The Baby Contract (The Billionaire Bachelor Series) (13 page)

Abigail moved into him, trying to force him to go faster.

Liam balled his hands into fists. “Oh God, you kill me, Miss Haden.”

“And you make me crazy, Mr. Whitmore.”

She stoked his lust until his head swam with it, his balls ached with it. He ground his teeth, and stayed with her. Pumping his hips harder and faster, he lost his mind to the incredible pleasure. She screamed his name, and the last threads of his self-control snapped. The orgasm swept through him like liquid fire. He collapsed over the top of Abigail, shaking with exhaustion. Nothing had ever felt so good in all his life. He was humbled by it.

His dick was sore, and his back ached. Liam stretched his tight muscles and fell off to the side of his bedmate. Abigail snuggled against his side. Her breathing softened as she drifted off to sleep. He looked to the digital clock on the nightstand and frowned. He hadn’t made it past twenty-five minutes this time. What should’ve been a slow and sensual experience had been abbreviated because of his lack of patience.

“Good job, Quick Draw McGraw,” he muttered under his breath. He rubbed his hands over his face and sat up. He was definitely out of practice, but at least Abigail seemed to have enjoyed herself. Still, his ego suffered.

He should check his email, but he made a rare decision to forego work. He covered Abigail with the comforter, went to the bathroom to clean up, then pulled on a pair of jeans.

Liam scanned the peaceful mountainscape from the living room. Off between a stand of trees a few female elk stood. His father had been a hunter, but he’d never cared for the sport, preferring to simply watch the wildlife. His cellphone chirped and he glanced down. He’d received a text from Charity. He opened the photo she’d sent and grinned.

“I’m in a habit of falling asleep on you.”

Liam looked over his shoulder, setting his phone back on the table next to where Abigail’s charged. Abigail stood in the living room, wearing only her oversized sweater from earlier and nothing else. He took a moment to admire her toned legs, curious if he’d find her still in the pink negligee beneath the sweater.

“I won’t hold it against you.” He smiled.

She smiled back, and her eyes brightened. “I checked in the freezer earlier and found a container of chocolate ice cream.”

He rubbed his jaw. “That does sound good.” Though what he had a taste for lay beneath the sweater.

She walked into the kitchen, took out the ice cream and two spoons, then held up the offering. “Bed or couch?”

“Definitely bed.”

They walked back into the bedroom and climbed into bed. Abigail shoved her legs under the comforter. It felt cozy with her pressed against his side. She looked completely content as she dug into the dessert. Her nervousness around him had evaporated, and for that he was grateful. He’d hated the look of mistrust he’d seen in her eyes earlier. It was the gaze he’d viewed across the boardroom table over and over.

The ice cream had a smooth, dark chocolate taste, though Abigail appeared to enjoy it more than he did. He let her devour most of the frozen treat, while he relished her murmurs of delight. He wanted her again, as if their three previous rendezvous hadn’t even occurred. He’d become a starving man around her, never tiring of her taste, her scent, or the feel of her pussy wrapped around his cock.

“What do you do up here without a TV?” she asked, swiping her spoon inside the carton, digging out the last of the now melted ice cream. He watched her pink lips wrap around the spoon and suck off the last of the chocolate.

He cleared his throat. “I usually hike and camp out.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I have to admit I watch too much TV. I’ve got my DVR set at home.”

“If I’d known, I would’ve put in a TV and satellite.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “That’d be kind of pricey for a one-time guest.” She caught her top lip between her teeth. “Well, probably not for you.”

“I’m not irresponsible with my money. I don’t own limos or yachts. Much of it’s tied up in Whitmore and other investments. What I’m worth and what I have in hand and ready to spend are two vastly different things.”

“So gold diggers beware.” She grinned.

He chuckled, tucking blonde strands of hair behind her ear, loving its silken feel. He kept hold of the hair, letting his fingers trail to its end.

“Though I don’t think you need to scrimp and save for the holidays like the rest of us,” she continued.

He caught the slightest hint of something in her voice—a certain inflection that sliced into the sensuous moment like a dulled knife.

“True. I’m well off.” He pulled away from her, putting some space between them. “But I’ve worked hard and paid a hefty price for my portion of it. I’m certainly not living off my father’s fortune.”

Abigail sat up straighter, setting the empty ice cream carton on the nightstand. She laced her fingers into a tight ball on her covered thighs. Her gaze rested on her hands. “I wasn’t insinuating any such thing.”

The lack of eye contact following the statement didn’t put his rising defensiveness to rest. Actually, he wasn’t even sure
why
he felt the need to defend himself. His usual confidence wavered; Abigail had some kind of hold on it, able to tug it this way and that at will. Unsettled, he swung his legs off the bed, deciding he’d check in at work. Work was always there for him. An open avenue for Liam to find retreat from things he didn’t want to deal with.

Chapter 14

Abby drew her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them, staring toward the empty fireplace. From time to time she heard Liam’s fingers tap across his laptop keys from the other room.

She’d offended him and felt bad for it. There were moments she believed the two of them could be friends if she conceived; if he’d be open to such a thing. She’d caught glimpses of a man she thought she’d like to get to know better—a humanist side which seemed at odds to his colder reputation. Bits and pieces here and there. Perhaps she had imagined them before he’d shut down on her. Of course, her mind was probably clouded by sex and she was most likely making up things she wanted to see.

She blew out a breath. Liam’s masculine scent clung to her skin. The once ironed smooth comforter lay at an angle to the mattress and had been wrinkled from their sex play. She needed another shower, but her tired muscles resisted the decision, so she huddled into a tighter ball. The days stretched out before her. If anything like the last three experiences, Abby knew she’d be worn thin. It’d be much too easy to open to Liam in a way that frightened her. A way that would expose her to heartache that only sex with another could do. Casual love definitely wasn’t her thing. A necessary evil though. An unavoidable danger she had to face.

Abby looked out the french doors. A small herd of female elk stood close to the cabin, a beautiful and peaceful sight. Their thick, brownish coats caught the light, leaving them glossy with good health. Some grazed, others lay on the ground dozing. Having spent so many years in the city, Abby had forgotten how much she loved wildlife. She wished her camera phone was handy to take pictures, but she’d left it in the other room to charge.

She watched the elk, though they did very little but nibble and rest for over an hour. Finally one lifted its head and peered around the yard, its long ears twitching this way and that. It trotted into the trees, disappearing. The others followed suit, off on some important elk errands, she imagined.

Boredom set in. Abby slid from bed, deciding to brave a trip to the living room to retrieve her phone in case she’d missed any messages from her brother. Liam was MIA and she frowned, not having heard him leave the house. She picked up her cell from its charger and managed to knock Liam’s off the table. She caught it mid-air, hitting a button, lighting up its face. Abby sucked in a breath, peering at the photo of a smiling Liam. A bikini-clad Charity had her arms around his waist, and another barely dressed blonde stood by his other side.

Hot jealousy flooded through Abby. A tempest she hadn’t been prepared for as she set Liam’s phone down and backed away. She could lay no claim to the man, yet the possessive streak brought the sting of tears to her eyes. She strode back into the bedroom and paced its confines. She heard a door click from the other room, Liam had returned. Abby made the decision to take a short walk around the property to work out her displaced feelings. She dressed, put on her shoes and jacket, and left by the french doors.

The crisp mountain air refreshed her as she walked in the direction the elk had gone. She continued until she was hidden within the spruce and aspen trees, putting as much space as she dared between herself and Liam. Soreness was settling into her leg and butt muscles, a reminder of the intimacy that was taking a toll on her mental state. She braced a hand on a spruce as she stretched out her quadriceps.

A breeze rustled the golden aspen leaves, making them chatter all around her. Abby closed her eyes and smiled, listening to the leaves’ conversation, letting it dull her hurt. She loved her native Texas, but she’d fallen in love with the mountains in the short amount of time she’d spent in them. She made the decision to visit the Rockies again; just her, of course, and hopefully with a child in tow.

A branch cracked. Her eyes popped open and she searched between the tree trunks. At first the large shape didn’t register as anything more than a trick of light and shadow. When it shifted, and the form caught sunbeams streaming through the leaves and spruce needles, Abby saw the burnished bronze and red highlights in a shaggy, brown coat. She blinked, her brain working over the impossible sight even as her heart leapt into her throat. Adrenaline surged. A massive head appeared from between the tree trunks, and curious black eyes settled on her.

Bear.
Her lips formed the word, but it left as a whoosh of breath.

The bear lifted its head, its mouth open as it scented the air. Ivory teeth flashed.

Abby stepped back.
Run!
half her brain screamed.
Don’t run or it’ll chase you!
the other half screamed back. Her movement instantly caught the beast’s attention and it made a low, huffing noise. Abby did quick mental calculations. She wasn’t that far into the forest. If she could make it to the clearing around the cabin, maybe Liam would see her coming. Liam had the gun. A gun tucked away in the bedroom closet, and who knew how long he’d take to get it. And who knew if she could outrun a grizzly bear.

The bear reared onto its hind legs, a real-life nightmare of a monster made entirely of teeth and hair. They still had some distance between them, but an animal that size would make up ground easily.

Abby made the only decision she knew possible for her.
Run!
She took another step backward, and her muscles bunched for flight. She sucked air into her lungs. Whether she could outrun a bear or not didn’t matter. She knew for absolute certain she wouldn’t win if it charged her and she didn’t get out of its way.

The forest exploded in a blur of movement. She gasped and staggered sideways, almost falling. A herd of mule deer had burst through the trees around her, and slid to a halt when they spotted the bear. Chaos erupted. The bear roared as spooked deer panicked and scattered in all directions. Abby was already running as fast as she could, taking advantage of the predator’s distraction. She didn’t stop until she flung herself through the french doors to the bedroom, slammed them shut, and fell onto the bed. Face down, she wheezed and coughed, her lungs and heart pushed beyond their limits.

“Jesus, what happened?”

Liam’s booming voice sounded above her labored breathing. She rolled onto her back. Her chest hurt with her exertion and she couldn’t see straight.

“Bear,” she managed after two tries. “Bear.”

He sat next to her. “Bear?”

She nodded. “In…the…” She flopped her hand, unable to finish the sentence.

Liam moved to the windows, searching the landscape. He turned back to her.

“I don’t see anything now. Never go out alone, Abigail.” He joined her on the bed and grabbed her hand. “It’s dangerous, especially if you don’t know the land.”

His fingers felt good, safe, and she clung to them.

“Are you sure it was a bear?”

She nodded again, her breathing finally getting under control. Adrenaline leached from her limbs and painful throbbing settled in her temples.

“Grizzly or black bear?”

She licked her dry lips. “It was huge, had to be a grizzly.”

Liam rubbed his jaw with his free hand. “We’ll need to stay inside then. I haven’t seen many around here, but that doesn’t mean one hasn’t moved in.” He studied her closely. “Are you okay?”

Abby pushed up to a seated position. She wanted to throw her arms around Liam and feel the security of his embrace. Instead, she pulled her hand from his and balled it with the other between her thighs.

“I’m fine. I just got the crap scared out of me.”

“You’re shaking.”

“I’m okay.”

She peered out the glass, half-fearing the bear would be outside, waiting with its giant teeth bared. Nothing but a few birds stirred. Relief washed through her. She’d been beyond lucky. Actually, she’d experienced a miracle with the sudden appearance of the mule deer. She said a silent prayer of thanks.

Liam reached up and tucked hair behind her ear. His eyes drifted over her face before settling on her mouth. She realized they hadn’t kissed. Well, outside of their first tryst, but that was simply a heated prelude to sex. They hadn’t had a proper, soul-searching kiss of passion. He leaned in.

She felt trapped. As trapped as she’d been between the grizzly and an open expanse of wooded mountain slopes. Kissing was intimate. Intimate would lead her down avenues of heartache. Abby turned her head away. “I need a shower.”

She heard Liam swallow. He rose and left her alone. She watched him go. The antsy feeling returned in full force and she went into the bathroom. A relaxing soak in the jetted bathtub sounded perfect after her close call with both the bear and Liam.

* * * *