“Well, by the power vested in me by the province of Ontario, I hereby pronounce you husband and wife and…”
The baby came with a loud and healthy cry.
“…a beautiful family,” the minister continued, wiping a tear from his eye.
Amber’s body collapsed in relief and relaxation as the doctor held up the baby. Before the minister could say kiss the bride, Jules had already done that. He was moved to tears, overcome with emotion. The moment overwhelmed Amber. When she became pregnant with her baby, she thought she would be all alone, delivering alone, going through everything alone. But she was wrong. Pleasantly wrong. She could feel the love in the room and couldn’t wait to hold her precious miracle. Jules moved from her side momentarily because he wanted to cut the umbilical cord.
Before long, their little girl was resting on Amber’s chest during the bonding period, after the nurse cleaned her up and got her ready to be with mom.
“Oh, honey, you were amazing. You’re wonderful, Amber. You did so well,” Jules said so sincerely, so richly with emotion and love. She felt his words reverberate in her heart.
Jules leaned his head to hers as he wrapped his strong arms around her and their baby. Admiring the vision before him. His eyes were misty. She’d never seen him like this.
“I love you so much with all my heart,” he whispered sweetly. His words were choked and filled with emotion, his dark, sexy eyes penetrating her with appreciation and admiration. Amber felt so loved and cherished. She was choked too as she kissed her baby on her forehead, looking at her wonderful little bundle of joy with her cute and pouty pink lips, her adorable cheeks, and a head full of dark, healthy hair. Most babies were born with little or no hair but not her angel.
It certainly ran in her family. She recalled her mother telling her that she, too, had tons of hair at birth. And Amber recalled the birth of her own baby brother. Yep, a head full of dark, curly hair. A blessing. It was a family trait—and a good one at that.
Amber wished her mother, father and her little brother were alive to share in her joy. But she had her own family now—an extension of her family that passed away. Looking down on her from heaven. And little Crystal, the name she secretly chose for her baby, was a true Romero, a legitimate child, unlike Amber. Born to her parents in wedlock.
The minister cleared his throat and Jules and Amber were caught off guard for a moment.
“I’m not quite finished yet,” he said with a warm smile and turned to the witnesses in the room then to Amber, Jules and baby. “Family and friends, I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Jules Romero and-”
“Crystal,” Amber called out the baby’s name as she lovingly hugged her bundle of a miracle. She had chosen it, because like Amber, Crystal was a precious and coveted substance from Mother Earth.
“And Crystal Romero,” the minister said with a smile, his eyes misty with joy.
Clapping and cheering erupted in the room. Jules smiled and kissed Amber and the baby on top of her head.
Now, her daughter would not have a humiliating blank line on her birth certificate where the father’s name should be—like Amber had with her own birth certificate. How awful it was for her when situations presented themselves where she had to show it. Her daughter wouldn’t have the burden of being judged as Amber had been.
This delivery did not turn out the way Amber originally planned. Her wedding day did not turn out the way Amber visualized.
Amber was both relieved and terrified at all that had just taken place. In one swift moment her life had been drastically transformed. She was both a mommy and a wife! Did she just tie the knot while in labor?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Three months later, Amber felt as if she’d been a mommy all her life. It was a boatload more work but what a blessed honor. Sleepless nights, round-the-clock feeding, diaper changes galore. She loved her little angel to bits. She was just so…fatigued. She stood over the kitchen counter sterilizing her baby’s bottles in the new sterilizer Jules bought for her on one of his business trips to Paris. He insisted that the staff help her with the work but Amber really wanted to do certain tasks for herself.
They moved to a luxury villa near the lake adjacent to the Romero manor and estate. Not too far from the Romero Winery and Vineyard. The stunning view stole her breath every time she admired it. It was a calm and serene area that gave them enough privacy yet they were still close enough to the family’s grand main house. The house where they lived had an adequate family size pool and a sprawling garden on the west side with views of the hills. Amber enjoyed taking little Crystal on walks in the stroller in the countryside with Venus and her little ones. Of all the sisters-in-law she’d inherited by marrying Jules, Venus was the closest.
Since Crystal’s birth, Jules had been on long business trips. Was he having second thoughts about their rushed marriage? She tried not to let the thought settle inside her. What good would it do? It wouldn’t change anything. No, it would just make her feel terrible.
On the plus side, when he was around, Jules was the doting daddy doing everything to make life good for his daughter. Yes, Jules was right about blood being thicker than water, yet love is thicker than blood. It was as if Crystal was his biological child. He practically worshipped his little daughter—their little daughter. Gosh, the thought still tickled Amber to realize that she was a mommy. She was somebody’s mother. And she was Jules Romero’s wife. Amber had lost her own family and suffered cruelty at the hand of others she had trusted but now—as if the universe had shifted things around for her, she felt a bit insecure and hoped this marriage would work out and last.
Amber continued to wash the remaining dishes in the sink. She didn’t want to let negative thoughts dampen her mood.
Crystal just had her evening feeding and was sound asleep. At three months, Amber’s little angel was finally sleeping for longer stretches, like six or seven hours at a time, which meant more sleep for Amber, too. It was so hard for her to be intimate with Jules because of the exhaustion she’d experienced with the changes her body had gone through but she was feeling more revitalized these days.
Jules was out of town on business with his brother Dion on an expansion deal in the Mediterranean but would be back sometime that night. Business never ended for the Romero men. It was something that Amber had gotten used to quickly and it helped to have her caring sisters-in-law for support, too. Especially Venus who was already her friend pre-Romeros.
Amber could hardly wait to see Jules! Hopefully, they could start getting close again. Especially now that Crystal was sleeping through the night. She wished he would stay in town more.
Her body was back to its normal size and back in shape—even her tummy was flatter again after so many weeks of giving birth, especially thanks to Jules and his ownership of one of the country’s largest healthcare facilities, R.M. Fitness Centers. She had also enrolled in one of the Family Center’s Mom and Tots program to meet with other young mommies. Venus had joined her with little son, Christopher-Daniel, while her older son, Tristan, was at preschool. It all worked out to be good timing.
The telephone rang and Amber picked up the cordless handset that rested on the marble stone countertop by the sink.
“Hi, Mrs. Romero,” Venus teased her.
“Hi, yourself, Mrs. Romero,” Amber bantered back.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Much better,” Amber responded, stifling a yawn. Then her stomach did that lurching flip flop all over again. Her heart fluttered in her chest. “Well, almost better,” she corrected, her voice trailing off.
“Almost better?” Venus sounded puzzled. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.” Amber sighed heavily as she continued to scrub around the sink. Why was she feeling this way? She should be the happiest woman on the Earth. She was happily married to the hottest, sexiest man alive, in her own humble opinion, and he showered her with love and affection.
“I just feel like I’
ve rushed into everything. The whole marriage thing after having Crystal.” And I have a sinking feeling Jules feels the same way, too.
“But, Amber, it’s what you wanted.”
“I know. I just hope it’s what Jules wanted, too.”
“Well, why do you say that?”
“Well, he’s been conveniently busy with business since we tied the knot. I hope he’s not having second thoughts.”
“Oh, Amber, you know the Romeros—all work and very little play. Jules just launched the Family Center franchise and then he’s working with Dion on the international expansion of the business college. You know the Romeros have a lot of business interests. There’s no slowing down now.”
“I know. I guess I’m feeling overwhelmed. And I feel terrible for feeling that way. I should be so grateful.”
“Aw, Amber, don’t feel that way. Trust me. I know you feel the guilt thing. Your life is nothing more than sleep, wake, feed baby, change baby, sleep, wake and repeat, right?” Venus said warmly. “It’s the joys of early motherhood, girl. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take some time for yourself. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting time alone with Jules once in a blue moon. Trust me, it’s healthy for the marriage.”
Marriage? What marriage? Well, talk about a “shot gun” wedding. Amber practically forced him to push the date of their nuptials earlier than intended—like when she was “pushing” her little angel into the world.
“Why don’t you let me babysit for you while you and Jules spend a weekend together?”
“Oh, Venus, I can’t ask you to do that!”
“Why not? And you didn’t ask, I offered! Shelly did the same for me when Christopher-Daniel was born. It was a life-changer. Trust me. I didn’t realize how much we were drifting apart after Daniel was born with my exhaustion and hormonal imbalances. This is a time to really bond with your baby but not forget to cater to your own needs and your husband. It’s not like you’ll be gone for long.”
Just the thought of being away from Crystal and leaving her in someone else’s care terrified Amber. Crystal was her little baby. She was all Amber really had in this world—next to being married to Jules, of course. But she was so fiercely protective of her child. That was just it. When Jules had tried, between his visits, to get sexual with her, she was feeling so groggy from the sleepless nights not to mention that her body hadn’t quite snapped back into shape until recently, that she was always too tired to really do anything. But now, Crystal, thank heavens, was sleeping through the night and Jules was going to be back in town more. But he seemed to be emotionally distant at times. Something was bothering him and she couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
“What about your aunt? She could babysit, too.”
“Um. I don’t think so, Venus.”
“Why not?” Venus paused before answering her own question. “Oh. Never mind.”
“Exactly. She’s a sweetheart. I mean, she really tries but she’s not exactly motherly material. I mean, seriously, she barely likes me. Besides, Jules wasn’t all too happy when she visited last month. The way she held Crystal.” Amber shook her head at the thought, and her stomach clenched. “Well, let’s just say that Jules is just as protective as I am over Crystal and he took Crystal from Aunt Mavis’s hands so fast it wasn’t even funny.” A small grin touched her lips at the memory, knowing Crystal was safe but the way Jules had reacted when they were all in the study. It was quite a sight to see.
“You know Grandpa Toni would love to babysit if I’m not available.”
“Oh, don’t I know it. I love dear old Gramps. But with his cane and his back…” Amber sighed. “I guess I’m just making all the excuses in the book, aren’t I?”
“You are, darling. I hope you’re not worried about…?” Venus paused again.
Amber’s insides tightened. She knew where Venus was heading with her interrogation. Amber was terrified of getting intimate with Jules right now. She was nervous about not pleasing him, even though he had seen her body with the disfigurement from the accident. Oh, heavens, Amber hoped she wouldn’t have any trouble around Jules. But oh, her body cried out to be touched by him when he was near her. Even when he was overseas and she heard the silky, deep voice of his sexiness from their long distance phone calls into the night when he was on one of his business trips.
Oh, Jules.
She craved him, desired his soft hard body over her. But oh, that hesitation, that emotional scar from her past.
Amber closed her eyes tightly and drew in a deep breath before opening them again. Venus was right. Amber deserved to be happy. Jules deserved to have all of her. She was ready. She was not going to put off her innermost desire. What on earth was she afraid of? Not pleasing her husband the way she knew he could pleasure her? Oh, his sexually addictive kisses, like an elixir of desire to drink in and savor. She loved the touch of his lips. Her body was ready. No longer sore from giving birth after a difficult pregnancy.
Things would be different.
“Listen, Venus, I hear a car pulling up in the driveway.” Amber’s heart galloped in her chest like a school girl about to meet her crush for the very first time face-to-face.
“My prince has arrived.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Though Jules couldn’t wait to get back home to see Amber, he was feeling stressed and fatigued right now. Marriage wasn’t exactly what he thought it would be. Amber was busy with the baby around the clock—and rightfully so. And well, he just got lost with business and working hard around the clock himself. Still, he obsessed about her on the plane from Europe. Amber and his little angel. His daughter, Crystal. His family meant the world to him. Jules didn’t know what he was missing out on until that special day when he made it official with Amber and tied the knot. What a ceremony that was! They both welcomed their baby girl into the world at the same time. Well, that was some story he couldn’t wait to tell his grandkids one day.
Grand kids.
Imagine that.
Jules still had to get his head around the fact that he was a father. He was a little girl’s daddy. Didn’t matter that she wasn’t biologically related. He still felt an undeniable sense of protection and closeness to her. She was so precious, so adorable. The way she looked into his eyes with her large, brown, innocent eyes made him melt every time. Amber even accused him of spoiling her. Well, she was only three-months-old. Of course he’d spoil her! He’d given her everything a dad could give his baby. She had the most advanced and latest toys on the market and Jules made sure that practically everything in her room was sterilized—even though that was going a bit far and admittedly unnecessary. He’d even set up a scholarship fund for her already even though she hadn’t spoken her first word yet.
In the past, Jules thought he would do anything for his brothers and dear old Gramps but having a child and a wife was a different feeling. If anyone so much as caused them to draw a tear, he’d have that sucker for dinner. He was fiercely protective of his little family. He wouldn’t hesitate to lay down his life for them if he had to. That was the burning love he felt in his gut, in his soul.
He slammed the car door of his SUV shut after he yanked out his luggage. Dion had already gone to his own place. The meeting in the capital of Lendovia, one of the wealthiest principalities in the Mediterranean, where their latest expansion project to open up educational facilities lay, threw a few kinks in their plans regarding expanding Romero’s sponsored colleges and educational programs. But they would deal with that after the weekend, on Monday. Now it was all about family time. Now if he could just fight this fatigue from all that flying and those boardroom meetings.
By the time he turned the key in the lock and entered the foyer of his villa, Jules could smell the aroma of freshly baked apple pie with cinnamon. His favorite.
“Hey, beautiful.” Jules made his way into the kitchen and placed his luggage on the tile. He then snaked his arms around Amber’s waist. He placed a soft kiss on the side of her neck and she moaned with
delight leaning into his body.
“Hi, Jules,” she said, turning around to face him and wrapping her arms around his neck. “How was your flight?”
“Hi, Jules? That’s all I get?” he teased her. “Well, I’ve been lonely without you.” Jules lowered his head to hers and kissed her gently. God, he loved the feel of her skin, the whisper of her perfume. It drove him crazy each and every time. And he enjoyed the feel of his hands on her fine, rounded, child-bearing hips. She was a healthy, proportionate woman. Curved in all the right places.
“Hmm, you smell so good.” He nuzzled her neck. He slid his hands over her behind and gave it a good squeeze. Amber’s body responded.
“I love when you do that,” she whispered as she arched her neck enjoying his silky kisses. “I…I’ve missed you.”
“Good,” he growled in a low voice. Just the sound of her soft, sultry voice drove him wild with erotic thoughts of pleasing her in every way, wanting to hear more of it as she cried out his name with ecstasy. Oh, the things he really wanted to do with her right now.
He’d been away from her for way too long. He just couldn’t wait to finally be with his wife. He’d been busy since the birth of their daughter and they never got a chance to be intimate, but then again, how many wives gave birth on their wedding day?
Her body had been sore and fatigued and she was feeling too overwhelmed then, adjusting to sleep-wake intervals of two hours at a time.
Damn, he’d waited so long already. He could tell by the way her body was responding to his, that she was more ready than she was before. It pumped him up as well and his fatigue faded.
He reached his hand up her blouse and underneath the material, feeling the skin on her back, gently caressing her body over her scars.
Just then, she pulled away from him.
“What is it, baby?” he asked gently. He hoped he hadn’t done the wrong thing. He wanted her to know that he loved her and that he appreciated everything about her, no matter what.
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