Chapter 8
Macie looked up from the computer, stretching sore muscles. She’ hadn’t made any progress today. She’d been trying to find new cargo weight issues, but so far, all of the flights to various parts of the world had landed within the expected range of fuel usage.
She’d noticed Ms. Kealy returning from wherever she’d gone earlier. But Macie had only deepened her focus on the task, relieved that Kyle had a fresh stack of diapers. The kid went through them at a terrifying rate!
In the back of her mind, Macie wondered if Edward was passing along the diaper changing duties to his housekeeper, but thought it was unlikely. Ms. Kealy had been gone for several hours. Kyle didn’t hold back on soiling diapers for that long.
“I need food!” she whispered to the office.
Stepping into the hallway, Macie ran into Ms. Kealy. “Oh goodness, ma’am,” the housekeeper greeted her with a laugh. “That boy of yours is simply marvelous!” She bustled down the hallway, heading back to the kitchen. “I got him plenty of supplies, including a basinet so that he’ll have a safe place to sleep. He also has new toys, several fresh outfits that I’ve already washed.” She moved to the fridge and began pulling out ingredients. “I also got a few extras, such as a bouncer and a new car seat. The car seat is already installed, so if ye need to head out for any reason, his lordship will be protected.”
Ms. Kealy continued to list the items she’d purchased as she put the finishing touches on dinner. “Dinner is ready. Ye just need to put it in the oven for thirty minutes.” She rubbed her hands over her apron, then reached behind her to untie it. “Is there anything else ye might need?”
Macie shook her head, stunned by how much the woman had accomplished so quickly. “No. That all sounds incredible. Thank you for your help.”
“Ah, ma’am, it is me pleasure!” She hung her apron on the hook behind a pantry door. “I’ll be back tomorrow. If there’s anything ye need, just ask His Grace te text it to me and I’ll have it fer ye tomorrow mornin’.”
Edward pressed his foot against the baby rocker where Kyle was sound asleep. The little rocker was a miracle! Kyle loved the little bounces and, after giving him a bottle, changing his diaper, and burping him, Kyle had fallen asleep. The rocker allowed Edward to watch him while he worked on his computer.
A movement to his left caught his eye and he looked up to see Macie step into the great room.
He didn’t speak, but pointed at Kyle. Macie came over to look at their son and Edward had a chance to watch Macie. She was still so stunningly beautiful and he enjoyed the way her fingers tucked her hair behind her ear.
She needed a manicure, he thought. Her nails were ragged and her hands looked raw. She must wash her hands often, which would make sense if she were cleaning bottles and washing her hands after every diaper change.
“Any news?” he asked, his voice low so he wouldn’t wake Kyle.
“No,” she sighed, sitting down on the sofa and looking down at Kyle. “I didn’t find anything new, but I need to look over the previous data to see if I can spot a pattern.”
“I think you should push that off until tomorrow,” he urged, taking her hand and kissing her fingertips. It was such an automatic gesture. Their weekend together a year ago had been all about touching and exploring each other. So, he should have anticipated the spark of need. But he was still surprised by the sharp intake of Macie’s breath and the way her head swiveled towards him.
Yes, it was there. Just like this morning. Macie still felt it. They have a child together, but the need, the passion, could still ignite at the smallest of touches.
She pulled her hand away and he didn’t object.
“Would you like a glass of …” he stopped when he noticed her grimace. “Right. No wine.”
She shrugged and looked down at Kyle. “Go ahead if you’d like a glass. I won’t mind.”
He sighed. “Macie, there’s zero chance that I’m going to drink a glass of wine while you deny yourself. You’ve already sacrificed so much for Kyle. I’m not going to torture you.”
“It’s okay. Really. I’ve gotten used to no alcohol.” Her lips pulled for a moment and she glanced at him, then quickly away. “Coffee was the hardest part. The headaches were vicious for a few days after I realized I was pregnant and had to stop drinking coffee.”
“You didn’t wean yourself off?”
She shook her head. “No. I read that caffeine constricts the blood vessels and I didn’t want to harm Kyle.”
“How did you choose the name?”
She looked at him again, her green eyes sharp. “You don’t like his name?”
“I like it. I just…” he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I want to know, Macie. I want to know everything.” He looked down at Kyle as he said, “I feel like I’ve missed out on so much.”
“I didn’t–”
He lifted a hand, stopping her protest. “I don’t blame you. Not at all. We left each other that weekend, both of us assuming that we’d never see each other again. That was what we’d talked about. Because of our past.”
“I know,” she whispered, lacing her fingers together. “I just….” She paused and looked at him with a chagrinned expression. “There’s an enormous amount of guilt that comes along with being a mother. I never feel as if I’ve done enough to keep him safe and healthy. I wonder if I should be doing more to stimulate his brain, or if I should be eating something that makes my breast milk healthier. If I’m feeding him too much or too little.” She sighed, leaning back against the sofa cushions and ran a hand through her hair. “I love taking him to the pediatrician because she always tells me he’s perfect.”
“What about you?” he asked, shifting so that he could watch her as easily as he kept an eye on his son.
Startled, Macie glanced over at him. “What about me?”
He reached out, gently touching the dark circles under her eyes. “What about your health? What did your doctor say about you?”
She laughed, her eyes moving to the ceiling. “I haven’t been to the doctor yet. I was supposed to go back after six weeks, but…” she sighed. “It’s just too difficult to get Kyle ready with all of his stuff, so I kept putting off making the appointment.”
Edward twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. “I can get a doctor out here tomorrow if that will ease your mind.”
Macie smiled at him, unconsciously leaning her head closer to his touch. “That’s okay. I’m not in pain so I’m okay with skipping this particular visit.”
He disagreed, but let this issue slide. For now.
“Are you hungry?”
She looked down at Kyle again. “I’m actually starving,” she admitted. “What’s for dinner? I saw Ms. Kealy put something into the oven, but she didn’t reveal what it was.”
He stood up and lifted Kyle, bouncy seat and all. “Let’s go find out, shall we?”
Dinner that evening was a fun affair. Kyle was in love with his new bouncy chair and waved his little limbs to make the chair bounce as he giggled happily. When he grew tired of that game, Edward snapped the toy arch over the top and allowed Kyle to explore the items while he and Macie ate a chicken and rice casserole that was perfectly spiced with just enough zip, but nothing that might cause Kyle to reject her breast milk.
“Would you like to bathe him?” Macie asked after they’d put the dishes into the dishwasher and cleaned up the kitchen.
Edward looked startled. “Really? You’d trust me to do that with him?”
Macie nodded her head. “Sure. I know that you’ll be careful with him. And he loves his bath time. But he also loves to splash around, so consider this your warning.”
Edward nodded, chuckling as they walked up the stairs to the primary suite bathroom. “Sean told me about the first time he gave his son, Declan, a bath. His wife, well, his soon-to-be-fiancée at the time, didn’t warn him about how much Declan enjoyed the water. He was drenched by the time Declan was finished with his bath.”
“Oh, that was mean of her,” she replied feeling a spark of jealousy.
They went into the bathroom and Macie gave him a few instructions, then perched on the side of the shower, the tub being too large and too deep, so that she could watch Edward bathe their son.
“Oh, you like that, huh?” Edward teased, using a washcloth to gently soap all of Kyle’s little body parts. Kyle loved the shower and waved his hands and feet as if he were in heaven.
Which meant that Edward got wet as well. “Oh, you think that’s funny?” he said, holding Kyle with one hand while he reached behind his head and…pulled his shirt off, tossing it to the floor.
This wasn’t something Macie had expected or anticipated. She stared at the rippling muscles on Edward’s back, remembering how good it felt to touch him there when he…while he…oh, dear heaven! He’d been deep inside of her, making her scream out his name while her fingernails raked over Edward’s powerful back.
She hadn’t seen his back at the time. She’d only seen his chest. Or the mattress, depending on what angle he was thrusting into her from.
Macie shivered as the memories washed over her.
He must have sensed her shiver because Edwards looked up at her. “Are you okay?”
“Fine!” she quickly assured him. Probably too quickly, she realized when he stared at her for a moment.
Thankfully, he returned his attention to Kyle, who was wiggling in delight at the water.
“So you like water and horses, eh?” Edward soothed, taking the water spout and rinsing him off. Kyle closed his eyes, giggling in a way that only the innocent could laugh.
“Horses?” she asked, her heart thudding against her ribs. Because Kyle had gone out to the stables? Or because she loved the idea of Edward introducing Kyle to large, wonderful animals?
“We went outside today while you were working just to say hello to the stable residents.” He turned and smiled at her as he wrapped Kyle in the dry towel. “Will you come out with us tomorrow? Kyle truly enjoyed the experience. He likes to pet Sanford’s nose.”
“Who is Sanford?” she asked.
“He’s a gelding that is a special favorite of mine. He’s about twenty hands and a powerful beast. When I brought Kyle over to the fence, Sanford sniffed Kyle all over. And Kyle ran his hand over the horse’s nose. It was love at first sight.”
“That sounds…amazing,” she replied, trying to hold back the tears.
He stood up, Kyle cradled in his arms. “Hey,” he paused, looking down at Macie. “What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
“Not at all!” she assured him and took Kyle. Quickly, she dressed Kyle in a warm onsie and found a place to nurse him.
Edward watched her and she felt self-conscious for a long moment while she rocked their son while he nursed. “I’ll be right back,” he announced.
Macie watched him walk out of the bedroom, her eyes never leaving his tight butt in the jeans until she couldn’t see him anymore.
Moments later, Edward returned to the bedroom carrying a small, portable bassinet. He set it in the corner, then turned and walked back to her. Macie looked down to discover that Kyle was fast asleep. With a relieved sigh, Macie lifted him up, carefully closing the nursing bra as she carried Kyle over to the bassinet. “Thanks for this,” she whispered to him.
Edward stood there, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched. When Kyle was in the bassinet, he took Macie’s arm and led her into the next room. “Okay, talk to me Macie. What did I do wrong?”
For a long moment, she just stood there, looking at him. When she looked into his eyes, she knew that he wasn’t going to drop the subject. “I just…,” she paused, trying to understand why she’d gotten so sad all of a sudden.
“You missed something important in Kyle’s life,” he filled in. “You were eager to get back to work, but now you missed something important.”
She stared up at him, stunned that he was so perceptive. “Yeah. That’s exactly it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, wrapping his free arm around her.
“Also, it really irritates me that everything with you and Kyle seems so effortless! I struggled every damn day when I brought him home from the hospital!” she raged, pulling away from him and putting several feet of space between them. “I cried almost every day from exhaustion and frustration, terrified that I was going to kill my baby!” She sniffed, wiping a tear from her cheek. “And yet, I bring this helpless little boy to your home and you take him into your arms and everything just…works! You haven’t struggled at all! It’s just not fair!”
He grimaced. “Did I mention that he peed on me?” he asked. “Twice?”
“He…did?” Macie asked, gazing up at him with hope in her eyes.
“Yep. It took two diaper changes this morning before I figured out to put something over his…uh…private parts.” He tilted his head towards the shirt still on the floor. “That’s the third shirt today.”
“Yes!” she gasped. “Yes, that definitely makes me feel better!”
“Plus, I didn’t have any problems bathing Kyle because you were right here, showing me what to do.” He moved closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “You’re there for us, Macie. If I had to figure out all of the right things to do and not do, on my own, I’d be a basket case by now. Also, remember that Ms. Kealy purchased everything I might need for Kyle. She’s on her seventh grandchild, so she knew that I’d need a small bath tub, tiny wash cloths, and gentle soap. If she hadn’t done that for me, I don’t think I could have bathed Kyle. And if it weren’t for you saying that it was bath time, I wouldn’t have thought to give him one. He’s a tiny baby. How dirty can he get?”
Macie sniffed and leaned against him, absorbing the warmth and security of his gentle embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered, as her tears disappeared. She pulled away and shook her head. “Thank you for that. I just…sometimes, the hormones get the best of me.”
Edward pulled back, staring at her as if she’d just lost her head. “What just happened?” he asked, almost nervous now.
Macie laughed and wiped her tears again. “Seriously, the post pregnancy hormones make me nuts. You should have seen me right after I came home from the hospital. I was a wreck!”
He pulled her close again so her cheek rested against his chest. “What can I do to help, Macie?” he asked, sincerity making his voice huskier.
Macie leaned into him, allowing her arms to sneak around his waist. “You’re doing it,” she whispered. “I haven’t felt safe in weeks, Edward.” She squeezed her eyes closed, hugging him tightly. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to be here, to know that Kyle is safe.”
“Always, Macie!” he whispered, leaning his head against the top of her head. “I wish you’d contacted me when all of this mess started, but,” he sighed and looked to the bassinet where their tiny son was sound asleep. “I understand why you didn’t feel that you could.”
“Thank you,” she said and tilted her head back. “I appreciate your understanding.”
Pulling back, Macie became aware of the pulsing energy between them.
“We should…?”
“Yeah,” he replied, but didn’t nod his head. They stared at each other, feeling the throbbing awareness between them. Neither moved. Neither stepped away, but nor did they come closer.
“We’re not doing this again,” Macie whispered, but her traitorous hand, which had been resting around his waist, moved slightly. The shock of her fingers sliding over his back sent ripples of desire between them. The throbbing awareness burned hotter still as Macie’s breath caught in her lungs.
She held her breath, praying Edward would kiss her. When he didn’t move, not even to breathe, she knew that he was waiting. Waiting for her to decide.
“Will you…kiss me?” she whispered, praying he wouldn’t reject her.
There was a low, almost savage, growl. And then Edward crushed her against him, kissing her without restrain. She felt his hand dive into her hair, twisting the strands so that he could tilt her head back as he deepened the kiss.
Macie hadn’t realized how badly she needed his kiss, his touch, until he was kissing her. She was hyper aware of every inch of him against her. His hard chest pressed against her breasts, making her nipples tingle and tighten.
His hand slipped underneath her sweater and the sensation made her gasp and arch against him. “Oh, Edward!” she hissed, her hand moving from his waist to his arm. “Do that again!”
Edward couldn’t believe that she was here in his arms. How many nights had he lain in bed thinking about her? Too often. But the reality was a hell of a lot better than his fantasies! Pulling her higher up against him, he groaned as he felt her soft, full breasts against his chest. “You’re so damn beautiful, Macie!”
“Please touch me, Edward!” she cried out, rubbing against him.
He nearly lost his mind when she did that. Reaching down lower, he picked her up by the backs of her thighs. Immediately, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Walking towards his bedroom was a challenge since every step meant that her hot core pressed against his aching erection. He needed her naked. Correction, he needed to be inside her!
Laying her down on his bed, he looked at her, enjoying the image of Macie in his bed, right where he’d pictured her so many times. Her hair spread out over the white duvet cover, her green eyes watching him, glistening with a need equal to his own.
“Are you sure, Macie?” he asked.
“Yes!” she sighed, running her hands over her stomach. Then she pulled the sweater over her head and tossed it away. He watched, fascinated with her movements. When the sweater was gone, she didn’t hesitate to reach behind her and release the hooks on her bra. It wasn’t the sexiest bra he’d ever seen, but when she pulled it away, revealing her now-large breasts to his hungry eyes, he knew that this was the sexiest woman he’d ever held in his arms.
Macie lay back down on the bed, her hands sliding back up her bare stomach to cup her breasts. “What are you waiting for?” she asked, her thumbs teasing her nipples.
“Damn, Macie!” he groaned, his fingers not deft enough to get his slacks off quickly, but when he was finally free, he grasped his erection with one hand. “Do that again!”
She did and Edward was fairly certain that several of his brain cells were burned to dust. That was before she wiggled out of her leggings and panties.
Naked now, he stared at her, noting the changes in her body. “Your pregnancy only made you more beautiful,” he said with complete honesty. His finger traced one of the silver lines on her stomach. “Was it difficult?”
She shook her head. “The last six weeks of the pregnancy was a challenge, but otherwise, no.”
“Good,” he said, then lowered his head, kissing her stomach, his lips and fingers exploring her stomach and hips, moving higher as he got to know her body all over again. He leaned into the feeling of her fingers in his hair. Then her hands moved to his shoulders, her nails scratching lightly over his skin. It added a touch of a zing, which magnified his lust.
He moved his attention to a nipple, devouring the taut peak. All of his attention was focused on that nipple and her breast, teasing the peak, tasting it, laving it with his tongue, nipping at the tip before soothing with his lips. Over and over, urged on by her gasps and wiggles, he teased and tasted, enjoyed the sensation of her breasts and her need that ramped up higher with every teasing nip.
“More!” she whispered, then lifted her head to nip at his earlobe. Edward might have groaned, or the sound could have come from Macie when he moved to her other breast.
He felt every movement of her body as he moved to her neck, pausing to suck on that spot he’d discovered a year ago before moving to her shoulders. Yeah, he remembered that too. There was a spot on her right shoulder that tickled when they weren’t making love, but turned her on even more when…yes!
“Edward!” she hissed, trying to move away from him nipping at that secret spot of hers. But he was stronger, his throaty laugh warning her that she couldn’t get away now.
“Keep doing that,” he urged, tangling his legs between hers. “I love it when you try to evade me.”
The sound she gave him was a cross between a chuckle and a moan of pleasure. So he kissed that spot again before moving lower. And lower! Damn, he loved the way she squirmed! Other women he’d had sex with had done a sort of sensual slide of their legs and body against him. That had been nice, but Macie wiggled. There was no other description for the small little shivers and shifts. He adored it! It was so hot, the way she wiggled and gasped when he touched her. He’d never known a woman quite so stimulating.
“Now, Edward! Please, don’t make me wait!”
He looked up at her, green eyes clashing with his own gaze. She must have correctly interpreted the look and shook her head. “Next time,” she whispered, sliding her fingers through his hair again. “Right now, I need you inside me.”
Edward didn’t need any more urging. He reached into his bedside table and grabbed a condom. Rolling it down over his shaft, he watched her, enjoying the way she encouraged him by stroking her hands over her stomach and upper thighs.
Just watching her made his head spin with wild desire. He didn’t want to lose control this early in the game. So when the condom was on, he grabbed her hands and lifted them up over her head. “You’re mine, Macie!” he growled, feeling her legs open for him. Her knees bent and her hips lifted, silently inviting him into her heat.
He was suddenly aware that she had given birth to their son only months ago. So instead of pounding into her as he’d done in the past, he gently eased just the tip of his shaft into her, then pulled out. Macie gave a little yelp of objection, but before she could fully protest, he’d sunk into her a few more inches, then pulled out again.
“Don’t tease me, Edward!” she moaned, turning her head to the side.
“Look at me, Macie,” he commanded, his voice rough as his own need tightened.
Only when those sparkling green eyes looked up at him did he finally sink into her body, inch by slow inch. When he was finally deeply embedded in her heat, he watched her face, noting her mouth open in…surprise? Awe? He couldn’t focus enough to interpret that look. Not with her inner muscles clenching around him tighter while her hips rolled enticingly, urging him to move.
“You’re so damn gorgeous!” he blurted, gazing at her pink tipped breasts and her dark hair spread out over his bed.
But her next wiggle nearly made his head explode. He wasn’t sure what Macie had done, but it shot a bolt of lust through his body. There was no more teasing now. He pulled back, then thrust into her, trying to be careful, but whatever the hell she was doing to his shaft, he couldn’t concentrate enough to be gentle any longer. Thrusting into that tight, hot core, he moved, trying to give her as much pleasure as his electrified mind could offer.
He lifted her leg so that it draped over his arm. This position opened her up further to his thrusts and he angled his body so that every shift of his body rubbed against that nub. Her cries intensified, but because he had her in this position, she couldn’t really move. She was completely at his mercy, only able to accept the pleasure he gave her. So when her body tightened around him, he knew that she was close. Increasing his thrusts, he moved faster, lowering his body so that she felt more, was imprisoned by his thrusts until…she cried out as her release overwhelmed her. Macie’s fingernails dug into his arms as she clung to him, the waves of pleasure washing over her.
Edward wanted to give her another climax, but the way she moved and the flush that pinkened her breasts took him over the edge. He roared as his own orgasm hit him like a sledgehammer, nearly knocking him out. He clung to her, thrusting again and again, giving both of them as much pleasure as possible before collapsing on top of her.
Her soft sigh sent sizzles of awareness over his skin. But he was also conscious of his weight on her so he pulled her closer, then rolled over so that she was on top. He felt her head drop onto his chest and was conscious of every breath as he stroked her back.
Edward wanted to run his fingers through her hair, to caress her and enjoy the feeling of her incredibly soft skin under his fingers. But there was no energy left after that explosive climax. He was wiped out.
Obviously Macie was as well since she didn’t move. Not an inch. He smiled as his “rag doll” huffed a bit. Hell, he felt as if he could feel her blink, the connection so intense.
His woman. Macie was his woman! The thought didn’t make his skin crawl like it had with previous women when they’d asked for more than a brief affair. In fact, the thought of a future with Macie actually energized him. Enough that he could lift a hand to slide his palm over her thigh and bottom. Damn, she had a great ass! Her butt was a perfect handful! Everything about Macie was perfect. For him!
Before he could truly question what he was thinking, Macie fell asleep. He grinned at the ceiling. There was something empowering in a woman as strong and confident as Macie trusting him to keep her safe.
Stroking her hair, he carefully shifted her body so that she was spooned up against him. But he abandoned the warmth of her body for a brief moment to wash up. When he came back, he pulled the blankets over them and snuggled her into his arms again. Then Edward closed his eyes and allowed himself to find sleep, dreaming of making love to her all over again.