by Rita Hestand
"You know I've always known you wanted a big family. You've made no secret of that. And I know you won't end up like your father. With Sarah I think that won't be possible." Niles stared at him. "But you realize that Claire isn't the only one that's going to throw the fact that you haven't known this girl long enough in your face, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. But you know what? I don't care. I've gone along with my life never being this happy before. I can't let it go. I want the same things she wants. A big and a happy family."
"You two do seem to click, I noticed that right off." Niles smiled at him again.
"And I haven't seen you smile this much in a long time either my friend. I’m so glad you are happy for me."
"I wouldn't be a friend if I wasn't happy for you. Have you told your family yet?"
"No, tonight. I only came in to let you all know about it, and why I took the day off." He said.
"Then you get on home. I'll close everything up for you. And why don't you take a couple of days off?" Niles suggested.
"Not on your life, I’m going to have a big honeymoon and soon." Mitch shouted.
That evening after supper, Mitch gathered everyone, as he pulled Sarah to him. "Sarah and I have an announcement. We're getting married."
Leann jumped up and hugged him. "Wonderful news. I'm so happy for you both. So when's the wedding?"
"I'm not sure; we haven't talked about that much yet." Mitch turned to Sarah and hugged her.
Leann gave them both a glance. "I'd say in the shape you two are in, soon would be best."
"I agree," Mitch laughed.
Ray was the only one of his brothers there, but he was just as happy as Leann was. His family had accepted everything about Sarah and they all seemed to love her. It gave him a secure feeling.
But it was Mike that wanted to tell everyone. He was so happy. "Now I will have both a mother and a father."
"And someday, brothers and sisters." Sarah added.
"I hadn't thought of that…." Mike smiled.
Sarah showed her ring to everyone, and Leann gushed. "Jerry won't be able to afford one that big. But it's what it means that makes the difference."
Sarah nodded, "That's right .I did not expect this, or ask for it. But he gave it to me, and I could not refuse, since I love him."
They sat around talking and Mitch held Sarah's hand all evening. They barely took their eyes off each other.
Niles came over to celebrate with them and it was one of the best evenings yet.
"So Niles, when are you going to find a girl and tie the knot?" Mitch asked.
"I don't know. I've been dating a little lately. Met this wonderful girl from New York. We get along famously."
"Great, bring her over will ya?" Mitch asked.
"I promise." Niles smiled. "That reminds me, I was going to pick up some dry cleaning, I better be going. I'm so happy for the two of you."
"Can I call you Uncle Niles?" Mike asked him.
Niles looked at Mike and a tear came into his eyes. "I wish you would."
Mitch swallowed hard. Niles was the best.
Sarah kissed Niles on the cheek. "Thank you Niles. And thank you for helping my sister."
Niles looked a little sadly at her. "That was my pleasure."
Then he left.
Later as they sat on the patio alone, she looked over at Mitch and asked. "Did you tell Claire?"
"Yes, I did." He glanced at her.
"And?"
"She was furious, but there's nothing she can do about it. She thinks you are after my money."
"I guess she would think that."
"Don't worry; I let her know I spent more on her when we were dating than I have on you."
"Mike is so fond of Niles."
"It goes both ways. You know, Mike likes everyone…except maybe Claire." Mitch laughed.
"He was so afraid you were going to marry her. He told me he knew she didn't like kids."
"I know that. But that day we three were together was the biggest disaster of my life. I should have known."
"It is very sudden." She said out of the blue. "Everyone probably said something about that."
"I guess it is. But…" He reached for her hand, "Honey, I've spent a lot of years with no one that filled me with happiness, to have you…and Mike, makes my life complete now. I don't want to waste any more time. I'm old enough to recognize my feelings and appreciate having them."
"You mean that?"
"More than you know."
"I haven't asked, but …Do you want lots of babies?"
"Yes…do you mind?"
"Not at all. It would pleasure me to have your children. And I think Mike would like it too. I know I can be fair and love them all. Mike isn't mine, but I love him as though he were. It would break my heart to ever lose him."
"I know you can too. You're the most loving woman I've ever known…now…why don't we retire to your bathtub and take that bubble bath we were talking about." He challenged her.
"You are decadent." She laughed. "I thought you were taking me out to movies and dinners. Instead, I get the tub."
"A tub can be very interesting. I'm in love…" He smiled at her.
"Why my tub, not yours?"
"Because yours is bigger than mine." He laughed.
"Oh…" she smiled. He walked her to her apartment. "What are we going to do in the tub?"
"Lots of things, you'll see." He smiled.
"You are leading me to the den of iniquity." She frowned.
"And you are gonna love it." He smiled.
She ran the water and sprinkled the bubble bath generously.
"You like it warm?" she asked.
"I like it hot." He replied with a smile.
In seconds he had her undressed, and she stood poised in front of him. No longer shy about the being naked in front of him, she enjoyed tempting him. She took a provocative stand, daring him.
"What are you looking at?" She asked.
"You…all of you…" He smiled. "Come here…"
She wanted to seduce him, feel the power of it, enjoy it. She sauntered over, swaying her hips drastically and batting her eyes at him.
He laughed. "You little imp."
He picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bathroom. After thoroughly kissing her, he slid her down his body and stared at her. The feel of skin against skin ignited a fire in them both. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at him.
"You look very happy with yourself."
"I am…have I managed to seduce you?"
"Cinderella I'm yours." He laughed.
When she slid into the tub, he nudged her forward and got in behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his shoulder. He scooted down so he could hold her easily. His hands massaged her breasts in the bubbles but her nipples were already hard pebbles.
"I like taking a bath with you…but when you touch me like that, well…you know what happens, don't you?" she cried when his hand dipped down, to slide inside of her. She sighed, and relaxed against him, enjoying what he was doing to her. Gone were all the sexual barriers between them. She was at home with his body. She had rid herself of the evil demons that had long plagued her family. This was love, and love was beautiful.
He found her delicate folds, and spread them so he could flick his fingers over her there. He rubbed gently until she was squirming against him. She slid erotically all over him, moving her body to the rhythm he created.
When she could stand it no longer she turned over and he entered her so quickly it took her breath away.
"Did I hurt you?" He looked concerned.
She opened her eyes and smiled, "Not at all. Just a surprise at how ready you were for me. I was already hot and wet before I got in the tub. I didn't know you were too…"
"Honey, I stay ready for you all the time." He smiled.
"You do?" she whispered.
"I do…," he whispered back as they suddenly climaxed together.
Later, she la
y over him and his hands covered her breasts. "You have the most beautiful breasts I've ever seen. Full, round, and supple. That and your hair, and your body…all of you is beautiful."
"And you…" she said turning to lay her head on his chest, "are a very desirable man."
"I think we are very compatible, don't you?" He asked.
She raised her head, kissed his nipple and smiled. "Very…"
"When do you want to get married?" He asked, petting her all the while.
"Soon. Very soon. I do not want to wait long. I couldn't stand it." She whispered. "I want to sleep with you every night. I want to touch you at my leisure, kiss you on a whim. I want you inside of me, every night. I want to be in your arms, in your mind." She purred against him now.
He chuckled. "I might not get much sleep."
"That's okay, I'll energize you."
He cuddled her, wrapping his legs around her. "Do you want a big wedding?"
"No…I want a big honeymoon." She kissed him freely. "I want you all to myself somewhere that nobody knows us. Where we can be alone…and make love…like this. Day and night. I want to stay in bed with you until we are so exhausted we can't get up. By the time we come home I want to be so sore I can hardly walk. That's how much I want you. You've made me a brazen woman, all I think about these days are you and I…"
"Sounds like heaven to me…" He kissed the top of her head.
"How about a private topless beach? No, that's no us. Or better yet, on a yacht in the ocean."
"Oh that sounds lovely. But…what about Mike?"
"Maybe when Lucas is finished with his television show and Ray has a shift off, we could take a week and go to the Bahama's. I have a boat, and we can sail out where no one is around and be alone all you want."
"Sounds like heaven. Days and nights of making love and eating, sleeping, and making love some more. That's what I really want from you. I am brazen now and can say it. I want you."
"You know…most girls would insist on a big expensive wedding and a honeymoon too. But not you. You just want to be alone with me so you can have your way with me…."
"That's right my love…" She slid up his body to kiss him.
This kiss took them into paradise and they made love several times before they got out.
He lay in bed with her for a long while, loving on her, kissing her and then he went back to his own bed. She felt the warmth leave her bed and cuddle against his pillow that he left his scent on.
As he lay in his bed, he thought about their love and how true it was. Time didn't matter when it came to love. They were living proof of that. He couldn't remember a time being with her when he didn't want her.
He was afraid someone would pinch him and tell him this was all just some erotic dream he had. However, he'd never been in love like this and he wanted to enjoy every minute of it.
He'd found the perfect woman, and he had a perfect child. And someday they'd have more children. He couldn't wait!
Chapter Twenty-Two
However, the work load became heavier and Mitch wasn't home for the next few days until very late. It couldn't be helped he had a new contract with a company he'd been wanting to deal with. He had to be there.
Sarah missed him terribly. There was no time to be together.
She knew part of being a woman was growing up and accepting this kind of thing. Her almost husband was a rich and successful man in his work and if he had to be at work, she'd just have to content herself with taking care of Mike and helping the family any way she could.
When he did come in, he was too tired to do anything but go to bed. She quit waiting on him and went to bed herself. But often she would reach on the other side of the bed to find it empty and she would cry herself back to sleep.
It went on for a solid week and Sarah felt suddenly abandoned. She tried to content herself with taking care of Mike and helping Leann with wedding plans. The wedding plans made Sarah ache to have her man back.
If they had gotten married right away, she would be sleeping with him now. That thought didn't bring her any happiness.
Even Mike noticed there was something wrong. "Are you sad Auntie?" he asked one afternoon when she picked him up.
"Yes, a little." She answered distractedly.
"Why?"
"Because your father works so long every day, neither one of us gets to see him. I knew he worked long hours a lot, but I didn't realize it would be like this. Don't you miss him too?" She asked.
"Si…I do. But I didn't say anything I was afraid you missed him too."
"I do, Mike, a lot."
"I was so happy when he said he was going to marry you, but I hate to see you sad like this. He should come home." Mike said.
"Yes, he should. But it is his choice to work like this. He is the owner and still he works so many hours. All to make more money. For what?" Sarah said sadly.
"Why don't you go see him? And talk to him."
Sarah looked at Mike and sighed. "Maybe, I will think it over."
She'd never gone to his office. She felt that was his territory and she didn't belong there. She would wait maybe things would change.
Leann tried to explain to her. "When he went to get his son, he took off work. Something he rarely does. Then when you both came back here, he spent more time at home because you were new here and he wanted to make you feel at home and welcome. He didn't know what our schedules would be like and so he wanted to put forth the effort to be here more. However, he has this big merger right now, it's important to the company. He's working day and night to get through with it so he can come home. He wants to be here, Sarah, but he has responsibilities."
"You are right. I knew if I talked with you, I would understand it better. I’m afraid Mike doesn't understand it either. I guess we both got used to him being here so much we took it for granted. I am sorry."
"I don't blame you. If Jerry worked that much I'd be climbing the walls too."
"Another thing has worried me…" Sarah looked at her with a crawling uneasiness. All the old fears assailed her now.
"What is it? Maybe I can help."
Sarah shook her head now and tears streamed down her face. "I've been very foolish. After talking to you about everything, I went and did the thing you told me not to."
Apprehension flickered in Leann's eyes. "What did you do?"
"We made love. Many times,…I could not help it, he proposed and I thought everything would be all right. It never dawned on me that once he proposed he would grow tired of our time together."
"Is that what you think?" Leann frowned.
"Wouldn't you? Perhaps like you said, he got what he wanted and that was all…"
"No, Mitch isn't like that. He's not that shallow." Leann denied it. Still something niggled in her glance, as though she weren't quite sure.
"You see….I was so eager to love him and have him love me, I thought once he proposed I didn't have to worry. That we would be together always. Then I got to thinking, I put the honeymoon first, maybe that's all he wanted from me."
"If my brother did that to you, I would disown him. Men can be callus and think once they get what they are after, they are through, but Mitch has too much to lose. He's got you and Mike I can't see him throwing that away. Especially since this is exactly what he's wanted all his life, a family of his own. However, there is one thing…I hadn't considered it until now, but Claire could be behind all of this. She could be insisting on his presence and putting pressure on him to see the contract through. I can see where that might interfere in things."
"Perhaps me and Mike should go."
"I won't hear of such a thing. We all love you Sarah. We all want this to work. Be patient. Give him some time to finish this. Then if it doesn't improve, I would understand your feelings."
"Si…you are a wise one. I love him too much to go, unless I know he doesn't want me or Mike."
"If you and Mike both left, it might completely devastate him." Leann assured her.
&nbs
p; "Don't you see, if he doesn't have time for Mike, then Mike would be better off going back with me?" Sarah said.
"I can see the logic in it. It would tear a hole in his heart though, that much I know." Leann proclaimed, still feeling Mitch was just busy with this particular contract. "It's only been a week. Give it some time."
"How much time?"
"A couple of months…"
"That is a long time." Sarah said. "And Mike will still have his hopes up. But you are right, this is his work, and if he needs to be there so much, I would have to understand."
"Of course…"
"Alright, two months." Sarah smiled sadly.
~*~
The next week when Mitch still kept up the hours, Leann called him at work.
"What is it honey, I'm pretty busy just now." Mitch replied.
"We need to have lunch."
"Sure, in a week or two…"
"No, today…."
"I can't. I've got obligations here. Is it that important?"
"Is your son important?" Leann voice hardened at his attitude.
"Of course. Is there something wrong?"
"Yes…very. Meet me at Chili's at one if he is important to you."
"Leann!"
She hung up.
"What was that all about?" Claire asked as she went through some of the paperwork.
"I've got to have lunch with my sister."
Claire made a hateful sound in her throat.
"Sorry, it's important. I won't be gone over an hour or so." He looked puzzled and worried.
"I could go for you. It's important you be here with Mr. Thorpe comes in."
"I'm sure he has to eat too. I'll be back…" Mitch replied angry that the women in his life were causing him such stress.
Mitch felt all the frustrations of the past week piling up on him. He hadn't gotten much sleep and now this. Leann wasn't one to interrupt him at work though, so it had to be important.
He pulled in the parking lot and ran inside. Leann was sitting in a booth alone.
"Okay, I made it. Now what's going on?" Mitch frowned at her. "And why did you hang up on me?"