It hits me when I pull my phone out and see a text from Claire.

  Thinking about you. Try not to turn into a West Coast hippie while you’re out there, okay?

  I’m not giving up on anything. I’m choosing to make a new try at something, that’s all. Mel will understand, and if she doesn’t, well, that’s hard. But I’ll survive.

  I text Claire back, grinning ear to ear. I have just a few days back in Seattle and when I’m wrapped up here…

  I’m coming to see you soon, I text to her and I can’t wait.

  6

  Claire

  That was one of the hardest months of my life.

  I couldn’t tell Ellis that, of course. Over text and in phone calls I tried to stay as positive as I possibly could. But every time we talked, I kept any problems to myself.

  The first thing I noticed was people treating me differently in the office. I guess word of my time with Ellis already leaked and people were seriously looking at me weird. I don’t think anyone knew anything about my arrangement with him but there were definitely some really nasty implications.

  The worst was when Roger called me into his office about a week after Ellis left. I sat on a chair and stared at him while he explained to me that relationships with coworkers aren’t against the rules, but seeing a superior can cause problems and maybe I should really think carefully about my choices.

  I told him he should think carefully about what he’s implying and stormed out of his office. That felt good, but crying in the bathroom for an hour didn’t.

  The nasty rumors didn’t end there but at least they were all happening behind my back. I knew what people were whispering but I could survive it so long as Ellis kept texting and calling.

  Things came to a head for me at the end of the month.

  I’ve always been a very regular person. I get my period pretty much on the same day every single month, so when it didn’t come, I knew I might have a problem. It took me another week before I broke down and finally took a pregnancy test.

  I took every single test in the entire freaking store, one after the other. I couldn’t let myself believe the results, but they just kept coming back positive.

  Pregnant. I’ve never, ever imagined myself as the kind of person to get pregnant outside of marriage but here I am. Ellis is the father, there’s no doubt of that in my mind, but I can’t tell him. I know the instant I see the positive tests that I can’t ever tell him.

  I don’t know what I’ll do. Maybe I’ll quit and move away, raise the baby on my own. Or maybe I’ll give the baby up for adoption and hope he never even realizes I was pregnant.

  Stupid fantasies, I know, but still. A pregnant, scared girl can dream, right?

  I was pretty much at rock bottom on Friday afternoon about six weeks after he originally left on his trip when I got a phone call. I got up from my desk to answer it.

  “Ellis?” I say softly, hiding in a little common office that anyone could use for some privacy.

  “I’ve been thinking about you,” he says.

  “I’ve been thinking about you, too.” I don’t add that I’ve been thinking about how he’s the father of my baby.

  “How about I come see you?”

  I laugh softly. “I’d love that.”

  “Okay then. Leave work. I’ll see you at your apartment in twenty minutes.”

  I stare at the floor for a second. “Are you serious?”

  “I’m serious. My plane just landed and I’m getting a cab.”

  “You’re in Philly?”

  “I’m coming to see you.” He laughs softly. “You don’t sound excited.”

  “I’m really excited. Let me go finish up and I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  “Okay then.”

  We hang up and I hurry back to my desk, heart pounding. I sit down and stare at my computer screen for a second just trying to get myself together.

  Ellis is back already. I almost didn’t expect to see him again so soon. I know the Demon Redux launch is in full swing so I figured he’d be too busy to come out here again.

  But here he is, and part of me knows that he’s only here because he wants to see me. I wonder if he does this for all his girls in every city, randomly stops by their office. I wonder if he calls them or texts them as often as he does with me.

  Part of me thinks he doesn’t. I mean, there’s no way he’d have enough time for all of us if he did that. But that must be stupid, right? I can’t think I’m special or anything, that’ll only lead to me getting hurt. I have to keep being reasonable about this relationship.

  It’s not love, it’s not marriage. It’s not even exclusive. I’m just his girl. I’m a convenience for him, and I have to be okay with that if I want to be with him at all.

  I finally work up the courage to pack up and leave. Roger throws me a look but doesn’t say anything. I think he’s scared of me ever since that conversation in his office. He probably should be, honestly. I should’ve reported him to HR.

  Besides, I’m fucking the boss.

  I hurry outside and back to my apartment. When I get there, Ellis is already waiting for me.

  He stands as I approach, getting up off my stoop to walk over and meet me on the sidewalk. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight.

  “Did you forget what I looked like?” he asks me softly. “Since it’s been so long.”

  “Not even a little bit.”

  “Good.” He pulls back slightly and kisses me softly on the lips. “I’ve been thinking about that ever since I left.”

  “About that?”

  “Your lips.” He kisses me again. “Your taste.”

  I smile. I can’t help myself. Suddenly all my fears and worries are banished completely. I don’t care about what they say back in the office, and the baby growing inside of me doesn’t matter.

  I stay in his arms for a second longer, the street we’re standing on completely fading away to the background. He’s so handsome, so big, so strong. I almost forgot what it felt like to be in his arms.

  And it’s worth it, I realize with a jolt. It’s totally worth it.

  He kisses me again. “Show me your place,” he says.

  I take his hand. “It’s a little messy and small,” I warn.

  “I don’t mind.”

  “Come on. You’re used to big fancy hotels, right?”

  “True. I am a very rich man.”

  I roll my eyes and he grins at me.

  “Come on, asshole.” I lean him up the stoop and into the building. My apartment is in the very back, a tiny little single-bedroom place with access to the backyard although I never use it.

  We step into the living room. My couch has some old magazines and video games on it so I gather that stuff up and shove it under the coffee table. He looks at my bookshelf as I straighten up as fast as I can, hoping he won’t notice how much of a huge nerd I am.

  “I’m kind of impressed,” he says. “You have way more manga than I expected.”

  “I know. I went through a phase in college.”

  “We all did. Do you still read it?”

  “Not so much anymore,” I admit. “I watch the shows now sometimes but I’m basically past my anime phase.”

  He grins at me. “That’s a shame.”

  “Is it? I bet you like the harem stuff.”

  He groans a little bit. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Sure. You love your little harem.”

  “I guess I do,” he says, coming over to me. “And you love being a part of it.”

  “Maybe,” I say.

  He kisses me gently. “Show me the rest of it.”

  I give him a little tour. Kitchen, which is fortunately cleaner than normal, bathroom, and bedroom. My desk with my PC and laptop is pushed up against the far wall back in the living room and I’m about to suggest we go out in there when he grabs me and pulls me against him.

  We’re standing in my bedroom and I realize that I haven’t had a guy in this bed since I moved in about six months ago.

  He kisses me gently. “Did you miss me?” he asks.

  “I did,” I admit.

  “Of course you did.”

  “And you missed me. You’ve been blowing up my phone since you left.”

  “Mmm. Hardly.”

  “Do you do that with all your girls?”

  He glances away from me with a brief troubled look. “No,” he admits. “I don’t at all.”

  “So there. Clearly you couldn’t help yourself.”

  He grabs my hair and pulls it back. “You’re right,” he growls. “I really couldn’t.”

  He kisses me hard and I melt into him. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since the day he left and now I’m realizing that he feels better than I could possibly even guess. His taste floods my mouth as I wrap myself against him, arms around his neck, body pressed tight against his.

  He pulls at the hem of my top and gets it up over my head. He unhooks my bra, kissing my neck, and palms my breasts. He’s in a frenzy and I love it, like he can’t wait a single second to touch my skin. It sends chills down my spine and I can feel my soaked wetness pooling between my legs.

  He drives me wild. Knowing he wants me like this drives me insane.

  He teases my breasts and turns me, pinning my back against the wall.

  “Fuck, girl,” he whispers. “I kept thinking about this body, but it’s even better in person.”

  “I knew you missed me.”

  He bites my lip. “I won’t pretend like I didn’t. I need another fucking taste of you.”

  I gasp as he roughly takes my jeans off. He pulls them off and grabs my right wrist, pinning it above my head, while he slides his left hand down the front of my panties. He fingers tease my soaked lips and slides up to rub slow against my clit.

  I let out a low moan. He bites my lip again and teases me with his fingers. I forgot how good at this he was, like he knows exactly where I need him to touch me next before I even realize it.

  He slides his fingers deep inside me. “Tight, wet little pussy,” he purrs. “I knew you were gorgeous. I just forgot how perfect this cunt is.”

  “I forgot how good you are with your hands.”

  He growls gently. “I bet you did. I bet you were touching yourself every night, trying to picture how I did it.”

  “Yes,” I whisper.

  He teases me faster, his fingers working my clit and driving me wild.

  “You couldn’t touch your pussy like I can though. You got frustrated, angry. I bet your pretty pale skin turned red and flushed, but don’t worry, my little Claire. I’m here now. I can take care of you.”

  I moan as he slides his fingers in deep and fucks me with them. He bites my nipples, teasing them with his tongue. I’m shaking slightly and my breasts bounce with every breath. He growls and pulls me away from the wall, pulling me over to the bed and turning me around.

  I look over my shoulder as he bends over to slide my panties off. He spreads my ass wide and spanks me before tonguing my ass top to bottom. I gasp and he squeezes my hips, holding me tight, licking every inch of me.

  It feels good and I feel so dirty and, god, I’m so happy he’s back.

  He stands and I turn to watch him as he undresses. I sit back on the bed, breathing deep totally naked now. I can feel myself dripping down my thighs as he gets his shirt off, followed by his pants. He’s so hard he’s nearly ripping through his boxer briefs and he doesn’t bother leaving them on. He holds his thick cock in one fist and strokes himself.

  I get on my knees in front of him. I missed him so much and I want him to feel it. I take his cock in my mouth and he brushes my hair back from my face, gathering it up in his fist and holding it as I suck him slowly at first.

  I lick him top to bottom and taste him. I suck his cock hard and he pushes it down deep. I gag and pull back. He smirks at me.

  “Come on, girl,” he growls low. “You can take that cock deep in your throat. I know you’re hungry for it.”

  I take him again and this time I let him slide deep into my throat. I work his shaft with both hands while I suck him fast, my body buzzing with desire. I love the way he groans and growls, grunting his pleasure. He tastes good between my lips and part of me wants him to come in my mouth so I can swallow every drop.

  But he doesn’t let me suck him long. He pulls me back to my feet and turns me around again, bending me over the bed. He puts my ass in the air and pushes me down onto my elbows.

  I feel him spank my ass. “Look at you,” he growls. He teases my pussy with his fingers. “Soaking wet. You’re fucking dripping for me, girl.”

  “I really missed you,” I moan.

  He rubs his cock against my pussy before sliding himself inside. I gasp as pleasure and pain mix. My pussy wraps around his thick cock and he fills me to the brim. I almost forgot how amazing it feels to have him deep between my legs. He almost doesn’t fit and I love the feeling of being pushed and ripped open.

  I roll my hips as he starts to fuck me slow. He grabs my hair and pulls it tight, gliding in and out of my tight pussy. I moan and grip my sheets.

  “What a perfect fucking ass,” he growls and spanks me. “Round and firm and ready for my big cock. Fuck, girl, and this cunt feels like it was built to wrap around my big dick.”

  “Oh, god, Ellis,” I manage to moan as he starts to fuck me faster.

  “God damn,” he growls in response. He spanks me hard and I gasp again. He teases my clit, palms my breasts, grabs my hips, and fucks me like an animal.

  We’re sweating as we work together. He rips into my tight pussy and I take him nice and deep, moaning the whole time. I’m his to use and fuck however he wants. I know I’ll never need anything more than his big, fat, hard cock thrusting deep into my tight cunt as pleasure rolls through me in waves.

  I’m buzzing with him as he pulls back with a growl. He turns me, kissing me, pushing me back further onto the bed. He follows me and pins me down, spreading my legs and teasing me with his tongue.

  I moan and grab his hair tight. God, it feels incredible, his tongue lapping at my clit. He stops before I come and slides his cock deep inside of me again.

  He pulls me up against him and kisses me hard, tongue in my mouth. I taste my pussy on his lips and moan as he thrusts, hands cupping my ass. He puts me back down and I can’t help but palm my own breasts as he rocks into me.

  It feels incredible and I don’t know how I lived without this. He’s an animal, taking me and dominating me, pinning my hands above my head and thrusting deep inside my pussy like he can’t get enough of it. I’m moaning and his lips are all over my skin, against mine, teasing my nipples, making me gasp.

  I don’t know how much longer I can last. He thrusts harder, letting a growl escape his lips. “Fuck, I want to fill you up,” he says. “I want you to take every drop of my cum.”

  “Ellis,” I moan. “Please. Don’t stop. Don’t stop fucking me.”

  He growls again in response and thrusts harder. He’s taking me like a beast in an animal frenzy, the kind of man that I’ve always wanted and needed. He’s not gentle or slow, but passionate and intense.

  I know I’m so close. He grabs my hips and thrusts deep, hitting my spot just right. I gasp and roll back against him, moving my hips, grinding deeper. He keeps going, moving with me, hitting me just right, not slowing down. I know I can’t take it anymore when the orgasm rips through me.

  He’s not kind about it. He fucks me fast as I come, making the orgasm double in pleasure. I moan his name over and over and over and I feel him growl and stiffen and gasp my name in response.

  He fills me up moments after I finish. He fills me deep and I take every single drop of his hot cum. I moan and gasp as we finish together, sweating and panting, and he smiles as he collapses onto the bed next to me.

  “Fuck,” he says.

  I grin and laugh a little. “Yeah.”

  We both lay there, not moving, smiles on our faces.

  7

  Ellis

  We spend the rest of the night in bed and I make her breakfast in the morning.

  I’m whistling with a smile on my face when she finally wakes up. She sits at her little kitchen table and I give her a mug of coffee. “Hungry?” I ask.

  “Starving,” she admits.

  I give her a plate of pancakes and sit down across from her, chewing on my own breakfast. She eats like she really is starving and I can’t help but smile.

  “What do you want to do today?” I ask her.

  She shrugs. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t mind staying in bed all day with you.”

  I grin. “I’m not sure you could handle it.”

  She raises an eyebrow. “Sounds like a challenge.”

  I laugh and lean across the table to kiss her. “No, I’m taking you out.”

  “Where?”

  I stand up and pour myself some more coffee. “There’s one good thing about having a lot of money,” I say.

  “Just one?”

  I grin and ignore her. “It’s that I have a lot of money, and most of it’s just free to be spent however.”

  “Must be nice,” she grumbles.

  “It is.” I walk over and tilt her chin up at me. “I’m taking you shopping.”

  She hesitates a second. “No, we can’t do that. I can’t take money from you.”

  “You’re not taking anything. I’m giving it to you.”

  “Same thing.”

  “Very different. I’ll be insulted if you refuse.”

  She sighs. “I guess I’ll allow it.”

  “Thought so.” I lean down and kiss her gently. “Go get dressed. We’re leaving soon.”

  She shoves a few more bites into her mouth and gets up. I hear the shower turn on as I grab my phone and call Delia.

  “Morning,” she grumbles. “You know how early it is over here?”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” I say. “Listen, I think I’m going to stay here for a little longer than anticipated.”