by Zena Wynn
He had a better appreciation for Greg’s dilemma. God knows he wanted this woman with him, but not if she was this upset about it. Her tears tore up his heart, making him want to do something, anything, as long as it made her happy.
When her crying calmed to the occasional hiccup, Rashid tried to set her on the couch so he could get some tissue to wipe her face. She clung to him, refusing to let go. Her actions gave him hope. There was a box of tissues on the end table. It was a reach but he managed to snag it and give it to Gail. He waited until her face was dry and she’d blown her nose before speaking.
“Greg called and told me to expect you.”
“He sent me back.” She took a shuddery breath and set the tissues to the side. “It was horrible. I wanted to go with him. Really I did, but I couldn’t stop crying. The tears just kept rolling down my face. I didn’t even realize it at first. He’s such a wonderful man, and I love him dearly, but all I could think about were the babies. I should have been so excited. I was marrying the man I love. We were starting a new life together, and there I was, crying like my world was ending instead of beginning afresh. He deserves so much better than what he received from me.” She laid her cheek against on his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Rashid rubbed her back soothingly, offering what comfort he could. “He’s not angry with you. He understands. Greg told me he sent you back because he didn’t want to be the cause of your losing another child. He knows you love him.”
Gail pulled away and looked at him with more tears in her eyes. “Do I really? If I love him as much as I claim, wouldn’t I have fought harder to stay with him? Why didn’t I get on that plane and show him that it was him I wanted, even though I was sad about leaving?”
“I can’t answer that. You loved him enough that you were willing to leave your family, friends, and everything you’re familiar with to be with him. Maybe the answer is not that you loved him less, but simply that you love the children more.”
She laid her head back on his chest and traced the design on his shirt. “I really thought I could do it, you know? Even though Mom warned that I couldn’t. I thought I did a good job of protecting my heart. I told myself it was okay to love them a little. They’re so precious, how could I not? But I was determined to control just how much of my heart I gave to them. I had it all figured out, only I was wrong, and now Greg is the one suffering for my arrogance.”
“You aren’t arrogant. You were just trying to protect yourself. Completely understandable, considering your history. And Greg’s not suffering. He loves you enough to value your happiness above his own.”
“That’s what he said. Do you know what else he said? ‘Go home. Marry Rashid. Be a mother to those babies.’” She deepened her voice in an imitation of Greg’s.
Rashid slid a finger under her chin and lifted her head until she was looking at him. “And are you?”
“Am I what?”
“You came home. Are you going to follow the rest of his instructions? Will you marry me and mother our children?”
“They were never supposed to be mine,” she said quietly.
“But they are. What are you going to do about it?” He held his breath while he waited for her answer.
She was silent for a long time. “Marry you and claim what’s mine.”
Chapter Fourteen
Three weeks later, they stood before the minister on the veranda and exchanged vows, surrounded by family and a few close friends. Gail’s parents, along with two of her brothers and their wives were present. Rashid’s parents and one of his brothers also attended.
In a surprising feat, her mother talked Rashid into letting her take the babies back to Alabama with them for a visit. She argued that Gail and Rashid needed time to get to know each other as husband and wife, and they could do it better if the twins weren’t around. Gail was astonished when Rashid agreed.
Everyone was gone and the house was quiet. Gail nervously paced the floor of her room dressed in the ruby-red, satin, floor length nightgown she’d allowed Rachel to talk her into purchasing. Rashid wanted a “real” marriage. Real marriages meant sex, something for which she wasn’t sure she was ready. Rashid was in his study taking care of some last minute business, or so he said. She wasn’t going in there to find out. He might think she was impatient to get their wedding night started and nothing could be further from the truth.
Her mind flashed back to her first wedding night with Jason. What a difference. Then, she’d been so excited, so euphoric over becoming Mrs. Jason Henderson she couldn’t stand it. She’d purchased the sexiest, sheerest nightgown she could find, lotioned down in his favorite body cream so she smelled good, and come out the bathroom to find Jason waiting with a glass of champagne and a dozen red roses he’d had delivered to their hotel suite. He was such a romantic.
She wiped sweaty palms on her gown and paced the room again. This, her second wedding night, was supposed to be for her and Greg, the man she now loved. Not Rashid, her husband who wasn’t really hers. True she had a wedding ring on her finger—a simple gold band she’d insisted on—and a signed marriage license, but in her mind, Rashid was Crystal’s husband. Always was, and always would be, no matter that Rashid said otherwise.
Oh God, what the hell was she doing?
After crossing her room for about the thirtieth time, she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to do something or she would scream. She changed into her bikini and went down to the pool. A couple of laps ought to calm her nerves.
She swam until she expended all of her nervous energy, then flipped onto her back and floated. It was quiet and peaceful here in the semi-darkness. The only lights on were the ones in the pool. She startled violently when a firm hand grabbed her ankle.
Rashid surfaced beside her with a grin. “Did I scare you?”
“No, I frequently jerk and spasm like someone having a seizure.” She scowled at him and wiped the water from her face.
He laughed. “I’m sorry. I thought you heard me dive in. What are you doing out here?”
“It was too nerve racking, waiting in the room. I had to do something or risk going crazy.”
His smiled disappeared. “Is the thought of sex with me that terrifying?”
Gail tilted her head back in the water and looked at the star-studded sky—anything to avoid eye contact. “It’s not you specifically. Not all of it. I would be nervous right now no matter whom it was. I haven’t been with a man since Jason.”
“But I thought you and Greg…”
Gail shook her head. “In the beginning, I was pregnant and it just didn’t feel right. Then he left. When he came home to pack up his things, the doctor still hadn’t cleared me. This last time, there was simply too much to do. We’d waited this long. We decided that we might as well wait until we got to Vegas and had a true wedding night. At least, that was the plan.”
“You said, ‘not all of it.’ What else are you nervous about?”
“I wouldn’t say nervous. It’s just strange. My head knows we’re married, but my heart says you’re my best friend’s husband and off limits.”
“I see.” They both quietly tread water, each lost in their own thoughts. “Why don’t we try taking things slow? Give both your head and your heart time to adjust.”
A reprieve. Just like that, the pressure lifted from off of her shoulders. She smiled at Rashid. “That’s sounds like a good idea.”
Rashid pulled her close and with a few strong strokes, swam with her to the side of the pool.
“What are you doing?” She allowed him to tow her, his strange behavior arousing her curiosity.
“I want to kiss my bride.”
“But I thought you said…”
“I said we’d take things slow. I didn’t say I wouldn’t touch you at all.”
“Oh.” She guessed she could handle a kiss, since he was so understanding. He positioned her against the pool wall and boxed her in with his hands. Gail held on to the edge to keep afloat.
<
br /> Rashid slowly leaned in and tentatively kissed her, as though afraid she’d spook. That he considered her so chicken-hearted pricked her pride and she opened her mouth invitingly. He pressed a little closer but did nothing to deepen the kiss.
She pulled back, slightly irritated. “I thought you wanted to kiss me?”
Rashid smiled at her lazily. “I didn’t want to give you more than you can handle.”
His words sparked her temper. “I can handle anything you can dish out.”
“I’m not so sure about that, seeing how nervous you were about everything.”
Gail saw red. “Handle this.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, trusting him to keep her above water. She pressed her lips against his, licking at their seam, requesting entrance. When he wouldn’t open his mouth, she nipped his bottom lip. When his mouth opened in reaction to the slight pain, she thrust her tongue inside.
As soon as she tasted him, she was lost. Passion rose up and overwhelmed the prideful anger that motivated her actions. Gail explored the interior of his mouth, trying to learn all its secrets. Rashid let her have her fun then he took control of the kiss.
Now this was the lover Crystal had bragged about.
He wrapped his arms around her and propelled them away from the side of the pool. Gail clung to him as they sank beneath the surface of the water until the need for air drove them back to the top. She broke surface not too far from Rashid and treaded water, trying to catch her breath.
Rashid’s intense stare caused her to look down to see what he was looking at. The top of her bikini was gone. She spun around in a circle, searching for it. She finally spotted it floating several yards away in the water.
When she glanced back at Rashid, he had a predatory look on his face. Some imp of mischief whispered in Gail’s ear and with a provoking laugh, she challenged, “If you can catch me, you can have me.” Then she dove deep.
Rashid was such a strong swimmer; he could have caught her immediately. Instead, he toyed with her, building the anticipation. She wondered if this was how animals felt. The chase was heightening all of her senses. She completely focused on Rashid, aware of his every move.
A stroke of brilliance crossed her mind, and Gail lunged for the side of the pool, determined to change the playing field. In the water, Rashid had the advantage. On land, it fell to her. Rashid caught her against the side of the pool before she could climb out, trapping her with his aroused body.
“Gotcha! Turn around,” he whispered into her ear.
Gail slowly turned until she faced him. His face was a tight mask of arousal, an expression she’d seen only once before. He lifted her until her breasts cleared the water. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”
Gail immediately complied.
He cupped her breasts and rubbed her nipples with his thumbs. “I’ve dreamt about these, so many times. Every time I saw the babies nursing here,” he squeezed her nipple for emphasis, “I wanted to nudge them aside and take their place.” He dropped his mouth and latched onto her nipple.
Dear Lord, it wasn’t a fluke, she thought as fire streaked from her nipple straight to her womb. She clutched the side of the pool, her body racked with sensation. He drew deeply on her breast, like he was hunting for milk. He squeezed, tugged, and gently pulled on her other nipple, doubling the sensory overload racking her body.
“Rashid, please, I…argh!” Gail’s back arched as she orgasmed. Then she felt him there, pressing into her core. When he removed her bottoms, she didn’t know.
He pressed steadily into her. “You’re so tight. Relax, you’re fighting against me.”
“Can’t help it,” she panted. Spasms still rocked her, causing her vagina to tighten and release around his shaft.
Rashid held her firmly by the hips while he pushed until deeply embedded. Once in place, he held absolutely still, his body as tense as a rock. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. His move slid his shaft deeper, drawing a moan from both of them.
“Rashid, what are you waiting for?” Several moments passed and he still hadn’t moved.
“I’m giving you time to adjust. You’re so tight. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Gail tightened her inner muscles around his cock and moved her hips, stroking him with her sheath. “I’ve adjusted. Please! MOVE!”
He moved, slowly at first, then increasingly faster as she talked dirty to him, urging him on.
“Yes, just like that.” She dropped her knees and dug her heels into the small of his back, opening her body for his possession.
“So good,” he groaned into her ear. “I can’t hold back. Trying to make it last,” he panted. “Too tight. Your pussy is like a vise.”
“Don’t hold back. Let go.”
His grip on her butt was bruising in its intensity. The water hampered his forceful movements, slowing them down. He drove deep and held, grinding against her as he came. His head dropped onto her shoulder as he panted for breath. “That did not go as planned. I intended to wow you with my prowess. Instead, I lost control like a teenager with his first girl.”
She ran her fingers gently through his hair. “We have all night and the rest of our lives to get it right. I’d rather have honest passion than practiced expertise.”
He leaned back and looked her in the face. “You mean that, don’t you?”
“Yes. I don’t expect sex between us to be perfect every time. It would be nice to orgasm each time we have sex. Multiple orgasms would be wonderful, but not realistic. Between hormonal fluctuations and just life in general, sometimes I will, and sometimes I won’t reach climax. I know this. The important thing is that we both focus on giving each other maximum pleasure.”
“I make this promise to you: I’ll always make every attempt to put your pleasure before my own.”
“And I promise to do the same.” She felt bereft when his softened penis slid from her body.
“And now, my lady wife, I suggest we head to our bedroom where the rest of our wedding night awaits.”
“Gladly, Sir Knight.” She laughingly followed him out of the pool and into the house.
* * * *
The rest of the week passed in a sensuous haze of pleasure. Rashid made good on his promise and it became a competition between the two of them to see who could bring more pleasure to the other. Rashid was a skillful, but serious lover. Gail made it her business to teach him how to play. Laughter rang out, as well as moans and groans of pleasure and completion when they retreated behind the closed doors of her bedroom, the study, the den or anywhere else the urge to make love hit them.
Only occasionally did the troublesome thought cross her mind that she was sleeping with another woman’s husband. She pushed it aside to the best of her ability and didn’t mention it to Rashid. She was happy, and that was all that mattered. She should have known it wouldn’t last.
* * * *
December—three months later
“A little to the left.”
“That’s where it was a minute ago.”
“Just a little left this time. Last time you went too far.”
Rashid moved the bare Christmas tree again and stood back from it.
“I don’t know…what do you think?”
“I think this is where I set it the first time.”
“Maybe if you move it…”
“Gail…” he growled, casting an annoyed look in her direction.
She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She fell back on the couch giggling. He was so gullible. For the last fifteen minutes, he’d been moving the tree into the same three positions.
“You imp! You’re doing it on purpose.” He dove onto the couch.
“Umph,” she gasped as his weight landed on top of her.
“I ought to beat you.”
“Oooh, hurt me baby.”
“I have a much better idea.” His hand snaked up her ribs and tickled.
She squirmed beneath him, laughing hysterically. “Stop! Stop! I give.”
>
Gail twisted and turned, trying to avoid his marauding fingers. Then she bucked beneath him in an attempt to throw him off. When she was unsuccessful, she tickled him back.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he laughed.
He captured her hands and pinned them above her head. When he had her trapped beneath him, he grinned down into her laughing face. Lightening quick, their laughter turned to passion. Gail rose, meeting Rashid’s descending mouth halfway. His mouth was a breath away from hers when a high-pitched, singsong voice shattered the mood.
“Rashid! Babies! Mommy’s home!”
Eyes opened wide, she stared at Rashid from inches away. She must be hearing things.
“Rashid! Carmelita! Where is everyone?”
A look of absolute fury crossed Rashid’s face. He almost fell off the couch in his haste to confront Crystal.
“Senora Crystal?” Gail could hear the confusion in Carmelita’s voice.
“Carmelita! There you are. Have Miguel get my things out of the car. I suppose my husband’s at work? Where are my babies?”
The door to the den crashed against the wall. “What the hell are you doing here?” He stormed into the foyer as the door ricocheted off the wall and slammed shut behind him.
Gail shakily got off the couch and straightened the pillows. Rashid was yelling at the top of his lungs. Crystal’s strident voice was a sharp counterpoint to his deeper tones. Gail hovered in the den. What to do? This was not something she wanted to get in the middle of.
This reckoning was a long time coming. Crystal had a lot to answer for. Rashid had every right to be furious. On the other hand, at this moment, she didn’t doubt that he was perfectly capable of killing Crystal. With visions of the police hauling her husband off to jail, Gail cautiously opened the door.
She could have flung it open and they wouldn’t have noticed.
“You leave, take off for a year and think you can just waltz in here and pick up where you left off? Have you lost your mind?”