AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cole looked at the picture again and saw something in Hope’s eyes. There was little hint of sadness there. Perhaps it was because he was absent at the time, though through no fault of his own since he didn't even know Hope was carrying his child. But he realized it must've been difficult for her at that time. To not have his support. To not have him around or the support of the family. My God, they would have loved to have been there at that time. His family would have showered her with love, affection, gifts and parties. It must've been terrible for Hope to be by herself. Cole then knew that it must've been a difficult decision for Hope to have decided to go it alone. He still felt something for her.
He held the picture in his hand close to him.
“I want you to take it, Cole,” she said.
“Thanks.” He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.
She picked up the rose. “I’m also taking this with me. It means a lot to me. It always has, Cole, despite what you might think."
“I can't believe you still have this rose,” he said in a low voice. "Remember the day I gave it to you?" Desire burned through his body as he gazed into Hope’s beautiful soft brown eyes. Those loving puppy eyes he'd always been attracted to. Her silky smooth skin and her crisp fresh scent drove his senses wild. He could not resist himself around her.
He leaned down and despite what he said earlier he brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then he traced the outline of her jaw with his finger and lifted her lips to his and pressed his lips to hers. Caressing her, enjoying the sweet taste of her desirable mouth. The touch of her flesh was a delicious sensation. God, he missed her. A strong chemical reaction sparked between them as they embraced. She wrapped her arms around him moaning softly in her throat which turned him on even more. His body was getting hot and heated up just feeling the sensuous taste of her. His lips seared a path down her beautiful neck.
Oh God, how he'd desired her for so long. He'd been dying to kiss her again from the moment he'd bumped into her at the church food bank. Her sinfully sexy lips were tantalizing him. She arched her neck as he caressed her sensitive flesh with his nose then moved his lips over to nibble on her skin. Why did he crave her so much? The sweet scent of her body awakened his senses. He could feel her trembling with desire as he then caressed her ears with his lips nibbling on them—just the way he remembered she liked it.
"Oh, Cole,” she moaned with pleasure. "I love it when you do that to me." She was already breathing heavily.
"Oh God, Hope," he groaned, his voice hoarse with arousal.
He stroked her soft curves with his hands and relished in the feel of her warm body. They moved over to the couch as he continued to make out with her. A sense of urgency surged inside him to take her right there and then, but then he just remembered he’d better not take it too far. He needed to keep things at a slow pace between them as they’d agreed.
"Why did you stop?" she said panting.
His erection was almost unbearable. He had to have her then but he knew shouldn't. He didn't want to risk getting his heart crushed again. He had to take it slowly this time around. "We made an agreement to take it slow. No intimacy at least for a month. God, you are so hot, Hope, and it's risky for me to reveal this to you, but since you're the mother of my child, I need you to know I was torn by your leaving me high and dry three and a half years ago even though I figured you had a good reason. I just wish you’d let me know so I can help you. It’s almost like you’re a stranger to me now from the girl I thought I knew. I thought we were so tight and could share anything between us. You have something or someone hanging over you. I can tell. Yet, you want to shut me out. Why?” he pleaded.
Hope, however, couldn’t answer.
Chapter 12
The grand dining room was absolutely enormous, Hope noted. She was seated with her daughter and the rest of the Belmonts at the oak table with a white satin tablecloth that could easily seat thirty people. Cole sat by her side like the loving, doting fiancé.
"It's very elegant, Mr. Belmont," Hope said.
"Thank you. You're probably wondering why we eat in the grand dining room at suppertime," Jonah said.
She gave him a sheepish smile.
"No worries," Jonah said, "People often wonder. And as I've always told the boys, life is not a dress rehearsal. It's the real thing. Why not live each day with the best of the best? You only live once. And we don't know when the last day will be. We always eat on the finest dinnerware plates, not only to save for guests, but to enjoy as a family, too."
"Oh, Jonah, don't scare the young girl with your talk about the afterlife and living each day. Nobody wants to think about that right now," Aunt Maya teased her brother.
Jonah laughed. "Dear sister, I’m sure she doesn't mind. It's nothing to be feared, it just makes you appreciate every day. Whether we live to be a hundred years old or not. If people would realize how fragile and precious life is, maybe they wouldn't waste a second on silly little things. Maybe they would enjoy the fine China plates instead of saving them for one day in the future that may never happen. Maybe they’d take the vacation they waited too long to take. Maybe they'd indulge in all the wonderful activities they've longed to do. Nothing wrong with that!" Jonah shrugged.
Hope smiled warmly. Cole playfully rolled his eyes and shook his head at his old man. The rest of the family was chattering and having fun and beaming at Mia at the table who was seated near her grandfather. She loved how the Belmonts interacted with each other. It was such a joyful occasion.
Hope glanced around and looked at the stone fireplace on the left side with gold-framed photographs on the mantelpiece. She was absolutely stunned to see Mia’s picture. How did it get there? Cole must have placed it there. She felt so warm inside at his gesture.
The family was treated to tasty dishes like a freshly oven-baked chicken, steak, seafood and many other entrees, almost equivalent to a five-star restaurant buffet. Bowls of fruits and tossed salad and other trimmings were on the table. And yet it was only a few weeks before Christmas. It looked as if it was Christmas every day at the Belmont Palace. Hope felt so surreal being there. An enormous beautiful crystal chandelier hung above them from the ceiling. And soothing classical music played in the background. She was sure it was Tchaikovsky. Slow and melodic.
"So, are you excited about getting married on Christmas Day?" Olivia asked.
"I'm very excited," Hope said twirling the pasta on her plate. She did not look at Cole at that moment. But the memory of his sweet lips on hers still ricocheted through her body. Her lips were so warm and moist from his kiss, she hoped and prayed that they would be able to continue what they had. Just how long did she have to wait for them to embrace again like that? God, her body longed for his silky touch.
Just then Leo’s phone buzzed and he took it out of his pocket to answer it.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Jonah tsked his son. “You know the rules, Leo. No phones or gadgets at the dinner table.”
"Sorry, Dad, I just really have to take this call."
"It can't be from the hotel. We have our support staff taking care of everything. Remember we decided that during the month of Christmas there would be no business activities, only strict family time. Family time should be guarded in this household. My God, no wonder people are so stressed out these days. You young folks make yourselves accessible to stress twenty-four hours a day around the clock. You boys work very hard in your various positions at the hotels, managing and supervising and doing all the administrative work. The very least I ask is that you take time out for yourselves and for the family. We must guard this time especially over the Christmas holidays. Learn to switch off and to turn on stillness. You'll see it'll make a difference and add years onto your life." Jonah smiled sweetly.
Leo grinned and rolled his eyes. "Okay, Dad, it can wait." Leo then got back to his plate of chicken and pasta.
Bottles of champagne and wine were also placed on the table.
Hope could not believe how wonderful the family interacted with each other. God, how she wished her family was like that. But wait a minute! This would be her family now, wouldn't it? Or at least it would be Mia’s family, for the rest of Mia’s life. A warm feeling settled inside her that no matter what happened between her and Cole, Mia would have a loving, close-knit family who had such great family values even in this material world. It looked as if the Belmonts kept real about what was more important to them and it had nothing to do with material possessions or making money.
"You enjoying your dinner, hon?” Cole said to Hope as his hand brushed her shoulder. A tingle of excitement rushed through her.
Just his touch sent electrical pulses racing through her body. Oh God, he was going to torture her, wasn't he? She wanted him right there and then. She desired and craved his body and his silky warm passionate touch more than anything in this world. And he must be aware of it. Yet she agreed they should take it slowly this second time around.
“Yes, it’s wonderful. Thank you,” she said softly.
To the rest of the family they probably looked like adoring lovers who couldn't wait to get near each other later tonight. But oh boy, if only things were the way they were three and a half years ago before she walked out of his life. Every moment she was with him she began to regret that mistake of walking out on him in the past, craving his touch, his sex, and his love. But would he forgive her if he found out what she’d done six years earlier before they’d even met? Would he think of her the same way?
