Chapter 12
Taking her hand, he drew her into the bedroom, stopping just when they reached the bed. Turning her to face him, he skimmed his fingers over the dewy softness of her skin.
“You smell like spring,” he murmured, finding himself fascinated by the texture and feel of her. “Is that raspberry?”
“Yes.” Her breath caught in her throat as he continued to examine her face. “I got a full body massage.”
“Hmm.” Tilting her chin up, he traced the outline of her full bottom lip. “I think this was what caught my attention that first time.”
“My lips?”
“Yes.” A frown touched his brow. “A full body massage?” He asked, belatedly realizing the implications of what she just said.
“Yes. Why?”
“You were naked?” His green eyes narrowed, and her lips twitched.
“All of us were. We got the full work up. Barry rubbed raspberry cream on my breasts.”
“Is that so?” There was a dangerous light in his eyes.
“You have to remember he is gay.”
“He put his hands on you and gay he might be, but he has blood running through his veins.
She gave him an incredulous look. “You cannot possibly be jealous…” Her voice petered off at the look on his face. “Oh, come on.”
“You’re mine,” he growled, still not certain how he felt that the man had his hands all over her. “And I am the only man who’s supposed to see you naked.”
“What about doctors?” She could not help but feel giddy that he was indeed put out that Barry had touched her like that.
“They are allowed.” He nudged off the robe and watched as it pooled around her feet. “To a certain point.” He felt the heat pooling into his lower body as he stared at the puckered nipples. “Oh Christ.” He groaned, feeling as if he was going to explode. Lifting his head, he fastened a hand around her neck and dragged her towards him.
His mouth seized hers hungrily. When she came closer as far as her belly would allow, the madness exploded inside him. The kiss was laced with desperation. It had been weeks since he touched her. Weeks since he had been forced to stay away from her because of the advanced stage of pregnancy and what came with it.
Weeks that his body had gone into withdrawal. His hands roved over her shoulders and down her back restlessly as he explored her mouth with a thoroughness that had her clinging to him. He almost ended the kiss when he felt movements in her belly before he realized that the babies were making their presence felt.
Hot vicious need poured through him like molten lava and left him shuddering. Tearing his mouth from hers, he trailed kisses down her neck and feasted on the hollow of her throat. Pressing her back, he made her sit on the edge of the bed, before dropping to his knees. His hands cupped her breast, weighing them in his palms.
“They are huge,” she whispered, not sure about what he was thinking.
“They are perfect.” He corrected, his voice thickening. Bending his head, he proceeded to show her how turned on he was by them. Arching her back, she dug her fingers into the thick strands of his hair as he suckled. A sharp almost brutal pain arrowed through her body and had her crying out. Lifting his head, he stared at her in alarm.
“Darling? Did I hurt you?”
She was trembling. Every bone in her body felt as if it was melting. “Do not stop. Please. I…,” she guided his head back to her breast and stiffened when he pulled the sensitive flesh and suckled hungrily.
The climax had her lifting her body, fingers latching onto the strands of hair. She felt as if she was being slammed into the violent eye of the storm without a safety net. The climax left her weak and trembling and disoriented.
Her eyes drifted open slowly to see him standing so that he could take off his clothes. Pulling herself up on the pillows, she dreamily watched as he shed clothing, leaving his magnificent body.
This man with the well-defined muscles, tanned skin, wide chest with the sprinkles of dense dark hairs, washboard flat stomach and penis full to bursting, was hers. He belonged to her. She lifted her eyes to his, to find that he was examining her body in detail, the way she was doing with his.
Climbing up, he moved over her, planting his knees on either side of her. His hands framed her belly, molding the shape of it, his eyes on her face. “I stopped inside the nurseries.” His voice was emotional as he felt movements, the flurry of it against his skin.
“I am going to be a dad.”
“Yes.” Her hands covered his and she felt the quiver of emotions. He had finally accepted the pregnancy. It had taken him some time, but he was on board.
“It feels surreal.” Scooting down, he bent to the swollen abdomen, the skin tightly stretched until it had a sheen. “I keep thinking that you must be hurting. How can you be carrying four babies inside you and continue to function.” He kissed the flesh and felt the tremors.
“Women were created to carry babies.”
“Not so many.” His hands cradled her as he planted kisses on the flesh until he was moving further down. She felt when his body stiffened.
“What… Good God.” He whispered, one hand cupping her sex. “You are as clean as a baby’s butt down here.”
“Yes. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You certainly accomplished that.” He examined the flesh in fascination and felt himself hardening even more. “And I am not going to ask who performed the task.”
“I think that’s best.” Her breath hissed out when he ran a finger over the protruding flesh.
Lifting his head, he held her gaze as he straightened. Parting her thighs, he bent her knees and settled between them. Keeping his gaze on her, he guided himself slowly into her and just stayed at the opening. “Tell me if I am hurting you.”
“You won’t…” Her body arched, and the rest of the words ended in a cry as he used the tip of his penis to rub the engorged flesh. Passion exploded inside her and left her weak.
“No. No. No.” Her head twisted on the pillows, fingers gripping the sheets. It was maddening. She felt as if she was being lit from the inside. “I can’t.” She raised up to grip his wrist, eyes feverish. “Please, I can’t.”
“You can.”
“Oh God!” The scream erupted and she was flying again. He used that moment to ease into her. He was rearing to go, his blood felt as if it was burning his flesh. He knew the minute he went all in; it would be over. Gritting his teeth, he clamped his hands on her knees and did a slow torturous dance that was designed to drive them both crazy.
But there was so much he could do and no more. Her moans, the high-pitched screams and her calling out his name, broke his control. With a feral growl, he drove into her and exploded. His body shuddered as he poured everything inside her.
Three weeks had been too long, much too long. His body bucked and shuddered as the orgasm continued.
When at last he was finished, he managed to find the strength to collapse next to her, his heart racing out of control. He was winded, his heart beating so hard, he could not hear anything else. Turning on his side, he drew her back against him, one hand covering her belly possessively.
They remained that way for several minutes as they fought to gather their composures and get their breathing back to regular. He nuzzled the back of her neck where the dampness of sweat had seeped into her skin.
“You okay?”
“More than.” She splayed her fingers over his. “You?”
“Ask me that in another hour.” He responded with a chuckle as he brushed back tendrils of hairs clinging to her neck. “There is something different about your hair.” He lifted the strands and studied them in puzzlement.
“I thought you’d never noticed.”
“I was too busy with other things.” He watched as the silken strands slid through his fingers. “You added highlights.”
“I did. Do you like how it looks?”
“I think I do. You were really busy today.”
She snuggled against him, relishing the glow of passion that was still wrapped around her.
“Very.” She told him what they had done and a little of the gossip that had been part of the package.
“Massage, makeover and tidbits, what else could one ask for?” His dry tone had her laughing. Turning her head, she stared at him. “I was grateful for the support. I do not know if you noticed, but I was feeling down.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I noticed.”
“I felt so unattractive and huge.”
“I don’t know why.”
“I am pregnant with four babies and unable to do anything or go anywhere.”
“Isn’t this something you wanted?” He asked carefully. “You were determined to make this happen and at first, I was furious that you went behind my back. But I admire your persistence and determination.” His eyes searched her face.
“You knew what this type of pregnancy entails, darling. You were the one who told me you were prepared for anything as long as it turned out all right.”
She poked her tongue out at him, gasping when he quickly bit it.
“Thanks for throwing my words back at me.” She retorted when she could speak.
He smiled at her. “I was just trying to make a point.” His hand drifted upwards to cup her breast. “The part about you feeling unattractive is nonsense. You will always be the most beautiful woman in the world to me and nothing can change that.
Even if you do look like as big as a house.” He grinned at her baleful look. “No matter what changes, or how you look, I love you and that will never change.”
“Promise?” She whispered.
“I swear.” He whispered back before claiming her lips in a searing kiss.
*****
“Surprise!”
Blair jumped, one hand going to her chest as she gaped at the people in the room and the banner hung up across the hearth. The dining room was filled with the full complement of staff and the entire family, including her dad.
“What’s this?”
Taking her hand, Cayden led her towards them. He had insisted that she got dressed and come down for dinner and had not told her why.
“This is our way of wishing you all the best for the safe delivery of those babies.” Clive grinned as he came forward and took her free hand. Cayden did not bother reprimanding him when he bent to kiss her on the lips.
“Anthony prepared some of your favorite recipes, my dear,” Marianne rejoined with a smile.
“I could smell the rosemary chicken when I was in the hallway,” Her eyes moistened as she stared at the staff. “And dad, you spoke to me over the phone and said you would be at the hospital tomorrow.”
With a wide smile, he came over and cupped her face between his hands. “I had a challenging time keeping it from you. Your husband informed me a week ago that this was in the works, and nothing could stop me from being here. You look wonderful.”
“That’s a lie, but I’ll take it.”
She was guided to her seat with the staff coming over one at a time to wish her all the best.
“Guys, you’re behaving as if I am not coming back.”
“We have every confidence that you will come back – with four adorable babies.” Maria told her stoutly. “Now let us leave you so you can enjoy the meal.”
And she did enjoy it. Tomorrow was the day she had been dreading. It was finally here. Nurse Connelly had monitored her blood pressure and declared that she had been doing very well. She was ready and she wasn’t.
She spent some restless nights wandering around the now finished nurseries, visualizing her four babies inside their cots. But now, the time was here or almost was.
She allowed the conversation to ebb and flow around her and was grateful for the support of family. Over the past few months, she had gotten close to her mother-in-law. The woman had become a surprising tower of strength.
The others were also very supportive, coming to visit her and find out how she was doing. For five years, she had felt like a complete stranger in the household, but now she felt like she was part of the family.
But behind the hope and anticipation, there was the nagging fear. The babies’ heartbeats were strong and everything was going all right. Her bag was packed, had been packed for two weeks now.
But she was worried that something was going to go wrong. She and Cayden had chosen names, finally. He was the one who insisted on them doing so.
“We cannot have them popping out and not knowing what to call them.”
To the delight of their parents, they had included their names. The boys were” Chad Alberto and Caleb Blake. The girls were: Bianca Marianne and Bella Catherine.
Marianne had been so delighted; she had puffy satin name tags made to hang over the cots. Pink for the girls and blue for the boys.
Everything was in place. The only thing she had to do was to deliver four healthy babies, not two or three, four. She could not settle for less than that.
Feeling pressure on her hand, she looked up to see her husband staring at her in concern.
“What’s the matter?” He whispered.
“Nothing.”
“Try again.”
With a sigh, she put away her dessert spoon. Anthony had really outdone himself and the meal was lavish and delicious.
“Just a little nostalgia,” she confessed, “I don’t particularly like hospitals.”
“No one does.” His eyes searched her face, and he knew there was more. “What’s really bothering you?”
“I’m afraid,” she confessed, “it is just hitting me that the time is here. I am going to get these babies out of me. For months, they have been cradled inside my womb. I have been tentatively happy during the first month or so, not daring to hope, expecting that at any time, I would miscarry.
After what we went through with the previous pregnancies, I was afraid that this would be the same. And now it has come to where I am at the end of the term and the babies are healthy.”
“You’re borrowing trouble.”
She shook her head and took a deep breath. “You are right. I should remain positive and grounded.”
“I am here!” He squeezed her hand. “Always.”
“I know, and I love you so much for putting up with my eccentricities.”
His thick brows lifted, “is that what you’re calling it?”
She smiled at him. “I think it’s an appropriate term.”
“Then we will stick with it.” His expression sobered. “You will be fine darling. I know it.”
She nodded and bolstered up a smile.
Coffee and tiny cakes with strawberries on top were served on the patio. The Saturday afternoon was lovely with the previous rain washing the earth clean.
Flowers bloomed in profusion along the winding paths and the lawns were immaculately groomed. Conversations interspersed with laughter added to the spectacular setting. A comfortable armchair had been dragged out for her to sit, and her cup of tea was placed on a table in front of her.
Blair could not help but wonder if this was her last supper and the thought sent a chill inside her. Picking up the delicate cup, she took a fortified sip. She knew the enormous risks of giving birth to multiples. Something could go wrong.
She could lose her babies or end up losing her life. She turned to look at her husband who was in conversation with his brothers and felt a whimsical smile playing around her lips.
He was the most handsome of the three and the one who commanded the most attention. He had such a way about him, she thought proudly. Biting her lip, she put away her cup and took several breaths, forcing a smile when her dad pulled up a chair next to her.
“You look pensive.”
She should have known she could not hide anything from him.
“Just thinking about tomorrow,” she said with a shaky laugh, “it’s been a sometimes rough and rocky road, but it’s almost at the end of it.”
His eyes searched her face. “You sound regretful.”
“No.” She shook her head, “Just wanting it to end on a good note.” She reached for his hand. “Cayden thinks I am being fanciful. But there is this instinct or warning or perhaps it is just hormones. But I keep thinking that something will go wrong.”
He squeezed her hand. “I am a strong believer in the Almighty and we brought you up to be as well. We have been praying for these babies’ safe delivery and I know the Lord will come through for us.”
“I have been praying too, dad.” She held onto his hand. “But over the last few days, I have been thinking about mom. Wishing she were here to offer some advice, to assure me that everything will be fine.
And to help me guide my babies the way they should go.” She looked around, taking in breaths of spring flowers and clean air. The grounds spread out before her, bursts of colors from the magnificent garden, trees spearing upwards and the dazzling white gazebo tucked between two towering oak trees.
“Alberto wants to hire someone to build a treehouse big enough to accommodate all four children.” She smiled slightly. “They are all so excited about it now. The nurseries are so lovely, that I spend hours moving from one room to the next.” Her eyes danced as she looked at her dad. “Have you seen the playroom?”
“Bigger than my bedroom!” He nodded. “Filled with all sorts of toys and playthings a child could ever need. It is all lovely.”
“Then why am I thinking that it will all be for nothing?” She whispered. “Why do I keep having these nagging feelings that something will go wrong.”
Taking her hand in both of his, he focused his gaze on her. “We are not having any of that. I believe in the power of prayer and that is what we’re holding onto. Get rid of everything else and tell yourself that you are coming home with four healthy and adorable babies.”
*****
“I poured you some of the brandy wine.” Alberto handed the glass to him as soon as he entered the room. “I figured you would want something stronger than the wine we had at supper.” Gray eyes scanned his face.
“You are concerned. How is she?”
“Thanks.” Cayden took the glass and went to stand at the window. The living room faced the front of the grounds with the white gates looming upwards. He had lived here most of his life, except when the family was splitting time between the States and Italy.
He had gallivanted all over the world, with acquaintances and friends. Swathing a path through different women and playing hard.
Now he was going to be a father of four. He could scarcely comprehend the magnitude of it.
“She’s sleeping.” He took a sip of his drink as he answered the question. Her father had confided in him that she was worrying, but he knew her better than anyone and as much as she tried to hide it, he had picked up on it. “She’s concerned.” He laughed grimly at the inadequacy of that word.
“It is more than that. She is scared. Her blood pressure is a little elevated and I managed to calm her down so she could get some sleep. We have been through so much already. The miscarriages took their toll, and I have to admit that my hope had all but died.”
Alberto walked over to stand next to him, a frown knitting his brow. “Specifically, what she’s scared about?”
“That this is too good to be true, that she will end up losing all if not some. My fear? Losing her.” His fingers tightened around the glass as tension flooded his body. “That is not a bloody option and she has been hinting that if it comes down to a choice, I should choose the babies. Fat chance of that happening.”
His father placed a hand on his shoulder. “I was faced with that daunting decision when your mother was in labor, and I knew without a doubt that I would choose her.” He slanted a look at his son. “I held you in my arms after and felt shame and guilt washing over me.”
Taking a deep breath, Cayden finished his drink. “I cannot lose her. The very idea of it, is driving me insane.”