The Question (33 page)

Two days ago, her body would have hummed with arousal, just from being this close to him. Today, she felt Greg and remembered Rashid’s body pressing hers into the mattress last night. “I’m glad that’s a decision I’ll never have to make. I’ll be back in a bit.” She pushed until he released her and walked out the door, resisting the urge to look back.

She rode the elevator down to Rashid’s office, her mind on the night before. Huge mistake. Her body moistened and her thighs became sticky with cream. What a time not to be wearing underwear, though she really didn’t have a choice. Her vulva and nipples were too sensitive to wear anything confining. She’d compensated by wearing a tank with a built-in shelf bra, and a long-sleeve blouse over a nice long broom skirt.

Ms. Brentman, Rashid’s secretary, sent her right in when she arrived. “Go ahead. He’s alone,” she said as she reached for the phone to announce her.

“I’ll announce myself. Thank you.”

She walked into the office and locked the door behind her. Rashid looked up at her entrance and heat flared in his eyes.

She leaned back against the door with her hands still holding the knob. “I have a boo-boo. You need to kiss it and make it better.”

A half-smile slid across his face at the mention of the game they played with the twins. “Really? And where might this boo-boo be?” He leaned back in his chair and rested his arms on the armrests.

She walked over to his desk and moved the paperwork out of the way. Backing against it, she eased carefully onto the desk in front of him and spread her legs. As she drew her skirt up to her waist, she pointed to her swollen nether lips. “Right here.”

“Poor baby. That’s a big boo-boo. Lay back and let me kiss it. I promise I’ll make it all better.”

She lay back on the desk as he lowered his mouth to her slit. He French kissed her, sliding his tongue in and out of her opening until she was clutching his head with her fists. After the excesses of last night, it wasn’t long before she was hovering on the edge. He stopped before she could fall over.

“You have anything else that needs kissing?”

He didn’t give her a chance to answer, but leaned down until he was braced above her. His mouth claimed hers and he drank from her like a man in the desert who’s finally found water after days of searching in vain.

Gail slid her hand between their bodies and undid the zipper on his pants. She reached in and stroked his rapidly hardening penis. “Take me,” she whispered.

“I thought you were sore.”

“I lied.”

He bit her earlobe. “Under normal circumstances, I’d be angry with you for lying to me, but in this instance, it can be forgiven.” He entered her slowly. “You have to be quiet. No screaming. My secretary’s right outside.”

This man was turning her inside out, loosening all of her inhibitions. Why else would the thought of being heard excite her, taking her arousal to another level? She wanted sexy Ms. Brentman to hear and know what they were doing. In her own way, she was as possessive as Rashid. She wanted the woman to know that this man belonged to her and no one else.

“Let her hear.” She wrapped her legs around his waist. “It will keep her from getting any ideas about you.”

At her words, a fierce look crossed his face. “As you wish.”

God, she should have known better. The man made her scream so loud it’s a wonder security wasn’t called. She was sure it sounded like he was killing her. Then again, maybe not. If she were dying, would she really have been screaming, “Yes! Yes! Oh God, just like that!”

Much, much later, Rashid escorted her out of the office and back to the penthouse. He was all smug male pride as they walked down the hall to the elevator. She, on the other hand, wavered and wobbled like someone who’d had one drink too many. The goofy grin wouldn’t leave her face, no matter how hard she tried and she caught herself humming tunelessly more than once.

Rashid hammered on the door, handing her over to Greg when the door opened. “I hope you have food in here. After she naps, she’ll be hungry.”

Greg looked her over from head-to-toe. “You walked her through your business looking like that?”

The wicked humor in Greg’s voice penetrated the pleasurable buzz she was feeling. “Like what?”

“Like you’ve just been thoroughly fucked,” he informed her.

She sucked in a sharp breath. “I can’t believe you just said that.” Then she looked down. Her skirt was twisted, and her shirt haphazardly buttoned. One touch let her know her hair was sticking up all over her head. “Rashid!’

He tried looking innocent. “I think you look fine. You said you didn’t care if she knew.”

“Damn,” Greg laughed. “That was some apology.”

Rashid tipped her chin with his forefinger. “You came down to apologize?”

She twisted away. “I changed my mind. You don’t deserve one now.” She tugged at her skirt, trying to get it on straight. Then she began to undo the buttons on her shirt.

“Here, let me help.”

Greg knocked his hand away. “If you touch her again, I’ll never get any work out of her today. Go! You’ve messed up my schedule enough for one day.”

Rashid backed away. “I’ll see you later at home.” To Greg he said, “Don’t work her too hard. She didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“So I gather. Don’t worry. Message noted and understood. Now leave.”

Gail’s gaze bounced back and forth between the two men, wondering what Greg’s cryptic words meant and the sudden tension between them. Whatever it was, Rashid understood. He nodded in the way of men and left. Once he was gone, they finally managed to get some work done.

* * * *

Four weeks later, Gail listened while Greg practiced his plea for what seemed like the tenth time that morning. Their brief was prepared and filed two weeks ago, and now they were just waiting to hear from the court.

“Gail!”

“Hmm?”

“Am I so boring that I’m putting you to sleep?”

She yawned and tried to appear more alert. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve been so sleepy lately. It’s not you. Go ahead. I’m listening.” She sat straighter on the couch and forced her eyes wide open.

He put the papers down, came and sat beside her. “Does Rashid know that you’re pregnant?”

“I’m not pregnant, just a little tired. My iron’s probably low.” She rubbed her eyes and shook her head, trying to wake.

Greg placed an arm on the back of the couch behind her, turning towards her. “Are you certain you’re not pregnant? Cause this is just how you were when you were carrying the twins.”

Gail glared at him. “Yes, I’m sure. Rashid had a vasectomy while he was still married to Crystal. It just not possible.”

He arched his brow at her. “You do know that pregnancy can still occur within the first six months after having the procedure done. Sometimes it takes as long as twelve months for all the live sperm to dissipate. Have you been using birth control?”

She shook her head. “No, there’s no need.”

“Did Rashid go back for his third and six month checkups to make sure the procedure was successful?”

All of these questions were making her nervous. “I don’t know.”

“Well, have you missed any periods?”

“I haven’t had a period since before I was pregnant. The doctor said the breastfeeding interrupted my cycle.”

“I thought the babies were weaned now?”

“They are. I started weaning them at six months, but Jamilah took a little longer. I was still pumping milk for her until she was a little over seven months old.”

“So they’ve been weaned for almost five months now and you still haven’t had your period?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “I spotted once or twice, but that’s about it. My GYN said that was normal.”

“Put your shoes on.” He stood and grabbed his wallet and keys.

“Are we going somewhere?”

“To the store to get you a pregnancy test.”

“For what? I told you that I’m not pregnant.”

“Humor me.”

She slowly rose to her feet and put on her shoes. “This is silly. You know that, don’t you? I’ll take the stupid test but you’re paying for it. I’m not wasting my money.”

Four hours later, she looked at the little pee stick in horror. A plus sign, signifying that she was pregnant. “Get me another one,” she demanded of Greg, who leaned against the frame of the open bathroom door, arms crossed on his chest.

“I’m not going out and buying another test. You’ve taken four of the damn things, and all of them were different brands. You’re pregnant. Face it.”

She sank down onto the closed lid of the toilet and slumped over. “But I can’t be. Rashid will never believe it’s his. He’ll think I cheated on him—with you.”

He straightened. “Didn’t you tell him I can’t have children?”

“I don’t know. I can’t remember,” she wailed. “This is terrible.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand your reaction. You love the twins. I thought you’d be happy about this.”

“I love them but I never considered having more. Remember, I wasn’t supposed to have them. I don’t even know if Rashid wants more children. The subject’s never come up. What am I going to do?”

“First, you’re going to stop panicking and tell your husband the good news. He’ll be happy. He loves children.”

“Are you nuts? I can’t tell him about this.” She gestured to the four pregnancy tests lined up on the sink top, pausing to stare in disbelief once again at the results. When she looked back at Greg, he had an expression on his face that she knew boded ill for her. She sat up straight, hands gripping her knees. “Greg, don’t you dare. Promise me you won’t tell him.”

“He needs to know.”

“I’ll tell him—eventually—just not until this appeal is over. I don’t want to burden him. He’s worried enough.”

“Rashid isn’t the one worrying; you are. Tell him. He needs to know and if he finds out you’ve known and didn’t tell him, he’s going to be pissed. I would.”

She ran her fingers through her hair, agitated. “I will, but not now. And you’re right. It’s me that’s worried. Can’t you just let it wait until after the hearing? It can’t be too much longer, right?” She begged with her eyes.

“I won’t tell him on one condition—you go to the doctor. If you don’t agree to start with your prenatal care, I’ll walk right down there and tell him now.”

She sighed as the weight dropped off her shoulders. A reprieve. “Deal.” She held out her hand for him to shake.

He held out his phone to her instead.

She stared at it. “What’s this for?”

“Call and make your appointment.”

“Now? Don’t you trust me?”

“No.”

She snatched the phone out of his hand, and pushed past him out of the restroom. “Fine. I’ll call.”

When she got off the phone, he commented from behind, “I thought Dr. Hagan was your OBGYN?”

“No, he’s Rashid’s doctor. Mine is Dr. Jennings. That’s who I’m going to see.”

“You know Rashid will make you switch when he finds out. Why not just go to Dr. Hagan to begin with?”

Because he’ll tell Rashid. Aloud she said, “I’ll see any doctor he wants, after the hearing.”

He placed his hands on his hips and looked down at her. “You know, I’m beginning to detect a distinct lack of faith in my abilities. Listening to you, one would believe we were going to lose this appeal.”

She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Greg, I have complete faith in your ability as an attorney. I recommended you, remember? It’s just that I’ve learned not to put to my absolute confidence in things. If I leave room for a little doubt, it won’t hurt as much if it doesn’t go as planned.”

He brushed the hair off her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. “You’re too young to be so cynical.”

She shrugged. “Life lessons learned the hard way.”

“There’s no way this can go wrong. Between my brilliance and Rashid’s meticulous planning, Davis doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on. Stop being such a doubting Thomas and just believe. Like I said, this is just a formality. I told you they would throw out the custody issue and they did. Trust me on this.”

“That’s true but they should have thrown out the whole thing.”

Greg laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I told you, this case is just interesting enough to spark the court’s curiosity. How often does one like it come along? Why do you think the partners at my law firm agreed to my coming back here and taking this case? This is the kind that sets precedent. The prestige a successfully won case like this can bring to the firm is worth more than the fee Rashid’s paying us.”

She sighed. “Fine. I’ll try not to worry. It’s just that whenever things are going good, I’ve learned to watch out, ‘cause that’s when trouble comes knocking.”

“You’ve had enough of trouble. Relax. It will be fine. You can’t afford to worry. Stress isn’t good for the baby.”

She groaned and put her hands over her face. “Did you have to remind me?”

* * * *

Her cell phone blared out a tune, pulling her from a sound sleep. Gail reached a hand out from under the covers and snagged it before it could wake Rashid. Who was calling at this time of night? The caller’s ID read “Private.” No help there.