Then again, she might not.
“If you’re not going to call her then just go back home. Apologize to her in person. That’s the best way to do it, if you ask me,” Stasia said, not that he’d asked her. But she was offering her opinion anyway, as usual. “Saying those words face to face will be far more effective.”
He knew Stasia was right. He should go home. Running away from his problems wouldn’t solve them. Facing them head on was the only way.
But apologizing? He wasn’t sure if he was ready for that yet. She could spit in his face. Stomp on his foot. Say she hated him and lock him out. Threaten him that he would never see her or their unborn baby again.
They didn’t even know what they were having. She’d gone to an ultrasound appointment, but the baby kept his or her back to them the entire time, making it impossible to decipher what sex he or she is. He was starting to wonder if he even wanted to know. He’d almost rather be surprised, just to be different. He thought it would be a lot more fun that way.
“Go to her.” Stasia reached out and rested her hand over his. “Stop prolonging the inevitable. Arguments happen. Even…distrust happens. But the two of you can overcome this. You need to. Not only for your sakes, but for the baby’s.”
His defenses went up yet again, like he had no control over them. “I’m not getting back together with Amber just for the sake of the baby. No marriage does well if the parents stay together for the sake of the children yet fight all the time,” Vince pointed out.
“You’re right. And I never said you were staying with Amber only for the baby. I’ve never seen you fight. There were problems before, but after the accident, I thought the two of you were stronger than ever. You and Amber are madly in love. It’s sickeningly obvious every time I see you two together,” Stasia said with a low laugh.
He would never admit it, but his sister was right. He and his wife were madly in love. Since the accident, their relationship had grown stronger. They were starting a family. Yes, their disagreement was serious, but they could overcome this. They couldn’t let his dishonesty and her mistrust destroy what they had.
“I’ll go to her,” Vince said, turning his hand up to give his sister’s a squeeze. “I’m man enough to face my problems and not run away from them. I just needed…distance first. To figure out what I was going to do.”
“You’re going to say you’re sorry first, right?” she asked gently.
“Definitely.” He nodded. “I can admit when I was wrong.” Most of the time.
“Well, look at you admitting such a thing. I don’t expect to ever hear Rafe or Matteo say such a thing,” Stasia said with a low mutter.
Vince started laughing all over again. “So very true, little sister. So very true.”
Chapter Twenty-One
She missed her husband.
From the moment Amber watched Vince walk out of their apartment with hardly a backward glance, her entire body ached at the loss. How could she have doubted him? Yes, they’d had their troubles. Yes, their marriage hadn’t been perfect. But after the accident, when they both realized they could’ve lost each other…
Their relationship had become stronger. Healthy. She needed Vince by her side. And she knew he wanted her by his side as well. They were a family now.
Rubbing her hand absently over her belly, she gazed down at herself. It seemed to grow with each day that passed, and the baby had started to shift and move. A miraculous little flutter that her husband hadn’t felt yet, which made her sad.
Tears formed in the corner of her eyes and she blinked hard, wishing them away. She’d cried enough tears over their argument. She needed to focus on the positive.
Like how she would apologize to Vince. And how they could make their marriage work.
Debbie had tried to call, but she ignored her. She couldn’t trust her agent anymore. Debbie’s supposed good intentions didn’t feel true. More than anything, Debbie made her feel uncomfortable. She didn’t need that sort of unease in her life.
It was better to just walk away from it all.
Her mom had called as well, leaving a frantic voicemail that her father had disappeared and could Amber possibly send some money so she could hire a private detective?
Amber had sent her mom a simple text in reply.
I can’t help you anymore. You need to figure this out on your own.
No response from her mom, which didn’t surprise her. She was probably angry. Good. So was Amber. Vince had been right all along. She needed to stop allowing her family to take advantage of her.
Denying her mother’s private detective request was the first step.
“You’re on the right track,” Dr. Harris said. They’d had an unscheduled appointment this morning, Amber having called her first thing to see if she had anything available. She needed to hear from an objective source that she was doing the right thing. She needed Dr. Harris to tell her that everything was going to be okay.
“I am?” Amber asked, still smoothing her hand back and forth over her stomach. “It doesn’t feel like it.”
“Your mom needs to learn how to handle these problems on her own. Your father leaving her isn’t your problem. That’s her problem. You can’t constantly bail them out.”
“I know. You’re right.” Amber nodded. “It’s just hard to...stop helping them.” She was still tempted to call her mom and say she changed her mind but she couldn’t. It was wrong.
“You’re enabling them,” Dr. Harris said gently. “It’s unhealthy. You may think you’re helping them, but it never works. They keep coming back for more and you keep letting them. They’re using you, Amber.”
The words sank in, slowly but surely. “Yes, they are. I let them use me. It’s what is expected of me.”
“Not any longer. You’re a grown woman. You can do what you want.”
Those words repeated in her head during the taxi ride home. They’d spoke more of her parents and of her argument with Vince. It all came together at once, overwhelming her completely, and she needed to discuss the details with Dr. Harris in order to sort everything out. It had all become a jumble in her brain…
Not anymore, though. She had focus. Goals. The first one being that she needed to reach out to Vince and tell him she was sorry for distrusting him.
That was the right thing to do.
The moment she entered their apartment, she sensed that Vince was there. She didn’t know if she could smell him, feel him or what, but he was nearby. Walking deeper into the apartment, she looked through all the rooms, not finding him anywhere until she came to their bedroom.
The light shone from beneath the closed door of the master bathroom and she could hear water running. The shower. Her husband was home and taking a shower.
Deciding to be brave, she went to the door and slowly pushed it open.
The bathroom was a decadent, large room, Italian travertine tile everywhere, with a shower that could easily fit four and a whirlpool bathtub. It was her favorite room in their home. She loved taking baths. Loved even more showering with her husband.
She wished she could step into the shower with him now. Run her hands over his warm, wet skin, soap him up, kiss him everywhere…
“Amber?” His deep voice rang over the sound of the running water and she paused, reaching out so she could grip the edge of the counter. “Are you there?”
Clearing her throat, she answered, “Yes. Um, hi.” She kept her back to the clear shower door, the steam from the hot water obscuring it some, but she could still make out his tall, lean form in the mirror that she faced. He propped open the door, peeking his head out, and their gazes clashed in the mirror.
“You came back.” He paused for a moment, dripping water all over the plush rug in front of the shower. “I was going to call you when I finished.”
“You were?” She still didn’t face him, choosing to speak to him via the mirror, which was silly. But she couldn’t help it.
If she turned around and drank in all his n
aked glory, she’d probably run to him and beg his forgiveness. She needed to remain calm.
Strong.
“I wanted to speak with you,” he said, his deep voice extra low, rippling along her nerve endings. She loved when he spoke to her in that particular voice. All husky and sensual. “I wanted to…apologize.”
She turned to face him, shocked that he would say such a thing. “Apologize?”
“For not telling you the truth. For not letting you know that we discussed divorce before the accident. Not that I ever wanted it,” he rushed to add. “That all came from you. Not that I’m putting any blame on you either.”
“I-I know.” She smiled faintly. “I still can’t remember everything, but I do know I was frustrated. And feeling caught between you and my family. I couldn’t stop working because I needed to take care of them, you know?”
“I do know. I understand now.” He opened the door wider, a closed-lipped smile on his face. “Join me.”
Hope rose within her. She would love to join him, but maybe they should talk some more first? “I don’t know…” She hesitated.
“Come now.” His smile grew. “We could make up to each other all the wrongs we caused. Just…come into the shower and we can talk here. It’ll relax you.”
More like it would arouse her, being so close to her naked husband, watching the water droplets slide all over his olive toned skin. “I’ve been to Dr. Harris’.”
“Oh?” He cocked a brow, his eyes darkening when he realized she was starting to strip. “Did you talk about what happened?”
“Yes, and something else happened too.” She shed her pants and shirt, until she was standing before him in just her underwear. “She told me I needed to apologize.”
“Stasia said the same thing to me.” His gaze ran over her body, so intent it felt as if he’d actually physically touched her. “Your belly has grown.”
“I know.” Her hand automatically dropped to her stomach. “The baby kicks now.”
“Really? And you didn’t tell me?” He sounded almost wounded.
And she was so tired of wounding him. Of feeling wounded with him. Love wasn’t supposed to hurt so much, was it?
Only when there are secrets and lies…
Well, no more of that.
“With everything happening the last few days, I haven’t had the chance.” She reached behind her and unhooked her bra, letting the little scrap of fabric fall to the floor. “Maybe if you’re lucky, you can feel the baby kick right now.”
His gaze never left her as she stepped out of her panties and strode toward the open shower door. “How did I get so lucky?”
She paused before entering the shower. “What do you mean?”
“A gorgeous, smart, forgiving wife, my unborn baby growing in her belly, a marriage that hopefully will become stronger than ever.” He took her hand and led her into the giant shower. “I am the luckiest man alive.”
“Yes, you are,” she agreed, making him laugh as he pulled the heavy glass door shut.
He slipped his arms around her and hugged her close, making her shriek. The water was cool, yet his skin was so hot. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her fingers in his wet hair as she clung to him. They couldn’t be as close as usual, what with her swelling belly in the way but it didn’t matter.
It felt good to be back in her husband’s arms again, pressed against him skin to skin. He ran his hand up and down her back, his mouth close to her ear as he murmured Italian endearments that made her skin prickle with awareness.
“No more secrets,” he said in English. “No more lies between us ever again, my love. I can’t stand the thought of us being apart like this. We are meant to be together.”
“Yes, yes.” She lifted her head just as he bent his, their mouths meeting in a decadent kiss. “I missed you,” she murmured against his warm, soft lips.
“I missed you too. And I’m sorry, so sorry that I kept everything from you. It was eating me up inside.” He kissed her again, deepening it, until she was moaning in his arms and pulling away before they became too caught up.
There were other things she needed to tell him first.
“My mom asked for more money,” she said, feeling him stiffen against her—and not in a good way. “But I told her no. I can’t keep doing this, Vince. It’s not healthy.”
“You’re right,” he agreed solemnly. “I’m glad you stood up for yourself. What did she say?”
“Nothing.” She slowly shook her head, her gaze fixed on the smooth, muscled wall of her husband’s chest. She drifted her fingers along his skin, settling right over his pounding heart. “She’s angry, I’m sure. She’ll probably call and harass me. I’ll need to remain strong. She…knows how to push all of my buttons.” And then some.
“I’ll help you with that. Support you.” He lifted his hand, ran it over the top of her head. “Whatever you need, whatever you want, I’m here for you.”
“I know.” She leaned into him and closed her eyes. “I love you.” It felt good to say those very simple yet complex words.
“I love you too. I can’t stand the thought of ever losing you,” he whispered fiercely against her hair. “You and the baby are everything to me.” He rested his hand on her stomach, his fingers gentle as they caressed her skin.
“You won’t lose me or the baby ever.” A jolt moved through her when his hand wandered upward to cup her breast, his thumb brushing against her straining nipple. “I promise.”
The water beat down on them but she didn’t care. She was lost in her husband’s touch, the words of love he whispered, his hands all over her. He caressed her stomach once more, slowly, and at that very moment the baby moved, a gentle roll right where Vince’s hand rested.
His head jerked up and he took a step back, his gaze locking with hers. “Was that…?”
“Yes.” She nodded and began to laugh at the wide-eyed wonder written all over her husband’s face. “The baby. He just moved.”
“He?” A brow rose as he dropped his gaze to her stomach once more. He stared at her lovingly, his awestruck expression tugging at her heart. “You believe it’s a boy?”
“I don’t know. I think you’d like a boy,” she whispered.
Leaning in, he dropped a kiss to her forehead, reaching around her to shut off the water. “I don’t care what we have as long as the baby is healthy. That’s all that matters.”
“Hmm, I agree.” She shivered. “Now grab one of those thick towels and dry me off, husband. Then I’ll dry you off and we can take each other to bed.”
Vince laughed and reached for a towel. “You got it, wife.”
She did have it. Happiness. Love.
Everything.
Chapter Twenty-Two
His wife lay in the center of their bed, the sheet drawn up to her hips, her belly and breasts on blatant display. Her long damp hair spread all over the pillow, her lips swollen from his kisses and her lids heavy with desire.
She was like an offering and he was a starving man, ready to devour her.
“Hurry,” she urged, watching him as he moved around the bed to his side, a bottle of water in his hands. They’d made love earlier, after he towel-dried every inch of her body and she’d done the same to him. He’d carried her back to their bed, where he proceeded to make her his in every way possible.
Just so she wouldn’t forget who she belonged to.
He’d woken up parched and crawled out of bed to the kitchen where he grabbed the bottled water out of the refrigerator. Sneaking back into their room, he found his wife awake and looking restless and as gorgeous as ever. Maybe even more so.
Pausing at the foot of the bed, he stared at her. “If I had a camera right now…”
She hid her face in her hands, a little giggle escaping her. “I’m sick of cameras. I’ve had enough photos taken of me to last a lifetime.”
So very true. “Well, you’re beautiful right now. All sated and happy, you’ve got that sleepy, I-just-got-fucked l
ook I’ve always loved.”
Amber dropped her hands, her eyes going wide with shock. “‘Just-got-fucked look’? Really, Vince? We’re married. We’re going to be parents. And you choose to still talk like that.”
“You make us sound like a bunch of old folks going to the retirement home.” He reached out and slipped his hand beneath the sheet, giving her big toe a tug and making her yelp. “Give me a break, wife. If I want to fuck you, I’m certainly going to fuck you.”
“God, stop.” She rested her hands on either side of her stomach, as if she were blocking the baby from hearing him. “You can’t talk that way around our child.”
Laughing, he crawled onto the bed and settled in front of her, between her spread legs, which she widened to accommodate him. His face was directly in front of her protruding stomach and he leaned down, pressed his lips against her skin. “I promise I won’t, but right now? With you looking so damned sexy? I’m going to say whatever the hell I want.”
She cupped his cheek, a slow smile spreading across her face. “You’re bad.”
“And you love it.” He dropped a string of kisses along her belly, overwhelmed at knowing their child grew within her. Amber had been so responsive earlier, as if she couldn’t get enough. She’d had three orgasms and he figured her responsiveness had something to do with her pregnancy.
Not that he was protesting. He’d heard the second trimester is by far the easiest for the woman to handle. When she felt the best, when she moved around the easiest. His wife was certainly proving that to be true.
“I do love it,” she agreed, running her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes, enjoying his wife’s touch as he continued to rain kisses along her stomach and then lower, just above her pubic hair. She trembled beneath his lips, he could feel the heat of her coming from between her legs, and he knew what he wanted to do.
“I want to taste you,” he whispered, lifting his gaze just in time to see her eyes heat with promise. She loved it when he went down on her, and he loved to do it. Since she became pregnant he swore she tasted differently…
And she got off so easily too. He thoroughly enjoyed pleasing his woman like this.
Falling for Her Husband: The Renaldis, Book 3 Page 15
