Page 20 of Baby Perfection

“Not a yes?” she asked faintly.

“No, not a yes,” he responded gravely, “but rather ahell,yes.”

Her mouth twitched and a laugh escaped before she could control it. Then she realized that it wasn’t funny. Not considering her issues. Not considering that she’d planned to approach Gabe Moretti over this very problem. Her laughter died and she regarded him with nervous apprehension.

“What’s wrong?” His eyes narrowed. “You must realize that if we’re going to become engaged, probably married, that a sexual relationship would be an important part of the equation.”

She lifted a shoulder in what she hoped was a casual shrug. “You didn’t mention it as one of your conditions, so I can only assume it’s not a very important part.”

“Allow me to prove otherwise.”

Before she could react, he took her hand and gave a quick tug. Unable to resist, she tumbled straight into his arms, straight into his mouth…and straight into heaven.

Chapter Five

It tookonly that one kiss for Angie to confirm that her first embrace with Lucius hadn’t been a fluke. That if anything, the explosive desire was more intense, searing them in endless heat. She couldn’t get enough, didn’t think she’d ever get enough. Not of Lucius. Not of his touch, his unique taste.

His mouth moved on hers, a blatant taking, and she moaned in pleasure. He offered endless possibilities on every front. The chance to be a mother. To be a wife. To form a relationship with the man she loved. And maybe, just maybe, she’d be able to explore the sexual side of her nature without fear of rejection.

Her blouse fell open beneath his busy hands and he cupped her breast, stroking the pad of his thumb across the sensitive tip. She shuddered, helpless beneath the onslaught of sensations. How could she have thought, even for one tiny minute, that she could give herself like this to Gabe Moretti. The mere idea now seemed obscene. It was Lucius she wanted. Lucius she loved.

Lucius who might reject her the way Ryan had.

She stiffened in his arms, fighting her way free of the embrace. Lucius released her without protest, but something in his expression warned that next time he wouldn’t show such consideration, let alone restraint. “We need to finish our discussion,” she informed him. “Nothing is settled and until it is…” She trailed off, heat washing into her face.

“No sex?”

She turned on him. “You’re still my boss, Lucius. If we can’t come to terms, that isn’t going to change. I can’t… We can’t…” She spun away, struggling to refasten her bra, fumbling with buttons and buttonholes. Why was it that every time she was with him, she came undone? Literally. “If we make love and you end up with someone else as your fiancée/wife it would be more than awkward and you know it. It would mean I’d have to find another job.” Of course, she’d have to do that, anyway, one of the primary nails in the coffin she was busily building.

“Why?”

Was he kidding? She turned, glared. “Don’t be an ass, Lucius. You know damn well why. Do you really expect to take me to bed one night and then marry another woman the next?” Apparently Ryan had thought so. “And I’m supposed to be okay with that? Well, news flash, ace. It’s not okay with me. And it shouldn’t be okay with you.”

Something in his reaction acknowledged that her words had impacted harder than she’d anticipated. Temper flared, though she didn’t think it was aimed at her. “Angie—”

But she wasn’t finished. “You know, I was considering having an affair with Gabe Moretti.” She had no idea where the words came from, just that anger drove her toward recklessness. “Maybe I should have a quick fling with him before starting this new job you’re offering. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind. After all,that wouldn’t be the least awkward, would it? You wouldn’t want to end all association with him. With me. Would you, Lucius?”

Dead silence followed and she shivered, belatedly closing her mouth. Oh, damn. Slowly, Lucius rose, more intimidating than she’d ever seen him. His eyes burned with hellfire, his expression carved into taut, furious lines. Tension and blatant male aggression poured off him. Unable to help herself, she stumbled backward a step. Her gaze shot toward the door, desperate for escape. But it was far too late for that. Far too late to do anything other than watch him come for her, striding across the room like vengeance incarnate.

“I swear to God, if you go anywhere near Gabe Moretti—”

Cornered, she fought back. “You’ll what? Fire me? Why, Lucius? Oh, wait. It couldn’t possibly have anything to do with what’s happening between us. With how you’d feel if I took another man into my bed when we were in the middle of ‘negotiating’—” she encased the word in air quotes “—a sexual relationship. If our negotiation falls apart, what is it to you if I sleep with someone else?”

He swept her comments aside as though they were of little to no consequence. “Why were you considering an affair with him?” he demanded.

“Oh, that is so typical of a man,” she stormed at him in response. “Ignore my points because the only thing that matters is marking your territory. Well, I’m not a fire hydrant, Lucius. So, back off.”

To her amazement, he did. Just a single step. But at least it gave her a tiny amount of breathing space. “When did you come to this decision?” he asked. “And why?”

“My reasons are private. As to when…” She gave it to him straight, even though the truth would only escalate the situation. “I decided the night you kissed me.”

His back teeth snapped together and the muscle along his jaw twitched. “Why?”

“You’re my boss. I can’t have an affair with my boss.”

“He’s my competitor.”

“On occasion. On rare occasions. Shortly, he’ll be a business associate.” She struggled to remain calm and poised. “And news flash… He’s notmycompetitor. He’s notmybusiness associate. And most important of all, he’s notmyboss.”

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