Page 49 of Vegas Baby

“Now you explained it, I can see the appeal but I’m not completely sold.”

“I’ll have to convince you. I can be pretty persuasive.” The alarm on his watch went off and he frowned while turning it off.

“I’m sure you can and no.” It took everything in her not to react.

“Pity,” he said, standing. “I have an overseas conference call I have to get on.”

“Wow, you work 24/7.” She shook her head; sad he was leaving but glad of it.

“Sometimes.”

“I’m going to head off to bed then.”

“Don’t forget I have an early flight in the morning,” he said with a decided grimace.

He held out his hand and helped her up, his large palm enveloping hers.

She felt his touch to the tip of her toes and everywhere in between. Once on her feet, she made to withdraw her hand. “You still hate flying, I see.”

He narrowed his eyes, his hand still clasped with hers. “Why would you say that?”

“We flew down to Ohio together when Sam was inducted into the hall of fame. You were pretty drunk the entire flight and it didn’t take a genius to see why.” It had been the first time she’d seen him anything but confident, the vulnerable man behind the façade.

“Flying is not my favorite activity, but a necessary evil,” he said, pulling her closer to his lean body, drawing her into his web.

“Hey, I’m not judging.”

“She said in a judgmental voice.” Laughing, he lowered his head, his lips moving across hers in a soft caress, gentle and persuasive. She wanted to curl her arms around his neck and give in to the desire resting so close to the surface.

His phone began to ring in the distance. He pulled back and dropped her hand, regret in every movement. “Good night, Darling.”

“Good night.”

She rushed up the stairs and paused at the landing. Instead of moving left, she turned right to the master suite. Biting her lip still swollen from his kiss, every fiber of her being screamed to move inside, slide into bed and wait for him to join her. She placed her hand on the knob when the nausea hit.

Either the baby or the fates were reading her thoughts and warning her away from temptation. Her hand to her mouth, she rushed to the bathroom in her suite and prayed for the day the sickness would end.

Chapter Nineteen

“Hi Howler, you can go right in. She’s waiting for you.”

Howler nodded at the receptionist at the Pioneers headquarters and opened the door to Raina’s office, his pulse thrumming. The three days he’d been gone seemed like an eternity. During his entire trip, he had one wish, to get back home and work on what was fast becoming an obsession, seducing Raina. Or to trick her into seducing him. either way, he’d win. Except his pride insisted she make the first move.

Hell on earth.

Shaking his head at the ridiculousness of it all, he opened the door and slipped inside.

The nuttiness of freshly made coffee and a light floral scent unique to Raina pervaded the large, airy space. His stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten since breakfast and he still had a residual buzz from the double bourbon he’d consumed on the plane.

She sat behind the wooden desk wearing a conservative blue dress, a Bluetooth in her ear. Pointing to the phone, she spoke into the mouth piece. “Sorry, I have to drop off the call. Send me any outstanding questions and I’ll answer them after my doctor’s appointment.” She hung up.

Howler came around the desk and she raised her chin, watching him with liquid blue eyes. He placed his hands on the chair arms and smiled at her. “Hi.” He leaned down, brushing his mouth across hers before she could answer.

Howler had intended a brief kiss but once her lips parted beneath his, he cupped the back of her neck, drawing her out of the chair. He slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

She moaned deep in her throat, her hands slipping about his neck. The soft cushion of her breasts against his chest sent electric currents straight to his cock. Need raced through his body, tempered by a deeper emotion he couldn’t put his finger on. Absence made the heart grow fonder, or at least thawed his a tiny bit more. He brushed the seam of her lips with his tongue, groaning himself when she opened for him. She was caving and the knowledge only added to his growing excitement. He’d insisted she chose the time they have sex but he intended to help her along any way he could.

Her silky tongue played across his and he skimmed his palm down her back to cup her tight ass.

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