“I didn't know what the baby would be.”
I closed the door and looked back at him. “It's so beautiful.” Lots of built-in cupboards filled with happy looking stuffed animals and toys. He had put a lot of thought into this room. “Did you design it yourself?”
“No, I wouldn't have done it this nice. I had a designer do everything. It was finished and ready before we left home. I figured if you didn't get pregnant that we would adopt. I want to give you everything that you want. I love you so much.” He hesitated before he continued. “Do you love me back, Sandra?” He sounded like a hurt little boy again.
I moved so I was directly in front him. I looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. Tears filled my eyes and ran down my cheeks. “I love you so much. It hurt me so much to be away from you, Tata. I need us to be together.”
He looked so relieved. He was always so unsure of my love. “I need you too.” He wrapped his arms around me but it was difficult with my huge tummy between us.
Tata moved me to our bedroom next door. He closed the door and undressed me. I was nervous what he would think of my pregnant form. I had a dark line in the middle of my tummy and my belly button was sticking out. Would he be disgusted? I didn't look like a little girl.
“I need you Sandra. It's been so long.” He leaned down and sucked on my nipple. I wrapped my arms around his head to hold him in place. I had missed sex. I liked that he was so capable in bed. He always made sure that I was satisfied.
His eyes looked up to me as he sucked on my nipple. He was like a baby; he needed me to take care of his needs.
I cupped his face with my hands. His eyes closed. He was overwhelmed with my love for him. I was moved by this precious moment.
I stroked my fingers over his face, touching his smooth forehead, gliding over the wrinkles around his eyes before my fingers moved over the stubble of his cut bread.
His eyes remained closed and sucked like a baby would.
“Tata, I need to lie down. We can continue in bed.” I was calling him daddy but I was acting like his mommy. Doing for him what his own mother didn't have it in her to do. I was taking care of him and making him feel loved. That was all he wanted.
He let go with a loud smacking noise, making me grin at him. My nipple had turned a dark pink and it stood out so hard and tall.
“Lie down on your side.” He was back to being a little boy with a new toy. I lay down on the bed in the middle. It was so soft and I felt like I was sinking into the silky satin.
He undressed and joined me on the bed. “Move your knee this way.” He grabbed onto my upper leg and moved it up towards my tummy. Then he moved my arm so my hand was in front of my face.
“Just stay this way.” He moved so my straight leg was in between his.
I jumped a little surprised when I felt his finger rotate around my clitoris. I relaxed into the feeling, my tight muscles were unclenching. Now I was the one closing my eyes and enjoying this experience.
His fingers moved away, but they were replaced by his penis. Every part of his body felt so good on mine. This was just magical.
I believed that this was destiny, which made me a foreign exchange student and made him choose my school to teach at and my class to take on that terrible trip. Were some of the other girls also with men they loved now? Were they thankful that they had been kidnapped and bought?
Tata pushed into me making me gasp. “That's my favorite sound in the world.”
I peeked over my shoulder and looked back at him. I couldn't hide my smile. I was glad that he liked to make love to me as much as I liked him to do it.
He carefully rocked into me. He was being gentle because of the baby. It had been so long and it felt so good. I had a feeling that I would come quickly for him.
He had both his hands on my bottom. They were squeezing into the skin, pinching me a little while they held me in place.
He thrust forward again and again, at a constant rate, one that felt so exceptionally marvelous. “I missed you,” I confessed. “I missed this, too.”
“So did I, Sandra. No one makes me feel like you do. You are my life.” He leaned down and kissed my lips. His hips were still rocking into mine.
“Oh Tata, I'm coming.”
He nodded at me and straightened up again. His hands were planted on my bottom again. He thrust a little faster and harder. I got a little wilder. In fact, I felt desperate to have an orgasm. I was whispering, please, over and over as I begged for it.
He picked up more speed and thrust deeper. He was about to come. I needed to relax so I could come before he did.
I was panting and trying so hard to just feel what he was doing for me. I closed my eyes and envisioned his penis sliding in and out of me. It must be a beautiful sight. He was so lucky that he could see us making our love to each other.
“Oh!” I called out. It was happening. I had worried that I would never see him again and never make love again and now here we were and I was coming. “Yes!”
He was gaining speed. That must mean that he was close too.
We came together, enjoying wave after wave of pleasure as they washed over us. Tata lay down on me so his mouth was by my ear. He was panting just like I was. He had done all the work and I had been the recipient. His fist was pushing into the mattress by my face. I guessed that he was trying not to lay his whole weight on me.
“I love you, Sandra.”
“I love you too, Tata. But I need to take a nap now. I usually do every day. Is that okay.”
“Of course, angel.” He pulled out, making me whimper. Then he moved me this way and that, stopping first when I was perfectly covered up. “Sleep well, my little angel.”
“I wanted to call my parents.”
“I'll do it. Just you sleep. You must be exhausted.”
Chapter 18
I felt a terrible pain in my back when I woke up. My first thought was that we must have overdone it while making love. I just wasn't used to it anymore.
I reached behind me. The warmth coming off of his body felt so good. “Tata,” I whispered. I wasn't sure why I was bothering him. What did I want him to do? I wasn't sure if I needed to go to the bathroom or if I was hungry. Maybe I just needed a massage.
I shook him a little. “Tata.”
I sucked up a deep breath of air. I was in pain. “Please wake up, Tata. I need you.”
“Sandra, what's wrong?”
“I don't know. I'm just not sure.”
The light went on and I covered my eyes to protect them. I was still naked and he was rubbing my back. “Should I call the doctor?”
“I don't know. Perhaps I'm just hungry?”
“Should I wake the kitchen staff?”
“No, maybe an apple would be enough.”
“An apple, coming right up.” Tata started to get up.
“No don't leave me.” I reached for him, trying to hold him in place. I didn't want to be alone.
“I'm leaving. I'm going to get the doctor.”
“No, you don't have to wake him. I meant that I'd go with you.” I fought my way to my feet. The palms of my hands went to my back. “But first I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Of course, angel.” He had a twinkle in his eye as he looked at my oddly shaped body. “It's right through here.”
“I think I want to take a shower, too.” I called over my shoulder as I waddled to the bathroom. “Wow, that's some bathtub,” I declared when I entered the room.
“I thought that it should be big enough for the whole family. I pictured you bathing the baby and passing him off to me. I want us to be very close.”
“I wouldn't have it any other way.” I could see that he was trying not to sound so needy. He wanted what he couldn't have as a child, a loving family. I would see that he got it and that he started to feel more positive about himself.
I went to the bathroom while he took off to get me some food. Did he think that I wouldn't notice?
I got into the shower, decidin
g not to wait for him. When the water hit my stomach it hardened like a rock. My back felt like a sponge, which was being squeezed to ripping. I could hardly breathe. More air seemed to be leaving my body than entering it. I was huffing and puffing and then the pain was gone, completely gone.
I wasn't sure if it had really happened. I hurried in the shower. Using the shampoo and soap that was in there for me. He had thought of everything. He needed me so much. I was the only person that he trusted.
Besides, he would do anything for me. He even let me go home with my parents. It had been nice for me to build up a relationship with him.
My parents had fought constantly when I was little, each blaming the other because of Kelly. They didn't want me growing up like that. My mother often visited him. They had remained faithful to each other but my father cracked under the guilt. They had been in Vienna because my father was there on business. He couldn't forgive himself.
Men weren't the tough strong guys that I once thought that they were. They weren't perfect.
The pain in my back returned, making my stomach tighten again. I was pretty sure that these were contractions.
“Tata,” I called out. He was gone. I shouldn't have been so unsure before.
I got out of the shower and paced up and down, leaving dangerous puddles in my wake. I was repeating Tata as I walked up and down.
“Sandra, are you okay?”
“Baby's coming, now. At least, I think so. I could be wrong.”
“Should I help you to bed?”
“I don't know. I've never done this before.” I felt my voice crackling.
“Angel, does it hurt like when you lost the baby, last time.”
“No, it's different. I'm scared,” I admitted.
“Okay, I'm going to take you to the ship's doctor. He has done this before. He will look you over and know what is going on.” Tata was trying so hard to sound like everything was normal but I could easily see that he was scared too.
He went to a wall and opened it up. Inside was a walk-in closet. “I think you should wear one of my shirts. I'll walk you over to the doctor's.” He grabbed one of his shirts and helped me into it while he talked to me. It felt like an eternity for him to finish with the buttons.
He took hold of my hand and walked me out of the bathroom. In our bedroom he pushed a button on the wall. “I need the doctor to wake up. Sandra has gone into labor. I also want the captain to go to the doctor's office.”
“The captain?” I asked. I really didn't need that many people watching me.
“Yes, he needs to take care of something for us. It will unfortunately go very quickly. I had wanted to take more time and do it right tomorrow, but it can't wait now.”
I didn't understand what he was talking about and I didn't care. The next contraction had me doubled over.
“Oh Sandra, it will be better soon.” He sounded scared but like he wanted to sound like he had everything under control.
“Promise?”
“Yes, Tata will help you. I am so thankful that I got you alone today. I don't even want to think about you going through this alone.”
“Me neither.” I was able to move along the hallway with him. He brought me into a doctor's office. The doctor was already there.
“Hello. It's great to finally meet you. Daniel has told us so much about you. I'll admit that I was beginning to think that he made you up.”
“My family needed me at home.”
“For that many months?”
“My older sister was kidnapped when she was little. They got her back and it was important for all of us to be there.”
“Oh, I understand. Forgive me for prying.”
“That's okay.”
“Let's see how far along you are.”
The doctor checked me over while Tata held my hand. I was amazed at how well this ship was stocked. It had everything that my gynecologist had. Tata was doing everything in his power to keep me safe. Not just me but also our baby.
The doctor told me he was surprised I could have slept through the contractions as long as I did. Sleeping next to Tata had given me peace.
The doctor told me he figured the baby would be born within the hour.
“Get the captain in here right now!” Tata sounded furious.
The doctor jumped to do his bidding. The captain came right in with a bible in his hands.
“Just do it fast,” Tata told him.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to witness the union of this man with this woman.”
Half an hour later I was a married mother. Tata had insisted that we be married before the baby's arrival. The captain went pale at every contraction that I had and they came one right after the other. Still I will always remember Tata's face when I said I do. He looked – thankful.
At the moment I was resting. The doctor told him that I was fine but I needed to rest. Then he told Tata that he could have his first father/son moment.
Tata's jaw had dropped. He kissed our baby's tiny cheek and walked up and down with him. He was still doing that.
I listened to him talk to the baby. He was telling him that he would show him the world. That he could have anything he wanted. Then he dropped his voice. He promised our baby that he would never do anything to hurt him and that he would love him all of his life. He promised our baby that he would never have to go through what he went through.
I loved Tata so much. It had been the right decision to go with him.
Prologue
I was holding onto Jake's tiny hand as we walked along Church road. We had a couple of errands to run before we returned to the ship. I was about to enter a shop when I heard someone calling out my name. It was a voice that I easily recognized.
I turned to see my mother hurrying over to me. “Sandra, it's really you.” She threw her arms around me.
I lifted my hand to stop our bodyguards from protesting. “Mon, how are you?”
“Me? I'm fine. The question is how are you. Why won't you let us see you?”
“I was busy.” I shook my head. That was a lame excuse to give my mother. She deserved better. “I was afraid that you wouldn't approve. I don't regret my decision to go with him. He's my husband. We belong together.
“Tata?”
“Yes, she means Tata. Mommy and Tata love each other very much. We are a happy family.” I thought about what the captain said while he married us. What God has brought together in his wisdom, let no man put asunder.
“Sandra, it's been a long time. Perhaps you want to come home with me. I can take care of you.”
“You don't need to, mom. I am doing great. I have never been happier.”
“I worry so. The weekly phone calls aren't enough. I need to see you and hug you more often. Besides, this little guy should meet his cousin.”
“Yes, I'd like that. I'll talk to Tata about that.”
“You have to ask permission?” My mom didn't like the sound of that.
“No, but I respect his wishes and I won't do anything that could hurt him or make him feel uncomfortable.”
“Sandra,” she whined, that hadn't been the answer that she wanted to hear. She turned away from me and bent down to Jake, picking him up. Daniel had insisted that he didn't want him named after him. He was a new person with a new chance at life. Tata felt strongly that Jake should have a name just for him.
“He's beautiful.”
Jake smiled at her. I was doing what I could to raise him right, despite Tata's spoiling.
My mom was hugging and kissing Jake, telling him who she was. She looked at me again and begged me to get a cup of coffee with her.
I quickly agreed and we went to a cafe. There we talked until I declared that I had to get back. I had agreed to meet Tata in the town's square at four.
My mother wasn't prepared to let me go after only seeing me for a short hour. She stayed by my side until I pointed to Tata. Then she stayed behind. I went to him and kissed him on his cheek.
He always
lit up when he saw me.
He let go of the baby carriage and wrapped his arm around me, kissing me back.
“Tata, we just met Grandma.”
Tata gave us a surprised look.
“She is standing over there.” I pointed at my mother. I expected her to step forward but she just nodded and waved goodbye.
Tata ran over to her and smiled at her. He brought her over to us and lifted our five-month-old daughter out of her carriage. I watched him lay her in my mother's arms. “This is our little Katie.”
My mom hugged her and kissed her.
Tata invited her back to the ship with us.
We showed her where we lived. She saw that we were a happy family. I think she was able to let me go a little now that she saw that I wasn't suffering. She told us about the speech she would be giving this evening. She still worked, helping kidnapped girls get saved. I had never known that that was her job. My parents had never given up on Kelly. Tata's father had lied to her about so many things.
Tata told her that he would donate some money to her cause. He told her that he wished that he had grown up in a happy home.
For the first time my mother realized that he had been born to a slave woman and had had to do what his father told him. Tata had been a slave too. Just because the master was his father didn't mean that he was there of his own free will.
She left our ship happy. We promised to meet again. I was glad to see her smiling as she got into the taxi.
I wrapped my arms around my husband, closing my eyes, pleased that she had seen how happy I was.
He kissed my cheek, smiling. “I am so glad that your family loves you.”
“Your family loves you too.” I told him. “Let's bring the kids to bed and then turn in ourselves.” I gave him what I hoped was my bedroom smile.
His hand slid down from my waist to my bottom. He gave it a little squeeze. I got an affectionate grin. He understood me.
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