It’s all I can do to keep from kissing her, right then and there. Delight radiates through my entire being, and I struggle to keep my grin looking pleased, not idiotically gleeful. I can’t begin to explain how much this means to me.

In less than a year, if all goes to plan, I’ll have an heir to leave my empire to. Moreover, Charlotte is agreeing to be the child’s mother. My infatuation with her may be clouding my judgement somewhat, but I know better than to push her too hard. I draw her into my arms, feeling her stiffen for the briefest moment before relaxing into my grip.

“You can’t begin to know…” I begin, trailing off as I feel myself getting choked-up.

She wraps her arms around me, resting her cheek against the broad expanse of my chest. After a moment, she draws away from me and meets my gaze with a warm smile.

“It’s strange that we’ve come this far, isn’t it? From being bitter enemies, to me being a surrogate for your heir,” she muses, and I manage a chuckle.

I reach out to caress her cheek, realizing a moment too late what I’ve done. Expecting her to jolt away, I’m surprised when she leans into my touch. Her cheeks are faintly tinged with pink, and a surge of desire shoots through me. I want her more than anything in the world, but I know she would never be happy with a man like me.

She’s made it clear that she will always hold some lingering resentment towards me. My heart aches at the thought.

“You were never any enemy of mine, Charlotte. Even when you were planning to ruin my career, my life, I thought nothing but the world of you. Imagine how I feel now, with what you’re doing for me,” I murmur.

She smiles somewhat timidly, and I allow her to draw away from my touch. I glance towards the clock, noting that I’ve still got a very long day ahead of me. As much as I’d like to celebrate this revelation, it will have to wait until tonight.

Feeling somewhat daring, I offer her a confident, cheeky smile.

“Join me at my apartment this evening. We’ll discuss the terms a bit more, regarding the IVF, or what have you,” I suggest, allowing the implication to hang at the end.

Charlotte smiles innocently, though there is something strange in her eyes—a glimmer I can’t quite place. She nods her head obligingly, reaching out to rest a hand on my arm. She tilts her head, meeting my eyes with a mischievous expression.

“Or what have you…” she repeats, looking all too entertained when I find myself reddening as well. “Of course I’ll join you this evening. There is a lot to go over,” she says, stroking her hand down the length of my sleeved arm.

She brushes her fingertips over the back of my knuckles, and a shiver shoots through my body. I can’t tell if she’s playing some sort of game, but whatever she is doing, it’s thrilling like nothing else I’ve experienced before.

“I’m afraid I have to get back to work,” I sigh, though I would like nothing more than to carry on with what we’re presently doing.

She pouts a bit, but agreeably shifts towards the door.

“I’ll see you tonight, then,” I say, holding her gaze for a moment before breaking away to give her lips an appraising glance.

She flicks her tongue out to moisten them before drawing the lower of the two between her teeth.

“Indeed you will, Mr. Bradshaw,” she affirms, a knowing expression on her face as she slips out the door.

As soon as she’s gone, I find myself nearly shaking with the intensity of my restrained desire. I rush to my desk so I can sit down for a moment. Gritting my teeth, I wait for the waves of arousal to ebb. God, this woman is going to be the end of me. I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.

What hours remain in my work day seem to pass at a snail’s pace. I occasionally find my thoughts drifting to Charlotte, and it’s difficult to keep my racing mind under wraps.

When the clock strikes six, it’s all I can do not to upturn my desk and run straight out of the office. For what it’s worth, I may as well just have clocked out early; I got nearly nothing done today besides drawing myself agonizingly close to actions I dare not enact in my workplace. I bid Tiffany a swift farewell as I make my way to the elevator, and I can feel her eyes watching me almost knowingly as I move. No matter, let her think what she wants.

Driving home is a task that I approach with all the carelessness of a juvenile delinquent. I must go at least twenty over the speed limit, the idea of getting a ticket pushed into the deepest corner of my mind. What’s a few hundred dollars among billions? I don’t like to think of myself as a careless individual in most cases, but I can’t deny that I’m not in my right mind, even as I pull into the parking garage at my apartment complex.

Lurching out of the car, I take a moment to try to catch my breath. I’m not out of shape by any means, but being on edge all day has worked me up a bit more than I’d like to admit. I manage to slow my breathing, inhaling and exhaling at a steady pace until it feels less like my heart will leap from my chest. I have to prepare the apartment before Charlotte arrives, and dear God, do I have to get a grip on myself.

While I think her behavior in my office was obviously flirtatious, I may be reading into it too deeply. Perhaps she simply wanted to have a bit of fun at my expense. I’ve made it agonizingly clear that I adore her, and it seems within her character to poke the bear a bit.

Granted, I feel less like a bear and more like a…rabbit? Just as well, even if she is attracted to me, it’s not particularly in either of our best interests for me to jump her the moment she steps inside.

I make my way to the top floor of the complex, and as I step into my penthouse, I vaguely realize that something is amiss. I’m not sure what, exactly, and my first thought is that of an intruder. However, when a familiar hint of perfume wafts under my nose, I’m struck with the realization that Charlotte is already here. The little minx must have kept my apartment key, all this time.

“Welcome home, Dillon,” she calls from my bedroom door, resting her hip against the wooden frame.

She’s clad in one of my robes, and what appears to be very little else. I shake my head quickly, trying to remain at least moderately coherent.

“What are you…ah…” I trail off as she draws closer, allowing the robe to drop off of her slender frame.

As I’d guessed, she’s wearing next to nothing underneath, save a lacy black thong with a white ribbon on the front. Her breasts are on display, and if the hardness of her nipples is any indication, she’s as aroused as I am. She’s more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

“Oh, you know,” she begins, keeping her voice casual even as she presses her hand against my chest. She curls her fingers in the fabric of my shirt, pulling me back with her. “I just thought I’d offer you a few…options. IVF is awfully expensive, and there’s something so…impersonal about it,” she says slyly.

Now that there is no mistaking her intent, something inside of me snaps.

I lurch forward, whatever else she intended to say lost as I press our lips together in a searing kiss. She wraps her arms around my neck, softly moaning her approval as I reach around to grab the swell of her ass in my hands. I pull her close to me, the now-straining fabric of my slacks pressing against the white ribbon that sits so prettily in the center of her thong.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted this?” I murmur huskily, lifting her up by her rear and groaning under my breath as she wraps her legs around me.

She’s pressed firmly against my clothed manhood, and it’s all I can do not to dry hump her in the middle of my living room. I do have a bit more dignity than that, however, so I carry her the remaining distance into my bedroom. Her perfume smells stronger in here, as well as another scent that makes my cock twitch with desire.

“I could hardly wait for you to get home,” she purrs, her womanly scent hanging heavily in the air.

I can make out the spot where she’d been lying on my bed. Quirking my lips into a sly grin, I push her onto the edge of the bed. As much as I’d like to indulge in some foreplay, something tells me that she’s as eager to get to the main event as I am. She scoots back obligingly as I shuffle on top of the sheets, fiddling with the button on my pants.

“Allow me,” she breathes, reaching out to undo it with ease.

An almost feral possessive feeling washes over me, and as she frees my manhood, I force her onto her back before she can properly get a good look. She gasps softly, and I fix her with a gaze that I can only hope reads as intensely as I feel. She stares back at me with parted lips, taking my large hand in her own and guiding it between her thighs. As I press my fingertips to her panties, I can feel her wetness already soaking through.

“I really shouldn’t reward you for having fun without me. Are you sure you can handle a second round?” I ask, sliding my fingertips along the indentation of her slit.

She shivers, looking faintly taken aback.

“Of c-course, Dillon,” she gasps.

“You are to call me Master in here. It’s only befitting of my naughty little maid,” I correct her, and she shudders beneath me with what I can only hope is a desire as strong as mine.

She bites her lip, nodding her consent. Without another word, I curl my fingers around the waistband of her underwear. Sliding them down her legs, I’m awash with her heavenly aroma. I ball the panties in my hand, bringing them to my nose to deeply inhale her scent.

Another gasp, accompanied by a soft moan, spills past her lips.

“Master, please,” she begs, bucking her hips towards me.

I want to taste her; I want to bask in the vision of her laid before me in such a beautiful state. However, I simply shed the rest of my clothes and shift closer to her, settling comfortably between her thighs. She braces herself, seeming gripped with anticipation. I smirk, positioning myself at her entrance. She’s soaked to the core, and when I press into her, there’s just the perfect amount of give.

“God,” I mutter, and she breathily repeats the sentiment.

I begin to slowly move inside her, trying to keep a slow and steady pace to start. To my surprise, she’s quickly being drawn to a place of near hysteria, raking her nails across the sheets and moaning beautifully for me.

No longer holding anything back, I angle myself just so and begin to pound into her with all the force of my intense lust. She bounces slightly with each thrust, a tiny squeak erupting from her lips each time I hilt my cock inside of her. She begins to clench around me, and I can tell she’s close.

I lean in, ghosting my lips to her ear. I move faster, losing myself in the passion of the moment.

“You’re mine, little maid,” I hiss, bottoming out inside of her a final time.

“God, yes,” she screams, toes curling as she begins to tightly squeeze me with her inner walls.

I spill my load deep inside her, a sense of satisfaction washing over me as she writhes beneath me.

It’s some time before she’s able to gather herself enough to make her way out of my apartment, saying she’d rather sleep in her own bed. I can tell she’s afraid of growing too close to me. All the same, when I ask her to return the next morning, she offers me a coy smile.

Little does she know that she’s going to see what I use those handcuffs for, next time. Not to mention the maid outfit I ordered…