Page 119 of Assistant to the Billionaire CEO

“Damon.”

“Damon? I’m going tokillhim,” I joked, but not really.

“He isn’t good at keeping secrets, apparently.” He chortled. “Runs in the family, I guess.”

“I guess.”

He leaned forward, kissed me, and simultaneously placed his hand on my lower abdomen. “He’s nearly as excited as I am about meeting this little one.”

“I’m so glad you’re not upset. This whole mess is my fault. I told you not to worry about not having protection.”

“How could I be upset? First, it takes two to tango. Second, this is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted a child of my own, well, maybe not while everything was still hanging in the balance, but I couldn’t possibly have chosen a better mother for that child. Stella, I don’t just want to be a part of this kid’s life. I want to be a part of yours too. Please, let me be the man you deserve. Let me take care of you. Let me love you.” He leaned forward and kissed me on my tear-logged lips. “Now, please stop crying. We have something to celebrate.”

“Just as long as you weren’t hoping to have a glass of champagne.” I giggled. “Because that’s off the table for me now.”

It felt like a boulder had been rolled off me. The heavy feeling I’d been carrying around in my chest since I’d first seen that fateful positive turned into a beam of sunshine that warmed my heart and healed its bruises.

“I’ll have a glass for both of us,” he said, grinning. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his lips against mine. “At least now I don’t have to worry about getting you pregnant right away,” he said as he opened my bra’s clasp under my shirt.

“Oh, Ace.” I laughed as his tongue slipped into my mouth, and my clothes fell to the floor like a downpour of fabrics around us.

He kissed me again, more passionately this time, and unbuttoned his jeans. Then, he lifted me up. How strong he was! I slung my arms and legs around him.

“I wanted to go insane when I thought there was a chance I might never get to do this again,” he groaned as he positioned himself, his hands firm on my bottom. When his hips finally met my center, he pushed inside me deeply.

Ahhh. We moved like dance partners, executing a well-practiced routine, and I bit his neck and dug my nails into his back as the dance’s rhythm increased.

“I dreamed about you…every night…since the last time I saw you,” I whispered in his ear as a wave of pleasure washed over me.

He strained and groaned, spilling inside of me.

“They were dreams like this?” he asked a few seconds later, breathless.

“Yeah.”

Still inside of me, with my legs still firmly wrapped around him, he locked eyes with me. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I said, feeling happier than I’d ever been in my entire life. I closed my eyes when he laid us onto the couch and snuggled up against his inked chest, hugging him closer, and then bolted upright again. “Oh, crap! My éclairs!”

50

ACE

Afew days later

Tilly brought Stella into the biggest embrace as soon as we entered my apartment. “Congratulations on your pregnancy! There’s a great new doc in town—he’ssohot! He’s working in a brand-new joint clinic with a few other doctors. You should go see him.”

It was hilarious to me that my sister jumped right into the baby business. As a fellow mom, I guessed it was only natural. Sometimes I suspected that Tilly had deliberately chosen a man who would never take responsibility to be the father of her child. It was a strange idea for me, but totally okay. Tilly had wanted and had had a child, in an uncomplicated way, and she loved Teddy dearly. He would never lack for anything.

“How old is he?” Stella asked.

“Great question. I only saw him once as a replacement when my doctor wasn’t in. Pure luck, I’m telling you. Maybe thirty-ish? He’s the most handsome man I’veevermet.” She made swoony eyes.

“Sounds great.” Stella smiled, glancing at me.

“And according to the papers, he bought the penthouse in the Sky Gold Tower, isn’t that right, Ace? As an investment. You know what that means? He’s a freakingbillionaire, I think.” She spread her fingers and made jazz hands. She’d fallen in love with some cheerleading movie made back in 2000, and ever since, “jazz hands” had become a thing.

“Oh, wow,” Stella said.

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