Pleasure Prolonged (15 page)

“I…love…you…too.” She ended on a moan as he pumped his semen into her.

Erin twisted around and collapsed onto her back. She reached for him. He climbed into the bed beside her and drew the covers over them.

She looked deep into his eyes and snuggled into him as though unable to get close enough. The love on her face took his breath away. “I believe we’ll have to do it like this more often.”

“You know, Erin, deep down inside you exists a very naughty, very bad girl.”

Her laugh was throaty, sexy. “I know, Kale. It just took the right bad boy to unleash her.”

Sitting in the passenger seat of Kale’s truck, Erin studied his handsome profile as he pulled into his parking space at Iowa Research Center. He must have sensed her gaze on him. He shot her a sidelong glance and smiled. She could see the love he felt for her shining in his eyes.

He reached out and squeezed her hand. “We’re late,” he said.

She grinned and stifled a yawn. “Sam is going to have a fit but he’ll cover for us. He’s a great guy.”

They climbed from the truck and rushed inside the building. By the time they stepped into the lobby, Sam was pacing back and forth, Rio clinging to his side.

“Where have you two been? I didn’t know how much longer I could cover for you.” He took a look at them both and said, “Never mind. I don’t think I want to know. Come on, your test subjects are waiting.”

They all climbed into the waiting elevator. Kale glanced at the number pad, then exchanged a look with Erin. In unison they both glanced at Sam, giving him a look that suggested he might want to wait for the next elevator.

He was quick to catch on. With determined strides, he stepped back into the lobby. Rolling his eyes, he darted his gaze back and forth between the two of them. “I…uh…think I’ll catch the next one. Before you two corrupt me.” He put his hands over his chimp’s eyes. “And Rio.”

He winked at Erin and gave an approving shake of his head as the metal doors slammed shut.

“I like him,” Kale said.

“I like him too,” she agreed. “But I like you a lot more.”

A bad-boy grin curled his mouth. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Show me.”

Erin unzipped his pants and proceeded to do just that!

E
rin glanced up from her notes as Kale lowered himself onto the stool beside her. His warmth and love reached out to her as he tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Her body trembled with need as his warm fingers grazed her skin. That small gesture always turned her inside out.

She angled her head and smiled. Her gaze panned his face as she leaned into him. God, he was so handsome. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, inhaling, letting his scent curl around her.

Needing to touch him, to feel a connection, she put her hand on his cheek. It still baffled her that a little over a week ago, she’d vowed to keep things casual. Now here she was totally in love with Kale and planning a spring wedding. Her other hand automatically moved to her stomach. She’d once heard a woman say she knew the minute she’d become preg
nant. Erin had been skeptical of such a claim, until now. She knew deep in her soul that during their lovemaking they had made a beautiful baby. Her heart filled with hope and joy. She just knew Kale would be an amazing father.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey yourself.” His passion-imbued eyes kicked her pulse into high gear.

She drew a fortifying breath. “Are you ready?” she asked, closing her notebook.

“You bet.”

Earlier that morning they’d presented their data to the director, and now they were anxiously waiting for him to call a meeting, to inform them whether their experiment was ready to be presented to the grant governing board or whether more testing needed to be performed.

Sam pushed open the security door. “Hey you two, the director is ready to see you.”

Erin’s heart fluttered, her pulse beat in a mad cadence. Her gaze darted from the door to Kale. “We have to tell him about us, you know.”

Kale stood and pulled her up along with him. Her body collided with his. “I know. I’ll tell him,” Kale said easily.

Erin crinkled her nose. “He frowns on office affairs, and I don’t want this to interfere with my promotion.”

Kale rolled his shoulder. “Then we have nothing to worry about,” he assured her. He dropped a tender kiss onto her forehead. “Because we’re not having an office affair. I love you, and I want to marry you.”

Erin smiled. She would never tire of hearing him say that.

Kale clasped her hand in his. “Let’s go.”

A few minutes later Erin found herself sitting across from the director as he perused the open file on his desk. She tried to assess him, but his expression remained masked.

He slowly closed the file. His glance went from Kale, to Erin, back to Kale again. He narrowed his gaze. “I received an unexpected request from Deanne today. She put in for a transfer to Castech, based on your recommendation, Kale.”

Kale nodded. “Now that I’m staying here permanently, a junior researcher will undoubtedly move up into my position and there will be a hole to fill. I think she’ll fit in perfectly,” Kale assured him.

He raised an eyebrow. “I wonder what could have happened around the lab while I was gone. The last I knew Deanne was happy working here.”

Kale shrugged, offering no explanation.

Reginald planted his hands on his desk. “Okay, enough about Deanne. I’m sure you two are anxious to hear about the experiment.”

Erin nodded eagerly.

He waved his hand over the file before him. “The data you both compiled clearly indicate the success of the serum. I believe the grant governing board will be quite thrilled with the results. I’ll make arrangements for you to present next week.”

Erin clapped her hands together. “Fantastic.”

“Good job, you two. I’m impressed with hard work and dedication. Erin, you’ll make a fine wing supervisor.”

Kale grabbed her hand and squeezed, offering silent congratulations.

The director stood. “Now, if that is all, you two can take the rest of the day off. You deserve it.”

Erin shot a nervous glance at Kale.

“Actually there is one more thing,” Kale said.

The director reclaimed his chair and arched an inquisitive brow. “Go on.”

Kale squeezed Erin’s hand more tightly and spoke with confidence. “I’m in love with Erin and we’re getting married.”

The director didn’t even seem fazed. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Really? That didn’t take long.”

Taken aback by his comment, Erin’s head jerked back. “What?” she asked, confused by his reaction.

Reginald rocked in his seat. “That was much quicker than we would have suspected.”

Erin stood and stammered over her words. “What do you mean?”

“I mean Laura and Jay fully expected you two to fall in love. It’s just that none of us thought it would happen so fast.” He chuckled. “And of course when Laura asked me to duly warn you both about stepping out of line at the office, she knew it would succeed in driving you together faster. She said deep down you were a bit of a rebel, Erin.”

“Ohmigod,” Erin blurted as realization dawned. The three of them had been matchmaking.

Reginald narrowed his gaze. “Erin, are you feeling okay? You look a little flushed.”

“I just…I just…”

Laughing, Kale stood and gathered her into his arms. “I think Jay knew how I felt about you from the first minute I set eyes on you.”

He hugged her tighter and Erin melted into him. She lifted her gaze to his. “And obviously Laura knew how I felt about you too.”

A broad smile stretched across his face, the director piped in, “We all knew. Heck, everyone at the wedding knew.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Now go on. Go celebrate your success and your love and do what young people do.”

Erin and Kale both turned to leave. “Oh, and one more thing.” The director’s words stopped them mid-stride. They both turned back.

He angled his head and put on his best stern face. “Please keep your home videos where they belong. In your home.”

Mortified, Erin’s hand flew to her mouth. She felt color bloom high on her cheeks. “Ohmigod, how—”

Reginald shook his head. “It’s my job to know everything that goes on here.” He stood and moved around to the other side of the desk. “Now go. You have a celebration to attend and a wedding to plan.” He waved his hand. “And do try to stay out of trouble,” he added with a wink.

Six months later

T
he knock on the door was a welcome distraction from the endless packing. God, who knew she had so much junk. Erin stood and padded softly across her small living room. Warm summer sunshine spilled inside the entrance as she swung open the door.

“Since when did you start knocking?” She stepped back and motioned for Sam to enter.

He grinned and nodded toward Kale. “Since you married him.”

“Hey, Sam,” Kale called out. “You’re here just in time to help me load the truck.”

Erin turned back to Kale and smiled. She loved how her two favorite guys had become such good buddies. She would miss Sam’s daily visits when she moved across town. But
now that they were married, they definitely needed a bigger place. And after the success of Pleasure Prolonged, and both their advancements, they could now afford her dream house in the burbs.

“I really hate that you’re moving, you know.” He touched his hand to her stomach. “Now I won’t get to see the little guy every day.”

Erin’s heart softened. “Or the little girl,” she corrected. “And of course you can see little Sam any time you want.” She winked at him.

“Sam?” he said.

“Yeah, it’s a great name for a boy or a girl, don’t you think?”

Surprised registered on his face. He blinked. “Really?”

Erin chuckled. “Yes, really. Kale and I want to name the baby after you.”

Sam put his hand over his heart. “Thank you, Erin. This means so much to me. It’s an honor.” Suddenly a frown crossed his face. “But I still don’t want you to move so far. When will I see little Sam?”

“I believe as godfather you have special privileges that allow you to visit any time you want.” She motioned for him to grab a chair before turning her attention to Kale. “Should we tell him?”

Kale carried a box to the door, dropped it, then came back to stand beside her. “He looks like he needs something to cheer him up.”

“Tell me what?” Sam asked, his blue eyes sparkling with renewed interest.

“Well, Kale and I had a conference with the director yesterday. And since Kale is going to take leave to stay home with me for the first couple of months, we’re going to need someone to oversee the Pleasure Exchange experiment in our absence.”

Sam’s mouth dropped open. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Erin could barely contain her excitement. “Yup, you get the lead. You’re getting your own lab and your own team.”

Sam jumped up. “Really?”

“Congratulations, Sam,” Kale said, patting him on the shoulder.

“You’ll be testing a female libido enhancer,” Erin added.

The corner of his mouth lifted as he wrapped his arms around Erin’s waist and swung her in the air. “Hot damn.”

Kale furrowed his brows. “Hey, watch my baby.” He put a protective arm around Erin and pulled her close.

Erin rolled her eyes. Now that she was pregnant, he doted on her every need and treated her like a china doll. But she loved every minute of it.

Sam laughed and stepped back. “This is fantastic news.”

Kale nudged him. “Just think about how much fun you’re going to have testing that one.”

Erin chuckled. “I know at least a dozen women around the lab who’d be anxious to sign on as your test subject.”

And maybe, Erin thought, maybe he’d find love during his experiment the same way she had.