Chapter 16 #2
Nestled between Scots pine, Birch, oak and willow trees, with wildflowers growing in abundance, the air was crisp and clean and wonderfully bracing.
It was a perfect setting to reveal her news, and she had planned it to the last detail.
Not even the feeling of jet lag and extreme fatigue was going to stop her.
She was accustomed to time differences, but she supposed the excitement of the wedding, the preparations, the frantic effort to get the building for her firm ready had taken its toll.
Not to mention, she was six weeks pregnant.
The caretaker had prepared the cottage and there were the scent of fresh linen and vanilla permeating the air.
Sweeping her into his arms, Kenneth carried his bride over the threshold and headed straight to the bedroom.
He had also made arrangements of his own.
As soon as they stepped into the large and cozy room, she let out a gasp of pure pleasure.
The bed was strewn with rose petals. A low fire was burning in the hearth even though it was June and champagne nestled in ice on the bedside table.
A mournful Irish limerick was playing on the old-fashioned gramophone, setting the mood.
"What do you think?" He still had her snuggled in his arms and was not about to let her go.
"I think you get husband of the year award."
It thrilled him to hear her call him husband and wondered if he would ever get used to it. She was his. They had made vows to that effect, and they were joined as one. He would never forget that.
"Just the year?" He finally put her down on the edge of the bed.
"The century, Decade." She flitted her fingers over the soft petals. "How did you manage all of this?"
He grinned and set about taking off her boots.
They had left right after the ceremony, well, in the middle of it and had been travelling most of the evening and into the night.
Now they were here in Dingle with the sun going down and casting a rosy glow through the thin blue curtains.
He was hoping she was not exhausted. He wanted his wedding night.
Had been looking forward to it for what seemed like ages.
She moaned and stretched as his clever fingers rubbed and massaged out the kinks.
"Tired?"
Opening her eyes, she saw the question in his and shook her head. "Never too tired for that. And I want my wedding night."
His blood thickened and it took all of his effort not to simply tear the clothing from her body and drive himself into her.
He had been starved from having her for two days.
Two whole days because he had had to take a quick trip out of the country to tie up some business and her friend along with the women in town had insisted on throwing her a bridal shower.
Now he was alone with her, he could not wait.
Taking a deep breath, he finished massaging her feet and set about taking her clothes off. He would be patient and gentle, until he couldn't, he decided.
"Let me." Brushing away his hands, she unbuttoned his green cotton shirt, pulling it open and spreading her hands over his chest.
"I love you."
His quick sharp breath had her tilting her head to look at him.
Their vows had been significant and loaded with promises and the emotions had been so dangerously near to the surface that they had stumbled over the words several times.
The reception at the manor had been a blur.
They had managed to get through it until he insisted on them leaving.
There had been a thunderous clap of approval when they left.
"I will never tire of hearing it." He sucked in a breath when her hands glided down to unhook his slacks.
It's a good thing he had not bothered to wear any belt.
When she reached in to cup his throbbing warmth, heat shot through his already aroused body like a sharp piercing sword.
She had gotten bold, he thought dazedly as she rubbed the reddened tip.
"I love the feel of you."
"If you don't cut it out, I'm going to have a premature wedding night." His breath was strangled, his body shuddering. His eyes narrowed at the smug smile on her lovely face. It was one of a woman who knew without a hint of doubt that she had her man. And she did.
Taking matters into his own hands, he removed hers and made fast work of taking off the rest of his clothes.
It was going to be quick after all, he thought as the passion raced through his body like quicksilver.
Tumbling her back, he remembered to sweep away the colorful quilt, scattering rosebuds.
He followed her down, his mouth already cruising over her cheek, chin and then ravishing her throat.
By the time he got to her breast, she was writhing, fingers racing down her back.
He adored the scent of her, the exotic perfume, mixed with the musky smell of her arousal.
He could happily drown in them. He relished the tremors racing through her body as he nipped, tasted and finally pulled the nipple into his mouth. He suckled hungrily.
He would never get enough. No matter how much time he had her, it would never be enough. Reaching between them, he pressed his palm down over her sex, jolting when she reared up, her body arched, the climax coming like a swift blow to his solar plexus.
"Now! Oh God! Oh God! Kenneth, I cannot bear it.
" Her voice was a ragged whisper, her slender curves writhing from the after effect.
She was wet and silky. His fingers dipped into the familiar warmth, and he wanted to shout out in victory.
She was his, all his and would be for the rest of their lives. She came again. She could not help it.
The climax seemed to start from the tip of her toes and then travelled up until she was surrounded by heat and flames. He covered her body with his in one fluid motion. The tears on her cheeks humbled him. Linking her fingers with his, he lifted them over her head and bent to kiss the moisture.
His mouth covered hers as he started to move, slowly at first and then increasing the pace until their flesh slithered and slid against each other's, the moisture from their sweat mingling.
Ending the kiss for fear of suffocating them both, he stared into her eyes, wanting to watch hers go blind.
His were blurry, body burning and rushing towards the release that was just on the edge.
Then he was racing, up, up, up, soaring towards the finish line.
His body was braced for it, but even then, it took him completely by surprise.
The climax had vicious little teeth that tore into his flesh, shredding his control.
He heard a cry and then another and realized he was the one calling out her name as he crashed.
He took her with him and for a few minutes they just laid there, breathing ragged and bodies shaking.
He managed to shift, even though he was as weak as a kitten, but he didn't want to crush her.
Flopping back on the pillows, he stared up at the plain pattern of the ceiling as he struggled to regain some sort of control.
When she moved to curl around him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her ear. "I think I just died."
She laughed huskily, fingers curling into the damp hairs on his chest. "I think that's my line." Lifting her head, she brushed a lock of hair clinging to his forehead.
"We never talked about children."
He lifted one brow and wondered if there was another man on God's earth who was as happy as he was right now. He doubted it.
"I think I mentioned when I was trying to bully you into marrying me that I want to have a family with you."
"How soon?"
He shrugged. "There's no hurry. You just started your practice and..." He gave her a narrow-eyed stare. "Why're you asking?"
Her smile was angelic, eyes glowing. "How about January, the first week, give or take a day or two."
He went absolutely still for a few seconds as he continued to stare at her.
"You're..." He had to clear his throat. "Darling..." His tone was thick, his throat clogged. "Is it too soon?"
"It's right on time." She announced cheerfully.
Swinging on top of him, she wrapped her hands around his neck as he shoved up against the pillows so he could sit.
And peered at her anxiously. "Are you okay baby?
" He tilted her chin up to examine her face thoroughly.
"You were so busy..." His anxiety deepened.
"Is it too much? Should we be flying all over the place? Have you been to the doctor? Who..."
He stopped when she placed a long finger over his lips.
"I'm doing wonderful. The morning sickness has not started yet.
It's not too much and there's no reason for us not to enjoy ourselves.
I fully intend to, and I want to see all the places you promised to show me.
It's Dr. Lucy Galbraith and she's local.
Before you ask, I'm sticking with her, she's warm and seems to know what she's doing.
We've actually become friends." Her tapered brows lifted. "Does that answer all of it?"
"For now, yes." He pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "I adore you." He whispered fiercely.
"Show me." She demanded. And he did.
*****
She was giving instructions to her legal assistant, one hand placed protectively over the bulge of her stomach while she talked. When the door burst open as if on cue, she smiled at her harried husband.
"You said you were in labor." He lifted the small carry bag and barely acknowledged the woman taking notes at her desk.
"I am." She took a deep breath to level out the pain as another contraction came and went. "My water broke a minute ago."
He and the assistant gave her stupefied glances. Dashing across the room, he scooped her into his arms and headed for the door. The assistant raced after them with the bag.
"Remind me to have a discussion with you about this." He gritted as he laid her carefully onto the seat and strapped her in.
Easing back the seat, she turned her head to send him an adoring look. "Lucy is already at the clinic. Everything is ready, including our son."
He spared her a glance as he navigated traffic. "We're definitely going to have a discussion."
*****
Their son, Kayden Christopher arrived two hours after she was prepped and wheeled into the delivery room and was a very easy birth.
The three men stood just inside the nursery staring at the newest edition to the family.
The baby's hair was sparse, face wrinkled but showing definite signs of being a Tierney.
"He's got our noses and shape of the lips." Kevin could not believe the love pouring from him.
"He's ours all right." Kingsley's chest was swelling with both pride and love. Lifting a hand to his son's shoulder, he patted it. "You did good."
"All thanks to my beautiful wife." He had to swallow the lump that had become lodged inside his throat.
"Well now, I think you had a little something to do with it." Kevin slid him a grin. "Leave us to start spoiling this tyke and go see to your wife."
When he walked back into the private room, she was wearing a turquoise robe and a beaming smile. "How's our son?"
"I was booted out of the nursery." He crossed to the bed and taking off his shoes, slid in next to her.
She smelled exotic and familiar, but there was something else.
Motherhood. It sat so well on her. Gathering her close, he held on tight, his chest heaving.
"I will never get tired of saying it. I love you. "
She melted against him. "And I will never get tired of hearing it." She whispered back.
The end…