Page 62 of Shark’s Rise

After we checked out from the OB office, paperwork and a few ultrasound prints in hand, we were feeling energetic enough to walk to where Joel was parked with the town car, instead of calling for a pickup in front of the building. The security detail nearly had an instant meltdown, but I was the boss, damn it, and I was feeling unstoppable, indestructible.

It wasn’t a high I had often these days, but I relished being able to truly savor its certainty—at least for a few minutes. With Terryn gone—God rest that bizarre woman’s soul—a good part of the daily crazy was out of my life. I hadn’t realized how tense the lady was really making me until she was no longer around. HR had quickly replaced her, but I was having trouble “meshing” with the right person as of yet. Surprise fucking surprise.

Another shocker, this one more legitimate: the LAPD had wrapped up the investigation into Terryn’s death with eye-popping speed. It was strange but not shocking, considering the rest of the “popping” they’d discovered during the autopsy. The exam exposed high levels of several prescription drugs in the woman’s system. When combined, the chemicals caused psychosis. Well, shit. That explained a hell of a lot.

The pain in my ass—errr, the detective assigned to the case—hadn’t even bothered to call about the resolution on the case. There was a short email to my attorney, forwarded at once to me. After reading the summation of the case, as well as learning Terryn had no family connections we could contact for forwarding her personal effects from her desk, I’d felt a twinge of sorrow for the woman.

A twinge.

Period.

Which was all I gave the matter now, as well.

“Hey.” Abbi’s silken summons brought me back to the moment, where I looked up in surprise. We were already downtown, just a few blocks from where Joel was dropping me before shuttling her back to Calabasas. “You’ve been so quiet,” she commented. “What are you thinking about? Work?”

“Actually…” I chuffed out a laugh. “I was thinking about Terryn, of all people.”

Abbi startled a little—enough to ensure I saw every inch of her newly probing stare. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with Sebastian Shark?”

“Oh, he’s still right here.” I leaned in and gave her lips a playful peck. “I’ve just been making sure he’s not a caveman asshole when I’m with you. For your sake and the baby’s. Our son.” That giddy grin took over my whole mouth again. “I’m glad the effort hasn’t been for naught, though. That it’s noticeable. It’s not always easy to curb my behavior. I’ve been this way my whole life, you know? It’s hard to choose different actions. To be consciously different.”

“I have noticed.” She caught my hand in hers and lifted my knuckles to her sugar-pink lips. “But I don’t expect you to change completely, Bas. I fell in love with you exactly the way you are. I love the demanding, commanding, insistent, expectant, respectable man you are. I adore that man, as a matter of fact.”

“Yeah?” I deliberately rumbled it out. “Maybe you can show me how much you adore me when I get home tonight?” And then guided her fingers to the prominent swell in my slacks.

“Oh, I like that idea, Mr. Shark.” She stretched her beautiful fingers across the hump of my cock and deliberately squeezed.

My eyes widened before I could control them. “Jesus.” The bold move was so unlike my Little Red.

“Nah.” As she kept stroking me, she flashed a saucy grin. “Just me.”

“Just you who?” I volleyed. “I’m the one to gets to say it now: who are you, and what have you done with my virginal Abbigail?”

“Oh, honey,” she purred. “I’m no virgin anymore.” And kept rubbing, up and down, my entire throbbing length. “And have you read, in your endless pregnancy research, what happens to a woman’s hormones around this time in the pregnancy?” She waggled her brows at me and gave me a wolfish grin.

Oh, yes. My girl. A wolfish grin.

“Hormones or not, turnabout is fair play,” I told her then. “So don’t you ever forget that woman I fell in love with when I met you, as well. I was obsessed with—and still am—with that innocent, pure, kind-hearted, gentle, loving, giving, completely perfect woman. I love you just the way you are. You don’t have to change a single thing for me.”

I showed her exactly that with a thorough kiss. I had every intention of making it slow, tender, and adoring. We’d always remember this fantastic day; however we’d had so many days go by without indulging ourselves physically. For that reason alone, the heat burst between us like pine needles on a campfire. With her hand still caressing my crotch, I was ready to kick that fire ring and start a damn forest fire.

“Baby?” I said, still between kisses because I couldn’t give up the high of touching her.

“Yeah?” she panted.

“If you keep doing that to my cock, I’m going to come right here and now.”

Her lips, now swollen from my kisses, parted in an adorable smile. “You think we have time?”

I swallowed hard—because all I could think of now was sliding myself in and out of those plush, succulent cushions…

“Okay, Mr. Shark,” Joel called from the front seat. “Here we are.”

Abbi and I jolted apart as the car came to a full stop in front of the Shark Enterprises building. I looked up at the chrome and glass structure, attempting to summon the usual spike of anticipation that hit whenever I arrived here. But right now, it wasn’t the building spiking anything in me.

I arched a brow at Abbigail. She pouted her bottom lip, inviting me to lean in and steal a greedy nip at that luscious pinkness.

“Mmmm. Later,” she rasped and scratched her fingertips over the edge of my jaw. “It’s sooooo on, Daddy.”