Chapter 16

“Where are we going?” She asked, noticing for the first time they were heading in the opposite direction from the apartment. They had spent two weeks in Italy where she had been lavished with love and warmth from his mother’s side of family and had not wanted to leave.

He had showed her his second home, taking her exploring every day and at nights, he would make love to her until she was weak with love. Now they were back.

“It’s a surprise.” The company’s jet had taken them to Italy and whisked them back. A limousine had picked them up from the private airfield. It was just starting to sink in that she was married to a man of tremendous means.

She stirred in his arms and peered outside. It was getting dark, even though it was just six in the afternoon. She was a bit tired from the long flight and the early morning rising. He had kept her up most of last night and her body was starting to feel it.

The car slowly took the turn off onto a private road before turning onto a long and winding road. She sat up and stared out at the lush grounds filled with trees and a fountain in the middle of it.

Snow dripped from the palm trees surrounding the edge of the property and she was so caught up with the spread of the property that it took a minute for her to notice the dazzling white house that sat on a rise. It appeared so suddenly.

One minute there was just trees and brushes and then there was the house, a startling contrast to the colors blooming around it.

“What…?”

Taking her hand, he opened the door and tugged her along with him.

Before she could even form a sentence, the glossy redwood doors swung open, and her mother came hurrying out. She was followed by his uncle Graham and his dad, who was leaning on a cane, a smile on his weathered face.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

Eyes dancing merrily, Sharon hugged first her daughter and then her son-in-law. “I am guessing you didn’t tell her.”

“Tell me what?” She greeted the two men before turning to look at her husband.

A gasp escaped her when he simply lifted her into his arms and strode towards the porch. A wide hallway with a soaring roof was her first impression.

“What do you think?”

“It’s ours?” She breathed, turning to look around. Wide open spaces met her gaze and she see the large living area where there was a fire burning in the hearth.

“It is.”

“When did you…?”

“While we were in Italy.” He grinned at her.

“He almost drove us crazy with the details and the need to get it finished before you returned,” Graham told her dryly.

“What do you think my dear?” Grant asked her anxiously.

“I love it.”

“Great.” Her mother clapped her hands in delight. “Now we are going to leave you two alone to explore the rest. The house is going to be empty without you, honey.”

“Oh mom,” she turned to her husband. “How many bedrooms?”

“Six suites and a mother-in-law standalone apartment.” His eyes met Sharon’s. “If you decide you want to come and live with us.”

Her hand flew to her chest and for a few seconds she stared at him speechless.

“Just think about it.” He continued. “There is no need for you to be at that house by yourself. If you are thinking that you would be in our way, there is a complete apartment with two bedrooms, living area, kitchen, and bathroom as well as a sitting room.”

“Mom, please say yes.”

“I was about to.” Her eyes filled with tears as she took the few steps towards them. “Thank you.” She told him.

“You are most welcome.”

“For tonight, I will leave you two alone.”

They said their goodbyes and finally they were alone.

“Want to see the rest of the place?” He asked her softly and she nodded, too overcome to speak.

He still held her cradled in his arms, reluctant to put her down. The downstairs consisted of the kitchen with its antiquated appliances. “I know how enamored of antiques you are.” He explained as she gazed at the old-fashioned range and the simple dining table and chairs tucked beneath a wide window overlooking a pond.

The dining room was large, with formal tables and chairs, large enough to seat twenty people. There was also a sitting room, a yellow and white salon that led to the patio.

The library had her gasping.

It was as large as her shop, with books lining the shelves from floor to ceiling. An antique desk was placed next to the group of windows and the view was spectacular.

“Whenever you have the urge to work from home.”

She buried her face in his chest and fought the tears.

“Baby?”

She shook her head. “I love you.’ She whispered, lifting her head, eyes shimmering. “And I keep wondering if I am dreaming.”

He kissed her tenderly. “What do you think?”

“I think I am the most fortunate woman in the entire world.”

“I am the fortunate one. You saved me, darling.” His throat worked as he tried to tamp down his own emotions. “Shall we continue?”

She nodded.

The bedrooms were lovely, with colors ranging from bold green and blue to delicate pastel pink, lavender and yellow.

The master bedroom was huge, the closet twice the size of her former bedroom and there were already clothes on hangers and stacked on shelves.

“How?”

He grinned as he deposited her on the sofa in front of the hearth where a cheerful fire was blazing.

“I gave Monique your size and she did the rest.” Kneeling in front of her, he went about taking off her boots. He had also insisted on taking her shopping in Italy and there were packages in the living room to be sorted. “Tired?” His clever fingers were working the kinks out of her feet.

“A little. That feels good.”

“How about a glass of wine?”

“If you have to go downstairs…?”

“Shame on you.” Tossing her a smile, he rose and went to the side of the fireplace and touched a button. A cabinet slid out, revealing rows of shelves.

“A Cabernet, I think.”

Tucking her feet under her, she watched dreamily as he poured the wine into two glasses and came back to sit next to her.

“To us.”

“To us” She clinked her glass to his. “You have thought of everything.” She murmured, looking around the room. The bed dominated the room, but there was an armoire, also an antique and a dresser. A vanity stool was tucked inside the closet with a padded stool in front of it.

“I wanted it to be ready for us. I never had a home before and I wanted one with you.”

She turned to look at him, her expression gentle. They had talked throughout the nights after making love and he told her everything. She had been horrified at what he had gone through and vowed that she would spend the rest of her life making him happy.

“You have one with me. And I really do not think I should be drinking any alcoholic beverage, just in case.”

“You had your periods when we just got to Italy.” He reminded her. She had been so disappointed that she had cried. He had reassured her with the fact that they had all the time in the world.

“And you have been making love to me nonstop.”

“Is that a complaint, my love?”

“Never.” Putting away her glass, she rose and whipped off her sweater dress. “But I want us to christen our bedroom.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Why don’t you take off your clothes and let me show you?”

Putting his glass next to hers, he slowly rose. When he started to take off his sweater, she shook her head. Taking his hand, she led him towards the bed where the comforter was already turned down and the pillows plumped.

Pushing him down, she knelt to take off his boots and his socks before standing between his thighs to pull the sweater off.

“No touching.” She ordered when his hands came up to clamp around her narrow waist.

“I don’t think I can stand…”

“And no talking,” she smiled at the mutinous look on his handsome face.

She attacked his belt and black dress pants next, before taking off his underwear. A gasp escaped her when his erection sprang free. Pushing him back down, she secured the pillows behind his head and slid in next to him.

“Am I allowed to talk now?” He rasped.

“No. Neither are you allowed to touch.” Her hands wandered over his chest, with the dense sprinkling of dark hairs and gloried in the feel of his skin and the tightening of his small nipples.

Her fingers glanced over them and felt when his muscles leapt reflexively. “Baby…!” He broke off with a groan when she bent her head and used her tongue to touch him. His hands clenched at his sides, his body reacting as she slid a hand between his thighs.

“I love the way you feel.” She curved her fingers around the throbbing length of him. His heart took several desperate leaps inside his chest as she proceeded to stroke him.

“So big. You fill me up and satisfy me like no one has ever been able to do.”

Her words, the seductive way she was moving her tongue over his flesh, combined with the slow stroking of his aroused flesh was making him crazy.

“I love the way you feel inside me.” Fingers were busy circling the tip, distributing the moisture around the edges. “Like now, you are ready for me.”

“Darling – Oh sweet Christ!” His hips lifted her hand slid down to cup his testicles and squeezed lightly. “Darling, I can’t.”

“Shh.” She moved further down, kissing his flat stomach and heading downwards until she was kissing the tip of him.

“Darling…!” He was breathing through his mouth, his body on fire. “No, please…” The rest of the words ended in a groan as she took him into her mouth. She worked him over, until he felt as if he was going mad.

While in Italy, he had taught her to please him, and she had been an avid student. Now she was using what she had learned to drive him insane. Her fingers worked on his testicles, while her tongue licked every inch of his throbbing flesh.

He found the strength to haul her up and over him, his fingers biting into her flesh.

“You witch,” he whispered brokenly. “What you do to me.”

“I want to make certain you forget all the others.” He had told her about his sexual exploits and how early he had started. Not to boast, but to make certain he was straight with her.

“How can you think there is anyone else in my mind except you?” He wondered. Pushing her back on the pillows, he covered her body with his, sliding into hers until he was completely sheathed. “No one else exists, but you. Please believe me.”

Her hands came up around his neck. “I do.” She whispered against his lips.

“Good.” He brushed his lips on hers. “Were you trying to kill me?”

“Far from it. I wanted to please you.”

“You do not have to prove yourself to me darling. Anything you do sets me off. I am addicted to you.”

“I want it to remain that way.”

“I am helplessly in love with you.” Taking her hand, he placed it over his chest where his heart was thundering. “This is all for you. Always will be. I adore you.”

Tears gathered at the back of her eyes.

“Gary.”

“My love.” Bending his head, he kissed her long and hard, tongue plunging into her mouth as he increased the tempo of his thrusts. Within minutes she was flying, her body moving against his frenziedly as the storm washed through her.

He swallowed her cries, his own climax plunging him into the eye of the storm where nothing else mattered. It left them battered and bruised and clinging to each other.

He shifted to avoid crushing her and cradled her in his arms. For several minutes, they did not say anything, but just laid there limbs tangled.

The sweat was cooling on their flesh, the fire making shadows inside the room. Snow had started falling, drifting slowly on the numerous panes spearing from the ground up. She was lying in bed with her husband. She could not ask for anything more.

“What are you thinking?” He asked quietly, fingers strumming her back.

“That I am here with you in this big ass house. Naked and satiated.”

He cocked a brow at her as she stared up at him.

“And it’s snowing.”

She nodded. “I know Christmas is gone and we did have a lovely time of it at your aunt’s place…”

“But you want us to have our own.” He smiled at her. “I anticipated that. We did not go into the living room.”

“What’s in there?”

“Want to see it tonight or wait until the morning?”

“Now.”

*****

He watched in delight as she oohed and aahed over the towering Douglas fir in the corner of the large room. Fire crackled in the hearth, lending a brilliance to the professionally decorated tree.

“There are gifts here.” She pointed to them, wrapping her black silk around her slender frame.

“I thought we could invite the family over for dinner.”

He came to stand behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist. “As well as Raymond.”

Tilting her head up, she beamed at him. “I could cook.”

“No.” He kissed her lush lips. “Graham hired someone. A cousin of his housekeeper and she will be here tomorrow.”

She frowned at him. “Am I ever going to make any decisions in this house?”

“From now on, it is entirely up to you. I just wanted to get things started.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“I wanted it to feel like home.”

“It does.” She turned around, her hands coming up to wrap around his neck. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.” He whispered.

*****

The housekeeper, a Mrs. Watson, was so grateful for the position that she agreed to start immediately. Gary made the introduction and left Sadie to deal with the rest of it. Within minutes they had agreed on a very generous compensation package and what the position would entail.

“There will be times when I want the kitchen to myself so that I can cook for my husband.”

Sadie told Mrs. Watson. She discovered that she liked the motherly looking woman with the ample bosom and salt and pepper hair.

“Of course,” she beamed. “Just let me know when that is, and I will clear out.”

Mrs. Watson showed her competency by whipping up a gourmet meal for the small dinner party that was planned.

She had been shown her rooms and was moving in the next day.

“I will be back early in the morning to clean up. Just leave everything as is. I will take care of it.”

“Your wife is not only beautiful, but she is also sweet.” Raymond had received his gifts and had to leave the room in order not to embarrass himself by crying. He had gotten a phone, a laptop, and clothes.

They had eaten the meal and were now seated inside the living room where conversation was ongoing.

“She is.” Gary agreed.

“When you got shot, I thought I was going to have to go back to the foster home.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

The boy nodded and gazed into the fire, a look of wonder on his face.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“Because I can,” Gary said simply, “and I wanted to give back.”

“That’s why you are building the community center.”

“Yes.”

Raymond nodded again.

“You are a stand-up guy. I always thought that rich people were all dick heads. You have proven me wrong.”

Gary hid a smile. “Happy to oblige.”

*****

Their son, Gabriele Anthony, was born nine months to the day they came back from their honeymoon, on a blustery September afternoon.

The pregnancy was a breeze as Sadie was heard to say repeatedly and the labor itself took long enough to have the very anxious dad, declaring that their son was going to be an only child.

“I am not going through that again,” he told his wife, “I think I aged ten years.”

But he could not get enough of his son and his wife firmly told him that they were both only children and she was not going to do that to their son. “You will get over it. I was the one who went through the labor, and I get to decide when I call it quits.”

Now, sitting around the pool with her week-old baby, she watched in amusement as his daddy examined the swing he had made. His next project was a tree house, that he was going to build himself.

“Daddy is being ridiculous, darling. You are not going to be needing that swing for another two years or more.”

“I heard that.”

“You were meant to.” The visitors had come and gone. Graham and Grant, who had surprised all of them by clinging to life could not get enough of his grandson.

“Are you still messing with that swing?” Sharon bustled out with a tray she had taken from Mrs. Watson and placed it on the table in front of the chaise where her daughter and grandson were.

“I want it to be secure.” Giving the rope a good hard tug, he declared it ready. He had told Sadie that he wanted to give his son everything he had never received growing up.

Picking up the towel, he wiped the moisture off his face and arms, before sitting at her hip and reaching for the baby.

“He’s sleeping,” she whispered as she handed him over.

“I just want to look at him for a minute.” Gary cradled his son carefully. After being petrified of the long labor, he had fallen headlong in love with the baby, admiring his creamy complexion and tiny features. His eyes were light brown, more like golden, with the doctors telling them that the color might change.

“Want me to take him inside?” Sharon asked, looking up at the sky. “It looks like we are going to get some rain.”

“And it’s getting windy.” Sadie agreed. They watched as Sharon cradled the baby in her arms and went towards the house.

“How about a swim?” Gary suggested.

“I can be persuaded.” Shrugging off her wrap, she waited until he was down to his underwear and took his hand.

*****

She stretched languidly, closing her eyes in contentment as he rubbed the cream into her skin. He had taken over the task when she started showing.

“You did not gain a lot of weight while you were pregnant,” Squeezing a dollop of cream into his palm, he capped the tube and worked his way towards her hips. Their son was asleep and would be out for the rest of the night.

“Considering that I ate like a bloody cow.”

“Not to mention those cravings of yours.” Finishing, he wiped his hands on the towel he had brought with him from the bathroom. “Ice cream and pickles.” He shuddered as he slid into bed next to her. I still have nightmares about that odd combination.”

She draped one thigh over his. “You did not complain, not even when you had to go to the store in the middle of the night to get me the pickles.”

He chuckled. “I was cursing all the way to the market. You woke me up and reminded me that I was the one who planted the seed inside you.” He shook his head, his arms curving around her waist. “I was ready to kill you by the time the baby was due.”

“I drove you crazy with my mood swings. God! I was such a bitch for the first three months, and you put up with me.” She gazed at him lovingly.

“Even when I contemplated killing you, the love was still there.” He twined a fat curl around his index finger. “There is nothing that can ever stop me from loving you. You, Sadie Allison Moretti have given me everything.”

Touching his scruff, she traced the outline of his strong jaw and stubborn chin. “And you my darling husband have shown me that love does not only belong in romance novels.” Her eyes glistened. “We are experiencing it right here and now.”

“I adore you,” he whispered hoarsely, “thank you for completing me.”

The end…