The girls went on and on during the meal about how she was the 'best pancake maker in the world.'
"I'm glad you like them! What did Uncle Henry make for breakfast?" She had a feeling she already knew the answer, but she felt like she should ask.
"Cereal," Avy said with a frown.
"Sometimes Pop Tarts," Abby said. "And we like Pop Tarts, but pancakes are better."
Samara grinned. "Well, I'm so glad you're happy with the pancakes. I won't let Uncle Henry feed you cereal anymore."
"Thank you, Aunt Sami," the girls said together. Sometimes it seemed like they shared a brain.
After breakfast, Henry kissed each girl atop her head. "Be nice to Aunt Sami today. She has a lot to do." When he got to Samara, she stood and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You were going to kiss me goodbye as well, right?"
Henry nodded, brushing his lips against hers. "I'll be home around six."
"Wow. You're going to be out of the house for twelve hours today?" That was going to make for a really long day for her. She hoped it wouldn't be that much every day.
He nodded. "The house we're working on is about forty-five minutes out, and there was a lot of rain that kept us from working. We're pushing to get this one done by our deadline."
Samara looked at the girls who were ignoring both of them, eating their pancakes. "All right. I'll handle it. Dinner will be ready at six when you get here, and we'll just make it work." She wondered if there was another woman alive who could have married the man without getting angry with him about everything he expected. She doubted it.
He smiled at her, kissing her softly once more. As he left, he thought about how Samara really was the perfect wife for him. She may not like his decision about having sex, but she was great with the children, and a wonderful cook. Yes, he'd made the right decision.
After he was gone, Samara got the girls dressed, letting them dress exactly alike, because she knew she'd still be able to tell them apart by their nail polish. She took a quick shower, while the girls played quietly in their room.
When she was dressed, and her hair was back in a ponytail to keep it out of her way, she walked down the hall to check on them. They each had a small pile of books by their beds. "That's a lot of books," she said. "Don't you think they should stay on the shelf?"
Abby shook her head. "Those are the books we want you to read us tonight."
Samara looked at the piles again. "That's way too many books to read in one night."
"Not if you read until Uncle Henry comes home," Avy told her.
Samara sighed. "What about dinner? I have to teach you girls to cook sometime, don't I?"
The girls looked at each other, obviously excited by the prospect of helping cook. "That would be all right," Avy said. "We'll let you teach us to cook."
Samara grinned at them, looking at the time on their Minnie Mouse clock. "It's time to go see Grandma Betty."
Abby jumped to her feet. "We love Grandma Betty, but we want to stay with you."
Samara frowned. "I'll be working here all day. I really need you to go to Grandma Betty's. I'll be picking you up early, though, and we'll read a little before we start cooking supper."
Once they were downstairs, she took each girl by the hand, walking them the short distance next door. "You two be good for Grandma."
"We will," they chorused.
She waved to the girls as she set out back to the house, glad they already liked her. She went straight upstairs to her office and set up Skype to call Lachele.
When Lachele's face popped onto the screen, she had a huge smile. "SamiSunflower! How's married life?"
"I can't believe you set me up with a man who just wanted someone to mother his dead brother's children! What were you thinking? He wants to wait at least six months for sex. He barely knows I'm there if I'm not cooking or taking care of the girls."
Lachele grinned. "He thinks he only wants someone to take care of the girls, and really that is the reason he contacted me now. He wants you, though. You're perfect for him, and I bet he already realizes it."
"But..."
"Give it a little time, Sami. Keep trying to seduce him. If he hasn't done you within a couple of months, I'll bring you a vibrator."
"Oh, I can just hear his reaction to that! Do you know what he told those precious girls? He couldn't bathe them every night because it would make their skin fall off. Do you believe?"
Lachele didn't laugh at that. She cackled. Hysterically. "Oh, that's just like a man who doesn't want to have to give baths every night, isn't it?"
"He told them they could only bathe on Saturdays and Tuesdays. When they pointed out that their mother had bathed them daily, he told them he'd gotten them just in time to save their skin." Samara shook her head. "Of course, when I bathed them last night, they covered the entire bathroom floor with water while I was reading."
"You're going to be a great mom to them, Sami. And then you're going to have more Matchrimony munchkins for me. I can feel it!"
"Not unless the man starts putting out. He thinks his goobies will shrivel up and fall off if he touches me." Samara sighed. "I'm so frustrated with him! I could handle all the kid stuff and all the cooking and cleaning if I just got some out of it."
"He won't be able to hold out for long. Face it, Sami. You're a beautiful, intelligent, giving woman. Just jump on him when you go to bed tonight. He will thank you for it later!"
Samara laughed. "I think it's time for you to go vibrator shopping."
"I have more faith in you than that!"
"Okay, Lachele, what work do you have for me to do today?"
Lachele smiled. "Two new client interviews. We're going to do a few via Skype and see how they go. I don't want you to have to travel much now that you're married with twins."
"Give me the information."
*****
By the time Henry got home from work, Samara was exhausted. She'd risen early and hadn't stopped working since. Between cooking, the little cleaning she'd been able to accomplish with the girls, and her day job, she felt a little like Cinderella. It would all be worth it if there was sex. But there wasn't. And wouldn't be. Maybe she would take Lachele's advice.
Henry walked into the kitchen to see the girls setting dishes at the table while Samara used a mixer on some mashed potatoes. He took a deep breath, smelling the delicious aromas. "I could get used to coming home to these smells."
Samara smiled over her shoulder at Henry, glad he was finally home. "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes if you want to shower."
He strode across the kitchen and grabbed her, kissing her soundly on the lips. "I'm on my way now."
Samara looked back down at the mashed potatoes she was mixing. "What was that about?"
"Uncle Henry only knows how to make frozen pizza and cereal," Ava told her.
"And Pop Tarts!" Abby said.
Suddenly Samara understood. She was not only taking care of the children, but she was feeding him all the time. He'd definitely gotten the better end of this deal.
He came down with his hair wet, just as Samara was putting biscuits on the table. She'd made a pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli, and biscuits. She slipped into the booth beside Avy, and took Henry's hand when he sat down beside her.
After their prayer, Henry said, "You are the best cook in all of Kansas. You truly amaze me, Samara."
"She's a good reader too," Avy told him. "She read us a gazillion books before we started cooking."
"A whole gazillion? Wow!" He looked at Samara waiting for her to protest all the praise, but she didn't.
"I'm just doing what you wanted me to come here for."
It wasn't until she said those words that Henry realized their marriage was all one-sided. She'd moved halfway across the country to be his wife, forgoing sex, taking care of twins, and cooking. What was she getting out of it?
As soon as they were finished eating, he got up to clear the table. "I'll take care of dishes while you bathe the
twins," he offered.
"Oh, that would be wonderful!" She took the girls upstairs, starting their bubble bath, before hurrying down the hall to get them pajamas and underwear. They seemed to be outgrowing most of their clothes, and though she'd ordered some shirts the night before, she realized it was probably time to just go get them entirely new wardrobes. From what she could see, Henry didn't need her money, so she could spend hers on clothes for the girls.
When she got back into the bathroom, both girls had stripped, but were waiting for her to put them in the tub. Once she'd thrown them both in, she picked up her Kindle. "Wash each others' backs, and no splashing water on the floor tonight. No messes."
"Okay," Avy said with a grin. The little girl had been in a mischievous mood all evening, and her grin scared Samara a bit.
Instead of giving her book her full attention as she would have preferred, Samara watched the girls out of the corner of one eye. When she saw Avy pick up her washrag and ring it out over her sister's head, she'd known she was right to do so.
Abby sputtered before she picked up the soap and threw it at her sister, hitting her in the face with it. Both girls immediately started wailing.
Samara set her Kindle on the counter. "Avy, Abby, stop that this instant! What is wrong with you two?" It was so strange to see the girls fight with each other. It must feel like fighting with your own mirror image.
The girls continued to glare at each other. "Avy stole my doll during nap time today!" Abby complained.
"Abby wouldn't let me choose the naptime book, and it was my turn!" Avy protested.
"Both of you will stop. If you want to continue to take baths together, then there will be no fights in the bathroom. That's enough of your wild behavior."
Abby looked down, obviously contrite. Avy simply glared.
Samara found another way to tell the twins apart in that instant. Avy held a grudge and Abby didn't. "Avy? You misbehaved as well, not just your sister."
"I don't like Abby. I don't want to be her sister anymore!"
Samara tried not to laugh at that. "You would hate not having Abby for your sister. You two are acting ridiculously. No more. Do you understand?"
Avy glared at her sister one last time before saying, "Yes, ma'am. I'll try to be nice."
"I'll let you choose the first bedtime book, Avy. I'm sorry I was mean to you," Abby mumbled.
Avy seemed to contemplate her sister's apology. "I forgive you. You chose my favorite book, and that helps a lot."
Samara bit her lip. Avy had been holding a grudge for hours, because her sister hadn't let her choose a book, but she'd chosen her favorite. Really?
She got the girls out of the tub, and dressed them in their pajamas. "You have a few minutes before we'll start reading. Want to go down and hug Uncle Henry?"
The girls hurried down the stairs in their footed pajamas, Avy leading the way in purple, and Abby bringing up the rear in blue. Samara was determined to color code the girls as often as humanly possible.
When she got down to the bottom of the stairs herself, she found both girls sitting on their uncle. "Uncle Henry!" they were squealing. "We missed you while you were gone all day!"
Samara stayed back, waiting for the girls to have their time.
"You did? Did you have a good time with Aunt Sami?"
One of the girls, Samara couldn't tell which one, said, "We love Aunt Sami! We read books, and we helped cook, and she let us help with laundry, and we got to come home early from Grandma's."
"Wow. Sounds like you had a great day," Henry said. "I think we should keep Aunt Sami."
The girls squealed, yelling 'yes,' over and over. Samara laughed and stepped into the living room. "It's time for bed, silly girls. Avy, you hurry ahead so you can pick out the first book of the night."
Avy took off up the stairs, running straight to the girls' bedroom, with Abby right on her heels. "Those two are something else," Samara told Henry.
"They adore you," he told her. "You're exactly what we all needed."
She shrugged. "Exactly what the girls needed maybe." She turned to go back upstairs, but he was on his feet in a flash, grabbing her arm.
"Exactly what all of us needed. I don't think I knew how much you were missing from my life until you showed up and filled the gap." He turned her to him, kissing her gently. "You're an incredible woman, Samara."
She simply shrugged, turning to go back up the stairs, leaving Henry frowning after her.
When she slipped into bed that night, Henry was lying on his side, facing the middle of the bed. She wore a tee-shirt and panties again, because he obviously didn't care what she wore to bed. She knew she wasn't a model or anything, but she'd always been told she was attractive. Henry made her feel less than desirable.
She climbed into bed, moving to the middle and was surprised when he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair. "I've been unfair to you," he said softly.
She looked up at him with surprise. He had been unfair, but she'd never expected him to actually be able to see it. "Why do you say that?"
"You came here, expecting to find a man with no children who wanted to spend his life with you. Instead you got me, with two kids, constantly keeping you at arms' length. I'm surprised you haven't left me by now."
Samara smiled. "Well, I signed a contract saying I'd stay. Honestly, if that contract hadn't been signed, I'd have left after our little discussion in the bride's room at your church."
He sighed. "I know. I've been very rigid. I was really trying to protect us both, but it fell really flat. I didn't think anyone would stick around with the kind of work required with the girls." He took a deep breath, looking into her eyes. "Are you still willing to stay? To be my wife? Or are you planning on running in a year?"
"Are you going to give me reason to run? I don't believe in divorce. Unless you cheat or start hitting me, I'm sticking around."
He lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her passionately. His hands moved over her back, one of them pulling her closer while the other explored her bottom through her panties. Her shirt wasn't large enough to be much of a barrier.
Samara sank into his kiss, her arms wrapping around him. She brought one leg up and around his calves in an effort to get closer. He'd been covered when she got into bed, so it was then she noticed he was naked. "Um, Henry?"
"Shut up and kiss me, Samara."
Her heart beat faster as she realized he wasn't going to stop. Now she wished she'd worn her pretty nightgown from their wedding night. She started to ask him if she could change, but she didn't want to affect the mood. The man was finally willing to let her ride him like a cowgirl, and she wasn't about to complain.
His kisses were almost frantic, his hands moving over her body with one purpose and one purpose only: to bring her to the same state of arousal he was obviously in. He drew away, kneeling on the bed, and pulling her into a kneeling position as well. Catching the hem of her shirt, he pulled it over her head, his eyes all but glazed with desire as he stared at her mostly naked state.
He reached out to cup her breasts in his hands, smiling. "They fill my hands perfectly. You were made for me, Sami. Why didn't I see it the instant I saw you walking down the aisle toward me?"
"I don't know, because I did. I knew before I heard you speak, but as soon as you spoke, I was weak in the knees. I would have made love with you in the bride's room at the church without a single complaint."
He groaned. "I'm an idiot for waiting this long." He moved his hands into her panties, cupping her bottom. "I want these off!"
She chuckled. "Let's take them off then." She pushed them down and shimmied out of them, naked in front of a man for the first time in her entire life. She felt vulnerable for just a moment until he took her into his arms again, his mouth all but attacking hers.
Before she knew what was happening, he had her on her back on the bed, and his hand was between her thighs, stroking her core. "Are you ready for me, baby?"
Samara no
dded, unable to speak for a moment. It was all happening so fast, but it was what she'd been wanting, so she couldn't complain. He moved over her, between her spread thighs. She stroked his cheek as he lay poised above her, ready to make her a part of him.
He turned and kissed the hand on his cheek, before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers, just as he thrust softly inside her. Samara let out a low moan. She'd known it would hurt, but somehow she'd forgotten in the heat of the moment.
Once he was inside her, he stilled, trying to give her time to adjust to him. He wasn't sure how long he could wait though. She was his, and he needed her. His lips toyed with hers for just a moment before he pulled out and thrust back inside her. "Please tell me it doesn't hurt too much," he mumbled against her lips.
It still hurt a bit, but Samara didn't care. "It's fine." She needed him to move inside her. She needed this wanting to end. His thrusts were slow and steady, and obviously very controlled. She wanted so much more from him. "More," she whispered, needing to reach that place all her girlfriends had talked about.
Henry needed no further coaxing. He moved quickly inside her, his hand reaching down between them to stroke her, hoping it would help her to catch up with him. Her gasps told him it was the right thing to do. Within moments, she was moaning her pleasure, burying her face in his neck so the twins wouldn't hear her from down the hall.
As soon as she let go, Henry did too, his neck arching in climax. He rolled to her side, gathering her against him. He panted in her ear, unable to say a word, so he simply clung to her.
Samara lay against him, her cheek pressed against his chest. It was exactly as she'd known it would be from the moment they met. The man overrode her senses and turned her into a writhing wanton woman. She was so glad she'd found him. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder, saying nothing else as her eyes drifted closed.
Henry stroked her back as he relived the last hour in his head. His bride was everything he'd hoped she wouldn't be. He didn't want to feel so much for the woman he'd married simply so his twins would have a mother-figure. He was so glad he'd been wrong about everything. Samara held his heart in the palm of her hand. She was the perfect woman for him. Dr. Lachele Simpson was a genius.
Kissing in Kansas Page 6