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Outside Influences
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Stay the Night New York City
ASTON“Wow,” I said, drawing an extra breath as I stepped off the plane and onto New York soil for the first time in my life. “Breathing even feels different here.”Blake laughed, slinging my bag over his shoulder and waving off the attendant who wanted to take it from him. “It’s the smog.”Swatting his shoulder, I giggled and gave him a look. “It is not. It’s the fact that this is New York. I mean, think about it, New York, Blake. People come here from all over the world, hoping to make their dreams come true.”“Says the girl from California,” he said, teasing lightly. Placing his hand at the small of my back, he made me feel all girly and protected as he guided me to the waiting town car. I could take care of myself and I definitely could’ve made my own way to the gleaming black vehicle, but I liked being treated this way by him. It made me feel cherished.As we slid onto the soft leather of the back seats, he gave me a pointed look. “People from all over the world stream to Califor
Stay the Night Three Little Words
Aston“We won’t be waiting at the bar. I need to speak with Dustin immediately. We’ll show ourselves to his office. Don’t bother letting him know we’re on our way back there, either.”The receptionist paled. “He’s not here, sir. I haven’t seen him for the past few days. He—he’s been in important meetings.”“Important meetings?” Blake arched a dark eyebrow. “Sure. Please have our bags taken up to the suite and leave the key when it’s ready. We’ll be back.”Without another word or waiting to see if she would get someone to attend to our bags, he turned and gave me a second to catch up before striding back to the revolving door. When we were outside, he took my hand. “Dustin isn’t at work because Danny’s in town. I fucking knew it.”“Knew what?” I frowned, feeling my eyebrows pushing together.“They’re out partying, spending the money Dustin’s been stealing from the company.”I almost tripped over my own feet. “He’s been stealing from the company?”Blake nodded with a grim smile. “Yeah.
Stay the Night Joyride Over
BLAKEStraightening my tie, I watched in the reflection of the full length mirror as Aston sat down cross-legged on our unmade bed. She was still in her pajamas, her hair in a messy ponytail on top of her head. “You are the most beautiful woman in the world, have I told you that today?”She flushed, laughing before grabbing a pillow with the indentation of my head still on it and chucking it at me. She missed, but it didn’t seem to bother her. “Shut up. I’m so far from beautiful right now I’m in a different zip code. But no, you haven’t told me yet today. So, thank you. You’re not so bad yourself, by the way.”Done getting dressed, I walked over to her and pushed her shoulder gently down on the mattress. It dipped where I put my knee on it as I leaned over her and kissed the tip of her nose. “You could never be a different zip code than beautiful. It follows you around everywhere you go.”“Beauty is my stalker?” She tried to keep a straight face, but then burst out in a fit of giggles
Stay the Night Fired
BlakeDustin opened his mouth to object, but I didn’t give him the chance. “As it is, you’ve been allowed to occupy this office for much longer than you should’ve been.”“Bla—” Danny tried interrupting, but he shut up at the look I shot him.When I saw him stand down, for the moment, anyway, I turned my attention back to Dustin. “You can resign, or you can be fired. That offer stands for the next five seconds. What’s it going to be?”“I’m not going anywhere until my boss,” Dustin’s chin jutted out and he pointed at Danny, “tells me to leave. I don’t recognize your authority to make me do a single damn thing, big guy.”Danny crossed his arms obstinately. “He’s not going anywhere.”Staring me down, I knew Danny was putting on a show for Dustin’s sake. I wished he wouldn’t act this way, but he was so fucking deep into this idiotic mess Dustin had created that I doubted he could see reality anymore. In his mind, he and Dustin were right and entirely justified in their plans and actions, r
Stay the Night Winner, Winner
ASTONAlone for the first time all week, I didn’t really know what to do with myself. It was so strange how quickly I’d gotten used to having Blake around. To be fair, I was hardly ever alone at work, either.The silence in the room seemed deafeningly loud, especially since I could see the busy streets below when I looked out the window. I spent some time doing just that—people watching from my perch on the windowsill in the suite.When I was done with that, I ran a nice bath and soaked until my skin wrinkled while I read an e-book I’d purchased on my phone. I’d read that you shouldn’t make the bath too hot when you were pregnant, so the water cooled down fast. I kept having to add warm water.When I got annoyed with doing that and was fearful I’d resemble a prune if I stayed in the water much longer, I slipped into one of the complimentary white robes in the cupboard.Settling on the sofa with a bottle of water, I put my feet up and crossed my ankles as I flipped through the channels
Stay the Night Pregnancy Pain
AstonThe champagne was going to have to wait a couple of months, but the chocolates sounded good. “I can’t wait to get home. Thank you so much for all you’re doing. I know you never wanted that job and now you’re stuck with it.”“It’s only until you get back. I don’t mind doing it for as long as it takes until you’re home. Again, don’t you dare worry about it. You know, I’m actually enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would.”“That’s good news.” As we talked and she told me all about what was going on there, I realized why she had sounded different to me before. She was different.She was still the same girl, but the bubbly exuberance was gone because she was taking her job as the manager of the hotel so seriously. There was a more professional clip to her voice. She spoke more clearly and with purpose, instead of just saying whatever popped into her head.All things considered, I was really happy she seemed to have taken to the job so well. It was comforting to know I would be a
Stay the Night Drunken Interruption
BLAKEAston was the perfect cure for my terrible mood when I was finally done for the day. After Danny and Dustin left, I had to meet with the key staff members of the New York branch to make plans for their immediate future.I could hardly leave them without a manager after theirs left under a cloud of suspicion. I quickly learned that many of the employees suspected he was up to something, but didn’t know what. It seemed he’d treated them all like shit and I was relatively sure that none of them were in on the theft with him.Nothing we found in his records indicated he was filtering money to anyone else in the branch, and my instincts told me the others were clean, so I focused on the future instead of interrogating the rest of them. We would be keeping a close eye on the branch. If Dustin was in cahoots with someone, I would find out soon enough.Without giving them too much detail, I told the staff Dustin had been fired, and I appointed Grace, his longtime assistant, as the inter
Stay the Night Hospital
BlakeWild laughter erupted from Dustin’s mouth as he shook his head. “You’re not half the man your brother is. Soon enough, he’ll get what’s rightfully his and so will I. There’s nothing you can do about it, you motherfucking piece of shit. Mark my words, I’ll be back.”“You’re causing a scene, Dustin.” I cast an apologetic look to the people around us, but Dustin didn’t seem to care. He was drunk and deranged, obviously completely out of it.When he got closer to our table, I noticed that his pupils were nothing more than pinpricks and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. “Don’t take another step closer, I’m warning you.”The hostess and the waiters were all frozen in place, hushed like the rest of the patrons watching the scene unfold in front of them. I only hoped their security wasn’t as useless, but there was no one in sight yet.“Or what?” Dustin shouted, spit flying as he jabbed his finger at me and then toward Aston. “You or your little whore over there going to make me?”The
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Stay the Night Epilogue Part 2
AstonEverything further away than what could be reached in two or three hours by plane, he let Danny handle. Blake had been my rock, my constant. With him as the dad, I could see myself having a lot more children. He certainly seemed to be on board.A nurse came in to check on us, as they did every so often. This was one who must have just started her shift, since I hadn’t seen her around earlier. She was an older woman with bright red hair and a kind smile. “Is everything okay in here? I need to take the baby for observation, it won’t be more than a few minutes before she’s back.”Blake’s eyes widened comically. “You’re taking her away?”“Just for a few minutes, sir.” The nurse smiled sympathetically. “I won’t take my eyes off of her for a second, you have my word. I know it’s hard for you to let go of her right now.”“She has to go?” Blake asked, not looking like he was inclined to hand her over at all.The nurse nodded. “A few minutes, sir. She’ll be back before you know it.”Relu
Stay the Night Epilogue Part 1
ASTONOn a rainy Saturday morning, Blake and I welcomed baby Emma Rose McAllen into the world. She was a pink, healthy little angel that had both of us wrapped around her little finger the very first second we laid eyes on her.The hospital was busy. I could hear people milling around outside, some running to take care of patients and others here to visit friends and family, and to meet the new arrivals. Emma was only three hours old, but I was sure Blake’s family and Tiffany would get here soon.Both Tiffany and Blake’s mom had wanted to be in the waiting room when she was born, but I went into labor in the early hours of Saturday morning and in our rush to get to the hospital, we hadn’t wanted to disturb them in the middle of the night.For now it was just us and our little cherub in our bubble of the most perfect, serene happiness I’d ever known. With Emma’s tummy full for the first time, she was dozing in her daddy’s arms and the scene in front of me was as precious as I’d known i
Stay the Night Catching Up
BlakeTiffany led us into the smaller of the conference rooms at ground level, one where Aston and I had shared dinner not so long ago, yet it seemed like a different lifetime now. Aston walked over to the window, releasing a happy sigh to be looking out over the ocean. “It feels like I haven’t been here in forever.”“For you and me both, girl.” Tiffany sighed. “Welcome back.”“Thanks,” Aston replied softly. “You should come visit us in Florida sometime. We’ll be happy to have you.”“Once the baby is born, try keeping me away,” she said, reaching out to pat Aston’s belly again.The two friends shared a moment. I hung back, getting settled at the table. When they sat down, Aston joked, “Oh, you’ll only visit once the baby is born? That’s still months away.”“Good point,” Tiffany said. “Maybe I’ll come out there sooner. Is your nursery set up yet? I can come help with that.”“We’ve been settling into the house,” Aston told her. “We haven’t gotten to the nursery quite yet. It would be gr
Stay the Night Not A Vacation
BLAKEThree months after the last time Aston and I walked out of the hotel in California, we were back for a visit. It had been a long three months. We had meant to pop in for a visit weeks ago, but we never got around to it.As it was, we’d almost had to cancel again. Aston managed to dodge the bullets flying her way, with Danny’s help, and we’d hopped on the jet as soon as our meetings let out. We were like kids fleeing from school on the last day, excited to be getting away from the head office that took so much of our time.Our visit to California wasn’t a vacation though. Soon, I would whisk Aston away for a break before the baby was born, but for now, we were working.It didn’t make Aston any less excited to be headed back to her hometown. She missed her friends and had been looking forward to spending time with them, even if we would have to get some work done at the same time.Dressed in a soft, flowing red dress that clung to her newly rounded stomach, she looked more beautif
Stay the Night Stroking Her
ASTONBefore I knew what was happening, Blake flipped us over and was rolling my pants down my legs. My panties followed quickly.He yanked both items over my bare feet and dropped them to the floor. Heat spread through me as his bright blue eyes drank in every inch of me.He sat between my legs, spread open so there would be space for him. Completely on display for him, I was surprised by how much it turned me on. The raw lust in his eyes told me he felt the same. “I was an ass. I’m sorry I didn’t see how much I was upsetting you, can I make it up to you?”“Please,” I breathed, reaching for his shirt.Catching my hands in one of his, he used the other to reach behind him in a fist and pulled it off in a smooth slide. As his body came into view, I wished he wasn’t sitting between them so I could clench my thighs together to ease the need building there. Seeing me squirm, his hands went for my bare legs, running up and down my thighs.“You’re gorgeous, Aston. And the best thing that ha
Stay the Night No Buts
Blake“No buts. If that’s what you want, I’ll go. I understand that you need someone there and that logistically, it can’t be Aston. I can be a team player again and if that’s what this team needs, I’ll take one for the team and go.”Taking a deep breath, his eyes darted up to the ceiling like he was slightly embarrassed by what he had to say. “But if you’d consider keeping me on in Florida though, I could work under Aston.”Shocked, my eyes widened. “You’d be her subordinate?”“Yeah.” His eyes drifted to Dad before he nodded and looked back at me. “It’s not easy for me to face, but I know I brought this on myself. If I stay, I’ll work as her second. Help her, learn from her, whatever.”“You would do that?” To say I was surprised was an understatement. My brother, or at least the brother he’d become, lacked the astonishing maturity it took to come up with a plan like this. “You realize it wouldn’t be temporary.”“I do.” He held onto my gaze, sincere in what he was saying. “I’ve been a
Stay the Night Sobered Up
BLAKEWalking out of Dad’s study, I bumped into my mom in the hall. For a guy who spent years seeing only one family member, two at most, once every couple of weeks, I was surrounded by them now. I didn’t know how much I liked it yet.“Have you seen Aston? I asked Mom, who smiled as she jerked her head in the direction of the front door.“She left in a cab a few minutes ago,” Mom told me. “I saw her out there from the kitchen window, but it looked like she could use a couple of minutes alone. Next thing I knew, there was a cab and she was getting into it.”My heart sank to my shoes. “What?”I knew Aston was upset by my offering her Danny’s job, but I never thought she would leave. Panic crept in and gripped my heart. She didn’t know anyone in Florida as far as I knew. I didn’t even know where to start looking for her.“Fuck,” I mumbled, ignoring my mom’s chastising look. It was a little fucking late for her to try have any say about my language. I was getting used to having her around
Stay the Night Space
Aston“I’m against it because I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I exclaimed, rolling my eyes. “Danny’s position isn’t some random spot. It’s a very important position in the company.”“Exactly,” Blake snapped. “It’s not good enough to put some random person into that position, don’t you think I get that? That’s one of the reasons why I need you, Aston. You’re all I’ve got. I don’t have any other options that are good enough.”“I’m a last resort?” My head reared back like he’d slapped me. I didn’t know what was going on with me, but my emotions were all over the place. Maybe it was the pregnancy after all, but knowing he only wanted me because there was no one else was somehow more hurtful than people thinking he’d only put me into that spot because he was sleeping with me.Staring at me like I’d grown a unicorn horn or turned green, Blake shook his head. “You’re not a last resort. It’s not like that at all. Think about it this way, my dad supports me in this decision. About Danny going
Stay the Night The Offer
ASTON“Excuse me.” I pushed my chair back from the kitchen counter and glanced at Blake’s family before letting my eyes come to rest on him. “Could I talk to you outside for a minute please?”“Sure.” Exchanging a look with his father who nodded encouragingly, Blake followed me outside. I didn’t stop walking when we hit the deck, heading over it and onto the expansive green lawn.The sparkling swimming pool was blue and inviting. I briefly considered stripping off my clothes and taking refuge in the silence of its depths, but I doubted very much that Blake’s father would appreciate a half-naked pregnant girl sitting at the bottom of his pool.When I hit a patch of trees at the back of the property, I paced in the shade beneath them. Without having to look, I knew Blake was standing there watching me. He let me blow off steam for a few more seconds before planting his hands on his hips. “Before you say anything, hear me out.”“I told you I didn’t want that spot, Blake.”Walking toward m
