The Baby Bargain

Chapter 27: Harker

Harker looked up from his laptop at the soft sound of Alison's footsteps. She stood in the doorway of his private office, looking unsure. He'd never seen her like that. She was always a force of energy and movement but today she was still, her hands clasped in front of her.

Her face was pale, and she had bags under her eyes. Her hair was still damp from her shower. She wore jeans and a baggy T-shirt, not exactly the outfit of fantasies but his dick still hardened. She was meeker right now and he'd love to use this time to make her bend to his will, but he wouldn't. His pride couldn't handle another bout of her laughter. He needed to wait until they were at the Club. Then he'd help her explore her kinkier side. He only hoped she had one.

"Are you busy?" she asked.

"Always." His voice was gruff and by the widening of her eyes she probably thought he was angry not aroused. That suited him perfectly. She didn't deserve to know how she affected him since she didn't see him as a man, at least not a fuckable one.

"Oh. Sorry. I thought we could talk. Should talk."

He leaned back in his chair, watching her ramp up for full-blown Alison chatter.

"You know. About last night. I mean...it wasn't exactly...you know. It's not how I planned...what I wanted and I'm sure it's not what you wanted either and—"

"Sit." He motioned to the chair in front of his desk.

"No. I shouldn't." She edged backward a little. "You said you were busy."

"I am but I'm not going to get anything done with you yammering in the doorway."

"Right. Sorry. I can go." But she didn't move. "I just thought we should—"

"Talk. You said that."

"Yeah, I did." She stared at her hands. "But maybe we shouldn't."

"You don't want to talk?" That was a first.

"We can...but I thought we could...you know." She shrugged one shoulder, her eyes glancing to his and then away.

"I'm afraid I don't." He had no idea what she was talking about but that wasn't unusual.

"I thought we could...you know." She stressed the last two words.

"I really don't."

"Have sex," she whispered.

"Now?" After she'd laughed at him and tried to kill him by shoving his nose through his brain...twice.

"Yeah. I want to apologize for last night. I didn't mean to lau—"

"Stop."

"But I want to apologize."

"You don't need to say it. I heard enough about it last night."

"From who? Where did you go?" Her meekness disappeared fast as she stepped into the room. "Why didn't you come to bed? I left the light on for you and I was worried when I woke."

"You had no reason to be. I've been taking care of myself for years."

"Yeah, but it was your...our wedding night."

"If you were so worried about that maybe you shouldn't have drunk yourself into a stupor."

"I was nervous."

"About what?" His temper rose like a volcano.

"About us. The marriage. Sex."

"Oh, so suddenly you're a virgin again?"

"No but we've never had sex."

"You have to get plastered before your first time with every man or am I special?" He knew the answer to that and wished he hadn't asked.

"It's not...I never..."

"Yes, I'm quite aware that you don't think of me as a man." There he'd said it. It shouldn't hurt so much once it was out in the open–again–but it did. It ripped into him like the words had teeth.

"No." She stepped closer. "I know you're a man but...I never thought of...I don't know. I...I want to do it now though. Isn't that enough?"

"No." It was for his dick but not his pride.

"No?" She seemed shocked.

He almost laughed. He should tell Ethan of his victory. He'd made a stand for all men. She wanted sex and he was refusing her. Funny, he didn't feel victorious.

"But...but we're married. You want a kid."

"Maybe later when I work myself up for it." If she came around his desk, she'd see his lie. He was more than up for it.

"Oh...right...sorry." She self-consciously touched her hair.

He felt some vindication that she now knew how he'd felt last night–unwanted, undesirable, and unfuckable.

"I...I guess I'm going to go do some work."

"Good idea." Herefused to feel bad about her hurt feelings when he had his own wounds to lick.