Seducing the Wolf (61 page)

39

H
e was sitting beneath a large oak tree that resembled the one from his childhood home. Its long, leafy branches sheltered him as he worked on a complicated jigsaw puzzle. A man seated beside him observed his efforts with a warm, indulgent smile.

As Taylor slowly approached the tree, the man lifted his head and looked at her. He seemed to recognize her, though she’d never seen him before. He had attractive features, warm brown eyes and a kind smile.

“Hello, Taylor.” His gaze roamed across her face. “You’re as beautiful as your mother.”

Taylor stared at him. “You’re…Jonas.”

He nodded.

Taylor shot a glance at Micah, who hadn’t looked up from his puzzle. “Does he…does he know?”

“He does.” Jonas gently kissed the top of Micah’s head, then pushed to his feet. He stood there for a long moment contemplating Taylor. Then he touched her cheek ever so lightly and smiled. “I’ll let you two catch up.”

Taylor smiled at him before he walked off, leaving her alone with her brother, who still hadn’t acknowledged her presence.

As a knot of worry formed in her stomach, she lowered herself to the soft bed of grass and watched as Micah fitted puzzle pieces together, humming contentedly as he worked.

“Hi, Taylor.”

A wave of relief swept through her. “Hi, baby,” she whispered, tenderly stroking his small back. “Is that one of the puzzles Manning gave you?”

Micah bobbed his head. “Yup. It’s my favorite.”

“I remember.” She smiled reminiscently. “You were always so good at putting them together, no matter how difficult they were.”

“Because I’m smart,” he asserted. “You and Manning always told me so.”

She laughed softly. “Yes, baby. You’re very smart.”

“And I’m lucky too.”

“Lucky?”

“Yup,” he chirped. “I have two daddies who love me.”

Taylor’s throat tightened. “That’s right,” she agreed with a husky catch to her voice. “You’re very lucky, Micah.”

He nodded and went back to his puzzle. After a few moments his hand stilled, and he lifted his head to study her. His brown eyes were clearer than she’d ever seen them.

“Taylor?”

“Yes, Micah?”

He eyed her curiously. “Why do you look so sad?”

Her heart squeezed painfully. “I’m sad because I miss you so much, and I wish you were still here with me.”

He frowned in confusion. “But I am with you.”

Tears misted her eyes, and she gave him a soft, tremulous smile. “You’re right,” she told him. “You are with me. You always will be.”

Micah bobbed his head in agreement.

Heart overflowing with emotion, Taylor pulled him close to her. As his small arms went around her, she rested her cheek on top of his head and closed her eyes. “I hope you know how sorry I am for what happened that day,” she said in an aching whisper. “I hope you know that I never meant for you to get hurt. I hope you know how much I wish I could go back and play my violin for you—”

“But you do play for me,” Micah interjected. “I hear you all the time.”

“You do?”

He nodded against her chest. “It makes me happy...so I hope you never stop playing.”

Tears rushed into her eyes, and her arms tightened around his little body. “I won’t,” she promised fervently. “I will never, ever stop playing for you, Micah.”

She held him for as long as she could, gently rocking back and forth. After a while he grew restless and pulled away, and she reluctantly released him.

He slanted a grin at her. “So whatcha gonna name him?”

She gave him a puzzled look. “Name who?”

Micah pointed to her stomach. “Your baby.”

Taylor went still, staring at him. “My…baby?”

He nodded sagely. “I heard his heart beating.”

“You did? Are you sure that wasn’t my heartbeat?”

“Yup,” Micah said with implacable certainty. “It was the baby’s.”

Taylor brought her hand slowly to her stomach, silently marveling.

“You’re gonna be a good mommy,” Micah cheerfully declared.

Her throat constricted. “Think so?”

“Yup. I know so.”

Taylor smiled, affectionately stroking her brother’s cheek with her other hand. “How do you know?”

“Because you were a good big sister.” Micah beamed at her. “The best!”

Taylor awakened with tears in her eyes.

As she moved her hand gently over her stomach, a soft smile curved her mouth.

She was having a baby.

A baby.

Was it possible?

It had only been a dream. A dream so realistic she could still feel Micah’s soft skin, feel the warmth of his sweet smile.

She turned her head on the pillow to look at Manning. He was still asleep, the black crescents of his lashes resting on his cheekbones. She stared at him, soaking up his masculine beauty and thinking about what a wonderful father he would make.

She suddenly became aware of something pressed against the back of her thigh. Frowning, she shifted on the bed, then lifted the covers and looked down.

Her breath caught in her throat when she saw a plastic T-shaped object lying on the mattress.

Her IUD had come out.

She picked up the small white device and stared at it in quiet wonder. After several moments, she carefully placed it on the bedside table.

As she slowly eased back against her pillows, Manning stirred in his sleep. Without opening his eyes, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, possessively cradling her against him.

As warm pleasure spread through her, she smiled tenderly at his sleeping face and mouthed four words she never thought she would:
We’re having a baby.

They had a late dinner at a romantic restaurant overlooking the Seine.

They ate, laughed and talked quietly while dinner cruises filled with tourists floated down the river, sending shimmers over the dark water.

Taylor could hardly contain her excitement and joy as she sat across from Manning at the candlelit table. Earlier that evening while he was in the shower, she’d snuck out to the corner pharmacy to buy a home pregnancy test. Twenty minutes later, she’d stood trembling in her bathroom, tears streaming down her face as she stared at the plastic wand that confirmed what she already knew in her heart.

She couldn’t wait to share the good news with Manning. And she knew just how to make the announcement particularly memorable.

When they returned to her apartment, she gave him a deep, lingering kiss and whispered, “Be right back. I’m gonna slip into something more comfortable.”

“Mmm,” he murmured against her lips. “Need help?”

She laughed softly. “I think I can manage. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable? Take off your shoes, loosen a few buttons. You know, stay a while.”

He chuckled, low and sexy. “I can definitely do that.”

She winked at him before sashaying from the living room.

When she returned ten minutes later, Manning stood in front of the windows, his hands tucked into his pockets as he gazed out over the Parisian night. The Eiffel Tower seemed even closer than it was, bathing the room in a soft glow of lights.

As Taylor paused in the entryway, she couldn’t help admiring the way Manning looked in his chocolate dress shirt and tailored dark slacks. She wondered if she’d ever get used to how fine he was, how breathtakingly virile.

As she stepped into the room, he turned from the windows to look at her. She’d twisted her hair into a loose topknot and donned a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and a full-length black silk kimono.

His gaze traveled over her, softening with warm nostalgia. “I’ve been wondering if you still wear glasses,” he murmured as she came toward him. “You had a pair just like that when we met.”

“I know.” Taylor smiled. “This pair doesn’t have a prescription. I saw it in a vintage shop one day and just had to get it for old times’ sake.”

Manning smiled as he gently stroked her cheek, feathering his hand over her face. “I’m having so many flashbacks right now.”

Taylor grinned, untying the belt of her kimono. “Thinking about all the god-awful outfits I used to wear?”

He laughed. “They were…memorable.”

“Memorable, huh?” She peeled off the kimono, watching with satisfaction as his eyes widened and he sucked in a sharp breath. “How’s
this
for memorable?”

She had on a black lace Agent Provocateur corset that pushed her breasts up so high they practically spilled over the top. The sheer corset was worn with a black lace thong, black silk stockings, French garters and a pair of super sexy stilettos.

“Taylor…” Manning breathed, his throat working on a hard swallow. “Oh my damn…”

“You like?” she purred.

“Hell, yeah.”

“Good. Because it’s
all
for you.”

“Damn right it is.” He devoured her body with his stare as he slowly circled her, a wolf trapping its prey. Little did he know
he
was the hunted.

Taylor cupped his cheek and kissed him, sipping at his succulent lips as she backed him toward an antique Louis XVI wingback chair. As he slid his tongue into her mouth, she moaned softly. Putting a hand to his broad chest, she pushed him backward.

Caught off guard, he sprawled in the chair, staring up at her through heavy-lidded eyes. When he spoke, his voice was low and gravelly with lust. “What’re you doing?”

“What does it look like?” she purred wickedly. “I’m seducing a Wolf.”

His eyes gleamed. “Is that right?”

“That’s right.” She let the silk kimono drift over his face, then dropped it to the floor and turned around, showing off the lace thong nestled between the round globes of her buttocks.

“All that ass,” Manning rumbled appreciatively. “
Dayum
.”

Taylor chuckled softly as she sauntered over to the gleaming piano, her spiky heels clicking seductively against the wood floors. She removed her eyeglasses and set them down, then picked up a small remote control and pressed a button.

When the sultry sounds of The Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons” poured into the room, Manning let out a laughing groan. “Ah, Taylor. You are a woman of many surprises.”

“You have no idea,” she murmured.

He watched as she sashayed back toward him, swinging her hips to the music. His gaze was so hot she could feel it searing her sensitive skin, causing her pussy to melt all over the crotch of her thong.

They stared into each other’s eyes as she knelt between his legs and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, then pushed it off his massive shoulders. He shrugged free of the shirt, his thick muscles rippling sinuously beneath his mahogany skin. As her mouth watered, she couldn’t resist leaning forward to lick one of his dark nipples.

He shivered and shifted in the chair, spreading his legs as his monster erection tented the front of his pants.

“Oh my,” Taylor teased, biting her lip. “Is someone getting horny?”

His nostrils flared. “I
stay
horny for you.”

“So I’ve noticed.” She grinned, gliding sensually to her feet. “That’s why I’ve set up a few rules for you tonight.”

His eyes narrowed. “What kind of rules?”

“Glad you asked.” Planting her hands on either side of the chair, Taylor leaned over him and explained in a throaty purr, “It’s always been a secret fantasy of mine to tie you to a chair and have my way with you. I fantasize about driving you crazy with lust, then straddling your lap and riding your dick until you explode inside me.”

“
Oh, shit
,” Manning whispered, swallowing hard as he stared at the lush swell of her cleavage hovering above his face.

“I wanna seduce you, Manning Wolf. I wanna rock your fucking world. Since this is
my
fantasy, the seduction has to be on
my
terms. Which means you have to be restrained. Which means you can’t touch me unless I say you can.”

“Why can’t I touch you?” His voice was rough.

“If you touch me I’ll melt, then
you’ll
be in charge. And if you touch me, you’ll receive instant gratification. I want to delay your gratification for as long as possible. It’ll make you appreciate it all the more.” She leaned down until her mouth was barely an inch from his. He was breathing hard, his pupils nearly black as he stared into her eyes.

“Do you want to be seduced, Manning?” she whispered.

“Hell, yeah.”

“Then you have to play by my rules.
Comprends-tu?
”

He nodded slowly. “I understand.”

“Good boy.” She slid her tongue over his sexy bottom lip, making him shiver. His responsiveness was
such
a turn-on. “I have handcuffs. Real ones.”