Chapter Seventeen

'I've always loved you,' Elizabeth guiltily appealed, looking directly at Katie.

The tears now rolled unchecked down Katie's cheeks, as mother and daughter gazed at each other.

'I don't understand all of this!' Kimberly uttered, but finally seeing the striking similarities between the two, previously clouded by her justified jealousy.

Elizabeth walked to Katie, placing her hands into Katie's, 'I was so in love with your father,' she breathed heavily, 'but he warned me never to fall pregnant, because his father had physically abused him, and he had the scars on his body to prove it.' A pained expression filled her face.  'We were so in love, when I fell pregnant with you, I thought he would be happy and he would accept the pregnancy. But he gave me an ultimatum, either I have an abortion, or he will set sail with the next ship that leaves to Australia,' Elizabeth swallowed painfully. 'I loved you so much from the first day I learnt I was pregnant,' Elizabeth murmured, the tears still flowing down her cheeks.

Kimberly was dumb struck, she could not believe what she was hearing.   So if Katie was Elizabeth's daughter, there was no way Rick was involved with his own aunty?

Katie reached out and gently wiped away the tears, rolling down Elizabeth's cheeks.

'When your father learnt that I had no intention of giving you up, he left, as he promised he would without saying goodbye,' she sobbed. 'The next morning when I went to the grocer, there was a note for me from him. I didn't think he'd go through with it,' Elizabeth cried, 'I never ever heard from him ever again.'

Kimberly slowly sank onto the settee. Elizabeth and Katie hardly even noticed her presence any longer.

'Everybody knew we were in love,' Elizabeth continued, 'but nobody knew I was pregnant, so I went to live in Paris, until you were born. As you grew up you looked more and more like him each day,' Elizabeth remembered. 'Eventually I started to blame you for losing him,' she sobbed.

Katie hugged her mother, probably for the very first time in her life.

'When you were six years old we came to live with Rick because his parents died in an accident. Rick was twelve years old then and loved you from the first moment he saw you. He'd always steal two cookies, one for himself and one for you,' she whispered with a tender smile.

Katie smiled, fondly pondering on the affection between her and Rick.

Now a lot of things made sense to Kimberly.

'You were such a constant reminder of your father. It hurt so much that he deserted me, that I began to blame you for my loss,' she whispered feeling ashamed. 'When you were ten, I shipped you off to boarding school,' Elizabeth sobbed, lowering her head. She paused at length as Kimberly and Katie waited for her to continue. Now it made sense why Kimberly had sometimes seen that far away haunted look on Elizabeth's face, when she did not know she was being watched.

'I made Rick promise never to reveal your identity to anyone, and I reminded him in no uncertain terms a gentleman never breaks his word.'

'Oh my God!' Kimberly cried out.

It was as if Elizabeth and Katie had forgotten about her there. Elizabeth squirmed uncomfortably.

'I am so sorry for all the pain and suffering I cause all of you,' Elizabeth addressed Kimberly, then looked at Katie.

'You left me in the boarding school and never visited me,' Katie accused.

'I am so sorry. I did not know how to deal with my loss, especially when you reminded me constantly of your father,' Elizabeth pleaded.

'Only Rick visited me all the time,' Katie cried unashamedly.

'Yes,' Elizabeth had that far away look, 'he repeatedly begged me to bring you back home, saying he wanted you home, but I couldn't' she sobbed.

'Until I was eighteen, when he took me out of there, bought me a penthouse in London and became a mother and father to me,' Katie sobbed.

'Can you ever forgive me Katie, my darling child.  I do love you so much,' Elizabeth whispered, and I hurt Riccardo so much. I saw him slowly stop living in the last six months, it was killing him,' she cried out.   'I know I don't deserve any mercy from either of you.'

'I do mama,' she smiled through her tears, 'and I love you too.

Kimberly rushed out, unable to take any more. All these months she thought her husband was unfaithful, when he was playing mother and father to a family member who was crying out for a mother's love! And to think his honor meant so much to him, he would sacrifice his happiness to honor his word to a cold, heartless, manipulative woman that he loved so much. How was it that she loved and adored Rick so much, but not her own daughter?  Oh well if it was any consolation, at least mother and daughter was finally reunited.

'Well it looks like you and I are going to grow old together partner,' Kimberly heard Rick's voice so soft and defeated as he spoke to Spanner.

She did not know how she ended up walking on the path leading to the stables, but it broke her heart to hear Rick sound so dejected.  Spanner whined and licked Rick's cheek, he seemed oblivious to the dog's attempt at consolation, as his shoulders leaned against the huge trunk of the oak tree.

'I'll tell you one thing partner, you and I are not going to live here anymore, we're moving out. Tonight.'

Kimberly was highly distressed listening to Rick speak so disconsolately. 'You'll do no such thing,' she instructed.

Rick turned around in surprise. 'Kimberly you're still here,' he exclaimed in confusion.

'Yes,' she dropped to her knees for the second time that afternoon.

'Grandma stopped me as I was about to leave.  I got the whole sordid story,' she whispered, the tears trickled down from her eyes.

'So you know that Katie__'

'That Katie is your aunt, but you boss her around so!'

'Technically I am her boss too,' he tendered a smile, but it did not reach his eyes.

'Oh Riccardo, we've wasted so much time,' she sobbed softly, her palm cupping his face.

His eyes swung to hers, 'you're taking me back?'

'Oh yes my darling, I want you back.  I've never stopped loving you,' she flung her arms around his neck.

'Kimberly,' he hauled her into his arms, hugging her tightly.

Spanner joined in not wanting to be left out, pushing his head in between the both of them.

'I see the both of you have bonded rather well,' she laughed.

'It was out of our mutual need,' Rick murmured, patting Spanner affectionately.

'Oh what need would that be?' she asked innocently.

Rick pushed her down onto the grass, and leaned over her.   His lips very demonstrative of the need in question. Kimberly wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips parting, their tongues reaching out experimenting, becoming entwined, setting off an explosion. Her fingers raked through his hair.  How she had missed the strength of his beautiful body.  How she had missed him. Rick raised his head, gazing into her gorgeous jade eyes.

'I love you so much,' he spoke gruffly.

'And I love you,' she whispered

'So is it true, the conversation I eavesdropped on between you and Spanner?' she enquired, her fingers slipping under his shirt, and caressing over the well defined shoulders.

'I'll live wherever you want to my love,' he touched his lips softly to hers.

'I thought I preferred London, but it's so peaceful and tranquil here,' she murmured, 'the perfect place to raise up children, don't you think,' she teased.

'Kimberly __,' he gazed at her affectionately, 'Are you saying what I think you're saying,' he spoke gruffly.

'Yes Riccardo, I'm ready for us to have our first baby,' she smiled tenderly.

'Oh darling, I thought all was lost, and now I am the happiest man in the world,' he hugged her fiercely. 'I'm going to take you on a honeymoon.   How does Venice sound?' he whispered, in between all the kisses he showered her with.

'Mmm, that's something I never had,' she responded.

'You never had a wedding, or a gown, or a fancy reception,' he reminded her, stealing many kisses as he spoke.

'I don't care about any of that.  I'll take the honeymoon though,' she got out, when she had her lips and her tongue back for a few seconds, as she looked into his eyes adoringly.

'We're finally going to have a baby?' he murmured, his fingers gently caressing through her hair.

'Well ... there is that  tiny little matter of you and I indulging in a certain act, that would be a prerequisite,' she giggled.

'Kimberly,' he groaned, his lips covered hers hungrily as he moulded his body to hers, he rolled onto his side, so he could have more access over her body, his hands fumbled with the buttons on her shirt, his lips and tongue eager to please as it stoked a flame of desire through her.

'Oh, Riccardo,' she moaned her pleasure, pressing his head closer, 'darling, you're not going to make love to me here on the lawn are you?' she pleaded.

'I have a little more control than that,' he grinned, 'although with you, I could quite easily give in to the reckless abandon I last indulged in, as a teenager,' he teased.

'Riccardo no,' she pushed at him.

'Kimberly, I'm teasing,' he buried his head at that sensitive spot between her neck and her shoulder, doing dangerously erotic things to her.

'When are we going to Venice?' She purred.  She wanted him so badly now, she was tempted to throw all caution to the wind.

He lifted his head and saw the evident desire blazing in her eyes.

'Don't look at me like that,' she blushed.

'You're able to take off immediately?' he enquired

'I've completed the final book a week ago,' she murmured.

'Please tell me you have not signed any new contracts,' Rick pleaded.  He knew if she'd already signed her contract, it would mean, tours, public promotions for book sales.

'No I have not,' she smiled, 'I needed to apply my mind to the contract, and was not in total control of my mental faculty in the last two weeks, so I've been stalling with the contract,' she answered softly.

'Please can you take a year off,' he pleaded.

'I won't sign any contracts, provided you allow me to write when I feel the desire to,' she negotiated.

'That's a deal my love,' he sealed it with a long sensuous kiss.

Rick lifted her up and placed her comfortably on his lap, 'I need to set the record straight about certain things,' he spoke cautiously.

She looked up into his eyes encouragingly.   She had wondered if he would comment about the reasons Katie had been in his arms on the both occasions she encountered them together.  She was not jealous or insecure any longer, but had been curious, although she had decided not to question Rick about it, but had hoped he would enlighten her.

'A year ago, Katie began a relationship with the son of the Greek supplier who builds all our ships,' Rick began, he tried to mask the anger in his eyes but did not succeed.  'I tried to warn her that Alexiou was a playboy, who loved having a bevy of women at his disposal, but she ignored me,' he looked away, gasped for breath before he sighed and continued. 'When you had walked into my office, all those months back, I had just learnt that Katie had had a miscarriage two days earlier__'

'Oh no!' Kimberly whispered, knowing how devastated Rick must have been especially after how much he wanted his own child.

Rick seemed to be fighting to contain his rage.

'What happened?' Kimberly asked softly.

'They were on Alexiou's yacht.   There was an accident__.  Katie was rushed to the hospital in Greece, but before she got there, she lost the baby.'

'I'm so sorry.' Kimberly felt devastated for Katie's loss. Off course he could not have offered her any explanations that day, without explaining who Katie was, and he was not at liberty to do so without dishonoring his word to Elizabeth.

'You've been through a lot haven't you,' she whispered, her palm cupped his cheek.

'I guess we have all been through a lot, the plot thickened with Katie, when you and I went on tour to the US.'

Ah yes....How could I forget!

The loss of the baby seemed to have drawn Katie and Alexiou together, so much so that he proposed to her. Two months before our tour, Katie had agreed to marry Alexiou.

There were some delays in Alexiou's father's company meeting our deadlines, so whilst we were in the USA, I instructed Katie to call on them. That night when she went to visit Alexiou, Katie walked in on him in bed with some other woman!'

'Oh poor Katie, all her life she's known nothing but pain,' Kimberly was beginning to understand Rick's fierce need to protect her.
'I won't ever stop you from being protective over Katie,' she whispered, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

'Thank you my love.  Katie has known more pain, than she has ever deserved to be subjected to.  Life has been harsh to her,' he spoke quietly.

Kimberly hugged Rick to her body, somehow wishing she knew how to ease Katie's pain. Hadn't she and Rick in the last seven months known exactly the pain of being separated from a loved one.

'I'm afraid mine was the only shoulder Katie knew, and now there are no secrets between you and I Kimberly.'

'So why didn't you fly to Greece and sort out your problems,' she teased with a hint of a smile, 'I did not need you to hold my hand, we could have managed without you.'

'Perhaps you would have managed quite well without me, but I needed to protect my interest, before some German would be singers whisked you off to their neck of the woods, or a certain record producer enticed you to stay in New York,' he murmured, hugging her fiercely.

'Darling you know I have no interest in any other career,' she whispered, 'besides I don't think I will survive in the concrete jungle of New York.'

'I'm rather pleased to hear that,' he gave her a dazzling smile, which stopped her heart.

He looked so adorable as he gazed at her, but she just had to stir, 'Now a modeling contract in Paris or Milan, I may consider__'

'What?' Rick exclaimed

'I'm kidding,' she laughed, raising her hands up in surrender.

'I want you so much,' he murmured huskily.

Looking over her shoulder, she hinted conspirationally, 'does that shed lock?'

Rick raised his eyebrows in amazement, 'Let me get this straight, my shy and very reserved wife wants to make love in a barn?'

'Yes if it locks, I want to make love with you in there,' she grinned, pulling his arm in the direction of the shed.

'Kimberly I feel like a teenager doing something he should not!' he exclaimed excitedly.

'Have you ever made love in a barn Rick?' she demanded.

'You may find this difficult to believe, but I can definitely answer in the negative,' he offered.

'Good, then this will be a first for you and I,' she whispered.

Kimberly was pleased to discover it had a lock. She hurriedly opened it and pulled Rick inside. She slipped the key into the pocket of her jeans, and made sure he locked it from the inside. It was dark, with many bales of hay neatly stacked in rows. Kimberly found the strong smell of the drying hay beautiful, as beautiful as the gorgeous man in front of her. It took her a few seconds to adjust to the darkness, but she did not need any light, she knew every square inch and plane of her husband's body, as he did hers.

'Darling I find this rather kinky and exciting,' Rick murmured huskily, as he raked his fingers through her hair.

'You can have seconds, if you promise to behave badly,' she whispered.

'Oh, I promise,' he laughed, and lowered his lips to her moist inviting ones.

'Riccardo,' she gulped some air after his long and demanding kiss.

Kimberly hurriedly yanked his shirt over his head, as her tongue teased his with gentle kisses and their lips playfully exchanged hugs.

She raked her fingers across his taut muscular chest. Oh how she loved every inch of his adorable muscular frame.

'Kimberly,' he groaned, as her fingers trailed down and her palm fastened firmly around his erect manhood. Rick ripped off her shirt, throwing it to the floor. His tongue trailed over her breast and suckled her aroused nipple. He loved the sweet scent of a combination of vanilla mixed with the erotic scent which was uniquely hers.

'Riccardo,' she murmured, dropping to the floor.

Rick dropped to his knees, and hurriedly placed his shirt, on the floor, gently laying her on it. Kimberly smiled adoringly, as she reached out her arms for him.

Rick leaned over her, and expertly relieved her off her bra, his tongue laved over the aroused and erect nipple. Kimberly groaned her pleasure. She unbuckled him, and swiftly removed his jeans and very sexy briefs. Rick traced his fingers over her stomach.   She gasped as every nerve end responded to his erotic caresses. His palm went down her hip, bypassed her zip and pressed downwards on her thigh.

'No,' she begged, raising her pelvis suggestively.

Unhurriedly Rick's lips trailed upwards to kiss her again.  His palm worked its way upwards and covered her breast, his thumb caressed the erect bud in a circular motion. She cried out his name over and over, begging for him to end her torture. And then his fingers were sliding down the zip of her jeans.

'Oh yes, honey,' she half moaned, half swallowed, as his tongue twined around hers.

She raised her hips, urging him to remove the restrictive clothing. She wanted to be as naked as he was, and feel the heat of him against her. Kimberly reached out cupping him in her hand, her thumb and forefinger running riot.

'Kimberly no,' he pleaded.

'Touch me darling, please touch me,' she begged.

Rick hastily removed her jeans and satin briefs, his fingers trailed over the soft triangle of hairs. She wriggled, wanting his fingers to get to where she needed them.

'Riccardo please__' she begged.

And then his finger slid inside her.  He found her wet and so ready for him.

She moaned, pleading for more.
Rick slipped a second finger in, she raised her pelvis higher, greedily wanting more.

'I want you now,' she cried out.

But Rick was in no hurry, he lowered his head, his lips followed where his fingers had just given her exquisite torture.

She gulped for air, cried out incoherently, as wave after wave of ecstasy enveloped her, and only then in one deep thrust, did he enter her.  Kimberly went still, she flung her hands on either side of her head, shutting her eyes tightly.

'Kimberly?'

'Am I still alive?' she whispered.

Yes she was, for the smell of the fresh hay touched her nostrils, coupled with the feint scent of sweaty horses, and that of their sweat glistened bodies.  That was his heart she could hear thudding erratically against her breast.

Rick kissed her in response, as he continued to thrust repeatedly, she matched him, thrust for thrust, as every nerve in their bodies responded to the explosive chemistry which set them alight. She wanted to tell him how spectacular his love making was, but his tongue was wrapped around hers, and demanding she follow his lead. Her hands wrapped around his neck, her fingers raked up and down his back, then found its way through his hair.
Rick's hips moved rhythmically up and down, pressing in deeper when he felt her muscles constrict.

'Riccardo, darling__' she cried out, as she shuddered and exploded and went limp.

And Rick immediately followed suit, giving a guttural groan as he collapsed on her, panting for oxygen.

Kimberly wrapped her arms around him tightly, murmuring sweet endearments, feeling content and satiated.

'You are amazing honey,' she murmured.

'So are you my love,' he replied hoarsely.

They smiled lazily into each other's eyes, their sweat glistened, naked bodies comfortably entwined together.

'Do you think grandma and Katie are wondering where we are?' she whispered.

'Hopefully they are bonding and catching up on all the missing years,' he murmured drowsily.

'Rick, I don't mean to sound insensitive at all, but there's been too much gloom and doom here recently.  I need a different environment for just a few days,' she pleaded.

He raised his head, planted a soft kiss on her lips, 'Tomorrow, I will have everything processed, so we can leave to Venice if it's okay with you,' he smiled, 'but tonight I can whisk you off to a secluded place with the helicopter where we can have total privacy,' he hinted.

'Oh yes please,' she pleaded, slipping her fingers through his, 'let's begin our life together all over again,' she whispered.

'So did I behave badly?' Rick questioned.

'You were very naughty indeed, now come and receive your punishment,' she whispered, amazed that she had the stamina to repeat the earth shattering performance once again.

EPILOGUE

Precisely nine months later, Kimberly proudly gave birth to a set of the most adorable twins.  Jordan Buchanan more enthusiastic to see the world exited her mommy's womb first.  A reluctant Daniel Buchanan followed a whole three minutes later, not too keen to leave the warm cocoon of mommy's protection.  The proud dad who watched the birth of his twins, laughed at his son Daniel, sucking on his tiny little thumb.

Early in their young lives Jordan exhibited her strong personality, although dad would not admit she had her dainty little finger firmly wrapped around her smitten dad.  By age four nobody was in doubt about young Daniel's career choice as he claimed mom's guitar and absolutely refused to part with it even at bedtime. 

Rick and Kimberly did not mind what career choices their children embarked on, only too pleased to be blessed with two gorgeous children with ten curious fingers and ten healthy toes firmly planted on the ground.

Best, mom and dad enjoy the short reprieve.  Rumor has it that another set of twins were due in less than eight months.

                  -the end-