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“The other part of the deal. The part that you must agree to if you want co-ownership.”
“The other part?” Her nose wrinkled more and then the confusion on her face cleared. “Oh, the catch.”
“I wouldn’t—”
“Just tell me. What is it? What do you want me to do now? I’m not working more. I can’t. I don’t think it’s physically possible to work more than you already make me work.”
“I agree.” He had to force himself not to lean toward her and pounce on his prey.
“You do? To which part?”
“You work too much and that also stops with this deal.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Yes. Once you agree and we sign the contract, I don’t want you working more than sixty hours per week.”
“Sixty?”
“I don’t think we can cut back to forty, at least not until we staff up. I’m thinking another senior programmer, maybe two, and a few more at a junior level.”
“You want to replace me?”
“No. I want you to be the lead. Train them. Let them take over the more tedious tasks.”
“Oh.” Her eyes got that distant glow again. “I’d be a good...” Her gaze sharpened as they met his. “I’d be their boss, right? Because I’m not going to spend time training people to have you work them until they quit or yell at them until they leave.”
“I don’t yell.”
“Your nickname is Barker.”
“My nickname? No one calls me that.” His eyes narrowed as she tried not to laugh. “You made that up, didn’t you?” His hand itched to put her over his knee and paddle that backside of hers but that was off limits. He wasn’t bringing any of his kink into their bed. She’d be the mother of his child, not his sub or his lover. Okay, she’d be his lover but only for procreation, nothing else.
“I didn’t make it up. You bark at me all day long and it just kind of...happened.”
“That’s the same thing as making it up and don’t call me that. Even behind my back.”
“You won’t know.”
“I’ll know.”
“How will you know? I’m not stupid enough to say it in front of anyone who’d tell you.”
“I’ll know by the look on your face.”
“Fine but I’ll think it.” One side of her mouth slid upward in a half-smile. “All the time.”
“I don’t believe you will.” Not after he’d fucked her and made her come over and over. She’d be putty in his hands, his to mold and transform.
“Okay. You’re right, Gus. You’re always right.”
“Don’t call me that either.”
“Right. Sorry. Gu...Harker.” This time she smiled like she’d won.
He couldn’t wait to show her that she’d never had a chance to win this game.
“So, will I be their boss? It’s the only way I’m going to train someone.”
“You can be their boss and you’ll need to train them well enough to fill in for you fulltime for a few months.”
“Fill in for me for a few months? Why? Will I be going on a trip or something? I’ve always wanted to go on a business trip. Most people think it’s boring, but I’ve always thought—”
“It’s not a business trip, but in about nine or ten months you’ll need some time off.”
“I don’t see why.” Her nose wrinkled again and then her eyes brightened. “Unless you’re giving me a vacation?”
“It’s not a vacation.”
“Then why will I need time off.”
“To give birth. I’ve chosen you to have my baby.”
“Your baby?” Her eyes almost popped out of her head and then she laughed. “Oh my god, Harker. You got me with that one.” She laughed harder. “For one second I thought you were serious. Oh, I can’t wait to tell Ellie. Did she put you up to this? She told me on New Year’s Eve that you were attracted to me. I told her no way. Barker...I mean Harker isn’t attracted to anyone. All the man does is work and yell orders.” She rambled on, laughing the entire time.
It wasn’t that funny. Actually, it wasn’t fucking funny at all. Why did she think it was funny? He was rich, attractive and they got along well. She was semi-attractive, intelligent and a within her childbearing years. This was insulting and her insults kept coming.
“I told Ellie that as far as I knew you didn’t even date.” She sobered for a moment. “Not that I have lately either. Neither of us have had the time but you’re the boss. You could date if you wanted to which means you must not want to. Ellie said that you were a man so of course you wanted sex...had sex with someone. She thinks men’s libidos are stronger than women’s, but I say that’s only true until they reach a certain age. When they get old, they don’t want sex as much as—"
Good god, he had to stop her before she insulted him more. “I wasn’t joking. I want you to have my child.”
Grab your free book and find out what happens next.
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ETHAN’S Story
MATTIE’S STORY
JAKE’S STORY
HUNTER’S STORY
VIC’S STORY
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Ellis O. Day loves reading and writing about love and sex. She believes that although the two don’t have to go together, it’s best when they do (both in life and in fantasy).