“That’s fine,” I say. “Something to eat?”
“Oh,” she says in a surprised tone as she spots the food. “No, I’m sorry. I ate earlier. Plus, if we’re going to do this.” She pats her stomach, as if implying that she needs to watch her weight.
“Please,” I say with a smirk. “I think you’re the last person who has to worry about that. Have you seen you lately?”
“Not in the last few hours.” She smirks back as she walks up to my desk. Reaching it, she leans against it so that she is facing me. “So, should we get started?”
“All business?” I say. “I like that. But okay, here goes. The first thing I want to ask about is STDs and birth control.”
“Wow,” she exclaims. “To the point.”
“Always,” I say seriously, maintaining eye contact. I’ve entered business mode, and I need her to know that now, I am in charge. Playtime is over.
I pull out a sheet from my doctor that confirms I have been tested for STDs and that I am clean. I hand it to Carrie, who looks over the sheet as she takes a seat.
She reads it over and then speaks. “Well, as far as birth control goes, I have been using condoms and foam as I haven’t been in a serious relationship for a while. No point in messing with hormones when you don’t have to. And as for STDs, here you are.”
She reaches into her handbag and pulls out a piece of paper.
I take the paper and look over it. Like mine, it’s from a doctor, indicating that she is free of any STDs. I hated having to ask her, but I’m careful like that.
“Next up is ovulation.”
“Saturday is when we will be able to start trying, I hope,” she says. “I’m not going to bore or confuse you with the finer details.” She smirks.
“Perfect!” I say, crumpling the notice and tossing it in the trash. “Now, what’s next?”
“The money,” she hurries.
I can tell that this is what has really been on her mind. I can’t blame her, as it’s the primary reason that she said yes in the first place.
“Oh, of course, the money,” I say, leaning back in my chair and whacking my forehead as if it had slipped my mind. “What was the agreed-upon amount again?”
“Two million dollars,” she says, licking her lips as she does.
“And you’re getting laid regularly,” I joke. “You’ve really hit the jackpot.”
“To be honest, it’s more money than I’ve ever seen, let alone had. I don’t know what I’ll do with it all.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll figure something out,” I say as I reach into my desk drawer. Opening it, I pull out a document that I had my lawyers draft. It’s a legal form in duplicate that stipulates payment of the funds once the baby is born.
I hand them over to Carrie to sign. Once she has them, she reads through the contract meticulously, more than I would have thought. In fact, as I watch her, I am certain that she reads it twice. And it is only when she is satisfied that she takes a pen and countersigns both copies.
“There,” she says smiling. “Done and done.”
“Perfect!” I exclaim, taking one of the signed forms and slipping it back into my desk drawer. “The other one is for your records. Now, have I told you how perfect you look today?”
“No,” she says, trying to hide her smile.
“Well, you do. More than that even.” I walk over to her and slip my hand around her waist, pulling her onto my lap. She lets me, falling onto it.
“But wait,” she says, still smiling. “I don’t start until Saturday.”
I frown. “You know what? I’m willing to get an early start on the whole thing if you are? Just in case.”
“Just in case,” she nods.
I smile as my hand strokes her back, slowly moving under her blouse and across her soft skin. Holding her stare the entire time, I sit myself up straighter, leaning forward. She copies, leaning down and kissing me on the lips. I can already feel the fire.
Chapter 16
CARRIE
Every time I kiss him my body shakes. His hand runs through my hair, guiding my face to his. As our lips meet, he holds it there. Not that he needs to. I could kiss him for hours.
Our lips lock, dancing back and forth in perfect rhythm. I have never felt so comfortable kissing someone before. I have never felt so sexually alive. His lips are moist and warm, while his tongue is soft. It pushes into my mouth, lapping at my own tongue. I lick it back, pretending to nibble at it.
As I do, his hand leaves the back of my head and grips my waist instead. In the spur of the moment, I lift up my left leg, kicking it over his head and down by his other side. I’m now straddling him.