Chapter 13

He took care of her. Ryleigh was left with little doubt about his feelings for her. She had never had this tender loving care before, the way he picked her up and took her to his big bed in the middle of the cast room.

The furnishings were sturdy oak, decorated with intricate etchings. And his closet was three times the size of hers. Laying her gently against the pillows, he took off her clothes, his hands gentle, and without a word, he pulled the nightgown over her head.

"Don't." She whispered when he took the tray left on the side table and placed it on his lap.

Ignoring her protest, he lifted the cover and moved closer to spoon the broth into her mouth.

"Flynn-"

"Shh," he ordered huskily, dipping the spoon into the clear liquid and bringing it to her mouth again. She abandoned the rest of the protests and drank until the bowl was empty. She felt the tears gathering at the back of her eyes when he pulled her up and rubbed her back so that she could burp.

And she did. When she was finished, he started on the tea, holding the cup so she could drink. When he was satisfied that she wouldn't bring it all up, he set aside the cup and put away the tray.

In silence, she watched him take off his clothes and come to join her. Turning her to face him, he examined every inch of her face, noticing the dewy eyes and the parted lips.

"I am not used to people taking care of me." She whispered.

"I am aware," he murmured, cupping her cheek. "I am afraid you will have to get used to it." His touch was gentle. "I am here, and even if you fight me, piss me off as you seem to have a knack for doing, I am here."

"I am beginning to realize that." She swallowed the heavy lump inside her throat. "You are naked." Her fingers spread over the warmth of his chest, loving the feel of his flesh, which reminded her poignantly of velvet over steel. His muscles flexed at her touch, and she felt beautiful at the sharp intake of his breath as she brushed his nipples lightly.

"I hate the confinement of clothing when I am in bed. It goes back to when I lived with my mother in that two-room hovel we called home for so long. The heating was always faulty, and the AC was a joke. Too hot in the summer and too cold during the winter." His fingers smoothed out her cheek.

"Tell me about that time."

His amber eyes met hers for a few seconds. "I barely knew my old man." he shrugged slightly. "He took off when the responsibilities became too much for him. He was a spineless bastard who did not take his marriage and commitment seriously."

"Your mother must have been so overwhelmed."

"I suppose she must have been, but she never showed it." He stared off into the darkness in contemplative silence. "I resented the hell out of her for a long time, wondering if she was the one who had scared him off. Then, I blamed myself. I came upon her one night, crying in the kitchen.

She thought I had long gone to bed. I crept out of the room to try to find something to eat. Food was scarce back then. She used to get something from the church, which helped out a lot, but there was never enough." He smiled at her whimsically.

"I was a growing boy, and I was very athletic. I was involved in almost every sport. I used much energy, and it had to be replaced. We had eaten our meal-" He shook his head. "I don't recall what it was, but I felt peckish. There were apples, and I figured I could grab a couple.

She was sitting around the rickety dining table, with her face buried in her hands, and she was sobbing and praying. I stood just outside the doorway, staring at her. She had always appeared to be strong, never complaining, working two or three jobs. I never thought of her as a person who was going through hell.

She was just mother, the person who was supposed to make things right." Tilting her chin up, he stared at her, a smile ghosting his lips. She went still at the look on his handsome face and felt her heart turning over.

"What did you do?" She whispered, almost afraid to interrupt.

"I stood there for a minute, and when she got up to go to the stove, I fled. Up to this day, she never knew I was there, that I had witnessed her breakdown. I spent the night thinking, planning, and vowing to myself that I was going to make her proud and make things better for her." He brushed a kiss over her lips, unable to help himself.

Touching her had become his favorite thing to do. She clung to him, opening her lips and returning the kiss. When he finally lifted his head, they were both shaken. It took a few minutes to remember where he had left off in telling the story.

"And you did."

"What?" he blinked at her, his heart hammering inside his chest.

"You made her proud."

"Yes." he smiled slightly, amazed at how quickly she could scramble his brain. "I kept that night at the forefront of my mind and used it to channel my desire to make something of myself so that I could provide for her. The first million I made was for her. I immediately took her out of that neighborhood and built this place for us."

"You designed it yourself."

He nodded. "I wanted the best, and by then, I could afford it. But being a millionaire was not enough for me. I wanted to be powerful. I had been dirt poor, and I could not go back to that kind of life." he stroked her satiny skin, loving the feel of the flesh. "I was hungry for more. I took risks," he laughed softly.

"Big scary ones, and they paid off, much to my shock. I was daring, walking into a bank and giving my pitch. I had these grandiose ideas and wanted to sell them to stodgy bankers.

I approached several of them and was turned away politely. ‘We have reviewed your proposal, Mr. Zimmermann, and as much as we would love to help you achieve what you set out, we cannot help. We must answer to our stockholders- blah, blah, blah."

He grinned at her. "I wanted to ram my fist down their throats and dislodge the sticks up their collective asses for having limited vision. I knew my ideas were revolutionary, but it would work."

"They are bankers; it's their job to be cautious."

He cast her a wry look. "They had no imagination; that's what makes them bankers. Anyway, I found someone who loved my ideas and not only offered to extend the loan but wanted in on the project."

"Harrison Trust I should let you rest." Her hand on his chest was venturing further down, and his skin was heating up.

Clamping his hand over hers, he stopped the exploration. "I can't- we can't," he said hoarsely, but it was already hard. "We should-" He broke off with a groan when she dragged her hand away to curl her fingers around the thick length of his shaft.

"I feel so much better." her eyes met him, jolting at the intense passion she saw there.

"Ryleigh-"

"I need to feel you inside me. I have come to rely on your hardness driving into me." "Oh, Christ!" He really shouldn't. He had been there when she hurled, and it was not pretty. But he was bursting and knew he would not be able to sleep without having her.

"Turn around." he rasped.

"Flynn-"

"Do it."

Letting go of him, she turned her back to him. Her body quivered when he passed his hands down the small of her back to cup her firm derriere. Her breath whooshed out as he entered her slowly from behind.

Her bottom was snuggled against him, so much so that she could feel the dense hairs covering his sex against her flesh. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he brought her flushed against him, head bending to nuzzle her neck.

"Stay still," he whispered against her flesh.

"I can't."

"Don't move." He ordered her thickly. "If you do, it will be over too quickly. I love being sheathed by you and taking you this way; I feel as if I am touching the mouth of your womb." he surged upwards. "Can you feel it?" he was sucking the flesh of her neck into his mouth and making her so dizzy with desire that she could barely stand it.

"Yes." her fingers gripped his strong arms, digging into his flesh. "I need more." "I want to give you more." He moved slowly at what seemed to be a snail's pace.

"It feels so good." She gasped. "Don't stop."

"I won't." Pulling his hand from her tight grip, he drifted down to the curly hairs of her sex until he was stroking the sensitive flesh.

"Flynn."

"Hmm." He was soothing the bite marks he was making on her flesh as he tortured her with his fingers. His thrusts were lazy, rhythmic movements that promised her more but were deliberately holding back and serving to drive her crazy with need.

"I can't."

"You can." Using his other hand, he twisted her face to brush his lips against hers. "We have all the time in the world, and I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't." her breath fanned his face, making him crazy. His breath soughed through his chest as the passion increased. "I need more." Pushing her bottom up, she increased the pace and forced him to do the same.

His cock slipped completely out of her, and before she could protest, which she seemed on the verge of doing, he plunged his fingers into the moistness, going in deep.

She came explosively, her slender body trembling. Seizing her lips, he captured the mewling cries as he ravaged her lips. In the throes of her climax, he removed his fingers and replaced them with his bursting erection. A shudder went through his long, lean body as the climax claimed him.

He came, his seed pouring into her as if it would never stop. With his heart hammering inside his chest, he held her against him, his body shuddering, his soul consumed by her.

"Never before-" he whispered into her neck. "I have never felt anything like this before. You have the power to eradicate me. If you don't love me-"

"I love you." She whispered achingly, her body still wracked with sensations. "I love you so much. I never thought it was even possible. I love you."

Twisting her chin around, he searched her face with eyes darkened by emotions. "Say it again."

"I love you." Tears were streaming down her cheeks, but she did not care. This remarkable man stormed into her life when she had given up hope of finding true love. "I love you, Flynn."

Her reward was a kiss that stole her mind and her breath and her clinging to him as if she would never let him go.

She fell asleep with him spooning her. They were still intimately joined, and she was content to remain that way. But long after her even breathing indicated that she was fat asleep, he could not close his eyes.

She loved him. That was all that mattered to him. He had accomplished a hell of a lot in his life over the years through sheer determination and grit and the need to get out of the awful poverty, but all of that pales in comparison to the woman sleeping in his arms.

He had spent months reeling from the betrayal of a woman he thought he was in love with and never dreamed it was possible to find anything that would inspire him to open his heart again.

They fought, argued, and were both equally stubborn, but even when he was frustrated with her, he still loved her. He wanted to protect her from the horrors of the world, and he was going to. She loved him. Oh, Christ! He was so happy, he wanted to do a damn jig.

But for now, he was going to take her out dancing and dining, fly her to exotic places, show her off, and buy her a fortune in jewelry—diamonds—no, he shook his head. Emeralds, perhaps rubies, and maybe sapphires.

She was going to protest, but he did not care and would not allow her to stop him. Tightening his arms around her possessively, he brought her closer and drifted off to sleep.

*****

"What is it?" He watched her closely as she ate the soft-boiled egg and toast.

"Nothing."

"Try again." Julia had rushed out to assist a friend and told them she hoped they would both be home for dinner.

"Just tired." She admitted, sliding the spoon into the runny yolk.

He immediately felt guilty for keeping her up last night. Not only that, but he had woken her up and started all over again.

"Stay home."

"No."

"Ryleigh-"

"I have been away for a week, and my work is piling up."

"When will you tell the DA that you are pregnant?"

"Today. I have to. And she will ream me out for keeping it to myself."

"We have a thing this weekend."

"What thing?"

"The annual spring benefit. Our first official event as a couple."

She busied herself with her tea. "Will your ex be there?"

"Possibly. Why?"

"Is that the reason you want me there?"

He lifted a thick, dark brow. "Probably. It could also be that I want to show off my girlfriend. And I also want to change that status to fiancée."

"We should wait."

"Why?"

"People are going to wonder-"

"Let them." he declared arrogantly, showing his utter disregard for other people's opinions.

"We can't just appear in public as an engaged couple."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because it's too soon."

"That's not a reason."

"We should wait until the appropriate time. Let's give it a month or two."

"No."

"You are being unreasonable." She pointed out in exasperation. Talking to him was like talking to a damn wall.

"Then so be it. I want to marry you. June sounds like a good month for a wedding." "So does August."

He stared at her in surprise that she had not argued over what was a proposal.

"I don't want to wait that long."

"We are already living together."

"I want to make it official, and you are partially living with me."

"Flynn-"

"I have to go," he glanced at his watch. I suggest we take one vehicle, but we are going in opposite directions. I have already instructed Tom to drive you to and from work."

"I can drive myself, and you should have cleared that with me."

Pushing back his chair, he kissed the top of her head. "I just did. I want you to be safe." Tilting her chin up, he brushed his lips against hers. "I love you. Eat." With that, he was gone, leaving her staring after him in frustration.

The man was impossible and determined to care for her, which begs why she was fighting him. Most women would have killed to be in her shoes. Shaking her head, she resumed eating her breakfast.

*****

"You have something." Flynn gestured to him to take a seat. "I have asked my assistant to hold my calls." He strode over to the tray prepared with the usual refreshments.

"Coffee?"

"Don't mind if I do. I was on the road until late and barely caught some shut-eye before I was up again."

"I appreciate your zeal to get the work done." Flynn poured the rich, savory beverage into the two cups and brought them over. Instead of going around his desk, he sat on the edge of it and gave Bert his attention.

"What did you discover?"

"Your ace in the hole." The older man sipped the coffee with gusto, appreciating the punch.

"Interesting. What is it?"

"Who. His brother."

"I had forgotten he had one. After high school, I left the neighborhood when I was seventeen and lost touch with him. I heard rumors that his mother hooked up with someone from the neighborhood. He must be what? Twenty?"

Bert nodded. "And get this, the boy is the apple of the bastard's eye. A shiny penny, spotless and ambitious and extremely intelligent. They have different names, of course, and he is kept hidden and away from all the illegal activities. He is attending Harvard Law. Daley sets him up in a swanky townhouse and foots all his bills."

Flynn stared into his cup of coffee, a frown touching his brow. "I hate to use the kid-" "He is the only one who means anything to Daley. Not his children or any woman, but this one boy. He is perfect."

Flynn nodded, feeling the heaviness in his heart. But he was willing to go to any length to protect his own, and Ryleigh belonged to him. He loved her so much it was past thinking about. "I am assuming you have an address?"

"I have everything." Bert patted the folder he had placed on the opposite chair. "Where he hangs out and some very flattering photos. He looks nothing like Daley. What are you going to do with the information?"

"Pay a visit to my former friend," he said with a grim smile as he eyed the folder. "See if that does not get him to back off. Ryleigh is returning to work today, and knowing her, she will probably still want to consider pursuing the case."

He broke off a sigh and felt his heart contracting. He would happily lock her inside his suite if it were left up to him. But she would never hear of it—damn her stubborn attitude.

"Anything else you need?"

He shook his head. "I will let you know. I have someone driving her to and from work, and he is supposed to take her wherever she wants to go, but knowing her, she will probably try to go off on her own."

"We still have men watching her."

"Good." Flynn nodded.

*****

Rosalyn stared at her so long that Ryleigh wondered if the woman had frozen in place. She had marched into the DA's office as soon as she arrived and waited until she had finished up a call before going right to the heart of the matter.

"Rose?"

"I am still processing. You are pregnant."

"Yes."

"And the father is Flynn Zimmermann."

"Yes."

"The very sexy multi-billionaire who has been featured on the covers of several magazines."

"Yes, again."

"Honey," She spread her hands wide. "This is-"

"Sudden? I know."

"How?"

"You are going to have to be more specific."

"Where did you meet? When?"

"I am friends with his mother, as you well know."

"And that was how you met?"

She nodded, deciding to go along with that. She was not willing to reveal their former arrangements. Rosalyn was a friend, but she was almost sure she could not keep something like that to herself.

"And he wants to marry you."

"He does."

"You are over that asshole?"

Ryleigh smiled. "Completely."

"Then I am thrilled for you."