“EVERLY?”
The sound of my name makes me blink, but I can’t pull my head up from my desk.
“Everly, are you okay?
“That’s a two-sided answer. No, I’m not okay, but yes, I’m fine.”
“What does that mean?”
I slowly sit up and look up at my assistant. “Lance, if you just started a new position, how long would you wait to tell them . . . God, I’m going to throw up again.”
“Do you need another trash can?”
I swallow it back.
“Everly, are you sure you’re okay? I know I’ve only worked for you for a few months, but I think we’ve gotten to know each other in that time. I’d like to think we’ve grown to a level of friendship.”
I blow out a breath and nod. “I’m pregnant.”
He blinks at me. “Well, it’s not mine.”
A chuckle springs from me and the first smile all day. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“Being pregnant does explain some things. Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.
“I suppose it’s going to be noticeable soon.”
“Well, you’ve lost weight, so you have some time before it becomes too noticeable, right?”
Lance must be more observant than he lets on to notice I’ve lost weight. “I’m not sure it works that way. Besides, I’ve started to gain the weight back, and it’s all in my stomach. Right now is the first time all week that I’ve had an issue.”
“How . . .” He scrunches his brow. “How pregnant are you?”
Another chuckle crawls out. Such a man question. “One hundred percent pregnant. Forty-five percent uploaded.”
His lips pull up into a smile. “Numbers I can understand.”
“I’m due March first.”
He nods. “That is a predicament, especially with the fiscal year end being April first. However . . . Can I be honest with you?”
“I would prefer it.”
“They wanted you pretty badly at this location. They waited a year and would have waited longer. While they may not like you taking time off less than a year after your transfer, I can’t see it being an issue. Truthfully, if it were, you could sue the shit out of them. One thing I know for sure is they don’t discriminate. That is in your favor. I say just be honest and tell them soon. Give them plenty of time to find someone to cover you while you’re out on maternity leave.”
“Yes. I think you’re right. I’m going to tell them. Sooner rather than later. Thanks, Lance.”
“You’re very welcome.” He looks over at me, and I see sympathy. “Do you need anything else while I’m still here?”
“No. I’m not going to be here much longer anyway. You can head out now if you’re done for the day.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. See you in the morning.” I wave him off.
“Okay. Don’t stay too long. You look tired.”
“Not you, too,” I say with a laugh.
He puts his hands up and backs out of my office door. “Good night, Everly.”
I need to pack it up. He’s probably right about how I look. I feel tired. I just want to go home and put my feet up and relax.
Screw it. I’m going home now to do just that. I wonder what Niko is doing? Maybe I can get him to bring me something yummy. Hopefully him. I haven’t seen him in days, and I miss him. As much as I’ve tried to fight it, to fight falling completely head over heels for him, I don’t want to anymore. At least not tonight.
As the weeks pass I continue to stay in my Niko bubble, refusing to accept what I know needs to be done. I’ve kept Niko from telling Cam for two months now, and I hate myself for it. I’m being selfish and I know it, but I just can’t stand the thought of Cam hating Niko. It kills me to think Niko could lose his best friend because of me. Which is an emotion I can’t handle right now on top of everything else.
It’s also because I’m still hesitant, still afraid that Niko doesn’t really want me. We’ve been so happy, but when that strain on his friendship comes, where will that leave us? Will he blame me and leave?
The scenarios pop up unbidden and send me into a panic. I don’t want to lose either of them. I want to hold onto this for as long as I can.
Before I could even text Niko, he messaged me to say he was heading over at seven. Five minutes till, I pull my door open and the sight that greets me leaves me feeling all kinds of want. God, I’m in trouble, but I don’t care.
“Hi,” I say. I can’t help the smile the covers my face when I see him at my door, the way my heart speeds up when he gives me that cocky smirk.
“Baby, you look good enough to eat.”
I roll my eyes as I step aside to let him in. “When are you going to let the dessert thing go?”
“You will always be my favorite dessert.”
I shake my head. “Corny.”
He slips his hands around my waist. “Corny? What do you have that tops that?”
“I missed you.”
His smile falters, then his eyes soften. “You win.”
“I really did miss you,” I say.
“I know.”
I purse my lips and slap my hands against his pecs. “Don’t Han Solo me.”
He leans down and presses his forehead to mine. “I really missed you, too.” He blows out a breath. “In fact, I propose no more three-day droughts.”
I link my fingers with his and pull him, walking backward toward the kitchen. “Sadly, it’s the reality of your work schedule, but I have a solution.”
“Oh yeah? Will I like this solution of yours?” His eyes widen. “Does it include you on all fours?”
A giggle escapes me. The man always has sex on his mind.
“Not exactly, but I guess it could lead to that, and other things like early morning or very late night wake-up calls.” I hold out my hand to Niko who is now looking at my hand with his head tilted to the side.
“What is this?”
I can feel the heat flood my face. “Um, the key to my front door.”
“Why?”
I look up at him, my heart slamming in my chest. Did I make a mistake? Shit. Did I read into us wrong somewhere? I thought I was what he wanted. “Because you’re my boyfriend and I think you should have one.”
He stares at me, and I’m completely confused on what he’s thinking.
“You are so fucking adorable when you’re acting shy.”
I let out a relieved breath that I didn’t realize I was holding. Looking down to the floor, I hook my fingers into his waistband and pull him closer. “Shut up.”
He slips his finger under my chin and tilts it up, his bright grey eyes boring into me. “Thank you. I’ve never . . . this really means a lot, Everly.”
I’m dumbstruck as I stare into his eyes. Why do I always doubt him? Why do I still think the worst? Is it because I doubt his sincerity due to his past relationship record or because I have doubts that he genuinely wants me?
“What time am I picking you up tomorrow?” he asks.
“Picking me up?” I ask, confused. “Why would you be picking me up?”
“You have your ultrasound tomorrow, right? I didn’t screw up the date, did I? I could have sworn it was tomorrow afternoon.”
I blink at him. “No. It’s tomorrow, but I just figured you’d meet me there.”
“Everly, we’re going to see our kid tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but I’m nervous as fuck. I figured we could grab lunch first and then head over to your appointment.”
“I didn’t take the whole day off from work. I still have a meeting that I need to go to first thing in the morning and then a conference call right before I can leave. I figured half the day was better than nothing, so I’m going to leave from work.”
“That works too. I can check out my baby mama’s fancy office,” he says.
I roll my eyes. “I hate that saying.”
He ignores me and continues. “Maybe if you’re good, I’ll come christen your desk. We can play dirty boss and sexy secretary. I’ll take your calls while you blow me under your desk.”
“Wow! Sounds tempting, but I don’t want to traumatize my real assistant so early. I think he might stop bringing me lunch when I forget to go out and get a sandwich.” Though I do really like the idea, I’m not going to let him know.
“Not a very manly job, but I guess it wouldn’t matter to a male secretary.”
“Be nice, Niko. Lance is very sweet, and he’s the best assistant I’ve ever had. I lucked out in that department. All this time I’ve been doing everything on my own. He makes things so much easier, and I’d like to keep him, thank you very much.”
Niko rolls his eyes but then smiles his Cheshire Cat smile. “Fine, I’ll behave. What time should I pick you up?”
I eye him warily. Yeah. I don’t trust that smile. “Around noon? I should be done around a quarter of. That will give me time to finish up and then we can head to that little Chinese place on Mass Avenue before my appointment.”
“Noon works for me. I’ve got the whole day free. I’ll probably get a run in first unless Cam wants to hit the gym early. Either way, I should be there early. Parking isn’t the greatest near your office.”
“Well, you don’t have to come to my office. I told you we could—”
“Nope.” He cuts me off. “I’ll be there. It will give me a chance to come up with some role-playing ideas while I wait.” I quirk my brow at him, and he stares back. “I was serious about the dirty boss shit. Now that I have that vision in my head, there is only one way to get it out,” he says, and there is a fire in his eyes that always burns when he mentions anything to do with us and sex.
Speaking of sex.
“You know, I was reading in my pregnancy book that a woman’s sex drive can increase during pregnancy.”
His lips twitch up, and he pulls me closer. “You don’t say.”
“Yup.” I nod. “Says so in the book.”
“Where is this book? I think I should read it too. You know, so I know what to expect.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?” he asks, both eyebrows raising in surprise.
“Because it’s called What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Last time I checked I was the one that was growing an alien inside her. Us women need to keep some things a secret and decide when we choose to tell you other things, like the fact that some women get horny when they are pregnant.” I smile at his facial expressions as I explain my reasons.
“I don’t think that it’s a book meant for just the mothers, Ev. That seems a little ridiculous. I could go out and buy my own, and they would sell it to me because they can. Good try, though. Now go get the book, baby.”
“Nope. You can buy your own,” I say as sassy as I can without laughing. “But, I may have picked up a book for you.”
“How to bang your hot, pregnant woman? Because I don’t need a book for that. I just need you to put your beautiful mouth to other tasks.”
“Other tasks?”
He leans down and kisses my neck while he guides my hand down until I can feel how hard he is against my palm.
“Your mouth stretched around my dick.” His hips flex, pushing him further into my hand.
“Then what?”
“Then you suck on it like a lollipop until I can’t take it anymore and spread your pussy open to fuck you like I haven’t seen you in months.”
I gasp in mock incredulity. “Such crudeness, sir. I am a lady in a delicate condition.”
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
I bite on my lower lip, failing to fight a smile as I look up at him as shy and as innocent as I can manage.
A groan rumbles through him and he pushes down on my shoulder. “Oh, sweetheart, are we roleplaying now? Giving me that fucking innocent act?”
Playing along, I give no resistance and drop down to my knees. He sheds his shirt before his fingers deftly work his belt open, then his jeans. I can’t look away as I watch him twitch before he lowers his pants and underwear just enough for his cock to pop out. His fingers wrap around the base and he tilts it toward me. I lean forward, mouth open, ready to wrap my lips around him when he pulls it away. I glance up at him in confusion, and his eyes are heavy and dark, his smirk full of mischief.
Firm warmth smacks against my lips and my attention returns to the item of my every sexual desire. Barely a swipe of my tongue before he moves it again, causing me to quirk a brow at him. He taps my lips again and again; I try and touch it, and it’s gone. One more tap to my lips, but this time I don’t let him play his game. Rising up slightly, I grab onto his hand holding his shaft with one hand and his jeans with the other, tugging as I lean forward, taking him in my mouth.
“Fuck,” he hisses, moving both hands to my head, fisting my hair.
He’s so lost, so thrown off balance, that he flexes his hips while holding my head, fucking my mouth. After a minute he slows, his fingers unknotting from my hair. There’s pure fire in his eyes, mouth slack as he looks down at me.
“Baby, that . . . shit . . .” he trails off, his head falling back as I bob up and down at a slow, teasing pace.
He groans with each swipe of my tongue and the sounds send a zing of heat straight between my legs. After a minute, his hand moves to cup my cheek, slowly pushing me off.
“You are too fucking good at that, but it’s been a long, exhausting day, and if I come in that beautiful mouth, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to a round two.”
He leans over, his hands slide under my arms, and he picks me up effortlessly. Like always, he uses his strength to draw me to him. Our lips meet at the same time as our stomachs, my legs wrapping around him.
“Then where do you want to come?” I ask, loving the way his eyes seem to darken even more as he lets out a groan.
He turns around and steps forward, setting me down on the counter. His hands fist into the waistband of my yoga pants before he pulls, yanking them over my ass before stepping back to get them down my legs.
I gasp when his hands rest on my inner thigh and he gives a sharp push. There is fire rushing through my veins, my breath sharp, loving the energy rolling off him. It’s hot, chaotic, and darkly alluring.
This is one of those moments, the ones that tell me how much he needs me, quelling the ever-nagging thoughts that I’m not enough for him. Because in this moment I know just by the way he’s looking at me that I am everything.
“I’m going to come in my favorite place,” he says, exciting me further.
Slowly, his hands create a path that stokes the fire inside me with each inch. Moments like this I feel like I’ll go mad, desperate for him to stop teasing me and just take me. His thumb flicks across my clit and I cry out, my legs tightening around him, pulling him closer. The length of his shaft slides against my clit, a sensation that causes a shudder to consume me.
“And where is that?” I ask, noticing how breathy my voice has become.
His forehead rests on mine, his hips rocking against me. “Fuck, baby, you’re torturing me.”
“I’m torturing you? How?”
“Because I’m exhausted.” He pulls his hips back and nudges the head of his cock into my opening before sliding forward. My eyes lose focus as my nails dig into his arm.
“So good,” I manage to say.
“I’m exhausted, but all my dick wants to do is try and put another baby in you.” He pulls almost all the way out before slamming back in.
“Fuck!” I cry out. “I . . . t-that’s not possible.”
He begins a scorching rhythm that propels me faster and faster to a blinding explosion.
“Oh, I know,” he says through clenched teeth. “But my dick still wants to try.”
He slams into me harder, faster until I can’t think. Until I can barely breathe. Once again consumed by Niko.
“Fuck, yes!” I lock down, my nails digging into his back, the tightening in my abdomen feeling seconds from snapping.
His hands move down to my hips, pinning me in place. I can’t move, can’t think, can only take the intensity that he gives. I freeze, drawing in a stuttering breath, then snap. A scream leaves me as I clench down on him, and mind-whitening pleasure moves through me.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” he roars, slamming hard into me, pushing as far as he can get.
I barely comprehend that he’s coming, my mind still blissfully clouded. His head falls to my shoulder before his arms give out and he leans over, sending my back down to the counter. His abs press against my stomach and I know that soon this position will be impossible for a little while.
“So what book did you get me?” he asks, his breath hot against my shoulder.
“Be Prepared; A Practical Handbook for New Dads. It’s got all the goriness and truth.”
“Did you read it?”
“The first few pages. It scared me and I had to close it.”
“Too much truth?”
I nod. “Horror movie level truths for after, but with a fun spin.”
“So a Cabin in the Woods type feel?” he asks. I nod again. “Okay, we can handle it. I mean, people do this all the time.”
“You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself more than me.”
“I know it’s going to be hard, and the fantasy of us with our baby is not reality, but I know we’ll be okay.”
“How do you know?” I ask.
He smiles at me, the one that makes my heart skip, and he cups my face. “Because I have you.”