“I lied to you?” He thought back to all the times he’d kissed and held her in bed and told her how beautiful she was, how sweet tasting, how much he liked touching her. Did she really think those were lies?
“The wedding?” she spat, crossing her arms. “The lawyer?”
Oh fuck. He felt the blood drain from his face. “I can explain—”
“I’d certainly hope so.” A hurt look crossed her face. “Are you trying to steal my baby, Asher?”
“What? No!” The thought was the furthest thing from his mind. He was shocked she’d think that.
“Then what was with the contract? Your lawyer trying to bribe mine? Writing in loopholes that would make the contract null and void?”
Fuck. This was blowing up in his face. He’d done it and hadn’t given a damn about the consequences. But seeing her in front of him, hurt, worried, and scared, no wonder she’d run. “Greer, sweetheart—” he reached for her, only to have her jerk away. “Okay, yeah. I’m an asshole and I told my lawyer to give you the contract you wanted but to make it crap.”
“Why?” The look she gave him was incredulous.
His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared. “Because I want you,” he gritted out. “I want you and the baby both. I don’t want you walking out of my life. I love you. I wanted a chance to prove it to you and you wouldn’t give me that chance any other way. That’s why I made the lawyers come up with bullshit clauses. That’s why I went to your dad and bribed him to put on a ridiculous wedding. Because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I couldn’t think of any other way to get close to you.”
Her angry expression softened. Her big brown eyes shimmered with tears and a moment later she ripped off her big glasses. “Stupid lenses fogging up.” She sniffed and crossed her arms again. “I just . . . it was a real low blow to bribe my father and make me do all that work for nothing.”
“I know. God, I know. I was just desperate. I went to him and tried to have him call the wedding off once I saw how those three idiots were running you ragged.” He took a daring step forward and brushed the tears off her cheek. Seeing her cry was breaking his damn heart. “He actually refused and tried to blackmail me. Said he’d expose everything if I didn’t go along with it and I was just so afraid of losing you when I had you again.”
She gave a watery chuckle. “So my father truly wanted to get married?”
“Once he saw how much money it could make him? Yes.”
“Figures.” She shook her head sadly. “My father is such an asshole. I never mattered to him. It was just his stupid company.” Greer sighed. “Someday I’m going to realize that he’s never loved anyone.”
“Wanting your father to love you isn’t a flaw, Greer. You just happen to hope that he’s a better person than he is. And it sucks when you find out he isn’t.” He pulled her against him and was gratified when she went into his arms. His hands stroked up and down her back, and it was a pure pleasure just to hold her.
“So how much did he shake you down for?”
Asher chuckled. “I offered him an unspecified amount, though my original idea was the five million I thought he’d loaned me. Until I found out it wasn’t him after all. You hid your tracks pretty well.”
He felt her stiffen. “When did you find out?”
“The evening of the big Prospectus Businessman of the Year party. I went to him to thank him and he had no idea what I was talking about. I figured out then that it was you.”
She pulled away from him, a look of horror on her face. “So . . . you went after me because you felt obligated?”
Holy hell, he was just saying all the wrong things, wasn’t he? “Of course not! I love you. I think I realized I loved you when I saw you that night—”
“And saw I was pregnant!”
“—and realized that when you hated me, I’d lost everything and you’d been right there the entire time, and I’d been too blind to notice it.” He reached for her, trying to pull her against him again. “Hearing that you gave the money to me and never said a word just made me realize that you were the one that had always been there for me. And I’m a selfish bastard because when I realized I’d lost you, I wanted you back and I didn’t care how I made it happen.”
She eased a little, and he tugged her closer.
“You want me to get my checkbook out? Write you a check for five million? I will right now.”
“No,” she said in a glum voice. “I just wanted you to want me for me. Not because of the baby or my money.”
“I do want you. If those other things didn’t exist, I’d still want you.” He dropped to his knees and put a hand to her stomach. “When we get married—and I’m marrying you at some point, you know—we can keep separate accounts if it’ll make you feel better. Or you can have mine. I don’t care. Prenup, no nup, whatever you want. Money doesn’t matter to me.” His fingers lightly touched her stomach. “But I can’t pretend this doesn’t matter.”
Her lower lip quivered. “So you do want the baby? You’re not just saying that?”
“I love you, Greer. I want you and our baby.”
Her eyes filled with more tears. “I love you, too, Asher. I always have. I’m so sorry about Donna.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry about the fake wedding and the fake contracts.”
She pinched his side. “That was pretty lousy of you. Did it have to be a fake wedding? I worked my ass off for them, you know.”
“You’re a wedding planner. I couldn’t think of any other way to force you to be around me than to be in the wedding itself.” He stroked her soft, gorgeous hair. God, it was like a dream having her in his arms again. She felt perfect against him. Like she belonged there. Hell, she did belong there. “I was wrong to do it.”
“You were.”
“I made mistakes.”
“Mmm.” Her cheek pressed against his heart.
“I’ve fucked up a million times. I admit it.”
“Like getting me pregnant?” Her voice was soft.
“Nailing you in the gardens was my favorite mistake,” he admitted. “It woke me up and made me realize you were there all along. It gave me you and the baby. How can I regret any of that?”
“I’m glad, too, in a weird way.” She looked up at him. “I hated you and hated that my life was out of control and that I was so stupid. But it did bring us together.”
He grimaced. “Best worst first date ever.”
Greer chuckled. “You’re lucky I’m a forgiving sort.”
“I’m beyond lucky,” he said, and caressed her lovely cheek. Her lovely face. He traced the backs of his fingers along her jaw. “I love you. If you can forgive me for being utterly blind for so long, I want you and the baby both in my life. Forever. Always.”
Her eyes shone with tears but there was a bright smile on her gorgeous face. “I love you, too.”
“I never want you to leave me again.”
“I won’t.”
He lifted her into his arms. “Not even for a change of clothing.”
Her mouth quirked and she looped her arms around his neck to support herself as he hauled her into the air. “Can I go to the bathroom by myself at least?”
“We’ll discuss bathroom privileges if you’re a good girl.”
“I’m the best girl.”
God, hearing her say that sent a bolt of lust straight to his groin. “Fuck yeah, you are.”
Her dark eyes grew liquid with heat, and her fingers lightly pushed at the back of his head, encouraging him forward for a kiss.
Like he needed urging?
He captured her mouth with his and then Greer’s hands were all over him. She made a little hungry noise in her throat that drove him crazy, and he groaned and blindly began to maneuver their twined bodies toward the couch. Fuck the bed, the couch was a lot close
r. When his leg found the couch, he carefully leaned forward and tipped them onto the cushions.
“Here?” She gasped against his mouth.
“Here,” he agreed.
“Good idea.” She ripped at his shirt, her hands frantic.
Damn, this woman was sexy. He was the luckiest man alive. He tugged at her leggings, trying to rip them down her legs even as she twisted against him. It was like they were in a race to undress each other, and he was determined to win.
“You should probably get off me so I can take my clothes off,” she said breathlessly, even as her hand moved to his belt and began to undo it.
“Fuck that,” he told her, and hauled her leggings down her thighs. He got them to her knees and figured that was good enough. Her panties went next, and then he grabbed the bunched material and hauled her legs into the air. “This seems like a pretty sweet situation to me.”
She giggled and tried to pull at his clothing, but her trapped legs prevented her from moving. She wiggled, her beautifully brown bottom enticing him along with the expanse of rounded thighs. “I’m stuck.”
“You are, aren’t you?” He deliberately pressed her knees forward, until they were practically on her breasts. It exposed even more thigh and her sweet, slick folds to his view. “Is this hurting you?”
“No.” She wiggled again.
“Good.” He slid a hand to her sex and rubbed the gleaming wetness between her thighs. She jerked against him and moaned hard, her hands flying to the couch cushions as if to anchor herself. “You’re so wet already. How is that possible?”
“Kissing you,” she breathed, and rocked against his hand when he fingered her again. “Kissing you does it for me. I love it when you touch me.” She gave him a soft look. “Love you.”
He groaned. His heart felt like bursting in his chest. He’d never been so damn happy in his life. “I love you too, sweetheart,” he said, voice hoarse. His hand went to his pants and he finished undoing his zipper, freeing his cock. “And I’m going to take you hard and fast right now—”
“Yes!”
“—because I can’t wait.”
“Me either.” Her hands gripped the cushions and then she arched when he stroked her pussy again. “Please, Ash. Please.”
He couldn’t wait to claim her. In one swift motion, he pushed her knees forward again, her legs pinned between his chest and hers. It left her pussy wide open for him and he fitted the head of his cock against her slick entrance and nudged at her core. She was hot and wet for him, and he pumped into her in a swift motion.
Greer cried out, her eyes closing, a look of intense joy on her face.
“God, you’re beautiful.” He thrust into her again, going deep. He loved touching her, loved fucking her, loved the hot clasp of her body around his cock. “My Greer. My sweetheart.”
“Yours,” she breathed as he pounded into her. “Make me yours.”
He would. He surged into her over and over again, making sure to grind down against her with every thrust so he rubbed her clit. He adjusted his movements until he felt her quiver against him, felt her body tense against his when he bottomed out, and knew he was hitting the right spots. Then, he began to pound into her fiercely and relentlessly. She clawed at the pillow behind her head, keening, and then moved it forward to her mouth to bite it, a sure sign that she was about to come. He felt her pussy clench hard around him, contracting—
And then she cried out his name behind a mouthful of pillow, and he felt her body spasm, felt her milking his cock and drawing him tighter inside her. It was too much, too fast. With a hoarse shout, he came, emptying himself into her with hard, sure strokes. Lights danced behind his eyes from the intensity of his orgasm, and he was filled with fierce pleasure and an intense sense of rightness.
When he came to his senses, he grinned down at her. “I’m sorry that was so quick. I’ll do better next time.”
She shifted underneath him, her face adorably flushed, hair escaping from her tight braid. “I think that sounds like a plan.” She arched her feet. “Let my legs up at least?”
He backed off of her and admired the view. Her thighs were deliciously damp, her pussy swollen from his ministrations, and she looked juicy enough for him to eat. He thought for a moment and then grabbed the bunched-up leggings at her knees and used them like a tether, hauling her forward into his lap.
Her eyes flew open. “What—”
He turned her over and put a hand on her rounded little bottom. “I think I’m going to spank you for the stunt you pulled today.”
“I did that for love!”
“And I’m going to love spanking this plump little bottom of yours.” He ran a hand over her buttocks.
She turned and gave him an arched-eyebrow glare. “Only if I get to spank you next for all the stunts you pulled.”
That seemed fair to him.
Epilogue
Greer was adjusting the spray of baby’s breath twined into her braid when one of the tailors on hand at Gretchen’s wedding handed her a note.
Meet me in the green study. It’s important.—A
Hmm. Important? She wasn’t sure if this was another one of Asher’s “let’s pretend this is urgent information to get Greer to come make out with me” notes or if there truly was something important. In the last few months, the man had come to realize that she would always show up if he sent her a note, no matter how busy she was, and he’d started to use them for dirty, sexual things.
As if she’d complain?
She loved being the center of Asher’s world. Her life was better now than it had ever been, and she didn’t know when she’d been so very happy. Kiki had taken over renting Greer’s small, sensible apartment (with a discount, of course) as she went to culinary school, and that had let Greer move in with Asher to his slightly bigger apartment. They were looking for a new place, but between trying to find the perfect location in the city and the perfect house for their baby, it was slow going. That was fine. They still had a few weeks.
Greer tucked the note into the bodice of her empire-waisted gown and hoisted herself out of her chair. She seemed to be more belly than body lately, but Asher always made her feel beautiful. He loved everything about their child and had been more excited than she was when it had first started to move. He constantly came up with lists of names that he wanted her to consider, and she was pretty sure he’d purchased a tiny baseball bat and glove already. The man was so excited about their baby that it made her glow with happiness.
Smoothing her bluish-purple dress, Greer put a hand to her huge belly. “I think I’m going to go take another pee break before it’s time to go down the aisle.”
Next to her, Taylor was playing with the straightening iron on her hair. She was dressed in a gown of the same pale color, but a different cut. In the next room over, Gretchen was panicking at her sisters, as she had been all morning. Some people got a slight case of bridal nerves. Gretchen had a hurricane full of them. Taylor put down the iron and started to get up. “You need someone to hold your skirts?”
“I’m good. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I’ll be back soon. It’s not like I can run away.” She patted her belly and felt the baby kick in return.
“Will do,” Taylor said, and then frowned fiercely into the mirror as she tried to flat-iron a limp stray curl.
Greer slipped out and moved into the hallway. It was surprisingly quiet, given that it was Gretchen and Hunter’s wedding day and the wedding itself was going to happen in less than an hour. Hundreds of people had descended upon Buchanan Manor, but no one seemed to be in this particular hall. Perfect. She vaguely remembered seeing a green study several doors down. It wouldn’t be downstairs—Asher was very careful not to make Greer take stairs at this stage in her pregnancy. She suspected in another week or so, he’d try to carry her everywhere.
The thought of him toting her h
eavily pregnant body around made her smile, and she was still smiling as she pushed open the door to the green study and saw her beloved standing there. “Got your note,” she announced.
He turned around, utterly gorgeous in his tuxedo, and took her breath away. His hair was freshly cut and impeccably styled, and the cravat at his neck outlined just how perfect his jaw was. God, she was a lucky woman.
His eyes widened at the sight of her and he wiped his mouth. “Holy fuck, look at how beautiful you are.”
“I’d twirl but it’d be more of a waddle,” she told him, dragging a hand through her voluminous skirts. Her dress was the pale bluish purple that matched Gretchen’s favorite Blue Girl roses and was made of a silky material that skimmed her body like water. Her shoulders were bare and a tight bodice kept her now-bountiful breasts in check. Her hair was pulled into a long braid dotted with small flowers, and she had to admit, there weren’t a lot of days that she felt beautiful at eight months pregnant, but today was one of those days.
“You’re utterly gorgeous.” He moved toward her and put his hands on her breasts. “Look at these beauties. They’re just dying to escape and land in my grip.”
She smacked his hands away playfully. “You said this was important. What is it?”
“I wanted to see you and get my inappropriate boner taken care of before the ceremony. I knew if I waited to see you in your dress during the wedding itself, I’d get major wood.” His hand rubbed the front of his slacks. “I’m right. The sight of you like this has me so damn hard.”
“Well, put that thing away,” she said, teasing. “I’d offer to give you a hand job but I’m afraid you’d wrinkle my dress.”
“Can’t have that,” he murmured, leaning in to nip at her ear. His hands went to her shoulders and he sent pleasant little shivers through her body with the soft touch. “I suppose I might have had another reason to bring you here other than to ogle you.”