“Home,” she murmured. “Wharemoana?”
“Of course Wharemoana. Home for all of us. Speaking of which, we need to tell our son...” He let the words hang in the air.
Ellie bit her lip. “How on earth do we do that? He’ll hate me so much. Producing such a wonderful dad for him after all this time. Depriving him of you for so long.”
Tony shook his head. “Don’t look back, Ellie. Let’s go forward. Children are remarkably forgiving. I could tell you stories about the twins,” he added, trailing off and sighing. “Julia and I put them through hell—tried not to of course, but still...”
She reached up and kissed his chin. “Sshhhh. All in the past now.”
A brief flicker of amusement transformed his face. “I’ve got some photos we could show him. You and me together. Looking indecently fond of each other. Found them again the other day when...”
“When you were searching for a Cal lookalike photo to drive me crazy with?”
He nodded. The corners of his mouth twitched again. “Shots that Darren took in Sydney. You and me. That white bikini.” He rolled his eyes at her and she giggled.
“He had some photos printed at a kiosk when we reached London, and there you were again. Magic to have you. To see you really were that lovely.”
“Your tarty redhead,” she teased.
“This,” he said, pulling the tie from her collapsing pony tail, “is a much truer indication of your temperament. Dark and witchy. Full of evil intentions.”
“I am not,” she protested.
“Not any longer,” he agreed, running his hands through her hair, massaging her scalp and aching neck. “Let’s go home, my darling. Our home. I’ve no intention of passing Wharemoana on to Cal for a very long time yet.” He sent her a surprisingly shy grin. “We’ll get Doc Langton to look at your ankle right away. Then tomorrow I’ll collect my son and my mother-in-law-to-be and we’ll all have Christmas here together—unless you’ve anything better arranged, of course?”
“What could possibly be better?” she murmured, attempting to get to her feet. When that proved impossible, she let him gather her up and carry her.
Once he’d settled her into her seat and attended to her harness, she watched him unhitching the rope. “Good thing you had that with you.”
“I rescue frisky young heifers from gullies all the time.”
Ellie had no idea whether to believe him. She sat, still trembling, as he coiled it up. “There’s something I haven’t told you. He’s Callum Anthony.”
Tony swallowed and bowed his head. “I know. He said. It blew me away, Ellie, that you’d do it for me.” His gaze held hers.
“I did it for him as well, Tony. So he’d have something of his dad’s. I didn’t reckon on him ever getting anything else. I tried to find you soon after he was born. From the Electoral Rolls I mentioned. That was really why I wrote the letter. So I could tell you about your amazing new son. About his eyes that were yours, and that he was so beautiful, so healthy. To ask if you wanted to meet him.”
Tony nodded, silent for the moment. Then he managed a lopsided grin and stowed the rope away before seating himself at the controls. “I’m sorry it never reached me, Ellie. Thanks for trying, anyway. It makes things easier, knowing...”
“A pretty feeble effort. But I didn’t have the money for a private investigator. And you weren’t an official missing person, so I didn’t expect the Police would spring into action.”
“You should have done a Google search.”
One of her shoulders rose in an eloquent shrug. “It was a long time ago, Tony. Were you well known enough then? I was scared and poor, and I’d wrecked my mother’s life as well as mine. I was exhausted with the baby and probably not thinking too straight.”
“But you’re thinking straight now? You will marry me? You and Cal?”
She laughed, and reached over to touch his nearest hand. Their fingers curled together. “Yes, I’m thinking straight now for sure. Yes, we’ll marry you, me and Cal.”
Chapter Eighteen—Fairytale Prince
Tomorrow was April the fifth. Ellie’s birthday.
And her wedding day.
Her mother Rebecca now lived in the new house in town—planting up the garden, keeping the bedrooms ready for her daughter and grandson’s visits. And sometimes providing dinner, and possibly more, for a rather nice Mr Plummer who had time on his hands for building trellis arches and garden edgings.
Tony had paid off the mortgage as part of his wedding present to Ellie. She’d expected to be in debt to the Bank for many years, but now the huge worrying weight had been lifted and she was the owner of a freehold property. However much she protested to Tony about his generosity, he simply smiled and said, “I’ve decided the way to make you fly in my direction is to set you free, so that’s what I’m doing.”
The elegant dove-grey suit with the Paris label had been hanging ready in Rebecca’s wardrobe, with the matching shoes sitting neatly below. Ellie looked forward to seeing her trim little mother beautifully dressed for the wedding. She was confident she’d look every bit as smart as Tony’s mother, Louise, who had the money and the opportunity to visit Europe’s top fashion houses.
Mr Plummer had driven Rebecca out to Wharemoana for the pre-wedding party. Tony had assigned them the Blue Room, figuring they were old enough to decide for themselves whether to share the big bed or to make up the folding single as well. Ellie had not dared mention that little detail to her mother.
The grand old house was bursting at the seams with friends and relatives, champagne and happiness.
“Watch me, Dad!” Callum yelled, jack-knifing off the diving board with more splash than panache. Tasha the old spaniel moved out of the way, grumbling. Tony grinned. “Good boy Cal, go higher next time.” He left his parents on pool duty while he went in search of Ellie.
~♥~
A fond granny rehearsed two nervous flower girls in their bedroom. “You hold her bouquet, Antonia,” Ginny said. “And you carry her bible, Carolyn—so Daddy can put her wedding ring on. Ellie will turn around and smile at you so you’ll know when it’s the right time.”
Antonia sighed theatrically.
Carolyn picked at a scab on her knee.
“And we’ll wash your hair tonight at bath time so it’s lovely and shiny for tomorrow.”
“You’ve got to fix my wreath on really tight, Grandma,” Caro said. “Libby Halstead’s fell off when she was a flower girl.”
“Do leave that wobbly tooth alone for just a little longer, darling. You don’t want to make a gap for the wedding photos, do you?”
~♥~
Ellie looked up from her book as Tony walked into the newly decorated master suite. “Tired?” he asked, bending to kiss her.
She raised a hand and clasped his. The band of antique diamonds flashed and flickered as it caught the light. “Just fancied a few minutes’ peace and quiet,” she replied. “It’s bedlam out there. Are people coping?”
“There are so many of them all trying to help each other I’ve decided to stay clear, too.” He smoothed her fingers out over his big palm. “Something old,” he said. “Grandma Robinson’s diamonds. She was very proud of those.”
Ellie smiled. One touch of his hand and she wanted his whole body. It was always the same.
“They’re quite something, aren’t they?” she said, voice not entirely steady. “So a pretty dress for my ‘something new’.”
“And your wedding ring. Totally new. Only for you.”
“Something borrowed?”
“I think Ginny has plans there.”
“So that just leaves something blue.”
“I was hoping you might like this,” he said, retrieving a plush jeweller’s box from the top drawer of his tallboy. “Something to match your eyes.”
She eased it open, and gasped at the deep cornflower blue sapphire pendant sparkling on its velvet bed.
“Will it be good with your dress?” he asked, winding a tendril of her hair ar
ound the fingers of his other hand, and rubbing his knuckles up and down her neck.
“More than good, Tony. Way more than good. It’ll be fantastic. I can’t give you anything like this in return...” Her voice faltered. This was so one sided. Could he really not see that?
“You’ve brought me everything I could possibly want, Ellie. The woman I loved and very carelessly lost track of. The child I never knew I had.” He produced another much smaller box and placed it on her lap.
“Tony—not more...”
“I thought you’d need some earrings to match?” His eyes danced as she compressed her lips and tried to look exasperated. “Don’t go all prim on me. I enjoy finding you little treats.” He squatted and unhooked one of the silver hoops she wore, and set it aside with her book.
“Now, let’s see...” he murmured, inserting the post of the first sapphire earring into the tiny hole in her earlobe. “It’s such a turn-on, pushing things into your body.” His voice was a husky caress, and she smiled as he secured the butterfly clip to hold the glowing stone in place.
He stroked along the sensitive edge of her other ear before he unhooked the second hoop free. “In fact,” he whispered, “this is giving me ideas. Hold still—you’re shaking. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I am not shaking, Tony Robinson. It would take more than a little thing like this to make me shake. And you wouldn’t dare hurt me. Not with so many people in the house who might hear.”
“What did you have in mind?” he teased, lining up the second post and sliding it home.
Ellie clenched her thighs together, hoping he wouldn’t notice. She despaired at how easily he made her want to crawl all over him.
“You’re definitely trembling, Ellie, and this is nothing at all.” He slid the catch home on the second earring. “I’ve got something so much bigger as your next treat.”
She glanced sideways at the front of his trousers. The fabric jutted out in a most impressive way. She reached for the zipper.
“Naughty girl—what are you thinking of?” He stepped back out of reach.
Ellie sat rigidly in the chair as he moved behind her and reached down to undo the buttons at the front of her blouse.
He eased it off her shoulders and touched a finger to the strong pulse beating at the base of her neck. “You’re all worked up, Ellie. We’ll have to try and relax you. It’s not good for a bride to be so stressed the day before her wedding...”
~♥~
He slid her bra straps aside. It was taking all his self control not to rip her clothes right off. He pushed the lacy bra cups down just far enough to see her nipples. Tight. Pouting out like little sugar-jellies, and just as sweet to suck.
He had only to look at her to want her. Only to want her to take her. And only to take her to want her all over again. She was a never ending temptation. Intoxicating, bewitching. He loved her beyond belief, and tried to remember to tell her so at least once every day.
Raising the pendant from its velvet bed, he laid it over her collarbones, smiling when she caught her breath as the cold platinum mount made contact with her heated skin. He secured the clasp and ran his fingers down her neck. She was as hot as he’d ever felt her. Once again it would be fantastic.
He walked across the beautiful old room and locked the door, then drew the curtains closed so only a little of the late afternoon sun gilded her skin. The sapphires gleamed with blue fire in the subdued light.
She crossed to her mirrored dressing table, and he stood behind her as she pulled her unbuttoned blouse from the waistband of her jeans and laid it on the nearby stool. Then he peeled his shirt off and tossed it over her blouse.
~♥~
Ellie was sure the air vibrated around her as she watched him in the mirror. His broad shoulders and tanned chest made a powerful contrast with her slighter figure. He was utterly, intoxicatingly male... and she was as enthralled by his body today as she had been eleven years ago.
She unhooked her bra, and watched as her pale breasts slipped free into his waiting hands. He rubbed a gentle thumb over each distended nipple and she sucked in a sharp breath.
“Want me, do you?” he asked.
“Only if you’re desperate.” She tried to keep her expression neutral.
One corner of his mouth quirked. He toed off his shoes and pushed them aside.
Ellie stepped out of her jeans and laid them on the growing pile of clothes, knowing he was still watching her reflection, and that all his considerable energies were now concentrated only on pleasing her.
He slid his hands into the top of her panties and pushed them down a little way, then loosened his trousers.
“Get rid of them,” he growled. They both bent and stepped free of their final constrictions. She braced her arms on the chest of drawers and he stood close behind her, meshing his gaze with hers for long intimate moments.
“Are you definitely going to marry me tomorrow?” he whispered, bending to kiss her neck.
Ellie had a moment of panic. Did he want to cancel the wedding?
She found his eyes in the mirror again—black in the dim light. And the hunger in them reassured her as nothing else could have. “Yes, absolutely,” she said, watching as his long fingers ranged over her ribcage, gathered up her breasts again, gently pinched her nipples and retreated to cradle her hips.
“Because,” he said, “I want nothing between us. Skin to skin. I want you burning with that perfect pleasure we had the first time I made love to you in Sydney, and the second time I had you up against the wall here.” He pulled in a deep breath and smoothed his face along her shoulder. “We’ve talked about another child—one we can bring up together this time. If I make you pregnant tonight—and I’ll be trying to, Ellie—it will be a precious wedding gift for both of us. Yes?”
“Perfect,” she whispered. “Son or daughter?”
“I’ll take whoever we get, and love them with all my heart, but...” A sexy grin transformed his serious expression to one of pure sin.
Ellie narrowed her eyes at him.
“I read recently that increased frequency more often produces daughters...? Fresher sperm or something...?”
“There speaks my stud farmer,” she teased. “Then I’d like a daughter this time please, Tony,” she added, raising a saucy eyebrow. “How frequent is ‘frequent’ do you suppose?”
He chuckled and slid a warm hand around her waist, and then lower, stroking and circling, sliding over her acutely aroused clitoris. “Ellie, you’ll kill me, but I’ll die happy trying.”
She tilted her hips back and he nudged against her, gave a small grunt, and pushed.
She watched him in the mirror as he worked his way into her body, his eyes tightly closed to heighten the sensation. He pressed and retreated in tiny thrusts until he was imbedded to his total prodigious extent.
“I’m right against your womb,” he whispered. “Have you any idea the feeling of power that gives me?” He moved a little, eyes open now to watch her.
Ellie smiled. Stretched back against him. Took a deep breath that caused her breasts to rise below the flashing sapphires.
“You’re showing off, my little love. I like it. That’s very sexy,” he said, thrusting deeply, slowly, with maddening restraint, until she begged for more. Tony buried his face against her hair, and obliged.
~♥~
The Indian summer continued next day, fine and calm. Caterers bustled about in the gigantic marquee. Florists had dressed the walls with garlands of greenery and spectacular cream spider chrysanthemums. Starched damask cloths covered the tables, and each was centred with a low bowl of fragrant gardenias and stephanotis. Caro and Ants wore wreaths of delicate gypsophila with their pale lemon dresses. And Ellie carried a posy of closely packed cream roses against her strapless ivory silk gown.
The sapphires were totally eclipsed by the love that shone from her eyes. Love for Tony. Love for her son and her new daughters. Love for Rebecca who had in great part sacrificed her own life
so her daughter did not have to do the same.
And love for Ginny who had made her so welcome at Wharemoana, because she knew kindly Ginny had watched Tony sliding out of love with Julia and then into love with her—surely hard for any mother to endure.
Once the vows were exchanged, the photographs taken, and the sumptuous wedding feast eaten, Tony called for silence.
Ellie looked up at him, and he caressed her shoulder and smiled down into her sparkling eyes.
“Friends and family,” he began. “No formal speeches. I’m simply going to thank everyone who needs thanking, and then tell you all a fairy story.”
There was a smattering of applause from the assembled guests.
“So thank you first of all to Ellie for marrying me. It’s taken a while for us to get to this point, and our partnership is all the stronger for it.”
She turned and kissed his hand as it lay against her skin.
“Thank you Rebecca for your lovely daughter. I promise to do my utmost to ensure Ellie will be happy here. As some of you know, she’s helping out at the district school as often as she can, so she won’t be lost to the teaching profession.”
He looked further down the long table and raised his champagne flute to his parents. “Thank you Mum and Dad for turning me into the kind of man who could snare a prize like Ellie—and for making me the guardian of this beautiful place. Wharemoana is special beyond belief. I don’t know how you could bear to leave it, but I’m terribly glad you did.”
A noisy cheer erupted from the tables where members of the farm staff were seated.
Tony flashed them a huge grin, then turned to Ginny. “Thank you Ginny for looking after all of us so well, and for agreeing to stay on and continue doing that. Ellie and I will be doing some travelling, and we can’t possibly manage without you.”
Ginny inclined her head and blushed as pink as her jacket.
“Thanks to everyone who travelled long distances to be here.” His gaze settled on his old friend Matthew McLeod from Queenstown. “Some of you even brought lovely new wives to meet us—pregnant ones at that. You wasted no time with Kate, buddy!” A ripple of laughter ran around their table.
Christmas Down Under: Six Sexy New Zealand & Australian Christmas Romances Page 51