Chapter 15
The babies were all asleep. All four of them tucked up inside their cots with blankets thrown over their tiny frames. They had stayed out until after midnight, calling in to check, just once and were reassured that they were on their best behavior.
The sound of his parents’ voices, not to mention Clive and Conail, who had both come home early from their dates had left little doubt that they were indeed in good hands.
With her shoes clasped in one hand, Blair leaned against her husband as she stared at her daughters and then her sons. She did not have to be persuaded to go into their bedroom, after checking and making sure the monitors were on. Tonight, had been a turning point for them and she wanted to make it up to him.
For the past month, she had been obsessed with being the perfect mother, even though that was not possible, and she had done what she had sworn not to do, neglected her husband. Yes, she had been healing, but that had taken a week and a half. They slept in the same bed, and he had been so patient with her through all of it.
Their babies would sleep through the night, which gave her freedom to seduce the man she loved. She was a mother, but first, she was a wife and his lover.
He sensed the excitement and anticipation in her, one that had been there since the evening commenced. And it had built up steadily. Now it was about to boil over.
His own body responded violently. He wanted her. No, scratch that. The word was too tame or what he was experiencing. It was a craving that dug into his very soul.
Her naked body spread out before him, sent him into a fever pitch of desire that left him both blind and weak. He fumbled, kinda like a schoolboy, fumbling a pass that was handed to him on the field. He was gauche and awkward, his hands trembled.
His heart was racing out of control, and he had started sweating. He had wanted to taste and savor her silky skin, take it slow, but that had been shot to hell and back.
His first taste of the nipples his children had suckled for a few short weeks sent heat crashing through him.
Her cries, frenzied, desperate aching cries, her slender body arching against his, fingers pulling at his hair, drove him insane and that insanity had him covering her body and driving into her with a force that sent her into the headboard. The climax was swift and brutal.
He poured himself into her, pouring, emptying, his sweat slicked body shuddering until he felt as if he was losing his mind. She came then, body rearing up, fingers biting into shoulders, back and chest, nails dragging against skin. He swallowed her cries, and was certain some of the sounds were coming from him.
Collapsing on top of her, he stayed there for a minute or two, willing the madness to cease. He could not move. His heart was still crashing against his ribs, and his limbs were weak and shaking. Finally gathering what little strength he could garner, he rolled and took her with him, cradling her on his chest.
She curled into him, fingers tangled up in the dense dark hairs that were moist with sweat. For a long time, they stayed that way, content to allow their breathing to level out or just content to just be.
Lifting her head, she met his warm green eyes and smiled because he was smiling at her. That sexy half smile that had bowled her over from the very beginning.
“What?”
“You look…used.”
“So do you.” She retorted, feeling the love blooming inside her. “And you’re welcome.”
He inclined his head, one hand lifting to trail a finger down her cheek. “You, okay?”
“More than.” Capturing the wandering finger, she kissed the tip of it and watched as his eyes darkened. “It’s good to know that we are an old married couple with four kids and can still manage to burn the sheets up.”
His chuckle was low and deep.
“That’s one way to put it.” He continued to stare at her. She had been through some type of transformation. The pregnancy had softened some areas and filled out some. Her breasts had always been small but had plumped up some.
Her hips were more rounded and her thick deep brown hair with the blonde highlights was thicker and longer. And there was a glow about her that made her beauty a sort of ethereal quality.
“What?” She gave him a puzzled look as he continued to study her features.
“Bianca and Bella have your features.”
“I was thinking that they have yours.” She disagreed and he shook his head.
“The shape of your cheeks, the slant of the eyes. All yours. Which means that I am going to have to get my shot gun at the ready to discourage the boys who will come sniffing around.”
“I was never beautiful…” She shook her head when he opened his mouth to object.
“Not in the accepted sense. I never yearned to be popular or one of the crowd. I was content to just be me. Quiet, a little unassuming but someone with a voice.” She linked her fingers with his. “You make me feel beautiful. It took me a while to realize that in your eyes I was – am.”
“Always and that’s pure nonsense what you just said. You just do not see yourself the way I do, or others do. I have to fight off my brothers and threaten them with bodily harm to get them to back the hell off. And remind them that you are mine.” His arm tightened around her waist.
“And since being pregnant and giving birth, your beauty has increased.” His expression sobered. “You have this sweetness and pureness about you that’s indescribable and people are drawn to it.” Tilting her chin up, he brushed his lips against hers. “And you’re all mine.”
*****
Clive leaned against the door jamb with arms folded on his chest as he took in the unlikely scene.
His big brother, VP of one of the largest and most successful wine and liquor company in the world was spread eagled out in the middle of a makeshift pink and blue floor made up entirely of jigsaw puzzles depicting a forest scene, complete with animals frolicking, some in repose, while others sipped water from a glossy-looking river.
And his children were in twin attached swings on either side of him. He was wearing baggy sweats and an old t-shirt. His hair was mussed, and Clive had never seen him look happier or more contented. He wondered fleetingly what the people in their society would think of him, if they saw him now.
“Have you driven away the nannies already?”
The babies had so absorbed his brother, he had not heard or felt Clive’s presence.
“I sent them away – they were smothering the babies and getting on my last nerves.” He pushed at the swing holding the girls’ gently.
“And your wife?” Clive strolled into the room and dropped down next to his nephews. He was learning to tell them apart now. Reporters had somehow gotten a pic of them and had spread it all over various papers. Dubbing them ‘The Wealthy Quads’, much to the family’s annoyance.
“Gone to lunch with Leesa and the others.” He continued to push the swing, a smile curving his lips as Bianca fastened large hazel eyes on him. Bella was already sleeping.
“Ah, the summer gala. Hey buddy.” Clive worked a finger into Chad’s tight fist. “They are thriving, even after several scares.”
Cayden’s eyes darkened when he thought back on it. Chad had suffered a series of ear infection that had them fearing he would lose his hearing in the left ear.
Caleb had breathing problem and had to be rushed to the clinic. The girls seemed to be oblivious to the illnesses plaguing their brothers and continued to thrive and grow. Now it looked like they were over the worst (please God!).
He had seen what each rush to the clinic had done to his wife and himself and wanted normalcy.
Clive looked over at his brother, sensing the tension. “They are babies and more than that, preemies. We all knew there would be complications.”
“I had to order Blair to get her fine ass out of the house and take a damn break.”
“And yet, here you are.” Clive sent him an amused look. “Keeping them close and chasing off the nannies.”
“I want to spend time with them. It is the start of summer which means a hell of a lot of activities. New labels to promote and trips to make.
They cannot travel yet of course, and I do not want to leave them knowing that something might happen, and I am thousands of miles away.” He ran a gentle finger over Bianca’s silky dark brown hair. “That would kill me.”
They both looked up as Conail and Alberto joined them.
“It seems we’re late to the party.” Alberto immediately lowered himself to sit next to Clive while Conail joined Cayden.
“I cannot get over how beautiful they are.” He commented, touching Bianca’s bunched fist in fascination. “And how much they have twisted themselves into my heart.”
“They have, haven’t they?” His father agreed with a whimsical smile.
*****
“Dad?”
“Around the back.”
She followed the sound of his voice and found him crouched down on a patch of freshly dug dirt. He was wearing worn garden gloves and had on one of his wife’s silly straw hat with a wispy ribbon tied around the brim. A smile touched her lips as she stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to revive your mother’s rose garden.” He eased up somewhat slowly and had her smile turning to worry.
“Are you in pain?”
He waved that away and pulled off the stained gloves. “Just a little stiffness in the knees.” He beamed at her. “You look like a million dollars. Or should I say several billion. How are my grandkids?”
“I left them with the family.” She shook her head as she leaned in for the kiss. “Cayden shooed me out of the house. Leesa and the rest had a meeting re the grand summer gala.” She found a clean spot on the garden chair and perched.
“He was right. After the last episode at the clinic with Chad’s ear infection, I needed to go out and start being normal again.”
“As if you could.” He shook his head and poured her a glass of lemonade. “Those babies are going to be fine. Millicent brought over some freshly baked cookies. Let me get some to go with the lemonade.”
Her brows lifted as she gave him a curious stare. “Things are heating up.”
To her surprise, instead of brushing that away, he looked slightly embarrassed.
“I’ll get the cookies.” He escaped before she could say anything else.
“Interesting.” She murmured as she sipped the tart and sweet lemonade and stared out at the patch of land blooming with flowers. He had gotten someone to tend to the weeds and mow the lawn on her insistence.
She had offered to hire someone to take care of the place, and he had finally succumbed, but only after she reminded him that eventually, his grandchildren would be coming around. She heard him making noises about putting in swings and having them build a tree house.
Nostalgia flooded her as she stared out at the lovely space, with the bird house, the sparkle of water from the steam and apples hanging from trees. There were also oranges and lemons, big ripe ones. Part of her mother’s legacy. She turned a smile on him as he came forward with a tray of cookies and another glass.
“I came in from services this morning and just came back here and started puttering around.” He grabbed another chair and sat across from her. “It is always so peaceful and serene, the scent of flowers blooming, the breeze stirring the leaves on the trees. The sound of the trickle of water over rocks.
Your mother used to love sitting out here. She would spend summer days outside, planting and just enjoying the weather. Bugs did not bother her...,” his smile became whimsical. “I used to tease her that it was because of her forceful personality, they wouldn’t dare to land on her.” His smile faded as he took a sip of lemonade.
“I have been faithful to her. It’s silly, but even after she was taken from me, I would think that it was not right to even look at another woman.” He turned to stare at his daughter. “Millicent…,” he cleared his throat, “she is a wonderful woman.
Kind, sweet and giving. We…,” he cleared his throat again and Blair wondered if he was ever going to get it out. “We have been having intimate relations.” He shook his head. “She will never be my wife, and she is aware of it.
She lost her husband some years ago and her son lives all the way in Alaska. He has a job there as a teacher. We have been keeping each other company.’ “We are living in sin and that is not something I am used to.
Would you mind if we get married? It would be something simple, just you and your husband and my grandkids. She wants to meet them and she is afraid that you are too uppity for her, being married to one of the wealthiest man in the world.
I told her you are the same Blair. My same daughter and that you have not changed one bit.” His dark eyes searched her face anxiously. “If you disapprove, I am will not go through with it.”
Just for a second, resentment flared. He was talking about having another woman live here, where her mother had lived and been mistress, but commonsense reared its head. Her father was lonely and had been alone for too many years to count.
He deserved to have someone to talk to, someone to come home to - one who would cook him a decent meal when needed. She had been feeling more and more guilty because she knew he would never agree to coming to live at the manor.
In the past, she had hounded her husband to agreeing to getting their own place, but since having the babies, she realized they belonged there. It was their legacy.
Reaching across, she folded her hand over his. “I am happy for you, and I have known Millicent since I was a child. She is indeed a good woman. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief that you have someone looking out for you.”
He beamed at her and squeezed her hand. “She knows you come first in my life and now those grandkids of mine and she understands.” Leaning over the table, he kissed her on the lips. “You look happy, honey, and that’s all I ever wanted for you.”
*****
The scene made her want to cry. They were all on the patio, the one leading out to the east garden, where a slim white sculpture of a woman holding her child in her arms stood. Water spewed and trickled from the fountain and the scent of flowers blooming filled the air.
Maria had told her where she could find them, and she had hurried upstairs to slip out of her clothes and donned something casual. The rules and restrictions that had been placed on all of them, a tradition that was part of the family had been bent, since the babies were born.
With the approach of the lovely weather, meals were served outdoors, under canopies. White lawn chairs decked the landscaped lawns and all of them were gathered around the babies.
He sensed her. It amazed her that he always knew when she was near. She saw when he lifted his head and his quick smile came. Handing one of the baby girls to his mother, he came towards her, hands outstretched.
“I was beginning to wonder if you had deserted us.”
She walked into his arms readily, inhaling his scent.
“Fat chance of that happening. I went to visit my dad.”
“How is he?” He kissed her gently, one hand cupping her face.
“I will tell you later. Are we eating out here?”
“It is a beautiful Sunday afternoon, so yes. Bianca is fascinated by all the colors.” Taking her hand, he led her towards the group.
“Just Bianca?”
“Bella seems to be more fascinated by my green shirt and the boys are distracted by everything going on around them.”
“Typical males.”
He nipped at her ear and drew her to his side, and they joined the others.
It was a happy scene. And she wondered not for the first time at the changes in all of them, especially her husband’s parents.
Marianne was not dressed to kill in her usual designer outfit but had on a soft cream-colored pants and a shell pink blouse. Her hair was not ruthlessly pulled back in a tidy chignon but flowed down her back. And she smiled more.
She was friendlier and doted on the babies. It was as if a new light had been switched on inside her. Blair had agonized over the decision to go the IVF route, and it certainly came with its sets of problems, but it was worth it.
Taking baby Caleb from Colin, she kissed his soft forehead and smiled at him. He was the one who suffered the most, and she could not help but feel protective, her maternal instinct kicking in.
*****
“What’s going on with your dad?” He asked her later that night after the babies had been bathed, powdered, oiled, and put to bed with the nannies taking over.
“Thanks.” She leaned back on the pillows and closed her eyes as he massaged her feet. He had diligently rubbed anti-stretch mark cream on her belly, hips, and breasts for the duration of her pregnancy and except for several thin ones on her belly and hips, there was hardly any signs that she had carted around four babies inside her uterus.
“He wants to get married.”
Cayden’s eyebrows lifted as he continued to massage away the tension. “I had no idea he was seeing someone.”
“His next door neighbor. I have known her for years. She is a librarian and I guess they just kind of fell into the habit of being there for each other.” She wriggled her toes as he worked on her calves.
“I was starting to feel guilty that he was there all by himself. I was the one who used to do the cooking and the major housework. He would get absentminded especially when he has to do research.”
He continued to work out the kinks in her legs. “Is that why you don’t mind him getting married?”
Her eyes met his and she shrugged. “She’s a nice woman and he told me she knows that my mom could never be replaced.”
He continued to rub her legs, his movements slow and rhythmic.
“I don’t know if I could be with anyone else.”
Pleasure shimmered inside her at his admission.
“What if I gave my approval?”
He sent her a quizzical stare before capping the bottle and putting it away. Rising, he shrugged out of his robe and slid in next to her.
“Would you?”
She nodded as she cuddled up to him. “Say I am ninety-nine and dying, with my last breath, I would perhaps give consent to you marrying another woman. She could not be less than eighty years old though.”
His laughter rang out and her smile was wide.
“Ninety, huh?”
She nodded. “How old did you think I would say?”
“Fifty?” He ventured and winced as she poked him in the chest.
“I have every intention of living until the children are finished with college and married. I want to be a ripe old age grandma or even a great grandma and you had better be there next to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” His hand drifted to her cheek, expression tender. “That’s my desire as well.”
“Good.” She turned her head in the palm of his hand and closed her eyes. “I am so happy and because I am, I want that for him as well. He truly loved my mom, when I looked back at their lives, I could see where they were perfect for each other. They never went to bed mad at each other and she put up with his absentmindedness.”
“Our marriage is far from perfect.” He pointed out.
Her gaze was melting as she wrapped herself around him. “Who wants perfection?”