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  I bite back my smile as she looks up at me and glares.

  “Nice to meet you, Chloe,” Carter says and begins to pull Chloe’s hand to his mouth. Lucky for him, she pulls away from his grasp, helping to save his life.

  “Nice to meet you, too.” She smiles then looks at me. “I would like a drink.”

  “Sure, Angel.” I run my fingers down her bare side.

  She narrows her eyes, making me smirk at her before I look back at Carter, who is looking between us curiously.

  “We’ll talk soon,” I tell him before leading Chloe away towards the bar.

  “Who is that woman?” Chloe hisses at me once we are away from the crowd.

  My eyebrows pull together as I ask, “What woman?”

  “The blonde.”

  I look around the room and see that Carter’s date is watching us, and when our eyes meet, she smiles at me and her eyes heat.

  “Yes, her,” Chloe growls.

  I gaze down at her, finding her flipping off the blonde. I grab her hand and pull it behind her back before anyone can see.

  “I don’t know her,” I growl back. “Now, behave yourself.”

  “Behave?” she repeats.

  “Yes. Unless you would like me to bend you over and spank you in front of all of these people for acting like a brat, I suggest you behave.”

  “You wouldn’t.” She struggles against my hold.

  My arms wrap around her, turning so that my body is blocking her from the rest of the room as I slap her ass hard enough to get her attention. Her body stills and her mouth opens on a gasp.

  “Now, behave,” I tell her again.

  “You just spanked me.”

  “You’ve been spanked by me before, Chloe. You know what a real spanking is. That was just me getting your attention.”

  “She keeps staring at you,” she whispers, trying to look around me.

  I pull her face towards me so that I have her full attention. “Where is all of this coming from?” I question, holding her cheek.

  “I just don’t fit in here.”

  “You fit in wherever I am. You outshine every person in this room. Do not ever doubt your worth,” I tell her, kissing her softly. “Now, let’s go get this over with so I can take you home and tie you to the bed with that dress.” I smile against her mouth as she rolls her eyes.

  We spend the rest of the evening mingling. Chloe has every person I introduce her to eating out of the palm of her hand with her kindness and finesse—not that I’m surprised. The qualities that draw people in are the same qualities that made me fall in love with her in the first place.

  I do notice, though, that Maxine is nowhere to be seen. I transferred her the week prior to work with another lawyer after she had made a statement about Chloe to her father, telling him that, since Chloe had come into my life, she had noticed a reduction in my work and she worried that my relationship was going to affect the firm. I could no longer let her distaste for Chloe slide.

  The ripping sound of the white fabric that was covering Chloe fills the room as I tear her dress down the middle. Her eyes widen and her lips part as I lead her to the bed, positioning her in the middle with her legs spread before tying her ankles to the posts.

  “This dress has driven me crazy all night,” I say, running a piece of the fabric through my hands. “Watching men looking at you, watching how their eyes would heat as you spoke to them,” I say, running the fabric over the tops of her breasts. “Did you enjoy that? Did you enjoy making me jealous?”

  She shakes her head, and I tilt mine to look at her, searching her expression as I take one of her hands and kiss her wrist before wrapping a piece of the fabric around it.

  “I believe you enjoyed it,” I say, grazing a finger down her arm, over the tips of her breasts, over her belly, and then down to cup her pussy. My middle finger presses into her wetness.

  “Nolan,” she hisses, lifting her hips.

  I press in harder, gathering some of her juices, then bring my fingers to her lips, coating them before leaning over and licking her mouth.

  “So sweet,” I groan into her then stand and walk around the bed to lift her other wrist to my mouth, this time sucking it before wrapping the fabric around it and tying it to the headboard. “Now, where do I start?” I smile, taking off my cufflinks, loosening my tie, and unbuttoning my shirt before shrugging it off my shoulders.

  Her eyes are locked on my zipper, where my cock is outlined. I take off my belt then slowly pull down my zipper, watching her eyes. Once I’m free, I wrap my fingers around my cock and begin pumping.

  “Do you want a taste?” I ask.

  She nods, so I crawl up onto the bed, kneel over her face, and feed my length into her mouth and down her throat. I have taught her how to control her gag reflex, so she is a pro at taking me just the way I like.

  I fuck into her mouth then use one hand to slide down her stomach and over her clit, making her hips buck. She is so wet that my fingers slip inside her with ease.

  “Fuck, baby, I’ve got to have a taste of you,” I say, causing her to moan around my cock.

  Then I bury my face between her legs. My arms go around her thighs and spread her open farther so my tongue can go deeper. I lick and suck her clit, making sure to tease her with the tips of my fingers at her entrance until she is writhing under me.

  Her moans around my length make it hard to hold off my orgasm, so I move quickly, pulling out of her mouth, not wanting to waste my come down her throat. Once I’m in position, I thrust into her hard, her hands straining against the rope, and her legs shift as she fights to get loose.

  “There is no place I would rather be than inside of you. Nowhere,” I groan against her ear, feeling her pussy trying to suck me deeper. “Come with me, Angel. Tighten that pussy and come with me,” I snarl down her throat.

  Her pussy begins to milk my orgasm right from me. Then I plant myself deep and come, filling her with my seed.

  “That time, I gave you my kid,” I whisper, and her pussy tightens again. “You like that idea, Angel?” I ask as I lean back to look at her. I place my hands on her face to hold her gently. “Do you like the idea of having my baby?”

  “Yes.” She smiles as tears begin to fall into her hair.

  I smile and lower my mouth to hers, kissing her once more.

  Now, I just need to marry her and make it official.

  *

  “I’m surprised you wanted to come back here,” she says, laughing as we pass a group of kids on the way into the museum.

  I look down at her then follow her eyes to where a little boy is licking the glass of one of the displays and shake my head. “The last time we were here made me realize how many little things I miss out on, and I don’t want you to not experience things just because I’m busy.

  “I don’t feel like that.” She frowns. “I love the life we have with each other.”

  “I’m glad, Angel. I just know my schedule is hectic, and I need to learn how to properly balance it all,” I say, walking her over to the large-screen TV they have playing videos of dolphins and whales.

  The moment we’re standing in front of it, a video begins to play images of places that have meant something to us—the bakery where I first saw her, her old front door, where we shared our first kiss, the restaurant we had our first date, and then where we are right now. Chloe looks at the screen then at me as I get down on one knee, opening the ring box.

  “Marry me, Chloe. Say you will be my wife.”

  Her eyes instantly fill with tears as she whispers, “Yes.”

  Her hand is shaking frantically as I slide the five-carat ring onto her finger. Then I bring it to my mouth and place a kiss on it before standing, bending her over my arm, and kissing her until we’re both panting for breath. When I stand us back up, the crowd around us begins to applaud. I look at my angel and smile.

  “I can’t believe we’re getting married,” Chloe says. She holds her hand up to the light coming thought the bedroom
window, which makes her ring sparkle.

  “You shouldn’t have been surprised, Angel.”

  “I know I shouldn’t have, but even now, this seems surreal. I can’t believe that you’re mine.”

  My gut twists from knowing that she feels this just like I do.

  “I will forever be yours, Angel,” I tell her, pulling her hand to my mouth and kissing her fingers.

  Chapter 6

  ‡

  The sound of Chloe getting sick has me sitting up in bed. This is the second morning this has occurred. I would assume she’s pregnant, but she had her period, so the sickness has me worried.

  “Angel,” I say quietly, kneeling down beside her and placing a cool rag on the back of her neck. “I’m taking you to the doctor today. I know you said you’re fine, but you keep getting sick and I can’t stand to see you like this.”

  “I’m fine,” she says sleepily, laying her head in the crook of her arm. “It will pass.”

  “It’s no longer your choice. I’m taking you.” I pick her up, carry her to the sink, and help her brush her teeth before helping her get dressed, all while listening to her complain the entire time that she doesn’t want to go to the doctor, but I still call and make her appointment.

  “You’re overreacting,” Chloe repeats for the twentieth time since we arrived at the doctor’s office.

  I look at her and shake my head. “The doctor will tell me if I’m overreacting or not, and I don’t believe I am.”

  “We should make a bet.” She laughs when I look at her and narrow my eyes. “If the doctor says there is nothing wrong and I’ve just got a bug, like I told you I do, you have to be my slave for twenty-four hours.”

  “And if I win?”

  “I’m at your disposal.” She smirks, and I chew the inside of my cheek like I’m debating agreeing to her terms.

  “Are you not always at my disposal?” I grin, crowding her against the table.

  “I could say no if I wanted to,” she breathes as I kiss down the side of her neck to the top of her shirt, imagining having my way with her right now.

  “You could say no,” I agree, “but you won’t.” I growl, nipping her skin, and I laugh when she moans my name.

  “Can’t you just play along?” she huffs, glaring at me when she realizes I’m laughing.

  “Fine. If there is nothing wrong, I will do whatever you want. But if I’m right, you have to do whatever I say tonight.”

  “Deal.” She smiles and sticks out her hand, and I give her a shake while laughing at how cute she is.

  “You really are feeling better, aren’t you?” I question when she begins to laugh.

  “I told you I was. I don’t know why it happens. I just feel sick sometimes.”

  “I think you should take a pregnancy test, Angel.”

  “I already told you I started my period.” She frowns.

  “Hello,” the doctor says, walking into the room, ending the conversation between the two of us.

  “How old are you?” I demand; the guy barely looks legal.

  “Nolan,” Chloe hisses, elbowing me in the ribs.

  “The guy hardly looks old enough to drink, let alone practice medicine,” I tell her, looking at the doctor, waiting for him to reply.

  “I’m actually thirty,” he says, smiling at Chloe.

  “See? He’s old. Now, can we please just get on with this?” Chloe prompts, and the doctor’s face falls at the word ‘old,’ almost making me laugh.

  “What seems to be the problem?” he asks, clearing his throat.

  “She’s been waking up sick,” I tell him.

  He looks at me then back to Chloe. “Are you pregnant?”

  “No! Sheesh.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Are you sure?” he asks.

  “I started my period. So, yes, I’m sure.”

  “How about we just test you, just in case.”

  “Fine,” she growls.

  After snatching the cup he pulled out of the drawer from his hand, she leaves the room, slamming the door. That would be another reason I want to find out if she is pregnant. The past few days, it hasn’t taken much to set her off.

  “I’ll be back with the results,” the doctor mutters as he leaves the room.

  It only takes five minutes after Chloe gets back for the doctor to step into the room with a piece of paper.

  “You’re pregnant,” the doctor says, walking over to his rolling chair to take a seat, and I freeze in place.

  “That’s impossible.” Chloe looks from the doctor to me. My mouth opens and closes, but not words come out. “Maybe you were right. Maybe he’s too immature.”

  “I did two separate tests to confirm it, and we can do a blood test if that’s what you like, but the results will be the same. You’re pregnant,” he growls then looks at Chloe, who I have pulled into my lap. “A lot of women think they are having their period, but really, they are having what’s called implantation bleeding.”

  “We’re pregnant,” she says, and I feel her smooth hand on the side of my face. “We’re pregnant,” she repeats.

  My eyes close. I finally have everything I could ever ask for.

  “We need to get married,” I state.

  “We are getting married.”

  “No, I mean we need to get married now.” I pause, kissing her lips. “Today.”

  “Do you want to go to Vegas?” she jokes, but I think that sounds like the perfect idea.

  “We’ll leave tonight. Mom can plan some kind of party when we get home.”

  “Nolan, slow down.”

  “No, we’re getting married. I agreed with you before because you wanted to plan the wedding with our mothers, but this is no longer only about you. Now, we have our child growing inside you. Your mother and my mother will just have to get together and plan a party or some shit.”

  “Plan a party?” she whispers, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

  I ignore her and pull out my phone, sending a message to Ricket that tells him to bring the car around. Once we’re out of the office with an appointment for a few weeks later and a prescription for prenatal vitamins, we head out of the building.

  “Sir, madam,” Ricket says.

  Chloe rolls her eyes, making Ricket’s mouth twitch. She keeps asking him not to call her that, and I believe that, normally, he would stop, but he enjoys ruffling my angel’s feathers.

  “Ricket, we need to go to the airport. Just call ahead and have the plane readied to leave within the hour for Vegas.”

  “We’re not even going home for clothes?” Chloe asks.

  “You can buy clothes in Vegas.”

  “This is ridiculous.”

  “This is what I should have done weeks ago. Hell, I should have just taken you to Vegas the first night I met you and married your ass,” I say, following her into the back of the car.

  “Nolan, you’re being crazy.”

  “Beautiful”—I pull her into my lap and grab her face—“this is not up for debate.”

  “So we’re going to Vegas and getting married without anyone to witness it? Do you have any idea how mad our mothers are going to be?”

  “We’re not going to argue about this. We’re going to Vegas,” I tell her.

  She presses her lips together and shakes her head. “When your mom hears about this, don’t blame me.”

  “It will be fine.” I shrug.

  “If you say so,” she mutters.

  *

  When we arrive in Vegas, it doesn’t take long to get everything in place. Chloe has her dress sent up to the penthouse of the Paris Hotel while we’re still in the air, and I take care of a tux for myself. I also have someone brought in to do her hair and makeup along with someone to take photos. Even with this being short notice, I want Chloe to have good memories of this day.

  “Who are you speaking to?” I ask her, walking into the bathroom, where there is a group of people around her.

  “It’s not your mom, if that’s what you’re
asking.”

  “I know you already did your damage talking to her. Who now? Your mom this time?”

  “No, it’s Bre. She asked if I could meet her for dinner, but I told her no because my crazy fiancé decided we’re getting married today and flew us to Vegas.” She rolls her eyes then presses her ear closer to the phone when I give her the signal to hang up.

  I told her that I didn’t want her speaking to her anymore, but apparently, she is not listening lately. Half the things I say to her go in one ear and out the other. I think she spends her days trying to think up ways to piss me off. I can’t even imagine what it will be like now that she is pregnant. As soon as she ends the call, I snatch the phone from her hand.

  “I do not want you to talk to her.”

  “Why?”

  “She was one of the women you were with the night you were drugged.”

  “You don’t still believe she had anything to do with that, do you?” she asks.

  “I have no way of knowing for sure, so until I have evidence that excludes her, she is not to be trusted.”

  “What reason would she have to do something like that?” she asks as a frown forms on her lips.

  “People do crazy things every day. You never really know the reasoning.” I do not want her to live in fear, but the reality of the situation is we don’t know who to trust right now, and there is no way I will risk her safety.

  I go to her side and spin the chair around, placing a hand on each armrest. “Let’s not think about that today.” I move a small piece of hair off her forehead with my finger. “Today is about us starting our future and enjoying the fact that you are carrying my child,” I declare, watching her face transform and a look of amazement fill her eyes.

  “I still can’t believe I’m pregnant.”

  “I can. I think deep down, even after you told me you had started your period, I knew you were pregnant,” I say quietly.

  “How?” she whispers, leaning towards me with a tender look on her face.

  “You’ve seemed more settled, more at ease, like you’re content with where you are.”

  “I’m with you. How could I not be content?”