Page 124 of Consummation

“It felt like someone poking me—likethis.” I touch the top of Josh’s hand with my fingertip. “Only imagine feeling that little jab frominsideyour body—like a little alien wanting to get out.”

“That’s so cool,” Josh says. He places both palms on my bump, squinting like he’s concentrating on complex calculus—and for the rest of the taxi ride, he forbids me to speak while he silently touches every inch of my tiny bump, trying with all his might to feel movement. But it’s no use. Every time I feel a little jab, Josh can’t feel it with me.

“I guess the kumquat’s just too small for you to feel her yet,” I finally conclude. “I’m sorry, babe.”

“Damn. Tell me every time you feel her move, okay? I’m dying to give her a high-five with my fingertip.”

I swoon for the twentieth time today. Who is this adorable man sitting next to me in this taxi? I can’t believe the man touching my baby bump with such tenderness and enthusiasm is the same commitment-phobic playboy who not too long ago said he planned to wait until eighty to have a baby so he could simultaneously have the kid and forget he was ever born.

“I love you so much, Josh,” I say softly, touching his cheek.

“I love you, I love you, I love you, Kat—more than I ever thought possible,” Josh replies, just before planting a kiss on me that makes me forget where I am.

After a moment, the driver clears his throat. “Um. Excuse me. We’re here,” he says.

Josh brushes my cheek with his thumb, and then touches my chin with the tip of his finger, and finally, slowly, tears himself away from me to pay the man.

We float inside the hotel together, Josh’s arm around my shoulders, but, much to my surprise, Josh steers us away from the restaurant in the lobby and toward the elevator bank.

“Hey, isn’t that the restaurant?” I ask, pointing behind me.

Josh stops walking and pulls me into him, a huge smile on his face. “We’re not going to the restaurant, my love—I only told you that to lure you here.”

My love? Did Josh just call me “my love”? He’s never called me that before.

“Why aren’t we going to the restaurant?” I manage to ask.

“Because we’re going to our room,” Josh replies simply—and before I can say another word, he fishes into his pocket, pulls out a poker chip, and places it in my palm, a wicked smile dancing on his lips. “Let the mini-porno begin, baby.”

“Ooh!” I squeal. “Yay! Which fantasy are we doing, babe?”

“Actually, today we’re doing one ofmyfantasies—a fantasy I’ve never told anyone about, not even you.” Josh wraps me into his arms and smashes his hard body into mine. “It’s my top fantasy, actually—something I’ve only recently discovered I want to do.”

“You didn’t write about it in your application?”

“Nope. I’ve never told a single soul about this particular fantasy—didn’t even know I had it until recently. But today, for the first and only time, I wanna do it with you, Party Girl.” A huge smile spreads across his face. “My love.”

Thirty-Five

Kat

“Oh, that was good—the artichoke was hangry as hell,” I say, putting my napkin onto the table and patting my belly. I’ve just devoured a huge spread of food Josh had waiting for us in our hotel suite, and I’m feeling fine as wine and ready to role-play.

“So you’re feeling good now?” Josh asks.

“Yup. I’m feelinggreat. Heidi Kumquat reporting for duty, sir, any which way you please. So what’s your pleasure, sir? Whips? Chains? Donkeys?”

Josh shoots me a sly smile. “You’ll see. The outfit I want you to wear for me is laid out on the bed in there.” He indicates the master bedroom of the suite.

“Oh,” I say, raising my eyebrow. “French maid costume, maybe? Latex? Rabbit suit? Damsel in distress?”

“You’ll see soon enough. I packed your makeup and toiletries, by the way—they’re in the bathroom.” He stands, his eyes blazing. “Meet me back out here in forty-five minutes. I’ll get dressed in the other bedroom.”

“Oh. We’re doing his and hers costumes, huh?” I say. “What on earth have you been fantasizing about on the sly, you naughty Playboy?”

“No questions. Just do as your told. This ismyfantasy—not yours—you’re just my plaything today.”

“Oooh, I like the sound of that. But, seriously, babe. I want to be sure you get your fantasy, whatever it is. What if I don’t know what to do?”

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