Burned by Passion(36)

“Under normal circumstances, believe me I would’ve been thrilled to hear you say that,” Mr. Carter shocked her by saying. “I mean, you and Blake getting married; nothing could have seemed more right. But when I think of the reasons. An unplanned pregnancy is not exactly the most romantic prelude for a happily-ever-after, but then...”

He smiled somewhat ruefully and Kira almost wanted to tear up seeing how sad he seemed. She still felt like she’d let him down and she refused to shake off the belief.

Springing to her feet, she said with shaky-voiced resolve, “One more thing, sir. I’d like to resign as your secretary. I can’t...It’ll be impossible for me to keep...”

“Now, Kira...”

“Please, sir,” she said, the tears fairly spurting from her eyes now. And for once, she heard her boss swear out loud, right before he held out his arms.

“Oh, come here,” he said with gentle gruffness. With a sob, Kira dashed into his embrace, which closed tightly around her.

“You’re a good girl, Kira. Better than my son deserves,” he said into her hair. “And I’m truly glad you’re going to marry him. Then I’ll have even more reason to think of you as my daughter.”

“Thank you, sir,” Kira said with a tearful smile as she drew back to look into his kind face.


And that was how Blake found them when he strode in moments later. His brows climbed. “Dad...Kira?”





***

His father turned in Blake’s direction, keeping an arm around Kira’s shoulders and holding the other hand out to Blake. “There you are, son,” he said brightly. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come over and join the celebrations because I’ve just lost a damn good secretary – and you’ve got yourself a bride. Congratulations.”

Blake faced Kira, and saw her eyes fall beneath his penetrating gaze. “Is that true?” he asked in a restrained tone.

“Yes,” she affirmed, lifting her eyes again. “I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”

“Funny how you should be the last one to know,” his father growled, suddenly frowning again. “I’m glad you’re finally doing right by this young woman though. She deserves someone who loves her and will treat her well. And if you don’t, you’ll have me to answer to.” After giving Blake one last stern look, he walked out of the room, shutting the doors behind him.

Blake turned to Kira once more and she began to fidget beneath his gaze. “Don’t look at me like that.” Her tone was snappish. “I said I’ll marry you. You should be happy. I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“Only if you say it’s because you care for me, as well,” he said deeply, coming up to her and cupping her face. Kira felt almost burned by the blazing energy in those fiery grey eyes. The more her body melted for him, the harder her heart became.

“There’s something you need to know,” she blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”

He stared at her in shock before breaking out in a big smile. “It’s mine? It’s our baby?”

She nodded, unable to look at him.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Wow! This is a big surprise. I’ll be honest, I’m thrilled.” He took both of her hands in his. “Thank you for keeping our baby, Kira. I know that must’ve been a big decision for you. I wish you would’ve told me about it sooner but I understand, considering the way you feel about me. I promise you if you’ll only give me the chance I will always be there for you and our child. Always.”

She pulled her hands out of his grasp and stepped away. “Look, I don’t need your pity, Blake. And don’t think this is going to be some fairy tale ending because it isn’t. The only reason I’m marrying you is because of the baby. I may be Cinderella but you’re no Prince Charming, Blake Carter. I’ve seen how dirty you can play when you sent that cute little box with the panties.”

“I’m sorry about that, okay? Christ. I think I’ve apologized a hundred times for that stunt in the past two weeks. It was unworthy of you and I understand now how you feel about that night when we had sex.” His tone and gaze softened and he put his hands on her waist to pull her stiff body closer. His touch was as engulfing as ever and Kira had to fight down a shudder of pleasure as she felt his body hard against hers after so long.

“It was too soon and you weren’t ready – or at least that’s what your mind told you,” Blake murmured, lifting a hand to trace over her lips, his eyes following his fingers as they moved lower to the dip in her neckline. Kira’s breath stilled, momentarily mesmerized. “You’ve convinced yourself over and over that you should never have given in to the feeling of my lips against yours. Or the way I crushed you beneath me as I imprinted every inch of my hardness deep inside your wet softness. You hated that I made you feel like a woman.”

“No. I hated that you made me feel like a dirty slut,” Kira bit out, fighting against his magnetism with all her might. It was inhuman the way she wanted him sometimes and it scared her senseless. She still wasn’t ready, Kira thought, remembering his earlier words. She definitely wasn’t ready to fall...

Blake flinched at her words but he didn’t release her. “Yes, Kira; it was dirty, and fast, and hot as hell. And bad. But guess what? Given the chance I’d do it all again. In a heartbeat. Because you were real with me that night. You weren’t hiding behind this need to constantly berate yourself over one single act of sexual abandon. I never thought of you as a slut and I don’t appreciate you using that term on yourself so don’t, not ever again,” he said with a clenched jaw. “You’re going to be the mother of a precious child so you shouldn’t think of yourself that way.”