Unexpected Secrets Page 14

  It was incredibly erotic sitting here completely naked with my hands loosely tied behind my back, my chest thrust forward, my nipples hard and peaked, and my legs wide open.

  “I do,” I assured him, “I guess knowing and experiencing are two different things.”

  He nodded. His eyes moved from mine down to my breasts. I felt a gush from my pussy and quickly closed my legs.

  “Open them.” He commanded.

  “But—“

  “I said, open them.”

  I did. “I’m going to get the counter wet,” I complained, heat rising into my cheeks.

  “It’s quartz. It cleans easily.”

  “Are we just going to stay like this?” I wanted to egg him on. Get this show on the road.

  “Just you,” he confirmed. “I want you to stay still this time, do you understand?”

  He moved toward me like a panther. “Breathe,” he instructed with his eyebrows raised.

  I laughed.

  “Eyes on me.”

  “Okay,” I whispered.

  “Stay still.”

  “Okay—uh, yes, sir.”

  “Good girl.” He smiled.

  Why did that make me so happy?

  “Fuck,” I said as his mouth came down on my nipple. My head tilted back in ecstasy.

  “Eyes on me,” he reminded me.

  This was harder than I thought. How did he expect me to stay still and keep my eyes on him when my body wanted to writhe in pleasure?

  I jumped when he bit my nipple, then soothed it with his tongue.

  “Don’t move,” he reminded me, biting down again.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I whispered.

  He reached up and twisted my other nipple between his fingers and then stretched it out. My core was dripping onto the counter and then started to pulse.

  “I’m going to cum,” I groaned.

  “Not yet.”

  I whimpered. “If you don’t want me to cum, you need to stop—ahh—that!” I gasped, arching my back, desperate to release my hands.

  He moved his mouth away from my breast and his hand moved to my back, pulling me toward the edge of the counter.

  My eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

  When he had me at the very edge, he moved between my legs, pushing them wide, then he knelt down on the floor in front of me, his mouth even with my pussy.

  “This isn’t fair.” I jumped when his tongue licked my folds.

  “Stay still.” He growled.

  “You’re mean,” I moaned.

  “This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg, baby,” he warned me, and then his fingers spread my lower lips and his tongue lapped me from my back hole all the way to the front.

  I groaned in frustration.

  “You taste like honey, and all things sweet,” he murmured against my clit. It pulsed.

  “I can’t take much more of this,” I panted, my chest heaving.

  He latched onto my clit, then sucked, hard.

  I was hanging on a precipice, about to go over, right on the edge.

  He released me again, and this time I groaned in frustration. I wanted—no needed—to cum.

  “You’re a newbie, that’s for sure. We’ll have to practice often to build up your stamina,” he agreed with another long lick from my ass to my clit, lapping up the juices as soon as they dripped from my core.

  My clit pulsed with appreciation. It wouldn’t take much for me to cum.

  He stood, moving his mouth back to my nipples. He took one between his teeth and began a little dance. I didn’t know what to make of the sensation, but my clit appreciated it. It started to thrum to the same dance, a low hum.

  When he moved to my other breast, giving it equal treatment, I felt his fingers move to my core. I moved my legs wider, encouraging him to continue.

  I was lost, completely lost in the sensations he was creating, and it was building to a big crescendo when suddenly he pushed the hood covering my clit up and pinched my clit between his fingers while tugging hard on my nipple.

  I screamed and my hips lifted off the counter. He pulsed his fingers with my clit caught between them. My body hung in nirvana before the orgasm hit. My entire body convulsed. I tried to move back, tried to alleviate the pulsing, but he held my hips in place, fingers still pulsing in concert with the orgasm.

  Then there was a shift—I moved from being desperate to stop him—to a place of wanting to ride this wave forever.

  I whimpered but opened my legs further. I felt him chuckle against my nipple, then his teeth started the dance again, and his fingers continued the pulse, and my body responded instantly. Orgasm two ripped through my body and when I came down from the wave, I started to close my legs, but he pushed them wide.

  “We’re not done, he assured me, moving to the other breast. “I thought you wanted to spend the day together,” he bit down on my nipple hard, then licked it gently and sucked.

  “Fuck,” I whispered.

  “We’ll get to that,” he said before he pulled my nipple taunt between his teeth, pushing two fingers inside my pussy, flipping them up and starting a come-hither motion against the top of my cunt, exploring.

  “Ohh!” I jumped and felt him smile against my nipple. Then his fingers stayed right there. I was coming apart at the seams. Nothing had prepared me for this, and nothing I’d ever read or experienced did justice to the sensations spreading through my entire body at this moment.

  Suddenly my mouth felt dry. “Gabe?”

  He pulled back to look at me.

  “I don’t feel so well,” I whispered before the world started to go black around the edges. “I think I’m going to pass out,” I admitted right before he scooped me into his arms.

  36

  THIRTY-SIX

  Slowly I opened my eyes and looked around. I was on the couch. My stomach was churning, and I felt like I was going to throw up.

  I tried to breathe into it, hoping it would abate.

  Then I heard Gabriel’s voice and turned my head as steps moved toward the living room.

  I groaned. “Tell me you didn’t call an ambulance.”

  “You passed out, Thea, what did you expect me to do?”

  “You’re a doctor for God’s sakes,” I replied not very graciously, noting for the first time since I’d come to that he’d thankfully put my clothing back on.

  The first EMT reached my side and knelt beside the couch. “Can you tell me your name?” He asked, reaching inside his bag.

  “No. I don’t need your help. Please leave.”

  He looked at Gabriel.

  “Athena— "

  “Don’t look at him, look at me,” I demanded. “I’m in full control of my faculties and I’m telling you I’m fine. Asking you to leave.”

  The EMT stood and looked at Gabriel. “There’s nothing I can do, sir, if she’s refusing treatment.”

  “I am,” I confirmed.

  Gabriel looked angry. “Athena, listen to reason. You passed out and you’ve been unconscious for twenty minutes. Let them check you out.”

  “No. I won’t. I’m fine.”

  I sat up on the couch and looked at the EMT’s. “I apologize for wasting your time. Thank you for coming.”

  They hesitated, and I raised my eyebrows.

  “I’m sorry, sir.”

  Gabriel nodded, turning abruptly and walking them toward the door.

  Once they were safely out of the room, I edged forward on the couch, testing whether I could safely stand. So far so good.

  The room spun, but then righted. I walked toward the kitchen, pulling a bottle of water from the fridge. My hand shook as I brought it to my mouth, but it felt good all the way to my stomach.

  I opened my eyes to find Gabriel standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. He was furious. I didn’t know what to say.

  “That was irresponsible.”

  I simply looked at him, took another drink and a deep breath.

  “Athena?” He ra
ised his eyebrows expectantly.

  I felt frozen. I didn’t even know what to say.

  He moved toward me until he stood in front of me. I looked up at him, tears filling my eyes, spilling over.

  He gathered me into his arms and I clung to him, the tears making a giant wet spot on his shirt.

  I pulled back and looked at him. “I’m going to be sick,” I confirmed before running to the half bath off the kitchen, retching into the toilet.

  I felt his hand on my back, then a cold cloth on my head. He stayed with me until I was done. I sat down on the floor, my head dropped back against the wall of the bath.

  “Help me up?” My hand reached for his and he moved to scoop me into his arms. “No, just help me stand.” I insisted.

  He sighed but did as I asked. Once standing I moved to the sink, turning the faucet on, bending over to swish water into my mouth and then spit it out.

  “Okay, now you can scoop me,” I smiled weakly at him. “Take me to our room.”

  He paused in the living room. “I have half a mind to take you to the hospital myself.” He warned me.

  “Please don’t. I don’t need any more conflict today. Take me to our room and we can discuss it.”

  He did.

  The motion of moving up the stairs made me nauseous again. “To the bathroom,” I instructed, hoping I could make it.

  I dry heaved into the toilet—there was nothing left in my stomach. Gabriel helped me up, and I rinsed out my mouth before he helped me to our bed.

  “Thea, I’m sorry—,” he started.

  I snorted. “You didn’t do this to me, please don’t think you did.” I took a deep breath. “Didn’t you say you have a friend who’s a concierge doc?”

  “Patrick Darcey,” he nodded. “Are you okay if I call him?”

  “Yep,” I agreed, closing my eyes.

  37

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  “I think Gabriel’s right, Athena. It’s not a bad idea for us to hospitalize you for observation.”

  “I think you’re both being overprotective. It’s probably just the flu. Besides, I have my own personal doctor right here. Trust me, he won’t let me out of his sight.”

  Patrick smiled and looked at Gabriel. “I don’t doubt that. Call me if you need anything, or if anything changes, and have her records forwarded to my office.” He was still looking at Gabriel, then turned to me. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll have the results from the blood work, and we can discuss those as well as next steps if you’re not feeling better.”

  He looked back at Gabriel. “I’ll write a script for anti-nausea meds, just in case.”

  “I won’t take them, so don’t bother.”

  “She’s stubborn.”

  “That she is,” Gabriel agreed.

  “Do you think you have apple cider vinegar in the kitchen?” I asked when he returned to the bedroom.

  “I think so, why?”

  “Can you get it for me and dilute one ounce with an equal amount of water?”

  He stared at me.

  “Don’t judge. It works. It will quell nausea.”

  “And you know this how?” He asked, eyebrows raised.

  “From experience.” I moaned, rubbing my stomach. “Please?”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  I sipped it slowly when he returned, afraid it might make me vomit again, but it didn’t. Within twenty minutes I was feeling better.

  “I think I can eat something now, and would you please stop staring at me? It makes me nervous.”

  “You’re pale. I’m worried.”

  “Then go get me some toast to eat. I promise you, I’m feeling better. Toast with butter,” I clarified.

  He smiled and for the first time, I saw worry ease from his brow.

  “Scoot!” I said. “I'm in that weird place between feeling so hungry that I’m borderline nauseous, so hurry.”

  His eyes appraised me but he moved to the door.

  I sipped the apple cider vinegar blend and waited.

  Gabriel returned within minutes.

  “Ohmygod that smells so good!” I reached for the plate with both hands and grabbed the top piece. “Mm,” I moaned, devouring the toast.

  He laughed. “I don’t know anyone who can make eating toast look as sexy as you do.”

  I snorted then licked my fingers and patted my stomach.

  “It was empty,” I admitted, “and that was delicious.”

  Gabriel’s cell rang. He looked at the display. “Patrick?” He answered.

  I could hear mumbling on the other end, but couldn’t make out the words. Speaker, I mouthed.

  “I see, okay. Yes, we’ll be expecting you.”

  My eyes widened. “What’s up?”

  “He’s on his way back.”

  “Why?” My brow furrowed.

  “Said he had a test result back that he wanted to discuss with us.”

  I gulped. “Did he say what?”

  “No, just that he’d be here within ten, and he said not to worry.”

  “Okay, phew,” I said, but my heart was pounding in my chest.

  Ten minutes seemed like an eternity, but the doorbell finally rang. Gabriel buzzed him in from the security panel in our room. “Come on up, Patrick.”

  I was sitting up in bed with my back against the pillows, but the moment Patrick walked into the room I suppressed the desire to hide under the blankets.

  Gabriel and I looked at him expectantly.

  “Everything looks good so far,” he confirmed.

  I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.

  “With that said,” he looked directly at me, “there are a few things that will need to change.”

  My eyes grew wide. “What?”

  “Congratulations, Thea and Gabriel, you’re going to have a baby.”

  Gabriel and I were both frozen.

  “What did you say?” I asked.

  “You’re pregnant,” Patrick confirmed.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” I said to no-one in particular.

  Gabriel came to my side and took my hands, then gently moved my face up to his. His eyes were filled with questions.

  I smiled. “We’re going to be parents to more than just Mackenzie,” I confirmed, a warm glow spread through my body. My eyes promptly filled with tears for the umpteenth time since arriving in Maine.

  He smiled, then laughed, then hugged me tight.

  38

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Four Months Later

  “This dress fit me fine two weeks ago,” I moaned, pulling the zipper tight.

  “Here let me help,” Fran laughed. “You look beautiful you know, glowing.”

  “Thanks,” I snorted. “I looked like death warmed over for the first few weeks—morning sickness is not fun—but now I feel great.”

  Mackenzie burst into the room. “Thea, we’re almost ready for you.” She narrowed her eyes at me, goodness she looked just like her father when she did that. “Where are your flowers?”

  “Right here,” I assured her, reaching for them and pulling them into my hands. “Are you ready?”

  “Yep,” her sea-green eyes twinkled with excitement. “I have the petals in a basket downstairs. Dad made me leave them there.” She paused. “Can I talk to the baby?”

  I smiled. “Anytime you want to.”

  She padded further into the room and put her little arms around my hips. “I love you,” she said to my tummy.

  I struggled to keep the tears at bay, and one glance at Fran confirmed she was struggling, too.

  “The baby loves you, too, sweet girl, and so do I. Now, are we ready to do this?”

  “Yes!” Zee jumped and twirled all the way to the door, then stopped before racing through it. She turned back. “You look pretty.”

  “Thanks, sweet girl, you do, too.”

  I took a deep breath after she left. “I don’t know how I’m going to get through
this without crying,” I admitted to Fran.

  “No one’s going to judge you if you do, Thea. Good lord, I don’t know how I’m going to get through it without crying, and it’s not even my wedding.”

  We laughed, and I hugged her. “You’re a good friend. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  She smiled. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  “Let’s, I agreed.”

  “Do you really think Zee will be okay?” I asked, snuggling closer to Gabriel.

  “She has Fran, Cox, and two additional SOS Security detail at our house with her. Did you really just ask me that?”

  I snorted. “I know. It’s not that—it’s just—do you think it’s okay that we left her behind?”

  “I think it’s important for her to see that a honeymoon is between a husband a wife, I think we need this time, and I think she’s probably going to have the time of her life.”

  I laughed. “She and Fran are definitely up to something. I saw them whispering together right before we left.”

  “Our daughter is fortunate to have so many wonderful people in her life,” he agreed, “most of all, you.”

  “I love her as if she were my own.”

  “I know you do.” A shadow crossed over his face.

  “Do you think Allessandra is okay with this?”

  His head swung around toward mine. “Interesting choice of words, but yes, I do. I think she’s happy about it. We’ll keep her memory strong for Zee.”

  “Ohmygod, of course we will,” I agreed.

  Silence stretched comfortably.

  “Did you notice Fran talking to Patrick?”

  He laughed. “Matchmaking already, huh?”

  “You can laugh all you want, but mark my words, there’s a connection between them.”

  “Right now, Mrs. Mills, all I can think about is the sexy goddess sitting next to me.”

  “Is the limo soundproof?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure, but just in case we should practice a few of the skills you’ve been working on, like being still, and being quiet.” His hand began working its way up my leg, “Hands behind your head, Mrs. Mills,” he whispered in my ear.