CHAPTER 13

          Exceedingly happy, Shawn took Isabelle in his arms again and they entered their home. This time they both were ecstatic because they knew that there was no obstacle that could stop them to savor their endless love. This house was their special place, their happy place, where both of them could unwind from a hard day and enjoy each other’s company.

          At first, Shawn left a gentle kiss on his wife’s lips, but after a few seconds, feeling Isabelle letting herself go in his embrace, he started to kiss her passionately. But Shawn knew he had to stop, for the time being. This wasn’t the right time to do what he had in mind. After what Isabelle and he have been through the night before, they both needed to be more relaxed before enjoying their first night together as a married couple. Still, it was so difficult to stay away from her.

“Sweetheart, how about taking a nice relaxing bath while I’ll go downstairs to get your luggage from the car? Later, we can go out to a nice restaurant and celebrate our love. What do you think?”

“I say yes to the bath, but going out... this isn’t such a good idea. I think we should stay in... I will use some of the goodies your cousin sent us and I will prepare a nice candlelight dinner for the two of us... This way, I will finally overwhelm you with my cooking skills,” Isabelle said, getting closer to Shawn.

          She wanted to stay at home because she was feeling the need to talk to him over dinner. Isabelle wanted to let him know about the pregnancy; she wanted to celebrate that wonderful news with him. In order to do it, she needed to be alone with him in their house, away from the rest of the world.

          They would talk and then make love all night... After everything that had happened, Isabelle wanted to be alone with him here, in their nest, not amongst strange people. Isabelle wanted Shawn all for herself for a few days at least.

“I’m ok with it, only if you’ll allow me to help you...” he accepted stealing a quick kiss from her.

“All right, husband!” she added smiling.

          That small word warmed her heart and Isabelle felt overjoyed. He smiled and went out to get the suitcase he had left in the car. Isabelle entered their bedroom and stood in the doorway for a second. She saw her wedding dress on the hanger and remembered what Shawn had said to her earlier when he came to look for her in the Pacifica apartment.

          Once he came back home and found that she wasn’t there, he felt extremely bad and hurt. Shawn told her that he fell asleep holding it tight in his arms, as if he was holding her instead of the dress, searching for her warmth and her scent.

          Isabelle promised herself never to leave Shawn again, never to leave their home again. She had married the man she loved, so she had to do everything possible to protect their family and their love, especially now, when she was expecting their child.

          She went to the closet and touched the dress with her fingertips, then took it and put it in the closet. This night, Shawn would hold her in his arms and she smiled thinking that they would do anything but sleep. She wanted to make love to him, to do everything a wife does with her husband.

          It wasn’t just about making love, but doing every little thing together. Isabelle promised herself that she would be the perfect wife for Shawn. She would listen to Shawn, support him, raise their child with him. She would never bring him down as her mother did with her father.

          All her life Isabelle had tried to belong to someone who truly appreciated her, to marry someone for love. And she did it. Shawn was her destiny; he was made for her. And it was like since the day she saw him for the first time. Even through their worst moments, Isabelle wanted only Shawn. Her heart was Shawn’s and only his.

          While humming a happy tune, Isabelle entered the bathroom and decided it was better to take a quick shower instead of a long bath. She didn’t want to stay away from Shawn for too long. As the water washed away all the bad things that happened the day before, Isabelle ran her hands over her body thinking that in a short while, her fingers would be replaced by Shawn’s; that he would caress every inch of her skin.

          The emotion took hold of her body and her heart began to speed like a train on the tracks thinking about what will happen between them that night. She dried her body quickly and decided to let her long hair fall freely over her shoulders. Shawn loved it when she wore her hair down. Isabelle brushed it until it became shiny.

         Looking around she saw her suitcase by the bed. Shawn must’ve left it there while she was in the shower. The thought of him there made her blush. Isabelle had never shared a room with anyone, but knowing that Shawn was in this house with her, that she would sleep with him in the same room, in the same bed, every night for the rest of her life, seemed so... right, so natural.

          They will share all the little things and she couldn’t be happier. She closed the suitcase and took off the lingerie set Shana helped her bought for that special occasion, assuring her that once Shawn will see her dressed like that, he will lose his mind.

          Ok, the lingerie was just perfect for the event, but what could she wear for the dinner? Hmmm... something simple for sure. She looked through her dresses and saw nothing perfect for that night. Everything was too elegant or too classic. What to wear? She couldn’t go out wearing only her lingerie.

          Through the mirror, on the bed, Isabelle saw Shawn's trousers and his white shirt... While she was in the shower, Shawn had entered and changed into something more comfortable. Again, that familiarity made her blush with pleasure.

          She smiled and put on Shawn's white shirt. For a woman, not very tall, like her, it looked like a short dress. The sleeves were a bit long, but she managed to fix them perfectly. Shawn's scent was still impregnated in the fabric. Isabelle closed her eyes and took it all in. Her senses were hit by the notes of that heavenly scent: grapefruit and musk. ‘Wonderful,’ she thought, looking at herself in the mirror, ‘this is the only outfit I could wear this evening.’

          Totally taken by her reflection wearing Shawn’s shirt, Isabelle winced when she felt a pair of hands embracing her from behind and a sweet voice enchanting her hearing. She felt all warm inside like someone just poured silk on her eardrum.

“Baby, do you have any idea how sensual you are with my shirt on?” he whispered and his breath caressed her cheek. “It will be my absolute pleasure to take it off very slowly after our dinner. I want to experience again your body, to study it calmly this time. I want to enjoy every inch of your skin, to taste it, to make you mine again and again.”