And he touched her! Goodness, the man was constantly touching her. When they were at a social event, Dimitri kept his hand on her back or her arm, leading her through the other guests or just resting against her as he spoke to a business associate. It was almost as if he needed to connect with her physically and Pepper loved it every time it happened. In truth, she craved his touch! Every time he touched her now, she felt that heat seep through her body. When he touched her, Pepper tended to lean into his hand, almost purring like a kitten.
Even better, he didn’t care that her clothes tended to be a bit outrageous. Nor was he repulsed by the effusive way she attacked life. She loved walking into his office to meet him for lunch, seeing the intensity in his eyes relax as she walked towards him. She loved the way he would push away from whatever he was working on, lean back in his chair and just watch her as she sauntered towards him. She loved the heat that burned in his eyes and the way he automatically reached for her, drawing her onto his lap whenever she rounded his desk to kiss him. She loved…him!
Oh, Pepper wanted to shout at him when he used that autocratic tone of voice. And she constantly had to remind him to be polite when asking her to do something. Yes, Dimitri was dictatorial. But she loved that about him too. Especially in bed. Goodness, she loved it when he did things to her in bed and Pepper was seriously becoming his sexual slave, coming to crave every new idea he suggested.
Her cell phone stopped ringing and Pepper felt…sad. Her connection to Dimitri was gone but…looking down at the stick, the plus sign suddenly registered. She was pregnant! Yes, this wasn’t planned, but oddly, she wasn’t upset about it.
Dimitri would be upset, she thought. Although, thinking back to that first night with him…or the second night? She couldn’t remember anymore, but…yes, it had been the second night. That first night, he’d kissed her at her door, not coming inside.
So yes, Pepper had warned him. Six weeks ago, on their second date, she’d warned him that a pregnancy wasn’t just possible, but probable, because she hadn’t gotten on birth control before they’d had sex. Double protection. How many times had Sloane urged her and Rayne to always use two forms of contraception?
Too often for this to have happened, Pepper thought, looking down at the evidence of her failure.
Leaning back, she closed her eyes and thought about Dimitri. She should tell him. Pepper’s heart lurched at the reality that he would probably leave as soon as she did. He would…No! Dimitri wasn’t like that.
“He’s not like my father,” she whispered vehemently.
With that declaration lingering in the air, she opened her eyes and looked around. “What in the world am I going to do?” For a long moment, she stood there in her bathroom, her mind racing with crazy thoughts.
Then she realized what she was doing and straightened, shaking her head. “No, this isn’t good!” Pepper pushed herself up and stood, washing her hands. Then, because she was feeling energized and excited…she was going to have a baby!...she danced a little jig, excited for this new phase in her life. She and Dimitri had created a life! His child. Their child! “Wow!”
She flipped on the shower. “Time to tell him,” she said to herself, and began to mentally rehearse her speech.
An hour later, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. “You look good,” she said to herself, feeling strong and powerful and…well, a bit nauseous, but that was to be expected.
She’d just grabbed her purse when someone knocked. “Dimitri,” she whispered.
Suddenly, her confidence evaporated and she was overcome with nerves. But just as always, the thought of seeing Dimitri caused her whole body to tremble with excitement. So instead of standing there, staring at the door in fear of what he would say, she rushed over and pulled the door open.
“You’re here!” she gasped, and threw herself into his arms. He must have been anticipating that move, because he lifted her into his arms, carrying her back into her apartment, kissing her the whole time and making her body tremble for a completely different reason now.
“Why didn’t you answer when I called earlier?” he demanded, his hands immediately sliding under her sweater as she leaned in against his hard body.
“I was…” she shook her head, thinking about the pregnancy test on her bathroom counter. “I was on my way to see you. I was going to your office.”
“Good. But that doesn’t answer my question.” He lifted her sweater up and over her head. “But I’m not sure I care just now….” His eyes took in the soft, full swells of her breasts, encased in the blue lace bra. “This is one that I sent to you,” he murmured, his finger tracing the edge of the lace, teasing her. “I knew it would look good on you.”
She laughed, then hissed when his finger caressed her already taut nipple. “Dimitri, don’t tease. I…” she stumbled when his other hand trailed a path of fire along her other breast. “I need you too much.”
He kissed her as a reward for that admission. “Good,” he groaned when he lifted her up and carried her to the bedroom. “I feel the same way.”
She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck. “I missed you too.”
Dimitri set her down on the floor right beside her bed. Normally, he’d take his time undressing her. But right now, he needed her. He needed to be inside of her. Now!
“I’m sorry, love.
