get a grip.

She’d placed the baby back in the bassinet, wheeled it to the volunteer who came every Monday, and marched herself out back to the main desk at the nursing station. Grabbing her water bottle, she’d chugged it down like somehow the cool liquid would chill her thrumming nerves.

He'd never had any children. Blake and his late wife had tried for years and finally given up. Would he be happy, at this stage of the game, to be bringing a child into the world? God! With her?

She’d grabbed a pregnancy test from the storage room, and snuck into a bathroom during her break. She couldn't take it anymore. She’d had to know. With trembling hands, she'd completed the test, flushed the toilet, washed her hands and waited. And waited. It had seemed like an eternity, but the test was negative. She'd tossed it.

Maybe too soon to tell.

She took a second test at one o'clock, during a coffee break, as if somehow two hours later her hormone levels would be ready to give her a positive.

Did she want a positive? She didn't even know.

At three, she took a third test, also negative, but three negative tests did nothing to alleviate her fears. If a woman had come to her at work or at the clinic, she'd tell her to wait, maybe her cycle was a bit off and another few days or a week before testing again wouldn't hurt anyone.

Ha! How easy that advice was to dole out when it wasn't directed at her.

She grabbed a protein bar from her bag, nibbled on it mechanically, and responded to Blake's text.

Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. See you in a few.

Off to the clinic, her phone buzzed one more time.

When you get here, march your ass straight to my office.

She frowned at the phone. Yes, SIR, she typed, hoping he'd question the level of snarkiness in her text. Even as she texted, she realized she was being a bitch, but what was a woman supposed to do when a life-changing thing might be about to happen?

She got to the clinic on time, and found it nearly empty, so she busied herself straightening up the paperwork they needed, when her phone buzzed.

You'll learn to watch your tone, honey. Oh for God’s sake.

She typed a quick reply. Whatever!

She couldn't help it, as arousal pulsed low in her belly, even as she frowned at the screen. Another text.

Did you follow up with your friend at The Star?

She grumbled as she tidied up the pamphlets and slid them into the display case by the entryway. She had contacted Gretchen about Salazar weeks ago. What was taking so long with the investigation?

I’ll follow up with her today.

She walked to her office, and on the way, nabbed two more pregnancy tests. Couldn't hurt.

She sat down, booted up the laptop, and searched out her email. It was the most reliable way to reach Gretchen, as she never knew if Gretchen was home or traveling. Taking a deep breath, she did her best to compose an email to Gretchen. Elena really had to work on compartmentalizing everything.

Hey! Just wondering if you got a chance to look into what we discussed?

Love ya,

Elena

Satisfied she'd contacted Gretchen, out of curiosity she clicked on the link for The Boston Star. She read through local political updates, local sports scores, and other headlines, until she came across an article dated just that morning.

BDSM Club under investigation after local church obtains well-supported petition.

She closed her eyes briefly before clicking open the article. Her eyes widened as she read. Had Blake seen this? She copied the link, emailed it to herself, closed her laptop, and went to the main entrance of the clinic. They were empty today anyway. Time to pay an early visit to The Club.

Her stomach twisted as she remembered Blake’s earlier text.

March your ass straight to my office.

* * *

Elena nodded to Donnie at the door of The Club, then smiled to herself as the familiar blonde she was looking for came into view behind the bar. Though Alice had returned to school, she still took on occasional shifts at The Club, for which Elena was immensely grateful. Not having had a sister, her brother’s girlfriend was a close second. She glanced quickly around. Damn Blake and his cameras. She was not ready to talk to him, face him, and face whatever the fuck he had planned for her. Fortunately, she knew that Blake was on the floor, and Alex wouldn't be around tonight, thank God. One less thing to worry about.

She sat at the furthest corner of the bar, and turned her back to where she knew the cameras would be trained, raising a hand to catch Alice's attention. Alice grinned when she saw her, and stepped quickly over her way. When Alice reached Elena, she bent down and kissed her cheek.

“Long time no see, girlie!” Alice said with a smile, sliding in to sit next to Elena. “How are things?”

Elena filled her in about passing her exam, how things were going at work, and explained that the clinic was faring well. As she talked, Alice frowned. “Honey, you don't look so good,” she said. “You look pale, and like something's troubling you. You okay? You getting enough sleep?”

Elena was dying to talk to someone, and who could she trust more than Alice? She bit her lip. “If I talk to you, Alice, will you tell Alex?”

Alice frowned. “I do tell Slay everything. But if you need a little privacy, I get that. I mean, guys don't understand everything. As long as you're safe then yeah, I could see keeping it just between us girls.” She smiled. “What's going on, honey?”

Elena sighed. “It's just something that needs to be kept quiet, for now. Not forever.” If she was pregnant, then Slay would eventually know anyway.

Alice nodded encouragingly, which gave Elena the confidence she needed. She looked over her shoulder, around the bar, and then leaned in quickly before she lost her resolve. “I think I'm pregnant.”

Alice's eyes widened, and her mouth literally dropped open, before she leaned in to whisper back.

“Whoa, have I been under a rock or something? Do you have a boyfriend I don't know about?”

Elena smiled weakly. “It was an, um, spur of the moment thing,” she said, stopping herself before she said “one-night stand.” She knew in her heart that what was growing between her and Blake wasn't just a one-night stand.

Alice nodded. “How late are you?” she whispered again.

Elena sighed. “A whole week.”

Alice grimaced. “Well, honey, you're talking to someone who's been there. You know I have. And you also know I wouldn't change anything, and that my Charlie is the world to me.” Alice's little Charlie was the most adorable little kid Elena knew, with a shock of blond hair like his mama, big eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, and a huge, ready smile. He'd thrived being parented by both Alex and Alice together, and he called Elena “Auntie Elena.” She adored him.

“I know,” Elena whispered. “I'm just… I don't even know what to think.”

Alice nodded. “I remember that feeling well. You take a test yet?”

Elena smiled weakly. “Five. In one day.”

Alice snorted. “You know that's not gonna make the results come any sooner, right?”

“Well, fortunately in my line of work they're easy to obtain.” Then she squeezed her eyes shut with a grimace. “You know, that's what makes me feel so stupid.” She opened her eyes and threw her hands up in the air. “I give advice all day to women about being safe, and using protection, and making good choices, and then I go and do this?”

Alice shook her head. “Do not even go there, babe. You are smart, and you know that even when you use protection, things can happen. They just do. And it's because you're smart that you're going to handle this the very best way you can.” Elena nodded, and allowed herself to stop the self-deprecation, accepting what Alice said as true. Alice continued. “So… how do you feel about… the possible dad?” she asked.

How did she feel about him? She hadn't been prepared for the question.

“I can't say I love him… yet,” she whispered, as tears welled up in her eyes. “But I… have never felt this way about a man. He's strong, and protective, and kind. He's smart and sweet, and so damn sexy. He's so good to me.”

“Oh boy.” Alice smiled, and cleared her throat. “Do I… know him?”

Elena swallowed. “Yep.”

Alice blew out a breath. “Ohhh boy.”

Elena laughed nervously. “Um, yeah.” Anyone that both Elena and Alice knew would be someone involved at The Club, and if Alice knew him, then that meant Alex knew him, and both Alice and Elena knew her big brother was not gonna take kindly to a guy at The Club knocking his kid sister up.

“I like him, Alice, more than… well, more than any man I've ever known before. But we aren't ready for a baby, you know? I don't even know if we're ready for us.”

Alice nodded. “God, do I know, honey. Of course I know. I was there, only I was trying to pull my shit together to get my high school diploma, and all I had were my super judgy conservative parents ready to throw me out. Look at what you have. An amazing support system with friends who love you, and a brother who absolutely worships the ground you walk on.” She reached for Elena's hand. “And this isn't some loser you met at some random bar and don't know from Adam. If you know him from here? And I know him? And he's all those things you said? Then, honey, it's gonna be fine. It really will.”

What she said made so much sense. Elena nodded. “You're right,” she whispered. “I know you are.”

It was at that moment she heard the deep familiar bass of his voice, and God, was she going crazy, but did she recognize the sound of his step? He was marching past her table when he caught her eye and froze.

“Alice,” Blake said, with a chin lift, then, “Elena. When did you get here?” He folded his arms on his chest and Elena squirmed in her seat. God, he was total shit at feigning nonchalance.

“Little while ago,” she said. “Had to talk to Alice a bit.”

His gaze went from her, to Alice, then back to Elena. He didn't speak for a moment, then nodded. “Gotta hit the floor again. Meet me in my office in five?”

He was only being polite, making it a suggestion. Elena knew it was no suggestion.

She saluted him. “Aye, aye, captain.”

His eyes narrowed, but he merely nodded and stomped away. Elena sighed, turning to Alice, and was unprepared for Alice’s widened eyes and look of complete shock. “Blake,” she whispered. “Holy shit.”

Was it that obvious? Elena swallowed hard. “I didn't say it was Blake, Alice,” she hissed.

“You didn't need to,” Alice whispered back.

Elena sighed.

She sat in silence for a moment before Alice spoke up again. “Alex thinks the world of him, Elena,” she whispered. “I can count on one hand the people he loves like Blake. Actually, make that one finger, and that man is already practically married and has a kid.”

Matteo, Alex's military brother and best friend, was the only man Alex trusted like he did Blake. Elena knew this. But still. She didn't know who she was more nervous talking to, Alex or Blake.

“Babe?” Alice said gently. Elena nodded. “Blake said to meet him in five minutes four minutes ago. And I can attest from personal experience that with guys like him? He's keeping an eye on that time.”

Elena smiled, getting to her feet, and nodded. “You've got it,” she said. “Thanks, Alice.”

Alice gave her hand an impulsive squeeze. “You're gonna be fine, honey.”

It seemed Alice assumed Elena was ready to go tell Blake now.

Uh-uh. No way, no how.

But what Alice didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

* * *

Elena knocked on Blake's office door, and heard the deep, raspy, “Come in,” down to the tips of her toes. She pulled the strap of her bag up higher on her shoulder, took a deep breath, and walked in the office.

He was sitting at his desk looking at all the security feeds when she entered. He nodded absentmindedly and gestured for her to take a seat. He paused and glanced at a clock on the wall. “Cutting it close,” he said.

She nodded, as he looked more closely at the screen.

“Glad I got a firsthand look at the dungeon today,” he muttered. “Wanted to see for myself we were following protocol.”

“Were you?” she asked.

He turned to her with a scowl. “Fuck yeah, we were,” he said. “Any dominant who comes in here and doesn't follow protocol answers to me.”

She nodded, her mouth suddenly going dry at his “answers to me.” Blake ran a tight ship, and it was why lifestylers flocked to his club. It was safe, and drew a dedicated clientele who knew what they were about. There were people new to the scene, and people just exploring, but everyone was kept to high standards.

Blake put a small box on his desk and took out an X-acto knife, sliding it through the packing tape along the edge. “Tell me about your day, sweetheart,” he said before he lifted his eyes to hers. “I want to hear about it before we talk about your tone of voice on the phone.” He held her gaze for a beat, before focusing on opening the box. She felt the power of that look, and shifted on her seat, already feeling the need for him build low in her belly. Didn't help that she'd fallen asleep having climaxed at his command, and woken up after vivid dreams, only to replay the night before.

Did pregnancy make people horny?

She licked her lips, and watched as he removed bundles of rope from the box.

“Oohh,” she breathed. “Is that for bondage?”

He quirked a brow. “No, it's for tying my luggage to my roof when I go on vacation in the summer.”

She humphed at him, which just earned her a grin, the delicious wrinkles around his eyes warming her with a little pitter-patter of her heart, as he continued to unpack the box. “Hell yeah, this is bondage material. Hand-dyed organic cotton, hemp in its natural form, synthetic Zen.” He placed various bundles on his desk, then removed one with care, reverence in his voice. “And some high end tossa jute for my personal stock. We don't keep this at The Club. Awesome stuff, but way too pricey.”

“Gotcha.”

Personal stock? Her heart positively stuttered.

“You were telling me about your day,” he reminded.

“Oh. Right. Okay, so, the shift at the hospital was pretty routine, which thank God was the case because the day before sucked like you wouldn't believe.” He nodded, piling the rope together as he broke down the box and neatly folded it.

“Delivered two sets of twins, both doing fine, then headed to the clinic, but it was dead there, so I came here early. Really nothing to talk about.” Oh, except the fact that I might be pregnant with YOUR CHILD. She took in a shaky breath, hoping he didn't note her rising nerves.

“Is that all?” he asked, as he put the knife back in a drawer. She nodded.

He pushed his chair back from the desk, and patted his lap. “Come here, Elena,” he said softly.

She rose, his soft command making the need between her legs intensify. God, she was hopelessly addicted to this man. She walked slowly to him, her eyes roving over him. He wore his signature blue button-down shirt and jeans, the crisp white cotton of his t-shirt peeking out at the very top. His beard was full and neatly trimmed, the flecks of gray making her heart thrum a steady beat. The gray around his temples accentuated the stark blue of his eyes… and those eyes. So full of passion, kindness, and the sternness of an experienced Dom. When she stood within arm's reach, he took her by the waist, and pulled her to sit on his lap. It felt nice straddling his lap, and her arms instinctively encircled his neck.

“That’s it, baby,” he whispered. “Such a normal day, then why were you short with me on the phone?”

“Just a lot on my mind,” she said softly. God, she loved the strong, woodsy smell of him.

“Lot on your mind?” he asked. “I get it, but do you think that's reason to be snarky with me, even in a text?”

She shook her head, the desire to push him away, or mouth off, or defy him in any way, suddenly evaporating. She wanted to tell him everything. I could be pregnant with your baby… our baby.

I'm scared.

His fingers threaded through her long hair, wrapped around the base of her neck, and tugged, lifting her face. His mouth met hers, softly but possessively. Sitting upon his lap with the tingle of her hair being pulled, the kiss aroused her like no kiss ever had. His lips moved softly, then firmly, his tongue meeting hers as she squirmed upon his lap. He pulled away and whispered in her ear. “Do you need a spanking, Elena? Do I need to take you over my knee? Would that help you let go of what's on your mind?”

She swallowed. Hell, yeah, she needed a spanking. She wanted to be tied up, spanked, then fucked, in that order. Between working as nurse at the clinic and hospital, and being a frequent participant at The Club, she well knew that even if she was pregnant, with certain precautions in place, she could partake in most scenes. She yelped as his hand connected with her ass with a sharp spank. “I asked you a question, little girl, and when I ask a question, I expect an answer. Do you?”

“I think I do,” she breathed. But as he leaned in to kiss her once more, the monitor on his desk buzzed.

Swearing, he hit a button. “Boss, back-up needed in the front bar,” came the voice.

“I have to see to that,” he said with a groan. She nodded, getting up off his knee, as her phone buzzed.

“No worries,” she said. “I'll wait here.”

He nodded. “You don't leave here, got it? When I come back, we'll talk.”

He leaned in and gave her a deep, parting kiss before he left. She sighed as the door closed. God, she wanted him.

Her phone buzzed again, with an email notification.

Hey Elena,

Got your email. Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply, but I’ve been researching. Got some info you’ll want. Meet me this week for lunch? Shoot me a call.

Gretchen.

She smiled to herself. It would be great to get in touch with Gretchen, and maybe, just maybe, what Gretchen had to tell her would keep her mind off all things Blake.