newlyweds, this is your home, and should be run as you please. If you’d rather, we can leave things the way they are for now, but as soon as you feel it’s time, Sheri and you must take over.” After her proclamation, Andrea looked to each person in the room, her stare halting with Maria the longest.
Oh Lordy? Sheri’s hand rose to her mouth where her index finger’s cuticle still hadn’t healed from her last chow-down. Mortified, all eyes on her, she stuck her hand behind her back. “Can we leave things as they are for now? I’d just like to help you.” Sheri wondered if her voice sounded as shaky to their ears as it did inside. Butterflies, peaceful until now, began fluttering around in her tummy.
“As you wish, my dear. My main concern is to be allowed time with the children. They grow up and leave home so quickly, that every moment is precious.” Tears appeared and were rapidly blinked away.
Instinctively , Sheri reached over and patted the woman’s shoulder until she had her attention. “I understand, Andrea. I would love your help with the rug-bunnies. Without my friend Charly, I don’t think I could have coped in Washington. It’ll be wonderful to share their care with you here, you and Maria.”
Maria ’s moving towards Andrea at the sight of her tears had motivated Sheri to include her in the babies’ care. Sheri was rewarded with a look of approval from Miguel who’d stood in the background during the interlude.
Satisfaction produced an agreeable mask for Maria until she glanced at Rafael, and then her face stiffened once again. She turned an intense gaze on Sheri, her expression full of curiosity.
Uneasiness ate away the happiness that had built up over the short visit so far. Sheri shivered and turned away.
Chapter Nineteen
After the babies were settled in to the newly refurbished nursery, Sheri joined Miguel in their private sitting room. “Miguel, I feel weird about your mother giving up her suite for us. Is that a tradition in Chile?”
“Not always. It’s different for a woman who’s unlucky and marries into a family where a tyrant rules. Mamacita is an angel. We are fortunate.”
“Mamacita? I’ve heard you refer to her that way many times. It must have a special meaning.”
“It means little mother . Words ending in ita or ito signify the gender of the person and the size, or as in my case, it’s used as a term of affection.”
“ The custom is sort of special, isn’t it?”
“Si. One day Rafael will refer to you in such a way. You will like that, no?”
“Si.” She laughed, and noticed his eyes narrow as he moved to perch on the arm of the walnut-brown leather sofa where she lounged.
“Sheri, I want to start off our life here in Chile the way we mean to go on. Tonight, may we be together as husband and wife?” His hand reached out, and his fingers slid through the soft tangle of curls swirling over her shoulders.
She stood up and turned her back to him, but he soon followed. He loomed over and his arms gently scooped her to him, his breath on her neck creating an army of goose bumps. Lips, soft and warm, moist and hot kissed their way from her ear, down her throat to her neck. Meanwhile, his nimble fingers worked at the collar of her blouse to give him access to more of her delighted skin.
Leaning back for him to take her weight became a necessity as her knees lost their power to hold her upright. With a snarl, he whipped her around and the onslaught of his mouth devouring hers became more important than breathing.
The handsome devil kissed the way every woman dreams of being kissed. He sucked and licked and entwined her tongue with his, inviting her to perform with him. How could she resist? Never in her life had she experienced heat building from normal to boil-over in seconds. Every nerve in her body, starting from her head to her to stomach, mostly between her legs, screamed ‘hallelujah’!
His arm encircling her waist snuggled
Oh Lordy? Sheri’s hand rose to her mouth where her index finger’s cuticle still hadn’t healed from her last chow-down. Mortified, all eyes on her, she stuck her hand behind her back. “Can we leave things as they are for now? I’d just like to help you.” Sheri wondered if her voice sounded as shaky to their ears as it did inside. Butterflies, peaceful until now, began fluttering around in her tummy.
“As you wish, my dear. My main concern is to be allowed time with the children. They grow up and leave home so quickly, that every moment is precious.” Tears appeared and were rapidly blinked away.
Instinctively , Sheri reached over and patted the woman’s shoulder until she had her attention. “I understand, Andrea. I would love your help with the rug-bunnies. Without my friend Charly, I don’t think I could have coped in Washington. It’ll be wonderful to share their care with you here, you and Maria.”
Maria ’s moving towards Andrea at the sight of her tears had motivated Sheri to include her in the babies’ care. Sheri was rewarded with a look of approval from Miguel who’d stood in the background during the interlude.
Satisfaction produced an agreeable mask for Maria until she glanced at Rafael, and then her face stiffened once again. She turned an intense gaze on Sheri, her expression full of curiosity.
Uneasiness ate away the happiness that had built up over the short visit so far. Sheri shivered and turned away.
Chapter Nineteen
After the babies were settled in to the newly refurbished nursery, Sheri joined Miguel in their private sitting room. “Miguel, I feel weird about your mother giving up her suite for us. Is that a tradition in Chile?”
“Not always. It’s different for a woman who’s unlucky and marries into a family where a tyrant rules. Mamacita is an angel. We are fortunate.”
“Mamacita? I’ve heard you refer to her that way many times. It must have a special meaning.”
“It means little mother . Words ending in ita or ito signify the gender of the person and the size, or as in my case, it’s used as a term of affection.”
“ The custom is sort of special, isn’t it?”
“Si. One day Rafael will refer to you in such a way. You will like that, no?”
“Si.” She laughed, and noticed his eyes narrow as he moved to perch on the arm of the walnut-brown leather sofa where she lounged.
“Sheri, I want to start off our life here in Chile the way we mean to go on. Tonight, may we be together as husband and wife?” His hand reached out, and his fingers slid through the soft tangle of curls swirling over her shoulders.
She stood up and turned her back to him, but he soon followed. He loomed over and his arms gently scooped her to him, his breath on her neck creating an army of goose bumps. Lips, soft and warm, moist and hot kissed their way from her ear, down her throat to her neck. Meanwhile, his nimble fingers worked at the collar of her blouse to give him access to more of her delighted skin.
Leaning back for him to take her weight became a necessity as her knees lost their power to hold her upright. With a snarl, he whipped her around and the onslaught of his mouth devouring hers became more important than breathing.
The handsome devil kissed the way every woman dreams of being kissed. He sucked and licked and entwined her tongue with his, inviting her to perform with him. How could she resist? Never in her life had she experienced heat building from normal to boil-over in seconds. Every nerve in her body, starting from her head to her to stomach, mostly between her legs, screamed ‘hallelujah’!
His arm encircling her waist snuggled
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