"What did she say?"
He ran his hands soothingly up and down her back to get rid of the tension.
"She wanted to apologize in her own inimitable way. Said she'd never seen you so happy and it was all due to me. Also said she wanted to be part of our lives."
The coil in her belly unknotted. "She said something like that to me." Her long, elegant fingers toyed with the arrow of hairs at the nape of his neck. "I don't know if I want to believe her. Or even give her a chance."
"Want my advice?"
"Always."
"She's your mother and the only living relative you have. If she wants to meet you halfway, let her."
"After all she's put me through?"
"I'm on your side. Always and forever. I love you to pieces. Words cannot explain how much. The vows I repeated that bind us together was far from adequate." Realizing he was getting emotional again, he paused and took a deep breath to steady himself.
"But I want our children to have her in their lives. Am I making sense?"
Her throat was tight and she had to lean into him to catch her breath. He made her better. After her dad, she never expected to find a man who was so good, kind, and compassionate.
"I don't deserve you." She told him hoarsely.
"Nonsense. We deserve each other." Lifting her chin, he wiped at the moisture on her cheeks. "Hormones?" he asked gently.
She sniffed and nodded, too overcome to speak. "Absolutely."
"I thought so." He kissed her then. "Very soon, we're getting the bloody hell out of here. I want to be alone with my wife."
Amused, Kiara smiled through her tears, feeling lighter than she had in ages. The music from the party faded into the background as Oscar wrapped her securely in his arms, creating a world just for them. She closed her eyes and let herself be held, trusting that somehow, together, they'd navigate every uncertainty that lay ahead.
His family insisted on staying at one of their hotels in the uptown area.
"You are newly-weds and need your time with each other." Maeve declared firmly.
"The house is big enough for us to have that privacy." Kiara protested. Looking at her husband, she added. "Are you going to back me up, here?"
"Nope." He grinned and slung an arm around her shoulder. "I happen to love the idea of being completely alone with you."
"Then it's settled." Maeve declared. "We'll see you in the morning."
"I still think they could have stayed." She murmured, obediently turning so he could zip down her dress.
"My mother is a smart woman. She knew I was dying to get you all alone." He kissed the side of her neck as he unhooked her bra. "All I've been thinking about was getting you naked."
"Why do I get the feeling that's what you married me for?"
"My wife is a smart woman as well." He cupped her breasts and weighed them in his palms. "I'm hungry for you. Starving actually."
His admission sent heat spiraling through her body.
"That's a constant with you."
"Hmm." He was busy nibbling at her flesh. "I don't think I could ever get tired of you, of this."
"You'd better not." She started to turn when he stopped her, by placing his hands around her thickened waistline. They were standing in front of the Cheval mirror.
Lifting his head, he gazed at their images, his body tightening at how perfect and completely sexy she was. She was still wearing her necklace and the earrings he had given her. The dress was pooled around her feet, the thin lace teddy stretching over her bulge.
