A Baby for the Billionaire(30)

Evading him, she threw a leg over his hips.

"Now, now," she said. "I thought I was in charge this time?"

Positioning him under her, she sank down with a groan of pleasure.

"Clara," he panted as he slid inside her. "Yes."

Grabbing the headboard for support, she raised her hips before descending back down on him once more.

Pleasure flooded through her as she found her rhythm, rocking over him at a slow, steady pace.

Two hands came up to cup her hips as he arched under her. As gasp  escaped her and he slid deeper, sending more spikes of ecstasy through  her core.

Needing more of a connection, she leaned down, bracing herself against  the mattress as she lifted her hips. He caught her questing lips with  his own, kissing her deeply while she rode him.

"More," she whispered against his mouth. Her speed increased as her  orgasm built within her. In this position, she had the power to control  their pace. Control the steady build of pleasure.

Their panting breath mingled as she moved faster, giving in to the need they both felt.

"So close," he said, brushing the hair away from her face to see her eyes.

Holding his gaze, she gave in to her body's needs, riding him with desperation as her climax drew tantalizingly near.

"Yes," she cried, biting her lip. "Just a little … "

Slamming herself down on him one more time she broke apart with a cry.  Pleasure crashed through her, making her go stiff as Walker rolled her  under him and thrust into her furiously.

"Clara," he shouted her name as his own climax took him.

She smiled with closed eyes. For a second, time stood still as she floated in a sea of satisfaction.

"How could I ever let you go?" he growled to her, burying his face in her neck.

"Don't," she sighed as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Don't ever let me go.

Because there was nowhere else she ever wanted to be but here.





Chapter Eighteen


Clara dug her thumbnail into the side of the kitchen island as Emily  bustled around the room. Hunter was fast asleep upstairs, and the nanny  was about to take off for the evening.

Exactly the one thing she was afraid of.

Usually she looked forward to Emily's departure. Once the doors closed  behind her, Clara was alone with her family. Or those she desperately  wanted to claim as hers. She and Walker would sooth the restless baby,  or fall into bed together, or sometimes, just sit side by side in mutual  exhaustion and oddly, contentment.         

     



 

Tonight was different.

"Do you want me to get you anything before I go?"

Her head jerked up at Emily's offer. "No, I'm fine. Have a good night and thanks for your help today."

Emily paused in the act of folding a dish towel. Setting it aside, she slid into the chair next to Clara.

"Are you all right?"

Clara let out a little laugh, shaking her head. "I'm not sure."

"What's wrong?"

"It's our last night," she said with a sigh.

"What does that mean?"

She drew her nail along the wooden edge again. "It means, I promised to  live here for a set time before returning to my own life. And tonight,  that limit comes due."

"Ah," Emily murmured.

"Exactly."

"And you're wondering what happens next."

"Pretty much." Her shoulders drooped. "Walker is hard to predict sometimes. I'm not sure how fast he wants this to move."

Because she was all in. She'd move here permanently the second he  offered. She'd take on the responsibility of raising Hunter with  pleasure. And she'd spend the rest of her life loving both her boys if  Walker would give her the chance to.

Or maybe he'd ask her to move out. To go back to her own apartment so  they could date at a normal pace and slow things down. After all, his  life was still in an upheaval and would be for a long time to come. It  was no big deal if he asked her to move out.

But no matter how she sliced it, it felt like a step backward when  they'd already wasted so much time tiptoeing around each other.

"I know the solution," Emily said.

She perked up. "What?"

"Talk to your man."

The air rushed out of her in a chuckle. "That easy, huh?"

"Yep."

"Maybe you're the genius."

Emily grinned. "I've worked with many couples. I've seen ones who stay  together for the sake of their children and ones who love each other to  distraction. Which category do you think you and Walker fall into?"

She blushed. "He's never told me he loved me. Not in a romantic way, at least."

"Have you told him?"

No. I can face down drug lords and dirty politicians, but I flinch when  it comes to having an honest conversation with the love of my life.

Because what if she found out she wasn't the love of his?

"It's never easy, starting a relationship," Emily said, her voice  understanding. "Then again, it's not like the two of you are starting  from scratch. You're basically an old married couple who just  rediscovered the joys of sex."

She groaned, dropping her head into her hands.

Emily patted her back the way she'd seen her do to Hunter. "My point is,  your connection to each other isn't fresh. It's deep and binding. I  don't think you need to be afraid of being honest with Walker."

"No," she mumbled into her arm. "I shouldn't be."

"But matters of the heart aren't logical, huh?"

"Not even slightly." She sat up, shaking her head. "This part of adulthood should come with a warning label."

"Love at your own risk?"

"Something like that." Dragging a hand down her face, she rolled her  shoulders back. "You're right, though. I need to talk this out with him.  One way or another, I want to know where we stand."

"Good luck."

She squeezed Emily's hand. "Just so you know, you're the best nanny we  could have found for Hunter. I'm grateful for the help you've given us  this last month."

The other woman gave her a wide smile. "He's a great little boy. I'm  happy to have found this position, too." Glancing at the clock, she  continued, "Though I will also be happy to snuggle into my own bed  tonight."

"Go, go. Don't let me keep you."

With a parting wave, the nanny slipped off her chair and headed out.

Clara waited until she heard the door close before heading for the stairs. She needed to have a chat with her lover.

Who happened to be coming down the stairs as she headed up.

He paused, seeing her, before continuing down. "I got Hunter to sleep,"  he said softly. "We're should be free for the next few hours."

"Good," she said, backing down the steps.

He joined her on the landing and opened his mouth as if to speak, only to close it again.

"We should talk," she said.

He nodded and gestured toward the living room. Silently, she followed  him to the couch and dropped down beside him. He was close but not  touching, and she wrapped her arms around herself in comfort.         

     



 

"So," she started. "Our time is up today."

"I know," he replied, his voice equally soft. "Thank you for what you've  done. I would have been lost these last weeks without you."

"That first day you held Hunter like he was a bomb about to go off."

"The second day I held him like he was a football. We'd still be back there if it wasn't for you."

"You would have figured it out."

"Not as quickly as we were able to with you around," he said. "You directed Emily and trained me. I'm grateful you did."

She plucked at the couch cushion.

"Just grateful?" she finally asked in a whisper.

 …

His heart twisted as he stared down at her.

"No," he said, reaching out to lift her face to his. "This isn't just about gratitude."

Her eyes rose to his, so wide and deep a man could drown in them.

How does she do that?

How could she make his chest tighten with just a look?

He brushed his fingers over her cheek. All the nights they'd spent  together and he still wasn't used to the simple pleasure of touching  her.

Maybe I'll never get used to it. Maybe she'll astound me for the rest of my life.

He'd never wanted permanent with anyone. He hadn't thought he was the  type who could commit to a life that ordinary. He still wasn't sure it  was a good idea with Hunter being so fresh in his life.

But he also knew one fact there was no escaping.

Clara was it for him. If he was ever going to make commitment work, it'd  be with her or no one. When he thought of where his life would be ten  years from now, it would be with her at his side.

It had always been her.

Which meant he needed to convince her she was right where she belonged. The rest they could figure out later.

"This is just a night like any other," he told her.

She shook her head, drawing back from his touch. "It's different and you know it."

"It doesn't have to be."

"Everything is going to change now."

"Why?"

She bit her lip, nibbling on it in a way that made him long to sooth the  bruised skin with his mouth. "We're playing house," she whispered.  "None of this is real."