Chapter 14 #2
Laughing softly, Eliza linked her hand through Sally's arm. "The miracle of having those babies. I think it's time for dessert. Fruit cake and ice cream."
*****
"Your husband is more approachable. Fatherhood has mellowed him. I made a joke and to my surprise, it had him laughing." Plucking a canapé from the tray Lyka-Mae had brought in, Blair made himself comfortable on the rocker in front of the fireplace.
Casting him a wry glance, Eliza stretched her legs out languidly and closed her eyes briefly. "My husband can be friendly when he has a mind to. It's just that he doesn't allow a lot of people to get the chance to know him."
"You're telling me," Blair muttered. "You look unbelievably gorgeous by the way. It's hard to believe that you carried four babies inside that body of yours, just three months ago."
"Jeff might be a sick son of a bitch, but he's the best." She patted her now flat stomach in wonder. "He worked me like a horse, but the result is well worth it."
"And you're happy," he observed.
"I am," she concurred easily. "Except for the person who's determined to make me think otherwise." She sighed softly. "Sometimes I find myself wishing I was some ordinary woman, living an unexceptional life."
Blair shook his head. "One, you could never be ordinary, and two, you would not have been able to afford four babies. And you were born to be a mother."
She stared over at the mobile cots where her four babies were being rocked by the people surrounding them.
"And I don't regret them one bit. They're thriving.
Over the last couple of weeks, there were several scares.
Sofia had an ear infection and Jeremy and Jason had a temperature.
I know we have a long road ahead of us and there will be health issues, hopefully nothing dire, please God!
But I love them and do not mind getting up at two in the morning to feed and change their diapers.
Samuel was wondering if we should hire temps to take Maeve's and Mary-Ann's places until they return, but I said no.
And he's so good with them." A smile touched her lips.
"He has no problem getting up and helping.
Lyka-Mae too. She deserves the very hefty bonus she received. "
Taking her hand, Blair lifted it to his lips. "You're going to be fine. Those children are going to be fine too. The cops are going to find that mad woman or man and put them away. That's my holiday wish for you."
"Your lips to God's ears," she told him fervently.
*****
"Are we spending the night in here?"
"We just might. The sleep chair is very comfortable."
She was curled up in her husband's arms, her eyes already drifting shut. The babies were finally down for the count, and she had a feeling they were going to sleep until morning. It was a little past midnight before their guests left and they had kept the babies up.
"We should go to bed. Our bed."
"Hmm." Samuel rubbed his hand up and down her thighs, feeling the familiar stirring of desire. "We should. I want to make love to my wife."
"It's after midnight," she pointed out.
"So?" He was already pulling her zipper down.
"Samuel, stop! We're in Sofia's room."
"She's sleeping and even if she was wide awake, she would not have a clue what her parents were up to." He slid the shoulders off her, exposing her skin. "You smell nice."
"Thanks." Giving up, she allowed him to take the dress off. The low murmur of appreciation in his throat when he saw what was underneath had her smiling.
"They're new."
"And really appreciated. What do you call this color?"
"Periwinkle."
"There's barely anything there." He ran his fingers over the whisper of lace that scarcely covered her soft, full breasts. Trailing a hand down her flat stomach, he felt the jolt going straight through him at the quivering muscles. "The mark is still there."
"It always will be. You said you didn't mind it."
"I don't. It fascinates me." He looked into her eyes. "It's a mark of perfection."
She sent him a puzzled frown, the heat climbing through her body momentarily forgotten. "You mean imperfection."
He shook his head, finger tracing the incision. "No. Perfection. A sign of what was done to bring our babies into the world. To me that's perfect."
Emotions stormed through her at his hoarse admission.
"Samuel. I love you," she whispered huskily.
"I do believe I love you more." His hands cupped her breasts, making her gasp as he used his thumbs to create magic on her nipples.
"The monitor," she moaned, some fleeting part of her mind remembering that Lyka-Mae had one in her room.
"What about it?"
"The housekeeper…"
"You're saying she's probably listening to us right now?" His thumbs circled the nipples in slow erotic movements, sending heat straight to the core of her.
"Yes."
"Then we should probably go to the privacy of our suite." Putting his hands under her buttocks, he rose. She had the presence of mind to grab the dress he had tossed aside.