Filed To Story: Alessia Mistaken as Mistress Book PDF Free
Nicholas closed the space between them, gathering her close, kissing her neck, her eyelids, her lips, and finally shuddering against her with swift thrusts and a deep groan of release.
Alessia feathered the damp hair from his temples and held him close. Their hearts, pressed against each other, beat in a frantic rhythm, and gradually slowed.
He slid his hip to the mattress to spare her his weight, one arm and thigh resting on her, and stroked her ribs with his thumb.
He was too much of a gentleman to ask, but she wanted him to know, so she said, “It was never like this before.”
Lazily, he kissed her neck and palmed her breast.
“With William’s father, I mean. It was all quite embarrassing and…”
He tipped his face up to look at her. “You can say it.”
He didn’t need her to stoke his ego. But she never wanted him to wonder. “I think I was drawn to him because he was forbidden. My father had given me choices. He wasn’t one of them. I learned why the hard way.”
Nicholas kissed the swell of her breast.
“I can’t say I’m sorry, Nicholas. Because I love William so very much.”
“I know.”
“I just want you to know that it wasn’t like this.”
“I know that, too.”
She moved her hand to his, and he entwined their fingers.
“I vowed to love and honor and cherish you today,” he said. “But I also vow to love and cherish William. He is my son, Alessia. From this day on.”
A rush of tears blurred her vision. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he rolled them to their sides to hold her tightly.
“You taught me how to love, Alessia,” he said into her hair. “You showed me that everyone has a right to his own choices. I promise you that William-and any other children we have together-will be allowed to make their own choices, fulfill their own dreams. I won’t try to mold them into the people I want them to be. I made that mistake with Stephen.”
She pulled away enough to look into his eyes. “Everyone makes mistakes. You haven’t held mine against me. You haven’t blamed me for Stephen’s death.”
“Because you’re not responsible for Stephen’s death,” he said insistently. “You told me Stephen would have done exactly what he wanted to, no matter what I’d done or said.”
“That’s right.”
“Well, the fact that he wasn’t in his compartment that night doesn’t mean he would have lived if you hadn’t been there. No one can know that. You can’t hold yourself responsible any more than I can.”
She sighed. “You already knew how to love, Nicholas,” she said. “You loved Stephen, and I’ve seen how much you love Leda.”
“I’ll probably make more mistakes before we’re old and gray,” he said with a wry smile. “But you’ll help me keep my focus,” he predicted. “Won’t you, Mrs. Halliday?”
Alessia’s smile came from her heart, a heart so full, she didn’t know how she could contain it all. “I certainly will, Mr. Halliday. I certainly will.”
Epilogue
Mahoning Valley, Ohio
July 1870
Alessia tucked eight-week-old Harris Templeton Halliday into the buggy that sat in the shade and turned just in time to see William toddling away down the grassy slope toward the picnic festivities.
Nicholas captured him and, planting him securely on his shoulders, carried him back to where Alessia had spread a quilt. “I think your mama wants you to take a nap,” he said, running up the hill and bouncing William until he laughed.
“He’ll never sleep if you shake up his lunch.” Hannah laughed from her spot on the next blanket where she had convinced Amanda to lie down.
“Lie down there with Amanda,” Nicholas told him gently, but firmly, handing him to Hannah.
“A kiss, Papa!” William said with his chubby arms open wide.
Nicholas kissed him soundly and tousled his wheat-toned head of hair.
“You need to rest, too,” he said to his wife, wrapping his arms around her and gazing into the buggy at their son.
“I’m just fine,” she said, and leaned back into his strong embrace.
“I know you are, but sit and rest anyway.”
She did as he requested, and he brought her lemonade. “You didn’t spend this much time with me at last year’s picnic,” she said with a smile.
“You weren’t my wife last year.”
“But aren’t you missing out on the fun?”
He shook his head slowly. “I don’t miss out on anything anymore.”
She sipped her lemonade.
Mary and Elissa dropped by with slices of pie and admired Harris. Elissa wanted to hold him, and Mary finally had to carry her off, promising her a game.
A little while later Milos strode toward them, his shirt-sleeves rolled back, his face colored by the afternoon sun.
“How’s the new one?” he asked.
“As sweet and even-tempered as his father,” Alessia replied with a grin.
“Looks like him, too,” Milos said.
“Yes, he’s a handsome one,” she agreed.
“Is Amanda sleeping?” he asked.
Both William and Amanda had fallen asleep, his curly blond head contrasting with her straight dark-haired one, and the summer breeze entwined a few strands. Hannah looked up at Milos, and then over at her employers, a blush tingeing her cheeks.
“We’ll sit with Amanda while she naps,” Nicholas assured her. “Go have some fun.”
Hannah gave him an appreciative smile and stood.
“I’ll see you for the tug-of-war,” Milos said to Nicholas.
“You’ll see me win this year,” he replied.
Milos grinned, and he and Hannah wandered toward the games.
Alessia remembered how new everything had been to her and how much fun she’d found the activities last year. Today Hannah was no doubt learning new things about the community, her employer and Milos.