Southern Spirits

by Shelley Stringer

  “Okay, here’s the first one,” he said, inserting the needle. I held my breath and mentally counted to ten like the first time we’d had to do this.

  “Okay, that’s one,” he murmured. “Now for the bad one. Are you ready?”

  I nodded, drawing my breath in again. He rubbed my other cheek, and then inserted the second needle. I began to mentally count as the medicine began to sting, then burn like fire. Just when I started to moan, he pulled the needle out.

  “Sorry, all done. It’s over, baby,” he whispered, placing a kiss on my shoulder. He rubbed my backside, trying to soothe the burn. “I hate having to do that to you.”

  “It’s the only way I can take the nutrients I need. There’s no way I’d keep those blood shakes down with my nausea right now,” I replied as I turned back over.

  Banton’s hand lingered across my backside, and when I turned, he left it there. As he watched my eyes, he slowly began to stroke his thumb across the lace at the top of my panties. My breath hitched as my heart beginning to pound. Reaching up, he grasped the bottom of my silk gown, and pulled it down my abdomen and legs.

  “All done,” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss me. I could tell by the fire in his eyes he wanted me, but he still wasn’t ready for us to try to be intimate.

  “You put the babies in here with us for a reason.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I figured with them in the room, it would be kind of like a cold shower…which I think I’ll go take, now. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he whispered against my lips as he planted a kiss there.

  As Banton showered, I watched the twins playing with their toys. Elly settled down first, hugging a stuffed dog and sucking her thumb. Matty continued to play with some soft plastic connectable blocks, working them first one way, then the other, methodically popping them together. My mind whirled with all of the things I’d uncovered about my past today…finding out my real grandfather was a Samuels, that I was related to Everett by birth, wondering what other ties my family had to Louisiana, and why my father was returning here when he and my mother were killed. I shuddered, thinking about my parents possibly having been murdered.

  “Andie, what’s wrong?” Banton came out of the bathroom and flipped the light off. He sauntered over to the side of the bed as I watched him, sidetracked by the ripple of his abdominal muscles and the way his pajamas clung to him. He had on the white satin pajama pants that drove me crazy. Thank goodness they were dry this time.

  I shook my head, and then looked back up into his eyes. “I was just thinking about my parents and the wreck. Banton, you don’t think the Orcos were after my dad for a specific reason, do you?”

  He pulled the covers back and slipped into the bed next to me, and then reached over and flipped the lamp off. As he pulled me into his arms, he sighed.

  “I don’t know, Andie. Maybe we’ll know more when we get the package from your dad’s lawyer. But right now, you need to get some rest. You’re still healing, and I want you to get your full eight hours,” he admonished, kissing my forehead.

  “I need to move the babies to their cribs,” I protested as he shook his head.

  “No, leave them. Matty’s almost asleep. I’ll move them in a bit when I go downstairs to let Beau out. Go to sleep now, sweetheart.”

  My eyes drooped immediately as he gently stroked my hair, his heartbeat rhythmically rocking me to sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “Wake up, sleepyhead. Sorry, baby, you look so peaceful,” Banton murmured in my ear. I opened my eyes and stretched. Sunlight streamed through the bay window and flooded the room.

  “What time is it?” I murmured as I pushed up and yawned.

  “Almost nine. I let you sleep as long as I could, but I need for you to get up and dressed.

  “Nine! The babies,” I gasped. Banton handed me a cup of coffee.

  “The babies are fine. They slept late too. I just got through feeding them both, and put them in their cribs in the nursery. Now, hop up and get that adorable derriere in gear. I have a huge surprise for you today!” He grinned his beautiful dimpled grin at me, causing me to catch my breath.

  “What are you up to, Lieutenant?” I asked as I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Don’t cock your eyebrow at me, baby…you have no idea what that does to me. We’ll never get out of here if you do that,” he said, leaned in to kiss me. As his lips moved over mine, keys rattled in the front door downstairs, breaking the mood.

  “Helloooo, Bebe! Is everybody up and ready for the day? I have beignets,” Everett’s voice carried up the staircase.

  “Come on, Andie! The quicker you get up and ready, the quicker I get this surprise underway!”

  Banton’s enthusiasm was infectious. I giggled and threw the covers back.

  “What am I supposed to wear?” I raised an eyebrow at him again.

  “Andie, there’s that eyebrow again. Stop that,” he warned as his eyes twinkled. “Anything you like. We’ll be changing once we get there, anyway. Ev’s here to pack a bag for you and the twins. Just put something on that’s comfy for traveling,” he said mischievously as he placed a kiss on my lips. He hurried from the room with Beau close on his heels.

  I hurried into the bathroom and showered in record time. I decided since I had no idea what he was up to, I’d better shave my legs. After I’d dried off and lotioned up, I took the time to apply some makeup, eyeliner, blush and mascara. Still having trouble with my shoulder, I tied my hair in a loose braid and then knotted it in a messy bun, letting tendrils hang loose at my ears. I smiled sadly at my reflection, I’d lost weight since the attack, and my face looked tired. Rummaging through my closet, I found a lacy ecru dress that hit me mid-thigh, and then donned my favorite pair of leather and suede boots. I spied my grandmother’s antique pearl earrings as I rummaged through my jewelry box, and decided I needed to feel her near, so I placed them on my earlobes.

  I sighed as I descended the stairs. I still had my moments, when thoughts of the violation I’d suffered at Dante’s hands and depression seemed to sneak up like an overcast sky. My spirits lifted quickly, however, when shook the mood off as I spotted the twins, tumbling in Banton’s lap as he talked on his cell phone on the sofa.

  “Okay, sounds perfect. We’ll see you there,” he answered someone happily as he touched his phone to turn it off. Laughing, he worked it back into the pocket of his jeans as Matty tried his best to grab it from him.

  “You’re a little young for that just yet, son,” Banton said as he messed Matty’s hair up. “You need a haircut, buddy.”

  “Oh, no. I’m not cutting one curl on that beautiful head until he’s at least a year old. Maybe then…but you’ll probably have to take him to do it,” I said as I drew a ragged breath.

  Banton chuckled as he turned to look at me. “Andie, his hair is longer than Ellyson’s. Everyone will start thinking he’s a girl,” he teased as he placed them in the floor. He rose from the sofa and turned to look at me.

  “You look adorable,” he whispered as he stepped over Ellyson to come around the sofa. “You don’t look old enough to have twin babies and another on the way,” he breathed as he pulled me into his chest. He had on a dark brown plaid shirt and torn jeans.

  “You look pretty good yourself,” I whispered back as I grabbed his collar, pulling him in for a kiss. He softly explored my lips with his, and then placed a kiss on the end of my nose.

  “So what do you have planned for today?” I asked as I nuzzled his neck, taking in his earthy, spicy scent.

  “Well, Everett is upstairs finishing up the packing I started, and after we load, we’ll be off. We need to pack your medicine and enough formula for the babies for three or four days,” he informed me as I drew my brows together.

  “But you aren’t going to tell me where we’re going?’

  “Nope. It’s a surprise.”

  I shook my head at him as he chuckled. As I rummaged through the fridge to pack everything we needed into the ice chest,
I heard Everett and Banton talking in the foyer.

  “Everything is loaded, so I’ll be on my way. Safe trip, and take care of them,” Everett cautioned as I walked up behind Banton. He grinned at me, tapping the side of his nose conspiratorially, and then running off to jump into his Mercedes.

  “Okay, where are we going?’

  “Just help me load the twins, Andie.”

  We strapped Matty and Elly in their car seats. I grinned down at them, and then grabbed my camera out of the front seat. Everett had dressed them in the most adorable outfits. Matty had on a lightweight cable-knit sweater and plaid shorts. Elly had on a jumper made of the same fabric as Matty’s shorts, with a cable-knit headband and large satin flower cocked over her right eye. As I snapped away with the camera, Beau bounded into the front seat and then crawled between to take his place between them.

  “All set?” Banton asked as I nodded. After I’d snapped my seatbelt in place, Banton turned to me and cupped my cheek in his hand.

  “I have something for you,” he said as he fished his hand in his pocket. Pulling it out, he opened his palm, revealing my wedding rings and diamond bracelet.

  “These led me to find you.” He took my hand and then slid my rings back on my finger. “I hope they never leave your finger again,” he whispered, kissing the rings and my finger. Then he slid the bracelet around my wrist, fastening the clasp. He looked back into my eyes, and I leaned in to kiss him passionately. He tangled his hands in my hair as he responded, molding his lips to mine, drawing my bottom lip into his mouth as he sucked it gently. After a racing heartbeat or two, he pulled away and murmured, “We’ll never leave the driveway at this rate. Let’s make some tracks!”

  Pulling out of the driveway, Banton turned to me with the silliest grin I’d ever seen, and I returned it, filled with happiness. As we drove through Baton Rouge, I busied myself with watching the twins and flipping through pictures on my camera. After a bit, I glanced up to see signs announcing our arrival at the airport.

  “We’re flying somewhere?’ I asked, surprised.

  Banton just flashed his dimple, giving nothing away.

  He pulled past the main terminal and down to a private runway. A man came out of a small building to greet us.

  “Everything is ready, Mr. Gastaneau. You can go ahead and board. Your pilot will be aboard momentarily.”

  “We’re taking a private plane?”

  “Yes, we are. Good deduction, Mrs. Gastaneau,” he teased as he leaned over and kissed me. He jumped out and began helping the man who greeted us with unloading our bags. After I had both babies out of their seats, Beau jumped out and followed me to the plane.

  “In you go,” Banton gestured to the small jet as he took Matty from my arms. I climbed the stairs ahead of him and then turned to take one of the seats. The small plane seated eight, with a large sofa and two small tables at the back.

  “Here, let me help you. They have safety seats for the babies and a secured crate for Beau until we get airborne,” he informed me as he showed me back to the left. After we had both of them strapped in, I remembered their formula.

  “Banton, we’ll need the ice-chest up here, for their bottles,” I began as he moved past me. He pulled it out from under one of the tables.

  “Already taken care of. Now, sit down, relax, and enjoy the ride, please.” He sat down beside me, and then leaned over and placed a kiss on my forehead.

  “Why didn’t we just fly on a commercial flight?” I asked.

  “Well, with the twins and Beau, I figured this would be a lot easier on both of us. Besides, I can afford it,” he said, shaking his head.

  I started to question him further, but the arrival of the pilot and co-pilot interrupted me.

  “We’ll be underway momentarily, Mr. and Mrs. Gastaneau. This is Jean, and she will be your flight attendant.”

  A slender young blonde with a pixie haircut motioned to us. “If you will both buckle your seatbelts, please.”

  After Banton urged Beau into his crate underneath a seat at the back, he sat down and secured his seatbelt and then reached over and tugged on mine.

  “What are you doing?” I asked as I cocked an eyebrow at him.

  “Just making sure you are completely safe, sweetheart. That’s my job, you know,” he whispered as he leaned over to kiss me.

  The engines revved, and the noise and vibration seemed much more dramatic to me in this small plane. I grasped the armrests tightly as flight attendant Jean went over the routine safety instructions, and then indicated the emergency exits. She then made her way to the back part of the place where the small galley was located.

  “We’re fine,” Banton assured me, clasping his hand over mine. I nodded as I felt the wheels of the plane leave the tarmac.

  Once we were airborne, the engines seemed quieter, the ride smoothing out. After a few minutes the seatbelt light went off over the cockpit doorway, and we both unbuckled our seatbelts as our flight attendant Jean returned.

  “Can I get you anything? wine, beer…a soft drink?”

  “I’ll have a beer…Chandler?’ he asked softly.

  “Sprite or ginger ale, if you have it,” I replied. Banton’s eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at me.

  “Morning sickness?”

  “Morning, night…motion…you name it, I’ve got it,” I said as I shook my head.

  He reached up and stroked my cheek softly with his finger. “I’m sorry. Do you want to recline your seat or lie down on the sofa?”

  “No, I’m good.”

  Banton rose, and checked the babies as I turned my seat to check them. They were both fast asleep, and after Banton let Beau out of his cage, he settled at their feet. As the flight attendant returned with our drinks, Banton sat down in his seat, and then reached down to grasp my ankle, pulling my foot up into his lap.

  “What are you doing?” I opened one eye questioningly.

  He pulled my boot off, and then began to rub my foot. I moaned and kicked the other boot off and placed my other foot in his lap.

  “If you are trying to get lucky, Lieutenant, I’m a sure thing. You don’t even have to say anything.” He grinned at me, flashing the dimple. “All you have to do is look at me like that and I’m yours.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? Here I am, trying to romance, dazzle and rev you up, and all this time, all I had to do was look at you? How long has this been going on?”

  “Since the day on the sofa in the living room, when you proposed that you and John move in with me. You ran your finger back and forth on the sofa, and I wished it was my skin you were caressing,” I breathed as his eyes widened.

  “Really? That far back?” He leaned closer as his eyes twinkled.

  “Actually, the first time I met you, when you hit me in the head opening the back door. You could have had me, right there on the kitchen floor,” I whispered. I looked back and forth into his eyes.

  “Hmm. Kitchen floor…sounds interesting,” he murmured, nuzzling my neck. My heart quickened at his touch. Placing slow deliberate kisses down my neck and shoulder, all the while sliding his hand slowly into my hairline and pulling me closer, Banton lit fires that had been smoldering just beneath the surface for days.

  “Darlin’, we are on a plane,” I whispered.

  “Private plane,” he corrected. “One of the reasons I didn’t fly commercially.”

  He stood and scooped me up out of my seat. I giggled as he continued his assault on my neck as he settled down with me on the sofa.

  “Now I have you where I want you,” he murmured as I tightened my arms around his neck. He slid his hand up the lace at my thigh, and then played with the elastic lace of my panties with his thumb.

  “Mmm,” my purr of contentment vibrated into his mouth as he assaulted mine. This magic, the way our mouths danced, our tongues playing chase as he explored, mesmerized me as always.

  “Your kisses never disappoint,” I muttered against his lips.

  He chuckled, and then pulled
back to look at me. “I could kiss you for hours, Chandler. I’m like a thirsty man, the more I kiss you, the more I crave you,” he whispered as he slid his hand higher, rubbing his thumb across the bare skin at my side.

  “Please tell me, wherever it is that you are taking us, you will finally make love to me?”

  “Chandler Ann, if you are sure you’re ready for that, then yes. I want you, I just want to be careful, and take things slowly.” He placed his forehead against mine and sighed.

  “Mommmy,” Matty wailed from his safety-seat.

  Banton chuckled. “I’ll get him,” he said as he rose to unbuckle Matty from his seat. No sooner than he’d handed him to me, Elly’s cries joined Matty’s.

  “Okay, I know what you two want,” Banton said as he picked Elly up. “Daddy’s got you. We’ll get you something to eat,” he soothed her as he reached over and grabbed two bottles from the ice chest.

  “Sir, do you need for me to warm those for you?” the flight attendant asked as she stepped from the galley. Her glimpse of Elly’s bright, hungry gaze stopped her in her tracks.

  I drew my breath in as Banton straightened. “Please, if you don’t mind. Just a few seconds,” he added, watching her warily.

  “Banton,” I whispered as I panicked.

  “Shh, it will be all right,” he tried to assure me. He sat down with Elly and placed her in his lap to change her diaper.

  I continued to gently rock Matty against my shoulder as I worried about what the flight attendant had just seen in Elly’s eyes. When she returned a few moments later, she acted as if nothing had startled her.

  “Here you go, Mrs. Gastaneau.”

  “Thank you,” I answered as I took the bottles from her. She retreated discretely, and I let out a sigh of relief. She must have written what she saw off as her imagination.

  After we had the twins dry and fed, they played in our laps for a while with Beau at our feet, sticking his nose in frequently to join in the fun.