A Marriage of Convenience Read online

  Ayanna began to stand as she felt his hand on hers. Glancing over at him, she asked the first thing that popped into her mind, “What are you doing here?”

  Michael’s eyes sparkled. “I’m stationed here. What about you?”

  “I’m…I…I’m…I…work here and now, I’ve got to get my son home.” She pulled her hand from his intoxicating touch and stood. Stepping away, she moved to Erma who still stood silently and kissed her goodbye. “Thanks, Erma. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  The old lady nodded and walked off after kissing Devon goodbye.

  “Ayanna?” Michael asked as she sent him another nervous look.

  “It was good to see you,” she managed to stutter. “Goodbye, Michael.”

  “Da-da!” Devon’s voice rang loud and clear like the bells of Notre Dame. Both Ayanna and Michael looked at him. He was pointing in Michael’s direction.

  A blush burned up her cheeks. Beside her, Michael laughed, allowing her to relax. “Introduce me to your son, Ayanna.” His command was soft, but she heard him easily.

  Together, they walked to where Lauren still stood with Devon. He reached out his arms the second they got within range, but when Ayanna reached out for him, he stuck out his bottom lip and reached towards Michael instead.

  Michael’s mouth quirked and Ayanna knew full well it was because of the exasperated expression on her face. Taking Devon, she said, “We’ll see you later, Lauren.”

  Lauren smiled and kissed Devon who still happily repeated “Da-da” and grabbed in Michael’s direction. “Bye,” she said, then went back inside to return to work.

  “Down, Mama. Down!” Devon demanded.

  Ayanna complied. Once he was down, Devon spread his arms wide and began imitating the jets that roared above them. She glanced at Michael as he stared at her son.

  “His name is Devon,” she said.

  Michael’s sensuous gaze met hers. Ayanna knew that look, the sleepy look that belied the sharpness of his observation skills. It was a look she’d received, right before he’d proved he’d been watching each of her reactions to his touch.

  This time, his eyes turned shrewd.

  “How old is he?” Michael asked as one strong arm shot out and kept the tottering child from falling over his feet. He smiled as Devon’s hands closed over his forearm. “He looks about…” Michael trailed off and looked back up.

  Ayanna shivered as comprehension dawned in his eyes. Squaring her shoulders, she met his gaze directly. “I have to get going. This is our afternoon to go to the park.” She shouldered her son’s bag. “Devon, let’s go.”

  “Wait a minute,” Michael said as her hand closed around her son’s smaller one. He stood in a smooth motion. “Is this…is he…am I…?”

  Tightening her hold on Devon’s soft hand, she swallowed. I had no idea it would be this hard to admit I kept his child from him. Granted he had been the one to leave first, but by the same token she hadn’t wanted to share information with him. Why? Because it was a one-night stand. This just happened to be one with consequences.

  “Ayanna?” Michael placed a hand around her wrist.

  “Lieutenant Taylor, how wonderful to see you,” a thin brunette woman interrupted. She smiled as she stopped beside them. Her green eyes moved to where he held onto Ayanna then back up to his face. “Bridget was saying how excited she is that you’re stopping by for dinner.”

  Michael surprised Ayanna by not releasing her hand. Instead, he intertwined their fingers. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, but I told her I couldn’t make dinner this week.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed and she looked back at Ayanna before nodding. “Well, I guess my husband will be disappointed as well, then.”

  Michael sent her a tight-lipped smile. “He’s already been made well aware of the change in plans, Ma’am.”

  “Well, apparently Bridget hasn’t. But since she’s coming right now, you can explain it all to her.”

  Ayanna swallowed back her hurt. Why should I expect him to be single? Gently, she unhooked their hands and smiled at him. “I’ve got to get my son to the park. Um…” She dug around in her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, writing on it. “...here.”

  Michael took it and looked at the address before putting it into his front pocket. “I’ll talk to you later then, Ayanna. It was wonderful to see you again.”

  “Yes it was, Michael.” She picked up her child, needing his closeness. Her eyes landed on the pretty woman approaching them. Stepping away from the man who had the ability to make her forget everything, she looked back at him, her eyes solemn.

  He met her eyes and cocked his head.

  “He is,” she murmured so only the two of them could hear. Then she walked off, not wanting to witness another woman taking his attentions.

  Michael’s gaze followed her as she carried Devon through the parking lot. His eyes stayed on her retreating form until she disappeared from view.

  I have a child? I have a child! Michael couldn’t let Ayanna leave like this. He took two steps then froze as Bridget placed a hand on his arm. As the commander’s daughter began chatting, Michael knew he’d lost Ayanna for the moment.

  He wanted to get this straightened out and then he wanted to make love to her. Over and over again.

  Michael made his excuses as soon as he could and drove to the address on the paper she’d given him. It wasn’t much to look at; the whole building needed work. He went home and waited until six when he hoped she’d be home from the park.

  Ayanna? His mind repeated her name over and over as he got out of his car and headed up the dark stairs to the number she’d written on the paper. He knocked on the water-stained door.

  “Who is it?” Ayanna’s voice reached him.

  “Michael.”

  He heard locks disengage before the door swung open. The light from behind her highlighted the dark auburn tint to her hair. Beautiful.

  “You came.”

  “You honestly didn’t think I wouldn’t come, did you? You have my son.” There was no menace in his voice, just fact. He looked over her head and smiled as he saw Devon playing with blocks on the living room floor.

  “Come on in,” she said. He walked past her and straight to where Devon was and knelt beside him. Michael heard the locks engaged but didn’t turn around. The big brown eyes that looked up at him struck him speechless.

  Devon showed him a block and smiled. “Hi,” he said before turning his attention back to his toys.

  “Hello, Devon.” Michael reached for a block and turned it over in his lean fingers.

  “Peez.”

  Michael looked away from the block and saw Devon holding out his hand for it.

  “Peez.”

  “Oh, sorry.” He handed it back with a smile. The child babbled a toddler’s version of thank you while Michael looked over to the kitchen table with one chair and a highchair at it and saw Ayanna watching their private interaction with a nervous expression on her beautiful face.

  Pushing up from the floor, he walked over to her. “I think we should talk.” His gaze took in the books on the shaky table—all of them about Pharmacology.

  “You’re right.”

  * * * *

  “No. I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Ayanna shook her head. Michael’s suggestion didn’t feel right to her.

  He blew out an exasperated breath. They’d been going over this for the past two hours. A while ago, Devon had been put to bed then they’d continued arguing over the same thing. He didn’t like her and his son living here.

  “What isn’t a good idea? You need to get out of this place. I have room at my apartment. I can watch him when you’re in school or need to study. Let me help you.”

  “I just…” She let the words hang in the air.

  He shifted his weight on the couch and watched her, she’d opted to reclaim her seat at the kitchen table. “Look, I have a three bedroom townhouse. Devon can have his own room.” He licked his lips. “And so can you. Please, Ay
anna. Let me help with our son.”

  “Why aren’t you more upset that I didn’t tell you?” she questioned, truly baffled. She didn’t understand why he wasn’t yelling at her.

  “Would that make you feel better? Do you want me to yell at you? I am furious that you didn’t tell me, but what good will yelling do for either of us? I want to be a part of my son’s life and not just by giving you money.”

  Ayanna ran her hands over her face. “I…I just don’t want you to be—”

  His jaw clenched. “Don’t you dare say inconvenienced. I could never be inconvenienced by my own son.”

  His son. Not her. Her heart sank before she could stop it. “Okay, we’ll give it a trial run. But I’m putting my stuff in storage in case it doesn’t work out.”

  Michael grinned. Standing, he moved to her side and tipped her head up. “We’ll get you moved in tomorrow. I’ll be here around seven. Does that work for you?”

  Ayanna couldn’t answer him. All it took was his touch and she was a bumbling mess of nerves. When a knowing grin touched the corners of his mouth, she found her words. “Okay, we’ll be ready. I just hope you know what you’re getting into.”

  One hand caressed her cheek. “I know exactly what I’m doing. Now, I should get going and clean up my office so it’s is ready for Devon.” His head lowered so their lips were scant millimetres apart. “Goodnight, Ayanna.” He settled his lips along hers and gave her one of the most tender kisses of her life.

  Her body shivered with longing. And she didn’t quite catch the whimper that escaped as he backed away. The flare in his eyes told her that he heard it. Jesus, I would walk through the fires of hell to experience this man’s touch again.

  Michael traced her lower lip with his thumb before kissing her again. Then he grabbed his keys and walked to the door, saying over his shoulder. “Tomorrow, Ayanna. Lock this behind me.”

  She stayed motionless in her chair as he walked out the door and disappeared from view. After it closed, she got up to lock it again. She looked around her tiny place.

  “This is a good move. More space for Devon. His father in his life.” Trying to assure herself and keep the doubt at bay, she began to pack her few belongings in boxes and suitcases. She took only the bare necessities for herself, making sure that Devon came first. All his toys and clothes were most important. She also called Erma and filled her in on the change in plans so the woman didn’t show up the next day.

  It was after midnight before Ayanna climbed into bed, her meagre items packed and ready. She’d clean tomorrow after the place was empty. The lingering taste of Michael’s kiss still on her lips, she murmured his name as she lay on her twin size bed and pulled the sheets over her.

  * * * *

  Michael was at her door a few moments before seven. He knocked and couldn’t explain his relief when she opened the door, a shy smile on her face.

  Today she wore a pair of dark green warm-up pants and a grey T-shirt. Her hair called out for him to touch it, to sink his fingers into the curls and kiss her until neither of them knew their own names.

  His gaze dropped to her lips, which were free of gloss and he groaned as the memory of her taste floated to the surface of his mind. “Morning, Ayanna,” he whispered.

  “Come on in,” she said. “We’re ready. I just have to clean after its empty.”

  He picked up on the nervousness in her tone. “This will work out, Ayanna. Trust me.” His hand travelled over the small of her back as he moved to where Devon ran in circles with his toy plane. The engine noises he made were in sync with his “flight path.”

  “Good morning, Devon,” Michael said as he crouched down beside the pattern the child was wearing into the already-worn rug.

  Those big brown eyes, darker than his mother’s looked right back at him. In fact, they looked like the dark chocolate colour of his own eyes. “Hi,” Devon spoke. One hand shoved the grey plane at Michael. “P’ane,” he announced proudly.

  A knock on the door, interrupted before Michael said anything. He moved to stand behind Ayanna as she opened it and admitted a group of his friends who said hello to Michael.

  “Okay, Ayanna,” he said as he lifted Devon into his arms, “tell them what you want put in storage and what you want to keep with you.”

  Obviously unnerved at the looks the men were sending her and Michael, Ayanna cleared her throat first. Then she began pointing to items that were going. The men left and with Devon playing with a toy, Ayanna and Michael made short work out of the cleaning.

  * * * *

  Ayanna followed Michael in her vehicle, Devon secure in his car seat in the back. Unbidden her mind drifted to the man she was moving in with. Michael’s powerfully fit body appeared in her head. Lowering over her, his hard cock slipping between the lips of her wet pussy. The way his sensual eyes grew lustful as he drove into her. Over and over again.

  Ayanna shifted on her vinyl seat as her belly clenched with longing. Squirming helplessly, she swallowed and thought a bit more. How was she going to be able to control her rampaging lust when it came to this man?

  Memories swarmed her. The water droplets cascading down his naked physique in the shower. The dimple in his right butt cheek. The feel of his cock in her hands, mouth, and how he tasted as his cum shot down her throat.

  She whimpered as her body reacted to the images as if they were happening.

  “Get a grip, Barker,” she admonished herself and did her best to focus on something other than the tall, muscular, smouldering-eyed Michael Taylor.

  It didn’t work.

  As Michael pulled into an apartment complex, she followed and parked beside him. Her gaze took in the nice two-story buildings. It looked nothing like where she’d lived previously.

  The lawns were well manicured. The buildings were not in need of painting. In fact, all of it was amazing. The kind of place she wanted to be—a place where she’d be safe going out at night, a place where she’d be okay letting Devon play in the front yard.

  “Mama!” Devon yelled from the backseat as he began kicking his legs.

  “I’m coming.” She unbuckled her belt and found Michael had opened her door. His hand lingered longer than necessary against her skin as he helped her out.

  “I’ll get him.” Michael moved back to the door. With ease he lifted the three and a half year old from his seat. “Let’s go, little man.”

  After he shut the door he glanced again at Ayanna and said, “We’ll get you two inside and then I will come back for the rest of your things. The truck is here and your stuff is being put in your new rooms. My townhouse is the one at the end.”

  Grabbing two bags for Devon from the trunk, Ayanna followed Michael. She felt as if every eye in the development was on her. Watching her, judging her. Considering it was early morning on Sunday, however, there weren’t people outside, so she knew it was her imagination.

  Her stomach knotted up as Michael unlocked the door to his townhouse. She followed him across the tiled foyer and into the open and airy downstairs. The carpeted parts were done in a slate grey and all the furniture was beige leather. She didn’t see any personal touches around the place. It was much larger than hers—and this was just the downstairs.

  Walking behind him to the stairs, she automatically identified things that needed to be done to child-proof his place. She bit back a worried snort as she saw his large television.

  When they got to the top of the stairs, Michael pointed to the left. “That’s my room. Devon’s is in the middle and your room is down there. I gave Devon the smallest room and yours is in the back so you can have some privacy.” The men who’d moved the items smiled at her as they passed them. They nodded at Michael.

  “Sounds great. But we really need to go over rent and stuff like…” She stopped as his eyes speared her. “What?”

  Michael opened the door to Devon’s room and set the child down on the floor among the toys that were there. His furniture was already set up. Everything was more than she
could have hoped for.

  She blinked as Michael’s attention turned from Devon to her. He stalked her until her back was against the corner of the doorjamb. Her eyes widened as inch by inch her personal space was eviscerated.

  “I am not charging you rent. You’re the mother of my child. First thing tomorrow, we’re going to get both of you on my medical plan and get you a dependant’s card.”

  A dependant’s card? “I’m not marrying you.”

  “Yes, you are. I won’t force my attentions on you, but you will marry me and you will take the health insurance I can offer. It will help you with the cost of your schooling, too.”

  She shook her head furiously until one of his hands gripped her chin and held it immobile. His mouth covered hers and his tongue swept inside.

  Ayanna clasped his sleeves as their bodies pressed closer. Just as it had been the first night they’d touched, each response was explosive and set her body on fire. Her craving for him flared almost out of control. She wanted to crawl all over his body and let his touch carry her away to the stars.

  “We are getting married,” he promised her as his mouth left hers.

  “I agreed to move in—not marry you.” Ayanna tried to step back but his hand swept behind her and kept her body pressed to his. His erection pressed into her.

  “Ayanna,” he said with increasing exasperation. “I’m willing to overlook the fact you kept my son from me. But this is the only way I know to give you protection and you will take it.”

  “What about your social life?” She couldn’t bring herself to let go of his arms.

  He smiled with more tenderness than anything else. “It doesn’t matter. You and Devon matter.” His lips brushed against hers again before he stepped away. “You stay here. I’ll get the rest of your things and say goodbye to the guys.” His callused hand caressed the side of her face one more time before he moved past her to go back downstairs.

  * * * *