Taking her right here, right now, on my desk, andreclaiming her. ‘I want you, Zara. I want you, and I want this baby, and I always get what I want.’
Chapter Thirty
ZARA
This is completely surreal. And I’m not sure if his need to claim me, and our child, is hot as fuck, or horrifying. Given the throbbing sensation between my legs, I think it’s the former. My treacherous body wants him to take me right here, right now, and fill me up with his big, beautiful dick, then wrap his arms around me and tell me everything is going to be okay.
Despite the brave face I’ve put on these past few months, the loneliness lingering inside of me has been cruel. Secretly, I’ve been terrified. And now he’s here, claiming he wants me—wants us—I can’t quite believe it. Can’t work out how I’m supposed to feel about it.
What are the chances of California being Cole Hartmann, my brothers’ biggest rival, and the billionaire with the power to propel my business into global fame?
He holds my stare across the desk. Every cell of my body is begging me to give into him, but I refuse to let him waltz in and take over, making demands and decisions about my child.
I vowed to do this alone.
To do things my way.
And that’s the way it’s going to be.
‘Tell me you don’t want me.’ His eyes drop to my breasts. My nipples are straining so hard against the fabric they could be spotted from space. ‘Tell me you haven’t thought about me since we parted. Tell me that this isn’t fate.’ His voice dares me to challenge him. He sits straighter in his chair; every inch of him exudes confidence, power, authority.
I swallow hard. ‘What I want is irrelevant. I have a family who despise you. A business to run. And not enough hours in the day.’
‘Let me help you.’ His eyes soften. ‘I don’t give a fuck about your family, but I can help with your business. We’ll hire more staff. Get you whatever you need to take the pressure off.’
‘That’s the problem right there, Cole.’ I stand to leave. ‘Igive a fuck about my family. They drive me crazy. They’re overprotective and possessive, but they’re everything to me.’
‘The thing is, Zara.’ He stands, reaches over the desk and cups my chin, tilting my face up until our eyes meet. ‘Whether you like it or not, you have a new family now, too.’ Heat shoots over my spine, searing my skin and shattering my resolve.
A new family.
Fuck.
His hand drops, then he prowls round the desk like a predator stalking its prey. His face lowers until his lips are dangerously close to mine. The scent of whiskey and want hangs in the air between us. Goosebumps ripple over my entire body as my insides melt to molten lava.
It would be so easy to tilt my face up. To let him kiss me, claim me, and take me right here on this desk. But if I give him my body, what else will he take?
‘Tell me you feel it,’ he murmurs. ‘This thing between us is far from done. It’s only just beginning.’
‘We can’t,’ I whisper.
‘We can do whatever the fuck we want,’ he growls. ‘I didn’t choose this. But given the choice, I’d choose it again and again and again.’
‘You would?’ My voice cracks with pure, primal need. His words echo my exact thoughts from the day I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t choose it—this baby—but I would choose it, again and again and again.
Never in a million years did it occur to me that he’d truly want a permanent role in the baby’s life. Let alone mine.
‘Give us a chance, Zara. I don’t believe in coincidences. This—’ his hand drops to my stomach, and he runs a thumb tenderly over my bump—our baby— ‘was fate.’
My insides flutter.
‘What do you want from me?’ I whisper, watching his hand as he gently palms my stomach.
‘I want everything.’ His ice-blue eyes dance with desire. ‘But I’ll settle for a date for now. Let’s get to know each other. We’re having a baby together.’ His voice breaks with awe, like he can’t quite believe it.
This is not a good idea—mixing business with pleasure.
Dating my baby daddy, who happens to be Becketts’ current biggest rival.
