The Payment

by Mysty McPartland

  Tears stinging her eyes Lisa nodded and watched Dane walk away. She could see he truly regretted what happened, and he did truly love India. Perhaps if she talked to India it would help bring them back together.

  Lying on the bed India heard the knock on the door; she could hear her husband’s voice drift up to her through the open window. Moving off the bed, she went to the window, lifted the curtain, and listened. She could hear the pain and sorrow in his voice, and it tore at her heart. Even though what he did devastated and broke her heart, it still did not stop her from loving him.

  She wondered if she would ever have the courage to leave him; it would nearly kill her to leave the boys, Tuff and Chin Li. She loved them all so much, but it would be Dane, who would be the hardest to leave.

  She saw him step off the porch and walk away, never before could she ever remember seeing him looking so defeated, no longer did he carry himself proudly or confidently. He looked like a broken man. Turning away when she could no longer see him, she moved over to the bed and sat down. She needed to do a lot of thinking and make some decisions and none of them were going to be simple or easy to resolve.

  FORTY-FOUR

  The last four weeks were the longest and most torturous of his life; Dane sat on the veranda and wondered if the nightmare would ever be over. Each day he went to town hoping it might be the day India would see him but each day she refused, and he became more desolated and defeated every time.

  He did feel some relief knowing she saw the rest of the family; she visited Reese and Traye daily. Tye and Mason along with Tuff and Chin Li saw her every day after school. He knew the younger boys now knew some of the situation, he often woke to them crying in the night, and his heart filled with guilt and remorse over what his foolish action had done to his family.

  Those few drunken careless moments reaped destruction on everyone’s lives, and he started to have doubts that he would ever be able to fix things. His thoughts vanished when he heard the sound of horses approaching. He forced his desolate emotion aside knowing the boys were returning from school and their visit with India. Standing up he moved to the steps. He stiffened in surprise, not only seeing the twins but Jeff and by God Devon as well.

  His gaze moved to the buggy and his knees nearly buckled when he spied his wife sitting next to Tuff. His heart racing he rushed down the steps and stopped beside the buggy and stared at his wife, his eyes full of hope and love.

  Nervously, India watched her husband fly across the yard and stop beside the buggy; her eyes misted with tears, his golden eyes looked back at her full of vulnerability.

  Tye jumped down and grinned up at Dane. “See Dane, I knew she would come back home.”

  Dane cupped his brother’s head but unable tear his eyes from his wife. “Yeah and I’m sure glad you were right little brother, I’m sure glad you were right.” The words rasped out of him softly.

  With a happy laugh, Tye let go of Dane and turned to Reese and Traye. “Come on you two, you need a bath real bad, cause yah sure do smell somethin fierce.”

  The laughter from Tye and his words broke the tension and everyone but Dane and India went inside.

  Nervous as hell Dane swallowed the lump stuck in his throat. God, she looked so beautiful and delicate, he wanted to reach out and touch her but fear, and apprehension held him back.

  “Are you going to help me down or am I to sit here until someone else decides to help me from the buggy?” India’s voice held a light teasing note.

  The heat crept up the back of his neck; Dane lifted his arms and placed them around her waist. Lifting her down when her feet touched the ground, he forced himself to let go of her and take a step back. His eyes ran over her, and he staggered when he noticed how much her waistline seemed to have increased. Worriedly his gaze swung back to hers.

  India stood watching the emotions change on her husband’s face, she laughed softly over his reaction to the size of her stomach. “I seem to have put on a little weight.”

  He gave a soft chuckle and took her hand. He helped her across the yard and up the steps, they moved inside together and in to the parlor. He helped her down on to the sofa. Taking a seat beside her, he could not tear his eyes away from her; it seemed to have been forever since he gazed upon her lovely face.

  When he felt the slap on his shoulder, he reluctantly turned from his wife, seeing Devon standing beside him, he grinned. “It’s good to have you home again Dev.”

  Devon removed his hand from Dane’s shoulder a wide smile on his face as he winked at India. “I would have come sooner if I’d known what a pretty sister-in-law I had.”

  Dane swung his gaze back to his wife, noticed the light blush covering her cheeks. He reached out and clasped her hand lightly in his. Though he wanted desperately to take her in his arms, wanted to say how truly sorry he was, to tell her how much he loved her however he managed to hold himself back.

  India met Devon only yesterday and liked him at once. As well as being big and handsome, he also is a very determined and a strong willed man. He practically bullied her in to returning home. She turned her gaze from Dane’s and slowly looked at each member of the family.

  Not one of them gave her a moments peace since she left them, each of them demanded she return home, telling her this is where she belonged. From women hating men they certainly changed. When she found out Reese and Traye were being let out of jail she knew in her heart, she would return home with them.

  She belonged with her husband and his family, her family. She turned back to Dane and smiled with her hand clasped in his; she lifted the other one and cupped his cheek. He looked so tired, so sad and guilty, and she knew he must have suffered probably just as much as she suffered.

  His heart soaring when India touched his face, Dane was powerless. He couldn’t stand it a moment longer, he let go of her hand and encased her in a loving embrace. His lips placed soft adoring kisses along the top of her brow, down the side of her face as he continued to hold her in his arms.

  Her already rampaging hormones making her highly emotional, India couldn’t stop herself from crying, it felt wonderful to be held in her husband’s arms again.

  Tuff coughed into his hand and quickly rose to his feet, shooing everyone out of the parlor leaving Dane and his wife alone. They needed to talk out their problems without an audience.

  For a long time he was content just to hold his wife, relieved and overjoyed to have her home again. The sudden nudge to his gut made Dane shift slightly away. He eyed her incredulously.

  India laughed and placed his hand on her stomach and watched his face as he felt their child move within in her.

  Dane lifted a hand, his knuckles slid caressingly down her cheek. “How can I ever find the words to tell you how sorry I am sweetheart? It doesn’t even sound adequate for what I did to you and for how much I hurt you. I love you India, I love you so much.” Even though ecstatic at feeling his child moving, he needed more than anything to get the words out that were lodged in his heart for so long.

  Tears fell from her eyes. India could see how much Dane meant those words, earlier she knew from his haggard face and dull lifeless eyes just how much he must have been tortured with guilt over what he did. Now though she saw life, hope and love in those golden orbs. Leaning forward, she lightly placed her lips on his then pulled back. “I’m sorry too Dane, I should have trusted in you more. Can you forgive me?”

  With a soft moan, Dane gathered her tightly against him and when she nestled into him, he lowered his mouth to hers. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth rediscovering the sweet honey taste of her. With his kiss, he told her in ways words wouldn’t how much she meant to him and would always mean to him.

  Dane gave her one kiss after another and India gloried in every one of them. This one though seemed to be stealing the air right out of her lungs, and she pulled her mouth free, so she could catch her breath. Drawing in a much-needed air, she laid her cheek against his chest and tried to calm the rapid beat of
her heart.

  Not the least disappointed when India ended the kiss, Dane let his hand glide over her back. Nothing else mattered now other than the joy consuming him and at last having his wife back.

  India lifted her head. “Take me upstairs.” She whispered and smiled when his eyes turned molten with desire.

  At his wife’s request, Dane’s heart expanded and fire rushed through his veins. Removing one of his arms from around her, he slipped it beneath her knees and stood up with her in his arms. The only time he took his gaze off her is so he would not walk into anything or trip over something.

  When he reached their room, stepping inside he placed her on the floor by the bed. Now he grew unsure if they should attempt to make love because of her pregnancy and her size.

  Through her lashes, India watched the emotions come and go on her husband’s face. She could read how he now started to reconsider making love to her and smiled. Without a word, she stared undoing the buttons on her blouse. “Close the door Dane and take your clothes off. It’s been so long and I’ve missed you so much.”

  His eyes widening Dane could not prevent the sexual smile of anticipation that spread across his face. For a few moments, he stood watching her undoing her blouse and hot searing desire rushed through his blood.

  FORTY-FIVE

  His breathing grew heavy and turning away, he hurried over to the door closed it softly and turned the key. He definitely did not want his little brothers coming in here interrupting.

  Dane rejoined her by the bed and bent over to remove his boots, straightening up; he gently brushed his wife’s hands away and took over the task of removing her clothes. While he went about undressing her, their eyes met and held. Once her blouse and camisole were removed, he lowered his gaze to look upon her now larger breasts, he swallowed hard. His hands busied at the side of her skirt unhooked it and watched it fall at her feet. His gaze became riveted to her stomach, so large beneath her petticoats.

  India unashamed of the changes in her body stood proudly before her husband, she noticed though that Dane once again looked concerned. She reached for the tie on her petticoat, pulled it free, and let drop to her feet. Next, she pulled the tie on her bloomers, and they joined her other clothing on the floor.

  Dane swallowed hard, the change in his wife’s body was phenomenal, and he grew alarmed over making love to her in her condition. He tried desperately to rein in his hunger for her, but being without her for so long it became nearly impossible, he grew a little afraid he might hurt her or their unborn child.

  India witnessed the struggle going on inside him for a few seconds and never loved him more than she did at this moment. She stepped forward lifted her hands and started undoing the buttons on his shirt. “Don’t be afraid Dane you won’t hurt me or the child.” She looked up from the buttons on his shirt and smiled when his eyes lit up with desire and hunger.

  His hands coming up, Dane placed his large ones over her small ones. “God India sweetheart I want you so damn much.” His mouth came down and captured hers in a long drugging kiss, when they were both breathless he lifted his mouth from hers swept her up in his arms and placed her gently down on the mattress.

  Without taking his eyes off her, he quickly disposed of his clothes and joined her on the bed. He gently gathered her into his arms, and a hand came up and stroked the side of her face. “You’re so damn beautiful sweetheart you take my breath away and I love you so much.”

  Her arms wrapping around him, India lifted her mouth and placed it over his; she did not want to talk anymore. She wanted Dane to love her, wanted to feel him inside her.

  Gently and tenderly Dane let his hand's slide over his wife’s body, after kissing her with hot hunger, his mouth traveled along her jaw line, down her slender throat. Along her collarbone and down to the lush full breast he so gently kneaded in his hand. He captured the tight tip of her nipple between his lips, drew it into his mouth, and suckled lovingly.

  Soft whimpers of pleasure escaping her, India buried her fingers in Dane’s hair as his hands and mouth set her body on fire. When his hand slipped down and settled between her thighs, she arched her hips and cried out as a wave of rapture washed through her.

  Dane kept his own need and hunger under tight control, gently he stroked between her thighs wanting her to be as ready as he could make her to accept him. His mouth left her breast, and he gazed up at her with his heart in his eyes. “Roll over on your side sweetheart. Tell me if I hurt you love.”

  Her eyes fluttering open from Dane’s softly spoken words, India smiled and cupped his cheek, at the moment unable to speak. Her eyes widened slightly at his request, then understanding she lifted her head gave him a lingering kiss before she rolled over so her back faced him.

  Dane settled behind her, he lifted her leg and placed it over his. Reaching down he guided himself between her thighs and gradually eased himself inside of her. With her being so large, he didn’t want to take the risk of making love to her the usual way.

  A sigh of pleasure spilled from her lips as Dane slowly slid inside of her, arching her head back, she whimpered as Dane captured her mouth with his.

  It was agony and it was ecstasy being back inside of her. He kept his pace slow; his mouth seared hers with hot vital need as his hand rested lightly on her stomach.

  India tore her mouth free from Dane’s and gasped for air, his slow thrusts into her body were driving her mad.

  His hand slid up her stomach and gently captured one of her breasts as his mouth swept down the column of her neck and up again. His hand leaving her breast it slipped caressingly down her body and stopped at the nest of curls between her thighs.

  “Oh God Dane, I can’t stand anymore.” India whispered her passionate plea and when Dane slipped his fingers between her thighs, she cried out and convulsed as wave after wave of rapture washed through her.

  A harsh growl tore from his throat as India clasped tightly around his aroused flesh buried inside her. His mouth found hers in a wild hot kiss as he gently thrust into her repeatedly. He felt the rush of his seed building and with one more thrust it exploded from him in a rush of unmitigated pleasure.

  His kiss softened, he drew his hand up from between her thighs and rested it lightly on her stomach.

  Breaking the kiss, he worriedly searched her face for any sign that she might be hurt. He let out a relieved sigh when he saw the satisfied smile break over her face.

  Still joined, he held her tenderly in his arms. He could barely believe she finally came home, that she actually returned home to him.

  For a while, India lay content in her husband's arms, she missed him so much. After awhile she turned to gaze at him, his head resting on the pillow behind her. His eyes closed and a pleased smile on his face, she could not help but think how handsome he looked and hoped that they would be able put the past behind them.

  The feel of his wife’s eyes on his face, Dane lifted his lashes and gave her heart-felt smile; he lifted his hand and gently cupped the side of her head. “Are you all right sweetheart?”

  India nodded. “I’m fine.”

  Dane pulled out of her and carefully turned her around to face him. He knew now would be the time he faced what he had done to his wife. Holding her in his arms, he met her curious gaze with his own. “India, I want to tell you how truly sorry I am for what happened. Being drunk and angry is no excuse, and I know it might be impossible for you to ever forgive me. I love you so damn much, and if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I promise I will never do anything to hurt you or make you regret giving me a second chance.” He held his breathe; his heart barely beat in his chest as he waited for her answer.

  The last of her pain over what happened slipped away; India could see how much he regretted his actions that day. She also perceived the love shining in his eyes and knew he would never hurt her again. “I know Dane, I know you regret what you did, and I believe you love me. I love you as well, and I just want us to be happy.”

&nbs
p; His emotions nearly overwhelming him, Dane wanted to crush her in his arms and never to let her go, instead he held her gently. His mouth came down and covered hers in a kiss that spoke of all that lay in his heart and promise of the love he would have for her in the future.

  FORTY-SIX

  Before leaving his sleeping wife, Dane spent time discovering the changes in her body with his hands. He spent time feeling their child moving in her womb and felt so humbled and so utterly lucky. Even though reluctant to leave her, he knew his brothers would want to speak to him. He quickly dressed and returned down stairs.

  He heard voices coming from the study and hurried towards the room; he pushed the door open and stepped inside. Chin Li, Mason, and Tye were the only ones not in the room. Taking his seat behind the desk, he tried to catch up with the conversation.

  A break in the conversation when Dane came in the room, Jesse turned to look at his brother and felt relieved when the haunted look no longer resided in his eyes. It could only mean things between Dane and his wife must be resolved.

  A genuine happy smile on his face, Dane gazed around at each of his brothers.

  Devon finished speaking and looked over at Dane; he didn’t quite understand everything that happened between Dane and his wife. Nevertheless, it would not take him long to find out.

  “I gather everything has been worked out between you and India?” Jesse asked.

  His grin widening, Dane nodded his head. “Yes and thank you for bringing her home.” He noticed Devon eyeing him with disbelief and speculation. “One day Dev you’ll find a woman who will tie you up in knots, and you’ll be willing to lay down your life for her.”