Broken Together (54 page)

My
fingers caressed his abdomen and chest before tangling in his hair. My fists
clenched. “Kiss me,” I demanded. My lips slanted over his.

Rafael
licked the cinnamon from my lips before diving deep inside my mouth. He stroked
and teased my tongue while I basked in his seduction. My eyes slid closed. He
trailed wet, erotic kisses along my jaw… behind my ear… down my neck.

Something
warm and sticky spilled between my breasts. My eyes flew open. “Honey?” My
nipples hardened even more.

Rafael
lapped at the sugary sweet nectar while forcing the dress over my head. He drizzled
honey over my breasts.

My
back arched against his warm tongue while I shivered beneath his cool breath. Still,
I needed more.

I
freed him from his zipper.

He
tore my thong.

With
a honey infused kiss, he thrust. We both stilled. I could feel him throbbing
inside of me, already nearing release. He deepened the kiss. One hand teased my
breast. The other held my hip. Slowly, he rocked.

My
entire body clenched. I anchored myself against the back of the couch. He drove
deep inside of me. Rafael swelled, stretching and demanding more with every
thrust. Our bodies crested like the Aegean Sea.

My
fingernails lanced his back when I began to climax. With a growl, he spilled
inside of me. My body quivered, relishing the heat.

The
sheer white curtains shifted erratically in the breeze.

*
* * * *

Rafael’s
hands bracketed my tummy. The chef was due to arrive any minute, but he showed
no interest in getting dressed. We’d spent the entire day sleeping, eating, and
making love. Rafael was determined to prove his theory that the baby enjoyed
our lovemaking. Why? Because the baby kicked, elbowed, or rolled every time we stopped.
I suspected the baby liked being jostled about and would react the same way if
I were jogging and suddenly stopped. I made no attempt to prove my theory
because sex was infinitely more fun than jogging.

Rafael
laughed. “Did you feel that? He did it again!”

“I
did.” Feeling a baby move inside your tummy was one of the most amazing experiences
in the world. I placed my hands on top of his. “Let’s take a bath.”

Rafael
lifted his head. He garnered my attention every time he moved because he was
the only dark object in the room. The giant four poster bed was surrounded by
soft white curtains. All of the bed linens were white. The throw pillows were
white… the walls were white… the furniture was white… the lamps, the candles…
everything was white. The only other splashes of color were the clear blue sky
and the azure blue sea peeking through the window.

The
window was open so we could hear the waves. The beach was only two blocks away.
The sheer white curtains framing the window were dancing in the breeze.

“The
bath?” I repeated.

Rafael
tore his eyes from my breasts. “You stay here and relax. I’ll fill the bathtub.”
He pushed off the bed and strode into the bathroom.

I
smiled. Rafael had been doting on me all day. He served breakfast and lunch
before spoiling me with a long, luxurious massage.

I
wrapped a sheet around me, lured by the only remaining color in the room. I was
surprised there wasn’t a screen or a protective rail around the window. My head
rested against the tall white frame while I surveyed the landscape below.

A
fat little house sparrow was perched on top of the pergola to the left of the
window. He carried a small twig inside his mouth. He ducked beneath the pergola,
stashed the twig inside a nest, and flitted off.

I
thought about the little brown sparrow I’d seen in Ukraine, the one with the
broken wing. I doubted he would survive. I wondered if he thought the same of
me.

The
baby elbowed me.

I
rubbed my tummy. “Missing your daddy already?”

Rafael’s
broad chest warmed my back. He wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my belly
affectionately. “Of course he does.”

I
leaned into him, savoring the heat. “You’re nesting.”

He
chuckled softly. “Why do you say that?”

“The
renovations,” I answered.

He
rested his chin on my shoulder. “What do you want to do about the baby’s room?”
He’d been toying with the idea of converting his bedroom into a nursery and a
playroom. All we had to do was knock out part of the wall separating our
bedrooms, extend the hallway, and insert new walls and bedroom doors along the
newly formed hallway. The bedrooms would be a little smaller because part of
the space would be used for the hallway. Not that it mattered. Our bedrooms
were huge. A five foot strip wasn’t going to make a whole lot of difference.

“I
think we should proceed with the structural changes, but I don’t want to
decorate or furnish that room until after the baby is born.” I couldn’t bear to
see the same devastated look on Rafael’s face that I’d seen on Michael’s face
when he walked by that empty nursery.

Rafael
twined his fingers with mine before pulling me away from the window. “Where
will the baby sleep while we’re decorating his room?”

“In
a bassinette near our bed.” I dropped the sheet on the bed on our way to the
bathroom.

Rafael
helped me up the stairs leading into the large garden style tub. The stairs,
the tub, and the adjoining shower flaunted a swirling blue faux finish that mimicked
the ocean. Recessed lighting and thick white candles lined the edge of the
privacy wall. A large white seashell sat in the corner, next to a white basket
filled with toiletries and face cloths.

I
groaned when I sank into the steamy water. “This feels heavenly.”

Rafael
stepped in behind me. “Can we swap my bed for yours?”

“Sure.”
I knew how he loved that bed. “I can’t believe we’re going to have a six
bedroom house.” Rafael was using one of his bedrooms as a weight room. Still,
that left us with three guestrooms.

“They
poured our new steps and installed the front door today. We have one main
entrance now. Our old doors were replaced with windows, which were installed
yesterday.” The contractor was texting updates.

“So
there’s one large foyer and two staircases leading to the top floor,” I
recounted.

“The
stairs have been modified so they curve and meet at the top.” Rafael poured
body wash into his hand. Slowly he lathered my arms, chest, and back.

“I’m
glad we don’t have to make any changes to the other bedrooms.” I was still
trying to envision the new layout for the ground floor. According to the blue
prints, we were keeping both offices on opposite ends of the foyer. We had two
formal living rooms and two family rooms between us. Rafael was planning to
turn the formal living room on his side of the house into a billiards room. His
family room was being converted into a theater room with three elevated rows of
black leather recliners. We were keeping both kitchens. Rafael felt the theater
needed a kitchen. But we were knocking out the wall between our dining rooms so
we could entertain more guests.

Rafael
poured more soap into his hand. “We’re going to need those bedrooms. Brady and
Jase may never leave after they see the theater and game room.”

I
laughed. “Brady asked me to call and play the Doppler over the phone when we
return to Portugal. Those two are as enamored with this little guy as you are.
Kadyn too.”

His
hands slid lovingly toward my tummy. “Maybe I should buy the townhome next to
mine.”

*
* * * *

“Do
you want to enroll in a childbirth class in Lisbon or Alexandria?” I studied
Rafael in a sidelong glance. We were walking back to the villa after exploring
Akrotiri Town.

Rafael
slowed. “There’s a class?”

I
laughed at the stunned expression on his face.       

“What
do they teach in this class?” he inquired worriedly.

We
stopped walking. “They review pain medications and other strategies for coping
with labor and delivery.”

He
sucked in a breath. “You’re going to be in pain… like real, excruciating pain.”

I
forced a soothing tone, although his reaction left me feeling panicked. “Women
have babies all the time. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Secretly, I was questioning
whether it would hurt more than having a stun gun shoved inside my vagina. I
doubted I could ask that question in class.

He
began pacing. “I can’t bear to see you cry. I nearly lost it when you had food
poisoning. I might kill someone if I see you in pain.”

I
stepped in front of him. “I’m stronger than you know. Besides, who are you
going to kill? We chose this, remember?”

He
growled his retort.

I
wrapped my arm around him when we resumed walking.

Rafael
pulled me close. “I want to be in the delivery room. I promise I won’t kill
anyone. I just… I want to help.”

“I’d
like your face to be the first face our child sees,” I agreed.

We
both sensed the moment the sun kissed the sea. The surrounding buildings glowed
orange and pink. We stopped to admire the view.

Rafael
fit my back to his chest while wrapping his arms around me. “Are we really
doing this?”

I
cradled my tummy, which had grown substantially over the past week. “Yes, my
valiant knight. I believe we are.”

*
* * * *

I
folded my arms over the edge of the infinity pool and gazed at the sea. The sea
and the sky were on fire. The land? The deepest, darkest coal bobbing in molten
lava. I may as well have been peering inside a volcano.

A
soft sigh escaped my lips. Our honeymoon was nearing an end. I wanted to burn
this image on the back of my eyelids so I’d never forget this exquisite island.

Soft,
warm lips nibbled my neck.

I
spun around. “How do you swim without making a sound?”

Rafael
grasped the edge of the pool, boxing me in his arms. “You’ll never guess what
the chef is preparing for us.”

“
Tomato-kefides
?”
I suggested hopefully.
Tomato-kefides
were deep fried tomato fritters
mixed with onion, herbs, and butter. They looked like a red hushpuppy, but they
tasted a million times better. Of all the Greek food I’d sampled thus far,
tomato-kefides
were my favorite, although the pan fried feta was a close second.

A
smirk played on his lips. “No. He’s grilling an entire bushel of oysters.”

My
eyes widened. “Aren’t oysters an aphrodisiac?”

“Yes.”
He kissed the sweet spot behind my ear. “I don’t believe we’ll be sleeping tonight.”

My
toes curled against the bottom of the pool.

“We
haven’t made love in this pool,” Rafael murmured. He tugged my bikini off. His
heated gaze pinned me in place while he pulled my legs around his waist. His thickened
shaft slid between my legs.

My
breath caught when I realized he was already naked. I balked at the thought. We
weren’t hidden behind curtains. The sun was setting, but there were lights
illuminating the pool. “What if the chef...”

“He’s
grilling on the other side of the house. We’re at the far end of the pool, and
all of our unmentionables are hidden from view. Besides, I’m pretty sure he
knows we’re having sex.” He lifted me a little higher.

“So
much for being hidden,” I groaned. My hands tangled in his hair while he suckled
my breasts.

He
pulled me down and thrust. Hard.

“Rafael!”
I cried. Without warning, he buried himself to the hilt.

“Kristine,”
he gritted. He pulled back and drove inside of me again.

My
heart beat wildly against my chest. Rafael wasn’t asking. He was demanding my
consent.

His
teeth raked my breasts. He sucked hard, then flicked my nipples with his tongue.
They hardened like pebbles inside his sinful mouth. His hands tightened around
my hips. He captured my lips. We fell into a frenzied kiss.

Rafael
was unyielding. He thrust until I surrendered
everything
. I no longer
cared who witnessed our love making. I needed each thrust more than my
heartbeat.

We
were panting… thrusting… straining… until…
ecstasy
. We both screamed. Molten
lava filled me while the sun licked the sea.

Dr.
Barreira squished warm gel on my tummy. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.
Great, actually. Is it normal for pregnant women to turn into sex addicts?”

She
burst out laughing. “A high sex drive during pregnancy is quite normal. There’s
a lot of extra hormones and blood coursing through your body.” She swirled the
hand held device through the slick gel, spreading it around the bulge in my
tummy. Silently, she studied our child.

Dr.
Barreira pressed a couple of keys on the ultrasound machine. Two little x’s
appeared on the screen. “The baby is twenty-six centimeters long, which is
perfect for twenty-one weeks.” She shifted her angle, and the shadow morphed
into a baby.

Rafael’s
eyes widened. “That’s him. That’s our baby! Look, Kristine, he’s sucking his
thumb.”

Dr.
Barreira looked thoroughly amused. “What makes you think you’re having a boy?”

Rafael
shot her a look suggesting that was the most ridiculous question in the world.

With
a chuckle, she moved the device. “Would you like me to confirm or deny your
suspicion?”

“Yes,”
we answered breathlessly.

She
tilted her head and frowned. “The umbilical cord is in the way. Let’s try
another angle. Can you roll onto your left side?”

Rafael
hovered over me anxiously. The paper on the exam table crinkled while I rolled
onto my side.

This
time she smiled. “Looks like you’re right.”

A
smug look settled over Rafael’s face. “I knew we were having a boy.”

Dr.
Barreira grinned. “Congratulations.” She typed “It’s a boy!” onto the screen
before printing two pictures. She handed each of us a picture.

A
nurse stepped inside the room. She handed Dr. Barreira a slip of paper.

Dr.
Barreira glanced at the paper before sifting through my chart. “Your blood work
came back normal. I don’t see any signs of birth defects or genetic disorders.
There’s some extra protein in your urine and your blood pressure is at the high
end of the normal range. I’d like to see you in two weeks so I can check those
levels again.”

Rafael
tensed. “Is there a problem?”

She
wiped the gel from my tummy so I could sit up. “A certain amount of protein is
normal. This is a little more than I’d like to see at this stage in the
pregnancy. If her blood pressure and protein levels remain where they are,
we’ll be fine. I just prefer to err on the side of caution.”

Rafael
released his breath. “Thank you, Dr. Barreira.” He helped me from the table.

We
made the appointment and stepped outside. Rafael scooped me up and swung me
around. “We’re having a boy.”

I
grinned. “I heard.”

His
smile widened. “He was sucking his thumb.”

“I
saw.” Laughter bubbled up from my lungs.

His
eyes softened. “Can we tell everyone now?”

Slowly,
I nodded. “Yes. I think we should. Maybe I can convert this picture into a
formal announcement.”

We
began walking toward the car. “I have to head back to work. Do you want to hang
out at the station for a little while? You can scan the picture and use my
computer to make the announcement.”

Since
Brady and Jase were in Virginia, I had three options: remain inside the flat,
spend time with Eva, or go to the station. “I’ll hang at the station for a
little while, but I want to see if Eva is free so we can shop for maternity
clothes.”

He
smoothed the loose-fitting dress over my tummy. “Don’t buy any loose-fitting
clothes. Buy clothes that will hug your tummy so I can see my baby.”

My
heart sang. I loved how enamored he was with my new body.

*
* * * *

My
eyes raked over Rafael’s handsome face, his broad shoulders, trim waist, and
well-muscled legs. I was certain I’d never tire of looking at this man. How
such a lethal physique could wring so much pleasure from my body was truly a
mystery, but he had three times thus far today.

He
squeezed my hand with a gentleness that belied his strength. “Hungry?”

“Always,”
I teased.

He
pulled me close, obviously pleased.

I
wondered whether it was possible to be too happy. The last two weeks had been
nothing short of perfect. While I missed my friends in Virginia, I didn’t miss
school or work. Every ounce of tension had disappeared from my body. These days
I felt only four things… overwhelming joy, desire, pleasure, and contentment. “So,
Restaurante Eleven?”

“The
chef is phenomenal.” Rafael’s hand settled against the small of my back as we neared
the deep red building with the massive
eleven
scrawled across the front.

Benjamim,
Eva, Chief D’Souza, and Mariana were waiting inside. “
F
eliz aniversário, meu amiga!
”
Eva exclaimed. She kissed me on both cheeks before handing me a gift bag. Benjamim,
Mariana, and Chief D’Souza did the same.

My
cheeks heated. “Thank you.”

The
hostess led us across the hardwood floor and out onto the terrace which
overlooked the city and the Tagus River. The sky glowed pink and blue,
promising yet another spectacular sunset.

Rafael
pulled a thickly padded chair out for me. “I’ve ordered the eight course
tasting menu with wine pairings, although Kristine and I will be sampling their
non-alcoholic wines.”

I
kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

His
hand sought my tummy beneath the linen clad table.

Benjamim
snapped a picture and texted it to me.

Eva
eyed us adoringly. “Are you still playing the Doppler for Brady and Jase?”

Rafael
chuckled. “Every day.”

A
soft smile played on my lips. While Rafael no longer needed that assurance, since
he could feel the baby move, Brady and Jase were demanding regular updates.
Playing the Doppler had become a part of our daily routine, along with weekly updates
for Kadyn, Shae, Cenia, Marie, Lexie, Kimme, and my mom. I was relieved
everyone knew about the baby, but keeping them informed was a full time job.

Two
waiters stopped by with duck
foie-gras
and our wine.

Rafael
reached for his glass. “To my beautiful wife, who twines me around her finger a
little more each day.
F
eliz
aniversário,
meu amor
.”
His hand clasped my neck while he fit his lips to mine. He teased and tempted
me with the kiss before tapping my glass and sampling the wine.

I
marveled at the crisp cherry and oak undertones in the non-alcoholic wine.
“This is wonderful.”

Rafael
smiled. “My gift is waiting for you at home. I was afraid if I gave it to you
before dinner, you’d refuse to leave the flat.”

My
curiosity spiked. “What is it?”

His
smile widened. “A surprise. Suffice it to say, I’ve assigned a bodyguard while
I’m at work to help you manage this gift.”

I
frowned. “Why?”

“Because
you’ll be venturing outside the flat a lot more often while I’m at work,” he
answered evasively.

“Oh!
Maybe it’s a car,” Mariana exclaimed.

Rafael
shook his head. “It’s not a car.”

Eva’s
eyes widened. “A motorcycle?”

Rafael’s
eyes danced with amusement. “My pregnant wife
will not
be driving a
motorcycle.”

I
wracked my brain all through the
foie-gras
, the lobster ravioli soup, the
scallops with caviar, the oysters, the fish, and the duck. Still, I couldn’t
fathom what it was. The tangerine
crème brûlée
and the
mignardises
the chef served for desert were too decadent to think of anything else. I
splurged for a change and savored a cup of
bica
.

The
baby was thrilled. He started doing back flips.

Eva
paled when Rafael pressed her hand to my tummy. “Does that hurt?”

I
smiled. “Not at all.”

“Thank
God,” she breathed.

Rafael
eyed Benjamim. “I assume congratulations are in order?”

My
eyes flew to Eva’s. “You’re pregnant?”

“Fifteen
weeks,” she confirmed with some relief. “Our baby is due in December.”

Tears
flooded my eyes. “Oh, Eva! That’s the best birthday present ever. We get to be
pregnant together. Our children will be friends!” Everyone rose from the table to
give her a hug.

Rafael
pulled our chairs together. Each couple snuggled closer when we returned to our
seats.

“How
did you know?” I asked Rafael.

“The
amount of relief in her voice when you assured her the baby’s kicking didn’t
hurt,” he answered with a chuckle.

Mariana
and Chief D’Souza’s children were grown and attending college. They shared some
of their experiences and offered advice while we discussed our pregnancies and
dreamed about our unborn children.

I’d
forgotten about Rafael’s present until he eased the Porsche into the garage. By
then, it was pushing midnight.

“You
still haven’t figured out what it is?” Rafael ribbed. We stepped inside the
elevator.

“I
can’t imagine what sort of present would require me to leave the house.” My
eyes widened with understanding. “A job… with the Templar?”

He
shook his head. “We can pursue that after the baby is born. For now, I’d like
you to focus on your happiness and health, the baby, and maybe one other
thing…”

The
elevator dinged.

I
waited anxiously while Rafael swiped his card.

My
mouth fell open when I saw Jase sitting in an awkward position on the dining room
floor. There was an explosion of fur. A puppy leapt over him, cocked his head,
and barked.

“A
Shih Tzu?” I cried. “You got me a Shih Tzu?” The room spun as my past caught up
with me. A sharp pain tore through my chest.

Rafael
caught me. Slowly, he eased me onto the floor.

Jase
and the brindle puppy eyed me worriedly.

“Cade,”
I groaned. “How did you know?”

Rafael
smoothed my hair while cradling me in his arms. “I saw you walk him. You
carried on such long conversations with that dog, it made me laugh. When
Michael told me he died…” He shook his head sadly. “I know how much you loved
that dog.”

I
bit back a sob. Cade had seen me through so much.

“I
wanted to give you a puppy for your birthday last year, but you were leaving
for Ukraine. I’ve struggled to find the right time ever since. If it’s too
soon…”

I
sifted through time. “It’s been two years.”

“I
thought he could keep you company while I’m at work. I read a blog that listed
all of the benefits to getting a puppy when you’re pregnant. A young dog tolerates
a baby’s tugging and pulling better than an older dog. He’ll view the baby as a
member of our pack. They’ll help keep each other entertained.” He grinned at
the puppy. “Besides, I could use some practice.”

I
grasped his hand. “You don’t need any practice. You do just fine taking care of
me.”

“A
puppy is more demanding and unpredictable, although you do get into a lot of
trouble,” he teased.

I
eyed the little ball of fur uncertainly. “Will he have to be quarantined when
we travel between Portugal and the United States?”

Rafael
shook his head. “He has to have all of his shots and a letter from the
veterinarian confirming he’s in good health before we fly to the United States,
but he won’t have to be quarantined. He’ll have a pet passport so he can fly with
us. He can join us in Saint-Tropez.”

My
eyes shifted to Jase. “Hey.”

A
smile played on his face. “Hey.”

My
chin lifted. “Are you here to watch over me again?”

“When
I heard Rafael was considering someone from Portugal…” his voice trailed off.

“Jase
forbid it,” Rafael revealed with some amusement.

“I’m
relieved it’s you.” Brady and Jase were like family. I didn’t want anyone else
watching over me.

“Would
you like to meet the newest member of our pack?” Rafael asked. He shifted me in
his arms.

The
puppy crouched down, wagged his entire bottom, and tore off in the other
direction. He had a difficult time gaining traction on the hard wood floor.

We
burst out laughing.

The
puppy tried to stop, but he ended up skidding across the floor.

Jase
laughed even harder. “He’s been doing that all night.”

I
looked at Rafael. “Do you have any dog treats?”

He
stood. “These are the ones the breeder recommended.”

I
followed him into the kitchen.