“Yes I am. And you are Liam’s current obsession.”
It was a curious choice of words, and I had no illusions they were meant to be kind. “Current” suggested I was temporary, and “obsession” had a negative tone. No, he wasn’t here to play nice.
“Well, I assure you he is much more than an ‘obsession’ to me. I love your grandson,” I stated simply.
He held me loosely in his arms, studying me intently as we swirled slowly around the dance floor. Liam’s mother and father danced nearby, and I caught Ellen watching us, obviously pleased her father had made a point to dance with me. I was sure, however, if she could hear the conversation between us, she wouldn’t like it.
His eyes narrowed, his expression remaining blank. “I’m sure you do, Miss Sanger. What’s not to love about a Whelan heir? You’ve joined one of the oldest, most powerfully connected families in Texas, and managed to land yourself quite an eligible young buck,” he said crudely. “I believe you are quite a resourceful young woman. I hope you can rise to the challenge of managing a marriage such as this. It takes a great deal of grace and dignity to navigate the petty dealings of Texas politics.”
His hands were cold, and even through the fabric of my gown, I could feel the iciness seeping through. Even his breath was cold. For a moment, I was convinced I was dancing with a corpse.
“I plan to do my best to make Liam proud,” I said, my voice faltering a bit. I still hadn’t eaten anything, and the stress of the evening was catching up with me.
“I hope so. Unfortunately, sometimes that isn’t enough. Ellen, Liam and Ethan were born into Texas politics, such as good bloodline is bred into the best quarter horses. You can never take a range horse to show, his bloodline will show in the end.”
What did I say to that? He’d compared me to a horse. As I continued to look stupefied, he added the final insult.
“I hope you inveigled a nice prenuptial out of my grandson and his mother. You’re going to need it.”
And the conversation was over. He dropped my hand, and with a small gesture of a finger to the edge of his hat, three suited men fell in step with him and drifted into the open doors of the resort hotel.
I felt sick. My fairy-tale wedding deflated. In two hours, I’d failed my first test as a senator’s wife and paled before the cameras at the first chance meeting. I’d dropped a life-altering bomb on my new husband and caused our first fight. And now I knew where I stood with the patriarch of the family…like cow-poop on his five-thousand dollar boots.
“Who’s the petrified wood,” Tana drawled, draping her arm over my shoulder as she pointed toward Tex’s retreating entourage.
“My newest nightmare. He’s Liam’s Grandfather, Tex Whelan.”
“Was that moldy bastard mean to you?” Tana was a tiny-bit past tipsy. I noted Sean had been watching her, and he now approached us, his smirk pulling the cutest dimple from his right cheek.
“Down, killer. My man Liam will take care of the old man. Kelly has nothing to fear,” he said, taking her drink from her hand. “Come and dance with me, sunshine,” he teased, pulling her into his arms. “Liam needs some quality time with his girl.”
With a wink, he swung her away as the band changed into a feisty two-step. Liam’s warm scent enveloped my senses as I felt his breath on my neck.
“Finally, I find the girl alone.”
I turned, his arms immediately circling my waist. His touch was the opposite of the old man’s, and even through the tension between us, I instantly relaxed.
“Baby, have I told you how beautiful you look as my bride?” His eyes sparkled, the torchlight reflecting the blue, making them ten times more beautiful than normal.
“Um…” I rolled my eyes heavenward, thinking. “No, but I could sure use such a compliment right about now.”
“Well, you are. You’re an angel. You were a dream walking toward me earlier tonight.” He brushed my temple with his lips. I closed my eyes, and nuzzled against his muscular chest. He’d removed his jacket, and I could feel his heart beating through his crisp linen shirt.
“I’m sorry about Tex. He was dancing with you before I knew what was happening. I want to know what he said to you.”
I pulled away to look at him, and shook my head. “Later,” I mouthed. He smiled sadly at me and then pulled me back to him.
“You almost took me to my knees earlier. Never saw that hit coming. You know in football, they call that ‘blindsided.’”
I nodded hesitantly.
He reached up, sliding his fingertips into my hairline, grasping my head gently in his hands. “I was stunned, Kel. And I’m so happy I could climb in the middle of the cake table and shout the news to everyone now.” He searched my eyes intently. “My reaction earlier wasn’t what it seemed. You must have thought I was angry.”
I realized I was holding my breath. I let it out slowly, and swallowed, trying to tamp-down the nervousness and nausea I felt rising.
“Baby, I was mad, but not about the baby. I was mad at myself. I’ve been preoccupied with getting down to business with this Senate appointment and the border bill. I should have sensed you needed me. I should have known something was bothering you. I know what this is doing to you…what being pregnant means to you. To think you’ve been dealing with all these feelings by yourself all these weeks is what upset me. I know how complicated this must be for you, and you need to share what you are feeling with me. The question is, how do you feel about this?”
I shut my eyes for a moment, and then opened them to find him still studying me. “Honestly?” I whispered, “I don’t know how to describe what I feel. There are no words. Excited, terrified, anxious…undeserving…guilty. I hate the negative memories and emotions. I hate that I can’t feel elation for what should be the most joyous event of our lives. I hate that this can’t be my first experience, and there have to be horrible, negative memories to taint this for us.
No crease formed in his forehead. He didn’t frown, didn’t cock a questioning eyebrow. He nodded in complete understanding and then lowered his head to gently brush his lips against mine.
“We are in this together, Hellcat. You are mine now, this is our baby. You are an amazing mother to Masen, a remarkable woman, and you are who you are because of the past. I refuse to let you or anyone pass judgment because of past choices.”
His words were finally sinking in. For the first time, I could feel the self-loathing loosen a bit.
“It’s time, Kelly. It’s time to forgive that fourteen-year-old girl for the choices she was forced to make, and get on with our life together.”
And that was it. He’d gotten to the heart of it. I’d ask God to forgive me, now I had to forgive myself. I relaxed against him, and he tightened his grip around me as we continued to sway on the dance floor. The song had long since changed to a slow love song, the couples on the floor dwindling down as our family drifted back into the hotel.
“I love you Liam Whelan Covington.”
“And I you, Kelly Catherine Covington.”
“Mmm. I love the sound of that,” I murmured as we continued to move slowly.
“You have any idea how we are going to play this to the press?” I asked, raising my head to look at him.
“I’ll send them a baby shower invitation.” He smiled down at me, his full, megawatt campaign-mode smile, and I could tell he was totally serious.
Chapter Three
T he cool, ocean breeze blew in through the open patio doors, kissing my damp, glistening skin. In the dark, with the waves lapping at the beach only yards away, it felt as if we were on the beach itself, in our own private piece of heaven. Liam made slow, sweet love to me, only after I’d assured him time and again there was nothing we could do that would hurt the baby. I could already tell he was going to be overprotective, and the feeling was foreign to me. I cherished it, having been without anyone to look out for me, or care for me. My fingers worked through his thick, silky hair as he lay with his head on my stomach. H
e nuzzled me, placing kisses around my belly-button.
“I love knowing my baby is growing inside you. It makes you mine. I’ve marked you,” he whispered in the dark, raising his head to gaze at me.
“Yes, you have, in many wonderful ways,” I replied as he pulled his body back up next to mine, and then pulled me over into the circle of his arms. I placed my head on his chest and my palm beside my face, feeling his heartbeat.
“So, beautiful,” he murmured. “I’m a lucky man.” He played with my hair as I caressed his muscled chest. “I love your hair up like you had it tonight, with the tendrils of hair escaping around your beautiful neck,” he added, placing kisses down my neck. “I love how creamy the skin looks on your shoulders,” he continued, his breath brushing my skin lightly. I shivered.
“I love the shape of your breasts, I could kiss them all night.” He trailed his mouth lightly over my breastbone, laving attention on the swell of each side as he continued down between them. “You smell of blackberries and vanilla. Your skin always smells sweet,” he whispered, his mouth coming to rest once again on my abdomen. “I love watching your stomach, the muscles contracting in the most delicious ways when I trail my fingers over your flesh.”
I was panting heavily, his words more erotic than the touch of his mouth.
“And I’m enraptured with this beautiful flesh here,” he whispered, his breath touching me intimately. “I love that you waxed this for me, leaving your core bare for me.”
“All for you, Liam,” I gasped, as his mouth came down on me. My hands tangled once more in his hair as I arched my back and then pushed against his mouth.
“Please, Liam…I need you again. Please,” I moaned. He reluctantly kissed his way back up my body, and then his lips found mine.
“Anything you want. I’m here for you, Baby,” he whispered, taking my hips in his large hands. He positioned himself and then thrust deeply, sinking into me. I gasped out. No matter how many times we made love, it never failed to surprise me how good he made me feel, and how satisfying it was to feel so full of him. He continued to move, his hips thrusting forcefully this time, not slowly and carefully as he had earlier, but aggressively. He pulled me down, his hands angling me up, bringing my pelvis off the bed at an angle as he continued to thrust in, his hips rolling with every motion. He was hitting me deep and I could feel him as he fully seated himself and then rolled up, teasing my walls as he pulled back out again.
“Come on, Kel. Let me see you,” he commanded, his eyes on fire as they watched mine. As I gasped out an “Ah,” my head pushing back into the pillows, Liam’s mouth mimicked mine as he watched me intently. Our releases washed over both of us at the same time, our breath mingling together as one as he crushed his mouth to mine and ate at my lips. He grabbed at my leg, pulling it up and around his buttocks as he continued to push against me, rubbing me with his muscled body. I immediately began to build again. Liam was going to wring another orgasm from me, and I felt I was going to fly apart.
“All night long, Hellcat. I’m going to wear you out, and we’re not leaving this bed all weekend,” he growled as more waves of pleasure washed over me.
* * *
“I can’t believe I’ve been this involved in bride-mode, and I don’t know anything about what’s going on with you, Senator.”
We walked along the beach, barefoot, me in a tiny bikini and sarong wrap, Liam in his swim trunks, hanging off his waist and showing off his perfectly sculpted abs and that “V.” Oh, the “V” – I loved his “V” – those creases in his ab muscles outlining his hipbones. They almost made me weep.
“If I catch you checking me out once more, Mrs. Covington, I’m going to take you on the beach,” Liam said, pulling me against his hard body. “And I’m going to bring you up to speed on the bill and the fundraising. Sean is right.” He nuzzled my hair and kissed me on the temple.
“Sean is right…what’s he right about?” I asked.
“He says I’m not utilizing my best weapon. You. My beautiful wife.”
“Um, I don’t follow.” I kicked at the sand, spraying water up on our legs.
“People love you. You’re beautiful. I couldn’t find an actress in Hollywood to campaign for me who would be a better draw than you. If I get you in on fundraising and the campaign, the cameras and media will flock to you. Sean’s right, you are my greatest asset. And the fact you already work in advertising and public relations is the icing. So, you need to resign at Austin Design and come to work for me full-time.”
The air left my lungs. “Liam, no. Beside you is one thing. I’ll stand beside you on this, but I can’t campaign for you. And I wouldn’t know the first thing about promoting in politics,” I argued. “Besides, I’m hitting my stride at Austin Design. I love my job.”
“Okay, I know. Just think about it. Maybe help with some stuff in the next couple of months, and get your feet wet. It would mean a lot to me to have you involved,” he said, peering at me warily from the corner of his eye.
My gut clenched. He sounded sincere, and it did give me a bit of a thrill to think he was this emotional about having me involved.
“Find something for me to work on, and I’m on it,” I said, letting out a breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. His full-on, sparkling smile lit his expression, and had me beaming in return. I was amazed I found such giddiness in a simple husband-and-wife, mundane conversation on the beach. That’s the thing about an intimate relationship. It was a blessing you took for granted unless you’d never had one. The normalcy of it all was a balm to my soul.
Liam’s cell vibrated in his pocket. He’d been avoiding calls from colleagues and business associates on our secluded honeymoon, but we kept our phones close because of Masen. The parenting thing was still new to us, but we were both nervous being away from him, even knowing Liam’s parents were watching him. He pulled his phone out and frowned at the screen.
“Mom, hey…is something wrong?”
We stopped, his arm tightening around my waist as he listened. I watched his expressions closely, apprehension growing at his silence.
“When did it start? Did you call Chelsea? No, I’m glad you called. We’ll be on the first flight out.” His gaze was steady and measured as he watched me as he spoke.
“Liam, what’s going on? Is it Masen?” I asked, worried.
He hugged me closer, shaking his head slightly to calm me. “Well, okay. We won’t unless we hear from you. Just call us if there is any change. I don’t care what time it is. We can be home in two hours,” he said, holding his finger up. “Thanks, mom…Yeah, you too. Yes, we’re having a great time, but we miss Masen. Kiss him for us,” he added before hanging up. He looked down at his phone and then returned it to his pocket and then pulled me in and kissed me on the forehead.
“Is something wrong with Masen?”
“He’s running a temp of one-hundred and one degrees. Mom called Chelsea, and she’s there now. She thinks it’s an ear infection, but they are taking him to the pediatrician in the morning. She said Chelsea is giving him children’s Tylenol for the fever and pain, and there is no need for us to come home, he should be fine. The pediatrician will more than likely start him on antibiotics in the morning, and that should be the end of it. I told her we’d come home, but she doesn’t think that’s necessary. They’ll call if anything changes.”
I shook my head, my heart heavy. “This is the first time he’s been sick since we’ve had him. I can’t believe I’m not there,” I worried. Liam pulled me in tighter.
“I know, Baby. But Chelsea is staying the night with him, and mom and dad are hovering too. What’s better than having a pediatric surgeon sleeping beside your baby?”
“I know. I can’t stand knowing he’s sick. I need to feel him in my arms,” I choked out.
“You’re a great mom,” he said, pulling me toward the resort and our patio doors. “Let’s clean up and order room service. We’ll eat on the patio under the stars. And we can call mom at bedti
me to check on him.”
I nodded, holding back tears. I’d never been one to cry, but since I’d met Liam and had Masen to care for, my emotions had been awakened in ways I’d never thought possible. Multiply that with pregnancy hormones, and I was almost a normal female. Almost.
After a shower that I was sure went down in the history books as the most erotic ever, Liam and I settled on the patio to eat shrimp scampi and salad. I’d finger-dried my hair and left it in natural waves. My thin, barely-there cotton sundress felt veil-like on my skin.
Liam poured his glass full of wine, and then leaned over and filled mine about one-third full. As I began to protest, Liam nodded.
“It’s okay…I asked Chelsea, and she said a sip or two won’t hurt. This is a Prosecco, and I want you to try it,” he said, placing the wine back in the chiller.
“You’ve already told Chelsea I’m pregnant?”
“Yeah. I pulled her aside the morning after the wedding, before she and Ethan left to go back. I was worried about you, and I wanted her input on your condition. I’m learning here, you know,” he said with a wink.
I took a small sip of the wine. It was delicious, and I took a bigger sip.
“It’s great, right?”
“Yeah. Leave it to you to introduce me to something hard to resist when I can’t have it for several months,” I said with a faux-pout.
“I’ll buy you a bottle as soon as I have you two home from the hospital,” he replied, leaning over and placing his hands on my tummy. He leaned further, placed his lips gently on me, and looked up into my eyes. “I love this little one already.”
Just his small gesture made my heart leap into my throat. He made me feel loved and cherished.
We ate in silence, our bare legs tangled together. As soon as he was through eating, he placed his fork down across his plate, and then grabbed my chair and pulled it toward him. I immediately crawled into his lap.
“Your skin is golden and this white gauzy fabric makes it glow,” he murmured, his breath blowing my hair. His hand skimmed my skirt, inching higher on my leg. “I’ve loved having you all to myself, spending every minute wrapped up in you. It’s going to be hard to go back to the real world.”
Texas Girl Grit Page 3