His Forbidden Heart Page 7

  "I'm exhausted," I said.

  "Me too."

  On cue, we both yawned.

  "Are you happy with your room?" he asked as I stood up.

  "It's beautiful."

  "And not too close to mine." He laughed. "That way you won't hear me snoring."

  We laughed again, albeit awkwardly.

  "Well... goodnight."

  "Goodnight, wife."

  Hearing the word come from his lips sounded absurd but at the same time, it warmed me. There was a tremendous sense of safety that came from knowing I was somebody's wife. I was taken care of, and no matter what, I'd always have someone by my side.

  "See you in the morning, husband."

  He chuckled and leaned back in his seat. As I walked away, leaving him alone at the table, a feeling of guilt swelled inside me. I shouldn't be leaving him alone, I thought. But what should I do? I’m not inviting him up.

  But as I ascended the stairs, looking over my shoulder at him as he sparked a cigar, I couldn't help but feel I'd like him to make his way to my bedroom.

  “This qualifies as a special occasion, doesn’t it?” He asked.

  “I don’t think so– please get that thing out of the house!”

  He threw me an amused look and made his way toward the side door. I left the door open as I slept, hoping I'd wake up to him peeling back the covers, but I never did.

  ~

  My alarm rang in my ear at six o'clock like it always did and I rolled over and swiped my phone off the edge of the bed. It continued to ring on the carpet.

  "Urgh..."

  For a moment, I still thought I was in bed at the farmhouse and envisioned myself jumping in the shower and heading off to the office. But as I opened my eyes and saw the plush furnishings, I realized I couldn't be further away from the farmhouse.

  "Oh my God, I got married yesterday!" I said to myself as I sat up.

  A hangover was thumping at my temples. I groaned as I slipped off the side of the bed and pulled on my robe. I glanced at the baby monitor, expecting to see Gracie fast asleep but when I saw an empty bed, I felt my stomach lurch.

  Rushing down the hall toward the nursery, I burst through the door and saw that she was gone, along with her favorite blanket and toy elephant.

  "Gracie!"

  I couldn't begin to guess where she was. She couldn't have climbed out of her crib; she was too small.

  "Gracie!"

  Throwing open doors, I tried to see if somehow she had snuck into a spare bedroom or a bathroom.

  "Maxwell!"

  It wasn't until I got halfway down the stairs that I heard her laugh. Peering over the banister, I caught sight of her in the kitchen, giggling away in her highchair with a face covered in oatmeal.

  "Feel free to come join us," said Maxwell as he noticed me. "But of course you're more than welcome to watch us through the banister."

  As I entered the kitchen, I was greeted by the smell of coffee and eggs.

  "She's a good eater, isn’t' she?"

  He raised a spoon up in front of her face.

  "Ready for the airplane?" He beamed, and she laughed even louder before opening her mouth. "Good girl!"

  "I knew you didn't hate babies," I said as I sat down beside him.

  You'd be forgiven for thinking we were just a regular family, just a normal couple of newlyweds with a baby. He didn't reply. Instead, he just gave me an apologetic smile.

  "It's nice to have someone to wake up to, isn't it?" he said.

  I felt my bottom lip wobble with the urge to cry.

  "If every morning was like this, it would be heaven."

  Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I stood up and walked over to pour myself a coffee. I could hear the two of them behind me, burbling at each other and laughing. It was all a bit too perfect to process in my mind. I knew I should be happy, and I was. But at the same time, it was all a bit much. Gracie had a father now, and I was a wealthy wife in this enormous house. It was all so fast, so sudden. I needed to pinch myself.

  I turned around and sniffed, watching the two act as though they'd always known each other. The iciness in his eyes had vanished and in its place was a feeling of love and warmth. I found myself responding to him, feeling as though I wanted to hold him, kiss him, adore him like a proper wife should.

  Chapter 12

  “Good evening Mrs. Corbin,” said Margie with a wink as she stepped into the hall. “I trust you had an… entertaining wedding night.”

  “It was quiet,” I said, eager to divert her line of conversation. “Same as tonight I’d imagine. Still feeling the wrath of Eugene’s homemade brew from last night.”

  “You’ll get used to it,” snickered Margie as she made her way through to the living room.

  Gracie had her toys sprawled out on the floor. She looked up at the old woman and gave her a little wave.

  “Thank you,” I said. “I hope you don’t mind me making you babysit all the time. It’s just that- “

  “Don’t say another word. It’s a pleasure, really it is. Now I’ll have her back first thing in the morning. It’s important you and Maxwell get to know each other.”

  “It’ll be nothing fancy,” I said. “Just cooking him dinner and opening a nice bottle of wine.”

  “Well you have a terrific night,” she said with another wink. “Take it easy now.”

  ~

  I was standing in the bedroom when I saw his car slink its way up the driveway. In a knee-length, black dress that clung to my hips, I stepped into some heels and ran a slick of lipstick over my mouth.

  This feels very strange, I thought.

  But as I heard his key in the lock of the front door, butterflies began floating around my stomach.

  “Hello?” he called out. “Wow, something smells good.”

  “Hi!”

  I descended the stairs to see him flinging his keys on the hallway table. He looked up to say hi and did a double take.

  “Woah. You look great.”

  “It’s nice to see you home early.”

  He paused for a second and took in every inch of my appearance, his eyes resting on the curve of my hips.

  “What’s the special occasion?”

  “Well, we’re married now, … and we haven’t really had the chance to hang out, just the two of us. You went straight back to work, and I’ve been at home with Gracie all day.”

  He raised an eyebrow, his signature haughty look of contemplation.

  “Just the two of us?”

  “Gracie’s with Margie. We’ve got the house to ourselves.”

  I kissed his cheek and gave him a quick hug. When I pulled away, he licked his lips, his eyes shining.

  “I made lasagna,” I said. “And opened a bottle of Chateau Margeaux.”

  “You’re a star,” he said. “Are you going to greet me home like this every night?”

  ~

  “Stephanie, you’re a master chef,” he said, dabbing a napkin to the corners of his mouth. “Where did you learn to cook like that?”

  “It’s simple really. I love to eat, so I had to learn to cook.”

  He took a sip of wine and relaxed back in his seat.

  "Last night was great, wasn't it?"

  "Amazing."

  His face was glowing with his eyes glittering.

  "I never thought I could be happy again," he said. "But I think I am now. Sorry, that sounded so awkward. What I mean is, I know this has all been a bit crazy, but I really think we could work."

  "You really think so?"

  "Don't you?"

  I thought for a second. I'd been thinking the same thing all day, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't just caught in the excitement of the wedding. I had to be sure what I was feeling was real, but with the memory of him with Gracie still fresh in my mind, I knew the very least I could do was give it my all.

  "We can work," I said. "I'm sure of it."

  Beneath the table, his leg bumped into mine, but I didn't move away. Instead, I let my knee
rest against his thigh as I enjoyed the sensation of his warmth. When his hand slipped down to touch my leg, I felt the butterflies return.

  "Can I kiss you?" he asked.

  It was such an innocent question from such a powerful man. So many men wouldn't have tried to be so tactful. So many would have seen it as their right to do as they pleased with me, but he was still gentle, still slightly nervous.

  "I've been waiting for you to ask."

  He walked around the table and looked down at me, his hands gripping the sides of my face as he raised my gaze to him. Gradually, he leaned down until his breath was warm on my lips. I closed my eyes and waited, eager to feel him on me, ready to know what he tasted like.

  When his lips met mine, it sent a ripple of electricity through me from my core to my scalp. Any doubts I had about him soon dissipated. I kissed him back harder, my fingers tangling themselves in his hair. Together we caught fire and kissed for several more minutes.

  He pulled away for a second and took in a deep lungful of air.

  "Would you like to -"

  "I want to."

  "Are you-"

  "I'm sure. I want to."

  His arms coiled around my waist as we embraced, kissing as we stumbled up the stairs. When we blustered through the door of his bedroom, I wasn't sure if I was intoxicated by the wine or his touch.

  When we both tumbled down onto his bed, I realized it was only him.

  I rolled on top of him, kissing him harder as he lifted my dress off my body. Then he pushed me off him and rolled me onto my back, pushing me down into the bed, playfully but dominantly. The smirk had returned to his face. He loved being in control.

  I savored the feeling of his weight on me, as he kissed me, moving down to my neck, then my collar bones, and eventually working his way to my breasts…he was tender but eager. My God I was getting so aroused. How had we not known we would have this kind of chemistry before? How had we waited so long?

  "I want to know what you taste like," I said.

  He unzipped his pants and raised his hips so his member was close to my mouth. I reached around, grabbing his ass with one hand, and positioning him with the other. I felt the hotness of his skin against my tongue. He groaned as I lapped at him and took him fully into my mouth, moving and sucking and enjoying him completely. As his thighs began to tremble and his arms began to shake as he held himself above me, I knew he was close already. Just when he was at his closest, I pulled my mouth away and began to kiss him everywhere but where he wanted. Then I began pulling off his clothes so I could tease him more and feel his skin on mine. His body was smooth and strong and pleasantly muscular. So, this is what he kept hidden under those Armani suits. I knew he took good care of himself, the occasional cigar aside, but I hadn’t realized how gorgeous his body really was.

  I parted my legs for him, aching to feel him inside of me. He continued to tease me by kissing me and caressing me before offering the relief I was now desperately craving. He entered me slowly, filling me completely. But his gentleness could only last as long as his sense of control. He began to thrust faster and harder as our hips moved in rhythm. He cried out as he felt my warmth encapsulating him and shuddered as his body felt a surge of euphoria.

  My own orgasm was building. There was nothing in the world but our two bodies and the heat that was between us. By the time I reached my orgasm, I was screaming, only becoming aware of my voice when I heard it echo off the walls.

  We trembled in each other's arms. We continued to kiss until we simply couldn't anymore, and all the energy had been released from our fast cooling bodies. I was honestly amazed at how much I enjoyed him, and how at home and aroused I felt with him. It was as if all the moments of disdain and confusion I had felt transformed into an intense passion and desire. And dare I say, even the possibility of love.

  He pulled the covers up over me and I nestled into the crook of his neck. I smelled how his cologne mixed with my sweat and the smell of sex. Then I felt how the smoothness of his jaw felt against the rawness of my lips. I thought I heard him say “You are wonderful, thank you for marrying me”, but I couldn't make out the words through the haze of my approaching slumber. The last thing I remembered was the beat of his heart against my ear and the feeling of his fingers as they brushed my hair.

  Chapter 13

  1 MONTH LATER

  "Steph, are you sure you need all that stuff?"

  I was bouncing up and down on my suitcase trying to get it to shut.

  "We're going for two weeks! That's at least fourteen outfits."

  "You're nuts."

  He came over to join me, perching on the edge of the suitcase until at last, we could manage to pull the zipper around.

  "I can't believe we're going to the Bahamas," I swooned. "Sun, sea and s..."

  "Swimming in the pool," he said with a wink. "Gracie will love it."

  "It's her first vacation abroad."

  "Hopefully the first of many," he said and tapped me on the nose before kissing me.

  I was beyond excited and hadn’t slept a wink last night. With only a few hours until we left, I'd been running around trying to make sure I hadn't forgotten a thing. At last, with the office closed and Max taking his first non-working holiday in years, we were ready to go on our honeymoon. Nothing could take away from the pure joy I was feeling.

  Double checking I had the passports in my purse, I started packing my makeup and toiletries, emptying out the contents of the bathroom cabinet into a bag. From the bedroom came the sound of the phone ringing. Probably just a telemarketer, I thought. It's not even nine o'clock yet.

  Just when it stopped ringing and I could hear myself think again, it started to ring again.

  "Honey, can you get that?" called Maxwell from down the hall.

  "Urgh... Yeah, give me a minute."

  I zipped up my bag and picked up the phone.

  "Hello," I said, already prepared to tell whoever it was that I wasn't interested.

  "Steph?"

  "Margie?"

  "You need to come into town."

  "Margie we're leaving for our flight soon."

  "This won't take long," she assured me. "Meet us at Frazer and Burrows."

  "What's this about?"

  "Just get here."

  She hung up without elaborating. I was left staring at the phone, puzzled.

  "Who was that?" asked Max as he returned with a coffee in his hands.

  "Margie. Said we had to meet her at Frazer and Burrows, whatever that is."

  "The attorneys? Why do we have to go there?"

  "I don't know but she was pretty adamant we go."

  He frowned and sipped his coffee.

  "Better grab your coat then," he said.

  ~

  We were ushered into a room with soft, brown furniture and cheap, generic paintings of flowers on the wall. Margie was in there waiting for us already with her hands clasped over her lap.

  "This is Mr. Frazer," she said.

  "Nice to meet you," I said, shaking his hand. "Although I'm still not sure what we're doing here."

  Before he could answer, there were footsteps coming from the front door. There was a man's voice. One I was hoping I would never hear again.

  "Is that Christian?" I raged.

  "Please, sit down," said Frazer. "This won't take long."

  Christian and his wife, Gwen sat down beside us until there were six of us crammed into the room.

  "What's going on?" asked Maxwell.

  They're here to take Gracie away from me, I panicked. They must be. Why else would they be here?

  "We've discovered something," said Margie.

  Producing a brown envelope from her purse, she slid it over to Frazer who in turn, handed it over to the disgruntled couple in the corner.

  "The family tree," she said.

  "Eh?" I gasped. "Can someone explain what's going on?"

  Maxwell looked just as confused as I did but squeezed my hand to assure me.

 
; "Look, Christian. I know you think you have a case, but you don't," he said. "They have the right to be Gracie's parents, beyond just what was stipulated in the will. More of a right than you. You need to drop your lawsuit."

  "Er, I call bullshit on that," said Christian as he unfolded the document. "The will stipulated that Gracie be raised on the farm but she’s living in that Goddamn McMansion."

  "She's still raised on the farm!" I yelled. "She's there every weekend."

  "Okay, calm down please," said Frazer as he stretched out his hands to settle us.

  His tired, bloodshot eyes sat beneath bushy, gray eyebrows. He looked as though he needed an espresso or ten.

  "Margie here called this meeting because she was able to provide some interesting evidence," he began. "A document that reveals something."

  "Well do enlighten us," seethed Christian as he held the paper out in front of him.

  She smiled to herself, relaxed in the knowledge that for the next few seconds, only she was privy to the life-changing secret that was going to be let loose in the room.

  "I've been doing some digging," she said. "And as you know, this is a small town."

  "A real small town," chimed in Frazer.

  "And small towns have a funny way of dredging up the past. It was Eugene who found it in the attic, the family tree that was created by my sister."

  She leaned forward and tapped her bony arthritic finger into the page.

  "You'll see it here in black and white. You two..."

  She pointed at Christian and Maxwell.

  "You're second cousins."

  She erupted into a wheezy laugh then coughed herself into silence.

  "Yep, cousins. Blood relations."

  They both stared at each other, not able to hide their contempt.

  "So what?" shrugged Christian and flung the document onto Frazer's desk as if it was dirt.

  "So... it means that..."

  "By state law, we're both entitled to equal custody of Gracie," interrupted Maxwell as the penny dropped.

  Christian and his wife glanced at each other then glowered at me.

  "This doesn't change a thing. David wanted Gracie with us."

  "You can't prove that," I laughed.

  "Not to mention your argument of Stephanie being single and unstable is now completely invalid. Gracie couldn't ask for a more stable home."