by ANDREA SMITH
“But I wanted this evening to be special and now I’ve ruined it with my tears. I’m sorry I even suggested we wait until our wedding night. That should've been something we discussed together. Let’s get back to it,” I said, brushing the tears from my cheeks.
“No...No, baby. How about just you and me cuddle for now? We just need to feel close in a non-sexual way. I think I’ve put a lot of pressure on you these past few weeks. I need to feel close to you but it certainly doesn’t require sex in order for that to happen.”
Trey got up and put a pair of boxers on. He returned to our bed. He scooped me up in his arms and cradled me. He gently ran his fingers along my cheekbone, planting soft kisses on my cheeks. He murmured his love for me, kissing my ear lobes, and brushing his lips across mine gently. He pulled the sheet up over us, wrapping his arm around me protectively as we relaxed and drifted off to sleep.
Sometime later I awoke. I heard Preston fussing nearby. I felt Trey rise up, leaving our bed and lifting her out of her bassinet, talking softly and soothingly to her. He brought her into bed with us as I rolled to my side. Trey placed her next to me helping her locate my nipple. Within moments she was nestled against me, sucking my breast contentedly. Preston and I fell asleep in Trey’s protective arms, comfortably ensconced in our family bed.
CHAPTER 3
Our wedding day in southern Virginia dawned sunny with surprisingly low humidity for early July. The ceremony was to take place at seven in the evening at the ‘Belle.
I stretched languidly in our bed in Trey’s suite at his parent’s house. We'd been in Bristol for two days now, helping with the final preparations. The clock read 8:33 a.m. This was the first full night of sleep I'd gotten since Preston had been born. Susan had insisted the baby stay in the portable crib she'd purchased in her and Clive’s suite. She was adamant that I be a well-rested bride. Even Trey had been banished from the manor to honor the tradition of not seeing his bride before the wedding. I missed both of them. Trey had honored my request of abstaining until our wedding night despite the fact that I'd on more than one occasion, insisted all bets were off. As usual, his stubbornness had won out over my whining.
I reclined back against the soft pillows, chewing my lower lip thoughtfully. I had a wonderful soon-to-be husband and the most beautiful and lovable baby in the whole world. I thought back to the rehearsal dinner the previous night over at Le Vie Belle. Gina and Ian were there; Ray and Denise; Tristan, Nigel and Tess of course along with Clive and Susan.
We'd made a last minute change to the ceremony. Ray would be walking me down the so-called aisle to Trey. Denise had suggested it and I loved the idea. He was as close to a father figure to me as anyone had ever been.
I had until early afternoon to call my own. After that, Gina would be here ordering everyone around and assisting me in being the most beautiful bride since her marriage to Ian. At this point in time, I needed to rid myself of breast milk since Susan had been bottle-feeding Preston compliments of my breast pump. I needed to pump a supply for her bottles since Trey and I'd be gone for our brief two-day honeymoon. That was the longest I was willing to be apart from my daughter, right now.
I pulled my robe and slippers on and padded down the hallway towards the master suite. Clive had evidently already gone downstairs to start his day. Susan had Preston on top of their bed, fastening her diaper while talking to her.
“Good morning,” I greeted them as I walked in. Preston immediately recognized my voice, turning her head towards me. Her eyes watched me as I approached the bed, her face lit up with a smile.
“Well, good morning, Tylar,” Susan answered. “Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, except for missing Trey and Preston,” I replied, scooping my freshly-diapered baby up into my arms, holding her closely against me.
“Well, Grandma just gave her grandbaby a nice bath and she's ready for the big day ahead,” Susan said, smiling.
I kissed her forehead and cheeks softly. She nuzzled against me, squirming until I lowered her down against my breasts. She was making no bones about wanting to nurse. "Susan, I’m going to take her back to my room to nurse for a bit.”
“Well, of course, Tylar. You go right ahead. I know using that breast pump has been a pain these last couple of days. We’ve got a good supply in the refrigerator going. Want me to bring some breakfast to your room?”
“That'd be great, if it’s no trouble. Give me a half an hour or so?”
“Sure thing, sweetie. You go on and spend time with your daughter. She misses her mama I can tell.”
I carried Preston back to our room and once there, I switched the television on and climbed back into bed with her, getting her situated. I took her tiny hand into mine, kissing her little fingers, massaging them gently. She looked up at me and smiled. Within a moment, she was back to nursing again. I missed Trey. It felt strange to be in his room without him. Any second, I expected him to come out from the bathroom, towel draped around his hips, his hair damp from the shower. He was staying at Ray’s. Tristan and Nigel were staying at Tess’s house with the Andrews’.
That had to be somewhat strange for Nigel I'd have thought. Perhaps not. The two families had seemed to survive the drama at Christmas with no lasting ill effects.
I laughed out loud when I thought about family holidays at the Andrews’ house. Landon and Caroline? Nigel and Tess? How weird was that going to be? Trey said we would avoid those gatherings at all costs. He'd received no argument from me. Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed that Preston had stopped nursing. I looked down to find her watching me intently. Her sapphire blue eyes once again brought Trey to mind.
“Do you miss Daddy?” I asked her as if I fully expected an answer.
“Well, I miss him, Preston. But guess what? We'll see him this evening." I said to her. “And guess what else? Preston has a brand new dress to wear this evening when Mommy and Daddy get married. Everyone’s going to be looking at Preston tonight, aren’t they?”
I was smiling down at her while talking. She broke out in a big grin watching me, and then unceremoniously burped. I snuggled down in the bed with her and both of us promptly fell asleep.
When I awoke Preston was gone and my breakfast tray was on the nightstand next to the bed. Susan had taken possession of my daughter, once again. I ate some of the fresh fruit and a muffin.
Gina and Denise arrived promptly at 2:00 p.m. to get started on my wedding day toilette. I was bathed, shaved, waxed and coifed. I'd been given a manicure and pedicure. Denise had been nearly as pushy as Gina in preparing me for my walk down the aisle. The day had passed in a flurry of activities. Before I knew it, Gina and Denise were helping me into my wedding gown. My gown was ivory. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and a drop asymmetrical waistline. Below the waist the skirt fell into soft scalloped layers made of taffeta and tulle. It had a chapel length train. I was wearing a mantilla bridal veil in ivory with a cut edge in an eighty-eight inch layered length.
As matron of honor, Gina was wearing a full length, strapless mint green sheath; Denise as my bridesmaid was wearing a matching down in light apricot. Our bouquets were ivory colored roses and baby’s breath.
Susan knocked on the bedroom door just as Gina and Denise had finished up affixing my veil. She had our bouquets.
“Oh my,” she said, her eyes welling up, “you girls look so lovely. Tylar, I've never seen a prettier bride in all of my life.” She gave me a motherly hug and for the moment I felt a flicker of pain that my own mother had, for whatever reason, never felt any love for me.
“You look lovely, Susan,” I replied. She was wearing a summer suit of pale yellow with matching pumps. Something was missing though.
“Where’s Preston?” I asked, suddenly aware that I wasn't used to seeing Susan now without my baby in her arms.
“Oh, sweetie, Tess has her downstairs. She was rocking her while I got ready. Let me go get her before we leave.”
Gina and Denise exited with her as they were
going in a separate limo from the one that Ray, Susan, Clive and I'd be taking. Susan returned momentarily with Preston cradled in her arms. She'd fallen asleep for Tess, sucking her thumb. She was dressed in a pale lavender ruffled dress with matching booties. Susan had put a matching lavender bonnet on hear head that had silk ribbons tied in a bow under her chin. She had a lavender receiving blanket to match.
“She looks precious, doesn’t she?” I asked.
“She reminds me so much of Trey as a baby,” Susan crooned, rocking her gently in her arms, not taking her eyes off of her. “Tylar,” Susan started, raising her gaze from the baby to me. “In case I haven’t told you lately, Clive and I love you like one of our own. We couldn’t have picked a better wife for our son, a better mother to our grandbaby, and a better daughter of our own. It would please us both if you called us ‘mom’ and ‘dad,’ but we'll understand if you're not comfortable with that.”
“Oh Susan, I mean, Mom, nothing would please me more.” I moved towards her, wrapping my arms around her and the baby. She kissed my forehead raising her hand to brush a tear that had rolled down my cheek. I was glad that Gina had insisted on waterproof everything.
Our mother-daughter moment was interrupted when Clive came to the door informing us our limo awaited. He took the sleeping baby from Susan so that she could assist me by holding my train while we made our exit to the waiting limousine.
CHAPTER 4
I was facing Trey on the porch of the colonial mansion at Le Vie Belle. Soft violin music was playing in the background. Wedding guests were seated on the lawn. Tristan and Ray stood off to the side of Trey. Gina and Denise stood off to the side of me. At this moment there was only Trey and me. My hands were placed in his. I stared up into his magnificent blue eyes as he recited the vows he'd selected for me in his smooth and silky voice.
“I, Trey, choose you, Tylar, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children and my wife. I'll cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I'll protect you from all harm; I'll trust you and respect you. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.”
It was my turn and I swallowed nervously. Trey had it all over me when it came to public speaking of any kind. He was a litigator; he was comfortable in the spotlight. I wasn’t. I felt him lightly squeeze my fingers and our eyes locked. He smiled down at me, giving me a slight nod of encouragement before I began.
“I, Tylar, take you, Trey to be my friend, my lover, the father of my children and my husband. I'll be yours in times of plenty and in times of want; in times of sickness and in times of health; in times of joy and in times of sorrow. I love you with all of my heart. I promise to cherish and respect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you for all eternity.”
Tristan stepped up to Trey’s side, handing him my ring. Trey gently slid the wedding band onto my ring finger, lifting my hand and brushing it with a kiss when he finished. Gina stepped up to my side, handing me Trey’s wedding band. I slid it onto his finger, gazing up into his eyes as he smiled down at me.
The minister spoke. “By the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss.”
Trey lowered his face to mine, his hand tilting my chin upward to meet his kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as we kissed for the first time as husband and wife. The minister interrupted our kiss with the introduction. “Ladies and gentleman, I give you Mr. and Mrs. Trey Sinclair.”
There was applause and shouting. I heard a champagne cork pop in the distance. We were immediately surrounded by family and friends, giving us congratulatory hugs and kisses. Hand in hand, Trey and I made our way to the horse drawn carriage that would take us over to the reception area on the other side of the plantation. Susan handed Preston over to Trey once he'd settled me into the carriage. He climbed in next to me, cradling the baby against his chest. He looked magnificent in his tan tuxedo. The flurry of activity had thrown her off schedule. Within moments she'd quieted down against me. I looked up at Trey. He was watching us his eyes full of love and warmth.
“I love you, Trey.”
“I love you, Mrs. Sinclair,” he replied, pulling me closer against him.
We had a sit down dinner followed by a reception complete with live music and dancing. Susan had taken full responsibility for Preston once we'd joined the reception. I allowed myself a couple of glasses of champagne. It was exquisite. Trey and I weren’t leaving for Tybee Island until the following day. Our official wedding night was to be spent in the bridal suite at the Marriott.
Trey had insisted on this and I suspected I knew the reason. As long as we were at the house I'd want to have Preston with us. He'd put his foot down. It was close to midnight when our limo arrived. I kissed the baby goodnight as she slept in Tristan’s arms. We were pelted with birdseed as we departed the estate headed toward the hotel and our wedding night. I snuggled against Trey in the limo; his arm was wrapped around me possessively. I felt happier than I'd ever thought possible.
Our suite was lovely. Our luggage had been dropped off earlier and was in our room when we got there. Trey opened another bottle of champagne and we shared a glass as we prepared for our bath.
Trey helped me out of my wedding gown. I'd lost the final four pounds gained during my pregnancy. Thankfully, I hadn’t gotten any stretch marks through the whole ordeal.
We lit candles in the bathroom and sank down into our warm bubble bath together. I leaned back against Trey, loving the feel of his hands as they massaged my skin with soapy lather. He lifted me up, turning me around so that we were face to face.
Our lips met in a long, passionate kiss. His tongue teased mine playfully. I laced my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. I could feel his erection underneath me and I wanted nothing more than to feel him inside of me once again. I'd wondered if post-partum sex would be different. Trey lifted me from him, taking my hand as we left the tub. I barely had time to wrap a towel around myself when he lifted me and carried me to the bed.
“I’m not waiting one more minute to bury myself into you,” he said, his voice husky. “Is your diaphragm in place?”
I smiled and nodded. I knew Trey needed an initial fuck before we got down to more creative lovemaking. I did as well. He pulled the towel from me, gazing down at me with hunger in his eyes. He was kneeling on the bed, his erection stood bold and ready. His knee nudged my thighs apart and he lowered his face to my sex, his tongue eagerly explored the soft folds beneath. He inserted a finger inside of me; his thumb gently rolled the tip of my clitoris back and forth.
“You're wet already, baby,” he said softly as I moaned and swiveled my hips in a circular motion in response to his touch. He moved his face up to mine, capturing my lips with his as he removed his fingers from my womanhood. I felt him poised above me, his hand guiding his manhood to the apex at the top of my thighs. In one swift movement he buried himself inside of me. I gasped as he plunged in and out of me. He placed his hands underneath my butt, raising me up to meet him. My legs were wrapped around his hips, digging into his ass pulling him in deeper with each thrust.
“God, baby, I’ve missed this so much,” he rasped, continuing his perfect flexing.
I was meeting him thrust for thrust, moaning at the pleasure I felt, as he possessed my body again and again. I felt the familiar warmth spreading at my core; the swelling of my sweet spot as the head of Trey’s erection hit it again and again. I moaned with pleasure. “Is that your spot, baby? Does that feel good?”
“God, yes! Please don’t stop,” I gasped, my fingernails digging into his back.
“Tylar, you feel so good. You feel so fucking tight. I’m ready, baby.” Trey increased his momentum as our pleasure spiraled to a peak together. I was at the edge ready for a release I hadn’t felt for a while.
“That’s my girl,” his voice coaxed softly. “That’s my girl; come for me, baby.”
“Oh, God,” I rasped, my body tingled with the aftershock.
“Oh baby!” Trey said, out of breath as he collapsed against me.
We were both covered in sweat. He perched his head on his elbow, gazing at me with eyes still dark with passion. His fingers lightly traced my nipple, squeezing it gently. I was always sensitive post-orgasm.
I felt him squeezing my nipple again causing me to letdown. I knew what would happen if he did it again. I waited to see if he would. He rolled my nipple around between his thumb and forefinger, squeezing it again. This time a stream of breast milk squirted out.
“Whoa,” he said, surprised at the force of my milk stream. I laughed at his expression. He lowered his mouth to my nipple and sucked on it gently. “Hmmm,” he said, lifting his face up to mine. “That does taste good, Mrs. Sinclair. I can see what all the fuss is about.”
He lifted himself up and out of me. He lay down next to me and continued to press playful kisses on my face and neck. “She’s fine, Tylar,” he said, giving me a semi-stern look.
“What?” I asked, feigning confusion.
“Bobbin is fine,” he repeated.
“I know she is,” I lied.
I hated being apart from her and he knew it.
“Tylar,” he started, a slight frown creased his forehead, “have you discussed your separation anxiety with your doctor?”
“What separation anxiety?”
“Oh, come on, sweetie. You can’t stand being away from her for more than an hour or two. And then this shit you’ve brought up about a family bed recently. I’m a bit worried, that’s all.”