A Bundle of Joy 4: Secret Baby Seduction (BWWM Interracial Romance) (5 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

D
ayna changed into the black bikini Jamie packed for her. She stood in front of the mirror. When she suggested a swim, the thought of how she would have to wear this revealing garment didn’t cross her mind, but now when she was wearing it, Dayna became acutely aware of the fact her stretch marks could be seen. They were faint, barely visible, but what if he noticed them and asked her about them? What was she supposed to say? That she’d put on a lot of weight over the years and lost the extra pounds recently? Hmmm
…

Asked a direct question, she felt sure that she wouldn’t be able to lie. In fact, this would be the perfect time to tell him the truth. Even better, she should tell it to him even before he said anything. The longer she put it off, the greater the chance something could go wrong. If he found out later, he would be pissed. Well, chances were that he will be pissed either way, but at least she could choose the timing of it.
Now
would be better than later.

Dayna hadn’t missed
that
look in his eyes. Aron made no bones about the fact that he wanted her. And even though he’d been thoughtful enough to give her a separate cabin, she was aware that it was quite likely, they would fall into bed together. If it didn’t happen tonight, it would happen on another day. She liked Aron—maybe loved him?

The thought startled her. Did she love him? Wasn’t it too soon? How could she even contemplate such an idea? They’d only been re-acquainted recently. But looking back, she could see that nothing had changed. He was still the same person that he’d always been. As a teenager, he’d been kind, thoughtful and sweet. As a man, he’d become much more so. How could she resist him when he was everything she wanted in a man?

The perfect man and she would be stupid to let him go.

Then of course, there was that slightly HUGE problem. She’d given birth to his son and failed to tell him about it. How would he react when he found out? It’s a monumental thing for a man like him…Being family orientated and he obviously loved kids. Would he ever be able to forgive her for it?

Suddenly, a loud noise startled her, pulling her out of her bleak thoughts. It was the yacht’s horn, probably signaling another boat. Sighing, she adjusted her bikini and threw on a robe over it. Whatever happened, she was ready for it. When Dayna strolled onto the deck adjacent to the pool, Aron was already in the water. She saw him swim fast, much like a fish—a fast, dangerous shark really—as he cut through the water and slapped one end of the pool.

With rapid speed, he came back and slapped the other end.

She counted as he did twenty laps without pausing. “Wow!” she said, walking over as he finally pulled to a stop. “That was amazing. Do you swim often?”

“Three to four times a week or more, if I get the chance.” He swiped away the water dripping down his face. “Aren’t you coming in?”

Dayna sat on the chaise. “In a while,” she said as gazed at his handsome face. Water ran down his handsome sharply cut features in thin rivulets over his cheeks. She resisted the urge to lean over and kiss him. “Is it cold?”

“Not really! Come on in,” he urged.

She would have to do it soon.
Might as well get it over with.
With trembling hands, Dayna shucked off her robe and walked over to the ladder. She stepped down and into the water. “Burr! It’s cold.”

“Is it?” He swam over. “Let me warm you up!”

“Warm me?” She treaded water. “How?” Before she recognized his intention, he had her pinned against the wall, his lips captured hers. She didn’t mind it. Not one bit. As his tongue dove in to taste the hidden recesses of her mouth, Dayna surrendered without a fight. Her arms slid around his neck and she gave in to the hot licks of desire that curled in her gut. It felt good to be wanted, to be plundered and devoured by a man who meant so much to her.
The scent of him, potent, spicy and musky, filled her nostrils and she clung to him with all the hope of a drowning woman. As always, it astonished her to realize that a simple kiss could invoke desire with such speed.

When his mouth pulled away, she glanced round. “Someone might see us.”

“Let’s give them a show that they’ll remember forever….
siempre
`.” He laughed and pulled her under.

She came up, sputtering. “Have—you lost your mind?”

“
Sí!
Over you,” he admitted as he pulled her under again.

“Damn you, Aron!” Dayna yelled when she came back up, then jumped over him in an attempt to put him under water, but he was way too fast. Before she could get her hands on him, he pulled away. When he streaked towards her under water, she squealed and tried to get away. But he was like an eel and had her in his grip within a few seconds. Once again, his mouth, hot and heavy, clung to hers as she gripped his shoulders. This time, the desire rippling within her twisted her in its intense grasp. Against her back, she could feel the cold, hard wall of the pool. Before she could move, he’d removed the top part of her bikini and was sucking on her erect nipple.

Dayna groaned as his lips closed over the sensitive bud. His hands glided down her stomach and settled on her hips, keeping her above the water while he relished her with his mouth. She leaned back and her eyes glazed over as his tongue flicked over her nipple, to caress, and fondle it. Sharp tingles of desire raced through her veins. It didn’t matter that the cool water held her in its embrace; she was burning with need, with raw passion that threatened to overwhelm her.

Slipping his fingers inside her bikini bottom, he pulled it off.

Reason emerged for a few seconds. “What if someone comes along?”

“I told the captain that we needed privacy.”

“But…” The words faded on her lips as his tongue flicked over to the other nipple. Gripping his dark hair in her hand, she pushed her breast into his mouth. Dayna bucked and shuddered as he stroked the hot fire within her with his loving mouth. His fingers glided down to the juncture between her thighs and when his thumb stroked her soft, sensitive nub—a wave of ecstasy coursed through her muscles. It was all he seemed to need because she could feel his erection harden as it pushed against her stomach. With his thumb, he rubbed and stroked her nub until she was a quivering mass of jelly. Dayna couldn’t wait to feel him inside her. Her hands pulled down his swim trunks, as if of their own volition. She felt so eager to feel him against her. When he was naked, she wrapped her legs around his muscled thighs.

With one long stroke, he pushed deep inside her.

Forgotten was the fact that they were out in a public place. Forgotten was the fact that she’d wanted to wait, wanted to tell him something. What started as an innocent, sweet activity just turned into something hot and dangerous. They were too far gone for either one of them to pull back. The tug started in her gut and overtook all her senses. The momentum built in stages. At first, it seemed agonizingly soft and then increased in intensity. She was caught in the throes of a momentous erotic wave as it swelled and crested. She matched him stroke for stroke, her body moving in the water as if it were weightless. She rolled her head back, pushing her pelvis harder against his.

When they were teenagers, their lovemaking had been fiery and passionate, full of energy. Nothing seemed to have changed. While she could appreciate how easily he’d driven her to the edge of insanity, Dayna knew she wielded the same control over him—a match made in heaven. Each bold stroke, each scorching move, smoldered the passion within their bodies. When he moved in and out, his rhythm perfectly in sync with hers, she felt herself climbing higher and higher until finally, the craving for release was too much for her to take in. When the orgasm ripped through her, she squealed.

As if he’d waited for her, Aron emptied himself inside her. “I love you, sweetheart…
mi Dulzura
,” he whispered as his body shuddered against her.

The softly spoken, simple words filled Dayna’s heart with joy and dread. For a long while, they both stood still. If Aron wasn’t holding her, she would have surely gone under. Her legs felt as if they were made of jelly. There was no strength in her muscles. She rested her head on his shoulder. It felt good to be held in the arms of a man who loved her and whom she loved in return. But she wasn’t ready to say those words. Not yet! Not until she told him the truth.

Her heart thundered wildly and next to her, she could feel his beating pulse. She wanted to say something, to acknowledge the words he’d said, to show him she treasured the emotion, that it meant something to her, but Dayna found her lips sealed. She simply couldn’t find the right words to say what she felt. Perhaps it’s enough that he loved her and she loved him. When the right moment came, she would tell him all the things she felt. The right words would come. She just needed to be patient. She lifted her head. “I’m cold,” she said.

Gently, he let her go.

She expected him to say something, to ask if she’d heard him.

There wasn’t anything in his expression indicating that he wanted to hear something back. Instead, he smiled. “Take a swim then.”

She laughed as he let her go. Dayna swam to the other side, using this time to marshal her thoughts. Should she tell him she loved him back? But then again, there was that big, fat secret hanging between them. How could she tell the man she loved him while at the same time, she held back something so important from him? When she flipped and swam back over, the moment had passed.

Aron leaned against the wall, looking relaxed, now wearing his swim trunks.

This reminded her that she was still naked. “Shit!” Dayna exclaimed. “Where the hell is my bikini?”

“Right here.” He lifted his hand to give it to her. “Glad you finally remembered.”

Dayna’s cheeks warmed as she all but yanked the bikini from his hand and put it on. “Can’t believe we just did that. Have you done it before?”

“Sex
?
Sí
!
Many times.” He gave her a wicked wink.

“No, you idiot! I meant, in a pool.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No. You?”

“First time in the pool for me, too,” she admitted as she grabbed hold of the edge and pulled herself out. “I gotta tell you it was invigorating.” Her earlier embarrassment was quickly fading.

“Even more than swimming,” he agreed with a teasing smile as he followed her out.

Dayna tossed on her robe. He hadn’t seen the stretch marks. If he did, surely he would’ve mentioned it. Or perhaps he was simply being too polite. The words came to the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them. This had been such a beautiful day, such an amazing moment, she didn’t want to ruin it. Didn’t she deserve this moment of perfection? It was so rare and breathtaking that she didn’t have the heart to spoil it. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, she would tell him. It might spoil everything between them. It might crumble their relationship before it fully began, but she was determined to tell him the unvarnished truth.

Soon, she promised herself as she flopped on the chaise and gathered her robe close around her body. Dayna accepted the glass of wine he’d poured from the bottle that sat on the table. She took a sip, appreciated its taste and glanced at the blue sea stretching as far as the eye could see. What an amazing view! And what an amazing man! She was lucky on both counts and just for today, she wanted to freeze this perfect moment and bask in its beautiful glory.

Tomorrow was another day and maybe then, it would be time to come clean.

CHAPTER EIGHT

A
ron sipped the beer as he watched the game on TV. “It’s a losing battle, dude. Three for zero, these suckers are not going to win.”

Brett shook his head. “I shouldn’t have watched. This is painful.”

“If it’s that disappointing of a game why don’t you guys turn the TV off?” Jamie suggested as she peeled an apple.

Both men gave her identical looks as if they couldn’t understand how she could’ve said something so insane.

Jamie lifted her hands. “What did I say?”

“Forget it, Jay.” Dayna sashayed over from the couch where she’d been sitting. “They’re in this weird zone. Aron, aren’t we supposed to reach Graham’s house in like twenty minutes?”

“In a minute, baby! This is about to finish.” He didn’t even glance at her as he picked up his beer. “Man! I hate this.”

Dayna rolled her eyes. “He hates it, but they’re still watching. Men!”

“Men!” Mellie repeated as she wandered in, holding her sister’s hand. “What did daddy do?”

“Daddy didn’t do anything, honey.” Jamie suppressed a smile. “Aunt Dayna was talking about Uncle Aron.”

“Oh…Mom says that when daddy does something strange. Just the other day, he tripped over his own shoes and mom said the same thing.
Men!
” She turned to her little sister. “That’s what she said, didn’t she, Aubree?”

Aubree nodded. “Mmm-hmm.”

Dayna stifled a laugh. “Well, when you grow up, you’ll realize that men do strange things that are beyond the understanding of a normal woman’s mind. And that’s when you learn to see stuff like that and let it go.”

“Like I would never put my shoes outside the door and then trip on them,” Mellie added. “But daddy does it all the time.” She shook her head as if she couldn’t understand how her strong and brave dad could be so dumb in this area.

“What’s going on here?” Aron joined them. “You girls are cooking up a scheme, aren’t you?”

“No, we’re not.” Dayna turned to rest her hand on his shoulder. “We’re just telling the girls about the hundred differences between men and women.”

Aron shook his head. He could see the amusement on Mellie’s cherubic face. Just six, but already wise beyond her years. He enjoyed spending time with them. It always felt like a quick trip back to his childhood. When Brett joined them and picked Aubree up, depositing her into his lap, Aron tapped a finger on the counter. “Brett, as your new friend, I find it my duty to warn you that you’re being outnumbered right inside your own home.”

“You don’t say?” Brett tickled his daughter.

“I was just telling Aunt Dayna that daddy leaves his shoes outside his door and trips on them. One time, he sprawled on the floor and hurt his knees.”

“It was a deliberate jump,” Brett defended. “I was showing your mom a complicated Tai Chi move. It’s a dangerous and deadly defense art, like karate.”

“Yeah! You stick to that story,” Jamie muttered as she finished peeling the apple and put it into a bowl.

“Daddy went,
Owww
!” Aubree exclaimed as she pulled her father’s cheek. “He got a bump!”

“Daddy didn’t get a bump. I was showing your mom this amazing move.”

Aron laughed as he pulled Dayna closer. “Brett, my man, what you need is a son to bring some balance in this house. When he goes bump with you, at least you won’t feel as alone and vulnerable with these three ladies.” He glanced at his watch. “Hey! We’re late.” He turned to Dayna in mock anger. After all, she’d been reminding him about the time all along. “Why didn’t you tell me? Graham will be waiting.” He turned to the family of four. “
A
diós
, guys. See you later.” He linked fingers with Dayna’s and they both strode out. It was only when they were safely ensconced in the elevator that he got a close look at her face. It looked set in stone. “What happened? We’re not that late.”

“No, it isn’t that.” She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“What? Tell me.”

“It’s just—never mind.”

Aron marched out of the elevator and held the main door open for her. “That way…” He pointed towards his car. “What did I say?” He assisted her into the front passenger seat, and then jogged to the other side. “Don’t you think that it was a little insensitive of you to mention the fact that they didn’t have son? What if Jamie and Brett didn’t like that statement?”

Aron put the car in gear and pulled out. “I didn’t mean it like that. It was a joke. They have a lovely family and they both know it.”

“Some people are sensitive about the gender of their children.”

“True, but I doubt Brett and Jamie are like those people. I’m sure they cherish their daughters as much as they would have cherished any sons, if they had any.”

“Having a son isn’t all that important.”

“I didn’t say it was important.”

“You implied it.”

Aron stopped at an intersection. “I didn’t imply it. Like I said before, it was a joke and I’m sure they took it as such. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Having a son is not important for every father…or mother, for that matter.”

He gazed at her face. Her jaw looked clenched and he could see a muscle moving in her cheek. This was about something else entirely. Aron didn’t understand how an offhand comment could’ve made her so angry. “
Mi Dios
! Having a healthy child is important. Gender of the child isn’t important. And I never said or implied that it was.” Aron drove into the parking lot of Graham’s building. “And I don’t understand why we’re fighting over it.”

Dayna shook her head, collected her bag and stepped out.

Aron took a moment to calm down.
What the hell had gotten into her? She’d turned his simple statement into something more complicated.
He’d certainly hadn’t meant anything close to what she was saying. In fact, it hadn’t even occurred to him that Brett or Jamie would take his comment seriously, but she’d planted the seed of doubt in his mind. Aron wondered if he owed them an apology. Finally, he got out of the car.

Dayna turned to face him. “I’m sorry. It’s—I guess I just overreacted.”

He saw the set of her shoulders and the stiffening of her spine. She looked braced for a sharp retort. He swallowed his temper. “No big deal. Maybe I said something I shouldn’t have. I never meant to cause them any
dolor
…
grief.”

“And I’m sure they didn’t take it that way. It’s just—well…” She shoved her fingers through her hair, looking flustered. “Can we just forget this happened? Let’s go. Graham will be waiting for us.”

Aron joined her as they strode towards the building. “That wasn’t too bad.”

“What wasn’t?” she asked as they stepped inside.

“Our first fight.” He pushed the button for the elevator and gestured for her to step inside. “It was quite okay.”

“That wasn’t our first fight.”

“It was. And I enjoyed it.”

She shook her head, her face showing surprise. “You enjoyed it?”

“It teaches you something valuable about your partner, doesn’t it? The first fight, the first night you sleep together, the first breakfast.”

“We already did all that back in high school.”

Aron pushed the bell. “But this time, everything is different.”

Graham opened the door. “What took you guys so long?”

“Sorry. We started watching the game,” Aron explained.

“What a game it was! Totally disappointing,” Graham replied as he ushered them inside. “And I lost a hundred bucks on it. Damn it!”

“You bet on the game?” Dayna strolled in. After looking around at the messy place, she carefully made her way over to the only clean spot on the couch and sat.

“Dude! When was the last time your cleaning service came in?” Aron asked.

“Um…” Graham scratched his head as he gazed at the empty beer bottles, shoes and various other things that were scattered about in the living room. “Sorry about the mess. I meant to clean it, but got sucked into that game. I will just…move things around.” So saying, he picked up a few beer bottles, kicked a shoe out of the way and walked over to the kitchen counter to dump everything on it. “There, better?”

Aron sighed. “So, what happened to your cleaning service?”

“My wife took them.” He curled his lip as he opened the fridge and dug out beer bottles. “Dayna, what will you take? Beer or wine?”

“Beer is fine.” She accepted a bottle. “What do you mean your wife took your cleaning service? How could she take them with her?”

“She hired them and apparently, it’s a conflict of interest if they work with me too. Imagine that! I thought only lawyers had conflict of interest but apparently, the maids do also. So, here I am, without a cleaning service. I want to hire a new one…but how do you go about finding a new one?”

“The yellow pages would be a good start.” Aron picked up the magazine from the couch, put it on the table that was already groaning with a whole stash of them and sat next to Dayna.

“The yellow pages, huh? How would I know they’re reliable? I’m not home most of the time.”

“Why don’t I talk to Jamie? She has a good service and maybe she could pass the contact to you.”

Graham grinned at her. “Will you do that? That would be great. There! Problem solved.”

“The problem will be solved after this pigsty is cleaned, but—never mind,” Aron said when Dayna pushed her elbow against his ribs. He’d already said too much. To keep his mouth shut, he drank the beer.

Graham leaned against the counter. “So, you two are back together for good? That’s great. You always did make an amazing couple.”

“So did we Graham, back in fourth grade, but you ditched me for Lauren Rose,” Dayna teased.

He grimaced.

Aron’s eyebrows shot up. “What? I didn’t know about this. You guys went out?”

“It wasn’t exactly going out.” Graham scratched his baldhead.

“He sent me a love note,” Dayna proclaimed. “It was so sweet. I slept with it under my pillow for three nights.”

“You did?” He perked up.

Looking at Graham’s expression, Aron could tell that this was bound to be interesting. “So, what happened?”

Dayna leaned back. A smile played on her lips. “On the morning of the fourth day, I went to school, happy and secure in the knowledge that someone LIKED me very much and what did I see, when I entered our class?”

“I don’t think Aron needs to know this.”

“Yes, I do.” Aron turned to face Dayna. A naughty gleam showed in her eyes. “What did you see?”

“I saw Graham sitting on his chair and the new girl, the one who came in a day before, Lauren Rose, was sitting at his desk. His gaze was fixed on her beautiful face and he didn’t even glance at me when I came in. My heart was broken into pieces and I don’t think I fully recovered.”

Aron shook his head. He put his hand on her shoulder. “Graham! You insensitive bastard. You hurt
mi querida
, my darling!”

“Hey! Lauren Rose had these big, blue eyes and a cute, little mole, right here.” Graham pointed to his right cheek. “She stole my heart. What can I say?”

Dayna sniffed. “I never did get an apology.”

Aron raised an eyebrow and glared at Graham, quite enjoying the way his friend squirmed. “I believe you owe my lady an apology.”

Graham walked over. Leaning forward, he grasped Dayna’s hand. “My dear, please accept my heartfelt apology. I was insensitive and uncouth.”

“Still are!” Aron joked. He took a quick sip of his beer when Graham directed a steely gaze at him. “Fine. Go on…”

“I hope you’ll find forgiveness for me in the depths of your heart,” he pleaded. “And it might please you to know that Lauren Rose ditched me for that tall boy…what was his name…ah, yes, Marcus.”

“He was dreamy.” Dayna sighed. She laughed and pulled her hand away. “You’re forgiven. That Lauren Rose was flighty, wasn’t she?”

“Like a butterfly.” Graham flopped on the sofa. He raised his butt to pull out a magazine and dumped it on the table. “I heard she moved to the Congo and works in a United Aid Program.”

“Really. And how would you know?”

“I stay in touch with people. Maybe I should visit the Congo and see what she’s up to? But I suppose, I should finalize my divorce first.”

“You haven’t changed a bit.” Aron laughed. “So, what are we eating? And more importantly, are we eating here in this dump?”

“No! I’m taking you two out. There’s a great Italian place down the block. I love their food. You like Italian, don’t you?”

“Love it,” they both said in unison.

Dayna grinned at him. She put her beer bottle down. “I need to freshen up a bit.”

It was on the tip of Aron’s tongue to tell her that she looked amazing, but he stopped. The mystery of why women needed to refresh their makeup ten times a day baffled him and he would no doubt, earn a sharp retort if he said something about it.

“That way.” Graham pointed. “It’s reasonably clean, I think.”