Bending the Rules: Breaking the Rules #2 (13 page)

Morgan

Lying here in bed thinking about our date tonight I sort of
feel numb. Our walk home from the restaurant was by far the best part of the
evening. Reminiscing about old times and funny moments that we shared made me
feel closer to Adrian than I have since our paths crossed again many months
ago. I can’t lie to myself and deny that there was a spark there because there
definitely was, but it’s nothing compared to the magnetic pull I feel towards
Drake. There is a torch buried so deep inside me that burns for Drake, and I
don’t think anything or anyone will ever extinguish it.

I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy hormones that I now
recognize flowing through me, or the memory lane I traveled down this evening
with Adrian, but as I lie here trying to will my tired body to fall asleep, I
can’t keep myself from thinking about Drake.

I close my eyes and run my hands over my body, acknowledging
my now fuller breasts as I feel an ache between my legs. How have I been so
preoccupied that I didn’t even notice these changes in my body? My hands
continue to travel south over the small bump I can feel forming. The bump that
is holding the precious miracle that is carrying someone that was created by
the love I share with Drake. I can’t speak of our love in the past tense
because right now it is ever present. I am still very much in this fight.

My hands continue their downward path, massaging my inner
thighs as one hand makes its way back up, massaging my clit to soothe the ache.
My mind drifts back to Drake. It always somehow goes back to Drake. To his
beautiful smile and his gorgeous big brown eyes, to the way my heart skips a
beat every time he walks up behind me, wrapping his arms around me as he kisses
and nibbles my neck and shoulders.

“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” Drake
would whisper in my ear as he turned me around, his lips meeting mine.
Sometimes the kisses would grow harder and more desperate, sometimes they would
remain gentle and loving. More often than not though, they would end up with us
panting heavily in my bed or his while we came down from our release.

Thinking of the many ways his heavenly skillset in the
bedroom would bring me to orgasm, I quickly find my own release. I slow my
breathing and sink further into my bed, while letting memories of my past
become dreams about my future.

Chapter 13

Drake

I have never really been into holidays like some people. I
don’t have fond memories of our family around the table enjoying a beautiful
meal, or mornings opening presents under the tree. My father has never been
someone to spend quality time with the family, and while my mother was alive,
she was usually more sad around the holidays and I spent a majority of my time
trying to console her.

The first year after my dad married Gloria, she did try to
have big Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. My dad spent the entire day
on Thanksgiving watching football. He even went so far as demanding we eat
dinner in the theater room so he could watch the game on the big screen even
though the dining room table was set.

It was pretty much the same thing on Christmas. A few weeks
before Christmas Day, I remember hearing my dad and Gloria arguing in my dad’s
office about gifts, and hearing him say, “Just take my damn credit card, get
whatever you want and have it gift wrapped. I’m too busy to deal with that
shit.” I guess Gloria took his attitude and ran with it, because come Christmas
Morning I had never seen so many gifts under one tree, but my dad and Gloria
were in such foul moods we didn’t even open a single one.

Sitting in my office today makes me wish I had more of a
holiday tradition to cling to. It may be Thanksgiving in the States, but here
in Zurich it’s just another Thursday. I’m sure it would have been okay to take
the day off, but without anyone else to celebrate it with it’s kind of
pointless. There are a few Americans here on staff, but I don’t think any of
them need to spend their day off with their boss.

I keep thinking of Morgan today, wondering if she is
spending the day with Adrian and his family as well as hers. I had been so
looking forward to spending the holidays with Morgan. Of course if I hadn’t
become CEO yet we would have had to figure out our own celebrations, just the
two of us, but I would have found a way to make it special. I could have
attempted to cook a turkey for us complete with all of the traditional fixings,
at Christmas I could arrange a sleigh ride through the park and hold her close
under a blanket, on New Year’s Eve I could draw her a bath and lounge in the
warm bubbles with her while drinking champagne as we count down to midnight.

As I sit here alone at my desk I start to think about Morgan
and how even though I will be alone throughout the holidays this year, my hard
work and dedication to this company is about to pay off and I’ll have many more
years to celebrate with her in the future. I just have to stick it out a few
more months. I start to pack my things to head out for the day and a ding sound
from my computer alerts me to the two new emails I have just received. The
first one is from Grace, my father’s assistant, wishing me a happy Thanksgiving
and notifying me that she has arranged for a turkey dinner to be delivered to
my apartment promptly at seven this evening. I reply to her and thank her for
her thoughtfulness and wish her a happy Thanksgiving as well. The second email
almost brings tears to my eyes as hope fills my heart that I will indeed have
many happy holidays with the love of my life in the years to come. It’s simply
stated, but it says it all:

From: Morgan Lane

Subject: Feeling thankful

Date: November 28, 2013 10:14

To: Drake Baylor Jr.

Dear Drake,

Today and always… I am thankful for you.

I love you.

Always,

Morgan

I close my computer for the day, tidy my desk and leave my
office feeling thankful, full of love, and for the first time ever, excited to
eat a Thanksgiving dinner.

Morgan

I have no idea where this last month has gone. It’s as if I
fell asleep and woke up in late December! I can’t believe how Christmas has
come so soon. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting down to Thanksgiving
dinner with my family and the Thompsons feeling thankful for my renewed energy
as I started my second trimester, and for the clean bill of health my OB/GYN
has given me and my baby.

“Morgan, that’s the fifth baggy sweater you’ve bought today.
You have to stop. Your body is way too hot to dress like the Mayor of
Frumpville,” Amanda says to me while finishing up some last minute holiday
shopping.

“First, layered with cute jeans and boots they are totally
on trend, and second, I’ve put on a few pounds and am trying to find ways to
camouflage it. You know how my mom feels about wearing clothes that accentuate
the negative. It’s been way too cold to run outside lately and you know how
much I hate the gym, so I’m just covering up until I can shed the holiday
weight,” I explain, hoping she won’t catch on to the fact that I’ve been
running almost every day and the only place I’ve gained any weight is a very
obvious place in my belly. Thankfully I have a long torso, and my bump doesn’t
show too much right now. Blazers have become my best friend at work these days.

“I’ll admit you can pull off the look quite nicely, just
don’t forget that you have to look your best to attract the best, isn’t that
what your mother is always preaching? Or does it not really matter because
you’ve already done a good job of attracting the very handsome and eligible
Adrian Thompson?”

I walk to the checkout counter, baggy sweaters in hand, and
say to Amanda, “Adrian and I are just friends. Sure, we have been spending a
lot of time together and he’s hoping for more, but I just can’t go there right
now. I’m still not over Drake. I tried to move on with Adrian and there is
definitely chemistry and a whole lot of sexual tension there, but I just can’t
do it, Amanda. Not yet anyway,” I say. My hormones have been running wild
lately and the topic of Drake gets me visibly upset as my cheeks flush and my
eyes start to water.

“Okay, change of subject… I know you’ll be with your family
over the next few days for Christmas Eve and Christmas, but what are you doing
for New Year’s? Garrett and I are trying to decide between spending our first
New Year’s Eve together with a few hundred of our nearest and dearest at a bar
downtown, or just doing something low key.”

“I’m not sure yet. Adrian told me to keep that day open, so
I’m sure he has something up his sleeve,” I say.

“Ooh…that’s promising. You know what the first kiss at
midnight means don’t you?” Amanda teases.

“Yes I do, and I thought we were changing the subject,” I
tease back, trying to relax and lighten the mood as I grab my shopping bag and
we head for the door.

****

When I get home from shopping a while later I make room in
my closet for my new, less form-fitting clothing, and stop for a moment to
admire my changing body in the mirror. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be
able to conceal my bump and widening hips, especially from my mother.
Fortunately, maternity wear has become much more fashionable over the years and
I’ve taken a few tips from the glossies on how celebrity moms-to-be hide their
growing bumps from the paparazzi.

After a long, hot bath I wrap the last of my Christmas gifts
for my parents and finish getting ready to spend the next few days at their
house. My parents have always been so over the top making the entire Christmas holiday
so special for the three of us as a family. I’m looking forward to spending the
next couple days at my childhood home, soaking up some fresh memories that I
may pass down to my child someday.

I’m not quite tired when I crawl into bed but my OB/GYN said
it’s very important to rest my body, especially after such a rough start to my
first trimester. I’ve been thinking about Drake a lot today and decide to send
him an email letting him know that even though we are apart during Christmas
he’s still on my mind.

From: Morgan Lane

Subject: Merry Christmas, baby

Date: December 23, 2013 21:23

To: Drake Baylor Jr

Dear Drake,

I hope this email finds you happy and healthy somewhere fun.
I can’t believe Christmas Eve is tomorrow. Wasn’t it just September? I’ll be spending
the next few days with my parents at their house and I wanted to send you a
message and wish you a very merry Christmas.

I can’t believe we are apart during the holidays. I still
can’t believe we are apart at all. There are so many things I wish I could tell
you, but it’s just not appropriate to put it in an email, even though you most
likely aren’t going to read this.

I did some last minute Christmas shopping with Amanda today,
and everything reminded me of you. There were shops selling French chocolates
and things for guys to grill with, which reminds me of our first weekend
together. I saw a bunch of different golf apparel and accessories promising to
improve your golf game, which might actually help me since I don’t have my
tutor here.

Everywhere I turn I’m reminded of you. At first I resented
that because you left without saying goodbye. I’m still upset and I miss you
more every day that goes by, but instead of being upset, warmth fills my heart
as I think of you and how happy I am to have ever had you in my life at all.

As always, I want to remind you that you can always come
home to me. Please come home, Drake. I love you.

Merry Christmas, baby

Your home always,

Morgan

Adrian

I absolutely love the holidays. It’s a total aphrodisiac to
women. They spend all of their time decorating and shopping, and filling the
house and office with wonderful food and gifts. Plus they all look so cute in
their matching scarves, hats and mittens. When Morgan is wearing a scarf around
her neck, all I can do is picture taking her back to my place and using it to
tie her hands to my bedpost. Of course I’ve barely made it to second base over
the last month with Morgan so I’d say anything remotely kinky is off the table
for now, but at least I’m still getting somewhere. I’m hoping my gift to her
will be just what I need to tip her over the edge and into my arms officially.
A change of location in a romantic setting over New Year’s should be the
perfect opportunity to seal the deal and make her mine.

Morgan’s parents invited my family to join them at our
country club’s annual Christmas Eve dinner. When we were together our families
would come to this dinner every year. After dessert Morgan and I would exchange
our gifts since we wouldn’t be together on Christmas Day. I’d usually find a
quiet place for us to make out for a bit afterwards so we could really thank
each other for the gifts. I’m hoping tonight will evoke those special memories
and will be just the thing to nudge her heart in my direction.

****

My parents and I arrive at the country club first, and just
like our first date about a month ago I’m feeling nervous. I want this evening
to be special like old times. I want Morgan to be excited to see me and spend
time with me like she used to. We have had a lot of fun together over the last
month, but besides a few kisses and snuggles, I’m worried that my position in
her life is slowly being cemented in the friend zone.

The Lanes arrive about fifteen minutes after we are seated,
and as I help Morgan out of her coat I’m blown away by how beautiful she looks
tonight. Her long strawberry blonde hair is swept to one side, exposing the
low-cut back of her red satin dress. Her long, gorgeous legs are highlighted by
tall black heels, giving her petite sexy frame a little extra height. That’s
good for me as I won’t have to bend down so far to sweep her into my arms
during the little rendezvous I’ve planned later.

“You look absolutely breathtaking this evening,” I whisper
into Morgan’s ear as I plant a soft kiss on her cheek.

“Thank you. You look very handsome yourself,” Morgan replies
with a smile.

“I’m glad our families are doing this dinner again this
year. It brings back very fond memories.” I say, planting the seed for a little
trip down memory lane.

“Yes, it’s nice. It has been a while, hasn’t it? If you
don’t mind I think I’ll head off to the ladies’ room before they start serving
the hors d’oeuvres. If a server comes by to take a drink order while I’m gone
could you please order me a vodka soda with a splash of cranberry and ask them
to tell the bartender it’s for me? I noticed John is behind the bar tonight and
I don’t know what he adds to it, but he makes it just the way I like it. Not
too much vodka, not too much cranberry,” she says as she heads out of the
dining room to the restrooms. I’ve never heard Morgan ramble on about a
cocktail like that before. Maybe she is nervous like I am. I hope so, that
means she’s thinking about when we used to be together as well, and that’s a
really good thing for me. If she’s already thinking of
us
then we are
already moving in the right direction. As I take my seat at our table once
again my gaze meets Lana’s and she gives me a knowing look, letting me know
things are all going according to plan.