I watched as Graham slipped my wedding ring onto my finger, my tears no longer held back. I felt them dripping down my cheek and I watched as they fell to the top of Graham’s hand. He cupped my chin and raised my head, then swiped his thumb along my tears.
And then my own vows flew from my lips.
“I never saw this for myself,” I said. “I knew I wanted it. I wanted a husband. Children. A family. But I never saw it happening. I never saw it coming to fruition. The day I met you, when you came to my rescue at that wedding, I was taken by you. Entranced and completely confused as to why a man like you would stick by the side of a woman like me. You, a strong, capable, confident man… and me. A quiet, timid, lifeless woman. But you taught me something, Graham. You taught me that I was none of those things. You showed me what it meant to be better with someone. You dug out within me what was always there, but I was too blind, or scared, or isolated to see it myself. I’ve loved you even before you had a name. Even before you had a face or a personality or a purpose… I have loved you. And I will do whatever it is within my power to make you happy. No matter what it costs me.”
I watched Graham’s eyes well with tears before I turned my gaze to Lizzie.
“I have something I’d like to tell you, Lizzie.”
I slipped my hands from Graham, then bent down to her level and looked directly into her eyes.
“Hey there,” I said with a smile.
“You look really pretty,” Lizzie said.
“Thank you. So do you,” I said. “I want to tell you something.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Oh yes. Everything’s fine,” I said. “But I have a promise to make you, too.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“I promise to love your father, but I also promise to love you. I promise to always be there to tuck you in at night and read you a story. I promise to love you as much as I can for as long as I can. You and both of your brothers.”
“And my sister?”
Her hand planted against my stomach as tears sprang to my eyes again.
“And your sister,” I said breathlessly. “I promise to always be there to cheer you on. I promise to be the biggest fan of your life. I promise to protect you in all the ways I can and fight with you as you grow older to make sure you stay on a path that is good, just, and worthy of the pride of your father. I promise that I will never try to replace anything you don’t want me to replace, and I promise you—no matter what, I will always be there to love you. No matter what you do. Good or bad, no matter where it lands you. I will always be there to love you.”
Lizzie threw her arms around my neck and buried her face into my body. I felt her shoulders shaking as tears barreled down my cheeks. Lizzie was so precious to me. They all were. Deacon and Daniel were clapping and giggling as Jake struggled with them in his arms.
“I love you, Mommy,” Lizzie said in my ear.
I curled my lips into my mouth as I picked her up in my arms.
“I love you, too, Lizzie,” I said breathlessly.
I turned around to see Graham’s cheeks stained with tears. I watched him take Deacon from Jake’s arms as Joanna handed me his wedding ring. I slipped it onto his finger, bringing the back of his hand to my lips to kiss.
Then the minister cleared his throat.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Illinois, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Alexander, kiss your beautiful bride.”
Graham wrapped his arm around me and planted a kiss directly onto my lips. Lizzie wrapped her arms around our necks, pulling us both in for hugs. The audience behind us erupted into glorious applause, a ruckus of noise that drowned out Daniel and Deacon’s grunting and groaning to get down and run around.
“Should we let them take off?” I asked.
“I think we should,” Graham said.
We put the kids down and they took off down the aisle. I held Graham’s hand tightly, leaning into him as I waddled down the aisle. I could hear Jake and Joanna talking about the reception behind us and which one of them was going to field which kid. But all I could think about was the man at my side. The strong, handsome, intelligent man with a heart of gold, a body of steel, and a soul filled with pride.
“I love you, Graham Alexander,” I said as we walked out to the limo.
“And I love you, Libby Alexander.”
One year later
Graham
“Daddy, story time!”
“Not tonight, Daniel. But I promise you, tomorrow night I’ll read you two stories. Okay?”
“Please Daddy, story time?” Deacon asked.
“No Deac. Mommy and I are going to go spend some time together,” I said.
“Mommy story time?” Daniel asked.
“Knock knock.”
I looked up at Libby as she smiled from the doorway. The boys took off from their beds, catapulting their bodies at her. She bent down and wrapped her arms around them, then hoisted them into the air. Their little legs were kicking as she slathered them in kisses, their giggles filling their big boy bedroom.
“Story time!” Daniel exclaimed.
“Please?” Deacon asked.
“How about a short one?” Libby asked. “But it’s gotta be really short, okay?”
“Yay! Mommy story time!” Daniel said.
I shook my head and got up from the floor. Libby never could resist the boys at story time. I walked over to her and kissed her forehead, then stood by the door and watched as she tucked the boys in. They wiggled around while she blew into their necks, making noises they thought were hysterical before tucking them in tightly.
“Story time now?” Deacon asked.
“Okay, okay, my impatient little boys. Ready?” Libby asked.
I crossed my arms over my chest as I leaned against the doorway.
“There once was a prince in a tall, magical castle. And he was trapped by an evil witch.”
“Why the prince?” Deacon asked.
“Just listen. I promise it’ll make sense,” Libby said.
I had to admit, I was intrigued with where she was going as well.
“This handsome prince was trapped in his castle, pulled between his duties and his loneliness. He felt trapped, alone in his world with nothing to do but work to pass his time. Then one day, a beautiful woman comes stumbling into the castle from the cold. The King is harsh to her. Tries to turn her away and send her back out into the snow.”
“Stupid king,” Deacon said.
“Beat him up!” Daniel said.
“And that’s what the prince wanted to do,” Libby said. “He was appalled. He told his father he couldn’t simply turn a young woman back out into the cold. She’d get sick! But the King still washed his hands of it, telling his son that if he wanted to bring her in, she was his responsibility.”
“Next?” Deacon asked.
“What happened next was this,” Libby said. “She came into the castle and went up to the prince’s tower. She saw how lonely he was and how hard he worked. So, she decided to try and get the prince to have fun. And they had lots of it. Playing tag in the dark corridors. Eating way too much food. Pillow fights.”
“Pillow fights!” Daniel said.
“Snack?” Deacon asked.
“In the morning when you get up,” Libby said with a smile. “But the prince and the woman from the cold? They had a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that the prince wanted to keep her around. Forever.”
“Trap her?” Daniel asked.
“No, he didn’t want to trap her. He wanted to marry her,” Libby said.
“Like you and Daddy,” Deacon said.
“Like me and Daddy, yes,” she said. “The prince proposed, the woman from the cold accepted, and despite anything and everything people told them, they lived happily ever after.”
“‘Nother one?” Daniel asked.
“Sorry, boys. Now it’s time for bed,” Libby said.
“Please?” Deacon asked.
>
“I thought I heard something about Daddy reading you two stories tomorrow night. I’ll make sure to hold him to it.”
Libby looked back at me and winked as I gazed upon her beautiful form. She kissed the boys goodnight and walked to me, her eyes sparkling with delight. She switched their light off and closed the door behind her, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Interesting that you didn’t make the woman a princess,” I said.
“Why would she have to be a princess in order to marry a prince?” she asked.
I went to dip my lips to hers just as Charlotte started crying. I snickered and shook my head, then placed my forehead against Libby’s.
“Is Lizzie in bed?” I asked.
“Out like a light, cuddling with Mozart as usual,” she said. “But Charlotte’s being a little difficult tonight. I don’t know if we should leave her.”
“I heard that,” the nanny said. “And the two of you are fine. Get out of here before you miss your reservations at the restaurant.”
“But what if Charlotte needs me?” Libby asked.
“She’s always going to need you. You’re her mother. But I need you, too. Charlotte’s almost a year old and you need time to decompress. She’s been a difficult child.”
“What if she gets sick again, Graham?”
“That’s why we’re only fifteen minutes away,” I said. “I’ve booked us a wonderful dinner and a decadent hotel suite for the night. I want to be with my wife, but I’m not the kind of man to sacrifice my children’s needs in order to have that. If something happens, we’re close. I promise you.”
I bent over and kissed her forehead, trying to alleviate the fear she had. Things had been difficult when Charlotte came along. Labor was horrendous on Libby and invasive medical procedures were needed to get Charlotte out. It took almost three months for Libby to recuperate from all that had happened. And on top of all of that, Charlotte seemed to contract every illness a newborn could experience. Croup. Hand-foot-mouth. Thrush. Two different viruses. Not to mention the fact that Charlotte had been a colicky child, so for five months Libby didn’t get much sleep.
It was time for her to have an evening to herself. It was time for us to get away, if only for a night.
“Can I go see her really quickly?” Libby asked.
“Of course. I’ll come with you,” I said.
The two of us made our way into Charlotte’s room. The nanny was bouncing Charlotte in her arms, trying to quell the crying of our daughter. Libby reached her arms out instinctively and cradled Charlotte close, like she was holding a porcelain doll she purchased from a china shop.
“I love you, Char. You know that, right?” Libby asked.
“I promise we’ll be home soon,” I said.
I bent down to kiss my daughter’s head, smiling as she giggled and blew spit bubbles. That was something she had in common with her brothers. The three of them loved to blow bubbles. In their milk. With their mouths. With actual soapy bubbles.
I smiled as I pulled away and watched Libby kiss her chubby little cheek.
“I love you, baby girl,” she said with a whisper. “Mommy will be home tomorrow afternoon.”
Reluctantly, Libby passed Charlotte back to the nanny. I slipped my arm around her waist and led her from the room, but Libby was craning to take one last look. The two of them had been attached at the hip ever since our daughter had been born. Up all night with crying and sickly episodes and cuddling between us in bed for comfort. I could feel Libby shaking with nerves as we left the house to get into our car. She was so worried about leaving the children, and I was concerned it was going to ruin our night out.
“Just relax,” I said. “The kids are fine. I promise.”
“How can you do this?” Libby asked. “How could you leave them while we were…?”
I opened the car and helped her in, then bent down and kissed her forehead.
“I had to remind myself that I was important as well. That I had things I required in my life that didn’t make me a selfish parent. It isn’t bad to want to get away, Libby. It isn’t bad to want to take some time to yourself. I’ve gone through this twotimes already, so I can help you with what you’re feeling. But you have to let me. Okay?”
She nodded her head as tears rose to her eyes.
“I promise this is going to be a wonderful night. Just trust me,” I said.
“I do trust you. With all my heart.”
“Then sit back and let’s go get some dinner.”
I shut her door before I wrapped around to my side of the car. I hopped in and took her hand, lacing our fingers together tightly. She was clinging to me, like she always did when she didn’t know what else to do. It was a constant reminder of the fact that we would make it. In times of distress when most couples pulled apart from one another, we clung closer.
I gripped her hand back before bringing it to my lips, then we pulled away from the house.
“Where are we going for dinner?” Libby asked.
“Alinea,” I said.
“Oh no, Graham. That place is way too expensive.”
“I’ve had these reservations for weeks. I’m taking you out and treating you to a night you deserve,” I said.
“We could’ve just gone to… I don’t know. Get chicken wings or something?”
I chuckled and shook my head as we headed into the heart of Chicago.
“I’m not using our first night out since Charlotte was born to go get chicken wings, Libby. We make those at home all the time.”
“Correction. I make those at home all the time,” she said.
“Correction, then. I eat them at home all the time. Which means I’m not going to spend my night out eating more of the same. Let me spoil you, Libby. You never let me do that.”
“Because it’s not required.”
“Just because it isn’t required doesn’t mean I don’t have to do it. I still want to, Libby. You’re my wife. The mother of my children. The love of my life. Let me do something nice for you for a change,” I said.
“You make it sound like I do nice things for you all the time.”
“Because you do,” I said. “You quit your jobs to raise my children. You moved in and compromised going on a honeymoon because of how sick Char’s been through her first year of life. You adopted my three children the minute the judge would let you. You’ve supported me through all the business ventures I’ve taken and woken up during all hours of the night so I can talk to you when I’m away on business trips. You clean our home, despite the fact that I have a maid come in once a week to do it. You cook even though I’ve got a chef on retainer to help you out. You do more for those kids than any woman who’s ever come into their lives despite the fact that we have a nanny. And not once have you complained about it. Ever.”
“I love you, Graham. That’s my role in your life. And I’m proud of it. That doesn’t mean you have to treat me to nice things. I want to do those things for our family,” she said.
“And I want to do these types of things for you because of what you do for our family,” I said.
Libby nodded her head as her thumb started to trace circles onto the top of my skin. Never in my life had I had to fight with a woman in order to get permission to spoil her. Every other woman I had ever been with had no issues taking my money anytime I offered. With Libby, it was like pulling teeth. But it was another reason why I loved her. It was how I knew she was with me and not my success. I knew I could go bankrupt the next day and she would still stick by my side.
Why?
Because my money wasn’t what she was after.
I was.
And tonight, I would show her what it felt like to still be pursued. I would show her what it felt like to be the woman underneath my body. It had been months since I’d enjoyed her the way I wanted to. Taken my time with her and explored all of the ways her body had changed since having Charlotte. We would enjoy a decadent dinner before checking into our hotel suite, then I woul
d show her how much I wanted her.
I would show her just how much I still craved her.
###
Dinner was incredible. Graham had reserved this back room for us to enjoy, complete with a roaring fireplace. The meal had eight courses in all, with small wine pairings for each section. By the time we were done, I was very full and feeling very relaxed. The nanny had sent Graham a picture of Charlotte sleeping in her crib and that provided me with some relief. I missed her. I missed our family. And I would miss the children piling into our bed first thing in the morning before I got up to make everyone breakfast.
But looking across the table at Graham was something I desperately needed. The way his strong body cut a suit tugged at a part of me I hadn’t indulged since before Charlotte was born. His piercing blue eyes sparkled with the crackling fire at our sides and his long, dexterous fingers wrapped around his wine glass with a grip I wanted to feel on my skin. Dinner was wonderful, but the hotel room was what I was looking forward to.
Because I knew what he wanted.
And I wanted it in return.
“Shall we?” Graham asked. “I cannot wait for you to see this room.”
He led me back out to his car and whisked me away to the hotel. We checked in with our small overnight bags in hand, then made our way to the elevator. His hand was massaging the small of my back and it took every ounce of energy I had not to moan in the elevator. The few times we were intimate over the past year, they had to be quick. They were sneaky and desperate, simply for stress release and nothing else. I was looking forward to getting my hands on him. I couldn’t wait to trace every outline of his throbbing muscles with my tongue.
But before I could put my hands on him, his lips crashed into mine and he was shoving me into the penthouse suite of the hotel.
Our bags dropped to the floor as my hands rushed to his hair. I gripped tightly into the thickness of his locks, our teeth clattering together in desperation. He backed me into the couch as his hands slid up my dress, his palms massaging the growing thickness of my thighs. He growled into my lips. A sensual sound that sent shivers up my spine.
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