One afternoon, Peter had to leave urgently to attend some important meeting in the neighboring county. He asked Michael to inform Amber that he would perhaps be gone for a day or two. That night, after putting Rose to sleep, Amber decided to explore Peter’s room. She had seen a secret door in her chamber and she was sure that it led to the adjoining chamber that was Peter’s. She had never been in his room and was plain curious to see it.
Everyone at the manor was asleep and even Amber had changed into her night dress giving up the thought of sneaking into Peter’s chamber. But sleep eluded her. It was almost midnight when she gathered the courage to try to open it. To her surprise, it wasn’t locked as she had expected. It opened easily with a slight click.
As Amber entered the chamber, she first noticed the huge mahogany bed that lay right in front of her. She was surprised to notice a small candle burning in the far end of the room and then assumed the servants must have left it burning by mistake. She decided she would discuss this with the servants in the morning as a burning candle in a vacant room was a potential fire hazard.
In the dim light, she could see that the room had been very tastefully decorated. Everything screamed elegance and sophistication. She sat on the plush bed thinking that it was where Peter spent his nights.
Suddenly Amber heard a small click behind her. Alarmed, she got up and turned around to see Peter coming in from what she assumed was the bathroom, dressed in nothing but a towel tied low on his waist and his entire body glistening with droplets of water. He also appeared startled to see her in his room at this hour.
“Oh! Peter…..you are back!” She sounded stupid to her own ears!
“Yes, apparently so!” The initial look of shock on his face had now been replaced with an amused grin and something else that she could not understand. She was sure her face was crimson by this time.
“I…uhhh…I was just curious where that door led to…ummm….you see that door there! It actually connects our chambers, I just found out.” Amber was trying hard to focus on his face as Peter was slowly coming closer. He was half naked, for God’s sake! And what a gorgeous body he had!
“You came back early.” Her voice was a mere whisper now that Peter stood less than a few inches from her.
“Yes. The roads were closed due to a landslide and so I had to come back,” he said in a husky tone.
“Oh!”
They both just kept looking at each other, unable to move, unable to say anything. The entire room seemed charged with their unspoken chemistry.
At last, Amber broke this spell and said, “I…uh…I think I should go back.”
“Yes, you should.”
But still both of them remained glued to their places. Peter finally raised his hand and cupped her face. He bent down and gently kissed her on the lips.
Chapter Eight
It had been a long day for Peter. After travelling for nearly twenty miles, he found that the roads were blocked due to a landslide and had to return to the manor. By the time he reached back, he was exhausted. He asked Michael to wake up one of the servants and prepare a hot bath for him.
He was feeling refreshed after the bath and planned to catch a good night’s sleep when he saw Amber…in his room…sitting on his bed...wearing a flimsy night dress! She looked adorable with that deep blush on her cheeks. And when she started blabbering as she usually did when she was embarrassed, Peter could not resist himself.
He just had to kiss her…taste those beautiful luscious lips to see if they actually were as soft as he had imagined in his dreams. And when he actually did taste them, he felt as if he had tasted nectar from Heaven above.
When Amber responded favorably to his touch, he felt encouraged to take their passion to another level. He knew that she wanted him as badly as he did. He intended to show her how beautiful their union would be.
Peter carried her in her arms and gently laid her down on his bed. She looked like a Goddess in the dim light. When Amber looked at him with her huge brown eyes, Peter lost the little self-control he had. He began kissing her neck as she tightly held him closer with her hands at the nape of his neck.
Slowly, Peter unzipped her gown as if waiting for her to stop him. When she said nothing, he let it fall down her shoulders. Thankfully, she was not wearing anything beneath.
Her gown fell to her waist revealing her lush, full breasts. Peter looked at them with unrestrained hunger in his eyes and gently moved his hands up to cup them. Amber closed her eyes and reveled in the sensations of his touch.
“Peter,” Amber was breathless. Every inch of her body was on fire. When Peter circled her nipples with his tongue and then gently sucked them, she felt as if her body would explode with pleasure.
Usually Peter thought himself to be a man of great restraint. But that night, he wanted to devour Amber. She was so responsive to his touch! He felt himself harden like a rock when he looked at her arching her back for his touch, with half closed eyelids and swollen lips. He had to have her. Right now!
Peter pulled up Amber's gown and slipped his hand under it. His fingers gently brushed her thighs. Amber shuddered at the touch. He then reached the place where he desperately wanted to be - her wet womanhood. He heard her moan as he inserted one of his fingers into her wet folds.
This sweet torture was too much to bear for Amber. She desperately wanted something, but didn't know what. When Peter touched her in the most intimate way, she literally cried with pleasure. She could feel something hard pressing against her thighs as Peter lay on top of her kissing her passionately once again.
Peter loved how responsive Amber was to his touch. So unlike Helena, he thought. Helena considered it unladylike to respond too much in bed. Hell, he felt guilt washing over him again. But before it could affect him, he squashed the feeling. This night was all about Amber. He would consider the consequences of his actions tomorrow.
Peter could no longer control himself. When he found Amber wet and ready for him, he thrusted into her in one swift motion. Amber loudly cried out his name. She felt a little pain initially but it was soon replaced with a pleasure so intense that she almost cried with joy. As Peter kept moving inside her, she felt a sweet pressure building inside her. When that pressure reached its peak, Amber felt that she could take it no more! She shut her eyes tightly and could see a million stars as she finally climaxed. Good Lord! It felt like she'd just been to the Heaven and back!
Peter knew when Amber reached her climax. He reveled in the fact that he could give her so much pleasure. Her cries of ecstasy rang loud in his ears and a few thrusts later, he found his release too.
They both lay breathless on his huge bed. Finally, their marriage was consummated. All of a sudden, Amber felt shy of her nakedness and pulled a blanket to cover herself. Peter looked at her. How beautiful she looked with her face flushed, her hair sprawled on the pillow and her eyes dreamy!
"You don't need to hide anything from me, my sweet. I love the way you look when you are free from all those layers of clothing." Peter pulled down the blanket and admired her glorious body. He felt himself go hard again! Hell, what was wrong with him!
"Ummmm....I think I should go back to my chamber. Rose sometimes does wake up at night and I don't want her to get scared," she said huskily.
"As you wish, sweetheart! But before leaving, let me just taste you once more." Peter bent down and kissed her hard this time. "Please go Amber. Quickly. Leave before I am unable to stop myself from making love to you once again."
Amber got up unwillingly and put on her nightdress. With one last look at Peter, she hurried back to her chamber.
Chapter Nine
Amber woke up with a sweet ache in the place where her legs met. It reminded her of the passionate night that she’d shared with Peter…her husband. Yes, he was now her husband in the truest sense of the word. She blushed profusely when she remembered all the wicked things he’d done to her.
At last, she had succeeded in making Peter fall for her. The wa
y he had kissed her, held her close in his strong arms….it proved that he had finally accepted her as his wife. Amber was ecstatic. She woke up Rose with a big smile on her face. Today, she would please him with her culinary skills, she thought. She planned on making his favorite raspberry tarts. After all, it had been rightly said that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach!
When both Amber and Rose were ready, they proceeded towards the dining room for breakfast. She didn’t know why, but Amber had half expected Peter to not be there. But when she saw him already seated at the table, her heart leapt with joy. So, he didn’t feel guilty about what they had shared last night!
**********************************
Peter could not sleep after Amber left his chamber. He felt a strange restlessness in his heart. There was no doubt that he had fallen for Amber. She had aroused unmatched passion in his heart. But how could it be possible when he still loved Helena?
After a few hours of tossing and turning, he finally got up and went down to the study. There in a corner lay Helena’s portrait. He had felt that he would not be able to look at Helena ever again after what he had just done. He had shared THEIR marriage bed with another woman!
But to his surprise, there were no feelings of guilt in his heart. In fact, he felt at peace with himself. At least, his feelings for Amber were out in the open now. He looked at Helena once more. It seemed as if she was smiling at him.
“I love you so much Helena, you know that. But another truth is that I’ve fallen in love with Amber too. You’ve seen how beautifully she is managing YOUR house and YOUR daughter. I know that wherever you are, you would wish to see me and Rose happy. And our happiness lies with Amber! Is it so wrong to love her back after all that she’s done for us?” Peter asked the portrait of Helena in front of him.
There were tears rolling down his eyes. But he knew in his heart that those were not tears of repentance. Rather they were tears of goodbye…he was finally letting Helena go. He closed his eyes and waited for an answer.
He thought he heard a low whisper…. “I am so happy for you, Peter. Amber is a good girl. Always keep her happy. I wish you both all the best…. Goodbye!” He opened his eyes and again looked at the portrait. He knew his Helena had been here. And she was happy for him!
Peter felt a sense of relief washing over his entire body. He was finally completely relaxed. He lifted Helena’s portrait and put it back into the cupboard. Lord Peter Bryton had finally found the closure that he badly needed. He promised Helena that he’d always keep Amber happy, come what may!
Chapter Ten
Amber was ecstatic to see Peter at the dining table, smiling at her.
“Hope you slept well, sweetheart,” Peter said, grinning.
Amber felt herself blush to the roots of her hair. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure it wasn’t a dream! Peter calling her sweetheart! Yes, he had addressed her thus last night too, but the circumstances then were so different. Finally, she saw in him the husband that she longed for.
“I slept pretty well, thank you,” she smiled back. It seemed as if Rose too sensed the happiness around her and started clapping her hands with joy.
“Good morning to you too, my love,” Peter held out his hands for Rose. She immediately ran to him and both father and daughter shared a kiss.
Amber felt tears of happiness forming in her eyes. She blinked rapidly and joined her husband and daughter for breakfast.
After Peter left the manor later that morning, Amber decided to make raspberry tarts for him. She sent the new kitchen maid, Nancy, to collect fresh raspberries from the market.
“Lord Peter has strictly banned raspberries in the manor’s kitchen. Are you sure you want to use them?” Mrs. Beatrix asked Amber apprehensively.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Beatrix. I know Rose is allergic to them. I’ll just make a few tarts and keep them aside for Peter. We’ll make sure that Rose doesn’t get anywhere close to them.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
Soon, Nancy was back with a basket full of raspberries.
“Here are your raspberries, my lady. You should have seen how little Rose relished them!” she said laughing.
Amber and Mrs. Beatrix were mortified.
“You fed her these raspberries,” Mrs. Beatrix almost shouted.
“Uhhh….yes. She was playing in the hall and when I came with this basket, she ran to me and picked a few of them,” replied Nancy, a little alarmed. Amber was too stunned to move.
“And you let her take them, you fool!” This time Mrs. Beatrix actually shouted.
“Why? Doesn’t she like them? She seemed to relish……..”
Mrs. Beatrix and Amber didn’t wait for her to finish the sentence. They ran to the main hall and there lay Rose, unconscious and covered with dark red spots!
“Michael, MICHAEL!” shouted Amber. “Rush to the doctor. Call him immediately. Say it is an emergency.”
Michael ran as fast as he could towards the stables. He sent one of the stable boys to fetch Peter and himself hurried towards the doctor’s house.
Amber carried little Rose in her arms and took her to the nearest room. She was crying uncontrollably. What if something terrible happened to her! How would she face Peter? It was all her fault! She had insisted on making those goddamned tarts!
***************************************
“Who dared to bring raspberries into this manor,” thundered Peter.
“Peter, I just wanted to make a few tarts for you…..”
“Mrs. Beatrix, didn’t you tell Amber that the damned fruit was banned in the kitchen?” Peter was angry beyond measure.
Mrs. Beatrix remained silent, with her head down.
“Please calm down Peter. Rose will be alright. Mrs. Beatrix did tell me about Rose’s allergy to raspberries but I thought……………..”
“And you still brought them in here! How irresponsible can you be?” Peter shouted.
“I am so sorry, Peter,” Amber was crying hard.
“Sorry! You are sorry, Amber? What if something happens to Rose? You know what! I made a mistake! I made a huge mistake by marrying you and trusting you with Rose,” said Peter pointing his finger towards Amber. “This is the difference between a mother and a step-mother! Helena would never have risked Rose’s life like this on purpose,” continued Peter bitterly.
His words stunned Amber. She felt as if she had been slapped hard. Her entire world came crashing down in a few seconds. Was he really accusing her of risking Rose’s life on purpose? She could not believe her ears!
“My lord, there is nothing to worry about. Rose will be perfectly alright in a few hours. I have given her some sedative so she’ll be asleep for a couple of hours,” the doctor informed Peter.
“Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much.” Without a single glance at Amber, Peter rushed in to see his daughter.
Chapter Eleven
Amber thanked God a million times that Rose was safe. As much as she wanted to see her once, hold her close to her heart, she could not do so. She must leave……at once!
Amber hurriedly packed her belongings. Mrs. Beatrix and Michael tried to stop her but to no avail. When Peter no longer trusted her, considered her a threat to Rose’s well-being, how could she stay back in this house? Now that she was assured that Rose would be alright, she had to leave. With tears rolling down her eyes, she looked at the manor one last time and then left with a broken heart.
**********************************
Peter knew that Amber was leaving. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop her. Hell, he could not even face her after all the cruel words he’d inflicted upon her. Peter hated himself! When had he become so cruel, so bitter? He thought he’d finally accepted Amber as his wife. Then how could he accuse her of all those horrible things? And that too, after everything she’d done for him and Rose!
Peter poured himself another drink. Just then, Michael announced the arrival of Her Grace.
“Peter,
are you alright? You look awful,” exclaimed his mother.
“Mother, what a pleasure to see you!”
“What have you done to yourself? You promised me after Helena’s death that you will stay off alcohol.”
“Yes, mother. I have broken my promise. But you know what, I’ve broken another promise too. I promised Helena that I’d keep Amber happy. And look what I’ve done! I have hurt her in the worst possible manner! I am not a good man mother, I am not a good man!” Peter was miserable.
“Oh Peter! You ARE a good man. You said all those things to Amber because you were scared…scared of losing Rose! I am sure you didn’t mean them.” Lady Bryton could feel her son’s pain.
“Still, mother. I had no right to talk to her like that. She filled this empty house with love and what I gave her in return? Misery! Contempt! She has every right to hate me.”
“Who says that she hates you? Peter, the love that I’ve seen in her eyes for you and Rose, it can’t be diminished by a few misunderstandings. I am sure she’ll understand if you go to her and confess your love. You do love her, right?” Lady Bryton asked softly.
“I love her, mother. I love her with all my heart! After Helena, I had thought that I’d never be able to love again. But she proved me wrong. I love her so much that her absence is killing me.”
“Then go, my son. Go to her and apologize for your behavior. Don’t hesitate in letting her know how much you love her!”
Chapter Twelve
Amber had been crying the entire day. Just when she thought that her life had become perfect, everything scattered like a pack of cards. She loved Peter so much that the contempt that she saw in his eyes literally shred her heart into a million pieces.
“Amber, are you awake, my dear?” her mother asked softly.
“Yes, mother.” She quickly wiped her tears. She had not yet told her parents what exactly happened at the manor. Her mother was thinking that she’d had a small fight with Peter and had even admonished her for coming back like that.
BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE: The Unforgettable Billionaires: The Complete Collection Boxed Set 1-12 (Young Adult Rich Alpha Male Billionaire Romance) (Alpha Bad Boy Billionaire Romance) Page 108