Page 23 of Baby Daddy Boss

Aldric

Itwasareliefto be back on the campus, even though a part of me still felt like it was missing something without the distant crashing waves of the cove and the lack of sunlight filtering through the orchard leaves. Yet this was where I belonged for now. I belonged here in this cramped office, slowly making a mess of my desk again as the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about hummed something tunelessly while tidying her area.

I should have known when I’d come back that things would have been moved and organized in ways that didn’t work for me. But it was soon back to the chaos that soothed my agitated mind.

I worked silently next to Roseline; we hadn’t discussed our dinner at the cafe once since we’d gotten in that morning, and I hadn’t pushed for anything else yet. But I could feel the anticipation roiling in the air. I wasn’t necessarily a patient man when I wanted something. I would give her as much space as I could, but I wouldn’t wait on the sidelines forever. Eventually, I would show her how much she needed me and wanted me, just like I did her.

“So, where do you want to go on our first official date?” I asked casually. She glanced back at me but said nothing.

For now, I busied myself with catching up with the missed classes. It seemed like my T.A. had done a great job of holding things together, even with Charlotte as her guidance. That woman was good but knew next to nothing about my biochemistry, so she was useless when it came to my subject. Though then again, it was a very niche class to teach. I doubted the board had much choice on who to use.

“I swear, every time I see your work, you surprise me more and more. Your brain is fascinating,” I mumbled, and I heard her sputter across the room. I smirked behind a piece of paper, something she had written to analyze individual students’ progress, as I watched her flounder for the correct response and then distinctly fail.

Instead, she just made a noncommittal grunting sound, and my blood burned at the thought of how flustered she was. I stood, checked the clock to ensure we still had enough time before class, and then wandered over to her, pressing in behind her until she finally looked over her shoulder.

My hands rested on either side of Roseline’s desk, caging her against it, as her familiar and tantalizing scent tickled my nose. I just needed a taste to keep me going until I got my answer from her—a fix of her addicting touch. I inhaled softly, sighing in appreciation, and she stilled beneath me but showed no sign of rejection. Instead, her head tilted slightly to the side, baring her neck to me, encouraging my hunger, and finally, I dropped my lips to hover just above the arch of her skin. My breath ghosted over her flesh, and it pebbled under my stare.

I shouldn’t be doing this, I knew I should let her give me her answer first, yet the throbbing need in my pants pulled me forward until my lips brushed the curve of her neck. She shivered at the soft touch, letting out a choked-back sigh I could barely hear. I opened my mouth to trace my tongue up lightly to where her pulse thundered under her jaw. I paused, waiting for her response, and her hand raised to rake my hair, drawing me closer until her head turned and her lips found mine.

The kiss was electric, more intense than any we’d shared before. Perhaps it was because of the feelings I now harbored for her simmering below the surface. I spun her chair around, breaking apart for a moment only to hover over her and take control again, diving down to her mouth and taking what was mine. The sweet taste of chocolate and pastry lingered on her tongue, mixing intoxicatingly with just a hint of bitter coffee beans.

Roseline moaned as my hands gripped her waist, even as she sat down. Her neck craned backward to meet my demanding lips, and she nearly cried out with desire as my fingers sank into her soft flesh. Her hips raised, begging for attention. I knew how she felt. I wanted to sink into her so badly, feel her heat and her wet walls encase me, and pull everything from me that I had to give.

We didn’t have time for that, though, and we shouldn’t push our tentative relationship too fast when she was still just trying to figure out her feelings. So, I pulled back, leaving her dazed and panting, which only made me ache even more. Roseline’s cheeks were flushed, and her usually faint freckles stood out starkly against the pink. My hand cupped her chin, then stroked her face with my thumb before I kissed her one more time and whispered against her lips, “You are so gorgeous.”

Her blush darkened visibly, and I smirked. She, however, scowled and said, “We don’t have time for this; go get the papers off your desk in the folder on the top of the left stack.” I sighed, but my smile never left.

Admiring that she even learned how to deal with my chaotic workstations. I listened to her as I snapped up the papers, and we left to head to the classroom before we started running late.

But my mind lingered back in the office, where her glossy eyes still stared at me, and she looked at me like I held the answers to the universe. On the way to class, she stopped walking just outside the earshot of anyone else, looking at me with a frown that told me nothing good was coming from whatever she was about to say.

“Aldric, we can’t do that again,” she said, her eyes and voice firm and confident. “I need space to consider letting you into my life and Ciro’s life. I need you to respect giving me time. If you can’t….” Her lips were tightly pursed as if she were afraid to speak what was on her mind. Her eyes darted to the side. I inhaled sharply, taking an unconscious step back to give her some space. Ihadto listen to her and so agreed with a stiff nod.

“Of course, I’m sorry I pushed you,” I offered a gentle smile to show she hadn’t hurt my feelings. What she was asking was natural, not just for one person but for a mother who had to think for two. I had to respect her wishes, which meant giving her the time to think without pushing her further into a corner.

No matter how hard that would be for me. No matter how much I knew, I would break my promise if it went on too long.

Chapter 20

Roseline

CiroandIweregoing to the park again today. We went every day after I got off from the diner and my T.A. job. Normally, I only had one day a week for myself and my son. I was overjoyed to spend time with him, reaffirm our bond, and spoil him as he deserved. When he realized I was staying at home, his eyes would light up, and he would ask where we were going, even though the answer was always the same. Ciro was carefully tucked under a blanket in his stroller because he was sleepy. It was only nine a.m., but we were going to the grocery store to get some snacks before finding some friends for a playdate.

I happily hummed to myself while Ciro was nearly silent, though he occasionally pointed out someone walking their dog. It had been a peaceful walk with just the two of us until I noticed a familiar figure talking to a young woman a few steps ahead. I froze, unsure of what to do because I hadn’t expected Aldric to meet Ciro and wasn’t sure if he would call me without thinking about it. However, he seemed lost in his conversation, and I watched for a moment as he smiled brightly at the young woman and touched her arm, and she responded with a flirtatious hair flip and giggled.

I felt jealousy well up inside my chest, nearly choking me. I knew it was ridiculous, especially since he wasn’t doing anything other than talking to this woman. There was no reason to conclude that he was flirting with her, but I did. My eyes narrowed until they finally stopped talking, and I realized my chance to flee had slipped through my fingers.

I glanced around like a terrified animal until a tiny voice said, “Mama?” That was all it took for a steadying breath to enter my lungs and for my strength to return to me. Today was Ciro’s day, and I wouldn’t let my fear of a possibility ruin it. I straightened my back, raised my chin until I looked forward, and continued walking toward the playground.

Aldric, noticing my presence, exclaimed, “Hey! Roseli—” his voice trailing off as he realized I had company, his eyes widening.

He swallowed hard, and I paused in my tracks, waiting. I offered him no help as I watched him struggle within himself while waiting for him to choose our future. He could ruin everything right now by pushing me too hard, or he could respect my boundaries.

“Good morning, miss,” he managed to say, and though there was an awkward stiffness to his wave and words, I smiled back. Aldric didn’t push any further. He smiled down at Ciro, and we continued on our way while I could feel his eyes on us as we approached the park. I gave him a grateful nod as I turned the corner on the path.

Ciro spent his time at the playground playing in the sandbox and yelling at me to watch him as he climbed the slide. His little stunt nearly gave me a heart attack.

The loudness in my head went with this. Aldric had finally seen his son face to face, leaving me uneasy. I felt like I was walking on shaky ground. It was as if the world had suddenly turned into a barely held-together bridge during an earthquake, but it could have been worse.

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