Authors: Marie Kelly
“She did her best Alexis to bring me up………..but she was not strong enough to stand up to my grandfather. Maggie tried to help her, she was always there for her, and she understood… she really did. When my mother died, she had left a will stating that she wanted my Aunt Maggie to raise me, my grandfather was furious. I guess he saw me as another pawn to use in later life….. like Marcie.” She had felt Alexis shake his head below her.
“You would never be like that Tessa, never”
She had smiled.
“Maybe…. John tried bullying Maggie…….but she is as tough as he is” chuckling she had continued.
“He met his match in her, and he was not very happy. But thanks to my mother not wanting me to grow up as she had………. I grew up with Maggie from when I was 10, and I was happy. I had Maggie and Andrew…and I owed them so much. When I found him ready to kill himself……”
Alexis had gasped.
“Kill himself?”
Tessa had nodded softly telling him of that day, the day before they had met, and begging him not to ever repeat it.
“I was prepared to do anything ……..anything to save him and his family”
Alexis had held her tight, finally seeing why she had gone through with the marriage to him and loving her even more for her loyalty to those she loved.
With another groan he had murmured.
“And I go and threaten him and make an idiot of myself”
Tessa had pulled herself up again, her eyes smiling once more.
“They will forgive you; in fact they probably already have “she had chuckled,
“They disappeared fast enough…. I doubt they would have done that if they had not been hoping that we would sort this out”
Rolling over her to look more seriously into her eyes Alexis had spoken.
“Tessa, I was wrong”
Stopping her from speaking her eyes full of surprise,
“When we met I said that marriage was like any other business deal….It isn’t…I know that now”
Tessa had smiled shyly up at him.
“Your grandfather nearly ruined our relationship, and I want him out of our lives” he had said a trace of the anger towards the man on his voice.
“I want to rip up the agreement we signed and the one that he and I signed………..I’m hoping that you will stay my wife without being blackmailed by him, stay with me because we love each other”
His eyes had looked down on her, a small hint of apprehension in them, as Tessa had smiled once more her whole body shining with the love for him.
“I think that is a very good idea” she had chuckled, pulling his head down to kiss him so tenderly, before groaning softly as the need for him had once more filled her.
“Enough of that Mr Demitri” she had giggled happily before sitting up; Tessa had reached over for her clothes, as had he smiling back at her.
“I’m thinking they will be back soon though” she had smiled, her face radiant with the love for him.
Downstairs in the kitchen she had only just made them both drinks, sitting cuddled beside him as the door had been thrown open and loudly the five people had moved in. The children bickering with each other before laughing as their father had lifted them under each arm swinging them like a bear.
Seeing the two so close together, the three adults had given each other small satisfied knowing looks before moving to join them.
As Alexis had stood, Andrew had put down the two children and moving forward arm outstretched he had smiled warmly at him.
“I think we should try that one again Alexis” he had said his blue eyes twinkling with fun.
“It’s great to finally meet you” grabbing the taller man’s hand and shaking it, his face full of laughter. Alexis had laughed back, feeling relief wash over him,
“And it’s great to meet you too Andrew” he had responded with just as broad a grin,
“And please forgive earlier” seeing as Andrew had waved it away.
“Not a problem, just glad I didn’t have to show you up there” he had added with a wink.
Maggie had moved forward, her expression serious.
“So you are my little Tessy bear’s husband?” she had stated harshly.
“I hope that you are prepared to look after her, because if you don’t Alexis Demitri you will have me to answer to”
Alexis had looked down at Tessa, the love in his eyes shining so brightly before smiling back at Maggie.
“You have my word Maggie that I will always look after her”, seeing as Maggie’s features had melted into a big smile, as she had opened her arms to him, hugging him warmly.
“Then welcome to our family Alexis”
*
A year later Tessa had stood by the crib of her daughter, Hannah, named after her mother. Looking lovingly at the beautiful baby, she had smiled up at her husband seeing as he had looked back with so much love in his eyes. When she had fallen pregnant two months after they had returned home, both of them had been nervous. However this time she had experienced no problems, and almost to her due date her little girl was born, instantly becoming the apple of her father’s eye.
There had been no more news from John Jones, after both Tessa and Alexis had ripped up their contracts, and her grandfather’s rights to the minerals had been revoked sending him into a rage. He had instantly tried to punish her by contacting the tax auditors, furious to find out that he had no hold over Tessa.
Her studios were huge hits, and she had hired managers for both, who reported to her so that she could spend time with her baby, so happy with her life.
Smiling down at his wife, Alexis had hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her in closer to him.
“OK……..now, I reckon we have an hour before she wakes up” he had whispered gently into her neck as his mouth had kissed along her skin.
“Any ideas what we should do to kill time?”
With a small chuckle she had grabbed his hand, leading him to their room,
“I can think of something” she had breathed sensually as the door had closed, the only sound being soft laughter followed by silence.