Baby daddy boss an age g.., p.1
Baby Daddy BOSS: An Age Gap, Billionaire, Secret Baby Romance, page 1
Baby Daddy BOSS
An Age Gap, Billionaire, Secret Baby Romance
Dakota Nash
Copyright © 2023 by Dakota Nash
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Chapter 1
Aldric
I'm done here.
“Waiter,” I called, and my date blinked, surprised. As the waiter approached our table with half-finished meals, I sighed. “Yes, sir?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“May I have the check?” My voice was flat and bored as I inquired.
“Is there a problem, sir?” He appeared to be genuinely concerned.
“My date is a bore,” I said, waving my hand. “However, the food was fantastic.”
I smiled and dropped a wad of cash that was more than enough to cover the bill plus an overly generous tip on the table, no longer willing to wait for a check. While she sat there stunned, I grabbed my coat. I forced a smile through my pursed lips.
There is something about the women I have met recently. They were dull, shallow, and greedy. I have more money than I could ever need, which seems to attract skin-deep women who are after my money and name. One look at me convinces these women that I have the means to spoil them. I am convinced this is why the woman who sat across from me, with all her sparkles and pretty makeup, looked at me as if I were a fish and she was a shark. She had hungry eyes.
And I’m so sick of the same trivial conversations.
“Close your mouth, honey. It’s not a good look. I wish you a good evening.” I walked out the door without looking back, eager to get in my car.
I'd rather go home and imagine myself on the podium of the Club Quarter Hotel, than waste time on an airhead woman who would rather cling to my status. I’ll be in San Francisco in two days for the International Conference on Biochemical Engineering, and I always love to give a great speech.
All these lectures were the same. I knew my content inside and out, but I had to dumb it down for the layperson and investors in the audience. Fighting the boredom tugging at my mind, I was determined to get to the exciting parts of my speech to show these people how groundbreaking this research was.
My gaze scanned the crowd, a mix of older and younger people. And there she sat, an outlier among them all. Her strawberry blond curls stood out among the brown, black, grey, and platinum blond hair of the crowd. I found it difficult to look elsewhere at this point. She was lovely, enough beauty to make my blood boil as I droned on about science and biology.
I just knew I needed to talk to her. Aside from her beauty, she was a young woman. Young women in this field were uncommon, which heightened my excitement. I drew myself up taller, afraid that everyone watching would notice my excitement. Like a rooster preening before a hen. I noticed her shift under my steady gaze, but I couldn’t stop staring. It’s incredible how I managed to get through the critical part of my speech.
When I saw her at the after-party, my heart skipped a beat. I decided to concentrate on those who were exchanging pleasantries and business cards. This distraction lasted only a few seconds because I found myself watching her again. She took my breath away. I noticed her struggle to fit into this stuffy crowd that marginalized youths. I wanted to step in and help, but I smiled, a wave of nostalgia washing over me because I had once been in her shoes. I remembered how painful it had been to be brushed aside. She would have to earn their respect.
Now that I was off the stage, I took her in completely. I took in her slight curves, soft face, and plump lips. My eyes were mesmerized by her tiny freckles that dotted her nose, pale green eyes, and hair that was more than two shades. Her hair color was complex, filled with coppery browns and light reds. It was impossible to ignore her. The aura she presented was confident even though she was in a world that didn’t welcome her. She pushed herself into conversations, laughed beautifully, and shook hands. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t captivated.
“Dr. Haile!” an older woman called. Suddenly, my attention was drawn to someone I had met before rather than the breathtaking young woman. I made appointments with investors for follow-up conversations and promised to call soon. I moved around the room as expected by the patrons and future investors, just long enough to satisfy each one.
The smile plastered to my lips lingered as my thoughts wandered back to the stranger I’d left behind in the crowd.
The person I hadn’t even met yet.
Chapter 2
Roseline
The crowd fell silent after Doctor Aldric Haile took the stage.
I didn’t blame them; he stole my breath too. Though perhaps it was for a different reason than the others surrounding me.
His presence was demanding, and it claimed the attention of every attendee in the room. However, I could not help but be distracted by his eyes. By the hidden strength behind his suit, by the darkened bronze tone of his skin, and by his thick black hair.
He was gorgeous, and he had no right to be so. I came here to learn, not to be distracted by brown eyes shattered with golden rays of inner sunlight.
As he looked into the audience and skipped over me, I felt a connection that I couldn’t explain. Especially as his gaze tracked back to me for no reason, he narrowed in with a quirked brow, even as he continued his presentation.
I felt as if he was speaking only to me.
Not once did his attention move from me unless he was flicking from slide to slide along the tablet’s screen. I was only given a moment to breathe during those brief intervals. I could stop and clasp my trembling hands together.
What was wrong with me? Since when did I get so affected by a man? Someone I didn’t even know outside of his research papers?
I felt like a groupie at a concert. I was a fan of his work, who wouldn't be, he is brilliant. He was a field leader in biochemistry, a field I was eager to get my foot in the door. Somehow what was currently out of reach for me was where he played well among the big names. I felt so small next to him at this stage of my education.
But one day, I hoped to be not someone who could stand among him and the others but also contribute to Bio-Chem in a significant manner as he has.
As I reminded myself of my goals, I began to take furious notes during Dr. Haile’s speech. The time flew by as quickly as my pen glided across the paper.
All the attendees and panelists gathered together after the conference for a party. The tickle of champagne brushed my tongue as I sipped it from one of the flutes offered by the servers. The taste of canapes and bubbly alcohol lingered on my palate.
I was right in the middle of a sip when I saw him again. This time with his suit jacket unbuttoned and a bright smile lighting up his face. Oh my god, he took my breath away.
I watched him in silence for a while as he conversed with an older woman. It took me several minutes before I felt confident enough from the warmth spreading through my veins to approach him. He was an imposing man. Standing quite a few inches taller than me, even his aura off-stage threatens to crush my lungs.
He turned to me with a curious tilt and offered his hand.
“Aldric Haile. Such a pleasure to meet someone so beautiful at this conference,” he said with a crooked smirk.
I slipped my hand in his, rolling my eyes at his cheesy compliment. Even though my stomach fluttered, “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Haile.”
I didn’t offer my name. It was unnecessary, and he was far beyond my league.
Still, when he didn’t release my hand, he turned it to press a light kiss at the top of my knuckles. I couldn’t help the way I squealed inside. I mentally berated myself for losing my head, but who could blame me?
He was brilliant, beyond smart, to be honest, and he had eyes I could drown in quite happily. And he knew it if the way he was keeping eye contact meant anything. He pulled back with that grin, still pulling at his full lips, brushing a thumb right over where my skin tingled from his kiss.
“So why are you here? Surely not to hear me drone on and on about new research?” he asked, and there was a mischievous glimmer in his eyes.
I wasn’t sure if I should be insulted or not. Did he not think I was smart? I pursed my lips, considering my answer for a bit. I took the high road and did my best to try to impress upon him that I knew of his work.
“I didn’t find your speech to be boring; in fact, it was quite enlightening. You’re researching and testing new methods for advanced heat transfer in your Bio-Chem lab is amazing. I can see that your therapeutic applications and new biomaterials can help create a whole new generation of medical devices. You’re trying things others have only dreamed of! Especially me,”
I lit up like a star and likely babbled like an idiot. I wanted to impress him.
Yet, he still looked at me like I was the most fascinating thing standing in the room. I knew was a lie because the lobster puffs were far more interesting than me; they were to die for.
I clutched my near-empty champagne flute like it was a life raft. Even though I was hesitant to drain the last half, it was the perfect way to stall for time when thinking up something to say.
He motioned to the dance floor. Not that the music was anything special, but it was the only thing happening other than the schmoozing currently. With a sweep of his ha
Breath, I told myself, stunned and fighting the urge to bolt for the door.
My spine tingled as I set my champagne down with a longing look and let him tug me gently onto the dance floor.
The dance was slow, with classical instruments leading the way from a live band. Aldric was a good dancer, he led me with ease, making our natural styles mesh comfortably. It was easy to fall within the false bubble of privacy he created with gentle whispers and soft touches.
His hands never touched below my waist, but they didn’t need to. Every time they trailed down my back or across my shoulder, I was a near-quivering mess. He never looked away from me, making me feel like I was the only one at the party with him.
We kept close to each other, practically sharing the same air. It was warm, unbearably so, but I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else that night.
“Aren’t you supposed to be talking up the rest of the crowd too?” I asked as we eased into our second song.
He scoffed, “I’ve seen all the important people before at least two or three times, maybe even more. And I’m all out of business cards, he joked. You, however, I’ve never met, and you are most definitely important. I must make a good impression on you. So, you’ll remember my name, of course.”
How could I forget him? He was a flirt, but also there was this piece of him, a large piece he kept hidden. He didn’t even seem to be letting me guess what that piece was. Though he was interacting with me of his own accord, he seemed to be using me for his means. Perhaps to stop himself from getting bored. At the moment, I was so taken with him, I didn’t care.
He breathed against my neck as his gaze focused on a spot behind us. A smile pressed against my skin as he dipped and met my eyes.
“How about we blow this joint for somewhere a little more fun?” he asked with that crooked smirk, and I should have said no, but I didn’t.
I didn’t because I got swept up in the playfulness of his fingers against my hip and shoulders. I couldn’t stop thinking about how his breath rolled across my cleavage.
And I couldn’t stop drowning in his beautiful eyes.
“Lead the way,” I whispered.
Chapter 3
Aldric
I could feel her hand, smooth and delicate, clasped in mine. A smile curved my lips as she occasionally burst out in a bit of laughter behind me. She seemed so innocent, sparkling, and so bright, like something I didn’t deserve to touch.
Her green eyes had glimmered at me with mischief under the dance floor lights. And now, all I could think about was uncovering her pale skin piece by piece. Finding out if she had any freckles on the rest of her body besides the smattering across the bridge of her nose.
I craved to bury my hands in her strawberry blond curls and hear her gasp when I kissed her. I was already thinking of the many ways I could please her.
She was following me eagerly, and I hoped. I hoped, with the buzz of alcohol running through our veins, that her brain was right where mine was. Her mind fascinated me. And with her confidence, I wanted to know what lay beyond her smart mouth and that pale green dress.
She followed me up to the hotel room as I lead her hand in hand without a second thought. I glanced behind me, catching sight of her bright smile and flushed cheeks. She met my eyes and nodded as if she knew and easily set my mind at ease.
My thrumming heart settled into its regular rhythm with her steady touch.
“You sure?” I asked, coming to stand still outside the room I’d rented for the night.
She looked over her shoulder, staring at the simple door, but her smile never dropped, “Yes.” She whispered.
Her voice was breathless, and it made me ache to hear it with an undercurrent of a choked-back moan. The adrenaline from the dance we’d shared hadn’t yet left my system. My nerves felt on fire when I stepped close enough to her to feel the heat of her body. I cradled her cheek in my hand and waited, even though my lips were almost close enough to brush hers.
If I leaned in a smidge more, I could kiss her, I could taste the champagne on her breath, and I wanted to taste more.
But I waited, my eyes roving over her face, waiting for an expression of hesitancy or fear. None surfaced, and I allowed my thumb to brush across her cheek once, twice, before I dropped my lips to hers. I didn’t even know her name, but with that kiss, I didn’t need to, not now, not tonight. I could learn it later.
I knew she was smart, confident, and flirtatious, and I wanted to learn even more. I wanted to learn everything about her that I could.
The bourbon I’d had a little earlier was mixing with the flavor and the effervescence on her tongue from the champagne. It was addicting; I could taste sweetness and mint from some sort of dessert, I could taste her, and it made my head spin. I backed her further up against the wall, pressing my palm against it to steady myself. As I leaned into her deeper, I wound my fingers through her hair and tilted her head so I could drink from her mouth.
She whimpered, opening for me like a flower for the sun, I nibbled lightly at her lips, and my hand left the wall to drag her waist closer to mine. I slotted my leg between hers, pushing the fabric of her dress up between her thighs.
She sighed at the pressure, and her fingers curled into my suit jacket. I could feel the insistent pull of her hands trying to drag me closer, even though it was impossible for us to get any closer without being fused. But it felt so good to be desired like this, especially when I wanted her just as badly.
Finally, we broke apart, and with a slurred voice drunk on lust, she said, “Should we get in the room?”
I laughed and buried my nose into her flushed neck, taking in her scent and warmth. It reminded me of the orange blossoms I used to smell back in Greece as a child. I paused to drag my tongue adoringly across her smooth skin before dropping my hand from her head and curling my fingers through hers.
“Yeah,” I agreed.
I held her tight to me as if worried she might be a mirage or that she might disappear down the hall. With a quick slip of a card, we made our way into the dark room and instantly pulled together again. My hands wrapped around her waist until I found the need to deepen the kiss. I cupped her jaw, pushing her to do what I needed so that I could take control for a moment. She let me easily, cooperating because she craved it just as much as I did.
I brushed my tongue along hers, slow, teasing. I drew out salacious sounds from her that was anything but decent. When I pulled back, I felt the scrape of her nails against my collarbones, and I shuddered, eager to feel her underneath me.
I maneuvered her without my hands or lips leaving her for longer than a breath. I finally dropped her onto the king-sized bed, and her giggles rang out. I knelt in front of her near the edge of the bed and slowly began to remove her shoes.
I swept my hands up her naked legs, enjoying the silken skin underneath the pads of my fingers and pressing chaste kisses to her calves and knees.
She squirmed at my every touch, her breath becoming shallower and rougher. Soft sighs rippled from her chest. My hands slipped up the hem of her dress and bunched it above the curve of her hips. Her panties were already coated in her slick, and my mouth watered at the thought of what awaited me.
“Please,” she hissed, her voice choked as her body writhed on the sheets.
“Patience,” I responded with a smirk curving my lips.
I nipped harshly at her hip bones, desperate to leave marks on someone I wanted to know more about. With each blooming set of teeth marks I left behind, I soothed it with the heat of my tongue.
She sighed for me, finally going boneless beneath my touch until my fingers teased her panties down her legs. Strings of wetness collected along her vagina; it shone upon her skin like beautiful pearl dust in the low light from the streetlamps outside.
I dragged my lips up the inside of her thighs and the joint’s curve, reveling in how she keened for me to move closer.
