Enchanted and Desired (36 page)

He assured me that my mom and dad will get over the initial shock, and be happy for us that we’re giving them their first grandchild. They are idealists and pretty old school. They were hoping I would have the big white wedding, followed by the pitter patter of tiny feet. I don’t think it was their dream for me to get pregnant by my boyfriend and then dump him and move to another state. My heart constricted in my chest at Simon’s words to me.

“You can tell your dad that I would make an honest woman of you tomorrow if I didn’t think I would end up like Richard Gere in The Runaway Bride.” He was joking around, but I could tell there was a serious note to his comment, and that made me feel even worse about the way I’ve treated him. All I could do was try to lighten the mood.

“Wow…did you watch that movie with your boyfriend?” It did the trick and I took advantage of the reprieve, changing the subject. We made a plan for Saturday to go on a second chance, first date.

I’m nervous and excited at the prospect of seeing Simon tonight; excited to spend time with him, and nervous in case I mess it up. I’m definitely starting to show now; it’s like my belly just popped out in the past few days. I’m blaming the baby, but it could definitely be all the food that I am constantly shoveling into my pie hole! Nothing fits, and I feel disgusting.

By the time the doorbell rings, I’ve shoehorned myself into a pair of black ¾ length pants and a black lace tank top – mainly because it’s stretchy and goes over my little bump. I’ve gone for some chunky purple accessories and soft waves in my hair. It’s not classic Jess, but it’ll have to do.

I open the door and the look on Simon’s face is so damn sexy. His delicious chocolate brown eyes rove all over my body, stopping dead when they reach my stomach. I defensively fold my arms across my front. In a heartbeat, he’s in my space, invading my senses, pulling my arms apart and pinning them to my sides.

“Don’t hide from me.” I feel shy all of a sudden as he drops to his knees, letting go of my arms and ever so gently placing his large, warm hands on my belly. His gaze lifts to mine, a stunning smile splitting his face. “You are…breath-taking Jess.” He presses his lips to my stomach, right on my belly button. “So fucking amazing.”

I can feel the tears pricking my eyes, and I start blinking them back, annoyed at my new, permanent state of emotional DEFCON 1.

“Don’t cry cara mia.” He gets up off of his knees and stands tall in front of me.

I drink in the sight of him, tall, lean, muscular, and sexy as hell. He looks dangerous tonight, like the bad boy I met in Cube that first night. He’s wearing dark blue jeans, faded in all the right places; a white fitted T-shirt that highlights every deliciously defined muscle of his torso to perfection, and to finish the look, a black leather jacket. His hair looks like he’s freshly fucked, and all I want to do is grab it in my hands and guide his head to where I’m aching for him.

He wipes the tears from my cheeks. “How can you be crying, and at the same time, looking at me with such wild desire in your eyes?” I can feel myself blush.

“Crazy pregnancy hormones.” I’m expecting a laugh from him, but his eyes are fixed on me, on my lips. I can hear his breath quickening, his tongue darting out to wet his sinfully gorgeous lips.

“I want to take this slowly Jess. I don’t want to mess it up.” He runs his hands through his hair, his eyes never leaving my lips. I mirror his action, darting my tongue out to wet my lips, inviting him to kiss me. The groan that escapes his chest, makes me weak at the knees and awakens the fireflies in my stomach, sending them into a frenzy of want and anticipation.

“We better go, before I throw you over my shoulder, take you into the bedroom, and play out every fantasy I’ve had of you over the past two months.”

“Would that be such a bad thing?” I watch the desire drain from his eyes, and I’m devastated.

“We can’t just pick up where we left off Jess. I’m sorry. As much as I want to make love to you…and believe me, I REALLY fucking want to, too much has happened for us to just sweep it under the carpet and act like it doesn’t exist.”

“I understand.”

“Do you? I want you so badly right now, my dick fucking aches. Do you know that’s how much I want you? Do you know that’s how much I need you? Do you understand how much it hurt when you left me?”

“I’m so sorry Si.” He cups my face in his hands.

“I don’t want you to apologize again. I don’t want you to think that I’m punishing you by withholding sex, which is what the look on your face suggests. PLEASE…believe me when I tell you that this is torture for me, but that’s how much I love you. I’m in this for the long haul Jess. I am
all
in; I need you to trust me; and I need to be able to trust you, but
never
,
ever
, doubt that I want you more than my next breath. I’m so fucking in love with you it’s ridiculous.”

I crack a smile at that last part.

“I love you too.”

“Good. So are you going to put me out of my blue balls misery and distract me with dinner and a movie?” His mischievous grin is back, something I haven’t seen in a long time, and it’s a beautiful sight to behold.

“Well, just because you put it so eloquently…let’s go Casanova.” He leans down, giving me a chaste kiss, before opening the door for me.

“Romance is my middle fucking name Jester.”

Our laughter echoes in the hallway as we enter the elevator and head out into the safety of surrounding ourselves with strangers. It doesn’t always work for us, but Simon is fighting our overwhelming passion for each other; his noble intentions winning out over animalistic desire. I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to stand it. I want to do as he asks and take it slow, but it’s hard when every fiber of my being is screaming at me to seduce him; to make him mine again; to let him take me as his own, claiming me, only for him.

Six Weeks Later

SIMON

This past six weeks have been fucking torture.

I’m trying to be the good guy. Thinking with my head rather than my cock, for a change, but I swear I’m getting calluses on my right hand from my frequent meetings with palm and her five sisters. I haven’t jacked off this much since I was 13. I’m going to end up with carpel tunnel at this rate.

Every time I see Jess, she looks even more beautiful. Her breasts are fucking amazing, growing and filling out, readying her for motherhood. Her stomach is rounded and it’s plain for all to see that she’s carrying my baby. It’s such a turn on I can’t even describe it. To know that I did that to her, that I’m the only man that will ever do this to her – it calls to my most primal urges and desires when it comes to her.

We’ve been trying to take it slow, but we’re talking about me and Jess – slow has never really been our style. There have been a few nights that I just couldn’t leave her; I couldn’t resist my desire for her. We’ve made love, we’ve fucked, and we’ve devoured each other on a few occasions. I know that Jess doesn’t want to take things slow, she’s said as much, and when she sets her mind to seduction, I’m a fucking goner.

I’m starting to notice a change in her. I feel like she’s beginning to trust me; really trust me. I don’t want to get carried away though; we have a long road ahead of us, and plenty of time before the baby is born for her to completely freak out and try to shut me out again.

Sofia is back in town, and anxious to catch up with us, although, truth be told, I think she’s more excited to see Jess than her big brother. I’ve invited Brandon and Lily to come over to my place tonight, and Nate with whoever his latest victim is. Sofia’s seeing someone; some mystery guy. I told her to bring him, but she said he’s out of town on business. Loser is probably scared to come and meet me, and rightly so. I would have no problem beating the shit out of any guy that I don’t think is good enough for my little sister, and that’s pretty much every fucker that looks at her.

Before I can spend the evening with Jess and Sofia, I need to go and interview a prospective manager to oversee the running of all of my clubs. I toyed with the idea a few months back, and now that the baby’s on the way, I figure it’s the perfect time to take a step back and enjoy some time with Jess and the baby. I hope this guy is better than the last one I interviewed; I swear I wouldn’t have let that guy manage his own bowel movements. If today’s interviewee can tie his own shoelaces it will be a step up!

With a new manager hired and my girl here beside me, my day just keeps getting better. Jess is making herself at home, cooking up a storm for everyone while I shower and shave. When I walk back out into the kitchen, it’s the best damn feeling in the world watching her treat my apartment like it’s her own.

Her sweet baby bump is perfect, making her even more beautiful as she dances around my kitchen, singing along to my iPod; ingredients covering every available surface. It’s like watching an angel, a dream – my dream. This is what I want for us; a home together, a family, and just…normal, everyday life. It takes her a few minutes to notice me, but she doesn’t stop, doesn’t miss a beat. She simply gives me a mischievous grin and a wink of her eye. It’s adorable.

When the doorbell rings, I’m reluctant to let anyone else intrude on my time with Jess, but when she eyeballs me for ignoring it I give in and open the door.

“Hey grave digger!”

Brandon starts laughing. “Holy Shit. I’d forgotten all about that. What the hell brought that to mind? You haven’t called me that in years.”

“I honestly don’t know!”

Lily is just staring at the two of us. “Do I want to know?”

I usher them inside before explaining.

“It’s nothing bad. We just never came up with a good nickname for him when we were younger. Brandon doesn’t exactly lend itself to being shortened. We tried B, Bra – a favorite of mine, but Brandon here used to give me a dead arm every time I said it. There was Donny, Red, and then when we met Nate in college, he came up with grave digger. It stuck, at least until he became the mogul you know and love.”

“You guys are weird. I’m going to go see if Jess needs any help.” She kisses Brandon, and I watch them, envious of just how easy their love is. I hear his breath catch as she turns and makes her way over to Jess.

“You’re a lucky son of a bitch Brandon.” He has a stupid grin on his face.

“Don’t I know it.” Lily reappears with two beers, holding them out to us and leaving without a word. “Fancy a thrashing on the Xbox before dinner?”