His Secret Virgin A Forbidden Romance

by Michelle Love

  I had no doubts where he was concerned. I loved him. Even after this hellish morning, I still did.

  That kind of love couldn’t be shut off. And it hurt me to think that people were making him feel bad about himself for loving me. And what was worse, some of those people claimed to love me. My own parents had played a part in this.

  But as the dust settled on that revelation, another thing popped up.

  He’d gone to his ex-wife.

  Why her, of all people?

  Perhaps I didn’t know Christopher as well as I’d thought. Maybe he hadn’t been as honest with me as he should have been. Perhaps this whole thing had been a lie all along.

  Maybe I will be better off without him.

  Chapter 27

  Christopher

  Walking into my home, I let out a huge sigh of relief to finally be in my safe haven. I’d hardly had time to worry about Emma’s car not being where she’d parked it the evening before—she probably went to grab a bite to eat, I’d told myself—when Lisa had shown up in the driveway.

  The girls had obviously told her about Emma and the baby, and I suspected Emma’s parents might’ve even spoken to her as well. I don’t know why they thought she’d be able to help, but it seems they’d sent her my way as a last ditch effort to separate me and Emma. That, or Lisa had decided on her own to come over and try to mess with me one last time.

  Lisa had spouted some bullshit about wanting to get back together. Even now I wasn’t sure if she actually felt that way, of if she was just doing it for our daughters’ sake; she had always been a great actress. She’d pleaded that it would be best for our daughters if we were back together. Why she thought I’d choose the welfare of my adult daughters, who could fend for themselves, over that of my unborn child who would need a father, I have no clue.

  Wanting her to leave as quickly as possible, I’d told her in no uncertain terms that I would not be leaving Emma and our baby, and that I could never love her again. Thankfully she hadn’t put up too much of a fight, likely because it was more of an act than an actual plea to get back together, and I’d watched her as she’d gotten back into her car. She’d only slammed the door a little, and with a flip of the bird to me, she’d driven off.

  There was no way I was going to let my ex-wife ruin my newfound happiness. Emma and I had enough obstacles as it was without having Lisa come over and screw everything up.

  Besides, the talk I’d had with Sebastien and Celeste had only served to cement my decision of what I needed to do with Emma. Now that all the unpleasantness was dealt with, today would be one hell of a great day. Or at least I hoped Emma would think so.

  First, I needed to make sure my daughters clearly understood things. They’d retreated to their rooms after our conversation the night before. The fact that neither had packed up and left had led me to believe that they’d abide by my wishes where Emma was concerned, but after Lisa had shown up, I wasn’t so sure. I wanted certain they hadn’t told their mother to come over and that they were accepting of my desires before I went any further.

  Heading into the kitchen, I found the girls eating breakfast. The cook was there, so I knew I’d catch them eating at home that morning. Their smiles put me at ease as I came in. “Good morning, you two. It’s nice to see those pretty smiles on your faces this morning.”

  Ashley patted the seat next to hers. “Come, sit down and have breakfast with us, Daddy.”

  I took the seat then kissed her on the cheek. “I hope this means you two are happy for me and willing to be civil at the very least.”

  Lauren filled my coffee cup. “We are, Daddy. We know we were being selfish yesterday. If that girl makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way.” I took a sip of the coffee. “I wasn’t pleased about you calling Emma’s father last night. That was a battle we weren’t prepared for. And I just had an unpleasant chat with your mother—I assume that was your doing as well?”

  Lauren dropped her head. “Sorry, Daddy. We were just really upset and worried about you.”

  “There’s no need to be worried about me.” I pulled the silver dome off the platter in the middle of the table revealing scrambled eggs and bacon, and I helped myself. “I don’t suppose either of you has seen Emma this morning?”

  “No,” they both said.

  “Why do you ask that? Is she not here?” Ashley asked.

  “Her car’s gone.” I shrugged. “I think she went to get something to eat. I wanted to make sure things were smoothed over with you two before I called her. Being able to deliver good news to her would make me happy.”

  Lauren’s smile seemed a little off as she said, “If she’s gone, do you think maybe she went to her parents?”

  I hadn’t thought that at all until she mentioned it. “Maybe I should go ahead and give her a call now.”

  Ashley put her hand on top of mine to stop me from getting the cell out of my pocket. “Eat first, Daddy. I don’t see the need to rush anything. Unless you’re worried she might not want to live here with you. At least not yet.”

  Lauren nodded. “Yeah. I mean, we know you two have been staying together every weekend for the last couple of months, but that’s not full-time living together. It might be freaking her out some. Girls that age aren’t very mature yet. She may want to live with her parents. At least for a little while. You don’t want to push her, do you, Dad?”

  “Of course not.” But I did want to talk to her. “You guys don’t know her yet. She hasn’t had the easiest time living with her parents so far.”

  Wanting to get off the topic of Emma moving back in with her parents, I changed the subject to one I’d been hoping to talk to my daughters about for a while. “Girls, I want to introduce something new to you both.”

  “More new things, Dad?” Lauren asked.

  “Yes.” I tried to think about how to word what I wanted. “You see, most people in this world have some type of job.”

  “Oh, here we go again,” Ashley whined.

  “Dad,” Lauren chimed in, “we’ve talked about this before.”

  “Well, we’re talking about it again. You two need to be better role models for the newest little Taylor.” I thought I’d try to get them involved with, if not even a little bit excited about, the addition to our family. “As role models, I’d like you both to find something to do. I don’t care how much money you make, or even if you make any money. Volunteer for all I care. But get up each day and go do something you care about. Become responsible adults and citizens.”

  “That sounds boring, Dad,” Lauren said. “I mean, you want us to just change around our whole schedules just to get up and get out of the house each and every day?”

  “You can have weekends off,” I offered. “Or whatever two days your employers give you. But for the most part, yes. I want you out there in the world doing stuff. And not just shopping or messing around. I want you both to do something that makes a difference.”

  The glum expressions on both their faces told me they weren’t going to hurry up to find anything to do. It became apparent that I would have to come up with some ideas for them. Maybe even line things up for them.

  “We’ll see about it,” Lauren said.

  Ashley huffed. “So, does that mean that Emma has to work too?”

  “Emma has a job,” I let them know. “But after the baby comes, she’ll have to stay home for a while to take care of it. Not that it’s any of your concern. You’re my children, and it’s my responsibility to make sure you know what’s expected out of people in life.”

  “And what’s Emma’s job?” Lauren asked.

  “She’s the assistant to my assistant,” I answered.

  My daughters looked at each other with smirks on their faces. “Oh, your employees are going to have a field day with your news, Daddy.” They both laughed, and I didn’t like how catty they sounded.

  “Thankfully, I’m the one who signs their paychecks.” I gave them a stern
look. “Much like yourselves, their money comes from me. If they want to keep getting paid, they’ll mind their own damn business.”

  Their laughter came to an abrupt stop then. “Is that what’ll happen to us if we don’t treat Emma the way you want us to?” Ashley asked.

  I wasn’t sure how to answer her. I didn’t want to control my daughters with money. But then again, that was an awfully big incentive. “Don’t try me and you won’t have to find out.”

  Lauren’s cell rang, and she picked it up. “Oh, it’s Mom.”

  My heart sank as they both got up and left the room to take the call. They must’ve been the ones behind Lisa’s sudden appearance in my driveway.

  After hearing the beginnings of their conversation and getting confirmation of my fears, I contemplated following them to listen in on the rest of the call, but I’d had enough of family interference for one day. Now it was time to focus on Emma. That thought made me realize something—if Emma had gone to grab food, she should be back by now.

  If my daughters and their mother were plotting against me, might they have also plotted with Emma’s parents?

  In a flash, I headed outside to get in my car to find Emma, figuring they must’ve tricked her into going to her parents’ place. Pulling my cell out of my pocket, I tried not to drop it, wanting to get her on the phone as quickly as possible.

  Just as I ran out the door, I saw Emma pulling up. Relieved, I ran straight to her. She parked the car and then got out, shaking her head at me. “How could you, Christopher?”

  “I haven’t done a thing. Listen, just get back in the car. We’ve got to get out of here.” I grabbed her, pulling her to the passenger side where I put her back in the car before running around to get behind the wheel. “They’ve been plotting against us, baby.”

  “So, you didn’t go to your ex-wife and tell her about us?” she asked.

  “No way in hell.” I threw the car into drive, then peeled out. “She showed up in my driveway—my daughters’ idea, I now know—with some crap about wanting to reconcile. She already knew about you and the baby, and I nipped that in the bud real quick.”

  “And you didn’t tell my parents that you were going to do the right thing by me?” she asked.

  “I did tell them that.” I pulled onto the road, heading into town.

  Emma looked confused. “Mom said you agreed with them that the right thing to do was to leave me.”

  “Not in my mind, it’s not,” I let her know. “That’s their opinion. And from what I’ve just seen of my daughters’ and ex’s behavior, it seems everyone has come up with one way or another to split us up. So, it’s imperative that we stay together for the next little bit so they can’t try anymore of their stupid stunts or lies. I’m not about to lose you, Emma.”

  “Where are we going?” she asked as I got on the interstate.

  “Anywhere but here.” All I wanted was to get away from everyone who was against our being together. “It’s crazy to think that everyone who loves us wants to see us apart. They don’t give a flying fuck about our baby and what’s best for him. None of them care that we’re in love. And I don’t know what to do about any of it.”

  She nodded in agreement. “I know. I’ve never felt this way. I love my parents. I’ve believed my whole life that they only want what’s best for me. Why can’t they see that you’re what’s best for me?”

  “You’re what’s best for me too, Emma.” I slowed the car down as my heart spoke to me, telling me that now was the time to make things right.

  Pulling to the side of the road, I put the car in park then got out to open the passenger side door. Emma looked at me with a smile on her pretty face. “Christopher, what are you doing?”

  “This is what I meant when I told your parents I was going to do what’s right.” I took her seatbelt off, took both her hands, and then pulled her out of the car.

  Cars zipped by us, nobody seeming to care what we were doing—and that was fine by me. The only person I needed to pay attention to me was Emma.

  “This is kind of scary, Christopher,” Emma said as she looked at the traffic going by us.

  “Yeah, I know.” I went down on one knee. “Everything about our relationship has been a bit scary. So what better way to keep that relationship growing than to add some more scary to it?”

  She looked down at me, and I saw tears in her eyes. “Are you about to do what I think you are?”

  “Emma, I want to marry you.” I squeezed her hands. “Not because you’re pregnant. I want to marry you because you’re in my heart, and I know you’ll be there forever. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I’ve loved you since the first time I saw your pretty face. So, I am asking this of you. Will you make my dreams come true and become my wife?”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks as she nodded. “Yes, Christopher, I would love to become your wife.”

  Chapter 28

  Emma

  Running my hand over the red brick exterior of the Centennial Hotel in Concord, the place our love affair had started, I couldn’t believe I had a new last name—and a husband to go with it.

  Christopher held my hand as we walked into the lobby. “It seems only fitting to spend our first night as a married couple in the same room where we first made love.”

  “I totally agree.” For once, everything felt right in the world, and that gave me a confidence I’d never had before.

  No longer little Emma Hancock, being Mrs. Christopher Taylor gave me an inner strength I didn’t know I had. I had a partner now for life. Someone who’d be there for me, and who I’d get to be there for, any time things got rough. Looking at the wedding ring on my left hand, I sighed and then rested my head on my husband’s shoulder.

  Husband!

  That sounded so cool to me.

  Like a whirlwind, we’d driven straight to Concord, completed the proper paperwork, and then found ourselves a justice of the peace to make our relationship legal and binding. Now our critics would have a heck of a time trying to separate us—they’d have to contend with the law now, too.

  Even with all that, I knew our loved ones wouldn’t take things as well as we would’ve liked them to. Our relationship wasn’t going to be well-received by many, and we were getting used to that fact.

  As we approached the desk clerk in the lobby, I got ready for the odd looks we’d get from the staff. Christopher smiled at the attendant as she greeted us.

  “Hello, welcome to the Centennial. Do you have a reservation with us?”

  “I made one just a short time ago. I’ve reserved the Governor’s Suite for Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Taylor.” He held up my left hand to show her my gorgeous rings. “We’ve just gotten married.”

  “Well, congratulations,” she said as she smiled. I was surprised to get such a positive reaction, but pleasantly so. Maybe not everyone will see our marriage as an oddity.

  “Thank you,” I said as I smiled back at her. “We actually spent our first night together in that room. That’s why we came back here for our honeymoon.”

  Christopher put his arm around me, then kissed my cheek. “Of course, I’m taking my wife on a real honeymoon after this.”

  “Of course,” the clerk said. “So, let’s get you newlyweds to your room then.”

  A few minutes later, Christopher had me in his arms, carrying me over the threshold and into the room where it had all began. “Here we are again, baby.”

  The bellboy put down the one bag we’d brought with us. “Congratulations, guys. You have fun now.” He closed the door, leaving us alone and smiling at one another.

  “I can’t believe this,” I whispered.

  “Believe it, Mrs. Taylor.” He kissed me, making my head even lighter. “I love you more than you will ever know.”

  Laying my head on his broad shoulder, I said, “And I love you so much, you’ll never have any reason to doubt it.”

  On the way here, we had stopped at a department store where Christopher bought us a coupl
e of changes of clothing. We’d left his house with nothing but the shirts on our backs after all.

  Our attire didn’t speak to the wealth Christopher had. I had on a simple white dress and flats to match, and he had on jeans and a button-down shirt and sneakers. As I looked in the mirror at our reflections, I laughed.

  His lips grazed up my neck as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. “What’s so funny?”

  “It’s just that I’ve just married a billionaire, but we look like we bought our clothes from the discount store down the street.” I ran my hand over the dress as Christopher unzipped the back of it.

  He pushed the dress off my shoulders, sending it into a puddle on the floor. “We did buy clothes from a discount store down the street. But only to save time.” His hands moved around my body to cup my breasts.

  I covered his hands with mine. “You know what, sexy? I wouldn’t care if you didn’t have a dime. I would still love you just as much.”

  His eyes met mine in the mirror. “I know that. You’ve never shown me even once that you were after my money. You’ve always loved me for me, and that’s part of what stole my heart.”

  As his hands moved to run over my stomach, I thought about some of the things that had made me fall in love with him. “I fell in love with the way you treated me like your equal, instead of like a kid.”

  Turning me to face him, his lips met mine for a second. “I’ve never seen you as a kid, Emma. I’ve only seen the inner and outer beauty you possess. I’ve only seen the kindness that radiates from you. And the fact you didn’t see me as an old man made me love you, too.”

  Unbuttoning his shirt, I ran my hands all over his massive chest. “I don’t know who would think of you as old, Christopher. You’re in better shape than anyone I’ve ever laid eyes on.” My mouth began to water as I touched his hard body.