She clamped a hand over his as he traced the path of the incision.
"You don't have to..."
"It's your battle scar." He shook away her hand and continued to trace the outline. It was fading, thank Christ, he mused. Not that it detracted from her beauty. To his mind, it added to it. It showed a woman who had borne his children and, against all odds, was now alive. All four of them were alive and here for him to see and touch. It was overwhelming to even contemplate.
"It is." She stared at him anxiously. Ever since that night he had gone off on her, she had been afraid that he would break again.
Lifting his eyes to hers, he noticed her anxiety and smiled reassuringly. "I'm almost over it." He lifted a hand to cup her cheek. "I still have bad moments, still hear your screams inside my head, but it's not as bad as it used to be. If anything, this makes me love you even more." He shook his head. "I never thought that was even remotely possible. What you went through those three days would have broken anyone, and yet you came up fighting. Suffice it to say that you're my hero."
She put her hand over his and turned her head so that she could kiss his palm. "As you're mine," she told him softly. "Even though I was not conscious, I could still hear your voice, the words you said to me, the prayers, the pleas. I heard it all and it brought me back. You brought me back, and the thought of my babies made me want to fight like hell. I never expected anything like this. I thought my life was full. I never thought I deserved any sort of happiness. I had my career and to me that was more than enough." She smiled tearily. "But there was so much more. There was you and now our children. Speaking of..."
"No." His lips formed the word firmly. He knew exactly what she had been about to do. "They're fine. My parents raised four boys and we turned out fine. If there was anything wrong, they would have called." His eyes smoldered.
"Besides, I have plans for us. And the plan is to keep you in bed for the entire night." His mouth touched her forehead and then her cheek. "We might get some sleep." His lips trailed down to her lips. "We'll see how that goes." He was brushing his lips over hers and heating her skin. "There's no guarantee. I wantyou." His voice thickened as his hands started wandering. "I'm hungry for the taste and feel of you. I'm not satisfied. There's this craving." He cupped her sex, eyes flaring when she arched into his palm. "I love the way you tremble and cry out my name." He slipped a finger over and then in, blood pumping at the glazed look in her beautiful eyes. "I want you to come for me." He stroked her and inserted another finger, pressing in deep. "Just like that. Ah." His body jerked and he felt the blood surging through his loins. He was painfully hard. "Give me everything, darling. All of it." Bending his head, he seized her lips, the kiss turning wild.
*****
"I see you've finally surfaced." Liam Moses pulled out a chair and joined the rest of the crew around the table. The card game was already in progress, the stakes high. Signaling to the hovering waiter, he ordered his usual bourbon and proceeded to pick up his cards. The poker was an annual charity game with selected players. The winners were more into the pleasure of winning.
The winnings would, of course, go to some very needy charity that the wives had picked out. Over the years, the power had shifted imperceptibly from the men who were members of the exclusive Elite Club to the beautiful and hardworking African American wives that had been added to the mix. A few reporters had cautiously hinted that it had to do with the fact that the women these powerful men married held the upper hand because, well, love happened to be a turning point.
In any case, the men did not seem to mind that one bit. Things were getting done and their wives were making sure of it. Besides, the annual fall game was one to look forward to.
The large airy room with its stout antique furnishings and the wide and fully stocked bar was off limits at the moment while the game was in session. It was also thick with smoke. Cigars were also a part of the ambience.
"I am a married man with triplets." Christos flashed a proud grin as he studied his card, making sure to keep the satisfaction of the satisfying hand to himself.
"How old are they now?" Adam Whitmore contemplated his move before glancing at his friend.
"Five months." Christos could not help it. He was beaming from ear to ear. "And growing each week. I swear Athena has started teething. My wife says that's impossible, but she's been fussy and she's usually so serene." He placed his full hand down with barely a flourish, relishing the groans from the other men at the table.
"I also told my darling wife that I was feeling extremely lucky tonight," he added jauntily. Leaning back in his chair, he signaled for another glass of scotch. He was spending the night at the club, so there was no need to be cautious. His wife andsisters-in-law had decided to take the children with them for a weekend cruise around the D.C. area. His brothers and his dad were also at the club.
He felt lost without them, but this was filling the gap.
"We aim to wipe that cocky smile off your face," David Synder, who had flown in for the game as well as to tie up some business, warned him grimly.
"I'd like to see you try, my friend."
"I think I intend to do just that." Kane Takahashi, who had been silent so far, interjected. His face was bland and expressionless as usual. He looked around at the men gathered there and showed his hand.
"Damn, you're sneaky," Christos muttered.
"The trick is to pretend that you're losing," Kane advised, raking in his chips. "And not get distracted by all the baby talk. Congratulations, by the way."
"Thanks. I think it's time for me to go and try my luck at blackjack."
"And check in with the wife, I presume?" David called after him.
"Naturally."
*****
"Aren't you supposed to be at a poker game?"
"I just got trounced." Sitting down on the bed, he toed off his shoes and laid back against the pillows. "How's my girl?"
"Your girl has her hands full."
