Page 9 of Since I First Laid Eyes On You

Paige

We walk into the ballroom together, deciding that although we wouldn’t be hiding anything this evening, we also aren’t going to rub it in everyone’s faces.

Subtlety, that’s the aim for the night. However, there’s nothing subtle about Gray's hand pressed to the small of my back. The room looks amazing, there’s a long rectangular table in the middle, several vases of the most gorgeous blooms of red, white and green spill out across it.

Chloe has really played on the December wedding vibe.

There are servers with trays of champagne and – what looks like – scotch, circling the room.

Gray grabs a champagne for me and a scotch for himself and clinks his glass to mine.

“Cheers, sweetheart.”

“Cheers,” I say as we smile at each other .

“There you are. How are you darling? I haven’t had a chance to see you yet.” Angus comes up beside me, kissing my cheeks. He’s been a presence in my life for such a long time and helped me through what was the toughest and worst incident of my life.

“Angus, how are you?” I pull him into a hug and he squeezes me back, the gesture so familiar to me.

“I’m good, darling. Pleased to see you, it’s been too long.”

“I know, I’ve been meaning to come up, but the jobs been busy.” He smiles down at me, taller than my five foot five, not as tall as the man beside me though. He towers over the both of us.

“I’m proud of you, Paige. I haven’t seen you since you started your job.”

“What job is this?” Gray asks. He’s shifted closer to me, almost as if he’s staking his claim in front of Angus, which is ridiculous, Angus is like a second father to me.

“Paige landed a junior role with Goldmans straight after graduation. She’s going places this one.”

“That’s amazing, swe— Paige. I didn’t realise you were in Finance.” I glance to Angus, seeing if he’s noticed Gray’s near slip up. Calling me sweetheart in front of him would not be keeping things subtle. Angus’ eyes have narrowed, eyeing us both suspiciously. Shit.

“Yes, I’m an analyst in their Wealth Management division.” I continue, hoping to take Angus’ attention away from Gray and I.

“Interesting. You ever think about working for a Hedge Fund?” Gray has a gleam in his eye I don’t think I’ve seen before. Angus laughs.

“I knew it!” He shouts. “I knew you’d try to steal her. After our conversation earlier today, I thought to myself, I bet he poaches her. ”

He’s stealing me in ways you definitely wouldn’t be laughing about Angus, I think to myself. Gray’s smirk tells me he’s thinking the same thing I am.

“Can you blame me?” He says to Angus, “You told me she’s a genius.”

“What are you two talking about?” I interrupt them.

“Gray here runs one hell of a successful Hedge Fund, and I’d put money on him offering you a job before the weekend's out.” Before I can respond, Chloe comes over, grabbing my attention.

“Paige, come on, I need your input for something.” She grabs my hand pulling me away. Gray’s eyes follow me, his jaw set in a hard line. Yep, he doesn’t like that; my possessive man.

“What do you need?” I ask Chloe as she drags me over to her female relatives. Her sisters, mother and aunt are all gathered together talking.

“Nothing, I just thought you’d prefer to be over here with us. I could see you stuck talking to Gray and Dad and thought I’d rescue you.” No, Chloe, that’s not what I wanted at all. I don’t voice the words I’m thinking though.

I can’t stop smiling. I’m sitting at the table for dinner and Gray is a couple seats down and across the table from me.

He made a beeline for me when they announced dinner was going to be served, but Chloe quickly piped up, saying she had a seating plan and proceeded to direct everyone to their allocated seats.

Needless to say, Gray and I were not together and he is not happy.

If looks could kill, Chloe would not be getting married on Sunday.

I don’t know why, but I find this whole situation hilarious.

I feel the vibration of my phone which is in my clutch bag behind me.

I dig my phone out, having a very good idea of who this message is from.

Stop smiling and swap with this idiot next to me.

Well that just makes me smile more. Biting my lip I message back.

I’m okay here, thanks. Chris is great company.

Gray has been seated between Angus’ aunt and Chloe’s cousin, James.

Both are lovely, but I know the aunt will be talking his ear off about her cats and James will be talking games.

Neither of which I feel are of particular interest to Gray.

Unlike Gray, I’ve been placed next to Chloe’s other cousin, Chris.

I’ve known him for years and am totally aware he has a bit of a soft spot for me, despite being three years younger than me.

To my other side is Chloe’s other middle sister, Amelia.

Bite that lip one more time and I will take you over my knee right here in front of everyone.

I gasp, instantly freeing my lip from between my teeth. My clit throbs and my face flushes.

Good girl. But you’re still getting punished later.

What? Why is he going to punish me and why is the thought of that so hot?

What? Why?

Because you’re acting like a brat, and you know that bad girls get punished.

I quickly stow my phone back in my bag and try to act normal. Not the absolute hot, turned-on mess that I’m feeling. Dinner continues without any incident until we get to dessert, when Chloe’s Nan decides it would be a great time to question when she’s going to be a great-grandmother.

“It better be soon, this old ticker hasn’t got long left,” she continues.

“Nan, stop it! We’re not even married yet.” Chloe hisses, but it’s too late, the whole table is now invested in this conversation.

“Well, you will be by Sunday, and you’re my only hope right now. Your other sisters aren’t even dating anyone. Take one for the team, Chloe.”

I burst out laughing, as does a good portion of the table. Nana Pearl has always been a favourite of mine.

“Well, I’m sorry Nan but I’m not Paige.” My laughter dies a quick death. Excuse me now? Why the fuck am I getting dragged into this? All eyes turn to me.

“Leave me out of this, Chloe.” I warn.

Nana Pearl’s curious eyes turn my way. “Are you pregnant, dear?”

***

Grayson

I very nearly choke on my wine at the question directed at Paige.

Pregnant? My mind goes straight to the scene in the bath earlier, when my cum was dripping out of her.

I imagine filling her up again and again, pumping my cum into her fertile womb.

Fuck me. I never wanted children. I have Edward, who was an accident, an accident I wouldn’t change for the world, but still an accident.

I certainly haven’t thought about having any more.

The one I have, being one more than I planned on having.

So, why is the thought of Paige, pregnant with my child, such a turn on?

I’m rock fucking hard under this table right now.

“Chloe, what the hell? Keep me out of this!” Paige’s voice breaks into my thoughts.

“I’m just telling Nan I’m not you. Unlike you, I don’t want to be a young mum.” She turns to her Nan, ready to continue the conversation at Paige’s expense. Unaware she just dropped a bomb into my lap. Paige wants to be a mum? She wants kids soon?

“You want to be a mum, Paige? Soon?” Nana Pearl is not letting Paige off the hook so soon. I’ve never been so grateful to her. I want the answer to this too.

Paige’s face heats, hating the attention which is directed at her.

“Nana, I’m not dating anyone.” Yes, you are sweetheart. You’re dating me. This is a conversation we’ll be having when we get back to the room.

“I think talking about my future children is a little premature. Plus, no offence Nana, but when I do have kids, I won’t be making you a great-grandmother, we’re not related.”

“Oh pish-posh, Paige, you’re my grand-daughter too. Always have been.” Her matter of fact attitude is so incredibly heart-warming. I can tell Paige is taken aback, she was not expecting that. Nana Pearl continues, as if she didn’t just render Paige speechless.

“Well, answer me, dear? You want to be a mum?” Paige seems incapable of answering, still stuck on being referred to as Pearl’s grand-daughter. Chloe, however, doesn’t have a problem answering for Paige at all, more than happy to take the limelight of children off of her and David.

“Paige has always wanted to be a mum; even when we were kids, she would dream of getting married and having children. She’s always wanted to have them relatively young. She wants to be able to do everything with them.”

“Chloe!” Paige exclaims, finally finding her voice again.

“What? It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I love how you’ve always wanted that. You want it all, the job, the husband, the kids. I think it’s admirable.”

“Well, hurry up then, dear. Seems I was gunning after the wrong child. Find yourself a man and pump a couple of kids out,” Nana Pearl orders, as if it’s the simplest thing in the world. Paige just shakes her head.

“Sure thing, Nana, I’ll get on that for you.” Her response is just to end the conversation, but I know better. That’s it then. I’m becoming a father again in my forties. Over my dead body will another man fuck a baby into my woman.