Wayne's POV
"I'm so sorry." I can't stop laughing. "I hope we didn't give the kid a heart attack.She stopped laughing to look at her son. The curious wee lad has been watching us since we hit it off in the early morning hours. Maria and I haven't gotten any sleep. Four times in one night and once this morning is enough to keep the little guy awake. Muffling Maria's mouth didn't help. Even I couldn't be quiet.
"He's fine. But I can't believe we have broken the bed."
I'm still on top of her and I'm eager to continue. I rolled over so that we got off the slanted mattress to the tile floor. Like I taught her last night I guided her hips, showing her how to move not only for her own pleasure but for my own. When she got the hang of it, I cupped her full breasts, sitting up to claim her sore buds. We are past the shock we suffered last time. She's okay with it and I like it. With our bare skins ho
Marianna's POVI can't stop thinking about the events of the masquerade party. When a thought is stuck in the mind for longer than a day, it's something big. When it's keeping me awake, it's to paid attention to. Even in the comfort of Wayne's arms I am still unable to rest.The characters from the book I threw away are slowly trickling back into my life. It feels so heavy.I have carried the secret of Nicko's existence for so long without telling them. I have done so not just to protect Nicko as Alexander requested but also because of the uncertainty of whether Nate wants to be a father. We both wanted that pill desperately. While my outlook has changed and I am in love with my little boy, his may be the same. I don't know. It's weighing heavily on me as to whether it will be a good idea for him to hear it from anyone else. I want it to be from me but now, including Francis, Castle and Helena three other peo
Helena's POVImmediately after finding out about Nicko..."How much longer?" I complained to the woman who answered the phone."He is still not available.""Where is he?""I'm not authorized to say."My biggest fear after Nathan joined the Navy is his imminent death. The day they will knock on my door with news of his death, I'll probably die too. At least when it happens, there is someone who can possibly carry our name. Possibly, yet to be confirmed if he's ours. I haven't forgotten how a folded flag was presented to me after my husband's brutal death. I can't forget the struggle not to cry in front of those sailors aboard his ship. They lost a leader, Nathan lost a father and I lost a husband. I don't want another flag."Mom, I'm here. I'm here." He sounds breathless but for me, hearing his voice is always cause for rejoicing
Marianna's POVThings are getting serious with Wayne. He wants me to move in with him. I'm excited by the thought of just forgetting everything I have gone through in this place. To start over will be great. To have a man in my life, a man who loves me is something I have been longing for. I just hope I can learn to love him to so as to repay the generosity he has shown me.But before I even imagine myself on a plane or in the amazing mansion Wayne described there are a few things to be set straight, like telling Helena Bale that I'm taking her grandson away. I arrived at her penthouse a few minutes ago. Nicko slept in her room and I can't go in there to get him. Castle says I have to wait."You look tired. Long night?" Castle broke the silence."Something like that." When I'm with Wayne we never get much sleep.He kept reading the newspaper and I got lost in the luxurious be
Marianna's POVBoth Helena and Castle left early in the morning. They are the busiest pair of people. I was about to ask her how she intends to spend time with Nicko when she's not even around but then she introduced me to a nanny. She's a serious older woman who Nicko has taken a liking to. She's always hovering around making it impossible for me to plan an exit. Helena also has guards at all exits. Nicko is not getting out of this penthouse.Other than that, we are okay. It's not that I have a personal problem with Helena, it's that I don't want to leave my son behind when I go to London. It's a brief visit, a week or so give or take. It may be longer but I can't leave him."All dressed up. You look like a young man now!" I fixed his perfectly straight hair. I have straight hair too. Nate has curly hair. I think Nicko would have been super cute with curly hair."You know I could have done t
Helena's POV"That cup of tea must be exceptionally sweet this morning for you to smile like that."Castle has no idea how pleased I feel. From the moment Nathan met Nicko to the moment he kissed Marianna... especially when he kissed Marianna, I was just over the moon! I should not have watched but hell! It was deep! Seeing the three of them together gave me the perfect idea. It convinced me that they should be a family. There's no room for Wayne."Well, when a good plan comes together, I can't help but celebrate.""How did you get him here that fast?""You know I'm resourceful!""Clearly. What did you say to him though? Did you tell him you are on your death bed?"I rolled my eyes. "Nathan is capable of sensing the urgency in my voice. I asked him to come home and he did. What is the big deal?""The big deal is that you're s
Marianna's POV"I can't accept this." I gave her back the check. I don't think monetary compensation is necessary for everything I do for Nicko. He's alive, happy and healthy and that's enough payment for me.Helena received the envelop. She opened it and I saw an irritated look flash in her eyes. "Why not?""I think you are an amazing woman. I think you're very hard working and quite influential. I think... I believe you're the kind of woman people can look up to. I have no doubt in my mom that if you were in my shoes, you would have done exceptionally well. I know payment wouldn't be necessary ane you wouldn't accept it. I'm grateful that you got Nicko back and I respect you for the woman you are...""Where is this going? Get to the point." She snapped at me cutting me off.I disregarded that. "I think you're meddling and you should stop."She leaned
Marianna's POVI have been cooked up in my room all day. I like my room. It's quite comfortable. There's nothing personal about it but it's comfortable. Unlike the other couple of days when I got to roam free in the penthouse, Nate is around. I'm avoiding a conversation with him for now. So instead I have read an entire romance novel, I have made this ridiculous plan to go to college. Courtney talked me into it. She's in MIT studying mechanical engineering. It's her second year. I'm not that clever; not like Court. I want to ask Helena to give me some guidance. She's after all financially successful but after the confrontation she's not even looking at me. So there's that. I think I'll ask Castle. He is the friendliest person in this house after Nicko.Maybe I can be a nurse. Maybe a teacher. Maybe a secretary. I want something simple that gives me time with Nicko. I don't want to lose myself in a career and not pay att
Nathan's POV"You don't get it from him. Your father was a calm man. He never exploded under pressure. He kept it together. You get it from me. I sometimes lose my temper like that and I get physical fast."I paid attention to the city below. Everything is normal. It's the same everyday and I'm bored to death. I would rather be on the ship. I'm used to that, not this domestic lifestyle where I have nothing to do. I'm working towards being an Admiral like my father. In terms of my career I know where I'm going. In terms of being a father, I'm clueless. A husband perhaps but she doesn't want me and it hurts. She has a whole life I'm not part of.I am not proud of hurling her across the room like that but she provoked me. She was being sarcastic and rude. I'm not happy about yelling at her. I'm not proud of being around and never looking for them. I was a mess. I needed time. I felt she was better off without me