Chapter 16
“Tired?”
“No. And please don’t start.”
“Start what?” He was massaging her feet slowly, moving up to the ankles where he was subtly examining them for swelling.
“Start getting anal about me dancing and standing almost the entire time.”
“I wasn’t about to do that.”
She gave him a pointed stare that had him lifting a shoulder.
“It’s my bloody job and you were dancing and standing around when you should be sitting and putting your feet up. I had a mind to drag you off the dance floor at one point.”
“It’s my wedding day and the only one I’m going to have. I wanted to make the most of it.”
He felt a tingle at hearing her say that. “Still..,” he moved up to her calves and kneaded the flesh, loosening the tight knots. “You really do not know when to stop. Good thing you have me.”
“Okay.”
He flashed her his devastating grin that her stomach jittering. He had gotten rid of the jacket as soon as they entered the foyer and opened the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing the dense dark hairs on his chest.
His gold ring, the one she had placed there, flashed as the light from the fire hit it, reminding her that she was married to him. As if she needed a reminder.
This gorgeous and complex man was hers, in every sense of the word.
“How does that feel?”
“Much better!” She sighed and stretched her legs out in satisfaction.
“Let me get the dress off.”
“You just want to stare at my naked body.”
“I have a legal right to do so.” Rising, he set about taking her clothes off.
“Panties too.” He grinned as he eased it over her swollen belly. His hands settled on the bump, an intense expression on his face as he felt the movements. They were having a boy and a girl and were playing around with names.
“We haven’t chosen names yet.”
“I know. I am making a list.”
He shook his head at her. “You and your bloody lists. Chloe for the girl and Caleb for the boy.”
“I’ll still like to think about it.”
“Madelyn for the middle name and your dad’s name was Jeremiah was it not?”
She nodded.
“Caleb Jeremiah and Chloe Madelyn.”
Her eyes misted. “That could actually work.”
He sat at her hip, his hands cupping her face. “I know how much you suffered because your dad wasn’t there to give you away.”
She leaned against him and blinked the tears away. Tonight was her wedding night, and she wasn’t going to allow anything – not even disturbing memories to spoil it.
“I would like to believe he was there in spirit and would have approved of you.”
“Would he?” He eyed her in amusement. “I seriously doubt that.”
“He would have.” She insisted. “After some convincing that you are more than extreme good looks and a boatload of money and arrogance.”
“Why, thanks.” He muttered dryly. Easing away, he made short work of taking off his clothing, before joining her. “I think you should try and get some sleep.”
“Is that what you think?” She was already sliding her foot up his leg and onto his thigh.
“Yes.” He hiss out a breath as she wriggled her toes against his inner thigh, too near to that part of him that was so vulnerable to her.
Clamping a hand around her ankle, he managed to stop her exploration.
“It’s our wedding night.”
“I’m aware.” He said between his teeth.
“And I was denied a honeymoon.”
“That’s because you’re not allowed to travel.”
He had her leg captive, but that left her hands free, and she was making the most of it. Before he could do anything about it, she had her fingers curled around the throbbing length of him, the stroking movement sending his blood pressure to dizzying heights.
“Baby – Ah!” He felt his body clenched as she circled the reddened tip. “I’m not a monster. I should be able to control myself enough to leave you alone tonight.”
“I don’t want you to.” Her eyes were boring into his, the passion swirling and obvious in the dark brown depths.
“Oh, bloody hell!” with a feral growl, he removed her hand and surged upwards. She thought he was leaving, but he was just positioning himself between her thighs. “We do this my way.” He warned.
“As long as you’re inside me, I don’t care.”
He groaned, fingers tightening on her knees.
“Are you sure?” He tried one more time to be the voice of reason. He had spent the entire time at the ceremony dreading the fact that he was not going to be allowed to touch her and had resigned himself to the torment.
“Stop talking and do me.”
A strained smile touched his lips as his hands glided up and down her thighs. He had to take it slow; he decided. If he allowed the animal passion roaring inside his body to be released, he was going to end up hurting her.
So, slow it was. Just slow and easy and- Christ! Squeezing his eyes shut, he wrapped his fingers around his throbbing shaft and guided it to just the tip of her. Just enough for her to feel him. For him to feel her. Opening his eyes, he bored down a little bit, his muscles straining with the control he was exerting.
“Bobby…!”
“No.” he shook his head, hard enough for the hair to shimmer around his shoulders and face. “Just shut up.” His eyes were on hers as he used the tip to lubricate her swollen mound.
“Bobby…” She arched against him, desperate to feel all of him. “Please.”
“Shh, baby.” Sweat was coating his flesh and his heart felt like it was about to ripped from his chest. “I want you to come.”
“I want you inside me.”
“Not yet.” Gritting his teeth, he entered her slowly, retreating and then entering again, sliding into her moisture, and feeling the earth shifting on its axis. Christ Almighty! What the bloody hell had he done before she came into his life?
How the hell had he survived? He wondered dazedly. She was his life, his one, his only and he felt his heart swelling at the realization that this one woman had so completely taken him over.
After all the women he had been with, it had come to this. He was now caught and held in the grips of a love so strong, a pull so powerful, he could not help but be sucked in.
“I love you completely, utterly and foolishly.” He entered her slowly, his eyes on her beloved face. “I belong to you. Heart mind and body. I am yours – irrevocably yours.”
“I want to touch you.” She was feverish with a need so strong; she felt as if she was bursting from it. “Bobby, let me touch you.”
“Not yet baby. Just…,” he drove into her, managing to keep himself from going all the way in. “I want to savor it. Make it last. Baby! Oh, bloody hell!” He had to ease back out when he felt the climax threatening. Not yet.
Reaching down, he used his thumb to stroke the swollen flesh as he entered her again and that did it. Her body convulsed, her cries echoing around the room. Her knees sagged wide open as her body arched off the bed.
Emotions stormed violently through his body and with a hopeless groan, he felt his own climax slamming through him at a speed that propelled him forward and had him driving into her. He flooded her with his seed, his body bucking.
He had to brace his hands on either side of her body to stop from slamming all the way into her. Bowing his head, he clamped his teeth hard on his bottom lip as he went limp. He almost collapsed on top of her but managed to shift his completely shattered body to lie next to her.
His heart was still racing, and his body was drenched with sweat. His feet felt like jelly and for a few minutes he could not move. Not even when she curled into him. He wanted to remind her that he was sweaty, but even words had completely failed him.
He stared up at the ceiling in complete absorption as if trying to find an answer in the intricate patterns. His arm came around her- fingers splayed over her thick waist.
He was so caught up in his private thoughts that it took him a minute to realize that the moisture he was feeling on his chest was not only from sweat.
Shifting, he tucked his fingers under her cheek and noticed the tears there.
“I did hurt you.” His expression was grim. “Where?”
“No!” She shook her head, a tremulous smile on her beautiful face. “It’s just that…,” she bit her lip and closed her eyes briefly. “I love you so much and I…” She drew in a breath. “I never expected to have anything like this.
Not even remotely. After I lost my parents, I thought my life was over. I was existing and not living and then you.” She touched his jaw and then his chin. “I’m so happy, I’m afraid it’s going to – that something will happen and I…” She stopped when he laid a vertical finger on her lips.
“No. None of that. It is our wedding night and we’re certainly not going to allow any negativity to seep in.” He smiled slightly, a rueful expression on his face. “I was just lying here wondering what to make of what just happened.” His eyes sizzled.
“You undo me. Plain and simple. You are the heart and core of me and it’s something that I’m trying to get used to. I am yours until I draw my last breath.”
He used the pads of his thumbs to wipe the tears that had started again and felt the back of his throat burning. He was shaky from the emotions tumbling through his body and completely unsteady.
“Hormones?” He asked teasingly.
“Absolutely.” Taking one of his hands, she pressed it against her mouth and closed her eyes. She was home.
*****
“C-Section?” Janelle felt her heart plummeting. “I thought I was scheduled to have a normal delivery.”
“That was the plan, but the boy is breached. He’s also bigger than the girl, which is making it difficult. I am afraid we’re going to have to schedule the operation as soon as possible.”
Charlotte snapped off her gloves and tossed them into the bin, before turning to face the couple. “The good thing about it is you are thirty-seven weeks and three days and the babies are healthy and their heartbeats strong. You on the other hand have some issues.”
“What kind?” Harry asked her tersely. She had not forgotten he was in the room, but his presence was so overpowering, Charlotte preferred to deal with her patient. The man was so protective, he reminded her of a lumbering bear that she had encountered on a trip to Pennsylvania to visit a cousin of hers.
They had been skiing and come upon a mother tending to her cubs. The encounter had been frightening because the bear had been determined to protect her cubs. Harry McGibbon was like that. He had not left his wife an inch and was holding onto her protectively.
“Gestational diabetes which usually disappears after giving birth and your blood pressure is a little on the high side.”
Janelle gripped her husband’s hand. “I have been doing everything right. Bobby does not even allow me to participate in the decorating of the nurseries. I spend most of my time in bed, just simply folding newborn clothing.”
“It has nothing to do with stress. Your body is under a lot of pressure.” Charlotte reminded her. “You are carrying twins, remember and that’s putting a lot of strain on you. It’s time and we cannot wait any longer.”
“All right.” She blew out a breath and turned to smile at her husband. “We are already packed for the hospital.”
“We did not bring the bag.”
“Just call Madelyn.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t want you to leave me.”
“As if that would happen.” He cupped her face, and it was as if it was only the two of them.
“You got this darling. And I’m here. I won’t leave.”
She leaned into him and steadied herself before turning to the doctor. “I’m ready.”
“Good.” Charlotte said briskly, ignoring the funny twist inside her heart. “Let me go and make the arrangements.”
*****
“Just think darling,” She snuggled against his chest and tried not to allow her nerves to spill over into sheer panic. “In a few minutes, we’ll be holding our babies. We’ll be parents.”
“I just want it over and done with.”
They were prepping her for surgery, a team of doctors and nurses were inside the delivery room, making it crowded. He was not certain he thought much of so many people tending to her.
But he supposed it was necessary. He wanted her out of danger and was aware that a number of things could go wrong. Losing her was not a bloody option and he had expressed that explicitly to her doctor.
“Look,” he had cornered the woman outside while she was suiting up. “I don’t want to pressure you going in, but just want to make it clear that the woman you will be tending to might be just a patient to you, but to me, she is my entire life. I need to know right now, what are the odds.”
He had been assured that it was a simple procedure. What she did not tell him was that she could hemorrhage – that there could be complications, and it was not just a simple procedure. There were risks and he was afraid. He was scared spitless.
Turning her head, she touched his chin. “Positive thoughts, remember?”
He smiled at her, realizing that she could pick up on his worry.
“Positive thoughts.”
“We’re ready.” The doctor announced with a smile.
“So are we.” Janelle told her with an answering smile.
*****
“We managed to find the source of the bleeding, but she lost a lot of blood.”
“What the hell happened?”
“A complication while we were retrieving your son,” Charlotte told him a little nervously. “And her blood pressure spiked. We have that under control as well, but she is going to be a little out of it for a few hours.
On a very good note, your son and daughter are healthy and will not need the use of the NICU. Your son weighed in at six pounds, two ounces and your daughter is five pounds, which is no cause for alarm. All of her organs are well developed, and she is pretty healthy.”
“I need to be with my wife.”
“Of course.”
He had been booted out of the delivery room as soon as they realized that things were not going as smoothly as they predicted. He had spent an hour pacing in the waiting room and alternating between panic and rage.
“She’s back in her room.”
“I know where it is.” He clipped. “Do me a favor, kindly tell my mother where I am heading.”
“I will.”
She watched him strode from the room and realized that she had been holding her breath and praying that nothing would go wrong. Harry McGibbon defined the word formidable.
He went first to the nursery where his mother appeared to be standing guard between the two cots. As if sensing his presence, she looked up, a slight frown of inquiry on her face.
“I am going to her now. She is still out of it, but not in any danger according to the doctors.” He gazed first at his son, his heart lurching as he took in the creamy complexion and raven black hair.
“He looks like you when you were born,” Madelyn’s hands trembled as she stroked the tiny hand.
Switching his gaze to the tiny little girl, he felt love – powerful and strong holding him its iron grip. She was beautiful. His princess had raven black hair like her brother and creamy complexion.
Her small rosebud lips were slightly pursed and reminded him of her mother. He was propelled forward or so it seemed and found himself standing at the cot. Reaching out a hand, he touched the tiny, bunched fist.
“She looks so delicate,” he murmured.
“They have both been given a clean bill of health.”
Harry trailed a finger slowly along the tiny hand and smiled slightly. “No one is ever going to be good enough for her.” Looking up, he caught his mother’s tearful gaze and felt his own throat thickening. “I need to be with my wife.”
“Go ahead. I am staying.”
With a nod, he strode from the room and made his way along the hallway to his wife’s room.
Without the slightest hesitation, he kicked off his shoes and slid in next to her.
Propping his head on one hand, he pushed back tendrils of hairs that had escaped the tidy braid she had fixed her hair in before coming in and let his touch lingered.
“Hey.” He whispered. “I just came from the nursery, and you did a bang up job.” Bending his head, he brushed his lips against her forehead. “They are healthy darling. The two babies are healthy and just waiting to meet their mama. I know you’re tired.”
His hands trembled slightly as he shifted so that he was lying on his side, facing her. “I don’t know how to thank you or fully reveal how much I love you for changing my life. But I promise that I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me.”
“Why don’t you start now?”
He jolted as her eyes flickered open and met his.
“Baby.” Gathering her against him, he breathed her in, his body shuddering.
*****
Two months later…
“What do you think?” Taking the car seat from her, he settled both babies securely into the twin stroller, making certain their heads were well supported.
It was a lovely spring morning, and they could hear birds chirping in the trees around them.
“it’s huge,” she murmured, staring at the red brick ranch type house with its graceful curves and arches. “How many bedrooms?”
He pushed the stroller alongside her as she moved towards it.
“Eight bedrooms, five suites and three singles. Chloe’s room is next to Caleb’s and the playroom is next to their rooms.”
“And Madelyn?” She studied the wraparound porch and admired the strong columns. Off to the left was an arbor with vines clinging to dazzling white lattice work. And behind it was a small bridge suspended over a brook.
“She’s comfortable with one of the suites.” Letting go of the stroller, he turned her to face him, studying her face closely. It had been a rough month for her after giving birth because of the postpartum depression.
But after therapy, she had snapped out of it and was now actively involved with her babies. Breast feeding had been a source of frustration for her, but that had been sorted out as well.
“We could put off moving until you feel up to it.”
“No.” Spreading her hands over his chest, she titled her head to look at him, her expression brimming over with love. He had been so patient with her.
Between him and his mother and the wonderful staff at the manor, they had stepped in when she was unable to handle anything. And her husband had been her greatest supporter. He had taken time off to be with her and their babies and never left her side.
It was only two weeks ago they had started making love again.
Going on her toes, she kissed him slowly, seductively, firing his blood. “We move as soon as possible. Have I told you lately what a wonderful husband and father you are?”
His eyes darkened. “I think you did last night.”
“Well, I’m doing it again.” She looked down at the sleeping babies. Her family, she thought. She had sent up several prayers of thanks and still it was not enough. “They will sleep through the entire morning.”
“After keeping us up most of the night.” Wrapping his arms around her now trimmed down waist, he hugged her to him. “Why don’t we start the tour of the house? Their nurseries are already set up.”
“And Rosie packed enough food to last several days.” She turned her head to look at him. “I think we should forgo the tour right now and just make our way into the bedroom.” His eyes smoldered. “Why Mrs. McGibbon, are you suggesting what I think you are?”
She turned into his arms, an impish smile on her lovely face. “I think we’re on the same page. I want to show my husband how much he means to me.”
“I think you have already done so, but who am I am to argue?”
Lifting the stroller gently to clear the steps, they went inside their home, their hearts racing in anticipation.
The end…