I sat and listened while Jeremy gave me a rundown on the details of the press conference for today. I’d never attended a press conference, much less participated in one. I was completely out of my element. We drank coffee and I ate fruit at the small bistro table tucked in the corner of his commercial-grade kitchen.

“Whatever you’re doing while I speak, make sure your left hand stays visible,” he instructed. “I want everyone to see that rock.” It was going to take me a while to get used to wearing it. It was ostentatious. No one would doubt Jeremy Hartwell had marked me as his wife.

“Why can’t we release a marriage announcement like normal people do?” I pleaded. “We could hire a photographer and put a picture in the paper beside a nice recap of the ceremony at Magnolia Inn,” I suggested.

“We aren’t normal. And neither is this marriage.” He sighed. “My mother is coming for the money. She’s going to do whatever she can to prove we aren’t real. We can’t give her any ammunition. So we’re going full blast on this. I want every news outlet there. All the entertainment sites. Everyone who has interviewed me over the years. Business. Sports. Celebrity beat reporters. All of it.” He waved his hands in the air. “I want us to be the top story tonight.”

“What if it doesn’t work? What if we aren’t convincing?” I had a nervous pit in my stomach. I had no idea how I would make it through a full press event without throwing up.

“Why wouldn’t we be convincing?” He waggled his eyebrows. “We have consummated our relationship multiple times. I think we know each other very intimately. We’re close. Closer than most husbands and wives.”

I swallowed. “They don’t know that part.”

“Did that make you blush?” he teased. “You liked what I did last night. Tasting you in a new place.”

I almost moaned out loud. He knew exactly what he did to me. He knew he could coax moans from my throat and orgasms from my core. He knew with one look I’d tear off my clothes and offer my body on the kitchen counter. He knew he had me.

“If I could, I’d take you back to bed right now. But I need to prepare the rest of the morning to set up the press conference.”

I sighed, realizing I was disappointed he hadn’t thrown the breakfast dishes on the floor and tossed me on the table. “What can I do to help?” I asked.

“As much as I know you probably don’t want to, you need to let your parents know they could get some calls from the media. And Frannie. She needs a heads-up too. A united family front would certainly help.”

“Ok. What else?”

“You need something to wear for the announcement.”

“What kind of something?”

He rubbed the back of his head. “Something sophisticated, but not too cold and distant. And you don’t want to look dowdy.”

“So avoid the Jane Austen spinster look this time?”

He chuckled. “We have taken a huge detour from Jane Austen.”

He reached into his pocket and withdrew a credit card. “You can buy anything you want. An entire wardrobe if you like. But make sure you have something for the big show.”

I stared at the hard plastic. “You don’t have to do that. I can buy something on my own. I have savings.”

“You’re a Hartwell now, Evie. You get all the perks. I’ll have your own cards for you by the end of the week. You can use mine until then.”

I took the platinum card and flipped it over in my hand. “I’m going to guess there’s no limit on this?” My eyebrows lifted.

“No limit,” he answered. “The accountant will also set up your own bank accounts. You can take care of that debt you were worried about. I’ll make sure it’s all handled quickly. I don’t want there to be any questions about the trust between us. Nothing will demonstrate to the attorneys that I trust you like sharing my fortune.”

It was strange how quickly I had forgotten about the clinic. I didn’t need it any longer. I was going to have my baby a different way. Was it possible this was even more unconventional than my in vitro plans in Newton Hills? I would pay my bill, and the clinic would be in my past. No more appointments. No more long drives for testing. It was just over.

“Evie?”

“Hmm?”

“I need to get to the office. Sasha is waiting for me. I can’t be late this morning.”

I had almost forgotten about her too. The beautiful blonde. “Do you want me to go with you?” Maybe I should meet her. “You could show me your office.” I smiled sweetly.

“No. It’s going to be hectic today. I’ll have a driver waiting for you. He’ll take you to whatever shops you like. Make sure you’re here and ready by four. I promise I’ll be here.”

I nodded. “I can do that. One not-too-sexy, but not-too-matronly outfit coming up.”

He chuckled. “You’ll look sexy no matter what you do.”

I looked at him. My hair was a complete mess. I was wearing one of his T-shirts. I didn’t have on an ounce of makeup, but he didn’t care. He thought I was sexy. The power of Jeremy’s words was intoxicating.

“That’s because you haven’t seen me when I’ve been writing for three days straight.”

“I think I’d like to see that.”

“It’s not pretty.” I shook my head. “My hair sticks straight out of a bun. I wear glasses by the second day, and I completely forego bras.”

“Holy shit. You’ve just described my fantasy, woman. You, glasses, and no bra?”

I giggled. “Ha. Ha. Funny.”

He wrapped his arms around me. “You think I’m joking?”

“Of course you are. You say all kinds of things. You’re just a huge flirt, Jeremy Hartwell.”

He dropped his hands from my lower back. “Walk back in here with a pair of glasses on and see what happens.”

“You’re bluffing.” I hurried to where my suitcase was anyway. I was going to prove him wrong. I retrieved my glasses from their case and slid them on my face.

I sashayed into the living room, ruffling my hair, tempting him with a silly walk. There was no way this was his thing. But I wanted to see how long I could play the charade.

“See? Nothing that exciting,” I teased.

“That’s where you’re fucking wrong,” he growled, walking two paces toward me before he crushed me with a kiss. His hands tangled in my hair, tipping my lips upward.

The power surged through my body. I unwrapped myself from him and slid to my knees.

“What are you doing, Evie?”

I stared at him through the glasses while I unbuckled his belt and pushed his charcoal pants to his ankles. I worked the black boxer briefs over his legs until his cock sprung free. I blinked at how huge it was in the daylight.

“Evie,” he groaned.

I licked my lips. “I want you,” I whispered.

I fisted his shaft in my hand, groaning at how silky and soft he felt in my grasp. How could something so hard and solid feel so good?

My tongue extended, flicking over the head. I sighed when a drop of pre-cum beaded at my command.

I trailed the throbbing vein along his cock and lapped at his balls. I sat back on my heels, knowing everything was agonizing pleasure for him. I cupped his balls and took the tip of his wide head on my lips and kissed it, sucking lightly.

“I think you should sit for this,” I teased.

Jeremy walked backward until he was on the couch. I positioned myself between his legs.

“Take your shirt off,” he demanded. “Not the glasses.”

I threaded it over my head and tossed it on the floor before returning my lips to his cock.

It was going to take a few tries to accommodate him. I was out of practice. The one time I had started this at Bella’s was when he was struck with the great epiphany to elope.

I wanted to do this right. I wanted him to walk out of the door for work, knowing his wife had given him the best blow job of his life.

I focused on my mission and inhaled his masterpiece, sliding my lips to the base.

“Oh fuck,” he growled, grabbing the back of my head. “Shit. I’ve wanted to fuck your pretty mouth like this. I didn’t get to finish the other night, did I?”

He bucked and I gagged quickly before moving my mouth up and down his shaft. I could do this. I could take his enormous cock. If this man could give me the kind of unbelievable head he did, I’d give him a blow job he’d never forget.

“Oh your hot little mouth is fucking heaven.” He breathed heavy.

I smiled between thrusts.

“Now touch yourself,” he commanded.

I shook my head. This was about him. I wanted him to come for me.

“Touch that pretty pussy of yours, baby. Sink your fingers inside yourself and come hard.”

My eyes widened. He had totally missed the point. This was all about him, but my hand traveled south. I started to writhe and moan as I touched myself. I was so tender and sore. I’d been having sex for three straight days. My body was in need of some down time.

As I massaged and explored my own body my pace picked up.

He groaned. “That’s it, baby. So much better. Fuck yourself.” And then I realized this made him focus on himself. It was his turn on. I kept the hidden delight a secret. The more I brought myself to the brink, the better the blowjob was for him. I purred on his cock, letting him enjoy the vibrations on his shaft.

He grunted and thrust and I fingered myself faster until I felt the first burst of come in my mouth. He yanked my head so that he shot his release down my throat.

“Fuck,” he growled.

He released me just as my own orgasm peaked. I sat back, sliding my fingers in and out while Jeremy watched in awe.

I cried out with the last wave and leaned against the couch for support.

He kissed me on the temple. “Thank you.”

He stood to get dressed. “Don’t ever question my sincerity when it comes to you in a pair of glasses.”

I nodded, exhausted and happy. I pushed them against my nose.

He laughed. “And they’re fucking cute.”

“Have a good day at work, honey.”

He grabbed his keys and wallet and pulled the door open. “I will. See you for the press conference at four.”

The door closed behind him and I exhaled. Today was going to be hard as hell, but no matter what happened, we had started it by making each other happy. I had no doubt that experience would keep me on his mind until we saw each other again. And I had a feeling I needed ammunition like that where Sasha was concerned.