Baby Love (Baby #2)(9)
Trey was kissing my lips and felt the wetness of my tears as they rolled down my cheeks. He raised himself up, into a sitting position, staring at me intently.
"Baby, what's wrong?" he asked, totally confused.
"I'm not sure. I just know that I love you so much and maybe I have not been conveying that properly to you these past several weeks. I feel like I've neglected you," I wailed.
He immediately sat up, pulling me with him.
(Great! The first time we're cleared for sex and I f*ck it up with my outrageous hormones!)
I was on his lap; he had his arms wrapped around me tightly, rocking me back and forth. I was sobbing. I think perhaps the "baby blues" I had read about in my "Now You're a Mother" book were showing their ugly head.
"Sweetie you've not neglected me at all, okay? I'm so proud of what a great mother you are to our baby; you're going to be a fantastic wife and lover to me as well. This is all new to you, Tylar. I can see how much Preston loves you; the way she can't take her eyes off of
you whenever you're in the room. You are a wonderful mother. I feel like I've expected too much from you. I'm sorry, really sorry. I've been selfish, I know."
"But Trey; I wanted this evening to be special and now I've ruined it with my tears. I'm sorry I even suggested we wait until our wedding night. That should have been something that we discussed together not just something I wanted. Let's get back to it," I said, brushing the tears from my cheeks.
"No...no baby. How about just you and me cuddle for now. We just need to feel close in a non-sexual way. I think I've put a lot of pressure on you these past few weeks. I need to feel close to you but it certainly doesn't require sex in order for that to happen."
Trey got up and put a pair of boxers on. He returned to our bed. He scooped me up in his arms and cradled me. He gently ran his fingers along my cheekbone, planting soft kisses on my cheeks. He murmured his love for me, kissing my ear lobes, and brushing his lips across mine gently. He pulled the sheet up over us, wrapping his arm around me protectively as we relaxed and drifted off to sleep.
Sometime later I awoke; I heard Preston fussing nearby. I felt Trey rise up, leaving our bed and lifting her out of her bassinet, talking softly and soothingly to her. He brought her into bed with us. I rolled to my side. Still naked, I didn't have to worry about pulling my gown up or down.
Trey placed her on her side next to me and helped her locate my nipple so that she could latch onto it to nurse. Within moments, she was nestled against me, sucking my breast contentedly. Preston and I fell asleep in Trey's protective arms, comfortably ensconced in our family bed.
CHAPTER 3
Our wedding day in southern Virginia dawned sunny with surprisingly low humidity for early July. That was a blessing. The ceremony was to take place at seven in the evening at the 'Belle.
I stretched languidly in our bed in Trey's suite at his parent's house. We had been in Bristol for two days now, helping with the final preparations. The clock read 8:33 a.m. This was the first full night of sleep I had gotten since Preston had been born.
Susan had insisted the baby stay in the portable crib she had purchased and set up in her and Clive's suite last night. She was adamant that I be a well-rested bride. Even Trey had been banished from the manor to honor the tradition of not seeing his bride before the wedding. I missed both of them.
Trey had honored my request of abstaining until our wedding night despite the fact that I had on more than one occasion insisted all bets were off. As usual, his stubbornness had won out over my whining.
I reclined back against the soft pillows, chewing my lower lip thoughtfully. I had a wonderful soon-to-be-husband and the most beautiful and lovable baby in the whole world. I felt so blessed.
I thought back to the rehearsal dinner the previous night over at Le Vie Belle. Gina and Ian were there; Ray and Denise; Tristan, Nigel and Tess of course along with Clive and Susan. We had made a last minute change to the ceremony. Ray would be walking me down the so-called aisle to Trey. Denise had suggested it and I loved the idea. He was as close to a father figure to me as anyone had ever been.
Becky was handling the seating arrangements for both the wedding ceremony and the reception; along with the flowers, decorations and food.
I had until early afternoon to call my own. After that, Gina would be here ordering everyone around and assisting me in being the most beautiful bride since her marriage to Ian.
At this point in time, I needed to rid myself of breast milk since Susan had been bottle-feeding Preston compliments of my breast pump. I needed to pump a supply for her bottles since Trey and I would be gone for our brief two-day honeymoon. That was the longest I was willing to be apart from my daughter right now.
I had received a 'hands-free' electric breast pump from Gina at the baby shower she had hosted for me. It was top of the line naturally, but it allowed me to read, watch television or surf the internet while pumping. Right now I was in need of Preston. I needed her close to me, I could pump later.
I pulled my robe and slippers on and padded down the hallway towards the master suite. Thankfully, the door was opened. Clive had evidently already gone downstairs to start his day. Susan had Preston on top of their bed, fastening her diaper while talking to her.
"Good morning," I greeted them as I walked in. Preston immediately recognized my voice, turning her head towards me. Her eyes watched me as I approached the bed; her face lit up with a smile.